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!

ta da so far
✅got Caglets to put all their clothes away (several days worth )
✅discovered that I can in fact have a slice of low carb toast and lemon curd and still have perfect sugars (I had it with Brazil nuts as fat helps slow down sugar release or something) - actually can't describe how happy that makes me :o
✅walked down to sports club (sadly didn't manage to walk back up the hill after but at least I did one way!)

Now got mega headache and waiting for lift while Caglets make their lunch (I am so glad they are able to do that) - I ate with friends while all the kids were doing sport.

Also super proud today as found out that once again DS was really lovely and helpful to a new child at climbing club. I love how kind he is . And the cafe owner down at the park has asked DH to help her run a sports event for charity! Yay!

Need to grab the bags of clothes we've sorted as both families will be at the science thing today and it gets them out of the house at last!

Lovely to have you back Gingerivy hope you and yours ok x

Sorry you had such a tough start to day Zoo hope blood test will help your ds get to bottom of repeated infections etc.
And oohhh about the books that must be v hard indeed.

GO EASY Cag [proffers special Fledgling Fly dispensation] although from your list it doesn't look like you can. Hope you can grab some r & r this weekend though?

Einstein arf at argument with fire alarm . We had to remove ours near kitchen because dh was always flambeeing some dead animal or other very early on a Sunday mornings and setting it off and it was linked somehow to house alarm and woke up entire street - cue us having to apologise and grovel to all our(very understanding) neighbours. Oh yes, beardy monk (bless him) is an institution now . You have to admire his commitment - was still doing Jim Hendrix impressions with his leg in plaster last term!!

Quite agree you should not have to rant in order to elicit help in the house. Not on. Hope message has got through anyway.

And good luck with building prep this weekend - not a pleasant prospect I am sure when you are feeling rotten - .

Right, the time for ironing awaits unfortunately .... need a lightening rod delivered to unmentionables

Encouraging wing flaps to everyone else!

cag how lovely of your ds!they make your heart melt sometimes don't they?!

Tadas
Daily routine
Swish and swipe downstairs loo
Decluttered dressing table
Given dd lunch / ds down for map

To do
Polish bed frame
Declutter bag / purse / car
Possibly ironing when kids are in the bath later depending ifthey have time for a bath tonight

No dinner to cook as we are off out wahoo!

Happy Friday one and all

Hmm ironing when kids are in the bath sounds really dangerous...just to clarify dh does bath time and I use the time for ironing!

Posting glitch there - missed out ...

Afreshstart your start doesn't sound remotely slow to me.

Cag hope headache clears - take it steady - and well done to your ds - and lemon curd sounds yum!

Oh and sc I did naff all about the sofa cleaning yesterday! Putting it off as usual!

On that note does anyone happen to know how to get a bleach based acne cream out of a bleach cleanable carpet?! Should we use a special carpet bleach or something?

I would probably try the excess water thing, but honestly I have not idea. I take it google is even less helpful?

They do indeed foxes :) DS particularly struggles with other aspects of his autism so it makes me really happy too that he can do so well in those situations.

Found out that even if my sugars stay good, I will be induced at 40 weeks anyway, simply due to the diagnosis. If levels get worse and I need insulin/metformin, then it'll be 38 weeks. But no matter what I will not be going overdue! I'm quite pleased about that but also panicking that I have until November 11th at the absolute most. OMG.

SC thank you this is the last crazy day for a little while. It's just been bad timing really with loads of extra stuff with home ed, family events etc and it's all been too much. I'll try and sneak a nap between science and ballet today, and then tomorrow it's only ballroom (which DH takes her to) and then nothing else actually planned all weekend. I haven't booked anything else at all now I think, except a cheeky Nando's with lovely mum friends next week :)

x post Foxes that looks like a really good list! (Understood re: ironing and bath!! Have a lovely time tonight! You deserve some time off!

If you'll forgive rare maternal preen, coincidentally, I was also v proud of dd yesterday who helped a close friend at school who had really terrible migraine (poor thing) took her to school infirmary, stayed with her while she threw up, and waited with her until her mother arrived. Like your ds Cag - dd didn't mention it - found out when her mother texted her thanks and asked about missed school work/hwk etc. I was surprised because dd is usually very squeamish about puke but v happy she overcame her fears in order to help. And one always worries about 'onlys' not being sufficiently compassionate/helpful to others etc.

Ironing going very slowly here. Seem to have no enthusiasm for anything today. I think it's the fact that it was v full on last weekend with office events, dh is still away travelling this weekend and we have dh rellies here next weekend - would have been nice to have one weekend in between [can you hear the self pity violin playing? ]

Right - big girl pants on - must get on!!!!

I've just found this site. Am currently making the kitchen sink shiny. V satisfying.

Am buggered if I'm wearing shoes in the house though! That's a recommendation written by someone who lives somewhere with pavements

I wouldn't worry about sofa Foxes - if it's any consolation, my spare sofa cover is still in washing pile that resulted from break down of wm and in the meantime, the other one has just been covered in muddy dog paw prints- so both are looking pretty shabby tbh! (I usually try and alternate so have one in reserve ifyswim.)

I don't have any carpets at all so can't advise - but this seems to be Google solution for getting moisturiser out of carpet:
Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or other absorbent on the stain. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes, and then vacuum. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent.

But there again I use baking powder for everything so not sure - might be worth an initial go though? Baking powder won't do any harm anyway.

And some ideas from GH :
here.

Welcome Spudlet ! Very few of us do the lace-up shoe thing except me but I'm odd .

Cag wow how exciting about 38/40 wk induction!!! and wasn't thinking of your ds's autism when you mentioned him being kind and helpful at climbing club. That does indeed makes it extra special when it is difficult for him.

And yes, I am procrastinating over wretched ironing.

Closing the screen now .....

But before I do .... ... forgot to say "make sure you do rest as much as possible this weekend Cag!!

OK really closing the screen now

I am still lurking! We are starting the tours of secondary schools (DD wasn't interested last year) and have a few to get through next week.

All the after-school clubs have kicked back in this week - I did meal plan but didn't stick to it very well.

I am helping out at the school a bit next week, so along with the school tours I am already feeling a bit time pressured in advance - daft really, should just get on with it and plan the time I do have a bit better.

cag always lovely to capture our dc doing something kind/good.even beyter when its to outsiders not family
foxeshad to laugh at ironing whilst kids in vath.i read that as ironing kids in the bathi really am a simpleton sometimes
Went back to bed.i had a bad night worrying bout ds
Todays tadas(pre nap)
Kits fed
Littertray
Make pack ups
Sweep living room floor
Make breakfast(cheers guys opt scrambled eggs when its a mad start.but ever democratic doormat i did it)
Cream on ds ready to numb skin
Help him get dressed(idiot emoticon.shouldve told dress first))
Wipe bath n sink
Everyone Out door 725 ((dirty dishes still on dining table))

So post nap
Fed kits

To do
Wash dishes
Boudoir......
sc i not up poking netherregions or whatever to assist you getting your room sorted.do you need a skip and shovel?dynamite ?or just a superjaggidy pointy stick and promises of chocolate and cake(or chocolate cake?) in haughty corner later??!!

Hello all. Hello to Spudlet .

Ta da:-
(Girls in school)
Picked up parcel
Mini food shop
Went for run
Tidied house but no actual cleaning done yet.
Some laundry

To do:-
More laundry
Prep packed tea
Pick up DDs
Swimming lessons for DDs

Currently sewing on swimming badges. I hate it and it takes me so long.

zoo, sorry you had such a stressful morning.

No idea about carpet, sorry foxes .

I have house shoes which are basically canvas shoes that never go out and act like slippers but with a better sole to prevent slipping on wooden stairs Spudlet

SC get on with the ironing ----> I have done all of mine in the time you have been procrastinating (well the fronts of and not the bandages which are all knotted together)

I was mid post when took phone call. Spot your post sc bout dd.aw thats so lovely help her friend.
Right really must DO something.ds finishes 230fridays.....

Aww sc your DD was a lovely friend there!

Welcome spudlet!

Well that's it, I do not need to leave the house now technically until Tuesday :o I should of course as I will go too far the other way if I get too hermity, but knowing that I dont HAVE to is awesome.

Of course I should also use that time to get stuff done in the house but... 😭😭😭😭 sleeeeeeep

The sink is really shiny now (for a bashed old stainless steel job) and all the laundry is either put away or in the airing cupboard. I feel very virtuous.

(Hey I have a tiny whirlwind of chaos toddler and hellbeast of filth spaniel - baby steps )

Ive just ordered an electric airer. Anyone got one? Any good?

Well I managed to redeem the day somewhat thanks to interventions by Einstein and Zoo by ironing 6 of the 9 shirts, making a big bowl of chilli and baked spuds (dd has a cold) and by picking everything up off boudoir floor.

Also gone for furry walks 2 & 3 (3rd was very short) and hung up washing x 2 loads to dry.

Not enough - boudoir still a wreck - but it will have to do.

At least everything is ready now for when dh flies home on red eye at crack of sparrows tomorrow and flies out again less than seven hrs later