Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread

[KTCluck]

Welcome all fledglings, newbies and lurkers to the July 2020 flylady thread, where we try and follow flylady’s system to keep our homes in order and our lives organised. We are a friendly bunch and like a bit of a natter, amongst posting our ‘To Do’ lists for accountability and celebrating our ‘Ta Da’ lists no matter how long or short. No fledgling is left behind, just jump in and join us wherever you are at - whether you are a lazy slattern living in chaos or a fully certified domestic goddess wanting to keep up the motivation. Most of us flit between the two depending on the day. The threads tends to be a supportive corner of MN, and we readily provide listening ears for woes and rants when needed.

Flylady is a system based around morning and evening routines, with babysteps to get you started and a daily focus, such as planning and family fun day. There’s a weekly home blessing (or ‘bleurgh’ as we prefer) which is a basic clean to keep the house ticking over, with short bursts of decluttering or deeper cleaning in weekly zones once you are ready. Flylady also suggests short missions each day. Feel free to adapt the system to make it fit in with your life.

Link to the launchpad is here (I hope) and the baby steps are here. From the launchpad I like the ‘flight plan’ for a reminder of the routines, and ‘sneak peek of the week’ for a list of the week‘a missions. You can sign up for emails, but be warned, you will need to regularly declutter your inbox!

As thread leader for July I have taken possession of the thread pointy stick —> for anyone in need of a sharp prod of motivation, but I’ve also set up a chilled quiet naughty corner, complete with comfortable day beds, a gentle sea breeze, and unlimited fruit platters, ice creams and cocktails to any fledgling who is in need of rest and recuperation or is just on strike. No partners or children allowed.

I’ll also try and keep the ‘keep calm corner’ (KCC) going. Originally introduced by our lovely SC, it’s a little daily dose of respite we’ve been using to help us get through these strange times.

I’ll do my best to keep us all motivated and flying throughout July. On work days I may appear with the larks, or not crawl in until the end of the day so apologies in advance if I’m late with links.

We start tomorrow in zone 1 (hall, porch, dining room). Here’s the missions. Habit of the month is ‘swish and swipe’ which is a daily 2 minute wipe of our toilets and sinks. Tomorrow is anti-procrastination day where we tackle those tasks we’ve been putting off.

Anyway, enough waffle, July we are coming for you! shortly, I’m just checking the naughty corner is ready

2princes looks lovely. I like the colour it is fresh. I am surprised you managed to get it done with two little ones. Impressive. I often drop off Flylady if I am doing something else.

Welcome Marta I just do what I can sometimes I miss a whole zone if up to my neck in other things. I am also still decluttering. I do the baby steps and pick out the zone bits that are relevant to me. I wrote down my own lists too thinking about my house which is helpful if I get stuck or if I want to do extra.

Zoo glad it isn’t just me. Valuable storage space under there😁 I have Really Useful boxes under there. Two contain Christmas crockery because we can’t manage to get them up the loft. One has some collected crockery which was a few months of madness. I need to give my sisters some. Two are boxes of seasonal clothes so I can swap some over. One box is shoes. It has a split lid so easy to pull out part way and get shoes. It wasn’t as dusty as last time because I did it last time we visited the zone.

Ta da
Cleaned under the bed, dusted down boxes too.
DH and I put up the two pieces of trellis.
Washed up
Dusted table in sitting room and window sill graveyard🦟
Vacuumed sitting room.
Fed hens
Watered triffids.
Weeded path outside.

Right better try and get back to sleep.

Cherry waves to everyone.

Oh amazing jigsaw and some feat not to look at the picture.

Thank you for the love towards my dog, she's lovely! We did have a lot of fun camping, as well as relaxed. I'm lucky we only live an hour away.

lane sorry you've had a tough day. I hope tomorrow is better.

Welcome Marta there's no right or wrong way to follow fly lady or I think we'd all be in trouble 😆

I like the colour of your bathroom princes it looks calming to me.

Waves to zoo, meg, foxes, KT, AWOL, and everyone else who's names have escaped me!

Ta Das;

🧚‍♀️ Bedding washed, dried and put back on beds- mine and DS, DD wasn't ready when I was so she'll have to wash them now 🙃

🧚‍♀️ 4 other LOLs done.

🧚‍♀️ Skype mum.

🧚‍♀️ Put a couple things in the shed that have been taking up space in the kitchen for weeks, I'd had enough today!

🧚‍♀️ Helped DS mow grass.

🧚‍♀️ Watered grass as it was dry and in dire need.

🧚‍♀️ Watered outside plants.

🧚‍♀️ S&S.

🧚‍♀️ Loaded DW & started it right before bed.

🧚‍♀️ Called about a salvaged title for a bike I sent in for 3 months ago- they have no record of receiving anything from us, even though taking says it was delivered 2 days later. We sent in the original and didn't make copies 🤦‍♀️ didn't think we needed to!

🧚‍♀️ Picked up groceries (had put the order in earlier today), they had issues on their end and was ready an hour later than scheduled.

🧚‍♀️ IRONING!!! I was running out of options to wear, it is ALL DONE! Sorry a little excited about that. The others don't want me to iron their clothes so I only iron my own, it actually only took me an hour and a half.

🧚‍♀️ Showered, defrosted legs and used self tanner. I'm very ready for bed now, I got a lot accomplished, but still managed to sleep in till 9am and didn't feel stressed or overwhelmed, other than with that phone call.

🍒👋 to all, goodnight!

Marta with 3dcstill at home and now in,or nearly in teen years place descends to bearpit pretty quickly.partial decluttered.battle constant..

KT found out from D's talking "d"p he was off yesterday and had great day relaxing play video games,so not a relaxing evening as I wasn't best impressed,but not surprised tbh
Found out too dd1 asthma continues worsen.peakflow of 400 currently 280.doc not bothered until under 200.5th lot steroids given doing nothing,attempts to get on triage phone call yesterday laughable
Anyhow,her day off and planned food shop now out window,her fiance needs joint car to help his brother and she can't walkgar/do much,so I need get substantial chunk food in.i also have app for blood test today at docs which 40 mins walk away.i could cry with exhaustion,buy whats point.things still need doing

*crafty

Oh,and forgot lane hope DD ok.
I'd be incandescent tbh in these circs
If was urgent get hospital should've drop her back at yours before headed off

I wouldn’t be impressed either Zoo Hope DD gets sorted at the doctors soon.

Marta I regularly cross post, don’t worry about it. Hope you didn’t have to many wake ups with the baby.

Thanks Meg. If you find a decent label maker you’ll have to let us know about it on here. Asking for a friend, obviously

AWOL it’s fine for any of us to go AWOL, but especially you. We don’t mind as long as we get you back. Your DGM sounds like a star.

for ironing Hazel. It’s lovely getting to the end of the pile isn’t it not that I often do

Bathroom looks lovely Princes

Hope DD got home shortly after you posted Lane

Morning waves to Bower, Marta, Chic, ED, Lisette, Foxes, Merry, Tidy, SC, That and Stressy.

launchpad. Still in zone 4 and the mission is to sort the night stands. We don’t have any

We are back to anti-procrastination day today. I have quite a lot of possibilities there - ppi tax rebate, energy supplier needs changed, old credit card to cancel, several photobooks to finish, some boxes of photos to sort, a huge pile of DD’s drawings from nursery to go through (what do/did you all do with them? Too many to keep, feel terrible for binning them).

KCC - one for later: what was the best bit of today?

I’m only just up. Need to get us fed and dressed and do morning routine, home bleurgh upstairs, some anti-procrastinating, 15 mins in the boudoir. It looks like it might be a nice day so we’ll hopefully have a few hours outside. DH has already left for work and has done litter trays, bin emptying etc. I’ll be back later, hopefully with a long ta da list...

Hello everyone!

Rushing a bit ("puppy" is ill) so need to get to vets and hairdresser this morning.

But just wanted to say a warm welcome to Marta! Starting with baby-steps (pick and choose!) can be a good way of establishing routines. Good luck!

Lovely colour in your bathroom Mummy looks fresh without looking too cold ifyswim.

And to Zoo here is Hairy Bikers' pesto stuffed mushroom recipe . Hope you like it!

Lane haven't had time to read through yet but hope your dd1 is ok! Yes it was very odd of friend's parents not to check in with you first.

Tally-ho everyone! Hope you have a good day!

Oh Gawd I need to paint the top of our nightstands and it's anti procrastination day. I got the undercoat pot in and DH was looking for brushes and the satinwood when he found the wasps' nest so everything stopped. Must get to it.

Morning everyone.

To do
Make bed
Clean night stands( hate that expression) and sort anything that shouldn’t be there.
Put washing away( sitting in basket)

Feed hens.
Pot several plants up.
Paint undercoat on Auricula theatre.v

Anti procrastination make a phone call, read and complete paperwork.

I’ve got one of those longer term lists Meg. I’m yet to tick much off it but it is helpful to refer too when you have some unexpected free time (ha!)

Hope the painting is going well Lisette

Ta da:
✅ beds made, LOL, s & s, kitchen restored
✅ got us fed, watered, washed and dressed
✅ out with DD’s scooter, visit to DGM and popped into the shop for bread on the way home
✅ sandwiches for lunch
✅ washing in dryer and another load in

DMIL has just collected DD for a visit so I have unexpected peace. 10 minute cuppa then

📌 wash up lunch stuff
📌 2 minute tidy downstairs
📌 dust and hoover upstairs
📌 clean bath and shower screen
📌 some deep cleaning in the boudoir
📌 ring to cancel credit card
📌 clean washing away

Best get back to it before DD returns!

Afternoon every1. Back on track wiv flying :). My neighbours got her friends DC over and they have been playing with Logan (socially distanced) has been luvly tho. Sullivan is now having breakfast, lunch and dinner!. He’s a right chunk. Am now going 4 a walk wiv the boys.

ta da
❤️Made beds
🧡Got me and boys dressed
💛S&S
💚LOL
💙Cleaned off bed side table
💜Dusted tv
❤️Cleaned cobwebs
🧡Emptied bins
💛Breakfast (baby rice 4 Sullivan, Greek yoghurt with fruit and apple juice 4 me and Logan)
💚Washed up
💙Put washing on line
💜Made snack 4 me and Logan (Apple and banana muffins)
❤️Washed up
🧡Dried
💛Put away
💚Made lunch
💙Sardine and avocado spread on crackers (sully just had the spread)
Washed up
💜Took living room mat outside and hoovered it
❤️Cleaned out boys toys

AWOL I’d luv a cooked breakfast might get the things in 2 do 1

bower I waited until they were in bed :) just want 2 get the house sorted.

Thank u hazel it’s rly nice. Had a shower this morning and felt like a proper bathroom lol.

Thank u ktc. I always forget 2 look at the daily focus will sort that out now!

Thank u sc it is a rly luvly colour as chuffed with it.

Hi all,
Thank you hungry, squandered and KT
It's good to hear where others are in the process. Even after cluttering zoolets try to undo the work.
Was up three times last night. Uurgh. Today, flying might be limited as Babby is doing a lot of waahing. She will be 6 months tomoz and I think has sore gums.
So far have swished and swiped kitchen and bathroom and cleaned the manky gas rings as bonus.
Have done an online bookbug session and baby yoga session and lots of feeding baby grumpling.
Also had breakfast
Tried Babby with tiny bit of water porridge and banana. Pretty much all came back out again.
Don't think she is really ready for food?!
Not worrying yet. I'm sure she will get the hang eventually.
Might try a bit of mashed avocado later?
I'm sure my son was better at getting the hang.
Still to do
Hotspots - drainingboard clear (dont have DW) clear next to front door and attempt to clear dining table
In boodwa have to put clothes into vacuum bags for storage and little vacuum whilst I have it in there
Making Burritos for dinner
Aaand post

Ooo Xmummy sardines with avocado. Never considered that before. Is it delicious?
I like an old sardine on toast, but usually on its own.
My ds (15) used to eat pilchards and mackerel and allsorts, but he is so fussy now and will only eat tuna in mayonnaise and white fish - fish & chips basically and fish cakes (I think)
Babby nap time...I hope

Afternoon all. In the interest of NLMSA* I am Out By Myself. Came to a neighbouring town for a wander and I’m now in my usual lunch spot which is so quiet I am sitting in a BOOTH and trying to finally write a blog post that’s been swirling in my close-to-exploding head for weeks.

I have zero aims for this afternoon other than trying my switch game which arrived this morning - will get DS and I a bit active as well 🥊

*A=Again

Hi Lane ooo, a booth, how lovely.
Is it a boxing game?
We also have switch, but haven't used with tv. Games are quite expensive.
Interested to see how you get on with it.
Still feeding babs....
Sigh..
Oo, have to post Ebay item - adds to list..

Yes it’s the boxing fitness one - seems a bit like Just Dance but with boxing moves instead of my grossly inelegant flailing! Yes they’re horrendously expensive aren’t they?! Took ages to get round to spending my fun money on this! It’s worth checking the store on the device though because sometimes they have discounts and freebies.

Afternoon all.
Here. Lying on my bed😁

Ta Das
❤️Made bed
🧡cleared bedside chest
💛cleaned top, bottom and back including swishing the duster under the bedside chest. I have one of those telescopic twisty little duster for hard to reach places and for short people.

Anti procrastination❤️ Phone call.

Had lunch DH made it whilst I was still attempting phone call for the humph time. Healthy salad sand a handful of crisps. Coffee.
💚 looked everywhere for Mr Muscle shower screen stuff. Gave up and used Method.
💙 cleaned both sides of shower screen until sparkling. Not a great job for arthritic wrists.

❤️Clean tray and yucky drain thingy. Oh how I hate doing it but DH hasn’t much hair now although he is sporting a longer than usual style at the back. Not much on top😄
🧡 Cleaned basin, including wiping under.
💛cleaned loo
💚 see attached photos note good match of mosaic and already on tiles. In hindsight, considering the amount of time it took, we may as well have taken those off and chose new ones. We went with the white for same reason save time 🤣and money ( not much) and it is a can’t swing a cat in it for size.
💙 replied email to Union twice. Situation stagnant at present.🤨
💜 haven’t been out as persisting down most of the morning. Don’t worry hens always topped up at night with mix. They never run out.
Can forget painting today. I thought it might be ok by now but set in for the day by looks of the sky.
DS2 tested negative. Whew! He had results by 8am. Local testing centre said busiest they had been since opening and thanked by environmental health for co operation. All staff went.

KTC take ten minutes for self too.

2Princes you have really taken to this, great list. We have a cooked breakfast on a Saturday if we have it in. Sometimes fry up sometimes pancakes, bacon and maple syrup, sometimes French toast and syrup. We have it about 10:30-11am so more brunch.

marta baby grumpling 🤣❤️Love 💖 it. Think we should adopt that one. Could have teen grumbling too.😂

Meg oh the driving lessons eek. Only Ds1&2 drive. Sent both to

instructor( recommended by friend’s police inspector husband) and did well. DS 2 had 8-10 lessons passed first time. DS1 had more and passed second time, nerves, like me.

Lisette Did you get any painting done? I thought I had finished but no. Window sills need doing. Pots and stove blackened and the rest of the shed as we now have stain. I will wait for a good day.

Lane sounds great. Thank you again for increasing my ICT skills. No bother to me now?

Cherry 🍒 waves to SC, Zoo, Hazel and everyone else.
Photo 1 alcove
Photo2 tiles and mosaic match👍
Photo3 floor.

I need to catch up - so many posts to relax with this evening :-)

Some very sunny weather here, and I've spent hours in the garden every day, neglecting my routines. It was well worth it, as everything grows faster than I can chop it back. But it's raining now, probably for the next few days, so it's back to the house and garage.

Pulled out all the school uniform today. The smaller clothes and uniform were decluttered around the Easter holiday s, but I'm sure some more will be outgrown by August, so I have a list of the next size up to order from Asda. Luckily, the school doesn't insist on logoed sweatshirts, which means I can get enough cheap uniform to change daily.

Wish it could all be a bit more clear-cut as regards schools. We go back second week of August, and the stress of the uncertainty has my eating disorder roaring back with a vengeance, contributing to my body clutter. Sigh....

Anyway, I'll get back in the routine of tidying, sorting, decluttering, as there's little else I have any control over.

Oooh bower I love that colour in the alcove!

Not much flying yet as I'm at work today, although did wipe surfaces down as it seemed a little grim. I seem to be the only one that does it regularly, even with Covid 🤦‍♀️

Marta I wouldn't worry so much about babby not eating yet, it'll take time and if she is teething that might play a part in not wanting any yet too. Both my DC were much younger when they started eating, but I was also under the guidance of my mum who is a firm believer of doing what's best for each individual child. It worked for us. Oh and I'm still decluttering. I have things set aside for my SIL that I don't want anymore, but keep forgetting to have her look at them when she's over. I've had them set aside for a couple months now and she's over almost every 2 weeks for dinner! (We've been able to meet up for a while now). I also still have the family carpet cleaner that should go to her since we ripped the last of the carpet out last summer!

I haven't even thought about uniform yet. 2 birthdays to get done first then I'll think about that.

We had quite a lazy morning this morning not doing much. Made the DC some scrambled eggs and then landed myself on the sofa with a coffee and didn't move (apart from making another coffee) until lunchtime.

Made DC ham and cheese sandwiches, yogurt, apple and carrot sticks for lunch.

We then stuck some music on and everyone joined in with getting dressed and tidied up. LOL in then we headed out for a bike ride. Stopped for a sit on a rock and a banana in the nature park and I popped into the corner shop for bread and milk on the way home.

DC wrote their journals and then we made a chicken dinner with salted caramel banoffee pie for pudding.

Music back on again and everyone helped to tidy up again (putting the music on to get them to help seems to be working for now but I've no doubt it won't last).

Did a family quiz. Planned our day for tomorrow. Now littles are in bed, bigs are bathed and on screens of some sort and I have my freshly washed blanket on the sofa watching emmerdale. Trying to decide wether to start something new on Netflix or watch celebrity MasterChef tonight. I'm only only half way through the first episode of MasterChef so way behind.

Got a new hoover yesterday and I still haven't really used it 🙈

Bravo Bower your shelves look lovely! Hope you can rest up a bit now

Hope you enjoyed your child-free time KTCluck

Hope the painting went ok Lisette

Awol what a lovely dinner!

Marta forgot to say that I don't do the decluttering bit of Flylady very well. I have mahoosive purges now and then but have never really got in to the rhythm of regular small chuck outs as she advises. The day-to-day cleaning takes me too long tbh. I need to sort this though.

Well the dead badger was banished from the top of my head this morning (went to hairdresser for cut and blow-dry). It wasn't a particularly pleasant experience as they aren't using the fabric protective poncho things atm so I was basically sitting there trussed up in a plastic bag, wearing a mask, while hot air was directed at my head. Talk about hot flush! But it was nice to see my lovely hairdresser again and have a wee chat.

Puppy ate a pen top and had to go to the vet because she only upchucked part of it but the rest apparently is "transitting" through ... oh joy ... have to wait for it to emerge at the other end ... .

I have also done 2.5 hrs worth of admin (really tedious e-mails, filing and replenishing journal inserts) and while that was going on, about 12 police cars with flashing lights screamed down our street because apparently there was some sort of protest/riot going on by the Armenian community outside a nearby embassy.

Took delivery of big grocery order (birthday party supplies) so sorted and put that away. That took a while.

Also folded some laundry, washed two more loads and hung up the rest to dry.

We just ate snacks today; salad, soup and sandwiches, fruit etc, because, just for once, I cba.

Emptied dw

Also:
Went to bank to find it all closed up and no one at home.
Dog walk + collected prescription from doc.
Delivered plant and card to friend's doorstep.
Popped in to supermarket to pick up some food colouring that I'd left off order, but they didn't have any.
Made contact with two potential tutors for dd, one for fun, and one for her studies.
Chased up a missing parcel (why is it always things you are really looking forward to receiving, like fabric, that go missing and never the delivery of sink de-blocker for example).
Called family member to wish happy b'day.
Stacked dw and tidied kitchen.
Late evening (quick because the furries were tired) dog walk.

G'night all!

Forgot to say...

... so sorry about rising stress levels MrsTidy I hope you are ok Uncertainity is really draining.

Merry

if all my clutter was stuff that I could throw in the bin or just put away in three seconds, my house would not be cluttered
^^ This is so true!!!!!

Great lists Cluck Mummy and Meg!