Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings Fly back to school & work, September 2017, decluttering along the way ...

870 replies

Sandycarrots · 31/08/2017 17:17

Hello, it's time to brush the sand off our feet, empty out the suitcases, sharpen our pencils, polish our lace-up shoes, and get stuck in to the September 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

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.

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

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!

More info available here, here and here.

Your choice whether or not you sign up to the Flylady e-mails, but we advise caution as there are lots of them!

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:
Sandycarrots · 13/09/2017 14:24

Waiting for plumber ...

Can I just say "Yay baby!!" too (joins in with general excitement)
I bloody love babies!!

Go steady Cag Flowers

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 13/09/2017 14:26

(sidles past Zoo's plate of scones, whistling in nonchalant fashion)

OP posts:
Cagliostro · 13/09/2017 14:47

:o

I'll enjoy the virtual scones as I am now low carbing on doctors ofders till the birth

Stilllivinginazoo · 13/09/2017 14:56

cagSadnot very supportive of me but i think id die without my usual mountain of carbs no willpower whatsoever
sc no need whistle noncholantly by.help yourself.i am known in real life as a feeder if all and sundry.might as well be on here too
Ive just had a hysterical 15 mins armed with a laser pen and two very excitable kittens marauding like lunatics after it....i really need to get out more

Stilllivinginazoo · 13/09/2017 14:57

Epic failure of punctuation and bold type.proving what i said bout idiot......

Newchick · 13/09/2017 17:32

Whoopee for baby on horizon from me too!

15 mins decluttering today. Took box books to charity shop in local town. Took them away again because charity shop manager has hurt her back and can't carry downstairs to store room. She showed me her bruise Shock. Took box of books back to car. Now I have to go to another local town to get rid. Huge sigh.

Stilllivinginazoo · 13/09/2017 17:48

Thats a pita newchick
Tadas
Picked up lil zoo
Snack(sweets today)
Supervise her homework i set plus ds homework from school
Dinners on(soup for snotty dd2.lil zoo n ds have lamb mince with mushrooms cumin n mint stuffed in pita with shredded lettuce.jelly for pud)
Wash on as ds has 4school shirts and ive a pile white towels so could lob in together
Fed cat/kits

To do
Wash up dinner things once theyve eaten
Fall asleep dribbling watch tv before its fully dark

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 13/09/2017 17:55

Ooh very exciting re baby news Cag. Hope everyone who needs it has managed some Cake, Brew or chocolate to get them through the day.

Work day today and on longish shift so just about to leave work. No flying done yet really but hopefully will manage a small amount tonight.

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 13/09/2017 18:02

7 weeks makes that 1st Half of Nov. Not that my to do list is accompanied by a week by week what must be done by and a day to day list of must do to do list or anything Blush I totally agree with you Cag 7 weeks is going to fly by and it just can't too much to do

5 weeks til half term holidays

Ds apparently has had a fabulous day and is not tired. toad I on the other hand am about to go make a hot water bottle and go to bed for the night Blush I am done in. Although I should probably check what I put on my to do list this morning

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 13/09/2017 18:09

So ignoring the hahahaha nope list

To do list:
load of washing done
print homework done
make ds' lunch done
breakfast and up for day done
work not forgetting thing to be picked up from office done
Early Night!!!! please please please!
Return ds' lego
Watch outlander on catch up. meh
Sorted out contact days for ds and his dad until 1st week Jan
Sorted out and broke down to do list
Dealt with incoming parcel (part my bits, part mum's)

Need to get ds to do his homework tonight in a timely manner as it is due tomo.

I am just grateful that I had the foresight to cook tonight's tea last night so it is a ping and go option. I'd take a nap but then I won't sleep later and I could probably fall asleep now as sleep through to the alarm tomo morning. I feel that tired Hmm If I fall asleep in the naughty corner just leave me there and throw a blanket over me pretty please.

Cagliostro · 13/09/2017 18:10

I'm confused now! My due date is November 11th. I think I'm 31+3 today so actually more like 6.5 weeks 😱😱😱 but knowing me I have calculated wrong. It's been confusing anyway this time as due to unplanned nature of Cagletini I am not entirely sure of my period date and the first two scans kept changing things.

Either way... fuuuuuuuck

I am going to have to write a list again. But normally when I write a list we totally fail to do any of it

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 13/09/2017 18:18

So if you work to the end of Oct that might be ok? Grin Can you tell that I had too much of a fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck my to do list is scary and shit crap arsing bollocks there is no time to get it all done MAJOR panic today?

Instead of a list for a to do list what about a need list. I have a I need to finish list for friday. At some point I need to make the next batch of Jam, I need to finish the brc on the floor and I need to do laundry and put it away. It is not fixed ergo I am more likely to do it as there is no pressure to trigger the rebellious I hate housework brain monster. Would something like that be an option?

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 13/09/2017 18:21

Also technically 5 weeks and 2 days to half term. It is just I have to plan and start prepping for half term in 5 weeks it doesn't make it better does it

Cagliostro · 13/09/2017 18:23

I'm not particularly working ATM anyway TBH (am self employed tutoring) but hopefully can continue till half term. DH runs a sports club as well so will be good if we can stick to the full block of sessions (as people pay in advance)

I like the list idea! Thank you Thanks

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 13/09/2017 18:29

God one of these days I will word things correctly Blush I meant work as in plan to get what is needed done rather than work as is work work. If that is any clearer mud it is clear as mud

1 order of fluffy blankies to go please!

Stilllivinginazoo · 13/09/2017 18:37

Beanbag with einsteins name lovingly sewn on it prepped and ready in naughty corner with plethora fluffy blankets n cushions
Lil zoo n ds fed n watered
Wash up done
Dd2 jyst finished homework and her soups ready

foxessocks · 13/09/2017 20:09

That's it! I'm done for the day! Hope you all have your feet up by now. Adding a plate of chocolate chip cookies to the naughty corner (dhdid some baking with the dc when he got home yay!)

Ta das
Cooked chicken casserole for dinner
Tidied up after dinner
Hoover's half of upstairs
Booked table for hen do (although still need to sort out pre ordering good (sigh ))
Finally changed email address on my bank account so they stop writing to me about it!
Dealt with a work query that I'd been putting off

Ok everyone please don't let me forget ds has his jabs on Friday how bad would that be if I forget again!!

cag how can you be nearly due already?! not helpful

Cagliostro · 13/09/2017 20:44

Ohhh now I get what you mean einstein! Yes that makes sense!

Indeed foxes I swear it was only a matter of weeks ago that I posted "POAS and panic at resulting BFP" on my Ta Da list... but that was back in MARCH 😱

Sandycarrots · 13/09/2017 23:07

[SC swoops on Foxes dh's choc chip cookies then puts hands over ears and rocks in corner at mention of scary to do lists.] Although I was already scaring myself actually as it is only 14 wks until Christmas!! Shock Shock Shock

Need to lose a stone before then too and have the entire downstairs decorated + bathroom decorated (argh) um and house significantly more decluttered.

Completely mad day today. Firstly, computer wouldn't load. Second, had to deal with urgent issues at wreck2 owing to roof storm damage and plumbing issues. (Newly installed lav had to be totally dismantled and re-installed.) Third, we have lost a lot of apple harvest to storm which had ripped apart a load of roof tarpaulins and broken roof tiles. Fourth, dh's third-in-a-row mis-communication over office issue resulted in mahoosive row and basically leaves me with just over two days to sort one aspect of complex social office event this weekend. (Real seat of pants stuff as people flying in from all over.)
Fifth, rushed back to take dd to appt to have her ears syringed and it affected her balance and she had a funny turn (she is ok now though). Sixth, went for dog walk and dog escaped. Lastly, part of oven caught fire and we are now going to bed with smoke stinging our eyes!! (And oven has just been cleaned too!) The perfect end to a perfect day! Confused

On the positive front: I found lots of shiny new conkers and perfect acorn cups on my dog walk Grin And for anti-procrastination, I managed to actually make an appointment for dd with orthodontist, even though it is in November!! Lastly, tested dd seven times on periodic table (dd is very enthusiastic about her new science teacher) oh and I managed to coax cheapo wm (also ailing) to actually wash a bit of laundry. Piles still mounting up until repair man comes though.

Cag just can't believe you are going to be induced in just under 7 wks!! That has gone amazingly quickly!! Incredibly exciting though! Please go steady!!!!!! And good luck with low-carbing!

Foxes noted about jabs on Friday and well done for all the anti-procrastination items in your ta da list today!

Einstein your second sentence @ 18:18:55 made me Grin and says really what I wanted to say but in slightly different terminology [ahem] Grin [Pokes "I hate housework brain monster" with sharp stick and retreats back to naughty corner.] Congrats on long list achieved though!

Ta very much for scones Zoo and lamb pittas sound delicious! You've done loads today (again!). Congrats on mahoosive list achieved and gleaming bathroom. Grin at laser pen and kittens! I'm with you re: carbs too although I must cut down significantly. And finally, aw at your dd's drawings!

Newchick oh no to recycled books but well done for trying!

Hope you have a better night tonight Afreshstart (and everyone else in need of zzzzzzzs).

Waves to Toostressy and everyone else! Links coming up!

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 13/09/2017 23:22

Hope these are correct, tired, and did not prep in advance!

The summary for Thursday 14th September 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. 14 for Thurs 14th here. Read the Flylady lesson about calendars. (Fledglings - feel free to write your own caption to go with that truly shocking photo Grin Grin.)

We are in Zone 3: Main Bathroom and another Room, this week (Sept 10-16 inc.) here.

NB: The "other" room this week is represented by the various "stash and dash spots" in your home such as a bedroom corner, or a nook in a garage or guest room where clutter has begun to assemble!

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

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

FYI the detailed cleaning lists this week cover office, laundry room and children's bedrooms.

Thursday's mission is: here. Shine bathroom sink and counter tops.

For the "other room", choose a "stash and dash corner" - see above - go back and chuck/recycle next layer of clutter.

The daily focus for Thursday is running errands.

The monthly habit for September is the before-bed routine: www.flylady.net/d/br/2017/09/01/september-habit-1-new-habit-before-bed-routine/.

Flykid's challenge: here (hopefully continually renewing itself).

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

Small steps everyone!

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 13/09/2017 23:26

Quick reminder 'to do' list for tomorrow so I can erase it from my brain tonight:

start sorting stuff for office event Sat
sort pedometer
sort oven
coax wm to wash some more clothes
clear boudoir bed of RC
tidy bathroom + yesterday's mission
prep veggie supper
hair cut!!
routine appt cardiologist check for dh and me
dentist appt
introduction to friend
iron and fold sheets

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 13/09/2017 23:28
  • calendar and find tickets!!
OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 14/09/2017 05:56

I appear to have lost capacity to sleep properly even when exhausted😕
Tadas
Cat/kits fed
Littertray clean
Bleach lav
Wash on
Clear 2 liv room hotspots

Just discovers SOMEONES drank the school drinks for today and theres no bread(sigh)good job co op opens in 5 mins.....

Cagliostro · 14/09/2017 06:14

Ditto still I'm just lying in bed MNing as I can't get up and risk waking everyone. Leg cramp ugh.

Today I need to:
Put washing in dryer so it's ready to take to Badgers (two bags of clothes for smaller kids - they were all clean but had been shoved in drawers for so long I thought it nicer to wash them again)
Go to clinic appt in a place I've never been to
Find my compression socks I may have googled DVT
Book my damn whooping cough vaccine
Pack a lunch for DD at a minimum, not sure what DS and I will do - DD going to friend's as she has a workshop with him, DS staying with me too much of a PITA to dump him on anyone lately
Figure out how to low carb when pretty much all I'm craving is bready cakey chocolatey yumminess

Cagliostro · 14/09/2017 06:17

Oh and I should probably write that to do/need list but I might do that while DCs are at Badgers as I have quiet thinking time then