Combining April showers with Fledgling powers (2016)

[SpareCrust]

Humungous thanks to Greymalkin for leading us so professionally and capably through March!

And thank you in advance to Einstein for covering the first four days of this thread (while I sidle off)!

If you are struggling 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 support and chat along the way.

Flylady link here.

Don't let the somewhat sickly and barftastic language of the site put you off: the underlying system is sound!

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 swamped with masses of bumph. 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):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• 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.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• 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.

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 ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than 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!

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings

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

Good evening fledglings!

Hope everyone enjoying their weekends. It is cold though isn't it?

Hope you are ok Einstein

[Passes over warm blanket and fingerless gloves to Midlifehope]

Very odd weather here. Cold but sort of v humid one minute (if that's poss) and freezing the next (or that might just be me). Had some spectacular thunder and lightening overnight and mahoosive downpours today.

I'm feeling very tired and a bit off somehow - so just creaking about being ineffectual - not much achieved except a reorganisation of our spice rack. Oldest spice thrown away was from 2009 . Simply cannot understand this as spices have been reorganised at least three or four times since then!

Cotswold it is good that you are taking it steady after your stressful week.

Caglio snail's pace decluttering is also good - much better than no decluttering at all!

Knitting and Cag wish Galore Park produced bks for secondary school level!

Blue and Toffee how amazing that you were both at the Judith Kerr event at the book fair without knowing it!! You should definitely wear some sort of recognisable Fledgling insignia next year! Sorry that you both seem to be spending your weekends doing housework after a long and busy week at work. Hope you both manage to get some much deserved rest too.

Greymalkin your ds's nursery sounds fab! Hope he is not too tired this weekend. He should be sleeping well at least!

Cag and Knitting thank you for magazine advice! I like the sound of the mood boards! Don't worry though Cag I know I must get rid of the majority! The thing that is evident from those hoarder programmes is that people are often too involved in the past or the future without engaging very well with the "here and now"and I know I have that problem where certain things are involved (books, papers and magazines in partic). (Btw Knitting it must be a great feeling to be able to fling the gardening magazines away having finished the project. Hope you are enjoying your first spring with a greenhouse too!)

Big wing flaps to all and bbl with links!

x post

Cotswold sounds like you have got loads done after all! Enjoy your evening!

*

Baby-step no 17 for tomorrow, Sun 17th April is: here. The infamous baby-step where we set a specific time for bed and stick to it or not.

Tomorrow will be our first day in :Zone 4: The Master Bedroom, Bath, Closet (April 17 – 23) or the boudoir as we call it, as we have no masters on this thread thank you very much!

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 4 (if you do zone work at weekends that is).

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 4 is here.

No missions because it is the weekend! Yay!

The daily focus for Sunday is renewing your spirit. Do something that re-energises you, so that you can re-energise others!

The monthly habit for April is www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/april/ making your bed!

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

Wishing everyone lovely Sundays!

13hrs of sleep. So needed.

ta da
Intense discussions as to what is going on with the garden
Clean out two storage tubs
Make list of things to do today
Sort a random box of 'stuff' that has been annoying me since before Christmas
Decide what is to happen with the books with no where to live.
Stick crafted stuff that just need finishing touches (ends weaving in/hand stitching of turning holes/button adding etc)into one of the clean boxes
Soak in the bath
Trip into next town to run some shopping errands
Put dead alarm clock in box for tip now I have a new one.

13hrs of sleep. So needed.

ta da
Intense discussions as to what is going on with the garden
Clean out two storage tubs
Make list of things to do today
Sort a random box of 'stuff' that has been annoying me since before Christmas
Decide what is to happen with the books with no where to live.
Stick crafted stuff that just need finishing touches (ends weaving in/hand stitching of turning holes/button adding etc)into one of the clean boxes
Soak in the bath
Trip into next town to run some shopping errands
Put dead alarm clock in box for tip now I have a new one.

Evening all,

Well I've finally read through the thread, it's lovely to see new and returning Fledglings joining in.

SC - my mum hoards magazines, she has every single copy of one which started at least 20 years ago plus an entire set of another long defunct magazine. She's decluttering now and feels completely unable to get rid of them, she also buys too many and can't throw them away till she's read them (luckily she has a massive house so they aren't actually in evidence). I would say - be ruthless. Don't let it get that way. We have 3 weekly and 8 monthly, plus I buy about another one a month and they do accumulate everywhere. However I have a mass throw out every 2 or 3 months (did it yesterday) and it is so satisfying. I have no qualms about throwing them away virtually unread if they are older than a few weeks, realistically by that stage it's never going to happen. By all means tear pages out (I do with recipes) but you need to literally flick right through quickly and do it, no more than 5 mins per mag and then bin.

So, Flyingwise. I haven't been following the system very well recently, but things aren't too bad. DCs are doing a big more - I got them to do the entire weekly food shop while I sat in the supermarket cafe last weekend. It's been a weird week, DD back at school and DS off till next Tue, hoping to get back into a proper routine then.

Cotswold I bought some books today too :o there's a charity shop next to DD's dance club. Every Saturday morning DS and I have a little browse while DD does her lesson. And today we went twice since she had her exam in the afternoon.

(exam seemed to go well, but won't get result for a few weeks)

No Flying today, killer headache, urrggghhhh. Not planning on doing much tomorrow either.

Happy Sunday folks!

Good morning fledglings!

Hope everyone ok.

[Hands ibuprofen over to Caglio] Poor you. As a fellow headache sufferer, I really sympathise. Hope it is dissipating. If it's any help I have definitely found that a reduction in caffeine and drinking more water improves things. Well done to your dd with her dance exam!

Dh is coughing for England atm so I slept in the boudoir last night (able to do so since tidy up). I've taken the curtains down in there for laundering and it is so lovely to wake up to the sight of green trees, blue skies, squirrels and more bizarrely for a big city, green parrots!

Another beautiful day here and I actually appear to have some energy so going to try and achieve a few things specific objectives including 15 mins on the exercise bicycle which is currently acting as a hanger horse (clothes have at least been put away but hangers need to be removed and donated back to dh's shirt people).

Also re-starting my diet (lots of body clutter) which I started last Sept and failed at spectacularly! (It must be done and I am going to have to maintain a hard heart as dh is a feeder and I am going to be saying "no, thank you" an awful lot in the coming months. [Hardens heart])

Good that you caught up with all that shut eye Einstein Sympathies over the books having no where to live - I have that problem too. Happy crafting!

Thank you for all the magazine advice Whoknows which is much appreciated. you do very well to keep on top of that many. Sometimes one just needs "permission" to throw things away that haven't been read or haven't been worn ... so.... "thank you!" 5 mins per mag is going to be a challenge though! [Hardens heart again.]

Congrats on maintaining and Flying well and great idea about the dc doing the weekend shop! Good for them (and for you!).

Yes, can't believe it, dd has "teaching day" on Monday as well. Am longing for proper routine again too!

Enjoy your Sundays everyone! Big waves to Honu Toffee Ellie Feetheart Shannara Nicknacks PA Lucked Celeste Mercury HerdofAntilop Blue Greymalkin Needastrongone Dogsbum Cotswold Knitting OnedayIwillbeorganised Ratbagcatbag Balletgirlmum and I am sure many others that I have missed (apologies) and all lurkers too!

Greymalkin meant to say before, you never need worry about falling off the Flying wagon every so often. We all do it. That beauty of the system is that it is very easy to "jump back on" once the basic routines and steps are in place. Also, you did so well in March that I am sure a bit of choring respite won't make much difference !

Cheers SC it's not so bad this morning :) and thanks for reminding me I do need to drink more water! It's daft, I actually really like water, but I just keep neglecting to do so!

Will definitely be taking it easy today though. Was quite funny when DD was reading to me and encountered the word 'groggily' for the first time - I was able to say "like mummy is in the morning" :o

SC Galore Park is for secondary too! just check out the website (but you can order them on Amazon too, which is easier)

nothing to add really, except we went out to dinner with two people with older kids whose house was messier than ours, which is a tremendous relief to me...don't often get that feeling. Might dare to invite them over after all

Beautiful morning here (tho house still remains essentially messy, despite my positive emotions), slightly spoilt by child talking incessantly about Terry Wogan and putting on dh's trousers by mistake, and refusing to admit he has some of his own... "they just need a belt mum" (no, you do not fit in the trousers of a 50 year old man) pure laziness

SC when I was little and a teen, magazines were very much prized. One could cut recipes out, and admire the artwork and they were a symbol of taking a break, learning interesting things, ideas etc. Now that we have so many sources of these things (Breaks, artwork, recipes, design ideas) it is difficult to admit that magazines don't have the same "value" or fulfil the same need that they did back then - there were no internet websites showing the wares in shops or images on the net, magazines were the main source of "inspiration" and "sharing culture" if you like. I think they also represent someone else's craftmanship, putting the magazine together and feels hard to consign someone else's effort to the rubbish bin (did you ever work in publishing or journalism perhaps??????)

those are the emotions which one grapples with. it is very hard. But not as hard as one's life being wasted worrying about tidying!!!!

Glad you are feeling better Cag!

Ta da:
animals
filled dw and put on
ditto wms and td and wms again
hung up coloured wash to dry
dd helped me finish last of spice rack sorting and labelling
cleared and cleaned down messy kitchen work top corner
washed and clean four trays
chucked some out of date bottles of oil and various vinegars
ironed a bit while watching Andrew Marr
diet planning, meal planning
wrote shopping list
despatched dd and dh to Syrian shop (fab veg and pulses and open on a Sunday - yay!)
agreed, typed out and printed technology rules for dd
re-start and fill out MFP
researched narrow wall racks on Ikea website
de-hair, wash, scald and rinse all hairbrushes, combs etc (preventative measures)
text to friend
put away shopping

To do:
put back and organise all cleaned and re-jarred spices, oils and vinegars
re-organise kitchen corner
research French tutor
parcel
good luck card
make pastry
make jam tarts (which I won't eat!)
make fish pie that didn't get made on Friday
15 mins exercise bike
power walk

x post

Knitting

Thank you very much indeed for your very wise words (as ever) about magazine chucking. Much appreciated! V good point about the publishing aspect - I know the sweat and grind that goes in to production (of hbs and pbs anyway) - and used to cost all the paper and print too which was extortionate! (And sit in interminable and excruciating content meetings and liaise with the art department and the legal dept and everything that went in to the production process.)

That's interesting about the generational thing too; it is so true that their value has been undermined by all the other sources of info and inspiration around us now - but yes that definitely wasn't the case when we were young - they were a treat or an extravagance! Must shift my perspectives to modern times! (And I actually love looking at design ideas on the Internet; it is such a convenient way of doing it, so no hardship there!)

Thanks also for the tip about the Galore Park books being suitable for secondary level. I couldn't find them when I last looked on their website. I must have another look and check out Amazon - thanks.

Your posts about your dc do make me cackle; arf at the trousers!! And I definitely felt a strong pang of sympathy for your ds1 when he unfolded his scrunched up exam time-table down thread bless him.

And finally, hurrah for laid-back friends with messy houses! Such a relief!

Feeling v chipper today. Nearly finished tackling hideous corner of kitchen which used to make me feel stressed every time I looked at it!

Hope all Fledglings are enjoying their Sundays!

[Hope you are resting Toffee and Blue!!]

Morning! Sounds a good sleep Einstein, which is always lovely. Good luck with the exam results Cag, they do take a while to get back to you.

Bit of laundry here, amazingly I decided to do some ironing last night (our Saturday nights just rock ...) so am almost prepared for the week ahead. Almost. DD is planning to go out with DH this afternoon so a bit of shopping should sort things nicely. Menu planning would if I get round to it really help too.

As for the boudoir next week - hahahahah! We are still swamped with old and new furniture so doing well for storage at the moment. Trying to sort through stuff and throw/pass on as we do . Even just clearing a space for the ironing board and vacuum to go back into the cupboard produced a fair sized haul of shoes too small for DD

Shame it is usually followed by a crap night's sleep. nearly 6 sodding am. Any way having grabbed 4-5hrs ish sleep I am off to see if staples still paper anymore specifically 160g/m2 paper. Might need to hunt for alternative sources which is a pita but hey ho. Gotta grab some paint for a homework project too.

then there is the joys of washing uniform and pe kit and making sure there are work clothes for tomo. Tbh I would rather just curl up with the crafting project i was working on last night. Because whilst it hurt my hands (teeny tiny) it was rather addictive.

My mind is a messy jumble atm. Although I totally giggled at knitting's ds' trousers

Ta da: (not on list)

Dh and I have just spent the last 45 mins risking life and limb dangling precariously off ladders hanging up freshly laundered curtains in boudoir. Managed to hoover top of his wardrobe at same time and brush down some cobwebs (ceilings v v high) so getting ahead with Monday's mission in advance!

Bathroom curtains still to do ... .

Well done for decluttering the outgrown clothes Cotswold every bit help!!

[Hands Einstein large mug of strong coffee*] Good luck with the stationery shopping

Shockingly the employees did not know the units that paper thickness was measured in. But once we got around that issue I have the thick paper/thin card I needed (just in a slightly different colour than planned but it will work fabulously)
I managed to forget one colour of paint (but we can make it) and got things not on the list at the craft shop though

Ta da:
Shopping trip
notice road is closed at stupid times but sign not helpful enough to say when
find files for printing (pictures/recipes/etc etc)
by new internet cable - yay no more hissy fitting internet connection due to dodgy cable
chuck sand on ds' homework project don't worry I was supposed to

RIght just time to print a few things, drink a coffee and then head out to get ds. Who wants to be he doesn't want to go to bed or to school tomo?!

V poor product knowledge there Einstein. That looks like a useful lot of ta das achieved today. Safe driving and hope tomorrow morning won't be as bad as feared!

Ta da cont'd/...
put back and organise all cleaned and re-jarred spices, oils and vinegars
re-organise kitchen corner
rubbish and recycling for tomorrow
wiped out recycling boxes with touch of bleach
dining room table hot spot
carried a load of things from ground floor down to basement
cut and arranged a bit bunch of forthsythia
set table

(The above took me so long that I haven't done the fish pie again. Nor have I done any exercise as intended but have been on my feet and up and down stairs all day). So have just thrown together lentil dhal type thing with chickpeas and loads of veg. Dh is making me Asian style blette to go with it with ginger and garlic. Yum. )

To do:
serve and clear up supper
sort laundry room
animals
clothes out for tomorrow

Have a good evening everyone! Going to post links now so I can relax after supper. Big waves and 'see you' all in the morning!

*

Are we ready for another week Fledglings? Small steps everyone! Remember, even 15 mins is better than nothing!

Baby-step no 18 for tomorrow, Mon 18th April is: here. Have a look at Flylady's Eleven Commandments. They are worth looking at apart from no 10 and number 4 is always a challenge.

We are in Zone 4: The Master Bedroom, Bath, Closet (April 17 – 23) what we call the boudoir.

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 4.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 4 is here.

Monday's mission, and all the missions for the week, can be found here. Tomorrow's mission is focused on the dust that accumulates upwards. Spend 15 mins looking up and dusting window frames, the curtains and the tops of door frames and doors themselves.

The daily focus for Monday is the dreaded home bleugh. Spend 10 mins working on each of seven essential tasks. The theory is that the length of time required to do these tasks lessens as you declutter.

The monthly habit for April is www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/april/ making your bed!

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

Wishing everyone a very productive start to the week!!

Are we ready for another week? Was that meant to be rhetorical SC?

Thanks for links SC.

Has everyone had a good weekend? DH and I went to the cinema to see The Jungle Book and really enjoyed it whilst DS spent the night at my lovely in-laws.

Done
Fed cats x2
Emptied and reloaded dishwasher
Made beds x2
Listed loads of stuff for sale on eBay and Facebook
Cleaned the bath, two of the toilets and hand basins
Got DS's stuff ready for nursery2 tomorrow
Bathed DS

Thats about it... will try to recapture my flying mojo for the new week.

Night all

The new Jungle Book seems to be doing well, our local multiplex cancelled a showing of three other films to fit more screenings of it in over the weekend. Surely nothing can beat the Bare Necessities (or my embarrassing moment in Disneyland Paris bellowing 'Baloo' at the costumed character).

Have almost managed to clean up entirely after dinner, just a few bits of hand washing up to go less likely now I am consuming vino and the weather is helping with the laundry.

It's going to be a good week, fledglings - I can feel it!

Mornin'

Einstein

Arf at Bare Necessities Cotswold

Grey Saw a clip of Jungle Book on the telly the other day and it looked really good! Hurrah for supportive in-laws!

Bit of a slow start today. The state schools are closed for a teaching day so dd is at home and all is v quiet.

[Warning: rather sickening smug-fest follows ]
V v good feeling when I walked downstairs in to my kitchen this morning (it is v old, unrenovated, with very little storage) and found a swathe of uncluttered surfaces. (Still must sort free-standing unit of doom under microwave but at least its a start.) Allowing myself a rare smug skippy moment as I am usually so crap at this Flying lark (even though basic routines have helped me hugely, am crap at the decluttering part and have great visions but very rarely follow through)! But after years of dithering about, have finally, sorted the "spice and condiment corner of doom"! Yay!

Dh, poor man, has been warned on pain of death not to muck it up and has been told to put things back in the right place ... . We shall see ... .

Have taken furry one out and sorted dw and wm/td but first proper task for this morning is nit-combing dd's hair. This is a preventative measure I hasten to add as apparently they are rife in school atm. Her hair is extremely long and tangles quite a bit. Bad enough trying to get her to have an ordinary bath as she hates getting wet. Trying to get her to sit for 20 mins with the equiv of medicated cooking oil on her head will be a challenge... .

[SC girds loins and stomps off with grim determination]

Hope everyone has a good start to the week! (Including you Einstein me old mucker ]

SC I try to spin the nit check as a spa treatment - DD has long hair so I fill it with coconut oil and that makes it easier to comb through.

We managed to get a GP appointment at short notice this morning so I was assuming -rightly- that it was a trainee as that's the only time we get an appointment. I bought an additional product over the counter that they recommended only to find it wasn't suitable for my daughter's age Will text my GP rellie for advice. The pharmacist recommended an antihistamine that knocks me out completely, so will wait until DD is at home in case it has the same effect

Greggs has provided my now late morning kickstart, so better get on with some work!