Lost the plot with clutter? Want sparkle(r)s in your sink? Come Fly with flare on the November Fledgling thread!

[Sludgecolours]

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

This is where, from the first of the month (seriously, HOW is it November already?!), we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady [see website here ]. (Pls ignore the barftastic language, and we suggest NOT signing up to the emails as there are rather a lot of them. All the info you need will be posted here on a daily basis.)

Helpful info on getting started here!.

We adopt a three-pronged approach:

-start or repeat baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone or area (yes, just 15 mins focused work a day makes a difference!)

and/or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

NB
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 not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Another NB
Start where you are. There is no need to worry about being perfect – perfectionism = paralysis! There is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ with FlyLady, if you miss anything, just move on and continue as normal the next day.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

Good luck with your list today Bowerbird5!

Busy here today! Be back later tonight. Hope everyone has a good Saturday.

Hi all. Not predicting much flying today as still full of sneeze, as is Cagletini who has finally fallen asleep on me after 3 hours feeding and snuffling.

It's DH's last day off today and I'm not even sure how much time we will have together as DD has dancing and then her exam later (which we don't even find out the time for until her lesson). So I'm feeling quite sad and worried, much as I'm coping fine at the moment, and she is quite an easy baby really plus DD1 is a very willing helper.

It's also Cagletini's due date today. It's so weird, as I know in hindsight the induction at that stage was totally unnecessary and it was by far the most awful birth I've had. I think it will take me a while to come to terms with how it all went.

cag sorry you and little one are under the weather. Ive never had an induction or anything, two of my labors were quite long and drawn out and dc4 was back to back but thats all. Once the baby is born i tend to close the door on whatever happened in the delivery room. I appreciate this is perhaps not as easy in some situations. But you have your lovely little baby and she is safe and sound!

Cag I was offered trauma counselling after my dreadful failed induction. Is that something they offer in your area?

I am sorry the baby is snuffly, it's always difficult when they are tiny and ill.

Thank you afresh

It mostly went away the second they put her on me TBH. But remembering how I felt in the four days it took to get there just makes me so sad. It was beyond frustrating, nothing was working and I was so often in tears. Stupidly I thought it would be quicker because my second induction (I've never laboured naturally) was fast.

Even the epidural they made me have didn't work first time so they resited it. They had to break my waters twice too as they hadn't got it all, lots of little things went wrong like collapsed veins etc. I was on the drip much longer than I was supposed to be and due to constant monitoring I wasn't allowed to move for most of the four days and especially in the 24hrs I was in the delivery room (so she stayed back to back as well). It was basically 3.5 days of nothing happening (I was still 2cm and had one more chance before a section, which I was actually desperate for by that point but they wouldn't let me) and then when they ramped up the drip one more time it all happened really fast and I got really panicky.

I know it's daft as I have her now and she is totally perfect, and I am really glad they did make me have one more try for a VB as I was up and about really fast after. I just can't quite shake the memory of it all yet, it will happen in time though I guess. But then I feel stupid because it could have been worse and I never had these feelings about the other two (even though my first induction took almost as long, and the staff weren't nearly so kind then, but I think as she was my first I didn't know what to expect anyway). So I'm torn between thinking FFS get over it and allowing myself to be sad.

Photo of my squishy Cagletini just because she makes me feel better!

Took so long writing all that waffle that I cross posted, thank you cordelia

I am supposed to see a particular GP before my 6 week check anyway (as I'm high risk for PND) so will definitely mention all this to her.

Hello again to all

I’ve not been posting but have done more with the house after joining the thread-you are all very motivating. Most of your dcs are younger so I realise I’ve got no excuse for being slovenly-if you can do it with little ones I should be able to get it together with my overgrown teens.

I need to get on board with the zones instead of piecemeal decluttering and cleaning. I tend to do things which annoy me most. At the moment the kitchen floor needs a good clean and I have loads of ironing.

Will report back with Tadas later but going for a long run first.

Cag

Your baby is truly gorgeous and sorry you had a hard time having her

Hello all. Thanks for links SC. Sorry to hear about your op affecting Xmas plans. Unfortunately these decisions often end up being made for us and I can see your DH’s logic with cancelling now. Cag, as others have said, you can ask your midwife about a birth debrief.

Busy day here and I am out tonight (driving so won’t be painting he town red) so not much flying taking place!

Thanks for the flowers Cag. This thread is great at keeping you going and doing stuff. Your post has prompted me to contact the birth afterthoughts service. I declined the trauma counselling, but I do think about it a lot, and there were so many mistakes in my care that I just want someone to say, "yes, that shouldn't have happened." Don't want to derail the thread, but that's a big ta da for me. I have been putting it off for months.

On another subject, I have a bargainous (£4.99!) Christmas wipe clean tablecloth from Lidl. Is fab, like it a lot, but it is v creased from the packet. Of course, it's plastic and can't be ironed. Is there any clever way to get the creases out?

to Cag and CallmeCordelia this thread is about far more than housework so it is great you can support one another wrt birth trauma etc.

Cag Cagletini is so gorgeous and so adorably squishy! Hope you are both feeling a bit better!

CallmeCordelia think the creases should drop out after a day or two!

Toostressy have a great night out (albeit a sober one!)

I'vegotbills an 'only' teen here - so no excuses for me either! Although the good thing about Flylady is that this system is very forgiving - you are never behind - doesn't matter if we miss a day or two, we can jump right back in!

Waves to Afreshstart and to everyone else!

*

The summary for Sun 12th 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. 12 for Sun 12th is here. Continue previous steps and keep going steady - avoid perfectionism - or the dreaded crash and burn! And delete Flylady e-mails from your in-box which, if following this thread, you probably won't be receiving (there are lots and lots of them once you subscribe).

We are starting in Zone 3 this week: The Main Bathroom and One Extra Room (November 12-18) here.

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.

No mission on Sunday because it is the weekend! Yay!

The daily focus for Sunday is renewing our spirits doing something for ourselves which helps us to feel rejuvenated!

The monthly habit for November is menu planning here!

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

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

Holiday missions here!

Have a restful Sunday as possible everyone!

***

Big ta da!!!! (Accompanied by sounds of trumpets!)

Decluttered and sold:
12 pairs of outgrown children's shoes
1 box of outgrown winter children's clothes
1 box of outgrown summer children's clothes
an entire clothes rack of coats/blouses/trousers
a huge box of board games and toys
1 panier of dressing up clothes
1 panier of bras/socks/vests
1 panier of nearly new socks (outgrown)
1 panier of children's bags
2 boxes children's books
1 lovely wooden doll bed with mattress and eiderdown made by me!
1 lovely free-standing coat stand in shape of frog
1 huge Playmobil aeroplane in really good condition

It's the end of an era - the "putting away of childish things" or whatever the quote is from Corinthians - still lots left here though but it's a start.

Couldn't quite face sorting through all the rest of the Playmobil - there are veritable cities of it - and couldn't give away a lot of board games because they had vital bits missing [sigh] and ditto lots of half-done craft kits which just had to be chucked.

Bit of a cold and tiring day on one's feet – but we made Euros 209 (which will go to Christmas expenses) and the charity made some money from the pitches and various donations.

Best of all though – it has given me the incentive to clear out all the rest of the old toys and books and games and give them away to good causes – freeing up much needed storage space! The playroom/tv is going to look quite different in a week's time!

Have a roast chicken in the oven and we are going to be naughty tonight and eat it on our laps for once in front of Strictly with a glass of wine or three!

Cheers everyone [hic]

Enjoy your evening!

Rest of ta das:
animals
walked the furry 1 (dh did other 2)
rescued 7 towels from floor of dd's room
2 x dark wash
uniform and sports kit wash
grey and pink wash
hung up 2 loads and td 2 others
filled and emptied dw and shined sink
recycled a lot of cardboard packaging
sorted three bags of old clothes for rag recycling
sorted ordinary rubbish and recycling
decluttered huge trunk of art materials and half-done craft project
cooked roast chicken, potato croquettes and made big salad
opened large bottle of [red]

Forgot to add:
dining room table hot spots
decluttered and cleaned out cars
sorted cake ingreds for tomorrow

Wow! Well done you! I have been surrounded by receipts all afternoon and am now watching Strictly too! Dh made dinner so can’t even claim to have done that!

Thanks Longtime!

And apologies for sandwiching links between two ta da lists .. was not my intention to do that!!

It is nice to have actually decluttered a meaningful amount today though - I manage it so very rarely - frightening though how much there is left to do ... !

Ta dahs
I have done half the dining room! Tired now.
Vacuumed all downstairs.
Logs and coal in and kept fire going.
De-cluttered and cleaned computer desk top and last drawer and cupboard.
De-cluttered about three bags of stuff /paperwork and re-organised into polly pockets. Sorted airmail folder and chucked some but not mum's letters.
Wiped some of the skirting boards in the half I have done.
Table that was cleared now has some stuff on it😧
Went to organise a lift for someone tomorrow as no internet & no signal until tonight.
Went to Mass and nipped to get a few bits of food afterwards.2 hrs out.
It doesn't look like I have achieved much but it is clean and the rest won't take long when I work out where to put random stuff.
Got a cold starting, great since I'm going singing tomorrow.
It definitely motivates you being on here. I have no excuse other than being too sentimental about stuff. I do get more done when no one else is here and then keep that bit tidy. Can't stop sneezing. Think I'll go to bed soon.damn haven't changed sheets yet.

Baby caglet is yummy. She has really changed already it must be all that good milk.

Thank you lovely Fledglings 💐💖

Thankfully baby isn't so snotty now, I on the other hand was wheezing all night so DH's first day back at work clearly couldn't come at a better time won't be going anywhere today. There may also be takeaway, I have stuff for a stir fry but I may ask DH to do that for lunch before he leaves.

Yesterday the sum of my achievements was spending money! Finally made a decent start on Christmas shopping online

Good morning all! Another one where we are out for most of it. Hope everyone has relaxing Sundays!

Bowerbird5 your ta da list is amazing, especially the three bags of paperwork! V well done!

I am so glad you are finding the thread motivating! Like most people, I find the ground hog day aspect of house work quite tedious and this thread helps to keep me interested and I like the feeling that one is not entirely alone battling away!

Forgot to say Bowerbird5 hope your cold does not develop and to all the DC who are ailing, I hope they are feeling a bit better today!

How is everyone doing?

Baby caglet is making me broody!

Yesterday I did most of the bedroom. I'm on night shift tonight so my only plan is to finish the small bits left in the master bedroom, set up cot for DD and then rest.

Thank you sludge. You had an amazing list too. Perhaps it is the weather/ time of year getting us all motivated and of course each other on this thread.
Saturday and Wednesday's are my flying days with the rest of the week with the 5 min hot spots and the 15 mins of quick tides plus a load of washing a day. It is the things that don't fit anywhere either because there is no room( kitchen) or it things that don't really have a place because they are odd/ one offs.
Sunday's are lie in, church and choir and a bit of work organising at night. I rarely make Sunday Roast which used to be the plan when I had four hungry mouths at home. I sometimes make a small one to last three days...no cooking when I get in!
I haven't done the menu planning other than making a list of suitable meals as I find I don't stick to it.
To do list today.
Put washing in machine for tomorrow's wash.
Breakfast and lunch( sandwich to take with me).
Logs & coal in
Collect people and then choir.
More paperwork sorting.
Veggie lasagne to make. Use up rest of apples.
Hopefully a short walk this morning.
Enjoy the day!
Glad baby isn't too snuffly. Hope you feels better soon Cags. I'm full of it too& I haven't been for flu injection
Hope everyone has a good day today.

I had my first flu injection this year, I was worried as sometimes people with fibromyalgia/ME can react badly to it apparently, but it was fine phew! DH needs his and to sort out the Caglets getting one too.

I totally get what you mean with all the random stuff that doesn't have a home. Absolute bane of my life and house!

Cordelia I'm glad you are going to pursue the counselling, sounds like it will be helpful! I'm not sure there were mistakes made in my birth really (well except the waters breaking not working, and the epidural but that is on the disclaimer anyway), it was more hospital policy I think eg having to lay down constantly for monitoring. Lots of which I could have refused but I am a very compliant person! I think for me it's just that I need to accept that it's ok for me to be sad how it went IYSWIM. I do feel better about it today but I think it might be one of those things that crops up now and again, so I'll phone the doctors on Monday. My MW recommended an awesome GP when I was getting anxious during the pregnancy, and she really was lovely and patient so I'll try and see her. :)

Still feeling ill and very unproductive, DH is doing the stir fry before he leaves and I reckon first day on our own is fine for a takeaway :o need another wash put on too but I have no chance of putting it away today. Absolute bare minimum to be done I think.

Also meant to say sc bloody well done on your lucrative decluttering! Awesome!

hello hello! Great decluttering list SC!

Ta das
worked this morning
daily routine
decluttered in kitchen, cleaned windowsill and shelves
swish and swipe bathroom

We've now got a quiet few hours at home before we go to a birthday party later so I'm going to have a bit of a sit down (until ds wakes up from his nap!). I might do the meal plan and shopping list for next week so I don't feel too lazy!