Festive fledglings flying through December - the Flylady thread

[TooStressyTooMessy]

Welcome to the December (dare I say the Christmas?!) Flylady thread. This is a really lovely thread where we loosely follow the Flylady system (see the Flylady website ) in the hope of having organised homes and lives.

Every day I will post a link to the launchpad which has everything you need for that day if you do want to follow the system strictly. Plenty of options to follow the system more loosely as well :).

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 not to 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!

Any newbies are very welcome .

**
Flylady also does Christmas missions which I will link to each day. They are really useful and nearer the time she does super missions which help you if you have not managed the regular missions. They are just there to help and as Flylady says... do not worry as you do not need to catch up, just jump in where you are .

Link to the holiday cruising is

here

December’s habit is usually [[http://www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/december/
pampering yourself]] which is much needed this busy time of year. This can be as simple as taking two minutes to have a cup of tea, if long pampering sessions are unachievable.

The website will update to the December missions etc in the next few days so I will link it again if it is different.

*
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 [[http://www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions 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!

daily focus

missions for the week

Flykids mission

beginner babysteps.

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

Happy flying everyone.

Please note that while there is lots of information on the website, from a security point of view we would advise caution with putting any personal details in or downloading anything.

Also a huge thank you to Ghoulette for the November thread.

Aw thanks guys. It’s for our support worker, found out the other day Dory is her nickname and she now signs emails like that instead of her name 😂 Refrained from writing anything too soppy in the card, she really has made the most incredible difference to us though.

I’ve also made a card for the children’s centre ladies who help run the playgroup, I’ll get chocolates for them tomorrow before we go.

Other than that the only card I’m writing (again I’ll make one... it will be mindfulness themed :o) is to my therapist. Generally we don’t do cards at all.

Thanks zoo school is going really well, she begged to stay for break today and hung out with the friend she’s made a little longer. They sat her next to this particular girl (also autistic and dyslexic) on Monday morning and they’ve become firm friends already it seems! She’s actually asked to go full time next week rather than the slower start we’d planned. I think she will be exhausted but she’s desperate to fully throw herself into the experience so we will just have to see how she goes.

Indeed marvelous this time of year can be crap. TBH I tend to slip MH wise every year from late October - it’s like my very own Christmas tradition :o but I was already thinking this year has been bad enough throughout so the extra stress has tipped me over into a very bad place indeed. I have also just increased my ADHD meds (diagnosed last month) so it’s been interesting

Oh and as for DS he’s barely noticed DD isn’t here 😂 he’s oblivious. But to be honest life has carried on much as normal - we aren’t doing much home ed wise with him at the moment anyway, we have plans for January that will keep him much busier.

Hugs and cherry waves to all.

Hi everyone, apologies for lack of personals but it is nearly 10pm, DD2 is still awake as we re not long back from the play and I still haven’t eaten tea.

Play was fab.

Big wing flaps to all.

Launch pad

Christmas missions

‘We get there in the end ’

Yes zoo I make caramels, cashew clusters, toffee, and a whole variety of truffles. I'm starting with caramels as they last longer than everything else and they are gifts this year.

laputa I'm glad your DD is settling in at her new school.

Still haven’t caught up on the chat.

Fed cat several times.

Today I did two loads of washing.

Finally spent the afternoon crafting. Made and DH posted sister abroad card. Have cut out loads of stamped characters. Ready for tomorrow.
Put together friends and family ones then done to the PO in one go.
DD has sent one from the other side of the world bless her. Not sure if she will get ours as she is moving about a bit but is doing some voluntary work over Christmas we think. So will try.
Most of my wrapping and best friends is done. Need to get some shortbread made for GP etc.might do a practice run tomorrow. Oh no think I am out early for singing. Supermarket collections.😁

S&S
Sink shined. DH did dishes. Need to vacuum after cards finished then they can go away in craft room. Need to tidy dining room and start polishing silver and brass. Aaargghh two weeks.😳

Mmmmm Hazel eyes sounds yummy. My gifts are shortbread or plum rum. Mmmm must sample the plum rum. It will need bottling soon. And I need to buy vanilla df ice cream so I can have it with the plums. BF says that is almost the best bit.

marvellous DC helping each other with homework has never occurred here.yours are a very rare breed
Bower D's loves shortbread.i make it sometimes.got him a little tin from Aldi for Xmas as has a robin on it(adores birds/robins)
Hazel😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋that's all I can say!
Stressyglad play went well.hope everyone's not too hard work this morning for the late night!
Laputa the year do mum died I crashed and burned badly.it was deffo extra stress on top usual struggles that got me.im trying keep head above water but it's becoming a struggle now as years been so hard with D's.got to start forcing self-care into priority(not a habit I'm good at).lovely to hear DD has settled in so well

morning all
quick post before work
zoo it was a rare event tbh. They are normally too busy arguing. It was very sweet though!
bower plum rum sounds amazing
hazel all your confectinaries sound dleicious
stressy glad play went well
laputa so glad to hear dd is getting on well. Look after yourself today.
big hello to everyone else

so far ta das:
dc despatched to school
kitchen tidied
dishawasher loaded
surfaces wiped down
also managed to clean cupboards a la kitchen mission 1!
hoovered downstairs
quick tidy in garage (was looking for something, but didnt find it!)
washing load on

now work...

to dos for later
Order dd1 a couple more gifts
mop kitchen floor
tidy our room
good clean our en suite

right...must dash

M I shall sample some and let you know

Going singing / fund raising today then plan to finish my cards. Hope to clear all craft stuff away and clean dining table. Kitchen just needs floor washed.
Better get cracking! See you later.

Morning all! Hazel, Bower, zoo thanks for the reminder - need to add "bake gluten free snowflake biscuits" to my Christmas To Do List. Luckily not needed til the 28th, so I can back-burner it for now.

foxes, hope you have recovered your equilibrium. It took me ages after I lost 4 yr old DD in a playground - she'd run across the field home while her 3 yr old cousin was having a tantrum. I rang DH in a panic to say I couldn't find her, and he said "but she's in the playroom". I nearly throttled her when I got home!
stressy, glad the play was good, hope DD2 went to sleep and you got something to eat!
Laputa, great to hear your DD is full of beans, look after yourself too.
Bower have fun singing today
KT and marvelous so much done!
Expletive hope you have not floated away in the weather (biblically wet here today) and SC hope you are all getting better.

Yesterday's Ta Das

• morning routine
• 1 load of washing
• bannisters cleaned and decorated with DS3. Opposite wall cleaned of handprints too!

Very difficult day otherwise, just couldn't get going. Realised this morning I skipped my meds so hoping today will be better. DD had an epic meltdown yesterday afternoon, something tipped her sensory processing over the edge and I found her under her desk with her hands over her ears sobbing that she could hear the electricity in her computer and it was too loud. Suspect it was this awful cold that did it, she's not in school today.

Ta Das Today
morning routine
1 wash done and hung up / in the dryer
breakfast and meds
exercised democratic prerogative, taking DS3 with us to learn how it's done (DS1 WhatsApped this morning to say he had voted, and remembered going to the polling station with us in 2010, before school)
tidied my bits of our bedroom
dried / hung up DS2's washing and gave it back

To Dos Today
write 15 posting Christmas cards
wrap last gift for FIL
sort out what DS3 is giving DD and wrap with him
point DS2 to xmas gifts for siblings
put tinsel up
Do last bit of client writing and start printing

Christmas is less than a fortnight away and I'm still not really feeling it, but we get there in the end, eh?

Christmas is less than a fortnight away and I'm still not really feeling it, but we get there in the end, eh?

Ummmmm, looking decidedly iffy from here at the moment Willow but yes we will prevail

Haven't read everyone's posts I'm afraid! Just popping in and out to wave to all fledglings and serve to those who are finding this time of year very difficult .

Also to those who are ill or whose dc are poorly

Oh and great your dd is settling in to her new school so well and making friends Laputa

I had to call the emergency doc out to dd yesterday as she was very white and listless, with massive bulge side one side of her throat/neck with severe headache and was very weak and dizzy. Turns out she has acute pharyngitis combined with respiratory infection poor thing. Nothing to be done but rest and ride it out as viral so no antibiotics. And she's understandably in dreadful grump because she studied hard for exams and quite likes them (once the stressy lead up is out of the way) so miserable that she will have to go through it all again in January.

Then had to do some class rep work and dh stood in briefly while I nipped out for 40 mins and got my Barnet Fair hacked (did not want to miss Christmas appointment). Did two loads of washing. All of that took up whole day and not a Christmas card written! Yargh!

If I'm not back on here for a while, just wanted to say "best of luck to Toostressy for parental visit". Will be thinking of you this w/e!

Tally-ho everyone!
We will get there in the end!

Sorry Willow just read about your dd and meltdown - hope she is feeling less stressed today and you have better day too

evening all
mega busy day at work. Just got in, and only just eaten lunch!
It's been dark and cold and wet all day too...

need to try and motivate myself to get on with things though.....also need to drop dd2 to work for 6.....

will be back with hellos later....

Sorry I am being a bad thread leader. At work all day, now sorting stuff out for a school event tonight. Will be back in a bit.

willow D's can't cope if his body's "not right" and more prone freak outs.its very hard seeing your child in such distress
SC oh no!after a the hard work.poor lamb.hope she's over the worst of it soon.yet more added to your overflowing plate.sending vibes of strength,calm and productivity!

I had 3hpirs to myself today whilst do n D's game at his place.i could've clean up,wrapped gifts,selfcare etc.nope I decide bake as found bunch bananas I'd squirrelled away to use in cakes and forgot about.they were just usable so I went for it with an old favourite(cinnamon and banana bread) and two experiments as D's wasn't here wait leap on things fresh from oven and he doesn't like nice smells that prove to have been disasters!!I made banana and oat muffins flavoured with nutmeg Nd studded with sunflower seeds and dry cranberries.and my favourite bake of the day was banana tahini muffins with dark choc chunks in.all egg and dairy free.loaf also nut/seed free...
DS sniffed air on arrival home and looked at me with anticipation.fair to say he was very happy to hear I'd made cakes and that his favourite toast combo(banana and tahini) was now in muffin with choc added.he was a very happy boy!!
So tada for 3hrs they were out...

Wash on I soaked yesterday
Made banana loaf
Wash up
Clean grill
Wipe large work surface
Make banana oat muffins
Clean cupboard fronts
Sweep kitchen floor
Sweep living room floor
Make banana tahini muffins
Wash up again
Clear dining table

And once they were back ...
Feed D's and "d"p
Tutor came straight after(his nibbs head off to work)
Bit struggle today as remit after Xmas is to encourage D's time away from me ,so he is getting prepared for return to schoolhe's not impressed this idea.shes offered cinema,out to a cafe,bowling as options.bless her,average teen boy love those.ds finds all virtually impossible so will need be baby steps.shes also clear she's not pushing him like OT does when he's done she will bring him home not push him..he's still not happy these developments.a strained game of rummikub occured...Tuesday we start dad's craft Xmas gift
Feed girls after-school snack(muffins,gratefully inhaled)
Lil zoo got changed
Did hair for ballet(deffo get faster and trusting less pins to hold it in!)
Dd1 picked her up at 5 and they headed off collect pup from doggy daycare then drop her at ballet.drop pup at home then return pick lil zoo and drop her home!!

Dd2 had final maths exam today.tjankfully this one went very slightly better.yhink she's relieved "hardest" are done.history and Spanish tomorrow,then straight from school excursion late night shop at centre MK with school.a teacher will bring her home after.shes bit stressed length time out tom,but hoping time with friends will do her the world of good!

Todo
Dinner D's/lil zoo(cheese salad wraps) as late one
Simple toast veg and beans dd2 with naice bread

Toostressy you're doing fine "we'll get there in the end"

My phone is taking ages to load MN so I'm slow to get posting.

Sorry to hear about various DC suffering - sending positive vibes to the DM. It's a wretched time for bugs.

Work was holy hell this week. Major strop between two seniors with me squeezed between them, ducking for dear life.

Very true Tinselette .

Oh SC, your poor DD. That is really rubbish.

How is your DD getting on with the ballet zoo?

Hope your DD is feeling a bit better today Willow

Back in a bit

Love hearing about your carol singing and Christmassy things Bower .

Hazel, your chocolate making sounds amazing .

Lovely to hear of DCs helping each other (even if only briefly!) marvelous.

Big waves to Laputa, foxes and everyone else.

I am starting to feel stressed. Trying unsuccessfully not to.

Ta da today:-
Nothing really as was at work then had to take DD1 to a school thing and now trying to get DD2 to bed
Actually though I did get DD2 to do her homework and both DDs to sort a Christmas card out for tomorrow

To do tonight:-
Get DD2 to sleep or as near to it as I can
As soon as DH is back one of us (probably me) needs to go out and get DD1 for her thing
Need to go to a shop to get some cakes for a gift tomorrow as simply ran out of time
Laundry as otherwise no clothes for tomorrow
Get everyone’s stuff ready for tomorrow and make list
Tonight’s tea is ready meal!

Tomorrow:-
School needs stuff sending in
In the daytime I need to get my haircut (at least that is a bit of pampering), do food shop, sort house out
School pick up
Haircuts for both DDs
Christmas events in the evening for both DDs

Then busy weekend .

I have Sunday evening well and truly marked for us all to have an early night or at least a movie night in PJs.

Yawn.

Launch pad

Christmas missions

‘We get there in the end ’

stressy sounds like you need that relaxing Sunday.

Hope your DD’s are feeling happier Willow and SC

Hazel and Zoo your chocolate / baking is making my mouth water. Any chance of chucking some scraps in the direction of the naughty corner where I’m currently residing?

I’ve done a load of washing, dishwasher is going and sink is shiny so I’m not too naughty. Also managed to finish one of my projects at work and got well through another one, and remembered to call in and vote on my way home (I was paranoid I was going to forget, but MN active threads would have soon reminded me!)

I could do with writing some more cards out for me and DD, but unfortunately I didn’t bring my pen to the naughty corner with me so...

Dd1 realising on dropping lil zoo there was cake on offer took slab of loaf.theres half that left.2banana tahini muffins left.oat ones all gone
I truly have bred locusts

Stressylil zoo is having time of her life with ballet!stopped going to open ballet class as now doing "the real deal" it's a shabby comparison with few actual proper steps.she utterly adores learning it,the teachers amazing.theres around 8 girls and each always gets at least one compliment a lesson.she comes home happy with aching legs but is coming on leaps and bounds and her gracefullness is remarkably better already!!she really wants to do the Saturday class but it would be a huge commitment as in time could've made own way to open ballet but this other one is further away and over lots very busy roads so would require us all drag down there.ive no idea any of the other girls do both classes...
I'm pleased to hear you are pampering today(hair) and have earmarked Sunday to relax.keep hold of the thought of relaxing with family in pjs

Tinselette being squeezed in middle of rows is anything but fun

I seriously need get on top of house and at least find Xmas gift lists compiled of each child and start organising what we have here already into bags per child ready to wrap.ds birthday on Wednesday (18th) isn't helping as "d"p hasn't decide what of Xmas list is birthday presents.gah!

Must go get dd2 up.plannning bit light make up for school(which is within rules) and needs pick outfit for after-school shopping trip.she has history mocks this morning,Spanish writing this afternoon too..

BBL

Morning all.

Lovely to hear she is enjoying the ballet zoo .

Stayed up far to late watching election results. Absolutely pointless as the outcome would have been the same whether I went to sleep or not. Anyway, we are all up, I shall not put anything political on here.

Well and truly into the manic end of the Christmas term. Made chocolate gifts (cheated as used mostly shop bought) this morning quickly with DD1. Helped DD2 get what she needs to bring in ready. Now need to get on with breakfast etc.

Waves to KT and everyone else.

I stayed up till about midnight then started following election coverage again about 5. I live in a safe seat so no surprises here.

I am still feeling a bit under the weather with the cold I had a couple of weeks ago. Crashed on the sofa watching TV and crocheting last night so need to crack on today.

Good morning (with new Christmas nickname).

Well, despite being a British citizen (Irish mother), paying taxes in UK, our company often representing British companies/interests, and my close family living in UK, (and being massively affected by Brexit) I wasn't allowed to vote ...so no political comment (apart from that) from me.

Shite. It's Friday. According to timetable, I should have written all cards and packed all parcels and wrapped all presents. I haven't. Trying to rectify that today

👋 to all.

Current mood.

Love the namechange sc sums me up too x