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!

Hello all. What a busy thread already. Big welcome to so many new people . This is a really lovely, supportive thread.

Fab photo Cag. Hope you are managing to get a little rest when you can. Thanks for links SC. I thought about doing the holiday mission then decided against it but might try to do one tomorrow as it is time to start planning for Christmas .

House still in birthday mess state but I have done some tidying away of stuff today so it looks a tiny bit better.

I have the day tomorrow while DC are at school to tidy the house, possibly do home bleugh if time and prep for DD1’s party this weekend which means lots of family coming over. So basically we will get the house tidy (sort of) ready for it to be trashed again. Also need to do a food shop. Not sure this will all get done!

I can offer lots of leftover Halloween sweets to the naughty corner.

Very ready for a sit down now in the hope of being productive tomorrow.

Big wing flaps to all.

ta da
clear up broken glass
work
5 loads of washing including normal clothes loads, sleeping bag loads and old towel loads
move chest
move bookcase (empty and refill kinda job)
move boxes
pack ds' stuff for weekend
hoover downstairs and stairs
threaten to remove ds' lego if still on floor tomo evening.
break ethernet cable port and have to fix
deal with the issue of homework
find chargers for phone and toothbrush (safe place issue)
try not to kill other grumpy people in the house and pretend communication happens ha ha ha
deal with the issue of tea - long story that does not have a happy ending
fish out all the knitted socks, weigh and add to the weave in end pile cos I want to wear them.
check petrol - go get petrol
Stop in at Supermarket to pick up some need bits.
Find the new fitting for the aerial port/cable
Sort out drawers from an old unit ready for the trip run tomo
Reminded ds about his antibiotics
Find the cool 'n' soothe to treat the headache that is either lack of sleep or stress or both related (or could even be linked to ears which are not so sore this evening, sinuses otoh)
sort out the transfer of some paperwork
fall into pinterest on the hunt for 1 thing and discover eleventy billion things.

PHOTO! The sleep of the innocent

Not a bad day here, done some laundry. I also need to work on the paper clutter hides craft items and only 15 mins to clear the dining table looks at constant flow of paperwork from school this week

Catch you tomorrow, right after I've filled in today's form from the school ....

I didn't manage to get on here yesterday as after getting home, eating dinner and bathing the dc I headed up to bed to watch TV and promptly fell asleep.

I am however proud to report that since rejoining you my sink has been lovely and shiny

I need to extract myself from my lovely snuggly toddler and get ready for work. Have a fantastic Friday fledglings!

I haven't got the excuse of a toddler...I need to extract myself from my lovely snuggly bed!

To do list.
Clean kitchen window area. Loads of little black flies. Dead ones.
Remove recycling from shiny sink. I have a little basket I collect it in that stays in one sink at night.
Clean hob, left damp cloth over last night to soften burnt on bits. Thanks DH! I couldn't get it off last night.
Make breakfast & lunch.
Make list for tomorrow.

After work to do.
Shopping
Clean dining room table ( not to bad as friend came for dinner last week).
Attempt to sort other side of room and detailed cleaning on Saturday.
Paper de- clutter.

Anyone have a job they hate?
I hate putting clothes away. I don't mind washing, eventually iron ( usually weekly ) but I hate putting it away. Not enough room might be the reason!

Morning all. I think mopping floors is my most hated as whatever I do (and apparently whatever gadgets I buy!!) it never looks clean. Hoovering a close second.

Got lots to do today and I really would rather stay in bed.

To do
Pick up travel cot as kids are staying at my mum and dads tonight (first time for ds and I'm nervous on so many levels! ) . Very annoyed that we forgot the travel cot was at mils will we ever get more organised?!
Car bag purse declutter
Take recycling from porch that I was meant to do yesterday
Dining table clear and get crumbs off
Daily routine
Swish and swipe toilet
Pack the kids overnight bags and drop them off (argh I'm so wobbling about this my emotional state is already shaky this week!!)

And on top of all that my dd has a friend over to play after nursery. And I've run out of bread.

Also To do
Get bread or crumpets or something!

Also cag absolutely gorgeous pic!

will we ever get more organised?

I ask myself that constantly . I’ll let you know if I ever manage it foxes.

Aw thanks fledglings :)

Got aaaaall our clothes away yesterday, first time since before I went into hospital 😳😳😳

Next I need to go through all the baby clothes as we have a pile of various ages and she's currently so tiny even some of the newborn stuff is too big! 😍

Happy Friday everyone!

So plan for today and weekend is to finish living and dining room and form game plan for next week (this will take an hour).

Next week is to empty master bedroom into attic and deep clean. Also quickly tidy up bathroom.

Somewhere in thr next two weeks need to sort out creating kids storage on landing as they sharing a room temporary and getting sideboard and old fridge freezer out.

Then declutter attic.

Ta da:-
Picked up extra party bag supplies
Food shop
First of many loads of laundry finished

To do:-
Put away food shop
Do as much as humanly possible in the house in the next 4 hours - going to use the timer and do crisis cleaning I think

Best of luck with all the cleaning jelly and stressy!

I managed to sort the clothes into piles so will put them away later. On bus now to see feeding specialist and to visit DH's work

Cant. Stop. Sneezing.

Ta da

Me and 4 dc up fed and out 840
Three uniforms ironed
Two packed lunches made
Dryer on
Washer on

Thanks sg for the welcome and cag what a gorgeous baby, congratulations.
Started but struggling as I am on 12 hour shifts until next Wednesday, sleeping off night shift then.
But the thread is motivating me to do laundry, dishwasher and tidying, so hopefully I wont have as much to deal with as normal.
What a great thread

Thanks cag

Have now planned everyday for the rest of the month and should have a cleaner, tidy house. I am so motivated to declutter now that I'm making a huge mental list of things to,donate when I get home and litwrally half my living room is good to go!

It's crazy but when I actually do get rid of things I miss them for 10 seconds but the relief is immense so why I cling onto them I have no idea.

I wish I knew jelly it's anxiety based for me I think, the 'what if I need it'

Pairing socks is my least favourite job.

My least favorite job is mopping. My flooring looks awful again after like half an hour. So disheartening.

I need to follow this !

*

The summary for Sat 4th November 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. 4 for Sat 4th Nov is here! Newcomers: this baby step is about forming the beginning of a control journal. Some of us have one and some of us don't. Quite a few fledglings feel that its function has now been superceded by the Flylady app and similar housework reminder systems. Suggest adapting the system to what suits you best.

We are in Zone 1 (November 1-4) : here. (If you do zone work at weekends that is!)

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 1 (if you are at that stage) is here.

No mission on Saturday because it is the weekend!

The daily focus for Saturday family fun. Newcomers: again, a lot of fledglings feel that this is a bit outdated in that those who have busy work commitments during the week find it impossible, on practical grounds, to eschew housework on Saturdays. Also, weekends with very young toddlers and babes in arms aren't always a bundle of laughs and smiles. So take this one as you find it and again - adapt to what suits you and your individual family - the underlying principle of trying to preserve some time for a fun family activity is a good one though as long as you don't feel pressured by it!

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!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Welcome jenthehen .

Thanks for links SC. So very, very true about weekends with very young DC .

Didn’t manage to get everything I wanted to done today but I expected that.

Ta da:-
Stuff sorted to take to charity shop - unfortunately didn’t get time to take it though
Library books found - ditto
Half of home bleugh done
Christmas mission 1 done as it was to fling things while going round the house
Some general party prep and tidying done
DD2 asleep and DD1 nearly asleep
A bit of laundry

To do:-
Finish home bleugh
More laundry
Tea (ready meal)
Bit more party prep
Order DD1 new swimsuit online but am not sure which size to go for
Psych myself up for busy weekend with lots of relatives!

Well done everyone on another busy Flying day!

A very warm welcome to Jenthehen!

Glad you are finding the system helpful Lizziesnips! Flying must be v difficult to combine with long work shifts so you are doing v well to keep things ticking over with the routines. (Tbh I mainly focus on routines and find the decluttering aspects of the system, shall we say, more challenging (and my work hours are a lot shorter than yours). But my house is ten times better for just doing that and routines definitely stop me feeling overwhelmed and more in control.

[Hands over hot lemon and honey drink to Afreshstart. Hope you feel better soon!]

FlyingJellyfish Tis great when newcomers like you come to the thread and inspire all of us old-timers! I really want to do better re: decluttering when I read your posts!!

Hope the party goes well this weekend Toostressy and good luck with all the prep!

Mercury I am with you on the sock pairing despair (and that's only for three of us dh has loads that all look the same but are slightly different arrgggh). Congrats on shiny sink! Can't believe your baby is a toddler already!!

Hope you and Cagletini enjoyed your outing today Cag!

Foxes hope you are not too anxious tonight and the evening goes well!

Cotswold hope the dreaded form filling went well. I remember finding the process really really stressful so here's more for you! When do you hear?

Safe driving tonight Hills and wow re: yesterday's mega list

Bowerbird5 love the idea of a chicken sneaking in to the kitchen !! Congrats on all ta das achieved! What are S&L cards pls [nosy emoticon]?

And cheery wing flaps to Getyourrocksoff CallmeCordelia Honu I'vegotbills, Aurora, BzyB, yummyeclair ibuiltahomeforyou Lelly78, Shannara, Justonemorecoffee, Jingsmahbucket, Longtime, TaylorTinker, Zoo and everyone I have inadvertently missed!

Supermarket food shopping is my most hated job and um, all housework really well, the cleaning and tidying aspects of it, I quite like doing the laundry though (apart from ironing)!

Not much Flying to report on my side as still on half term hols today so lots of driving teens about.

Enjoy your Friday evenings everyone!

I know sc time flies ... must be time for another

I don't think I can really say what job I hate most as really I don't do much 😳 Probably general tidying as I am awful at it

ta da
✅book registry office appt
✅sort baby clothes into piles (need to pack away later but currently have a houseful of people)
✅flash my boob at strangers (breastfeeding group a success!)

I make the dc pair up socks

My baby is now toddling, so i suppose not a baby anymore