Gather ye dusters (fledglings) while ye May, for soon we shall be Flying ... !

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Welcome to the May 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

Feel free to park your mops and buckets here from the 1st of the month!

This is where we attempt to declutter our homes and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy barftastic language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation (and of course) along the way.

More info available here, here here and here.

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. (Some of us are still stuck at the decluttering stage after quite a few years ):

1 - repeat or start baby steps (again!)

2 - repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

3 - reinforce babysteps and/or do daily missions
And those of you who have decluttered and are really enthusiastic can throw some detailed cleaning in to the mix as well!

The idea is that we focus on short, ring-fenced, daily bursts of activity (steps and routines) that will help our homes run (more or less!) on "automatic pilot" allowing us to do far more interesting things instead!

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 welcome!

Helpful pointers: No perfectionism allowed! If it took a while to create the current C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) in your home, then it will probably take a while to reverse the situation (you can't clean clutter!). Small steps are the key! And you are never behind: just jump in where you are at!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

Ta da
Shined sink
Washing machine on
Put out recycling
Bleached bins
S&S

To do
Tidy living room
Shine sink
Reboot laundry

Hello Dearohdeer

Oh that shoe clean up job sounds horrendous toostressy! Isn't being a parent great at times!

Well DDs rash flared up again about midnight and I ended up getting in to her bed for a cuddle as she was getting really upset and we fell asleep. Luckily I'm not v tall as she's still on a cotbed sized bed but must have been comfortable as we slept until 7am
Got some Piriton from pharmacy. The pharmacist said it's sounds like reaction to clothes or her bedding but I haven't changed detergent and it's all the same stuff sleeping in for ages. Plus it was all washed yesterday. It's a mystery!
She was fine this morning, been to her activity and had lunch. She's just tired now from broken sleep so she's watching Moana for the millionth time, she's obsessed!

Ta das

2 loads washing done
Cutlery drawer
Bins out
Swish and swipe bathroom and wiped floor

To do
Hang out washing
Lunch dishes
Wipe down kitchen

Hi...I've also been a lurker on here for a while and struggling to get going. Has anyone read her book Sink Reflections and found it easier to follow? Just wondering if its worth ordering, or if anyone has any tips. I seem to get overwhelmed with stuff and never get further than the lounge and kitchen.

Ta da
Morning routine
Washing in dryer
Cleaned kitchen window
15 mins putting clothes away
Bought oh a pressie so at least he'll have something, tried to buy clothes for dd school trip & holidays but the bloody website crashed!!

Still to do
Tea (spaghetti on toast just picked ds up, got to pick dd up at 430 and have ds out of the door for 530 so it a quick and easy tea tonight, they had a chicken pasta salad for lunch today though so at least one meal was actual food lol)
Cutlery drawer
15 mins ironing
Work
Darks wash once all kids are home and out of their uniforms

Unusual not to hear from zoo, hope all ok.

DD been v up and down all day, grumpy and tired! No signs of a rash but seems to come out when she goes to bed, getting too warm in bed maybe?

Ta das

Kitchen cleaned
Washing dried and brought in
Cooked dinner (potato, leek and ham hock gratin, comfort food!)
More decking painted while DD had a nap.
Got some new storage baskets for DDs room to contain the cuddly toy mountain

To do

Clear up after dinner
DD bedtime
Packed lunches
Ironing (there's always ironing!)

Hope you're feeling a bit easier cag

Forgive my rudeness in not saying hello to new flyers it's been totally mental here last few days. I started in Jan and I need this thread to keep me in check with the housework it's worked really well for me so fingers crossed it does same for you x

Welcome therealmrs . I read sink reflections a long time ago so can't fully remember it. It is good but tbh I think most of it is available on the website. I think there is a new book out, think SC or Cotswold knew about it?

Ta da:-
DD2 has done some poos in the toilet!!!
Ran a couple of errands
Tea in oven
Bedtime nearly done

To do:-
Get washing off line
Toy tidy up
Dishwasher
Thank you note for someone

BluePheasant, you've reminded me I keep meaning to get more baskets for DDs' rooms (ignores Flylady's words of being able to organise clutter ). Re. rash, yes possibly your DD hot at bedtime and heat rash or she is reacting to something on the sheets / blanket etc?

for your DD stressy, progress!
Yes, pharmacist said it sounded like reaction to bedding or clothing but nothing has changed it seems unlikely. Just one of those things I suppose, could have been an insect bite or something. I often get funny reactions to bites. I do think she is getting a bit warm under her duvet though, need to get her a summer one.

Toy baskets were set of three from Jojo Maman. I ordered online and when I unpacked them thought oh no, these are way too big! But nope, they are full! I think we need to start a one in, one out policy on the soft toys! At least they aren't all over the floor now, looks much better.

Hope you have a less crazy day tomorrow mermaids

Sleep well all

TherealMrs - I muddled along with this thread and Flylady for a couple of years but it didn't really click until I read Sink Reflections. So I would recommend it on that basis. However it is full of gushing, twee testimonials written from a Christian point of view which are not everyone's cup of tea.

Blue - my DD gets a rash on her torso randomly and occasionally, only very mild but it does bother her, I think it's heat rash as well as a possible reaction to new clothes. Can happen at this time of year if still using winter bedding / thick pjs.

HI all, a combination of a bad cold and a couple of horrendous days at work means very little flying but the dishwasher is on and the bins are out. Onwards and upwards...

Purple, thank you, had forgotten to put the bin out!! Will leave myself a note for tomorrow morning.

Evening all

Sorry to be late with links - had to go back to office after supper - we are hosting a Webinar tomorrow and the member of staff who normally deals with this sort of thing is away.

Cag so glad you got away in the end

A warm welcome to TherealMrsJolly ditto what Whoknows said about Sink Reflections. Had exactly the same experience with the book!

Hello to Dearohdear (have you been on this thread before, sorry if I don't recognise your nn!) A warm welcome to you!

Toostressy Yay to potty training successes!

Hope you have a better night's sleep tonight Rosa and BluePheasant

Cotswold I was wondering how your dd was getting on; so sorry she is still under the weather. Hope a day of rest has done the trick.

Expansive wing flaps to everyone else!

Did anyone get their cutlery drawer done today? I didn't manage it.

Links coming up!

x post Purple good to see you and hope you are on the mend!

*

The summary for Wednesday 10th May is available on the Flylady website here under "Today" and via the flight plan which should update itself automatically on a daily basis.

Baby-step no 10 for Wed 10th is here , the power of 15 mins.

We are in Zone 2 this week: Kitchen, Back Porch, Laundry Room, Pantry here. (May 07-13)

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 2 is here.

Wednesday's mission is here. Throw out any science experiments or moulding cheese or veg in your fridge.

The daily focus for Wednesday is anti-procrastination . Do that thing you have been dreading!

The monthly habit is moving in May!.

Daily reminders (which should also update automatically) are here.

Onwards and upwards fledglings!

***

Oh just wrote a whole reply and lost it! SC I didn't do the cutlery mission but did some fridge and paperwork decluttering in the kitchen.
Hope zoo ok!

To do
Daily routine
Decluttering in the kitchen
Deep clean something in the kitchen (fridge is ok)
Ironing
20 minutes exercise
Ring dentist (again!!)

It's a great idea having a housecleaning task each day like you are doing. Is it all repeated the following month or does it change to different tasks?

Do u cover the gardening too or is purely cleaning and organising inside the home?

I got off to a very bad start! I think it all started with the fact DS2 had an awful night and being awake for parts of it... then came downstairs and my DH had loaded the dishwasher but did not hand wash the saucepan, two knifes and a wooden spoon and they were left at the side of the sink!!

From that the sink became full with dishes lol

Decided because it was a lovely day and thought I would take DS1 & 2 to the park. When we got there all was a success DS1 was pushing the pram and walking fine, walked into the play area and then he wouldn't play!!! He just kept on whinging so I thought okay he wants me to play with him so managed to get him to the toddler slide and frame.. he went on it for a bit then continued to whinge... I think it was because he saw me pack the bag and saw I packed his lunch, banana and milk!
He had two spoons of his lunch and then refused it! He has his banana and then continued to whinge because I knew he wanted his milk. I have him his milk and said we are going home now because you are obviously tired and don't want to play so we went home and I put him to sleep! We were probably in the park for 30 mins max and from that time it takes 10 mins to unpack the pram and set up everything walk into play area and then another 10 min back to car and unpack everything to get in car!

Although I have had some tadas once I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself

Tadas:
Made my bed
Got dressed to the shoes
Cleared kitchen sink - loaded dishwasher and washed dishes DH left
Cleaned surfaces
Emptied bathroom bin
Put away laundry from yday's washing
Put a load of washing on
Switched it to the dryer

Then treated myself to some chocolates

Oh crap think DS1 is up from his nap! I hope he is in a better mood this afternoon

Crazy few days , couple of tadas today:
Morning routine
Washing is out
Cleaned outside of kitchen window

To do
Clear out fridge
15 mins clothes away
15 mins ironing
5 mins room rescue on the playroom
15 mins on the dining room cupboard as the task I keep putting off !!

Just a quick one ....

blue even though you say you haven't changed washing stuff have you recently opened a new box / bottle? Sometimes manufacturers change ingredients

My ta da today is that I took the Caglets swimming on my own today. First time I've ever taken them without DH (I get worried because of my muscle pain and dizziness) but it went brilliantly! :)

Aww Cag that's great! 💐💐💐bet the wee ones loved it!

Ta da's
Morning routine
School run
Got DD a doc appt and she was given an inhaler and new hay fever medicine so fingers crossed she will feel better soon.
Mopped floors
New dog walker came and said our rascal "wasn't the worst dog he'd ever had..." which I'm taking as a compliment as she is a handful....
Cleaned cutlery drawer
Cleaned out fridge
Cleaned half of kitchen cupboard-going to have to do it in stages
3 x loads of laundry
Dinner for all
DH doing food shop while DS at football training

To do
Evening routine
Ironing

Hope you've all had a good day! I'm doing ok with the decluttering I think but it's hard to find the time for the deep cleaning.

Xxx

*

The summary for Thursday 11th May is available on the Flylady website here under "Today" and via the flight plan which should update itself automatically on a daily basis.

Baby-step no 11 for Thurs 11th is one you can safely ignore if you want to, about adding an "inspirational" page to your cj.

We are in Zone 2 this week: Kitchen, Back Porch, Laundry Room, Pantry here. (May 07-13)

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 2 is here.

Thursday's mission is here. Declutter and tidy rolls of foil, cling-film, sandwich and freezer bags etc.

The daily focus for Thursday is running errands. Doctor, dentist, grocery shopping, dry-cleaning etc - useful to ring-fence one day per week for this sort of thing.

The monthly habit is moving in May!

Daily reminders (which should also update automatically) are here.

Keep going everyone!

*

lol at tidying up the tinfoil!! Way easier than the fridge tonight yipee!!!.... xxx

Mumontherun Great list! Hope the meds do the trick for your dd and deep cleaning will be become easier once you have decluttered. (Flylady's favourite phrase is "you can't clean clutter".)

That's great stuff Cag!

A v good point Afreshstart wise words

Busybee the tasks are roughly the same with small mission changes in each zone each month.

Talk about harnessing the power of 15 mins there Rosa!

Waves to Foxes and everyone else!

I didn't do cutlery mission yesterday but managed to clean out fridge today. That was all the Flying achieved apart from two loads washing and dw on.

Webinar went well and for that reason and because I spent most of the day driving dd around I didn't get much else done. Added to which I woke up feeling odd and nauseous and dripping with perspiration at 4am last night (sorry for tmi) and couldn't get back to sleep as feeling so rough. Sore throat and headache back today. Talk about the virus that keeps bouncing back! I despair!

So behind with everything now it is not funny! And have editing work on top due end of May. On the positive front though: off at crack of sparrows to wreck2 tomorrow for the day because the builders are starting on the roof! Whey hey!

G'night all!

x post Even better Mumontherun it's only the foil etc to do tomorrow -
more time allocated on Fri for cleaning materials!

Sorry Busybee meant to say earlier - sorry your day was so frustrating - I remember doing 30 mins setting up of crafts or baking etc - for dd to only be interested for 5 mins! You did an amazing list despite your difficult day though

Evening all.
It's been a much better day today although I'm still suffering s but with cold. Early night again tonight but at least there were no chairs flying around my classroom today.

Dh has done a big shop for all the things we'd run out of and couldn't get at Lidl. We've done a ten minute tidy to get the living room back to normal (ish!) and swept the floors. I've done a bit of prep for work next week too so I'm feeling organised. Plus dinner was a big veg feast curry with leftovers for lunch.