Cherry waves hello to November 2019. Fledgling Flylady thread for all.[smile]

[Ghoulette1740]

Welcome to the November Flylady thread Fledglings! All are welcome here. A few of us have been around a while but everyone, newbie and lurking, is welcome to join in.

This is my first time running the thread so I hope other fledglings will alert me when I’ve got things confused or if I’ve left something out!! A busy month for us all with the holiday season looming next month…

Very simply Flylady is a zone-based cleaning system which we loosely follow. Everyone is different and has different rooms and life demands. There are five zones and at the beginning and the end of the month we usually straddle Zone 1 and zone 5.
(amend rooms to suit your house – I do the living and dining room together as it’s all one room in my house)
November
Zone 1 Hall, entrance/dining room (Fri 1 – Sat 2)
Zone 2 Kitchen (Sun 3- Sat 9)
Zone 3 Bathroom and another room (Sun 10- Sat 16)
Zone 4 Master bedroom/closet (Sun 17 – sat 23)
Zone 5 Living room (Sun 24 – Sat 30)

Pop onto the Flylady website to have a closer look but signing up for emails will probably lead to very many landing in your inbox. Also there has been some concern about securely downloading pdfs from the site. here

Flylady has an introductory scheme for newbies called Babysteps which is a light 31 day introduction to the system – dressing to shoes, shining your sink etc. What I like about Flylady is her emphasis on self care, her abhorrence of perfectionism and her adage that you’re never being behind in the system - just jump in. No need to completely clean your house before you start – phew! here

There is a morning routine and an evening routine to keep things ticking over and a weekly home cleaning hour to change bed sheets, mop, hoover, take out rubbish etc. The system isn’t brilliant for major decluttering so you might want to supplement with Kondo or another decluttering system. Flylady doesn’t want us cleaning all day so she is very keen on using a timer. Clean then stop!
In addition each day has a purpose: see the daily focus here

Monday: Weekly home cleaning hour (can be split into ten minute sections and spread over week) here
Tuesday: Plan and play (Menu planning, family event planning)
Wednesday: Anti-procrastination day
Thursday: Errand day
Friday: Clear out bags, fill car with petrol, date night
Saturday: Family fun
Sunday: Lift your spirit

Launch pad for guidance every day! launch pad

Habit of the month of November is meal planning. This is my Achilles heel! here

We have a lovely virtual naughty corner where we can all retreat – there are all manner of lovely things left there by thread members including fluffy pillows, warm blankets, tea, coffee, wine, delicious foods. This month there are plenty of candles to brighten the darker days.
There may be mention of Ned who started life as an autocorrection on the thread but who has now morphed into a virtual helper with a specialism in putting away laundry. Ned is borrowed by thread members from time to time when the going gets tough on Mount Washmore.
Most days we pop on to post our ta da list of what we’ve managed to do and have a bit of a natter.

Lovely posts SC. Can hear Alan Titchmarsh calling me be back later.

Bit stressed tonight.i got distracted sorting recipes.little ones had tea 730!;I start rush round attempt make carrot falafel with sesame and as about blend mix I happen look at tahini and was out of date.fluff and botheration.emergrncy contingency as dd2 about eat non vegan stair carpet I threw broccoli,green beans,mushrooms,squash and a cauldron good falafel burger lurking in freezer in oven.ruce to accompany.annoyed at waste food,plus it would've been lunch tom too so I need think about what I can give her instead.bugger bugger bugger

SC I been telling "d"h for years I hate sweeteners.i was sure added to his IBS!sadly full sugar squash isn't easy to find that's not expensive round here and she won't drink plain water despite my best efforts.everything else I prefer real sugar too
Bower she loves dry apricots as our goto fix,but she does eat licorice.

thing is she hasn't had a day where hadn't been so I think docs just ticking all the boxes try ensure no "backlog"(apologies anyone eating at this point)

She's beg not have hot tea so had a dairy free cheese and red pesto roll.carrit and cucumber sticks and green grapes.normally would be chew the walls for more four,but she's fullD's on other hand added a slice cake,tub rice pud and an couple slices bread and butter to his portion..

I had quandary about wellbeing today as needed sort her meds and he needed be there.in end I bit bullet and left him there whilst went hot them/got lunch items with lil zoo.he had phone contact her(mine was charging) we were head back when he text how long now?(he manage 45mins) we are now "paying" for this as his minds now going over the change to routine/being left.add in we cannot visit fruend with kittens tomorrow now as lil zoo be home he's not a happy bunny.fun evening ahead I feel!!

Best go cook rice for DD dinner
Hope everyone else having a less eventful time tonight!!

Just catching up on the thread.

to those of you having a stressful time or feeling under the weather.

I thought toddlers were hard but it sounds like teenagers are a whole different ball game. I’m a bit scared. DD already has an attitude at 2.

Work day today, and in late due to bad traffic. Thankfully DD went straight to sleep (I got away with just two stories) while DH cooked a gorgeous fish curry. Dishwasher has been set off and I’ve straightened downstairs but now I’m having an early night and will fly properly tomorrow.

Hope you all have a peaceful night and a stress free day tomorrow.

Baby-step 13th November:here
Launch pad link:here

Mount washmore being tackled and put away. Kitchen just being tidied.Well done everyone on keeping going.

Getting away with just two stories is a skill KTCluck! I like the sound of the fish curry. We just had pasta tonight. Which reminds me that I need to take food out of the freezer for tomorrow.

Back in work tomorrow and soccer training tomorrow night. Sleep well Fledglings!

zoo my tahini is ALWAYS out of date. Drives me distracted.

Evening all,

Well, I really am not getting much Flying done at the moment. However I am on top of Mt Washmore. I am going to be out every night till Sunday now so I am planning to try and fit in as many hotspots and other quick jobs as possible in between times.

Today was work, then straight off to DD's parents evening which took 2 hours (pity the teachers). She will be choosing GCSE options soon so a lot to think about, DS has his mocks soon so I am quite pre-occupied with school stuff ATM.

You should be scared KTCluck

Zoo we are not big squash drinkers but dd likes Teisseire Le Sirop - it is available via Amazon I think - and most of them contain natural sugars I think. Bravo to ds for managing 45 mins!

I must admit Bower I am not particularly fond of the Titmouse but cor blimey his garden is lush (literally) as the yoof would say

Ta for links Ghoulette and waves to everyone else.

Promise my posts will be shorter tomorrow

ghoulettewhat marked me most was had I spotted it BEFORE I added it I could've sub with cashew butter
Must go make something for her pack up as there's no leftovers of dinner.....

Morning all,

Woke up early so got up to feed cats and made a cuppa to take back to bed. Although I must get up properly in a minute.

I tried the Headspace app earlier in the year (you can do a trial of about ten sessions for free then it had a big discount in Jan/Feb). I was getting up about now, making a cuppa and going to sit in my potting shed with my phone for a bit of peace and quiet). I did find it helpful and am much less anxious ATM, I really ought to keep it up, the running has taken its place.

Need a to do list.

Litter trays
Washing on
Make packed lunch
Think about dinner - now I am working later Weds is tricky as I don't get home till 5.30 and DD has swimming at 6 so needs to feed herself after school, then I need to get DS fed before he goes out at 7 and tonight I have a meeting at 7 also.

Morning everyone

Ghoul fantastic that you got on top of mount washmore!

Expletive seems like your days are super busy and evenings with the kids stuff. I really found a 5 minute timer helped yesterday just to keep things ticking over, i hope you don't mind me asking - is your dd in year 8 or 9 ?

I've got dd2 off nursery today, she coughed so much on the school run that she was sick 3 times outside school it wasn't proper sick thank goodness , but protocol is to keep them off . I'm at work this morning so it's Grandma to the childcare rescue !!

Tada
Erm.....coffee and breakfast?? I have no motivation this morning, broken sleep is starting to take its toll, I better stop procrastinating and jump in the shower.

Morning all. I think I might struggle with my planned home blessing today, DD has kindly passed on her bug. She’s now right as rain, raring to go, while I’ve been up poorly all night and now struggling to do very much at all. I feel like a terrible mother as I palmed her off with my phone to keep her in bed for another half hour, and now I’m trying to convince her she wants to watch TV and not go to the park. Wednesday is usually our lovely day off together . I’m relieved as I have annual leave Thursday and friday - hate phoning in sick but I work for the NHS and they are strict about 48 hours symptom free. DH has gone to work as he hasn’t been sick, but was feeling unwell. He thinks it’s psychological but I’m expecting him back. Hoping he’ll still get paid if he at least makes it in for some of the day.

I think today will be one of those “everyone fed no one dead” days you all speak of! Although I’ll be happy if I can get a load of washing in and the house isn’t a disaster zone by the end of the day (optimistic- DD has already destroyed the living room).

Tidy hope your DD makes a rapid recovery. It’s so difficult finding alternative childcare isn’t it.

tidy I remember the cough til puke days..lil zoo used to retch If phlegm was in the back of her throat.she only threw up mucous so after 4th time it happened and she was absolutely fine all day I took her into reception and told the teacher shes deffo not sick but phlegm makes her gag and puke it out.she smiled and said "lil zoo if you can't make it to the toilet there's bins here,here,here and here

Tada
Littertray cleaned
Realised binmen didn't empty bin monday.gah.must ring and sort that today.fed up of this.ive lived here 13years and up until 18 months ago I NEVER had a problem with assisted pick up
Towels into wash
Make dd2 lunch(found small can chickpeas so she had what I'd planned- carrot falafel with shredded romaine lettuce,cucumber and cherry tomatoes,rice cakes with cashew butter,few vegan chocolate buttons.snack pack of nuts and beans)
Woke her with water flick on face,pacified with hazelnut milk hot chocolate..
She's gone to school
About give lil zoo dose number 2 of laxatives...

KT repeat after me I AM NOT A TERRIBLE MOTHER FOR USING TECH TO HELP ME WHEN I FEEL ILL(or even need five minutes)mum guilt goes with the territory(I was once told if you don't have it you aren't parenting right!)use whatever tactics buy you quiet time and hope you perk up and bounce back like DD did

Thanks for all the support yesterday and hugs to all those with sick children. I always found the period between half term and Christmas the worst for juggling work and children with colds coughs etc. Deciding whether they’d be ok once they got going or whether to accept a day at home was always A fine line with mine. DH is now feeling down and depressed because I said I was finding life tough. It feels like a way of stopping me expressing any needs but I may be unfair. Today’s small list is clearing the dining table and cleaning and sorting the bookcase in the landing. Not much but it’s a start

Aww thanks Zoo I have repeated it several times and have banished guilt . I’ll make it up to her at the weekend.

Oh no Onthebrink that's not a supportive response at all . Is there anyone other than DH you can talk to?

So sorry to hear about everyone who is ailing . Wishing you all a speedy recovery!

Great work re: Mt Washmore Ghoulette

Absolutely LOVE the idea of your meditative potting shed Expletive!

Hope adolescent tantrums have quelled a bit Zoo. DD apologised to me last night and offered to come with me dog-walking so we called a truce .

Morning, after conquering CHAOS on Monday, I rested on my laurels, and now the house is upside down... I never seem to learn!

So wash is on,
Dishwasher on,
Hand washing done

To do
Put clothes away
Clear table,
Hoover,
Change beds
Do the paperwork!
Make dinner as we’re really busy after school today.

Wow! I need another mug of tea to catch up.

SC He can come and do my garden any time he likes. We made a small bed just like he was doing last night. I was rather chuffed to listen as that is what we did only we also put matting down to stop the weeds in the rockery.
Right off to boil the kettle.

times i turn my back and place degenerates in minutes,I swear!!

Two loads washing done
Bit local walk with D's(just 20 minutes as lil zoo comfortable to be left for that with her phone) as it's crisp and sunny here much better than yesterday and grabbed bananas I could get yesterday
There are a million and one things I could be doing but strong urge climb under my duvet and sleep...

Onthebrink that is a really shit response from DH. Really mega shit. I’m angry for you!

Ta da
Showered
Got to London on time

I’m now in bravissimo waiting for a fitting at 12. Have chosen a load of stuff to try. Swimming costume, regular bra, sports bra. I hate clothes shopping at the best of times!

Kt I always laugh about using technology to pacify the kids while I get something done or have a minute, me and the oh have nicknamed them the 'lazy parenting devices' or 'robotic babysitters' because they are a godsend when you just need a minute or have to get something done asap. Don't feel guilty, we all use them !

How are the meds going for lil zoo? Has the tummy eased any?

Kt don't feel guilty over using technology , we all do it (dd2 is currently watching iPad so I can eat lunch and have a cup of tea in peace)

Tada
Showered and ready
Dd1 & ds at school
Work
Stayed with mil for a coffee
Tidied bathroom

Having lunch then I'll be tackling the downstairs which seems to be a complete mess after such a busy day yesterday. Why no one else sees the mess is beyond me , I really do need to get other people involved in clearing away their own crap.

Laputa bra shopping is the worst. Hope you get sorted.

For those of you using the headspace app, there are also a few free mindfulness courses on futurelearn. You only get limited access to compete the course, so it’s not helpful if that will stress you out, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t finish it, and most videos on the one I did were just a few minutes long. I listened to them in bed to help me sleep, and I definitely felt a bit calmer.

DM is taking DD for lunch so I can go back to bed for a bit . I survived getting us dressed, making the beds and a little bit of tidying. Feeling better, just got jelly legs.

Good luck with the forking laputa!!

Onthebrink have you got anyone else to talk to as well as dh? Maybe he won't be the best support because he's too close to you if that makes sense? I know my mood sometimes effects my oh in a negative way, because he just wants me to be happy. You should never feel that you can't talk to him though.

Times my home is the same - as soon as I stop, the mess accumulates!

Waving to bower, foxes, chic and anyone I've missed!

Right I'm having an hour of phone free time to get caught up on the chores - hopefully I'll be able to post a huge tada list about 130!