Fledglings flying high in July - the Flylady thread

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Hello and welcome to July's Flylady thread! This is a lovely friendly thread where we follow (sort of) the Flylady system in the hope of having organised homes. Some of us are more successful at this than others ;).

Newcomers are very welcome, please don't be put off by any abbreviations or general gossip. Please join in the gossip.

Every day the thread leader (me this month) will post information about the next day. This will be the current zone we are in, the decluttering/ tidying mission and the habit for the day / month. Generally this is done the evening before.

All information is available on the Flylady website www.flylady.net. On the website there is information for beginners. You can also sign up to the Flylady emails -
we would advise caution as there are hundreds of them.

We post our achievements (ta das) and our to do lists and any other general chatter about life / flying.

There will be lots of information on this thread and you can also have a look around the (confusing at times) Flylady website:-

Information on getting started: www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

The launch pad is also a good starting place:www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

Fly stands for Finally Loving Yourself. The general idea is that short bursts of tidying / organisation are more achievable than marathon efforts. Flylady advises 15 minute bursts is effort but you can tweak this to fit your own circumstances.

It is not a miracle and sometimes the missions are very optimistic but I work on the principle that something is better than nothing :)

Thanks for a great June thread SC.

Happy flying everyone .

Cag ahh, your post has taken me back to the days of greasepaint, ballet buns and stage rehearsals! Hope it all goes well for your dd and that she enjoys it!

Hello all, another hot day here.

Ta da:-
Had nice family day out . The time after that when we got back was slightly more stressful as DD1 hot and bothered (not good in the heat like me!) and then felt obliged to take in my neighbours' DC for a couple of hours as they have a newborn. Think DD1 just wanted to chill out out after the heat but at least it kept DD2 tired out.

Not sure what else I have achieved!

To do:-
Shower
Decluttering
Preschool admin
General tidy up
Laundry
Before bed routine

SC, as you know my DC are much younger so I have no expertise in this. But... in the parenting manual (123 magic) from my course it has an idea for older children that basically you give them a deadline for a chore - eg I need you to have your stuff put away by tomorrow evening (or longer if that seems too optimistic). If that doesn't happen you will charge for putting them away (you have warned her this is the deal) by docking a token amount off her allowance. Does that make sense? Seemed a good idea to me as it does allow you to crack first and put the stuff away but you are at least trying to have the authority. As I say, no idea if that would work or not - she may be too old.

foxes, sorry, had forgotten you were away! how old is DS now? There is some advice out there for early waking but not a huge amount. TBH (and I doubt this is what you want to hear) I think the best advice is to suck it up. DD1 woke at 5 (sometimes before) for a long time from when she was 5-6 months until probably 1 year then it was around 5:30am or so and I have a friend who's 6 year old still wakes before 5 . It's like when you have a baby. The sooner you accept that this is the new world order the easier it is to accept. I accepted anything after 5 am as morning and just got on with it. There is the option to treat anything before 6 as night waking but it can be soul destroying and they are often just too awake to go back off, especially if you have another DC who then wakes. It is particularly hard when they are at the crawling baby / early toddler stage as you just have to get up. As they get older you can at least crawl out of bed and stick CBeebies on. Hopefully someone else will have better advice than me!

Purple, glad you had a lovely day yesterday. Cag, how did the show go? Cotswold, no broken sinks is definitely a win .

Big wing flaps to Afresh, zoo, Wh0Kn0ws, BluePheasant, mermaids,longtime, Grey, Crackers, jodie and everyone else. Will post links later.

foxes, if still feeding in the night you can try a dream feed but he may be too old.

www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Baby-Sleep-System-Wendy-Dean/095581541X?tag=mumsnetforum-21. I used this book foxes. One of the few books with early waking advice. Please note though that the forum it talks about (which was fab) no longer works.

foxes glad you OK and had a nice hol.I'm afraid suck it up how I cope.if he wakes regular time (ie 5)I'd set alarm fir 450.I pref not be woken by kids.the day seems much easier if I am awake on my terms iyswim

cag how about bar charts for the maths thing I what I've seen today?(kids,dogs,birds etc)last summer I took Zoolets in a walk nature reserve and they took paper and pens and counted how many rabbits,sparrows,crows etc we saw and made chats when we git home.they really enjoyed it maybe we are just weird!?

I ended up at a friend yesterday pm(the one I help clean before moved) decorating done she's knee deep in boxes so we went round yesterday.I helped her sort some stuff,Zoolets amused her son(sn)

Today I've had worst case bloody PMS imaginable.thrown my toys out the pram so many times today.poor zoolets

Managed couple loads laundry,quick tidy up

afresh best advice I ever given us label boxes where you want them to end up(eg kitchen,dc room)and take kettle,mugs and coffee/tbags in a carrier bag in the car you travel in

Hope you enjoyed your well deserved lie in this morning Purple!

Toostressy You are a lovely neighbour!

Thanks v much for advice. Much appreciated! Dd did do some more clearing this eve but still lots to do, and funnily enough I have just told her that if it's not finished properly by Tues eve, her phone will be confiscated on Wednesday! Honestly, what with all the hassle this has caused, it would have been so much easier just to cave in and do it myself, but I am standing firm!

Sorry, can't scroll very well on this tablet thing but waves to everyone else!

Had lovely family day today: mass, nice Sunday lunch, dd riding/dog walk, made a sweet yeast pastry for first time ever to top a pie made with blackcurrants from garden, plus an apple tart. Also accomplished 4 loads laundry which grilled nicely outside. Unfortunately, unusually for me, I have left kitchen in terrible chaos. Heat was tiring; need my bed! Not looking forward to facing the mess in the morning! G'night all!

Thanks sans I really did! I woke up early ish so had a nice quiet cuppa on the sofa with some trashy tv u til dh woke up and we had scrambled eggs with spinach mixed with garlic and herb philedelphia for breakfast. It was a proper treat.

I've been to church and stopped at tk maxx on the way home for new bed sheets after losing three recently. Dh changed all the linen so it's a huge treat being in bed tonight. For the first week in ages we've actually finished everything on the Sunday night list and I'm even ahead with planning. It's an early start tomorrow so early(ish) night tonight. I've been ready for bed since about 830pm!

Still struggling with the washing as I stripped all of the beds here today. Dnephew arrived for a holiday today so will be busy taking him and dd to various theme or water parks over the next few days. Can't see me getting much flying done. I think I'm just going to have to accept that I'm not going to start this properly until September when dd leaves for England. I have so much to sort out its overwhelming!

Things i dream of tonight:
ds getting a grip
not being given the school uniform wash at 10:45pm on a sunday night when it is needed for 7am monday morning.
there being food in the house for tea or being told i need to pick something up when the local shop is still open (it closes at 10pm and we drove past it to get home at 9:45pm)

All that there is for tea is: 1 packet of crisps, a banana and a bit of cheese.

tomorrow has got to be better right?

Eeeek I am so sorry everyone! Just looking on Flylady website to do the links and it is saying that we are in zone 3 next week (as in from tomorrow) . It is very confusing as, looking at the dates it split up the first weekend and first full week in July into two separate zones. Clearly I did not read the missions at all last week, let alone do any. Maybe you were all too polite to tell me or maybe there is a glitch on the website . Either way I am now completely confused so I will post links as if we are in zone 3 from tomorrow. Hopefully your kitchens will not feel too left out.

Sorry if I have confused any new people. Basically, Flylady splits the month into zones and it is roughly one week for each zone. She seems to have changed it this month, perhaps because July began on a weekend or because 4th July is big in the US? Just assume we are doing the bathroom and one extra room next week and I will have to check the website tomorrow.

Hello to Purple (fab lie in!), zoo (the queen of dealing with early waking) and SC (good luck with kitchen mess tomorrow).

Xpost Einstein, thinking good vibes for better day tomorrow for you!

**
Here is the daily summary for Monday (also available on the Flylady website at flight plan which should update automatically each day.

The daily focus for Monday is: weekly home blessing hour or the home bleugh as we call it on here. Ugh.

Baby-step no 10 - using a timer I use timers a lot but must get round to buying more as usually use the one on my phone and need to get one that DDs can look at for time outs and tidying up etc.

reminders

I am totally confused (see earlier post) but it appears we are in zone 3 this week the bathroom and one other room

Spend 15 mins decluttering, or whatever you can manage, in Zone 3.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 3 is here

The week's missions are here

Flykids mission

July's habit is swish and swipe

Happy flying everyone.

**

Also Purple, or anyone else with classroom experience, I am planning to buy Pritt Stick as presents for DD1's amazing teacher and TA after being recommended it on here as a good teacher present. Just looked on Amazon and there are loads of different sizes! My own DDs use the smallish ones but not sure if that is right for lots of glueing. Does it matter which size I get? Or should I just get an Amazon voucher / something else? Sorry for such a boring question. Was going to start s thread but thought I would get slated for over-thinking it .

I may have been ignoring the missions Stressy but I did notice but only last night that the zone was still in 1 and I suspect the Flylady emails said the same - it was an odd week because zone 1 would have been over the weekend when we don't do any zone work I think that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

DH out for most of the day today, spent the morning playing with DD with slight breaks to hang out laundry (fabulous drying weather!), empty dishwashers and shop/cook. It's been a lovely day.

Project over the next week is to eat from the freezer. Lots in there, but all stuff that needs the talent of organisation defrosting before eating.

Heading into the last couple of manic end of term weeks, still aiming to get everything sorted within 3 weeks before we go away. Ahh, made myself laugh then never happens

Thanks for further maths ideas! I have a list now and will try and think over the next few months. Sadly not organised enough to get it sorted for this summer but if I have lots of time to plan maybe I can manage it next year.

DD did brilliantly in her show! I was so nervous for her (not that I showed her that obviously) - first big show since starting dance and she was leading her group too (not bad for a newbie!). But she was great. Had a rough night as she was overwhelmed (hours backstage with barely anyone she knew) and is devastated that it's over.

I can't sleep which is fabulous timing as we have a 3.5hr train journey to Dorset. Awesome. Pretty much done packing, need to leave at 10.

Thanks for the early morning suggestions, ds actually slept until 6.35 this morning! Unfortunately he did a huge poo that leaked out of his nappy and has gone on his bed and all over the carpet (and me!)...not a good start to the day wiping that up while he screamed!

First task of the day... clean poo stain out of carpet, any suggestions?!

bicarb of soda paste? (this instance bicarb +water)

The cooker is in the process of being delivered.

Thanks Einstein I'll see if I've got some. Dh has just called to say he didn't put the bin out so I've now got several quite pressing things to do but an still just sitting on the sofa drinking coffee ... Have stuck TV on for dd already! Not good start!

Sounds like a better start than the exchange of swear words here!

Good morning all!

Oh dear re: the poonami Foxes! And the swearing Einstein!

Safe travelling Cag!

Cotswold thanks for the reminder; we need to eat from the freezer too - need to defrost the wretched thing!

Ha Longtime your post made me nod in recognition! You have my sympathies! During term term, I always thing "I will get that major decluttering project done during the holidays" and during the holidays (ie visitor season) I think, "I will have more time during term time!" It's hopeless .

Wow you sound v organised Purple

Toostressy do not worry a jot about the zones! The dates are here and the kitchen was from July 4 -8 but the problem is that this information is always hugely delayed for some reason and the Flylady website wrongly displays the previous month's dates for quite a few days at the beginning of each month. It used be only 2 or 3 days behind, and now it is an entire week or so! Ridiculous and very confusing! The site badly needs updating.

DD has happily gone off to art workshop (mornings only this week) and dh has gone to the office, so for the first time in weeks, I have the house to myself! Yippee! Dh also (very heroically) began to tackle some of the kitchen mess I left overnight before he departed, so its not quite as bad as anticipated.

BODY CLUTTER
This is bad - I am 3.5 to 4 stone overweight. In evidence, I have to go this morning and pick up the remnants of the outdoor reclining chair on the terrace, that I sat on yesterday and it collapsed under my weight . Fortunately, this was witnessed by no one save for the furry!

As a formerly thin person who could eat anything; the wife of a dh who (among other ways) shows affection through cooking, the mother of a child who is on the lightest weight to height percentile and constantly needs feeding up, I am struggling! I also feel really unhealthy and look like a hippopotamus!

If any of you have managed successfully to lose weight in a sustained and healthy way, please would you mind contributing to my weight loss thread here. I need advice on some very basic issues! Thank you!

Have a productive start to the week everyone!

SC, I'm just procrastinating, aren't I?

I don't think so Longtime rl just gets in the way sometimes! And domestic work is never ending! I used to have so many visitors during the summer (the expat curse) that I was permanently exhausted. Now I am less welcoming and have fewer visitors - but I am older and less fit - and the house is even more decrepit and difficult - so I still find it exhausting!

Having said all of that, I have been particularly poor with my decluttering achievements during this past academic year. I've had the time and I haven't done it. Simply no excuses .

Hello all. Ta da:-
Went for run
Morning routine
DD2 at activity - just about to finish
Packed lunch made

To do:-
Need to sort out some paperwork later
Decluttering later as well
Have friend coming for play date now - house not really tidy enough but will do quick stash and dash before they come

SC, no great advice but a target of 2 years to lose the weight is completely achievable I think. Thanks for that link to the zones

. foxes, good luck with poo clean up. Hope your day has improved. Hope you have a nice time Cag.

Ta das
Daily routine including bathroom swish and swipe
Changed ds bed sheets
Nearly finished some work I had to do today deadline is tomorrow morning

To do
Post card and parcel
Go to the shops
Today's mission and bathroom declutter
Ironing
Clean up utility room

Having just read today's bathroom mission I have already wiped sides over but do need to wipe shelves properly and actually lift things out the way !
As for the garage... I'm not even going there!! Will declutter in DS bedroom instead!

Hi folks. I am the worst person to give advice on body clutter. Start of this year I was nearly double my ideal weight! I lost nearly two stone just by cutting right back on fizzy drinks. As for now, I look more pregnant than I actually am!

Just had a swim. This place is very nice and we are literally right next to the pool. Journey was LONG but the Caglets coped really well considering one train journey was a solid 2.5hrs!