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.

Launch pad

Christmas missions

‘We get there in the end ’

Sorry for absence. Ruddy phone acting up

And I've just lost a post too

Morning

Oh.my.gawd.
How can it race towards us so bloody fast?!

Been awake since 4,up since 445(after quick scroll of MN)as my to do is just buzzing and I'm not sleeping.added bonus once cats fed they sleep so it's quiet enough to crack on,and then hopefully rather than just growling like I'm possessed if anyone asks me to do something I will have done enough off list before they even get up to schedule in funstuff and time together.i hate that I'm too busy to enjoy run up with them,but if I don't get shit done it's not going to happen..
Add in my anxiety is NOT loving the extra choas and clutter.its not happened before but think the added stress of D's and dd2 panic attacks etc is pushing me onto edge of an abyss
As I'm not allowed to leap lemming styly in I have suck up big girl pants to full tilt and plow forward

Tada
Wash on
Feed cats
Bleach lav
Unearth work surface one from pile washing up(dump said wash up in bowl)
Wash said surface
Empty box on it that holds mini blender,sponges,seasalt,everyday spices/herb bottles etc and sort it,tidy it,put it back
Wipe toaster,empty tray that was so full of crumbs it jammed
Clear surface two onto dining table
Scrub surface
Wipe kettle
Scrub sink and drainer
Wash up
Sweep floor
Wash in dryer,more on

Bag up remnants of panic wrapping school gifts into recycling/stuff usable up onto landing ready to go away once DP is up
Clear under dining table
Sweep living room floor
Hunt understairs in case still have embroidery hoop (I do,whoo hoo one less shopping hunt)and put with pillow cases acquired to make zoolets stockings as cannot for love of all things find the ones I bought from £1 shop last year .this is a yearly problem and if I every move I may find a huge amount stockings!!(but this year I plan to put away with decs so they will not go AWOL
Wash in dryer
Cupboard one in kitchen all pulled out and tidied,noted things need replacing
Cupboard two in progress but stopped for mo due blasted palpitations and standing on chairs try sort it not clever during a spell...

To do
Too much to type
Things slowing from.gallop to canter so am off back into the beyond to cupboard two

BBL

zoo when we moved we discovered we had about 15 stockings!

I have lower back ache, slept roughly 11-4 then 530-730 so thats not too bad

Ta da

Nothing

To do

Everything

zoo, I know there's lots to do but please slow down before you fall off something and injure yourself. Your poor hands - do you think you could wrap in latex gloves? My FIL gets contact dermatitis and basically wears gloves for everything now. I'VE, sorry you're sore and not sleeping too. I must have slept too hard as I woke up this morning and my left hip wouldn't go. Took me five minutes to force myself upright!

Ta Das from yesterday

• our bedroom is now really tidy so I can clean today and there will be space for all 6 of us plus the dog with stockings on Christmas morning. This is brilliant news are usually we are all a bit squashed and surrounded by the effects of last minute wrapping!
• I've opened all the professional development magazines I've been ignoring and chucked out the packaging and the flyers that come with them. It's reduced the pile but they're still laughing at me.

Stressy, sorry your Friday was so frantic, pleased you got to your event.

Just need to vent briefly about DH, who has Cocked Up on the food front. I spent Thursday baking etc including making chicken pies to various specifications as various people can't / won't tolerate various sauces / veg etc and I am grain-free for health reasons so I need gram-flour pastry. Last night DH got clever, offered DS2 pie and GAVE HIM MINE. This is particularly off-pissing because DS2

• doesn't like mushrooms
• doesn't like cream and white wine sauce
• hated the pastry (I don't eat it for amusement! And am thinking of just ignoring pastry altogether going forward).

So DS picked out the bits he didn't like, has eaten about a half of it all told, still had pizza afterwards and I have no pie for lunchtime. I could cry, frankly, I thought food for today was sorted and it is so bloody complicated with all the allergies, sensory shit and minor intolerances in this house. DH feels bad and has offered a heart-felt apology, but that's not going to fix it, is it? Gah.

Ok, tantrum over. Lots to do. Onwards and upwards.

Ouch Zoo - your poor hands. I have suffered with eczema on mine on and off all my adult life, I had a horrendous flare about 3 years ago and persuaded GP to refer me for patch testing - found it was a nickel allergy and the massive flare coincided with starting to wear an old "silver" ring I had acquired as a teen in the years before nickel in jewellery was outlawed. Relief followed but it does flare up a bit every winter. Wearing gloves always when out in the cold helps mine a bit, as does a smidge of lanolin (BF stuff) under a plaster on any cracks, works miracles.

Willow glad your DD had a nice day to compensate from rude "friends". It makes your heart ache when something like that happens.

SC that is a mega list from yesterday

Stressy well done on the city trip and thank you for keeping up with posting links at such a busy time.

Well, yesterday was quite productive. Optician and dentist appointments done, blitzed dining room / office as engineer booked to fix wifi, fault found to be external but at least I have a tidy desk area. Another light bulb changed, why do they all go in the middle of winter.

Found a card from last year that I needed! When I recycle them I put to one side any with new addresses, new baby info etc to transfer to my address book. Wrote cards this year and realised didn't know name of neighbour who moved here last year's wife (already knew husband slightly through hobby). Knew they had sent a card last year but no note in the address book. Showed how long since I have done proper filing . Sorted the rest of the paperwork removed from the desk and shredded/recycled lots of it. Stuff put back in loft, stockings brought down. Out in the evening for work do, good time had by all etc.

Re stockings. We keep our decorations in two big plastic boxes, usually get down from loft about the 7th, but we also have two bags up there, one with leftover cards, wire card holder and santa hats, which comes down about the 1st and another with stockings in which comes down about now. It all lives together just inside the loft hatch. However we have a pull down ladder so loft access is easy.

Today - it's raining again. So much rain this week. To do - take DS to football club Christmas thing, pick up tablets from vets, go to friends house for mince pies etc, watch darts. Probably bits of shopping too.

Actually zoo, Expletive is right, it would be a good idea to see your GP / practice nurse at some point for your hands. I’ve had patch testing and it was really so helpful. I found out that some of the stuff I was putting on my hands was actually making them worse as I was reacting to them. Even the ‘soothing’ stuff. I now know what to avoid and although it is not perfect made a huge difference (realistically though I do also have to avoid some jobs etc where it would just be too much for my skin).

See GP / nurse to ask for patch test referral is what I mean.

willow the pie incident would give me the rage too!!!

Caught up with a bit of the thread. Everyone so busy. Thinking if the DH/DPs wrote a list how interesting that would be. Truly think that if women withdrew all efforts that Christmas wouldn’t happen so give yourself a pat on the back. Do try and carve out some rest stops for ten minutes. I am just getting up😗😵as we had our choir night out. I’ve never been before so was glad to be near my old boss and met some new people I had never talked to before. Ended up having a lovely night but tired after a hectic day. One more booking on the 24 th for choir. We have done loads this year. Some lovely people going to the 24 th and some staying over ...not here thank goodness.

Ta da

Wash on
Dryer on
Kitchen bin empty
Cot stripped
Last bits of shopping list started
Finances checked
Moved all random crap from table
Moved all random crap from LR2
Swept under LR2 sofa
Tidied LR2 sofa
Cleaned coffee table
Deposited some forgotten crafts in the bin (sorry dd)
Pots washed
1 worktop clean and clear
Tidied dvds

How do i remove a brown ring from my table oh wise ones?

Plans keep going awry but will try today.

Plan
To put up remaking decks in kitchen and sitting room( still not done) and put all boxes away. I sometimes store stockings in airing cupboard zoo. Otherwise in Christmas boxes. Sort decks in saved Roses/ Quality street boxes and then stack into large Christmas box 📦 keeps decks from breaking.

To make last Christmas cake.
To buy marzipan ahh haven’t bought it. Runs off screaming.
To finish cleaning bathroom. I did some yesterday ...trap and mirror.
To clear dining table which is worse not better.
To put away clothes in bedroom so I stop tripping over baskets.

To do one hour, ten minutes rest, one hour etc.to pop back here to confirm anything achieved.
To hope no one rings, arrives, asks me to do anything including BF until later any way as she is better organised than me now 😂🤣😁

🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥐🥐🥐🥐🥐🥐🥐🥐☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ to help you through. Off to eat Christmas tree crumpets which DH brought home.

You could try a little vinegar on a cloth. Just a little at a time but I am sure that is what my aunt used to use. There was an old remedy with ash mixed in but don’t know if it works. You could go over to Housekeeping and ask Pigletjohn he seemed to know everything.

Yeah posting on iPad now. Reason for continual posting.

Amazing list I’ve crawls out feeling guilty when others been up for hours.

Morning all .

What type of table Ive? As in what is the surface like? As Bower says it might be worth making a separate thread in housekeeping.

Bower YY to men’s lists . However I must add that my DH sorts presents and cards for his family and years ago wrote an amazing master list for Christmas food shopping. Still though the amount of thinking that I have is huge at this time of year. In fact one thing I really want to do this weekend is make a huge list of Christmas stuff that still needs doing. Have been wanting to that for weeks.

on your behalf about the pie Willow.

So annoying to lose posts Tinslette.

Festive wing flaps to everyone!

We are on the way to my in-laws. Meeting a few friends with all their children for pub lunch which will be hard work keeping all kids entertained and not over excited but also hopefully will be nice.

Then, I am so excited as we are going to the pantomime. I am mainly excited to sit down and maybe even relax as DDs can watch the show and also other adults are there to help if needed. To be fair I am sitting down now as DH driving but trying to keep kids happy ish in car etc.

Aim for tonight is list making.

Also hello to foxes!

I would just say regarding patch testing - the testing itself was a faff, I had to have three hospital appointments on the Mon/Wed/Fri of the same week. Also you have plasters and sharpie pen marks all over your back. I'm glad I did it but remember the week being a bit of a logistical nightmare.

Try Barkeepers friend I've ; you need oxyalic acid. Some people use a walnut.

Mayonnaise works for most white stains but not black.

I'd be furious about the pie *Willow

Frantic waves!

Could be wrong about walnut sorry that's for scratches

This article explains about water and other marks here

Tally-ho! I am on way to wreckk2 to do decs there having done most decs wreck1. Going to see dhorse and groom him and feed him some treats and cover him in slobbery kisses . I might also give him a very small wee sip of Christmas beer

I'vesnap with bad back
SC will post for you in a mo...
Willow I'd have hung drawn and quartered(not feeling the love re Xmas stresses>him...when lil zoo had go gf I gave up baking as dd2 don't eat eggs and gf vegan baking isn't a science I can crack.texture bloody awful..

I know I've issues with aloe Vera as they go hot instantly.as with many products tbh.i genuinely believe it's paper/cardboard as a last who works our local Waitrose has same problem.i tend put Norwegian formula liberally on(unscented and frigging expensive) as emergency fixer upper.latex free gloves (vinyl are my go to) overnight and there's always decent improvement by morning.need keep an eye on them today,and cream up again after dinner with gloves(as I can then go about my business and just wash the gloves rather than my skin iyswim)and recream again before bed!

Lovely late birthday treat for D's,a trip to redwings horse sanctuary.nearest to us is warwickshire

SC that was mainly a shameless horsey post for youbloody amazing place,great volunteers caring for neglected and abandoned horses and donkeys❤️

Ps D's adopted the middle one.he gets invited his birthday party and horsey updates!he also bought his cuddly toy version and fridge magnet,along with a previous adoptee Dylan (handsome white chap)

Back to drudgery...
Lunch sorted
Wash in
Ordered huge cat tree for my spoilt furry overlords using money backdated disability for D's as he wants it in his room so they hang out with him and hopefully stop chewing holes in bags/try pull up stair carpet when bored !

To do
Hob,cupboard fronts
Wash lower floors- muddy/unsavoury boots weren't removed at door
Put pompom wreath back up
Rehang paper snowflakes that fell

I hoping watch Xmas film by 4 after hot shower and retreat to fluffy pjs.my feet got wet at sanctuary and I'm cold right thru!

I can then sit embroidering pillowcases whilst we watch it

Oh that sanctuary sounds lovely zoo.

Yes I had forgotten about the faff of patch testing Expletive.