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!

Did anyone else wake up to snow? Thankfully my prediction of it being to warm and it won't last was correct but still we are not even in the high grounds here and usually one of the last places to get snow

Just had few flakes here hills
I thought hail but dd2 adamsnt snow.accuweather saying snow in 35mins......(will turn to rain tho)
We are east of england

Snow?! Nope quite mild here in Sussex.

Need to get up as I am finally able to go to ballroom with DD! Everyone has wanted to meet baby and I don't mind showing her off but weather and illness have scuppered our plans every week.

Shoes in shoe crate.coats hung up
Hall floor now located

Kitchen is plan of attack shortly
As liv room next week may skip super clean and just do quick clwar up for today
Dd2 and i at each others throats...had letter from school show grave concerns for absence(had week off)and need do meet head of year.shes up in arms about having go in when in pain etc.its been long mentally exhausting week and i want stick head in oven cept its electric so will just toast me gently

North west here and woke to snow on roofs and cars etc. Its done a bit more since but not sticking.

Cag you are well entitled to hermit status

All i seem to be doing at the moment is sending money. Big three dc are done for christmas. Little one half done but im struggling for ideas since he just had his birthday plus youngest of 4 we have most toys or i know they are rubbish!

Raining here now.

Ta da

One load dry
One load in washer
One worktop clear and clean
Prc sorted from worktop
Small appliances wiped

Ooh forgot to reply, no we haven't tried a bottle yet. Establishing BF was difficult this time so I've been very wary of trying bottles or dummies yet. :( I do think I will need to though and DH/DD would of course love to feed her but I'm also far too tired to think of expressing yet thankfully when I was sent to a&e they let me take baby anyway but if I need surgery I'd definitely need to sort it! Seems waiting lists will be long though so plenty of time I guess

Well knock me down with a feather! DD got up this morning and prepared us all a full English; totally spontaneously and without any help with lovely place settings etc. She did it really well too. Her way of saying that her behaviour has not been optimal this week methinks. Just shows one should never despair when all seems a bit bleak!

Kitchen
Surfaces scrubbed(thanks for the dirty pawprints scoutcat)
Cupboard fronts wiped
Hob cleaned
Floor swept
Floor wiped
Bins empty

Recycling into outside crates
More wash dry n put away
More on
Living room floors clear n swept

Pop co op for milk and newspaper(treat for self)

Still a cluttered pickle but its clearer than was.....

Dd2 has now left the building fir xmas shopping expedition on bus.this has caused enormous headaches as she feels need meticulously plan EVERYTHING and as friend was arsey bout not bringing a friend that wasnt included in original plan(cue dd2 hhysterical meltdown)shes now going with someone else who she walks school with and is in year below (after 2 hour meltdown and multiple attempts by me to reason wuth her.she dont do reasoning).shes really struggling with social interactions her age group as sarcasm and making fun of her isnt on radar til everyones laughing at her.she likes younger kids and adults she knows as they dont engage in such behaviours(generally)the older she gets more aparent it seems.her "best friend" on autistic spectrum and she gets on very well with her as theres never an agenda behind anything and her meltdowns are usually over things like dd2 having to be back at certain times(when shes having fun n dont want it to end)and other unexpected surprises occurring.sadly she attends a school thats catered to her needs and dd2 only gets see her couple times month as they dont get homework whilst at mainstream dd2 drowning in it.shes been invited onto friend class whatsapp chat and merrily texts all her friends and feels included there....
Sorry for blathering on i do worry bout her and wuth each passing month she stands out as bit different more clearlyshes ok academically and puts 110%into whats asked if her i just feel sad she feels quite lonely a lit if time as shes not got a strong fruendship group at school and not included in anything peers are doing.....

Xposts with afresh cag and sc
afresh raining here now.can see bit blue in distance so ds2 hopeful will dry up as shes out n about.i know what you mean about recognising crappy toys from experience!!all ive acquired so far are few books and bits for stocking fillers(lip balms and such like)need start serious work on that i think esp as ds birthday is 18th dec and dd1. 5 th jan(sigh)
cag not all babies take to bottles if BF and although i did it with dd2.ds hated it and lil zoo i cba more than once as she pref fresh from the source(pluz she was a kneader with hands whilst sucking)
sc thats a fab surprise.little glimpses kerp us going that they wiil leave this alien she behind and turn out real human beings after all!!

Down here in the closest bit to France there's no snow. Very cold and bright though.

Zoo congrats on your productive morning!

Gosh at snow Hills!

Oh and Zoo it's totally understandable that you worry about dd2; these are v difficult years for dc to negotiate per se and friendship dynamics are always a bit turbulent at this age too. Sounds as though the planning thing could be related to anxiety. I'm sure she will learn to navigate things just fine with you there to support her.

Can totally relate as dd was quite "young" for her age and has only seemed to take a leap in maturity v recently. Progress in these things is never linear I find.

If it's any consolation, my nephew was quite a loner at school for ages and his ma was very worried, but then everything clicked when he was in the sixth form and he now has a close bunch of friends from school that has survived them all going off to different universities and starting their first jobs. It's really good to see!

CallmeCordelia sorry hadn't realised (or had forgotten!) that you were across La Manche with me and Longtime (Belgium). Whereabouts are you? (Don't say obviously if you would prefer not to!) Cold and bright here too!

Afreshstart money seems to be flying out of our bank accounts at a frightening rate this month and I haven't even started Christmas shopping properly yet! Not helped by clients who are late paying their bills (always the same culprits). I used to live in the NW btw (south Lakes). Miss it very much.

Enjoy your day in Glasgow Bowerbird5 - have you ever been to the Kelingrove - thoroughly recommend!!

Hope Cagletini enjoys her first experience of ballroom Cag!

Urgh - now it's the 25th November and there's one month to go - I guess I need to start putting some effort in to Christmas prep. The really shameful thing is that my present cupboard is in such a messy state that I don't quite know what I have and haven't got! Getting that organised would be a good place to start!

Humungous waves to Cotswold Honu Toostressy Flyjellyfish Rosa Ponzusoup TaylorTinker Whoknows and everyone else I've missed!

Feel much happier about the prospect of this afternoon's activities now that dd is in a better frame of mind! I might even go and place a sneaky bet on one of my favourite horses who is running at Ascot this afternoon to celebrate! Not something I do very often but what the hey! (Live an exciting life me.)

Have a good Saturday everyone!

Not across la manche, but close enough to see across it to les deux caps, and Boulogne cathedral with the right equipment.

Btw Bowerbird5 meant to say - from way down thread - is it wrong that in my early fifties I would still love an indoor picnic with fairy lights

Ah got you CallmeCordelia (will wave next time I am emerging from the Chunnel )

DD is now deep in to her hwk. I am getting suspicious...

Rather a lot of snow where there is snow but it is patchy. But very difficult driving because of the ice

ta da
scouting mission to scope out a localish farmers market
get stuck in all the traffic because it is a popular town with excellent markets of various sorts and it was not only the farmers market (but should be less crazy next one)
put a load into the dryer.
Ponder how am meant to be tidying up an area where there is currently no access because the kitchen is being used as a workshop

Loads to do but will have to see what the plans of others are and figure out what I can actually achieve. So much easier to get stuff done when there is no one else in the house!

Blimey that was quite an afternoon. Ballroom (lots of cooing over baby and it was lovely to see how proud DD1 is of her baby sister!) then into town for a wander and spending spree 😳😳😳I did get a phone sorted though also I may have bought an iPad

Popping in quickly whilst i have a mo
Huge mound veg prepped for curry night
Tomato and onion raita made
Tomatoes chopped to add.but not til just beforee serving
I got stared at for peeling ginger with a teaspoon....
Masses garlic crushed
Mint leaves picked to garnish dessert
(Ice cream)
Tables
Laid
Copious tea/coffee made
I left the man in charge assembly job and some his friends chatting
I due back 645 ready start serving food 715( warmed naans and selection chutneys)
Meantime at home
Wash in dryer
More on
Zoolets fed(curry will be moderate to hot.lil zoo loves heat.ds doesnot.fragrent only for him)
Need mend my skirt (small back split is bigger than should be....)

Must trundle.stuff to do n all that
Have a good evening people

Hello all, can’t remember who was asking about fleas. longtime? Did scroll back a bit but this thread is so lovely and busy I couldn’t see it. If you are on frontline where is apparently quite a problem with resistance so if that is your standard treatment you may need to change. Either way worth a chat to the vet.

Hope you had a fab day Bower, I bet it is a wonderful event.

Just getting ready to watch Strictly with two excited DC so will be back on later .

‘where’ should be ‘there’ in that post.

Joe's quickstep!!! 😍⭐️

Sadly am missing most of Strictly as DD2 too awake and busy to watch it so she is ‘helping’ me with jobs. Did catch Joe’s dance though - it was awesome

Thanks TooStressy, our vet is away until tomorrow so I’ll go on Monday. I’ve found a few dead fleas so I hope it’s done it’s work! Mountain of washing is now a big hill!

Loved Joe’s quickstep!

Zoo, big children big problems is so true in my opinion as making life better for them gets more difficult the more independent they become. I know they have to find their way but the journey is painful for both child and parents, isn’t it? Unmumsnetty hugs

Thanks longtime
I just gpt in.great night.raised £150 for church(after costs for the food)which was brilliant!!everyone had great time.kitchen was super busy and zoolets were very well behaved esp as i couldnt see them from kitchen(stuck head out intermittently)
Buzzing a bit now.i dont usually spent time around many people and was nice be in kitchen as just on the fringes of it iyswim.
Off to try n chillax.night all!!