New Start November - in which the Friendly Fledglings Flutter and Fly!

[Cagliostro]

Hi all!

Welcome to a brand new month in which we (in a very casual way) follow the FlyLady method to try and banish CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), and to declutter in order to remove an excess of STUFF (Something That Undermines Family Fun).

A daily BabyStep, plus missions, daily focuses and weekly zones break our time into manageable chunks - all helped by lots of supportive chat and a Naughty Corner stocked with goodies.

All welcome!

< Lays out boxes,dens and comfy spaces for flyers pets/kids/anyone scare fireworks in quiet section naughty corner>

My furry boys are not happy jump at every very loud bang.usually they go out at night. Psycho mogs been in past 2,even atticus won't bd out tonight(remembers to put litter on the rarely used tray!!)

Thanks for welcomes! We got back from holiday at 1am this morning so lots to sort from that.

ta das:

• all suitcases unpacked and put away (instead of being tripped over for at least a week as usual)
• six loads washing put on
• sink shined

Phew!

zoo I feel sorry for pets at this time of year, I think you can get plug ins that are meant to be calming for them ? My cat doesn't seem bothered though, she is incredibly lazy though so probably doesn't even wake up!

Ta das
Folded more washing and put away
Tidied dinner things
Tidied living room
Changed ds sheets as he was sick on it this morning

Exciting times - I'm about to start a laundry thread because my washing seems to be very dry and crispy and creased . I don't have a tumble dryer but am wondering if a change of detergent might help? Going to start a separate thread too for extra traffic but thought I'd ask you wise people first

not much done here I'm afraid

tada
loaded dishwasher
cancelled appt with housing association as had appt with ds1 for adhd check
took ds1 to adhd check and have completed his christmas shopping (he wanted clothes-i choose badly apparently)
got back ds2 claims he was bit by a dog on his way home despite not seeing a dog, and having 4 evenly spaced scratches in his leg, chances are he got caught in the cog of his bike.
took ds1 and 3 to fireworks, ds2 went with friend.

Spoke to adhd consultant about ds3, hes very active and fidgety, on the go all the time, however no other signs, seems to concentrate, gets a bit distracted etc typical things id expect from an 8 year old boy, just wondering if you have or had 8 year old boys how bouncy are they? I only have ds2 to compare as ds1 isnt typical. And ds2 was always less active than ds3.

Just popping in - been far too busy with work by have been maintaining late night habit of loading washing machine on timer and 10 minutes or so of decluttering. It's working for now but obviously puts my bedtime back by 20 minutes or so - I just hope I can keep it going.
Best wishes Zoo

foxes sometimes a build up of detergent can do it that. Try put machine on hot wash with no washing in it?or add little vinegar to wash I remember be advice many moons ago when i had probs and no td
I did both and seem help.finger x u get a that sorted.
I've just woken cat stamp on me.zoolets still asleep-past week had wake lil zoo for school l.she's always a been a 530 started so bit worried.hol ng its a growth spurt

Babble I have a 7.5 year old boy and a 8.9 year old boy.

The older is quite calm, chilled, will choose activities and sit and do them without needing support, able to concentrate on school work etc

The younger struggles to stand still at times. Very difficult to engage in school work or activities not involving computers. Easily distracted, takes ages to do simple tasks like getting dressed.

School tell me he's quite like many boys his age and they have no concerns

Ta Da

Washer on

To Do

Everything else

For those struggling to get others to help around the house- we are trialling a new system. They all profess to it seeing what needs doing so I now have a white board I the kitchen and all of the day's to do list goes up on there. It includes things like 'birthday present for Joanne' so if DH pops out he can pick something up. (I also put the age in a circle next to the name if it's a dc birthday party gift so he gets the right card etc.

We'll see how we get on.

Hello all, found you eventually! Thank you for the thread!

A busy day in my household, I need to sort everything out today so I can have a nice quiet Sunday! Off to look at the missions.

Sounds like a good plan nicknacks

Sorry I didn't manage to get on here last night!

Today's baby step #5, banishing negative voices - quite a sensible one, many of us here are paralysed by perfectionishm and self doubt...

No missions as it's the weekend, so just declutter in zone 1 if you feel like it.

Saturday is Family Fun Day - do something together :)

Hi all!
Thanks for the washing machine tips zoo, I stupidly put the washing on again this morning and forgot to run it empty or put vinegar in first but I did change the spin setting and put less in which was suggested on another thread, if that doesn't make any difference I'll be trying vinegar next I think. Have also ordered some different detergent on the food shop to try. One of my cardigans came out of the machine yesterday and it felt like cardboard, I actually think it's ruined and am quite upset about it as it was new! First world problems I know but still...grr...

I'm feeling a bit more motivated today, I didn't when I first got up this morning but made myself get up and DO something and then started to get into it a bit more

Ta das
Wiped all kitchen surfaces thoroughly including underneath and behind things!
Took rubbish out
Put laundry on / hung ruined washing out
Mopped downstairs toilet floor and utility room floor
Put downstairs toilet towels and mats out for wash
Put all tea towels / kitchen towels out to wash
Decluttered utility room a little bit (found a horrible old crusty bib and a toilet roll covered in a spider's web - hideous!!)
Cleaned downstairs toilet / sink etc

Made a coffee and having a sit down before I burn out and give up for the rest of the day!

NickNacks I love that idea, my kids are too young to help (although dd does know how to tidy toys and she likes to put washing away but she is only 2.5 so it kind of makes it take longer!). My dh never finds himself near any shops to get any presents for anyone! Let us know how it goes.

Cag like the idea of banishing negative voices, I find that however much I get done I always feel like I should or could be doing more and the house is never perfect, but what I am trying to tell myself is it will NEVER be perfect because it's our home and we live in it, have fun in it and therefore make mess in it! I don't want it to be perfect I just want it to be tidy enough that my mind feels clear and I don't feel stressed out by the mess.

Anyway I've waffled on long enough now!

Ta das.hoovered kitchen living room and spare room
Cleaned upstairs bathroom
Dusted furniture downstairs
Cleaned dd easel with her help!
Bit of washing up
Dishwasher on
Birthday card written

To do
Mop bathroom upstairs
Hoover bedrooms

Off out soon to more fireworks but hit some family visiting first but they're late... going to be awkward if we end up having to chuck them out so we can go!

foxesyou are a flying machine today!!

I haven't really done anything cept feed cats and zoolets today. Exhausted and depressed.I did make decision to do hot food at lunch as last 2 mights teas nerm cereal as I've just run out if both energy n gption to do anything else.feeling so bad bout it I thought I'd do something simple and hot for lunch,then if a bomb again it not such big deal.it was only some rice and frozen green veggies with tuna and butter added to little ones and dd2had broad beans and a little cheese with hers followed by apples.feel pleased I did it (and anaze lil zoo ate it with gusto as resisted furiously the idea when I broach at breakfast having hot meal at lunch)

zoo that lunch sounds great! Nothing wrong with cereal for tea sometimes though, dd has just had weetabix for her supper as she didn't want to eat anything when we were out earlier! I hope you start to feel better soon, hope you don't mind me saying but maybe you should try again with the GP as well, is there another GP you can see?

Ta das -

Sink shined
Kitchen floor swept
2 loads washing put on
Masses of washing dried and put away
Huge heap of stuff on my bedroom floor moved so I can switch on radiator (needs big sort out, will do another time)
Bit of ironing done - 2 shirts and a jacket. I literally cannot remember when I last did any ironing 😁

Hey lovely Fledglings! It's been a busy day here. DH has moved the sofa and the old/spare fridge freezer outside as the council are collecting it on Monday. So we are now sofa-less! It's weird! But having the space will be helpful. Obviously we will not be sofa-less long term, but we decided to just get rid now (it was seriously falling apart, uncomfortable, yuck) and make the most of the extra space for a bit.

Today I've photographed a few little bits for selling, and ditched some other stuff, I've done plenty of laundry which can be put away tomorrow and I've put loads of DVDs away. I'm also starting to upload some old CDs onto my iTunes so I can chuck the discs, which feels a bit final and scary...

So, Sunday is renew your spirit day, do something nice for YOU.
No missions, it's the weekend. But we are now in Zone 2, the Kitchen - so you can declutter/clean in there if you so choose.
Baby step 6 is HOT SPOTS - this is a great one for newbies, as it explains something we often talk about on here, and well, we all have hot spots! Some more than others

Good morning fledglings, thanks to Cag for the new thread and tho SC for October.

Lovely to have to back "NickNacks* - lots of old faces still here, and lots of lovely new ones too.

Still - sorry you are having some down days, they are crap aren't they? My medication works brilliantly, and if I forget to take it for a few days, of if I forget to pick up the latest prescription and have to go without for a while, I feel terrible. Not sad and tearful, but irritable, stressy and in the possession of a seriously short fuse. < pats cushions in naughty corner >

Cag and Babble - hope the aches and pains have a chance over the weekend to settle.

Ta Da
Fed DS
Fed furries
Caught up on thread
Dishwasher on

To Do
Visit friends who have a scrummy new four day old baby!!!
Make a shepherds pie to take to the new parents
Sweep up 10,000 leaves that our tree has crapped all over the lawn and (shared) car park
Fold and put away dry laundry
Several loads of washing
Hand washing up
Hand wash laundry
Get work bag and clothes ready for tomorrow

So our habit of the month is Meal Planning.... I am really bad at this, I can never make a meal plan and stick to it. DH is away a lot at the moment and DS has his main meals at nursery, so I just can't be arsed to cook a meal just for me. I end up picking and grazing all day. So, I suppose I need to sort myself out really!

grey that's lovely you're taking your friends a shepherds pie , i would have been really grateful for a nice meal when ds was tiny (he is 9 weeks now and I'd still be grateful!!) .

As for meal planning, I already do this because I find it saves me money as well and stops any waste. I am quite flexible with my meal planning though, so I do a list on a Friday of next week's meals taking into consideration any meals we are having out or any nights dh is away for work and then I do my online food shop. I write the meals on my phone for each day but I tend to swap them around during the week depending on sell by dates on food / whether I remember to get stuff out of freezer etc but all the meals get done just in whatever order we fancy them.

I can totally understand if you're only really cooking for one person though why it might not really work, I know when dh works away I tend to just have something quick and easy after kids are asleep. But he doesn't work away that much. You could have a look for some quick easy recipes for one or does your ds have a light meal in the evening that you can have as well but bulk it out more for you? Like omelettes or something?

cag we got rid of our CDs recently and we have so much more space now! It meant we could also get rid of our CD unit thing too.

Ta das
Washing on
Tidied living room
Wiped kitchen sides
Washing up

To do
Mop bathroom floor
Finish hoovering
Make dinner
Tidy upstairs quickly

Get baby ds to go to sleep!!

Hi all, busy weekend here as it was DD1's birthday party today . It seemed to go smoothly. I have lucked out and am staying to shut down the hall while my in laws, DH and DDs go back home. House will be in a post birthday chaotic mess but doubt I'll be able to do anything about that today.

Ta da:-
Birthday party!

To do:-
Attempt to stop house descending into chaos while in-laws here
Laundry
Dishwasher
Open presents with DD1 and make list of who bought what
Get petrol before going home
Before bed routine
10 mins preschool committee stuff

Hello all. Been awol because between work, distress over the kitten (see end of last thread) and one thing and another, the house has gone to pot over the last week. Need to get in gear, but this week ahead is going to be busy too. Will have to try baby steps...

Babble - DS1 is 9, nearly 10, and DS2 is 7. Neither of them ever stops, and their energy is relentless! DS1 is able to sit and concentrate for much longer now - he's spent all afternoon absorbed in a school project on Roald Dahl, for instance - but he's still a total fidget.

foxes not offended in slightest.go try gp again tomorrow
Saw dd1today.she drives and we pop town and she help do a reasonable size shop with fruit n veg(heavy)and frozen food. Was lovely see her(esp fir lil zoo as got her belated bday gift-set books she wanted)
We end up eat lunch at 3 so it was huge-gam/humus salad wraps,crisps,fruit,yogurt and a chocolate dairy,nut n wheat free birthday cake(thanks sainsbo!!)
Means just a light snack before bed for all!!
Did school uniform wash today
Need chivvy baths n hairwashs
Check any home works done