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!

Hope everyone has a productive day today .............

Afresh yes, do start small with the sylvanians. My DD is really not bothered by them at all, which is surprising considering the other stuff she likes. My sister, who was sylvanian mad as a child, is really disappointed she can't buy the sets, but it would be a waste.

DS has been up for around 3.5 hours. If I get any flying done today it will be a miracle.

Foxes thinking of you today . I hope your grandfather's funeral goes as well as these things can and brings you and your family some comfort. Good luck with the eulogy xx

Good morning Zoo hope teacher/gp rdvs go well! Tuna fishcakes a confirmed favourite in this household too!

Oh dear Cotswold the very same thing happened with dd and baking ingreds when she was in the latter stages of primaire! I remember feeling very exasperated at the time! It's strange isn't it, one forgets that the logic one takes for granted as an adult (ie mention and buy baking ingreds when in supermarket!!) needs to be learnt by dc!! That and a myriad of other skills that one doesn't think about really!

Congrats on your productive day yesterday Toostressy - all I can think of for last minute Pudsey costume is a white t-shirt with a last minute design drawn on it - or spots - if you have fabric pens or don't mind sacrificing an old one. Feel rather relieved that Belgian schools don't go in for much of this sort of thing!

Hope you are feeling a bit better today Hills

Zoo and Hills thank you for teen advice! Much appreciated! Same here about homework and knowing where she is/with whom/what she is doing - being priorities! And deffo not a transport issue but pushing luck issue unfortunately. (Very surprised to be confronting this right now because she has never ever shown the slightest wish to knock around with classmates after school before aside from planned meet ups that is!) Will have to discuss this further with dh at weekend and form a proper strategy!

Cag whey hey to forthcoming Mothercare bonanza!

Mahoosive wing flaps to everyone else! Prepping for arrival of tradesmen this morning here atm. They are all very nice but I loathe the upheaval, the noise, and the plaster dust and having others around all the time ... [grumpy harrrumphing emoticon]

x posts

Go steady Afreshstart! Think you often feel even worse when sleep deprived and then suddenly have a full night's sleep; have a strong Glad work plans are sorted so you finish before Christmas! Aww and oooh - that has taken me right back - remember dd circling almost every single item in toy catalogues

Wow Rosa many congrats on delivering Christmas presents today !! I haven't bought mine yet (can't seem to drum up any enthusiasm for Christmas this year either which is most unlike me because I usually love it!) And well done for decluttering BRC!!

Strong sustaining to you too CallmeCordelia!

Have a good day everyone!

Aw thanks rosa she is 23 days old :o

I hope today goes smoothly foxes thinking of you xxx

I'm getting sleepier by the day. Even though Cagletini is actually sleeping pretty well at night (two very short feeds last night). I think my next aim should be to get to bed with her earlier (in my bed, haven't even attempted to put her in the Moses basket since about day 3 :o) - currently we go up around 11-12 but I should try and go after the previous feed really. It's annoying though as that means I won't see DH on work days (he gets home 10.30-11).

Our room is such a tip!!! It's awful. Priority is probably living room though (also chaos) so will try and tackle that tomorrow as DH is off. Need to sort out where we are keeping things like nappies etc, it's such a mess!!!

Oh bugger there is a problem with the size of the shower.

Oh no SC . It sounds as if you are doing amazingly Cag. Absolutely maxed you are delivering presents Rosa. MUST start thinking about Xmas .

Thanks Cotswold, couldn’t face driving to Asda last night (DH wasn’t home until after 8) but did find someone localish with Pudsey ears so all not lost. Planning quiet weeekend here as both DDs complaining they are tired which is must unusual.

Ta da:-
Quick Aldi shop - got a pair of winter boots!!!! They are not the best but are tolerable and were cheap. Had to recycle my beloved (very) old winter boots as the cobblers said they couldn’t fix them yet another time . Couldn’t face the cost of new ones but feet getting cold! So these will be ok then I can plan to buy new ones for next year in the sales instead .

To do:-
Morning routine
Home bleugh
Fix bag strap as it has broken because o carry too much around
Make packed tea
Get ready for swimming lessons later
Paper declutter - really annoyed with myself as forgot to do something purely because I had not filed the paperwork appropriately .

Decide what to do about finishing this work thing
Send some work emails
Find my Christmas spirit

amazed not maxed!

Christmas spirit can sod off.
I have no fucking idea how christmas is going to happen here stupid high standards in this house
Hopefully by the end of today and a very long ta da list it will feel a bit more possible. Either way I will probably have a case of the grumps. Can't wait until the doc appointment today. Water running is so loud it is giving me a headache! fucking cunting bastarding hurting ears.

Hills

You know that weird feeling when you wake up after a nap and wonder if it was actually worth getting extra sleep because now you feel all weird and bleary and headachy?

That.

Mind you I have done two washes today so pretty much caught up (how is it that we have so much washing when the new addition is so tiny? And isn't even a sticky/leaky baby so only changing morning and bedtime?!). And DH had a quick scoot round finding empty shampoo bottles and stuff like that upstairs so I helped a bit.

Just going to feed baby now if she can be arsed in the hope that we can get to ballet on time. This is the first thing I'm taking all three DCs to on my own thankfully it's really near so only one bus. Do need to visit the supermarket though for something easy for dinner. Baby steps and all that.

That was supposed to say sicky not sticky! She's not thrown up milk yet

Good evening all!

Phew what a day! Absolutely shattered now (building work). Tired, hungry and cold [plays tiny violin] but have to go to casual parents supper that the Parents Association have arranged at dd's school. Then dropping one of her friends home. Then escaping building chaos here (which will be continuing tomorrow) and driving to country. (Had to compromise on shower - no way of knowing what it will look like until we see it in situ - yikes!) Finally, will be able to sleeeeeeppp... .

Cag hope you can get to bed earlier tonight (neatly coinciding with baby step 17!!). Well done re: laundry and hope ballet excursion not too onerous!

Hope doc came through Hills [hastily hides Christmas cards which arrived today] Joins HIlls and Toostressy in searching for Christmas spirit!

Toostressy think you are v heroic to go swimming on a cold Friday November evening! And you have reminded me to check out winter boot situation!

Thinking of you this evening Foxes

Waves to Bowerbird5 Honu Rosabella CallmeCordelia Afreshstart Whoknows Cotswold Zoo FlyingJellyfish AllroadsleadbacktoRadley Taylortinker Longtime i'vegotbills Kadarbras LadyMuddle Getyourrocksoff lljkk Aurora , BzyB , yummyeclair ibuiltahomeforyou Lelly78, Shannara, Justonemorecoffee, Jingsmahbucket, Lizziesnips, Jenthehen Mercury, Dsmummy Phoenix and anyone I have inadvertently missed!

Well done for completing another Flying week Fledglings ! Have a good Friday evening one and all!

Links for Saturday here!

Off for a bit now - leaving you in the capable hands of Cotswold for Sat and Sun evenings - should be back on Monday (but if not I shall post links for Tues early on Tues morning if that makes sense!). Have a great w/e everyone!

Thank you Cotswold

The summary for Saturday 18th 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. 18 for Sat 18th is here. Check out Flylady's eleven commandments here!

We are in Zone 3 this week (if you do zone work at weekends that is): 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.

Fyi we will be starting in Zone 4: The Master Bedroom, Bath, Closet (November 19-25) on Sunday (again, only if you do zone work at weekends).

No missions on Saturday because it is the weekend! Yay!

The daily focus for Sat is family fun.

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 lovely weekend everyone!

*

foxes
I hope you can relax a little tonight and I am sorry for your sadness but you can cherish something I never had in time to come. Unfortunately my children lost their grandads early 65 and my dad at 57 so my younger two never had one and my older two don't remember much as they were young. I hope the day went the way you hoped and you can have a quiet weekend.

I hardly see the people who I delivered presents to today, which is why we planned to meet before December madness begins! It feels nice to know that 1 person is out of the way

I haven’t got much more done today, I really struggle with pms, so when my toddler napped I sat for 2 hours and watched pretty little liars - oooppppss !! All 5 of us are clean and fed so I take that as a positive- I’m choosing to ignore the mountain of washing that should’ve been done and todays decluttering task! I’ll catch up over the weekend.

ta da
✅first trip out with all three Caglets!!! It was ok, bit stressful beforehand as DD couldn't find either hair net or new bobby pins I'd bought specifically for ballet, somehow still made it on time though!

Thanks for all your kind words, very very much appreciated , you are a lovely lot

It all went well today, was a lovely service. I managed to say my few words so was very proud of that, I struggled to get to the end and couldn't actually look at anyone but at least I did it! We've had a takeaway and wine with the family tonight and just got home, I'm absolutely shattered!

foxes

Get some rest foxes, emotional days can really take it out of you.

Yes, it's the weekend cover here We have a busy Saturday - well, when I say we I mean DD has a few things on and I'll be doing the driving I'd better get some sleep so I can cook a big breakfast I can cope with the clothes changes! I knew the weekend would be busy, but the school have thrown a few unexpected requirements in this week just to keep me on my toes.

Sigh. Am in A&E (thankfully they let me bring Cagletini). Epic pain earlier which they reckon is either gallbladder or kidney stones :( have just been discharged as pain improved they didn't want to irradiate me with a CT scan! So have to see GP and get ultrasound. Waiting for taxi and fielding advances from drunk guy. FML!!!

Oh no cag that is not what you need right now! I hope you are tucked up in bed now

foxes well done for yesterday i am sure your grandad would be proud

cag hope you manage to get some rest today and the pain has eased! Fingers crossed an ultrasound appointment comes through quickly!!

To do
Have a quick blitz through
Ds suit measured
A few xmas pressies (hobbycraft is next door to where ds suit is being measured, it’s a 40 min drive so may as well pick a couple of stocking fillers up while I’m there)
Get supplies for our at home cinema night with the kids
Washing, washing and more washing!!