September Fledglings: the new term has begun!

[Greymalkin]

Hello all, the new term has begun! So I'm taking the register; everyone please sign in...

I will set out the opening post curriculum once my home internet collection is restored

Ooh look --> teacher's pet!!

Still channeling your inner zoo SC
Awake so humid here.was foggy n warm when let cats in
Ta das
Wash on
Sort bag paperwork
Fed cats
Pop asda as dd2infirm me at 10pm good friend birthday today and need a giftthat went down well with lol zoo be drag to asda a 7am before breakfast!!
Fed zoolets
Pack lunches sorted
Clean bath n sink
Clean lav(didn't say the b word Celeste)
Empty kitchen bin before sun gets on dustbin and I too scared smell to open lid
Hung wash on airer,more on
School run
Wash up
Hot spot coffee table

As bathroom looking good,I may venture into my dumping ground bedroom and do bit decluttering in there (gulps)

I had wondered why some things weren't on the detailed cleaning lists, I guess they are covered by the missions!

Are the missions the same every time you do a zone?

Hi all

Salutary I'm guessing being in the Northern Hemisphere your seasons follow the same as the UK's? So you are also going from summer to autumn?

Yes thanks for taking the time to post the links Grey

Zoo You've been busy and yes thanks for not mentioning the b word Are you perhaps even more of a germ slayer than i am?

My ta das today

made beds
washed dishes
cleaned the bath
cleaned bathroom basin
wiped bathroom loo
cleaned bathroom mirror
cleaned bathroom window
cleaned downstairs basin
wiped downstairs loo
cleaned downstairs mirror
cleaned downstairs window
emptied both bathroom bins
put new towels in both bathrooms
mopped both bathrooms

Bathrooms done so gonna chill this afternoon. Nearly finished an adults colouring book picture that i have been doodling away at the past week so will try and finish that off this afternoon. Love my adult colouring books

No I think the missions change although there are repetitions. Sometimes it depends on seasons etc.

Thank you pauline I very much like the idea of fly lady but definitely can't keep up with it at present. It's all I can do to vaguely keep on top of laundry! It's a good system when I can manage it though.

Thanks for the reply re: Freud Grey I definitely found it hard to follow at the time. Will look out that other one at some point. I have a lot of books in the cupboard - mostly psychology/education - that I want to get through, so that I can then pass them on to someone else, in the interest of decluttering! But I can't possibly get rid without reading first...

And I agree you're doing a fab job with the thread leading!

Afternoon all, I've been following the daily list loosely for three days now, just keep forgetting to post progress in the afternoon as keep finding myself getting knackered and needing to nap! (Get out now baby please)!

Ta-das
Washing away x2 loads
Washing done and hung X1 load
Kitchen sides wiped
Sink shined
Beds made
Dishwasher unload and load
Supermarket shop and put away
Roasted a chicken for friend round for lunch
Hoovered front room and stairs
Disinfected and cleaned bin

To-do
15 mins decluttering in bathroom
5 mins attacking piles of stuff to be put away
Another load washing

Hope you are all having lovely days and enjoying this fantastic weather!

Hi everyone, Grey thank you for all the links and thanks to everyone else for being so welcoming :) . I am realising that it's my days at work where I struggle in the evenings. When I'm at home with the kids the house gets in a mess but on work days I get in and 6-7pm is just a joke as I am hungry, tired and thirsty and tend to do nothing (except sort kids) that whole hour. 7-8pm is kids bedtime torture and possibly that continues to 8:30pm. By the time DH and I eat it is usually 9pm or so and then it's rush to clear up, do all the admin type tasks I haven't managed in the day and then I seem to have to choose between some kind of before bed routine or collapse. I guess this is just the reality of life with kids but am starting to feel I never make real progress.

Anyway, ta da:-
Rescheduled a work interview
That's it!

To do:-
Bath and bed time
Tidy up after-school / nursery snack
Laundry
Birthday cards
Before bed routine
Make a plan for when I am going to put together a work portfolio that I realised today I need to do for next week . Sleep will be lost to get it done

Aaargh wrote post and lost it! Short version:-
Thanks Grey for all links and for everyone else for being welcoming!

Ta da:
Rescheduled work interview
That's it!

To do:-
Bath and bedtime
Tidy up after school snacks / bags etc
Dinner
Laundry
Before bed routine
Figure out when on earth I am going to create a portfolio for work that I have just realised I need to do for Tuesday

Have realised that on work days I lose a whole hour when I get in at 6ish as am tired, grumpy and hungry so do nothing (except sort kids). 7-8pm is kids' bedtime --torture- which can take until 8:30. Then DH and I make dinner, eat, laundry and do general tidy up. By which point I tend to choose between a proper before bed routine or collapsing (or sorting out something for work etc that needs doing). Sorry for rant, I know this is the reality of life with children but I often feel as if I am making no progress. Will stop whinging now and get on with bedtime

Doh obviously didn't lose that post after all. Sorry everyone!

Hi! I'm back with my now 10 day old baby! I've decided I'm going to start this properly on Monday as that is when dh is back at work and I'll be back into a routine of sorts ha ha...

Anyway couple of questions I've just looked at the fly lady website what is swish and swipe? And what is a hot spot?

Thanks!

Links for Friday 16th September: Here is the Launch Pad with all the basic information.

Baby step number sixteen: check out Flylady's website

The focus for Fridays is to declutter your purse, handbag and car day

We are in Zone 3, The Bathroom and one Other Room Spend 15 minutes decluttering here. If you have finished decluttering here is the detailed cleaning list

There are always two missions in Zone 3:
In the bathroom, mop the floor
The ''Other Room' this month is actually all the places round the house we 'stash and dash'. Today you need to do a 27 fling boogie

Our habit of the month is establishing a Before Bed Routine This is actually a really good habit to develop, as many of us can vouch for.

And a little bonus feature for this month: FlyLady's back to school tips

Wow foxes 10 days old! Hope you are getting on ok. A hot spot is any area in your house where clutter tends to build up or stuff gets dumped. Eg hallway, kitchen table. Swish and swipe I think is a super-quick clean of the bathroom (mainly sink and toilet) but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm not quite right on that one!

Lovely thank you! That sounds good. I'm looking forward to getting started !

Good morning all!

Thanks for links Grey!

Goodness Foxes great to have you back but take it steady! 10 days is very wee! Hope you are recovering well and getting a bit of sleep here and there!

As Toostressy said, a hot spot is an area where people just put "stuff" because it is easy to do that, rather than putting things away in their proper place ie coats on a hall chair, clothes on a bedroom chair, or papers and random clutter on a hall table.

Explanation here

Flylady's theory is we have to "put out" the hot spots quickly - because clutter attracts clutter - and if we don't keep on top of hot spots daily, they become major sorting tasks. (It's a bit like Mayor Bloomberg's zero tolerance policy in NY; take care of the graffiti and minor vandalism thus preventing more major issues.) I think it's quite a good theory actually. If I don't clear my dining room tables every day, they get covered in crapola in no time!

Here is the info on swish and swipe: here Personally all the cleaning products in a hollow bathroom seat with a cork lid and use a J-cloth and white vinegar to clean. I don't like to keep my loo brush wet as I think she suggests (harbours more germs I reckon if it doesn't dry out between uses) and I confess I have started using the odd Dettol or Ajax wipe to wipe down the lav, but I know they are not good for the environment so keep their use to a minimum.

Sorry that was probably more info than you wanted to know

Biscuitbadger In answer to your question "Are the missions the same every time you do a zone?" the answer is yes and no!! They cover the same basics but each month you cover something slightly different in each zone (it slightly depends on the zone though). (At least I think that is the case! Please will others on here correct me if I am wrong!!) As Cag said there are definitely seasonal changes too.

for Toostressy. Those post-work "witching hours" sound tough x

Take it steady Furble [proffers foot stool]

Celeste I am in Belgium so just one hour ahead! Much cooler today here though after downpour last night. Although I loved the sunshine, I'm relieved that it is not so humid now! Congrats on your mega-list

What is this Zoflora of which everyone speaks??

Was up a bit later today Zoo hope you managed to catch some sleep and that bin wasn't too grim!

Waves to Cag and everyone else!

TGIF!!!

That's great salutary thank you for the explanations it makes perfect sense. I'm already picturing the hotspots in my house...I fear one of them has already taken over!

I will indeed take it easy , I intend to rest a lot over the weekend but come Monday I do need to get back into a bit of routine as my toddler will want to be getting out and about as usual. I have made a good recovery so far apart from a bout of mastitis but that has cleared now. I did so much decluttering before I had the baby that I'm really keen to keep on top of itso it doesn't go to waste!!

Oh yes, Flying ...

Got quite a bit done yesterday so trying to go a bit steady with my back this morning. (It's a lot, lot better but I don't want to bugger it up again!)

Have more office admin to do too.

It's been a bit of a tough week - esp with dh away - dd finding second year very pressured already and loads happening on office/house front. It's been dawning on me how much support dd is going to need on the hwk front ( a lot) and so from 4pm until bedtime I have been up to my neck every night in the ablative (Lat) or the futur antérieur (Fr) or some such task ... and yes, this is despite still following a "back off and let her fall on her own sword policy".

We are entertaining this weekend and I meant to do one preparatory task per day during the week towards to make it easier on Sat (and to preserve my spine!) but have I heck! Haven't even finalised menu yet but at least, post holidays, I am now back on top of the laundry and the house is looking relatively civilised (well, as civilised as this place get, still far, far too much clutter!).

A humungous clear out awaits in Oct!

Yesterday's "ta da" cont'd/...
sort linen for bed change upstairs done
second attempt at clearing bed which has become dump zone *done
make sultana bake NOPE
finalise menu for Sat NOPE
quick supermarket run done
make ice cream NOPE
thorough tidy/chuck of play room/tv room done
find and make up cardboard boxes for file storage done
order healthy breakfast cereal done
bit of ironing done
investigate new laundry done
clear home office desk NOPE

But did:
last of woollen's wash
took furry one for long walk in park
did a spell in the office receiving courier parcels (holiday cover)
cooked veggie supper
cleared boudoir floors
hwk supervision/assistance

Ta da this morning:
animals
laundry on
dog walk
quick kitchen tidy
stripped beds
tidied up ahead of cleaner

To do:
2 hrs or so "work" work
make up beds (usually family Sat task but no time tomorrow)
finalise tomorrow nights menu
supermarket shop
do one task towards prep (such as make pastry)
finishing hoovering/sorting boudoir
clean mantelpiece sitting room and re-arrange cards etc
sort sideboard
wash dh's shirts
continue laundry
re-organise and quick clean of fridge
re-organise sort/dog equipment and wash spare harness
brush dog
sort supper

Have a great weekend everyone!

Biscuitbadger sorry! Reading back down the thread that was rather a woeful answer on my part there! Perhaps others can advise?

And sorry for essays everyone !

[Still helps to unscramble my middle-aged brain if I write everything down on here!]

Hello everyone. Sorry if this seems a bit I am new to this, never seen or heard of flylady. I try to keep the house tidy, I was brought up in a (small) flat where everything had a place, and everything in it. I often find myself unable to relax and settle until the jobs are done and I seem to spend all of my time aiming for perfect, showhome condition. However I also like to be online which seems to eat my time, then I get stressed out and everything becomes overwhelming!!! Is the kind of thing that can help me?

Am I right in thinking that today, in this plan, I would empty my purse, handbag and car of crap - any idea how long this should take. This could easy set me back two hours! Then its 15 mins in the bathroom cleaning the loo (I’m not sure how to decide which one to do, there are 5 in the house and all used pretty much equally, I tend to focus on the downstairs one though as this is the one visitors would use) If you have time left you can do other tidying?

Then “missions” - mop the bathroom floor and I don’t get this but go round the house and find 27 things to throw out. Is that like left over oatcakes in the kids room, or tea lights that have burned out in the hall?

It feels overwhelming. Yet the idea is that it isn’t? Is the system based on a particular size of house. Much as I love the 'big' house we are so lucky to be able to afford now, it takes forever to clean and tidy!!!

Hi Leo I am new, but I think the idea is for "progress not perfection" so definitely don't spend 2 hours cleaning out the car, set the timer for 15 mins on your phone/oven and pat yourself on the back once you've done 15 mins and move on. I think the idea is to not be overwhelmed and to keep progressively chipping away!

Here are my ta-das for the day
2 x loads washing
Changed our bed
Organised all the baby stuff we've been given into chest of drawers
Packed baby's hospital bag
Supermarket trip and put away
Dishwasher unload and reload
Packaged up lasagne and quiche for freezer (getting quite full now)
Stripped chicken carcass and put stock on

Still to do
Make chicken soup
Handbags declutter
Bathroom bin
Rubbish out
15 min cupboard declutter in bathroom
First ever 27 fling boogie
Get out for a walk

Hope all are having a lovely Friday and not too inconvenienced by the rain, I for one was so relieved to hear it on waking this morning with all of its promise of cooler air!

Hi Everyone,

Can I join you? I really really really need help on getting this utter tip clean & staying that way. We live on a farm & have all the mud/hay/straw/hair that goes along with it dragged around the house 24/7. Add 3 DC, DH, 4 cats, 2 hairy dogs who love to dig & horse hair, its hell!

Hi welcome newbies! :)

Re: hot spots. Basically my entire house is one giant hotspot. :o

Cag

A very warm welcome to Leo (I am sure you are not lazy ) and to Happilyahousewife

Happily sounds like my kind of household!!

Leo yes, I second what Furble says, don't get overwhelmed. The over-riding principle of the Flylady system is that you do short, sharp intense bursts of chores but do them very regularly and consistently. So, for example, don't spent hrs cleaning your car out until it is finished. Just spend 15 mins every Fri until it is clear. It will make a difference, I promise, you just have to keep at it regularly, week by week. (Remember, car de-cluttering will come up next Fri, and the Fri after that too.) That way you won't get burnt out.

I totally 'get' your confusion over the zones because I have a large house too ( a wreck, old, bits falling down, holes in walls etc) so you have to adapt the system to suit yourself and your home. Basically, I just focus on the main 'public' areas and the rest (which we don't use much) has gone to wrack and ruin but it is better than it was having extracted the main principles of the system, and got them to work to suit things here.

I also have a list of things to do twice monthly, quarterly, bi-annually and annually in my control journal (which will come up in a bit) which I ignore do from time to time.

Here is advice from Flylady herself in which she says "Don’t forget, all I ask is 15 minutes a day. Set a timer and just do a little every day. You will see a difference in a week’s time. In a month, you will start to notice a trend in your home. You can do this. It didn’t get dirty in a day and it is not going to get clean overnight. It is going to take a few months of decluttering, and then detail cleaning, to make your home the place of peace you want".

Also, was it FromWesttoEast who was asking how how to fit in the home bleugh down thread? (Apol if I have this wrong.) Have just noticed that Flylady also says "Many of you are trying to do zone cleaning while you are doing your Weekly Home Blessing Hour. Don’t do this. In fact, it is more important that you concentrate on your morning and before bed routines before you do your Weekly Home Blessing Hour."

Having revisited it just now, the website hasn't improved in terms of clarity has it?

HTH!

So at 7.15am I'm dressed to shoes and ready to head out of the door. Checked my emails and found out my 9am meeting in the city (hour and a half drive and the only reason I was going in today) was postponed until Monday. Reader, I looked at my shoes and thought of fly lady.

I've been up before 6am most days for two weeks (I am NOT a morning person) and I am totally exhausted! But I have an unexpected day at home, made simpler by the fact that I am already 'ready'.

So obviously I took off my shoes(!) and made a cup of tea, but really, thank feck for that. A day at home! And to celebrate, I am going to schedule a nap this afternoon on my 'to-do' list, for no other reason than I can, and I need one!

Will have a read through with (another) cuppa later and catch up, as this week has been too busy to post, but in the meantime, brain dump:

To do:
Dishwasher unload/ load
Laundry (basement looks like wall to wall jumble sale)
Ironing
Wipe down kitchen
Clean kettle
Clear car of rubbish
Uni Admin - finalize registrations and payment plan form
Reading - text and theory text (track it down)
Vacuum main floor
Collect 2xdc from after school science club
Sort out school bag and purse
Nag dh to book his car in to garage
Dd1 school trip paperwork
Wrap friend bday gifts
Post office - white stuff package, friend bday
Email Fitbit re knackered strap
Source dd2 bday present
Get dd2 to make lemon drizzle to take to friends' tomorrow
Main floor bathroom
Nag basement dwellers to sort their bathroom (2 x teenage girls. Wall to wall daily contact lens wrappers, tissues, make up (baffled, neither of them even wear make up except for performing, and yet it is All Over The Counters...) toothpaste, hair dryers, clothes, towels, toilet paper, baskets of 'things', hair nets, pins, bobbles. It is a wonder to behold...)

TA da:
Dressed to freaking shoes by 7.15am (now removed)

A tad late but signing in nonetheless!

Anybody got any tips for dealing with the paper? I allocate 15 mins to do some and sit there like a petrified rabbit, just overwhelmed.
For the rest I am using the Flyhelper app which does seem to help keep me on track. I'm best at the morning routine but not so hot on the before bed one. I like having zones because it reduces the number of outstanding items as I only stress about those in this week's zone. I have done a bit better today as the hot humid weather just shatters me.
Thanks Grey for leading - it really helps