Fledglings Flying Festively - the December Flylady thread

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

[santa][santa][santa][santa][santa][santa][santa]
A warm welcome to the December (dare I say Christmas?!) Flylady thread. This is a lovely friendly thread where we loosely follow the Flylady system (see the Flylady website ) in the hope of having organised homes and lives.

We are a long running thread but always welcome new members; the more the merrier .

The new slimline structure seems to work well so I will stick with that. I will leave some links in this OP and then some quick links in the daily posts. Please do familiarise yourself with the Flylady website, especially if you are new. The Flylady is (understandably) keen that people do look at the website.

On the website there is information for beginners. You can also sign up to the Flylady emails but we would advise caution as there are hundreds of them.

We post our achievements (ta das) and our to do lists and any other general chatter about life / flying.

Information on getting started: www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

The launch pad is also a good starting place:www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

Fly stands for Finally Loving Yourself. The general idea is that short bursts of tidying / organisation are more achievable than marathon efforts. Flylady advises 15 minute bursts is effort but you can tweak this to fit your own circumstances.

Be kind to yourselves, jump in where you are and be careful not to crash and burn! Especially at this time of year.

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A daily summary (which should update automatically every day) is available on the Flylady website at flight plan here.

The link to the current zone and missions is here.

Re. zones, do what works for you. I don’t always stick to the zones myself and do what works best at the time, with varying degrees of success!

daily focus

missions for the week

Flykids mission

I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone that it is getting close to Christmas so there are holiday missions here.

December’s habit is usually pampering yourself but has not uploaded yet; I’ll link it tomorrow.

beginner babysteps.

The best place to look for an overall summary is the launch pad.

Happy flying everyone.
**

Also a huge thank you to SC for a lovely November thread.

Big waves to Meet (can totally relate to school being busy), SC, zoo, Cag ( for your DD’s friend), Bower, Hills (our first academic year of using parent pay too and I can’t say I find it easy), Sass (also grateful for wine!).

Having a nice time here. It’s always tinged a bit with sadness that it can’t be like this with my parents but it is what it is and we are lucky to have both sides of the family I know. Have also seen unwell friend and given her a little present and the girls did cards which won’t change anything but hopefully make her feel a tiny tiny bit better.

I haven't caught up yet but will be back later to, about to go into town on my own sad how exciting that is!

Anyway just wanted to report a minor break through. Just had a sort out with dd in her room and I can't believe I'm saying this but...there wasn't actually much to sort!! She doesn't have that much stuff, just the stuff she actually likes and plays with. We found 3 baby ish toys that she chose to give to church for the toddler group (she liked the fact that I take ds there so he'd still see her stuff!) and we cleared out under the bed but apart from that stuff was still pretty much where we left it after the big summer sort out. So Playmobil, cuddly toys, dressing up box, kitchen play area, board games and a few others bits and bobs. I can't quite believe it actually works!! I've been putting things back in the right places all this time and dh says im crazy to bother because the kids have everything out every day but it actually does make life easier in the long run. I don't know how it's taken me this long to realise less stuff = easier to clean!

I do however still need to deep clean her room as it's pretty grimy round the edges. I'll do that later though!

Be back later to read all your posts properly, sorry, I just wanted to share

Thank you all. I did omit to mention that I was taking DD to a carol concert in London this afternoon which was absolutely lovely, on the train home now, soaked but feeling more festive.

Zoo, we lost DMIL this year and her birthday is over Christmas so that is weighing on my mind. We used to watch the Strictly final texting each other all the way through, I'll be missing her tonight.

Cag, that's a shame about the diabetes, but there have been great advances in treatment in recent years so hopefully once she's got a routine established she'll be ok. No denying its a life-changer though.

[sneaks in and snaffles a gingerbread man]

Zoo at what is a very tough time of year for you

Foxes whey hey at Flying success! (And what a time of year to peak eh?!! )

Sorry to hear about your dd's friend Cag and your friend who is ill too Toostressy

to Meet and and Bower (and also to Sass 'cos I know you are partial and mahoosive waves to everyone else!

Sorry - dashing - hope I haven't missed anything vital!

x post Meet that is very sad about your mil R.I.P.

And that is sad that you don't have the same experience at your pils as at your parents Toostressy sometimes in life you just can't change people; perhaps the only thing one can do is to resolve how one deals with it or to what to degree you let it affect you (not at all easy though) x

Oh yes, I can't really say what I want to say on here but this about sums up my day ...

.

Shops were so busy as expected and weather horrendous ☂️ but I have finished the Xmas shopping! Although I did receive a wrong present today so do need to sort that out but shouldn't be too tricky. 🎅

Zoo sounds like you've been really productive today 🌟 Christmas can be hard for people I do feel for you

Sc I wouldn't say I've peaked but it was certainly a good feeling! The clutter is definitely under control - hooray! Hope your day gets better or perhaps?! It is Christmas after all!

Ta das
Went for a run
Finished Christmas shopping (near enough!)
Sorted through dd toys with her
Cleaned rest of skirting board, window frames and door in ds room
Dishwasher on
Dh has done lots of washing and made chicken stew and dumplings for dinner (followed by chocolate orange vienetta yum!)
Tidied up after dinner
Dc in bath

I am so ready for the evening now! Keep on keeping on everyone 🍫

So sorry for the overuse of emoticons there!! I've had a beer that's my excuse

We got the house to look sparkly tidy and clean, than people came, 3 meals were cooked, people feel fat and house is less sparkly clean and tidy.

Now we have to do it all over again for tomo. And then it is done!

Cheers Foxes and everyone else!
Hang in there Hills!

I am not hanging anywhere. I am stuffed with pizza and contemplating if I can move enough to deal with exploded hot water bottle tooo much pizza. but it was sooooo good

No such thing as too much good pizza hills

Tada
Little ones dd2 and I decorated,lil zoo did bigger ones!

Went to sing.was tiddling down so end up in warm dry church then into hall for the party.
We not good in social situations,D's didn't want eat.i never do in places other than home.girks ate few gingermen and sweets
DS had a try joining in sit in my lap at pass parcel(he was shaking but lil zoo sat next after him so was passing to someone he knew) he was freaking bit after and struggled watch other kids playing musical chairs then did a quiz.he whip thru kids one and help us with adult.as all kids had left by time answers were given he got a prize(bag chocolates) we came third in adult quiz
I enjoyed having a few other people to be around/talk too.dp moaned it was crap...
I was quite boiyang when got in then he drops it on me he's working 22nd 230-10 sleeping then going home at 8 back at 230 and not leaving til 8 Xmas day.hes going to be an irritable NIGHTMARE Xmas day
Somebody shoot me and put me out if this bloody nightmare

Love the gingerbread men zoo. Oh no about DP and Xmas though .

Good going getting house sparkly and clean Hills, even if only temporarily.

Meet .

That’s brilliant about decluttering foxes ! Thanks for kind words SC; hope your day improves.

Big wing flaps to everyone else.

Links for December 16th:-
Beginner baby steps here
Launch pad here
Holiday mission here

More info available in original post at top of thread.

zoo we are like that with May. Grandad died in May, Dad, Aunt( Dad's sister) Mum. Also DS1&2's best friend at 19 accident. I kinda dread May now.
Thinking of you

So pleased your DS won a prize makes it a positive experience. Great you came third too.
Foxes great work I hope I get to that stage by next year.

OOH Gin in naughty corner licks lips. I have a bottle or two for Christmas and want to open them but wont. Rhubarb and Ginger and a raspberry one.
Tidied most of sitting room but DH keeps coming in so not finished.He has been grumpy most of the day. Did some shopping. went to TKMaxx as I had seen a good bowl for sink but gone. However we bought a drainer and sink tidy for Joseph, Joseph. Bought boy's friend who is coming for meal because he isn't allowed home because hospital say too ill to travel.I bought him a present today and another near the till then shed a couple of tears when I thought he might not be here next Christmas.He has spent eight Christmas Days with us as he can't always afford to go home. I think he likes British Christmas Dinner as much as his own now. He usually sends a picture before we start. He likes the banter around the table.He works with my sons and has lived with two of them too. Count our blessings. I just hope he is well enough to come to us.
I think I have now finished the present shopping. i have done half the cards then got fed up. Will finish church ones in the morning and do the others tomorrow.I need to do Yr6 ones other classes will get one per class this year as I can't write them out for every child in every class as that would be 6x 20 plus. I do try to send back to those I receive them from. We have big post box at school.
Parties and Christmas Fayre this week.
DH was a bit better when he ate some scrummy Thai food, very tasty and a fiver each. We only went in for two hours and I missed the singing because I had read it wrong and should have been in at 10am. I couldn't have stood where we were last year so perhaps just as well.
Wondering how I will get kitchen painted and put back together by Christmas Day

Well I can't do the flying but i can do the mission. Going to take hot chocolate to bed now. Marshmallows too of course.

Sorry meant to say great biscuits good enough to eat!
I bought a Biscuit kit in TKMaxx if anyone needs another present.Seemed good value.

I'm up and still seething.lil zoo had a bad throat and I willingly slept on sofa opposite her to avoid going up to bed!
I heard a bang shortly after he went up.box gifts knocked over.anything broken on Xmas day we all know who to blame.....
Jeffing cats in there too.ive told him repeatedly not let them in now as one has form for furballing on things in my room

Tada
Wash on
Fed cats
Swept hall floor( lots dry leaf crumbly bits swept in with us last night)
Internet banking
Wash in drier
Lil zoo scoffing breakfast we are watching the Simpsons on TV now

To do
Clean fridge
Write shop list
Feed rest household
Food shop(incl hunt birthday cake D's will like that's got no dairy in so lil zoo not left out...mum's backings everyday,shop bought is "special")
Mountain of laundry
Continue trying declutter/deep clean
Do something fun with zoolets
Try not kill "d"p no promises

Ps foxes I hope this time next year I can say the zoolets rooms are like your DD.well done on the hardwork and for sharing to inspire rest of us to keep plugging away at "stuff"

Ive only quickly read this page but have you ALL more or less finished your shopping for christmas? Im not even half done.

So far this month has gone

Week 1 Flu
Week 2 Sinusitus
Now starting week 3 with a cold

Nope, not finished mine, there's still a week and a bit to go and I'm off work this week so not feeling too concerned. I went into the nearest big town on Thurs and it was fairly quiet.