May-be this time - Fledglings flutter through May 2016 (Flylady thread)

[CotswoldStrife]

Welcome all - and thanks to SpareCrust for leading us through April.

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.

Link to the Flylady website

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!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Evening all,

A quiet day today, DH and the DCs stayed home and I went shopping for a couple of hours. Plus a bit of OU work, plus cooking and a bit of decluttering. I had noticed recently that my handcream collection was getting "out of hand", there seem to be tubes of them everywhere. So I decided on the Kondo approach, and found that in total I had 14 tubes on the go . Including 4 on a bookshelf outside the bathroom door (those were the ones that started this train of thought). So I have reduced them to one in the kitchen, one on the shelves, one in my handbag and one in my room. I haven't chucked the rest out but I have put them in one drawer so I can use them up before buying any more. However the drawer was full of make-up, hair accessories, cotton buds and other random crap, so I cleared the whole lot out, which felt really good, it is all neat and tidy now.

Just following the football with great excitement with DS, neither of us support Leicester, but like a lot of neutrals we'd love them to win the league.

[CotswoldStrife]

Good evening! Some stellar flying on a Bank Holiday happening on this thread, very impressive.

Shannara I have a Roblox fan here, although she is only allowed to play three games without supervision. SC take it easy on that back! Dogs I bet you'll find that Meerkitten becomes more of a draw than you for your parents, nothing like a gorgeous grandchild! Mercury I feel your pain with the hair visitors. We can put a man on the moon but can't eradicate nits. Rookie I need to clean out my own microwave, will put that on the list for tomorrow! WhoKnows never enough handcream, a woman after my own heart. I find reading the Kondo book very inspiring but it does not always prod me in to action as a result.

Tried to make the most of the good weather this morning, went out to a plant sale but as the rain arrived at lunchtime, scrapped plans to go and watch the wacky races (soapbox derby) at Tetbury today.

I'll get the Tuesday links up shortly. See you all tomorrow!

[CotswoldStrife]

The daily summary for Tuesday - also available at the flight plan which should update automatically each day.

**

Baby-step no 3 - exploring the Flylady website

We are in Zone 1 this week: Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 1.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 1 is here

Mission for Tuesday cleaning the front door and surrounding area

The daily focus for Tuesday is: planning

The monthly habit for May is moving in May!

[Toffeewhirl]

Off work today. DH and I had planned to go out for lunch together, but DS2 is unwell and off school, so plans are scuppered (as usual ).

Planning to do a bit of Flying this morning as house is not looking good. Managed to swish and swipe in the bathroom yesterday and do some dusting (actual cobwebs ).

[Toffeewhirl]

I have tackled DS1's bedroom. It's difficult to do this when he's in there because he gets stressed by it, so today was a perfect opportunity.

It was pretty gruesome up there, so I have wiped surfaces, dusted away cobwebs, hoovered right into the grubby corners and opened the windows wide to let some fresh air in, as well as bagging up a binbagful of rubbish and tidying up the stuff that remains. It certainly looks a lot better and he'll be pleased, I think (he hates the mess, but won't do anything about it or let us help).

Have also managed to get two loads of washing on (so far - more to come).

DS2 has had some Calpol and is feeling a bit perkier (the illness certainly hasn't stopped him talking nonstop as usual ).

Just having a break for lunch, then will start hoovering and tidying downstairs...

[CotswoldStrife]

Good to hear that your DS is feeling better (all hail Calpol) but sorry to hear that you missed out on lunch Toffee. We have no sitter and a similar thing happened to me on my birthday a few years back - I was so upset!

Made a mahoosive to-do list, will do a few bits off it each day and get through. A couple of loads of laundry today and a few finished off in the dryer from previous laundry bursts and need to go and collect my new glasses now.

[SpareCrust]

Helloooo! Absolutely gloriously sunny day here! Makes such a difference to the Flying output!

Furry one is stretched out on his outdoor rug on the terrace taking it very easy however!

Well done Toffee ! Such a shame that your ds2 is ill just when you have a rare opportunity to be out and about and relaxing a bit. Still, it looks like you are making the most of the opportunity to Fly though! So to you!

Thanks Cotswold not sure I dare write this down in print - in case I scupper myself - but back sort of "clicked and clunked" in a rather excruciating manner as I was getting up from a chair this morning and it seems to be a lot better since then! Yay! Won't be doing any Olga Korbut moves across the sitting room just yet but hopefully things are improving [crosses fingers].

and admiration at Whoknow's extensive hand cream assortment! (And as an E. Mids girl orginally; absolutely delighted for Leicester!)

V well done re: the kitchen and bathroom cleaning Rookie!

Mercury think you deserve one of these too for de-nitting on a Bank Holiday!

So glad to hear that Meerkitten is back in bouncingly good health Dogsbum! Agree about the segregation between generations. I love it here when you go out for a beer on a sunny weekend afternoon and the whole family are sat around the table from infants to grandparents and all in between!

Ta da:
animals (cut special herb selection from garden for rabbits as one of them seems a wee bit poorly but she is also terminally lazy so hard to tell utter indolence from ill health)
ironed dd gym kit
made dd lunch
morning school run + dog walk 1
morning routine inc dw, wm, td, dining room table hot spots, s&s
shined sink and cleaned kitchen surfaces
spot cleaned tablecloths from weekend ready for wash
carried dirty laundry downstairs
rang friend
emailed another friend
tried to sort arrangements for this coming weekend and failed as dh keeps changing his schedule
checked on poorly rabbit again
texted physio
sorted fridge after weekend entertaining and chucked leftovers
cleaned down everything on dining room sideboard
chicken and salad lunch with dh
checked on poorly rabbit
hung up socks in sunshine
two more loads on

To do:
afternoon school run + dog walk 2
sort laundry room
sorting of laundry itself
make tomato sauce for tonight's supper
tidy up boudoir before it gets out of hand again
carry on home office declutter
calendar check
wrap up last of parcels
and write last of good luck exam cards
supper
evening routine

Right, school run time already! Then three day school hol. There are so many bank holidays and teaching days that dd seems to be hardly at school in May and June! Tis ridiculous! Understandably, dd does not share my pov however!

[BlueEyeshadow]

Sounds good going, Toffee. Sorry to hear about work stress, and get well soon to DS2.

We had a good day yesterday (mostly!). Choir was singing at local May Day fair, and fortunately the rain held off until after we got home! Also did some shopping, including paint for DS2's room.

Today I've done work, admin, and planted out a few more bedding plants. I've also gone back onto MFP again. I got hacked off with weighing everything, but will try again, maybe less rigorously... Need to re-shift some body clutter to fit into summer clothes!

[Toffeewhirl]

Well, decided to have a quick nap after lunch (not feeling too good and suspect I've caught DS1's bug) and slept for three hours . However, I have since hoovered throughout the house (lots of cat hairs) and done a quick tidy up in the sitting room, as well as putting another wash on, so I can see some improvement.

Back to work tomorrow. Think I might have to dose myself up with pills, but really have to go in. One of the good things about work stress is that I have lost half a stone - I can recommend it!

DS2 is very perky. Definitely going back to school tomorrow.

Cotswold - sorry to hear about your spoilt birthday. At least it wasn't a special day for us today - just one rare day when we could have had time alone. But we are used to our plans being scuppered.

SC - I'm seriously impressed by your list .

Blue - well done on your productive days.

[knittingwithnettles]

Whoknows wow, I don't have ANY handcream. I obviously need some. Especially after gardening.

Toffee ds1 had his first GSCE today, English Language Cambridge board. He said that on Twitter various wits were saying well, even I don't pass, I'll now be able to get a job as a beekeeper (apiarist?) (from which I learnt that the exam had included some literary text about beekeeping And that is all I know. Ds seems calm enough about it, but maybe that is because it is OVER.
Sorry to hear you are feeling ill, and hope you can struggle through tomorrow.

we went to visit ds2's new school. Ds2 was v monosyllabic but it went alright; although he is now very tense about the whole thing. 3 days next week to start with.

today I did some decluttering. And tackled various hideous piles of saucepans and mess in the utitlity. And found a place for all the pasta that arrived yesterday I think I overordered as usual.

supper was paprika beef strips with onion and garlic and carrots, with spinach tagliatelle.

Dh is away. Very relaxing in some ways but I am already flagging from the early starts.

[Toffeewhirl]

Glad to hear DS1's first GCSE exam is over, knitting. Do you think DS2 will manage three days of his new school ok next week? I hope the school are flexible enough to let him go at his own pace in order to familiarise himself with it.

Had a chat about sixth form with DS1 this evening. His school offer a 'personalised package' for one year of sixth form (after that he goes to the college full time), but I will have to go to tribunal to get the funding. Initially, DS1 was against the idea, but he's now conceded that it might be worth seeing what the school can offer him. Phew.

He enjoyed his after-school revision class today. I just wish I'd known about this earlier as it turns out to be the solution to all the revision angst. Not sure why the teacher didn't just tell me about it when I was emailing him, asking for help in getting DS1 to revise .

How much pasta did you order, knitting? I am envisioning a small mountain of the stuff outside your front door.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Just checking in, late and tired. Back to work today, not much Flying, but I am trying to keep things ticking over during the week.

We've realised that the DCs are speding too much time on screens and not enough time reading/writing/pottering so we have implemented a no screens after dinner on school nightsrule, which has to apply to DH and I too (DH tends to stick the telly on straight after dinner, so naturally the DCs follow him into the living room to watch it leaving me wailing about homework and spellings and then going on MN). So I've told him we need to lead by example, not telly or MN till the DCs are in bed and more time spent encouraging them to read and do homework etc. DD is in year 5 and is going to be in the first cohort who will have to resit their SATS at secondary school if they don't meet expectations and it is fairly clear from her teacher that an awful lot are going to struggle. So I want to do little and often every night with her and see if we can head this off.

Toffee - sorry your lunch was derailed today, hope you don't come down with the lurgy.

Knitting - I have hand eczema and my hands just drink handcream. You've got a lot on, hope the GCSEs continue to proceed without trauma. Also I hope DS2,s settling in goes well.

Cotswold - nice to hear about new glasses. I'm trying to choose some myself at the moment, I'm a full time contact lens wearer but need them for backup/occasional wear, but I'm not used to how I look in them and find it very hard to choose frames. Added to that I have a VERY strong prescription which limits my choices and means they cost a fortune, so it's important to get it right.

Tada!

Swish, swipe, quick tidy up
One load of laundry done and line dried, just need to put away
Work
Numerous phone calls / texts about DS's school transport (ongoing saga, long, boring and frustrating)
DD's ballet and tap class
Dinner, homework etc
OU work (not much).

Night, night Fledglings.

[Toffeewhirl]

Good luck with your admirable new policy, WhoKnows.

Good night.

[CotswoldStrife]

The daily summary for Wednesday - also available at the flight plan which should update automatically each day.

**

Baby-step no 4 - writing the previous steps down as the start of a control journal

We are in Zone 1 this week: Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 1.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 1 is here

Mission for Wednesday decluttering the dining room

The daily focus for Wednesday is: anti-procrastination

The monthly habit for May is moving in May!

[SpareCrust]

Good morning! Lovely weather again! Have just had a lovely bath with the scent of lilac from the tree outside wafting in through the window.

Slow start here as it is a school holiday until Sun eve (although ballet is still very full on as we are leading up to the annual 'spectacle'). Poorly rabbit has recovered thankfully (they are always a worry when they become unwell because being "prey" animals they hide any symptoms until it is too late). DD and I are about to do a mixture of baking (friends coming for coffee tomorrow), hwk, sorting of clothes that are too small and ordering a few of the right size plus on line-grocery order and finishing my to do list from yesterday. I am also going to take advantage of the sunny weather and wash sofa covers and winter woollens.

Also going to start a major toy declutter. It is the end of an era . DD is getting rid of her baby dolls, their clothes and pram, lots of favourite books from her infancy, her play restaurant, and loads of soft toys [sniff]. Time to move on.

Thanks for links Cotswold!

Good luck to your ds1 with his GCSE's Knitting! And good luck to your ds2 at his new school. And to you because it must be an anxious time. Arf at pasta mountain.

Toffee Good to hear that your ds2 is feeling better and hope you are able to survive work today and that you don't feel too grim Only got through half of my remaining 'to do' list yesterday so list wasn't that long in reality - particularly when not working - and tend to list every minute detail to spur me on through the tedium! Good luck with sixth form funding tribunal prep. I do admire how you keep battling on.

Whoknows like the sound of your new screens strategy. We've recently had to tighten up and write out a new "contract" relating to screen use which we have all signed. Which is good. But now I have to constantly police it which is not so good [sigh] Great that you are doing it together as a family though.

Blue I'm with you on the body decluttering! I think that is where I am going wrong with MFP as I can never be bothered to weigh anything!

Big wing flaps to Feetheart Shannara Einstein Ellie Honu Rookie Dogsbum Grey Caglio and Mercury and everyone else I have missed.

[Cagliostro]

Hi folks. Signing in a few days late. Meeting at work yesterday, am now on my 4 weeks notice. Am ok though.

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

I swear I am having a ceramonial bonfire of ds' soft toys when he is ready to let them go. The amount of people that thought I was mean to say NO soft toys and bought him some if horrific. Come on people I only have so much space in the freezer for killing the dust mites. How the flaming hell do I get a giant shark in there?! So allergy boy has 100s of the fucking things and I hate 99% of the bastarding things. --dust collecting unhygenic space zapping

[CotswoldStrife]

Cag I think you've been expecting it but it is never nice to have it confirmed.

Soft toy tsunami here too. DD has inherited my sentimentality, I think

Been out for coffee this morning, have got the tea prepared and bought snacks for tomorrow as I will be out all day and won't have time before swimming! Will get the bags ready for tonight.

Ta da's so far
Cooked chicken for tea/bought salad
Bought Thursday snacks
Letter and payment for music
Some washing up done

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

ta da
strip bedding from bed
put load of clothes in dryer
wash bedding
put duvet on to wash
ironing
folding
Throw hissy fit over state of house
Iron ds a shirt and make his lunch - well return the uneaten lunch to his lunch box for a 2nd try
deal with school photos
Eat biscuits for breakfast
clean bath
Have bath
Get suited and booted ready for funeral
Attend funeral
Get reminded of perspective
Pillows on to wash
sort ds' training kit
sort tea for ds
feel a bit lost and confused. ( I think perhaps due to too much coffee and it being freezin despite the sun being out.)
Put my washing away
Take a nap
Pack car
Shove child, tea and kit into car
Take ds to training

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

Also ta da
dry pillows
put school uniform on to wash
loan ds my onsie as I haven't washed any of his remaining ones nor replaced the ones that got broken this winter
deal with over enthusiastic ds who is in a super happy bouncy mood. don't know what he is on but can I bottle it I would make a fortune
consider putting bed back together complete with turning matress and then consider minimal possible and doing the rest tomo (there is a blanket protecting matress atm so in theory could get away with duvet cover and pillow cases only doing matress protector and sheet tomo.)
Deal with post from school
sing silly songs with ds whilst dancing around the kitchen ignores concept of bedtime and sleep

Right going to curl up with ds and watch an hour of tv before kicking his ass into bed. Seriously annoyingly happy and bouncy atm for one who should be asleep already. Good to see though considering the last few months

[CotswoldStrife]

The daily summary for Thursday - also available at the flight plan which should update automatically each day.

**

Baby-step no 5 - use kind words about yourself

We are in Zone 1 this week: Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 1.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 1 is here

Mission for Thursday decluttering the dining room

The daily focus for Thursday is: [http://www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-thursday/ errand day]]

The monthly habit for May is moving in May!

[CotswoldStrife]

Evening all, will be out most of tomorrow until tea time - see you tomorrow night and happy decluttering and flying!

[Dogsbumhair]

Cotswold you are totally right about Meerkitten being more of a focus than me and to be honest I think that is a really good thing both for me as I hate being the focus of attention and for our relationship as it gives us all a happy thing to focus on and Meerkitten is so happy and smiley that she gives everyone a boost

[Dogsbumhair]

SC reading about DD growing out of her baby stuff and end of an era literally made me feel tight in my chest and I'm so many years away from having to deal with that, I hope you're OK

Clearly I'm not going to cope very well when my time comes. I'll stop cursing the ridiculous amount of toys that we have been given and enjoy it while it lasts although I'll still curse anyone else who buys me noisy toys and continue plotting to blow up the Vetch factory

[Dogsbumhair]

By the way, I'm not awake at this hour due to Meerkitten who is sound asleep but due to DP who decided to pop in to check we were ok at midnight and woke me up and I haven't been able to get back to sleep but could hear him snoring happily shortly after he woke me up

I don't know why I don't feel cross at him at the moment, maybe it will kick in when I'm totally knackered tomorrow!

I definitely need to inform him of the impact of his check though as he got into a habit of doing this a while back and woke me up loads until I pointed out that it had started to feel like a prison guard doing the rounds and was really disrupting my sleep.

I'm sure he'll be suitably shame faced when I explain the impact of his helpful check!