Fledglings polish their pumpkins and do their best, it's time for a Fling Boogie Octoberfest!

[Stewedcoot]

Heartfelt thanks to Engels (and Bitchy!) for leading the thread throughout September (Sept always being a busy one) despite feeling a bit poorly and despite being pregnant. Hope beneficial effects of injections kick in soon!

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

Flylady link here.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework, which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

1. start or repeat baby steps

1. repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

1. reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons . Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Three key points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey – some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

Ta da:

Dusted
Put a load of washing on
Hoovered the whole flat
Cleaned the kitchen sides
Cleaned the bathroom

To do
Clean the kitchen floor
More washing
Do a maintenance wash
More KonMarie organising!

Yes indeed Bitchy Christmas logistics hideous here too. Us being abroad makes it difficult (partic as and schools here usually only close on Christmas eve which doesn't leave much time to travel and humungously expensive because everyone trying to travel at same time) - one brother who alternates between UK and abroad every other Christmas - one sister who works most Christmases and another sister who tries to fit in with everyone else and is much in demand! Trying to coordinate is 'un cauchemar'!

Goth congrats on budding knitting enterprise!

[smile

argh pressed wrong button!

cont'd/...

Meant to say, love the dragon Goth!

at yet 'more cheese research' *Gladhoc'!

Swan you sound very organised and full of energy! Glad the home edding is going so well! Like the sound of your new wardrobe and have a great trip!

Trainersandaches and eveyrone else: what is the Kondo verdict then? Completely opposite to our Fat Fairy in many ways ... what does everyone reckon?

Happy Saturday all .

Yes, mostly work travelling Alice. I like it most of the time but it does get quite tiring - I am shattered today!

sc I don't think MK is necessarily incompatible with the fat fairy in the long term. The idea is that you spend 6 months doing a massive declutter of everything leaving yourself with only things you really love. Whilst our house is definitely leagues cleaner and tidier since I started flying we still have way too much stuff and need to do something a bit more drastic in terms of whole house decluttering. I completely agree that it's a pita in a tall house but it has been surprisingly helpful to see everything in one place and realise how much stuff I either don't like or don't need!

pushme I used to love to just pack up stuff and take DD on roadtrips when she was young. Not quite so easy to do with ds1 as he gets distressed when routine is thrown out the window.

SC Me being abroad from the rest of my family makes Christmas very easy indeed. Christmas cards. A few phone calls. That's about it. Nobody really has the time or money to travel this year due to job changes, house purchases, visits to new grandkids, or kids going into university. But we're used to having family flung around the globe, so no huge deal really. (not a stealth boast, honestly - nothing exotic, just living in different places)

Reorganising my kitchen at the moment. I bought some tupperware style containers with light green lids at Poundland today, as they match my kitchen perfectly. So I'm tranferring sugar, flour, and so on into them. Next week I'll make labels for them with my stamping stuff and card, and then laminate the labels and attach them to the containers. Yay!

Still whittling away at my dining room - slowly but surely getting it decluttered and streamlined. Will have to get a move on, if I'm going to get all the DIY done that I would like to do before the first of December!

That's interesting to hear Pushme because I'm in exactly the same position as you. House a lot more orderly/cleaner since Flying but still far too much basic clutter.

Think I am going to cheer myself up by decorating half of downstairs in time for Christmas too Alice so need to get a move on. It hasn't been done in 12 yrs!!

Afternoon all!

I am becoming rather intrigued by this Kondo business now. But for today, just a little hopping flight:

Ta da

Provisional cheese list written! (Catering evening bit of wedding myself, lots of people, cheese seems the way forward SC!)
Swish and swipe
Unexpectedly eating in, but out early, so non-perfectionism exercised and Dolmio spaghetti bubbling away (total treat for DP, it's his bachelor days favourite)
Gave myself a gold star for unclenching about the Dolmio

To do

Get ready to go out
Wash up
Write list of things to take with us tomorrow

My house is definitely much cleaner because of the fat fairy and the routines I now have, but I have seriously failed at the decluttering. So I bought KonMari.

The book isn't really about tidying at all - the relentless putting back in the right place - but it is about reducing the clutter and storing what's left effectively. I started with my footwear (32 pairs!) because most of it was all over the bedroom floor because I couldn't find the shoes I wanted! 5 pairs thrown (no, I'm not going round caressing them but I did try a few on), 6 most used pairs (several times per week) in bottom of wardrobe, wellies back in utility room, rest neatly in bottom of spare bedroom wardrobe. So decluttering by category good but I'm obviously not ruthless enough. Next will be thick winter jumpers and cardis.

Some bits I actively disagree with - if you live 4 miles from the nearest shop you keep quite a lot of stuff in stock. And throwing away instruction manuals is, IMO, the act of an idiot.

Has anyone tried the folding? Seems a lot of faff to me and I'm not at all sure I would keep up with it.

Oh, one last thing. I bought the book from an independent bookshop. They looked it up; found they had it in stock. In the fiction section!

Hello everyone! New to this thread and looking forward to picking up some tips and inspiration

Fiction section? Honu that is brilliant

Dsis is one of those mothers where you are only allowed to buy present from a pre-approved list. I have been out trying to sort it all day. I have list rage.

Waves to all, esp SC for lovely new thread! I've really fallen behind with flying so back on it again.

I've really got stuck into the paper decluttering: have thrown out years worth of phone directories (seriously, who uses them now) and tacking our shredding pile with a vengeance!

Dizzy, my DH did the same as yours - resigned his permanent job with nothing to go to, set up his own company working interim posts and has never looked back. It was scary, but he is happier for it and we are better off money wise.

Hi chesh, welcome! I'm still very new too, this is a lovely, friendly and chatty thread

Evening all my lovelies! [hic] Think I may have over-indulged somewhat in the sustaining me through what seemed to be a never-ending edition of SCD (dd likes watching it and recreating each dance after each performance so takes twice as long and it was long enough to begin with). Talk about a flask and sandwiches job!

A very warm welcome to Cheshcat!

Waves to Coffeeandcream that's great about the paper decluttering - gives me some hope!

Arf at list rage Bitchy have a [glass]

Hi Honu good to hear about Kondo as it is being put in to practice - I do think the decluttering by category makes absolute sense. I kind of get what she means about throwing away instruction manuals though (although I probably won't) because I can't ever find mine (and if I do they are for some obsolete machine we chucked out years ago) so tend to look up any issues on the Internet in the end instead. Also, I tend to fold things in the traditional mine and find that works OK.
That's hilarious about it being in the fiction section I could add a few further titles to the list that would qualify as fiction here ie "How to be the Perfect Housewife", "Get Everything Done and Still have Time to Play", not to mention "Confessions of an Organized Homemaker"

Gladhoc I think my dh (fervent cheese lover) would marry you on the spot! And I think my Flight could be described as "stuttering" today:

Ta da:
rabbits
dw
watched The Morning Line
packed yet more on line shopping returns
posted parcels
folded sheets for calandering (hot mangle in laundrette which is great for bedding)
folded second load of sheets for calandaring
another load on
polished dd's school shoes
ballet run
ironed 8 pairs of trousers
food shopping/chemist run
watched C4 racing
calandering

To do:
make soup
prep white wash
do white wash
find plastic top hat
sort beds
put laundered clothes away

G'night all!

There is major culling, tidying and furniture moving going on here today. It is going to be a long evening after a lovely calm day. Almost tempted to drink more coffee at this time of night but know in the long run it will probably back fire.

ta da
Rehome 2 bags and 1 box of stuff
drag self around big local shopping centre
head into different town for more shopping
lots of phone calls
help manhandle big furniture.
Empty landing book case and remove it's poor sorry state
Empty my book case and use it to replace the landing one

To do
load of washing on
move furniture up in my room
build bookcase
put books onto shelf
return furniture.

*
Baby-step no. 5 for Sun 5th Oct is here continue first baby-steps and banish all negative voices in your head!

Oh dear, if you go on to the home page and click on 'Today' ,it is still, confusingly, showing the zone pattern for September so best to access it via the launch pad.

We are apparently still in Zone 1 until the 6th : Entrance, Front Porch & Dining Room here! Declutter in Zone 1 for 15 mins per day! (If you do zone work at the weekend which I don't.)

No mission because it is the weekend.

The daily focus for Sunday is renewing your spirit ie doing something that makes you feel refreshed and happy!

The monthly habit for October is getting rid of paper clutter.

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan which should update itself daily.

*

That sounds a bit heavy duty for a Saturday night Bitchy Good luck with it!

And er, no, [see post below] I don't [hic] fold everything in the traditional mine [hic] but in the traditional manner

[Wine] anyone?

Not a productive day as I fell asleep on the sofa this afternoon.

However, I have mixed my Christmas puddings (with DD's assistance) DISCLAIMER: I'm only being organised so that I can give some to my parents when they are up next weekend. Will cook the puddings tomorrow and then do Christmas cake (again so they can have one) Just need to get some brown paper for wrapping the cake tins.

Goth [drinks more ] [faints]

Bloody hell Goth are you trying to induce a massive spate of heart attacks amongst the fledglings?

at spinning out SCD even further, SC! The only way we can get through it at all at this stage is to record and fast forward through everything but the dancing!

No flying going on here at all at the moment. Sigh.

Morning all!

Inspiring to hear about everyone's decluttering. I went to sort out my presents up in our attic office today and get some harder puzzles for DS and nearly cried at how much shit there is everywhere. But decluttering will have to wait until a) the baby room is ready and we have new wardrobe/bedside table/lamp for DS and b) I have sorted all of my cover work for my maternity covers.

Got quite a bit done, despite feeling HUGE and DS being in a "no!" mood for the last few days.

ta da for last 2 (non-working) days

emptied kitchen, bathroom, toilet bins
emptied plastic recycling and sorted paper recycling
tidied up washing machine/dryer area (a bit) as it was hideous
One hour gardening yestedray before I gave up because I couldn't cope with DS trying to "help"
Supermarket yesterday
Washing x2 done and away
Made dinner yesterday (then refused to do washing up so still sitting there)
Sorted DS's puzzles - need to label easy ones and put in loft.
Sorted present stash
Organised my make-up with new plastic organiser I picked up in UK last week

To do today

1. set of marking - starting 6 mins when my mn time is up!
2. send invites for DS birthday party and order cake
3. Look at ikea catalogue for ideas for DS furniture
4. start packing or at least write list for final trip to uk this week
5. write wedding speech

Okay, BBL when I have done at least number 1 on my list.

Engels Good grief! I'd tell you to please build in time for "rest" during the day, but I'm hoping that at least #3 will mean you sit with your feet up whilst you leisurely browse the catalogue.

Having a here and then getting a few decluttering/reorganising things done in the kitchen and dining room. Almost there!

A couple of things to note for today...

1. the cheap little rose plant I bought for £1 the other day is still in lovely bloom and the entire dining room smells of flowers. Love it. Not bad for £1.

1. I have too much stuff. Seriously. If I had a house big enough for it all, I'd have to have servants, for heaven's sake! But I'm slowly getting rid of the things that are simply not needed.

1. Ds1 was awake far longer than normal during the night last night and ultimately ended up being awake from 4am onwards. Normally, he crashes a bit and sleeps at least from 3:30/4am until 5am. So I've been shorted an hour of sleep in a sleep schedule that's pretty thin anyway. REALLY feeling it today.

1. Paint is on sale at B&Q. I REALLY would like to go get paint for the dcs' rooms, however, I have not decided on the exact colours yet. So half price paint is not in the cards for me at this time. Such a shame.

Morning my lovelies!

Just read a bit more of Kondo: absolutely flabbergasted by the paragraph in which she recommended that a parent put a three-year-old girl's books, clothes and toys in one room! I think the point about everyone having their individual storage spaces makes sense, but that sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!

And who puts their bookcases in their cupboards or wardrobes? And why? If you have books, surely you want them accessible and on display? What does everyone else reckon?

Also not getting along with 'do not store according to flow of house or when/where/how you use item but according to category'?? I think she has a point where she says that you have more energy to get something out, than put it away - and clutter is caused by things not being put away - so they should be stored where it is easiest to do the latter, but it just would not work in my tall thin house, I don't think she has considered architecture at all.

Yes Engels that is an amazing list but please do take it steady!! Glad to hear you are leaving the loft until you have more strength; you have enough on our plate as it is!

Alice could you not go to B&Q and seek inspiration there? Maybe? Hope you can catch up on sleep tonight! Rose sounds lovely btw!

Big waves to Swan who is (hopefully) sitting in a very swanky Viennese coffee shop right now eating delicious pastries! Hope your ds2 enjoyed the railway in from the airport!

Right, I am currently roasting a butter nut squash ready for soup, washing school shirts and ballet kit, chivvying dd about her hwk, and need to catch up on the list I didn't get done yesterday. She has made 'faux' croissants for everyone (which are not a patch on the real thing but she enjoys rolling out the pre-prepared pastry) which is not good because I am starting my diet today. However she has also made tiny "fairy" sizes for her "fairy hotel" so I may eat one of those instead

Big waves to everyone else! Have lovely relaxing Sundays everyone (if possible anyway!)

Sorry Engels meant 'your' plate of course! Rushing!

Don't worry alice and sc - nearly everything on my list for today involves me sitting down

ta da
batch of marking
washing-up
emptied kitchen scarps and plastic recycling
cleaned extractor fan filter
folded last bits of yesterday's washing
have spent the last hour on fb/emails

DH is making a lovely stew - waiting for him to get out of the kitchen so I can make my lunch then carry on with my sitting down jobs. raining here so an inside day.

Am also going to plan my outfits for the next few days - a necessity because I have to know what will be clean for my UK trip and am working with a rather limited maternity wardrobe right now!

I definitely have way too much stuff. Decluttering things like clothes is difficult right now because of pg.