February Fledglings Fluttering and Flying! It's the awesomely alliterative Flylady Fred.

[fuzzpig]

2016 is truly underway and maybe the New Year Resolutions have been forgotten please say it's not just me - never mind, it's a new month and a new start beckons.

Perhaps you have too much S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) getting in the way. Or maybe you want to rid your house of C.H.A.O.S. (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? Have no fear, the Fledglings are here! We are all learning to get into a routine for maintaining the household, so we have more time to enjoy life!

This is where, from the first of the month, we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady. We ignore the somewhat barftastic language, and also thoroughly recommend NOT signing up to the emails… unless you want your inbox full to bursting.

Here’s some basic info on getting started – but don’t worry, all will be revealed on a daily basis (assuming I get the links right…) so just jump in.

There are 3 basic stages:

• Baby Steps – if you’re new, start here. Or if you’re coming back to us after a break (trust me, we’ve been there!) then these are good way to get back into it.

• Repeat Baby Steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current room or 'zone' - yep, just 15 mins, it makes a difference!

and/or

• Reinforce Baby Steps + do Daily Missions which introduce specific things to work on.

There are also detailed cleaning guides if you’re really crazy enthusiastic.

NB
This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Another NB
Start where you are. There is no need to worry about being perfect – perfectionism = paralysis! There is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ with FlyLady, if you miss anything, just move on and continue as normal the next day.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

Today I am working on clearing needles. That's decluttering no?
It is a pj day.

I'll join in please. I listened to Woman's Hour the other day when they were talking about decluttering. Kirsty Alsopp had a good point about when you have young children it is important to be more organised. I have two small children and drive DH nuts by being happy to live in a (clean) cluttery environment, so this month is perfect for me to join

Feck it, I'm going to join too. I always liked the sound of it but the barrage of daily emails I got that first week had me scarpering for the hills.

I'm a shit housekeeper. DH is very good so the place isn't a tip, but I'd like to gain confidence in myself about it. I might not do it every day but I'll try!

Oh good, zone 1 is dining room (don't have one), porch (don't have one) and hall (empty bar a pushchair and some toys which I can pick up).

Not too bad!

.........oh shit, just remembered the shelves above the phone. Full of old receipts, sunglasses, earphones, mismatched gloves and general shite from pockets. Ok, I can do this!

Hi To Anna (you can unsubscribe from the emails!) and Lilipot.

Sounds like amazing progress, Just, but do be kind to yourself too!

And Saire - one of the big points about the Fat Fairy is that you're never behind. Just jump in where you are.

Having said that, we've spent most of the day doing a big un-Flylady-like crisis clean because ILs are coming over tomorrow! Everything looks so much better now that I really hope we can keep it this way, at least for a bit...

Just laundry to put away, and the final umptisquillionth load to shift from the machine to the drier now.

Hi everyone, great to see more new fledglings so welcome to Lili and Anna

Just - I also dabble a lot with Kondo and love it. I have done all my clothes and DSs, DH is looking ready to be Konverted too. We also made lots of progress with books and DVDs. Well done on all your efforts, just be careful not to burn out!

Fuzz thanks for links and glad the appointment felt like it was worthwhile

Einstein Your punishment for bringing clutter into your home is to sit in the naughty corner and make us all some nice comfy throws and blankets

Oh and look who turned up just in time for The Six Nations tomorrow >>>>

Ta Da
A very lazy morning spent reading on the sofa and supervising DS building miles of train track
Dishwasher emptied
Wash load put on
Took DS to a party where much fun was had by all
Cooked dinner

Hi all.

I hear what you are saying about burning out.

I will calm it next week. It is DPS 40th next weekend so I am having a surprise 'open house' gathering of friends so that is reason number 1 for a massive tidy.
Reason number 2 is that DP is moving in with me in a few weeks so trying to create space for his stuff.

I am very sore and achy and stiff tonight tho. Did 2 tip runs and a charity shop run. Had a mini sort out in the garage. Have started to blitz the conservatory. I aim to complete that tomorrow. Then the rest of the week will just be keeping on top of what I have achieved. Trying to keep sink shiny etc.

I have also made time for myself. Had a nice long soak in the bath and treated myself to a cream donut from Greggs AND a maple pecan plait from Tesco.

My other main jobs for next week are to sort out some pressies for DP. I kind of excelled myself with a 'special' gift so not sure how to make the 40th special. I was thinking of 40 little gifts but I only have about 3 days to organise it....oops.

I also need make a couple of phone calls - book my MOT and cancel sky multi room. I have telephone anxiety / phobia so a really tough job for me.

ditto on the phone issues - that and filling in forms are major sources of anxiety for me. It always builds up the longer I leave it, and I always feel so much better once it's done, but do I remember that when I have a phonecall to make... course not... sigh

I have loads to do tomorrow (today) - tackle mount washmore, update diary, try and figure out meal plan (just ordered shopping without proper planning but hopefully I've got it reasonably ok), at least a couple of hours editing work, bathe DCs, DH is tackling kitchen and will be ironing and we really need to tackle the living room, it's horrendous.

can't sleep (combination of failure to take pills, and having a lot of pepsi with lunch... damn free refills) so I'm just posting links and then I'm turning the telly off, will read my book for a bit.

***

Links for Sunday 7th February!

Today’s Baby Step: No. 7, picking out your clothes for tomorrow

We are moving into Zone 2 – the kitchen

No mission as it’s Sunday.

Sunday’s Daily Focus is Renew thy spirit!

This month’s habit is decluttering

Sorry everyone is feeling the burn out. I'm with you!!
Survived Dds first party yday but have second round today lol. House is in reasonable nick but spare room has become a dumping ground. At least all our crap is in the one place and I can start sorting it and organising it a bit at a time without feeling like everything is all over the house.
Desperately need to buy some storage for books and DVDs but no money this month argh.

I fell off the wagon this week, due to working overtime. Next week is even worse, haven't got a single day off. The week after is half term and I'll only work £36 h over 3 days...oh, and another 12 h on saturday....so full time really. But with 3 days off, so that's ok.
I think it's high time to delegate the flylady journal tasks to DD.

Scatty, buy an external hard drive instead, copy all your DVDs onto it, sell the dvds to cover the costs, less clutter, job done :) i am in the process of doing this with my CDs.

All guns blazing that sounds stressful this week! Hope you survive it and dd can chip in with the flying!!

Hubby would never get rid of the DVDs unfortunately. I have started putting them into folders which saves space but he won't even let me put his DVDs in the folders so it's just mine and the kids.
I need some kind of storage thing to house books, the DVD folders and then miscellaneous things like batteries and stamps etc. Ideally want cube storage with doors but will need to wait til next month when I get paid as already feeling the pinch this month with the Christmas hangover and dd's bday.

Morning all

Quick post while eating lunch!

Lovely afternoon yesterday went to Dd's best friends house, twins. J is her BBF his brother T is her 2nd BF, luckily DS gets on really well with T. So DS and T were upstairs playing on the Xbox and DD and J were running around the house with various FNAF toys the level of noise and excitement was off the scale but so nice to see them all happy. Problem is DS hates leaving and is then emotional all evening which really upsets DH!

Today dc's have been busy playing the new FNAF World game on the laptop, playing minecraft and watching minecraft and FNAF on YouTube. I therefore, inspired by the Kondo stuff around looked on YouTube for how to organise and fold your clothes. My. Drawers are now looking beautifully organised and I'm feeling very proud. Will now do Dd's who will be impressed and DS and dh's who won't care!

To do

Washing up - from last night
Put clean washing away
Sort out drawers
Get DS to eat some lunch (getting him off the computer!)
Sit down and relax.

Will do catch up later when back on main computer.
Have a nice Sunday afternoon.

Not really feeling very spirit-renewy today! Never do though, Sunday ends up being catch-up-with-housework day (I know Flying is supposed to stop that. But with the physical limitations we have, it's hard to entirely avoid). Lost count of how many washes I've put on, kitchen is much clearer thanks to DH, some semblance of tidying in the living room and DCs' room but a long way to go. Done some editing and should do some more in a bit really rather than spending all afternoon on MN. DH has done some space themed junk modelling with the DCs. Shopping arriving tonight. I'm hungry

Back on main computer!

fuzz make sure you set your timer and pace yourself.
Welcome lillipot and Annarose
Scatty glad Dd's birthday went well.
Blue hope the IL's visit was a nice day.
Allguns wow loads of working. Definetely delegation needed, although I'm one to talk, I never ask anyone else to do anything!

Hi to everyone else I've missed.

Ta Da
Refolded DH's clothes - never realised how many unworn T-shirts he has. Just keeps re wearing the old ones on the top. Now they're at the back soon to be heading out of the door!
Done Ds's underwear, T-shirts and trousers.
IL's came round for coffee, as they do every Sunday, i just forgot!

To Do
Cook tea
Bath kids, usually do it in the morning on Sunday but forgot!
Early night so my brain might be functioning in the morning!

Have a good evening everyone

Greetings! On the road (UK) so pls forgive v. brief messag but just wanted to send big waves to all fledglings! And a warm welcome to all newcomers! xxxx

I think flylady works if you're a housewife with older or no children. When you have young kids or work or both then there's no way you can get by without having a catch up housework day! I have to do my washings all at the weekend as I can't manage to get one done and dried and out away when I'm working.

Hi all :)

Today has been ok all things considered. Caught up on essential tasks. DCs are in the bath. A gazillion washloads done and tumble drying, will all be ready to put away tomorrow. DH has attacked the kitchen, we had a lovely dinner and he's going to do the ironing. I got some of my work done too.

I also ended up inadvertently doing today's baby step! Thought I may as well set out our clothes for tomorrow, since it'll save us putting those ones away :o :o

ta da
put away some birthday party stuff. It looked so pretty we have left a good chunk of it up
rescue laundry so it can get washed
Created a wool stash cupboard
Created a to read and then evict pile of books as a result of above.
Reorganise the book case and stop contents constantly falling off.
Tackle my room. - it is not finished because I burnt out. But there is only a small pile in the corner left. plus the need to be shreaded box which I want to repurpose to hold my acrylic wool
Rescued the kitchen

Not a bad day on the flying front. Ready to collapse in bed with some knitting. However, somewhere alone the line a hospital letter has gone missing so will have to ring the hospital tomo to find out what site the appointment is

Hope you have all had good weekends!

Tend to agree that Flylady is pretty hard to stick to unless you are at home and free of children most of the time, I don't really stick to the timetables very well, but I do like having the continual reminders to declutter my purse or whatever, it does spur me on to do these things when I have got time. And I do like the "just jump in you are never behind" principle.

Today DH was at work. DCs and I had a lazy morning, I did pop out to the supermarket for the weekly shop, which is quick and easy now I'm menu planning and making lists. Then we went out to our local NT property for an hour of playing hide and seek in the garden, something we have been doing since they were toddlers, so that was nice. Weather has turned really grim now, the DCs have gone to bed clutching torches in case of powercuts.

Flying wise.
Cleaned out litter trays
Cleaned bathroom
Vacuumed downstairs
A few hotspots
Three loads of washing
Delivered a stern lecture to the DCs about their habit of leaving stuff everywhere and how that isn't fair on the person who has to tidy it all up (mainly me as DH seems oblivious and does it himself to some extent). I told them that I sometimes dream of buying myself a little house on my own with no one to make a mess and they looked a bit .

Thanks, Shanara - yes, had a nice day, but MIL brought loads of old Beano albums etc for the boys, and now we need somewhere to put them. Agh! Currently cluttering up my briefly-spotless hallway!!

Had a good lunch out, and was lovely to see everyone, but the noise is overwhelming as everyone shouts, and the boys get hyper... and got a snotty email from a client.. so a bit of a roller-coaster!

WhoKnows this house is full of stuff left around by everyone too - drives me nuts!

Waves back to SC.

whoknow this house suffers from people who have 'must fill empty space syndrome' Your pain is understood.

"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Good morning everyone

Who - I frequently fantasise about living by myself in a small, spotlessly clean apartment, tastefully decorated and which is an oasis of calm. Naturally this is a DS and DH free zone.

Einstein good luck with your book piles, I've only recently been able to start decluttering books.

Blue - boo to snotty client. Hope things are calmer today

Scatty - I am a stay at home parent with my 3yo DS and agree that it is really really hard to follow flylady to the T. I pick and chose what works for us

SC - hope the road trip is going well.

Sounds very productive already Grey!!

So far I've managed to get me and the girls dressed
Made beds
Two loads of washing
Meat left out for tonight's dinner
Health visitor check for dd2

Still to do
Online shopping
Three more washings
Dishwasher load and empty
Strip and wash my bedding
Towel wash
Practice flower girl hair on dd1