Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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

953 replies

Slurrycart · 28/04/2017 09:36

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 Wine 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 Blush):

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Slurrycart · 17/05/2017 06:44

Cotswold what will you be making today in craft class? [Pure nosiness emoticon]

OP posts:
Slurrycart · 17/05/2017 07:21

Purple feel free to ignore but I have the perfect recipe for your cheese & carb loving veggie guests on Sat: Nigella's double potato and halloumi bake! It is definitely not "fine dining"; looks quite rustic, but can prepare in advance, doesn't mind waiting in oven if guests are late and tastes really good too! (We sometimes add a bit of chilli to it.)

OP posts:
Slurrycart · 17/05/2017 07:21

Sorry forgot the link here.

OP posts:
BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 07:46

That's a great list slurry considering you ain't 100%

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 07:50

Well that was yday your weren't 100% hope you all have a great day!

I am trying to be motivated today and clean whole house! Let's see how I get on.

Ta Das already:
Bathed DS1
Packed his bag in order to ship him off to mother in law this morning and my mum will collect during the afternoon

Right I have DS2 back to sleep

Time to get things done!!

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 07:52

Ooo slurry I wouldn't mind that receipt! My family are awful with vege food! They don't like pasta they don't like lasagne Angry

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 07:52

Recipe*

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 07:52

Right better get off here shower and get dressed to motivate myself lol

Rosabellajames · 17/05/2017 07:59

Morning!! Well today is brighter because I get to pick dd up from her trip! She was probably better off away from home anyway with the dreaded bugs lurking here! Ds only got up a couple of times to go to the toilet and although dd2 didn't sleep great (think she's got belly cramps) there was no poop or sick and she's had a good wet nappy this morning so hopefully she's on the mend (a lot quicker than her brother! I'm going to catch up properly on the thread in a mo with my cuppa Smile
To do
5 min room rescue on each room ( small little blasts while the 2 sickys are happy)
Keep attacking the washing
Do yesterday's and today's bathroom task if I'm not up to my elbows in sick and poop haha
Bag up dd old clothes and pop in the car to give to my friend this afternoon
Order some clothes for the holidays next week because I doubt I'm going to get shopping as planned!

Rosabellajames · 17/05/2017 08:39

busy hope you enjoyed your massage!

einstein did you fill in your application form?

cag really pleased for you that you could hear the heartbeat! I loved midwife appointments just for that sound!

purple working full time takes up most of your day, so a ta da list with anything other than work and eating is an achievement !

sc hope you're feeling better this morning ?

cot I wanted to have a 'homemade' Christmas this year and wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine - neither has happened yet haha hopefully when I've sorted a morning and evening routine that works, I may have an hour or 2 for myself a week - what kind of crafts do you like ?

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 08:51

Ross that's great you are having a better day! Positivity is key and if you start your day feeling like it is a better day then it will be.

Like they say the law of attraction - what you are thinking is what you attract in your life

Keep up there positivity

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 08:51

Sorry I did type Rosa! Predictive changed it to Ross

foxessocks · 17/05/2017 10:03

Morning everyone! Loving the positive vibes on this thread this morning! I'll try and continue them...ds slept ok last night , we were up 3 times but dh brought me a coffee up when ds woke at 6 and he did go back to sleep until 7.30 ish so I had a little bit of a snooze. We've missed our music group we usually go to this morning because ds has fallen asleep at just the wrong moment but dd is being very understanding and says she'd rather not wake him and has accepted my offer to go to a cafe later instead! Also need to sort a few things for dh birthday on Friday as we are making a cake and a birthday card.

To do
Daily routine
Go to the shop for cake and card making supplies
Change towels and bath mat in bathroom
Clean bathroom floor
Hoovering
Order a couple of photos of ds for our wall (anti procrastination Wednesday!!! Have been meaning to do this since he was born basically!)

I can't remember who said it sorry and I'm on my phone so hard to check back but agree wholeheartedly about making to do lists short so you don't feel overwhelmed, this is what I do and then if I do more than my list I feel really good! I think my list today is too long though...

foxessocks · 17/05/2017 10:04

Haha I wasn't as positive as I intended to be then!!

BusyBee2017 · 17/05/2017 10:32

Yep I agree make them short.

If you are up to date with the to do list from day and feel like doing more then tackle the to do list for tomorrow... that way you feel like you are ahead of the game!

Well that is what I did at work haha different ball game at home because some days you don't feel motivated at all so having an aim of doing at least one thing (however small) off your list is an accomplishment.

I put all sorts on my lists including order certain stuff off the internet to remind myself I will put the organising task on my calendar like the pic. Currently have one organising task on everyday at 12.30 (when DS1 naps) until 2nd June.

If I was at work I will put the reminder on my calendar during lunchtime because I try and get as much done as work as I possibly can. I do calendar reminders partly because my brain is like a sieve and If it isn't written down to remind me it doesn't get done!

Gather ye dusters (fledglings) while ye May, for soon we shall be Flying ... !
YesEinsteinsMumDid · 17/05/2017 11:31

Why what you heard SC? 4am stabbing pains in my knee and shoulder kept me up

Application is not done it is one of those annoying on line ones that have to be completed in one sitting because you can't save it and I have to track down some information so as soon as I have had breakfast and a coffee that is my first job.

For those of you wondering if I slept 4-11 I did not. The boy child is incapable of making his own breakfast and needs chasing out the door to school. However I did make the most of a day off and go back to bed for an extra 2 hrs sleep.

To do
Wash my duvet and pillows
Rotate wool items in the freezer
put ds' clothes away because i like them to stay folded and go away tidy and he is going to be tackled on the rest of his room which means they will be thrown in temper if I don't
get ds to tidy his room
pick a fight about getting homework and doing revision
put my clothes away
deal with the mountain of old towels that needs redistributing throughout the house in key places to deal with such things as leaking radiators, drying out the shower to help cut down mold, and clearing up drink and other spillages in the lounge. Oh and sorting out the bubble vomitting washing machine.
One that lot is done I have to tame my room which is ridiculous and fight my birthday book voucher that I put in a safe place because I want to pop up to the big shopping centre to go pick up a book.
which reminds me I also need to:
ring the tech dept about a broken computer
ring the customer service department about a faulty gift card
book a car service
book an MOT
well it is anti procrastination day and I have a very very very long list of stuff I am procrastinating about Hmm

Oh and nearly forgot! Gratulerer med dagen!

Gather ye dusters (fledglings) while ye May, for soon we shall be Flying ... !
Slurrycart · 17/05/2017 12:11

Yay Einstein (sorry about the knee)

Happy Norway Day!!!

[why Mumsnet don't have a champagne emotion I just don't know!]

HÃ¥per du har en god en!

(Yes, that is a Google translate phrase so forgive me if I have said something untoward!! Grin)

Temporary waves to everyone else until I can get back to the computer. Half school day here on Weds - just off to transport dd from school to maths tutor - whilst providing lunch service in the car!

OP posts:
YesEinsteinsMumDid · 17/05/2017 12:59

We have proper Norwegian coffee and there will be waffles later. Grin Although we are totally unprepared and admist proper building chaos so it will not be a celebration like other years.

Rosabellajames · 17/05/2017 13:16

Happy Norway day einstein online applications are a pain !

My morning Ta Das
Got dressed (woohoo)
5 min room rescue on ds, dd, our rooms, kitchen, playroom and bathroom ( all are not back to normal yet but will aim to do another 5 mins on those that need extra tomorrow/tonight)
Bathroom cleaned
Washer & dryer have been going constantly
Clothes bagged up and I'm the car
Thrown out dd2 bath seat (classed as 15 mins decluttering?? Grin )
Played just dance with ds (moving in May)

To do
Make dd bed ( I stripped but didn't remake on Monday )
5 min room rescue on living & dining room
Keep the washer and dryer going
Iron dd uniform for tomorrow

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 17/05/2017 13:29

"online applications are a pain" especially when the computer runs out of battery without giving you a warning. Attempt 6 coming up. Anyone else get the feeling that fate might me trying to give me a hint? Hmm

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 17/05/2017 16:23

apparently today is not my day.

Ds has just solved the issue of taking washing up down stairs by throwing it down the stairs AngryAngryAngry Did I say parenting teenagers was fun? Angry

At least I got him in the shower?

FFS.

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 17/05/2017 16:28

anyone else relate?

Gather ye dusters (fledglings) while ye May, for soon we shall be Flying ... !
Cagliostro · 17/05/2017 16:58

Yes! 😱

PurpleDaisies · 17/05/2017 17:50

slurry that recipe looks perfect. Thanks for sharing. I could easily eat my own body weight in halloumi.

Happy Norway day einstein. We went there on our honeymoon and absolutely loved it.

It's been another busy day at work so not much else to report yet. I'm pleased the bathroom is this week's zone because it's pretty much the one room that's decluttered and organised.

Ta da
Work
Dispatched dh to the shops
Started dinner which will also be lunch tomorrow
Lots of email admin

To do
Put dry washing away
Get another wash on
10 minute general tidy
Early night!

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 17/05/2017 18:21

Ta da
Write job application - arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!! but done
Wash my duvet and pillows done
Rotate wool items in the freezer done
put ds' clothes away - errrrrrrrr
get ds to tidy his room - Hmm well the washing up did technically get down stairs Angry
pick a fight about getting homework and doing revision do I have to?!
put my clothes away
distribute old towels
tame my room
find book voucher done
ring the tech dept about a broken computer nope
ring the customer service department about a faulty gift card nope
book a car service nope
book an MOT nope
Ds into a shower and clean (yes it happened prior to the washing up incident) done
PLay hunt all the paperwork in order to complete the application done but it looks like an explosion in a filing cabinet

Now for waffle making and possibly consider completing some of the undone stuff on the list.

Swipe left for the next trending thread