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

[Sandycarrots]

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 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 ):

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!

The summary for Thurs 21st 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. 21 for Thurs 21st is here. Spend 5 mins checking out Ask Flylady on the website here.

We are in Zone 4: The Master Bedroom, Bath, Closet (September 17-23) this week here.

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 4 (if you are at that stage) is here.

Thursday's mission is here. Declutter and clean bedside tables.

The daily focus for Thurs is errand day.

The monthly habit for September is the before-bed routine: here.

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

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

*

Ahoy!

ta da
✅set up Caglets' maths
✅emailed gym club as DD said she wants to stop acro. She is not a giving up sort of child when it comes to clubs so I'm not questioning it (also it will save money and time and faff!)
✅made good food choices and had good sugar levels - hopefully this will become a daily ta da if I can keep resisting cake
✅got to doctor and pharmacy
✅managed not to cancel tae kwon do thanks to a lift, really loved watching DS and he's got his new uniform and looks precious 💕

Yay, great tick list Cag and aw at your ds in his tkd outfit!

Missed the bit about burnt hand Einstein hope ok

Morning everyone! Hope you all had a good sleep. Pretty good here can't complain! Pony is lovely mumofazoo
And on the subject of fruit and veg going to waste I have become a concert to frozen veg in some cases to prevent this happening , i read it is just as healthy as fresh and frozen broccoli is actually really nice. Less prep time too. Maybe everyone already does this!

Ds has just smeared banana on the sofa so I need to investigate our sofa cleaning kit that we haven't used yet!

To do
See about sofa cleaning (possibly wait until dh home so we can do together and I don't get blame for it going wrong!!)
Daily routine
Errand day - post office and a few groceries needed
Declutter bedside tables
Declutter in bedroom

Hand is fine this morning. I am beginning to think I have burnt it so many times that it has been conditioned to no longer blister or do bad things when it happens again

I slept well and almost feel rested this morning. Shit load of stuff to do so just taking a mo and writing a list so I can ignore said list

Ds has gone to school complete with note, books and lunch box but with no timetable a missing piece of homework and one piece not completed

So to will involve a laminator and printer at the very least... But then as I want to piece together the recipe folder it was going to involve that anyway.

Hmmm

Another quiet day on here! Must all be really busy flying

Ta das
decluttered bedside table (am not going near dhs side - his problem!)
Put my summer clothes away under the bed as I don't have room for everything in my wardrobe and the weather has definitely turned (although it was actually really warm here today typically!)
Went to the post office
Got some bits from the shop and a new toilet brush - rock n roll
daily routine

Hi all - where is everyone I wonder? Busy decluttering their boudoirs perhaps? Or maybe the reality of back to work/school setting in. Or perhaps it is the reprieve in the weather - absolutely lovely here today - let's hope it lasts!

I have been out for most of the day. 'Back to school Mass' this morning, with obligatory guitar playing bearded monk on altar trying too hard with his Jimi Hendrix impressions (he was trying his best but honestly, a more sure fire way of alienating cringing teens you could not find). Then back home to welcome wm engineer for second visit and paid mega Euros for new spin function but at least it works now! So did laundry x 2. Then had lunch with lovely friend and then off to pick up plant supplies for weekend but couldn't fit them all in my (very small) car so have to go back tomorrow.

I am now trying to force myself to sort boudoir which is an utter disgrace but feeling a bit plum tuckered evening though I haven't done anything particularly tiring! And I was going to cook tonight but everyone will have to survive on leftovers I'm afraid. But fortunately have humous and a load of veg to make crudites and some leftover pesto pasta.

BBL for links/personals

reprive in the weather? It is pissing it down here!

Angry cleaning. People in this house are fucking lazy. Today I get to deal with blocked sinks, empty toilet rolls, half finished tasks, neat piles which would have been easy to sort and put away all merged together so utter chaos and going to take hours to fix amongst other things. You wouldn't know to look at it that 3 adults live here. It feels like 1 adult only sometimes

Flying? Nope. Just taking Caglets to trampolining, then rock climbing, then to the park, then to a friend's, then dropping them at St John while I taught two pupils... now on the bus home where thank fuck DH will already be home from work sorting dinner.

Aaaargh Thursdays.

Still keeping nose to grindstone - can now see bottom of mending basket! It's not empty mind you ;) also still doing 15 mins decluttering every day on our bedroom which is now much better than at start of month.

Sooooo
Tired

😴

ta da
collect laundry
3 loads of washing
run errand in town
had help to deal with apples - crumbled the last lot the vultures will be pleased
milton drinking bottles
create recipe folder set up - now all i need to do is input the recipes
file paperwork
water plants
Folding
ironing
deal with recycling
empty bins
2hrs decluttering and cleaning in my room
2hrs decluttering in the lounge

Threw a bit of a strop about the lack of help to get and keep tidy. An appology, acknowledgement as to how much I do, help to do things that were not my list for today but needed doing and, ds helped to empty the dishwasher without being asked. It helped make the evening's chores less grump inducing. Especially as the winter bug season is upon us and I have done a mischief to my ear. Proper earache and whistling = potential trip to Doc tomo. Will see if it settles over night.

Ooops! Totally forgot to post links for tomorrow! Lucky I always wake up briefly at 4am nowadays!! (Back at a more civilised hr to do personals!) Middle-of-the-night wing flaps to all!

The summary for Fri 22nd 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. 22 for Fri 22nd is here. It's about building a control journal (if you want to). Some of us have and some of us haven't. Many of us now believe this sort of thing has been superseded by housework apps.

We are in Zone 4: The Master Bedroom, Bath, Closet (September 17-23) this week here.

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 4 (if you are at that stage) is here.

Friday's mission is here . Declutter your dressing table or chest of drawers or equiv.

The daily focus for Fri is decluttering purses, handbags, cars + date night.

The monthly habit for September is the before-bed routine: here.

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

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

***

Good morning all! Hope everyone ok.

Foxes hope you managed to put the sofa back to rights and well done re: clothes organisation. Boudoir here is such a pit, no-one can find anything atm!

Einstein oooh to laminating!! And crumble sounds yum! for fab list achieved - partic 4 hrs solid of decluttering and cleaning!! Good that you got your pov across and hope earache a bit better this morning.

How was last night Afreshstart? Sounds really tough running on empty.

Newchick yay to mending basket success and congrats on progress made for consistent boudoir decluttering!! (Should have followed your example but didn't )

Cag crikey - you had a day and a half yesterday - can you take it a bit steadier today?

Waves to everyone else!

Do or die for the boudoir today. It's got much worse, not better, this week, despite the odd 15 mins of decluttering, can hardly see the floor. And need to get back on top of laundry mountain now wm fixed. Going to reward myself with a trip to art supplies shop at lunch time if I get it done though. Also need to cook a chilli.

Have a good day everyone!

Einstein good that you got your pov across with regard to help in the house I meant (in case not clear)!

Can't bloomin' well believe it is Friday again! Where did the week go ?

Bit emotional today....

Ysterday on realising i cant store books in loft without some damage(damp)i opt give the whole lot to school for the new library.saying goidbye to over 300 much loved stories was like parting much loved friends.so many memorys of cuddles.laughter .bedtime snuggles
Dp was around so ran errands
Ds had gp app with peadiatric as week on from cold still nit eat at full power and weak/tired.she issue bloods incl aneamia check and infkamation markers.he had very traumatic blood test as preschooler be held down screaming and is TERRIFIED bloods despite last round
having cream and spray 😞nurse gave us cream.i put in on 7am we were at unit 750(kids section opens at 8)first in i took a fave fact book to distract him.she dudnt add spray and he felt ut go in and was eminating anxiwty.stopped flowing and they were jig it tears start ti fall....once iut build he brike down n sob.beg stay me not go school.but as he has time out tues for dieteics and school photi tiday he had to go.arrive carpark 827 has be at desk 830si wing it by skin of teeth.he got out car and gave his bag.he hug me fiercely n said 4x i love you so much mummy in front all the big kids surging in...i kinda shoo him off saying go on popppet you need get a wriggle on .he scuttle off looking cery much a little boy try n failing to be brave and big....we drop lil zoo and i then broke down on drive home.....

Oh bless Zoo that is a tough start to the day.

SC it is all good and well that things get done when I rant but ffs they are bloody big enough to sort it without being ranted at. So quite frankly there is not much good about the situation. Except for ds helping without being asked, he normally goes hides when there is ranting.

Major building work due here this weekend, as in safety work that will leave certain areas (incl my room and the main bathroom) inexcessible whilst being done. I need to get moving and it all prepped but right now I am trying to find so get up and go because whilst the ear is better I still feel like crap. and the thought of not being able to access my room is not filling me with motivation.

Oh zoo :( Poor DS and you!

Shattered again today. Got through yesterday ok although dozing on the couch by half nine. Today is a busy one again sadly, taking Caglets down to sports club, then home for quick lunch, then got a science thing that thankfully we are getting a lift to/from (definitely wouldn't be going otherwise TBH). Then ballet later which thankfully is only one quick bus ride away (most things are two buses). DH cooked way too much pasta for the Caglets yesterday so that's their dinner sorted at least.

Zoo Such a rough start to the day!

Finally. Things at a place where I can be back here again. It's been chaotic, but that's okay. We're good to go again. Whew!

Urm SC I missed this yesterday but
"'Back to school Mass' this morning, with obligatory guitar playing bearded monk on altar trying too hard with his Jimi Hendrix impressions"
that is quite and image!!!!

Also in an argument between a beepy fire alarm and a broom which do you think will win

Broom. Esp i. Knocks out batterys of those that mock atte.pts to coom and multitask

Cook.not coom....

Ta da:
animals
furry walk 1
empty dw
clean stove top
clean up breakfast things and swab the decks, shine sink etc
tidy up herbs/condiments/cereals
clean kitchen bin
clear two dining room table hot spots
get out ironing stuff
clean downstairs lav
take clean and ironed laundry upstairs
take everything else that shouldn't be in sitting/dining room downstairs
iron all of downstairs

To do:
playroom/tv room
iron dh 9 shirts [groan] I am very slow at ironing and he is size xl and each one takes 15 mins [double groan] while watching May's Florence speech thing
polish dd jodhpur boots
washing on
BOUDOIR
make chilli

Slow start

Ta da

Me and 4 dc up fed dressed and out by 830
Three uniforms ironed
Two packed lunches made
One load washed and dry
Second load washed now drying
Third load in washer
Two worktops clear and clean