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.

Ta da:-
Painted DD2’s fingernails
Vets
Packed tea for DDs
DD1 activity
Snack
DH got the bits I couldn’t for the food shop on his way home
Bedtime in progress
Ready meal and beer planned for DH and me .

So it turns out the cat has an overactive thyroid. She will need to start medication now and possibly have an operation in the future. But it is good news really as it is completely manageable and apparently quite common in older cats. Other blood test results looked pretty good too.

On the downside we need to give her a tablet every day. Plus in her desperation not to be trapped in the house to wait for the vets (she has always been a cat that likes to go outside when she wants) shoe broke the cat flap door . So despite not wanting to do anymore online orders and wait for more parcels I have had to another one. I did phone the local pet shop but they don’t sell the part.

Right.. DD1 appears to be asleep so I am going to get into PJs and get the ready meal on. Then figure out what needs doing next.

Laputa, did the school say anything about the bullying at all or are they just waiting for the meeting?

Big wing flaps to all.

Glad it's treatable good news for stressycat oh dear on catflap....

Well to be fair the cat flap was breaking anyway. Thankfully I already had all the details from when I had to replace the door the last time she broke it so at least it only took a few minutes to do online.

Launch pad

Christmas missions

‘We get there in the end ’

We are so close now everyone... keep going! Remember to try to take some time to rest even if that is only for 2 minutes with a drink.

I can’t figure out a way to link it but if you search for ‘Tried n Tested sugar plum mum’ you see a brilliant Facebook video about mums at Christmas. I promise it is worth the few minutes of your time if you haven’t seen it.. .

Oh my god

That song is like a tick list of my life right now

Thank you so much for all the encouragement everyone; it really helped .

Dsis did loads; made soup and canapés , so I was able to finish everything off (for immediate dinner as it were). Was ready by skin of teeth/nick of time/eleventh hour but celebration (which could have potentially been quite tense) went well. Exhausted now so have just stacked one dw-full and set it off and will clear up the rest in the morning.

So sorry to hear about the bullying Laputa really disappointing

Hang in there and hope you are no worse I've

Well done to Henny Penny Bower!

Great list Willow!

Zoo that was such a lovely thing to do

DD is looking forward to Frozen2 even though she's 16 yrs Foxes so she'll be glad to hear it's good!

Glad cat's condition is treatable Toostressy and at least you have a diagnosis/management plan

Waves g'night to everyone else! Sleep well fledglings! We will get there in the end!

Take me more than 15 minutes to sort my Boudoir. The 27 thing fling would have been good if I had seen it earlier. Will do the Friday clearing but NO WAY am I doing any Flylady on Christmas Day!
Zoo that was a lovely kind thing to do. Giving can be far more satisfying than receiving.
Toostressy Glad to hear cat is in reasonable condition. Ours still has gunky ears. Drops every day seems to be shifting brown gunk. Think she has an overactive wax production in one ear. Annoying about more expense re cat flap.

Laputa good to hear from you sorry to hear about SD being ill.

SC glad DS was keen to help and then went for a nap as sometimes disappearing to let you crack on can help.

I've worth asking but may not have any left and wont give it to you, as said, when poorly.So agree with Tinselette.

Waves to all busy Fledglings.

List of TA Da's

9am arrival to sort out dental problem.
Back home and cracked on with cleaning out Baking cupboard as inspired by Zoo All Done no extra room but clean and all fits. Replace pieces of used mixer bowl etc.
Few more jobs and a wash on.
Return to town. Picked up a few things at Farmers /Wholesale. Picked up bag of prawns, mixed fruit and bits and bobs.Very busy so didn't stay long.
Waited 10/15 minutes for Diesel. Girl on till very cheery hyper maybe been on the red bull.
Picked DH up and we went to get turkey. Butchers enlisted lots of young men to help. Extra four and all jolly, polite, helpful and efficient.
Go to village Co Op everyone cheery.
On to other butchers to buy different stuffing and pigs will put my own blankets on as cheaper. Get a lovely smile from my Italian favourite butcher.Note to self to give him some Plum Rum. Forgot gravy.They make turkey gravy and bag it. Delicious and worth buying as saves time. I still do the other but after the meal and save for next day.
Get veg, more pigs, stuffing, bread.
Home and put stuff away and very late lunch of pie with cranberries on top, sausage rolls £2 for 6 offer.Tea. Nearly 4pm.
On to M&S as DH wants bloody fish as he cocked up the order by leaving it too late. Lovely platter of fish just like he wanted. Showed him - DH smiling.Showed him the price DH £50 gave that a miss and said to him if you are really keen go late tomorrow and you might be lucky to get reduced.He started buying other bits and I suggested he stopped or he would be up to £50! He settled for a lobster.
No passionfruit so then went to nearby ASDA and got the last ones yeah! It was busy in there.I am glad we went to village to get most of the stuff.

So all shopping done and put away.
Cleaned the Everhot hotplate which I turned down while out.It is gleaming now.
Posted DN b'day card for 27th I always forget so chuffed with myself.
Posted letter to one of the cousins.
Wreaths went up this morning.

I have never been this organised for about thirty years. All shopping done all presents wrapped. Tomorrow prep turkey, put pigs in blankets, ice four cakes (hopefully), make Pavlova, make mince pies Put feet up for one hour and then change and go to Mass.
Do you think Fly lady is starting to work? Not if you saw my boudoir.
However Christmas is looking good.
Remember we have no kids in the mix(well apart from the big, grumpy , stroppy one.)

OOOPS!

Willow meant to say that was a great list.
Re Tesco maybe they all organised delivery. ASDA was heaving at 5 pm up here! M&S ( not main store in town) was very busy too. I think the northerners are spending well on food. Though the local news stating more people at the food bank. Right I am tucked up in bed now for hopefully eight hours.

Only four hours sleep AGAINi hate my hormones and am beyond bloody tired

stressy that was funniest and most relevant thing.i proper laughed when I seriously needed to.thanks lovely!!👍

Aah it’s Christmas Eve!!

I’m wide awake with my to do list running through my mind. Should probably just get up but I don’t want to be shattered later.

Need to:
Drop DD at nursery for the morning so we can get everything done (I’m starting to regret the decision to send her as there were only a few of them in yesterday and I’m worried she’ll be one of the only ones today, but she’ll have much more fun there than she will at home with me and DH trying to get everything done)
Collect turkey etc
Deliver presents
Prep veg and potatoes, make pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire puddings mix (DH insists).
Put together DD’s scooter and clean up sylvanian families bundle bought from gumtree
Dining table set
Shop for bread and milk
General house tidy, vac, s & s

DH is usually pretty good at doing his share on Christmas Eve and is often much more efficient than me. Last year he’d done all of the veg by the time I’d done the pigs in blankets and stuffing balls . Hoping for a repeat!

Need everything done by 12:30 to pick up DD then planning an afternoon of baking biscuits, visiting aunt, possibly trip to park if she needs tired out. Then picnic tea, bath, pjs and the tiger who came to tea on tv before bed.

Laputa sorry your DD has had to endure bullying. I hope it’s nipped in the bud ASAP and it doesn’t spoil her school experience (she sounds like a tough cookie if she is still being positive about going despite the bullies).

Zoo what a lovely thing to do. You deserve a lovely Christmas. May have a little tear in my eye...

SC you are absolutely not a failure! In my house DSis x 2 are not considered guests and are expected to muck in and I expect to help at theirs. You honestly sound like the perfect hostess and I’m sure you’ll give your guests a lovely Christmas.

Ive hope you feel better today.

Everyone else, you’ve got this! It’s the final push to get us all through.

We have this ladies
LETS DO IT!!

tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Sofas scrubbed (fake cream leather)
Dining chairs scrubbed(ditto)
Amazing how much better such simple things make a room feel!
Remembered D's asked jumper for his sock mumkey(key to mummy's love as opposed to monkey)
Speed knitted jumper(pic to follow) it's basic,but will hopefully make him happy!(like I had nothing else to press on with)
Wash in drier

Now quick blitz front room to follow!

Mumkeys new jumper

zoo that's impressive speed knitting!

They day started off badly with ds having yet another tantrum luckily all sorted now so let's hope it improves!

Dh is at work and I also have to work , meant to be a full day but I heard a lot of the office staff go early on Xmas Eve...hope they let me know if they do because I'm working from home so I won't know what's going on 🤷 will have to phone them a few times see if anyone there !

Dh went to the shop on his way to work to pick up the few things we had forgotten...carrots (for Rudolph) mince pies (for santa because we ate all the ones I had made!) and satsumas (for the stockings!)

Best to and make the dc breakfast!

Ears throat glands still sore however doesnt seem be getting any worse

Was up in the night with baby 😴 dcs all downstairs before 8am which is unheard of

Did more wrapping last night but i just kept finding MORE stuff i had forgotten i had bought. So i still have more to do.

Will wrap the manchild and grandparents today with dc tbh i might just let them bloody do it

Feeding baby and then will crack on ...

Zoolets are now up.need pop shop last minute bits I forgot and renew bloody bread supplies

Tada
Cleaned around TV unit
Tidy mantle piece and clean/clear stuff stacked around fireplace
Lil zoo pe kit(swim and pe clothes from a week ago.boak) were cause nasty niff I couldn't locate in hall yesterday.these are now in hot wash

Need tidy corner near Xmas tree(stash n dash behind it when do sister came up and hadnt got round clearing mess,but think Xmas paper plates etc in one the bags!!)
Embroider pillowcases for tonight
Bake
Wash kitchen surfaces
Wash all floors(later)
Quick wipe bathroom
Mountains laundry

Dd1 popping up this morning to design pattern a wooden box for lil zoo full beauty things

for the jumper zoo

Lovely jumper for Mumkey there, Zoo. Sorry you're still feeling ill, I'VE, hope you can get work done foxes. Thank for that link, Stressy, big wingflaps to everyone else. Laputa, sorry your DSD is in hospital and hope bullying is not putting DD off school.

It's Christmas Eve! DS3(9) is wildly excited already. My "just a couple of last things to do" list is expanding by the second. DH is watching boxing on his tablet instead of getting up and getting on, so I'm going to take DS3 and the dog to put the last Christmas card through a friends door.

🥇for zoo. Great speed knitting very cute.
I’ve glad it is no worse hope it stays that way. You have a lot on but you are made of strong stuff.
foxes tantrums are such hard work. Hope the day goes better for you. Trying to work with kids about is difficult let’s hope they finish early and let you know. Is there one person you could ask to ring and let you know?
KTC that is a long list hope you achieve it. Nursery is a good idea and if less children she will get more attention. You might find there are more today😀 baking is enjoyable. Hope DH steps up.

🥞🥞🥞🥞🥐🥐🥐🥐☕️☕️☕️🥓🥓🥚🥚🥚🥖🍩🍩🍪🍪🧁🧁🧁🍰🍰to sustain all fledglings.

Lying here tired but knowing I need to do quite a lot. Baking wise. I went to bed late after watching plus 1 Vera and then on here for a little while so after midnight.
Be up in seven minutes..9am.

Going to take radio back to kitchen for while I am baking. Pavlova to make first then ice cakes then. Put blankets on pigs.

Housework
Tidy sitting room, vacuum and dust.
Clean bathroom
Vacuum rest of downstairs.
Clear rest of dining table, then bring Christmas crockery down and put through dishwasher.
Good heavens DH is awake I can hear him getting up😵.

Any of the housework can be shared. Let’s hope so. It just needs tidied for us and Boxing Day as we are going to DS1 tomorrow. He is working until late tonight so I don’t think he will want to cook much tomorrow.

Mum’s army is ready. As zoo said “ We have this.”

Morning Willow. Glad it isn’t just me that needs to drop card off.

DS got confused and didn’t even realise it was Christmas Eve :o

Thanks all. Thankfully DSD was discharged from hospital last night after they drained it, DH is taking her to the dentist today on their order, it all depends whether they can extract yet.

DD is determined to enjoy school at all costs I think. I just hope on balance it’s a good experience. The girl she’s closest to gets bullied and they’re now targeting her too, I think there’s an element of “putting the new girl in her place” so I’m hoping it will die down and I’m just going to ask that they keep an eye rather than going in all guns blazing. She’s met some really nice kids too.

We are grossly underprepared, still some wrapping to do and DH is having to go to Asda later as we didn’t update the Tesco order in time 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️. Cagletini’s full of cold and grumpy as hell.

But oh well. It’s just one day. We get there in the end. Tomorrow. :o

We get there in the end! I think that has kept us all going this month Tinselette . Off out soon, not ready! Back later.

bower the people I work closely with are on holiday today, I don't actually know who is in the office...nobody has replied to a single email today so I'm assuming not a lot of work is happening

Dc are still being really hard work. I think it must be all too much excitement for them!

Roll on bed time! If they actually go to sleep that is!

foxes that doesn't seem very fair on you.Could you do any another day or has it to be sent today? Only working from home I have done is glass painting.Messy and got in the way and a bit of danger as the glass is sharp and boxed side on but they were just told to stay away from it and they did. Only youngest DS was the worry.They were about 2, 7and 9 I think.

I feel mean posting Ta Das when I have no little ones although DH is fairly impatient and was asking me questions when I was baking and I needed to concentrate for a minute.

TaDa
So I have made three pavlovas. One large and two smaller out of the 2nd batch of meringue. So I can stack them. There has been a family whinge about me complaining about pubs and restaurants putting Pavlova on the menu when it is in fact meringue. So I was challenged by DS1 to make it for Christmas instead of Christmas Pudding so I want it to look spectacular and hopefully prove my point.

Cranberry sauce made and potted.

Gammon in for first soak and bring to boil.

Piggies are wrapped in their blankets ready for tomorrow.

Having a rest because back aching and need a tea break. DH despatched to DS1 house with crockery and veggies. I think turkey has gone too.Time to think.

Wrote two village cards and need to take three out and BF's at some stage.

Next job to ice four cakes. I am just doing tops I think.Two Royal iced and two fondant. Cut outs on top and dusted with icing sugar.