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.

Hello!

Hope those feeling poorly recover soon

Dinner went well last night but only got to bed at 2.30 am. Apart from putting essentials in fridge haven't cleared up, so just about to creep downstairs to tackle the worst before everyone gets up and wants breakfast! It's a bomb-site down there!

Just tackled my bombsite kitchen-
Tada
Wash on.
Fed cats
Bleach lav
Wash up
Scrub hob
Locate work surface and wipe
Dry up and put away stuff
Wipe cupboard fronts
Sweep floor

Go thru D's Xmas stash.books and toiletries gone upstairs,that's near halved pile stashed at back under dining table

Lil zoo gone thru her bounty and taken books,fake plants/ornaments upstairs(I decided bad move allowing art stuff up there.that can find a home in cupboard under the stairs or I foresee carnage)she has beauty box(make up and face packs,body scrubs etc) and art stuff still down here

About get her breakfast as she's up,then go thru dd2 pile and see what can be rehomed easily

Dd2 coming this afternoon and later on her fiancee and he's in charge putting up shelf that fell down a while back in girls room,a gorgeous giraffe print lil zoo got for Xmas last year,attatch desk to walk for lil zoo and giving their bikes a quick service/adjust heights etc(used to work for Halfords many moons ago and built serviced bikes for a living whilst at college.hes now a mortgage advisor!)

*dd1 coming,dd2 lives here.

Wow, that sounds like another busy day zoo. Bower is your sister always so blunt? Ignore her if you can. I am ignoring mine on a similar basis (although she and her family are coming here tomorrow along with DM and DBro. I am not looking forward to it.) SC hope you found your kitchen.

Today is a proper, actual pyjama day (apart from dogwalks). DH has gone to tesco via the dentist to see if extra turkey may be snagged, as ours was awful.

Ta Das
DW rotated
Washing dried
Boots and coats from yesterday away
Double batch of grain-free crackers prepped and soaking

I'm on the dog walk now, just need to make gluten free cheesecake base and then I'm putting it all down til after lunch!

Good morning my lovelys

I am feeling much healthier thank god

Man child is now behaving so i got a lie in (730 but hour and a half after dc4 was up!) and a semi peacefull bath this morning!

Slowly rehoming the new shit

bower i think you should tell your SIL to piss off but thats just me and i am blunt ...

*sister not SIL

Morning everyone.

Good luck with room of doom zoo. Will be useful to have time to tidy it at least.

Bower, I would ignore or just send some kind of bland text back but I do tend to avoid confrontation!

Glad you are feeling better Ive and yay for lie in.

Enjoy your PJ day Willow, especially if you have a difficult day coming tomorrow.

SC . Hope the clean up is going ok and glad it went well yesterday.

Hope you manage to fend off your cold Tinselette.

Cherry waves to Hazel and everyone else.

Ta da:-
Morning routine
Slowly putting some of the recycling etc. away

To do:-
DD1 has a friend coming round later so need to prep tea etc
Make lunch (beans on toast)
Find something to do with DD2 as otherwise there will be fights when the playdate happens
Hopefully start planning DD2’s birthday
Not sure what else!

I might have a read of all the Christmas missions at some point. In some ways though I think this was a particularly nice Christmas because we didn’t really change much in the first place. No pressure, not too much change for the Caglets.

We will keep the tree up until Monday at the least - we have DSCs round on Sunday for a whole other Christmas! 😍 I like to have decs down by new year generally for fresh start etc and Cagletini keeps pulling the baubles off!

I need to help DS finish the quiz, it’s an annual tradition and he wanted to be the one to make it this year but being 10 needs some help. Must get on with that it’s all been very last minute!

I'm the same Laputa I like the tree down by New Year's Day.

I feel as if I missed most of the build up to Christmas as we were all so so busy. So I don’t mind if the decorations stay up for a while yet.

Ta da:-
Booked DD2 party
Lunch
Laundry under control

To do:-
Both DDs now hungry so need to do snack
Play date happening soon
Prep tea for play date

Tree stays up till 12th Night here, not for religious reasons, I just like the decorations up for as long as possible, the house seems very bare without them.

Just been out for a bit of shopping and off to the cinema shortly.

Tree goes down 12th night here as only up on 20th!

Bower your sil was rude!
Good luck tomorrow Willow
Glad you're feeling better I've
Waves to all

Thanks for all of the supportive words everyone; they're keeping me going!

Ta da:
Dog walk
Cable man
Glass recycling
Cleared up three course dinner:
DW X 2 (1put away)
Hand washing up done
Cleaned stove
Rearranged leftovers/sorted fridges
Made pastry x 2
Hand washed silver
Made breakfast & cleared up
Sorted laundry
2 × am on, Td on
Booked restaurant
Iced second cake
Wrapped more presents (birthday)
Tidied TV room
Found art materials
Fixed Hoover
Hovered downstairs
Cleaned downstairs cloakroom , changed towe
Collected birthday cake
Made lunch and cleared up (ham sandwiches)
Tidied presents/recycled wrapping
Cleaned stove
Cleaned coffee stain o n cupboard
Watered flowers/bulbs
Tidied hall

About to have a sleep as going out tonight.
BBL 👋

SC sounds crazy still at yours!!
Our tree goes up dec1st and I usually take down today (day after boxing day) but there has been zoolet resistance.i will have it down before new year.poss take down over weekend!I feel with paper chains and tree up it adds to clutter and make me feel more stressed....

Two loads wash done
Assembled D's bird feeder station and put up in garden,he them load up fatballs,seed,mealworms,suet block and water for his beloved "birdies"
Lunch(fish finger/kidney beans in salsa salad wraps)
Tackled dd2 haul deciding those bits that can go straight upstairs,take off as much packaging as possible

S+s
Empty bathroom bit
Clean and scrub littertray,reload fresh litter

Still not started the girls room,so tired today!

Lots of flying done this morning and I feel better for it. I love Christmas but the chaos and stuff does get to me.

Tada

Beds made,
new toys tidied away,
washload on, dried and put away,
bathroom cleaned,
pile of ironing done,
house hoovered top to bottom.

We also popped to my sisters to exchange presents and have lunch this morning and have friends coming over for drinks and games this evening. I plan on taking the decorations down on either NYE or the 2nd of January. I agree the house feels bare without them but it is nice to feel less cluttered.

It’s going to be a loooooong play date. 1 hour down. 2 to go.

Cross fingers you are now in the home straight, Stressy. Feeling much the same about my family tomorrow!

Thanks fledglings. I know I can be a bit sensitive at times and just wondered how others would view it. My sister has always been about health. She makes really disgusting smoothies and has them "because they are good for you." I like smoothies and fruit but I like ones that taste nice.She has mentioned my weight a few times. I thought I would phone her but when I saw two messages I thought it rude and now can't be bothered. I don't speak to her very often probably three times a year. So less this year. Glad you also feel it was rude. She would say she was being honest. DD gets on well with her. One of my other sisters has also put on weight so will be interesting to hear whether she got a message too.

We have lazed about a bit today. DH got up very late- half man half mattress! I was up about 9.30am. Made those maple pastries things...well alright I put them in the oven. DH wasn't up and I was tempted to eat his but didn't. Continued icing the last cake even though we cut into it. then washed up all cutters and tidied kitchen.
Sitting room was tidy after yesterday. A couple of things under tree.

Lunch left overs and hot pigs then left over pudding eaten while watching Becoming Jane but was interrupted by local and then by phone call. Dh got to watch it all. We have an invite for lunch tomorrow. to a friend's house and DH likes her so will go. He isn't very social.
Started cleaning bathroom. Halfway.Haven't touched boudoir when I had planned to so may do one basket.

I'm another 12th nighter. I don't usually get the decorations up until the 20th but think it was about the 15th. I can see the point in a bit earlier because you can then crack on with the other tasks. I am usually knee deep in glitter and costumes at school which is why ours is later and depends on Dh going into loft.

I think I might be getting the lurgy. Sneezing a lot and sore throat at times. Damn.

I think you have all done brilliantly especially getting some put away already. super fledglings.

Toostressy half an hour to go hopefully. Saying "tidy up time" used to get them going instead of lingering.

Thanks guys! I used to love play dates but I am really struggling with them lately. I think when there is 1 friend then (for us) 3 is a crowd. Someone is always left out and there is crying. Anyone got any tips on this?

21 minutes to go . We have hit the magic time where I feel justified in putting the telly on so all 3 are watching upstairs. I have shooed them out of the kitchen as tbh 3 little helpers will be anything but helpful!

Tricky time as well as just after Christmas. Tbh though the girls are so busy with activities that I try to get playdates over with in the school holidays when we have time, especially ones I have to host! Just arranged another school friend to come next weekend .

Had better get on and aim to get dishwasher on during these 20 mins. Then I am thinking early bath time.

Hope you survived stressy I hate having 3 as always a gang up or left out situation...
Could you bear a friend each?

Bower halfman half mattress made me snort

Just come out room of doom.2hrs rearranging drawers,desk etc.sorting thru GCSE coursework into right folders,jewellery,more stationary than whsmiths,more shower gel,lotions etc than superdrug..doubtful she go need anything til at least mid year!!!!
1 bag paper recycling,1bag for dustbin,1for chazza...

Almost lost will to live,still have lil zoo side to reorganise but tomorrow is another day!!
Time for tea- Xmas to new year zoolets love buffet style so it will be french bread(partbaked and cooked at home) cut circles with little df butter ,lots chop raw veg(peppers,carrots,cucumber,sugar snap peas,tomatoes,cauli if I've any left)a dip made df cream cheese,onion powder,garlic and parsley.sesame bread sticks,piles red and green grapes,few crisps,bits of cake etc.an assembly job.hurrah!

Forgot to add I made a brusselsprout slaw yesterday lunch time for cold meats and jacket spuds
Fine sliced sprouts(raw)
Grated carrots,sunflower seeds,cider vinegar and basil oil dressing.they scarf down the lot saying was lovely

Yes 3 is the difficult number i think zoo. I’m not sure I can face having a separate friend over for each child though! I think meeting out of the house is the way forward but that usually costs money. Will have to think.

Glad they liked the food... sounds lovely!

Launch pad

Christmas missions

‘We got there in the end ’