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.

I know I'm late with this and everything else tbh but I loved the zoo rap!

DD still quite ill, has had a PJ day today and is coughing a lung up by the sound of it. The minor surgery (on my hand) hasn't been entirely successful either, the chances were not good but still bleeding and waiting to hear from the hospital consultants now. DH's car has developed a problem as well.

I'm always still behind on Christmas prep but I love Christmas and can't wait for the day. I do hate wrapping and always leave that to the last minute. I will do it tomorrow

Hope everyone who is poorly feels better soon, there does seem to be some strong germs circulating at the moment.

Why can't I sleep in bloody exhausted??
Did pampering with dd2 was 11 before we done(up 22 hrs by that point) and I was awake at 2 again

That’s annoying zoo .

Sorry to hear that Christmas, hope you hear back from the consultant soon with a plan .

Hope you are as ok as you can be Ive.

Morning everyone .

I have a difficult day coming up. To do:-
Perishable food shop with DC. Had thought about trying to get to Aldi by 8am but then decided to let them have a little rest. Hope I don’t regret that!
Find cat and get her to vet later in rush hour with both DC. Only good thing is I am hoping that rush hour itself won’t even so bad as lots of people off work and it will just be generally busy on the roads.
Other Christmassy bits.
Several other things.
DD2 just woke up so will get going now.

Had a good sleep but woken up feeling tired. Need to get up. I could just go back to sleep. Want to start early in the Hope I can relax for a while later. Need to finish boudoir later but first town and shopping then turkey pick up.
Everyone so busy.

zoo your house must be sparkling. Love the stashing under table, chairs. DH has put a laundry basket there. I think it has been thre for weeks. Going to investigate when I get tea and make a phone call.
Will pop back later. Deep breaths and tongue biting are the order of the day or it will be a sulky Christmas 🎄 for some. DH getting on my nerves a bit. He is helping but only when he feels like it. Didn’t wash up the two plates from supper. I had a tin soaking left over baking and he hasn’t managed to wash that and two plates. I sat watching film and hemming three pairs of trousers for DS2 ( did one leg twice) while he just watched telly.

Henry Penny laid an egg😵

Hope you got some more sleep zoo

Stressy i braved Tesco and Aldi yesterday with the 3 smallest dc and it wasnt even that bad

Fingers crossed you get news soon bower

My ears, throat and glands are so sore. Taken two paracetamol about 730 but its barely touched it will give it a bit longer then take ibruprofen

I am up with the three smallest dc. I managed to wrap about 15 presents yesterday, i am maybe about half way. I hope!

Good morning everyone! Hope everyone is doing ok?

Laputa I hope you are ok too x

I have failed . Sister arriving in 20 mins from airport (dh and dd have gone to collect) and the place is still really chaotic in parts ie main sitting room where I haven't put up the creche. Still tweaking decs, didn't marzipan cake last night. Fruit bowls need doing. Only mince pies prepped in advance, not stock for gravy, stuffing or bread or brandy sauce. Local cards not written and delivered. Terrace and herb patch and new china/glass storage is immaculate though (must have spent too much time on those!). Sister's room and en suite is looking as ok as it possibly can (given overall condition and age of place) and her bed is has pressed sheets etc. Tree looks lovely! Kitchen and bathroom are clean and shiny. But not enough food prep done and sitting room looks as though a tornado has blown through it! Shouldn't have gone to see dhorse. Bum. I just wanted it nice and calm for my sister on arrival as she had to get up at 4am to come by plane (Eurostar adversely affected by French strike) and I know she will insist on joining in to help and I didn't want that, I want her to rest for tonight (when I am hosting engagement celebration, argghh!!!!). I have so much to do before next lot of guests arrive tonight at 4.30pm (which is two hrs earlier than I was previously told). Oh well. It is what it is.

I stopped at 11pm last night and pondered doing an all nighter but I have five days ahead of hosting x 3 meals a day and I need my energy for that. Can't do as much as I used to do because of joint pain.

Sorry for feeble whimperings. We are very lucky indeed to have home, friends, family around us, and lots of good ingreds even if they haven't quite turned in to proper dishes yet! It will be ok . Just wanted to be more organised and have more things done in advance so I can enjoy it all and not stress ... 'tis not the end of the world though!

Boudoir ... need I say ...seems to get worse not better

Tally-ho everyone! Apologies for very me, me post. Haven't caught up with thread but sincerely wish you huge luck with all of your respective last minute rushes!

We will get there in the end (and if it isn't as perfect as one plans in one's imagination, it's not the end of the world!)

Tally-hooooooooo! Good luck fledglings!

I've I'm so sorry you are ill

Glad rellies have posted Bower hope you hear more soon

Hope dd feels better soon Chic

And good luck with your difficult day ahead Toostressy

Wow what a list Zoo!

Frantic waves to everyone else!

Bless you sc you have NOT failed!

SC.

Yes I hope you are ok Laputa?

About to leave for Aldi 2 hours later than planned. Good to hear shops weren’t too and yesterday Ive.

Next order has not arrived, they don’t know when it will come. It is a present from DD1 to DD2 so both might be upset.

Discovered no cards for either me or DDs to give to DH so will have to go to card shop. Had wanted to avoid that.

DD2 grumpy.

Cannot find cat - she needs to be at vets for 4:30pm.

Happy Christmas

I have had a lot of issues with Next items not being delivered in past few months. Twice it has then taken me months to get them to refund missing items hope your stuff comes stressy

I've sorry to hear you are feeling awful. Hope it doesn't get any worse.

Zoo Want is that about "leading by example?" I have now cleaned all of my baking cupboard.

I was cleaning the Everhot when it was making me cough and wheeze. DH who went to bed after film an hour before me and got two and a half hours later has actually offered to help! it makes me cough and wheeze and hurts me wrists so gladly let him do it. We have had it for a year now and he just had to ask which product to use. Sound familiar?

Need to go and collect turkey and brave the supermarket for other stuff but not much. DF ice cream , milk etc. Veg we will get at usual butchers although DH was making noises about going to DS1 usual place but it is right in the city urggh! Traffic will be horrendous. Butchers is out in the country.

Laputa I was missing you too I know it is extra hard with excitement and routines changed but I hope you are ok. If reading these just a short I'm OK if you can as I see some others concerned too. Likewise Hills.

TooStressy Hope it arrives. Adds to the stress. DD will just have to be understanding.

CC Glad you mentioned the rap again I had to read and run ..DH shouting about Where is? It was great wasn't it? Well done Zoo. and other contributions.

SC HJust let her help. Could she sit and help with cake? Sometimes it is nice to just be together and do things together.
Living room I would bag and run then hide it in Boudoir if messy bit more wont matter. As long as you can get in bed which I can just manage.

Right need to go out somewhere and maybe get turkey as well.
Laters.

Glad your DH helped Bower. SC, I agree with Bower, I would just let her help. Somehow cleaning someone else’s house isn’t as bad as cleaning your own sometimes.

Ive yes, they are now sending out blanket ‘sorry we are behind with deliveries and don’t know when they will come messages’. I wonder if this will hurt their business as one of the selling points is the easy ordering. Thankfully DD1 actually saw something to give DD2 in Aldi (a hooded blanket that she will love but is most definitely not clutter free ) so we have bought that subtly. The other present can be for DD2’s birthday if it ever arrives.

Ta da:-
Aldi shop done. Really not too bad and staff amazing. Unfortunately did come away with two toy carrot things (bribery) and some unnecessary chocolate snacks but otherwise ok. Few missing items for DH to try to find on way home for work.
DDs settled with chocolate snack, drink and YouTube so I can put shopping away. Really can’t have them helping as will be hard enough for me to figure out where the bloody hell it will all go.
DDs both desperate to avoid further shopping so say they will make cards at home - can be tomorrow.
Found cat for now so at least she is in the house unless she tries to break out of the cat flap.

To do:-

Put shopping away
Start lunch and packed tea

Keep going everyone!

Thanks for kind words everyone! Yes, dsis did help for a bit and is now having well-earned nap. I am cooking for tonight. DD is hanging from ankles putting last lights up banisters

Yes, I am at the "bag and run" stage Bower not looking forward to sorting resultant mess in Jan!!

Keep going everyone!!

Poor you I've that sounds really nasty. So awful to be ill at this time and having to plough on. I don't suppose rest is an option? Try and get an early night maybe and stuff the wrapping! We used to have our main presents from our parents in purple Galt Toys paper bags and I have very happy memories of spotting them on Christmas morning, each "pile" on an individual chair!

DH has managed to get his car fixed this morning, very grateful to the garage for squashing us in on their last day before new year!

Laputa I hope you are OK and your DD enjoyed her school time.

I've just swung by the Golden Arches for drinks after dropping DH off to collect his car - bonus cappuccino! Will do more Christmassy stuff this afternoon. May even do wrapping it's a cappuccino not a miracle worker FFS

ive I really feel for you with the sore throat and glands. sometimes something as simple as boiled sweets can help. I think ibuprofen is also good for inflammation. (I'm also going to drop a prescription for a hot whiskey/whisky, if that is something you would be able to do)

SC you've had such a busy year - I wouldn't worry about the various stuff that could be done. Just enjoy being with your sister. Isn't it great you'll all be together?

I am so sorry for not popping by much. I reset my phone in desperation because MN is taking an age to load and it's driving me nuts.

I'm working from home today and on my lunch break.

Cherry waves!

Well

Errrrm

It’s been interesting.

DD loving school apart from the bullying meeting booked for 20/1 with our support worker joining me, to generally see how things are going.

Not particularly ready for Christmas but remembering “we get there in the end”. Which is good as DH has spent much of the last two days in hospital with DSD (not the one who is currently living here, her twin) - infected abscess it looks like. She’s in a real sorry state! Not entirely sure she will be out for Wednesday.

SCletting guests help is not a fail,you have so many balls juggling with work,2 houses and a horse.dong be so hard on yourself!!(clean bed,lav and kitchen are all I'd want as a guest tbh.i wouldn't even require ironed sheets!!)

I've
Stressy hope vets trip goes ok
Bower maybe gennypennybhad wobble she might be Xmas dinner and popped out the egg!?

Tada
Up 430
Wash on
Fed cats
Cleaned kitchen windows
Cleaned sills and tiling
Swept floor
Wrote extensive to do lists with rough timings to make sure I stay focused and don't get side tracked!
Cleaned lav
Empty last rubbish into bin before collection
Early start for zoolets.woke and made breakfast
Dp arrived 7am from work,fed and watered him as taking me shopping
Cleaned girls room of doom windows,beds made sorted laundry piles
Cleaned D's window,polished,sorted laundry piles
Write shop list for town
Head town 740
Argos,home bargains and Sainsbury's for particular gifts.all acquired

Head Aldi.i decided as friend having mlp stuff is so poorly and single mum with no family I'd have a Christmas spirit moment.i got two trolleys and bought food for her and three little ones to eat ,plus flu meds!doubtful she could've managed a shop until at very earliest tom pm as she currently weak and legs hurting(on benefits,doesn't drive)it wasn't nothing exciting just veg,gammon,milk,cheese,ham,bread,cereal,mince pies,custard,crisp,cake,jelly and fruit.i spent less than £20.it felt very good piling it into trolley!!
I rang her at 10 and she sounded awful.i said do dropping off toys for her and would knock and run as he's working and can't drop flu right now.added I'd got flu meds and "a few bits in a bag"
I had a tearful phone call after the drop.made me want cry.i know how bloody hard it is battling on your own,and being poorly too with 5,6 and 9yr olds she needed help.i said call it good karma,or Santa's helper when she beg pay me tomorrow when gets her child benefit.sonetimes these things need doing and help counter the amount grumpy people I've run into today....dd2 loved being part the surprise(pushed and packed her trolley) and I think good example for them.anyways enough rambling,back to ta da...
Drop toys and food
DS picked up by o.t
Used time he out way wrap last bits just bought for him
Clean crates bought on travels for rest Xmas food
Head off to Asda George hunting decent size plastic pits for mince pies/cakes as mine seem disappeared
Drop mini guitar and small Playmobil set at chazza en route.hope they give someone else the fun Xmas mine got from them years ago❤️
Lunch
Discovered binman took recycling as rubbish,leaving bin with lid open.ffs.rang complained.as constant prob it's been referred senior management and may take 10 days to resolve.better empty bin before then ....
Put away rest Aldi shop in cleaned crates
Hoover stairs,hall and landing
Clean bathroom windows,sills,bath skirt and radiator
Tiling ,shower and bath

Four loads laundry done,loads more to do!

Just got front room and I getting there!!
Realised no cows milk and forgot lettuce-will pick up tom

Laputa

Bless you zoo you are a

Now does anyone know if any point me having flu jab if already had flu and if this is round two of flu a) would they jab me, b) would it help?

Laputa so sorry to see your dd suffering bullies best to get it nipped in the bud as it sounds you are!

zoo you embody the Christmas spirit. That was so kind and thoughtful of you.

Laputasorry to see about the bullies but you'll get it nipped in January. So glad she is enjoying her learning experience. for dsd - poor soul, hospital at Christmas. Hope the meds work soon.

As for the flu jab ive - I'm not medically qualified (only a lowly hypocondriac) but I would think there are a few flu strains circulating and the flu season extends to March so perhaps it might be no bad thing to get the jab? The pharmacists would have good advice as they know what bugs are currently circulating in the community.

I had bad flu one Christmas as a child (my legs stopped working and I couldn't walk). My Dad set up a portable telly next to my bed and I watched 'White Christmas' while semi delirious which was quite an experience.

Got flu at Christmas much later when I was a library assistant in my 20s and I felt pretty rubbish then too. Ds has a touch of asthma and we have absolutely no-one to look after us here

Laputa so sorry DD is having trouble with bullying; hope you can kick the school into touch on the 20th.
I'VE sorry you are feeling rough. Remember to stay hydrated, it makes it worse if you get dry!
Bower, pleased your DH offered to take over when the dust got to you.
SC you absolutely haven't failed. You've got your DSis with you and she is comfortable. I bet she'd rather spend time with you than have a perfect Christmas pulled out of the hat and you too busy / tired to see her.
Chic phew, the car is fixed. Hope the cappucino did its job.
Zoo, that's a wonderful thing you did, particularly when you are so exhausted yourself.

I got my Christmas second wind today and have been madly busy since 7am.

Ta Das

• put DS2's washing on to dry because I am a nice Mum
• put the music room sofa cushion covers into wash with soda crystals because they were disgusting.
• empty and reload and run the DW
• tidied up the kitchen sofa by shaking out the throw and putting it back on upside down
• dust downstairs
• put sofa covers on radiators to dry
• do a really serious hoover - all 3 floors, edges as well as middles, lampshades, picture rails, DH's precious audio system which is a bugger to dust by hand.
• properly clean the downstairs cloakroom (sink, lavatory, windowsill etc) including doing the floor on my hands and knees to get into the corners, behind the loo, under the radiator and the skirtings.
• properly do the utility room floor on my hands and knees
• sweep and mop the kitchen floor
• clean our bathroom
• clean the family bathroom including doing the floor by hand etc
• emptied all the bins
• baked mince pies as DMum said she wanted to drop off FIL's Christmas gift
• had coffee with DMum for 90 minutes
• went to Tesco for last fresh stuff - worryingly easy to park and shop, no busier than a conventional Friday - getting a bit concerned for the economy.

-DH has done his wrapping.

I am Absolutely Pooped and my knees hurt from the scrubbing (no rude jokes please! ). Tea is pasta and sauce for the DCs and Christmas cheese and crackers for DH and me. The ostrich is defrosting in the fridge. We are going to play Exploding Kittens as a family after tea.

Tomorrow's only real jobs are icing the Christmas cake, washing our bedlinen (so we can all be in the big bed on Christmas morning) and possibly scrubbing the window frame by my side of the bed (think the mould might be what's making me cough).

We will get there in the end.

Bullying already Laputa - that's beyond disappointing. I hope the school are handling it well.

laputa that's really shocking, I hope your dd enjoys the Xmas holidays and you get it sorted out on the new year.

SC you are 100% not a failure. Remember what you always say to the rest of us - look after yourself as well, be kind to yourself

My kids are being bloody hard work this evening!!! I'm ignoring them. I won't engage with them until they start being nice again! sticks fingers in ears in desperate bid to ignore the tantrums

More positively Frozen 2 is a great film!

That is really shitty for your DD Laputa .

For your DSD in hospital of course that is also shitty. I’m not sure if it is any consolation (and I hope it doesn’t sound like I am downplaying it) but staff usually try to make Christmas in hospital still feel Christmassy... does depend what type of ward she is in and how busy they are of course.

foxes it is a tricky time of year for young children! Thank you for the Deck the Halls tip BTW. I have never seen it and was looking for an easy Christmassy watch while I get stuff done.

AMAZING list Willow!

Ive, I am not an expert on the flu jab but I agree with Tinselette. I think it would be worth at least enquiring at your GP practice / pharmacy. They will be able to let you know. BUT I’m afraid a)they are highly unlikely to jab you while you are ill - you should be well on the day you have the jab. This is because b) your immune system is already busy fighting whatever you have so it could make you quite unwell. This is my professional and also bitter personal experience (not flu, meningitis vaccine that I had when I was ill when I was a student and I was so unwell afterwards).