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

998 replies

KTCluck · 30/06/2020 21:50

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
71
squanderedcore · 22/07/2020 20:33

Gah sorry that is a great list from you too Hazel!

Mahoosive waves to everyone I have missed!

LittlemissAWOL · 22/07/2020 20:41

Forgot KCC- best part of the day for me was sitting in the kitchen waiting for the Yorkshire's to rise. There was a lovely chilled out song playing and one by one all of the DC came and sat down with me and we just had a lovely cuddle/chat. Completely random but that was it 🤣

LaneBoy · 22/07/2020 20:48

Loving all the pics on the thread atm!

Today has gone even more wrong than yesterday. As a result I think I’ll need to have my first day off 16:8 as we’ve not had dinner yet (could probably do 14:10 though so as not to give up), toddler had a very late nap and is now screaming, and we’ve not even tried the new game yet (hopefully we can as I reckon that will lighten the mood!). Turns out it was a very bad time for DH to have to taper off two medications, one being morphine based Hmm but the GP said he has to.

KCC: Favourite thing about today - giggling at the simpsons with DS :)

Hopefully DLMSA will be on my ta da list tonight. :o

merryhouse · 22/07/2020 21:03

TaDa
Glitterballs&s x2
Glitterballtook out sandwich stuff
Glitterballchurned ice cream (relieved to note that cream though thickened has not gone off yet...)
Glitterballlol
Glitterballmade bed
Glitterballfinished mending jeans
Glitterballlooked at old pickled onions in fridge - they were still ok so I had one with my post-exercise snack (cheese pie made with yesterday's pastry trimmings). Haven't opened the jar since the lovage and rocket became usable
Glitterballpicked and washed a lettuce
Glitterballmade lunch
Glitterballdid some exercise All By Myself because the karate class is not on Halo
Glitterballshower etc
Glitterballnoted that the expensive tape (not that waterproof obviously) is coming off already
Glitterballordered more pants and socks for both sons
Glitterballordered a new seal for under the shower doors - a website I didn't see last time I looked, which has a video demonstrating that it will bend! which the one I got from B&Q didn't, despite their assurances. Unfortunately the standard is 800mm and I need 820mm so had to get a longer one
Glitterballemailed sewing place with some photos of the split trousers - they have replied saying no problem and bring them in Smile
Glitterballspent most of my birthday voucher on two puzzle books (crossword and slitherlink) and a pretty rucksack
Glitterballmade cauliflower cheese (cauli, ham and mushrooms from the freezer) and wedges, with peas and carrots (not enough for a full portion for some reason, though I calculated very carefully on Monday)

phew! can't help thinking that this is not going to last...

mission: already cleaned bedside cabinet. tomorrow's mission: am not getting rid of any more jewellery even if I haven't worn it for ages (stamps foot)

ToDo ToMorrow
start mending seams on gi
make a start on report
clean bedroom window

KTCluck · 22/07/2020 21:10

Sounds like weaning is going great Princes! My DD was a slow starter Marta but there’s no filling her now. She definitely did get the hang of it!

Sorry the day hasn’t gone to plan Lane, but glad you still had a nice moment giggling at the simpsons.

Bower your bathroom looks great. I LOVE the floor. Wish I’d got something like that instead of the pebble effect we put down, which looked fab until the large amounts of grout started to yellow and it is impossible to clean. Great news about DS2, and that’s a very impressive list you’ve achieved today.

Tidy don’t feel bad for time in the garden. We have to enjoy the good weather when we get it.

Hazel I’m glad I’m not the only one who forgets to hand stuff over to people despite multiple opportunities.

AWOL that sounds like a lovely day. Using a new hoover for the first time is special, you shouldn’t rush these things. How canny they all came and sat with you (and I love watching Yorkshires rise)

SC poor pup! Hope he isn’t feeling too sorry for himself. You’ve been so busy today I don’t blame you for not wanting to cook.

I made full use of my child free time this afternoon:
✅ dishes washed
✅ quick downstairs tidy
✅ hoovered everywhere
✅ cleaned bath and shower screen, bathroom window, sill and mirror
✅ dusted upstairs
✅ more thorough dust and hoover of boudoir
✅ attempted to pull the bed out the hoover underneath. Discovered that new mattress makes it far too heavy and I couldn’t budge it. Ah well, the dust shall remain.
✅ instead cleared top of large chest of drawers and sorted a couple of small storage boxes
✅ looked for a replacement bulb for bedroom lamp. Didn’t have one but discovered the ones I’d bought for the living room that were wrong actually fit the lamp in DD’s room that is an odd fitting and I’ve never previously managed to find... the day after I ordered her a new night light 🤷‍♀️
✅ phone call to DF
✅ successfully anti-procrastinated by cancelling credit card and confirming details on electoral role (within one week of receiving the letter. You lot are a good influence on me)
✅ made bolognese
✅ breakfast and lunch prepped for work tomorrow
✅ booked hotel, train and activity for DD’s delayed birthday trip

We also went for a walk with my DSis, and I played picnics/drew with DD. So a nice productive and enjoyable day. DH has done bedtime and has the kitchen to sort. I’m off to bed with a hot chocolate and a book borrowed from DGM

For this morning’s KCC my best moment of the day was DD in the shop chatting to the shop lady who admired her shoes. She sounded so grown up having a proper conversation, it was lovely listening to her and she was so polite Smile

After that epic post my phone is going away. Night all!

OP posts:
xmummy2princesx · 22/07/2020 22:01

marta it is rly tasty I do recommend it. DS1 is the same lol he tried everything when he weaned but chicken nuggets and waffles are all he’ll eat now lol. My youngest is the same age as ur DD :)

Luvly pics bower I’m usually having breakfast at 6-7 so not in the mood for a fry up then!. Can’t wait until I have teenagers who sleep!

tidy sorry ur stressing about the schools!

KTC weaning is going rly well. He’s so different 2 his brother!

ta da

❤️Made snack (mixed fruit)
🧡Made dinner (lamb with apple sauce and couscous (lamb and apple 4 Sullivan)
💛Washed up
💚Dried up
💙Put away
💜Wiped down kitchen
❤️Did final milk b4 bed
🧡Bathed boys
💛Eczema and asthma routine
💚Put boys 2 bed
💙Tidied toys away
💜Shined sink
❤️Had bath

LaneBoy · 22/07/2020 22:14

Aww such lovely moments kt and awol 💕

Merry I love slitherlink puzzles!

Ta da - thinking of these now as I didn’t even bother keeping a list on my phone today 😳
🥊completed my tenth fast! Woo!
🥊read a bit
🥊wrote blog post by hand
🥊typed into document on iPad and basically rewrote it as I wasn’t happy with it
🥊tried boxing game briefly, seems fun! Should sort out the bingo wings...
🥊can’t put DLMS but I can put DKA. Didn’t Kill Anyone. 😂 🏆🏆🏆

We’ve let DS stay up a bit late and then I’m planning on watching comedy with DH for a bit.

EasilyDelighted · 22/07/2020 22:31

Evening all,

I can't seem to keep up with thread at the moment but

Bower - the bathroom looks lovely.

Marta - welcome to the thread

Mummy - it is SO noce once the DCs can get up without you having to. I can't remember what age that was exactly for mine, no doubt a gradual change but so good. Now mine are teens I have one night owl and one lark. I'm somewhere in between.

Lane - what does the A stand for in DLMSA? Glad you got a break in your booth. We've had a LOT of use out of our switch in lockdown.

Awol lovely about DC coming in one by one.

SC - well done on all that admin. Hope pen lid causes no more trouble.

KCC - DD had an excellent school report.

Tada!

🍏 baked sourdough
🍎 chucked out various empty bottles from bathroom and loo roll middles 🙄
🍐approx 4 hours paid work
🍊1 x LOL (towels)
🍋 watered garden
🍌chopped up and froze bananas that were going black and attracting fruit flies
🍉helped DS make falafel for dinner
🍇 couple of admin emails
🍓2.5 hour zoom meeting this evening about voluntary role, did it wrapped up in a blanket on our garden sofa
🍈 chucked a few things off dressing table
🍒 emptied DW

Lane - I have made a start on the 16:8, its going quite well so far, managing the mornings more easily than the evenings but lost 2lb since Friday.

Bowerbird5 · 22/07/2020 22:31

Have yoghurt at 6am and fry up at 10:30am 2Princes Grin I used to get up at 6am now I don't but often feel like I have lost half the day.

ThanksKTC yes each tile is different.Builder asked what colour grout and we went for grey. He has grey after having whiteGrin has 3 boys. I am pleased with it except the wall above the sink. I have chosen some wallpaper to hide the messy wall.

AWOL i had a sudden flash back to the Von Trapp familySmile
Hazel It was Dulux Tranquil Depths deep than the last colour that DD painted on. I like the fact that it is just that POP of colour anymore would be too much I think.

merry what else are you growing? Our salad leaves too a while to come through but picking them now, tomatoes showing now and have one BBean, one pea, three courgette plants one half chewed and three pumpkins i rescued for 50p each.

SC had a rest today because next paint job is outside. Poor puppy. We had M&S Chinese dishes tonight. DH brought it home last night as our corner shop M&S is back open. Just 'shopping local' Grin great list.

Bowerbird5 · 22/07/2020 22:45

MrsTidy are you in Scotland? i remember my boys going back mid August.We lived in the north for a while still in north just different country.

ED cross post.Great news about your DD. How is the allotment? Today I spotted some tomatoes at last. My friend has had his for weeks I bought him the plants. I ended up with 8 plants as DS! didn't want any. It is like the day of the triffids in the greenhouse. Lastest news : I am getting a glass greenhouse for next year. DH is all for it. He has even said get a bigger one than I was looking at.Think we will have to move the raised bed though which is a shame but HIM NDN put a 6'fence up and it shades my plastic one. Only other choice is to get rid of the currants and put it next to shed and put some currants in the raised bed as not enough sun in corner for them.Shame though as they give us loads. Should it be in the sunny site or does it need some shade? Do you think allotment holders might be interested in a glazed door as we will have one going out soon?Thought it might do a make shift green house.I have been browsing Pinterest again.

merryhouse · 22/07/2020 23:24

Bower I'm not growing anything, only picking Grin

H has a bed of celery, leeks and chard by the shed, with a bay tree and some rocketing rocket: in front of it stand pots of mint, oregano, thyme and lovage (not looking very happy this year) as well as two little topiary projects bought for the boys over a decade ago which are a bit straggly.

In front of the back fence are some very gone-to-seed parsley, rosemary, a chilli, and some bags of baby tomato plants. By the other fence are two ridiculously small apple trees, sage and more rosemary. There were a whole load of blubs some chives and a mini cotoneaster too but he cleared the rest of the bed a few weeks ago (good thing too as nnn replaced the fence).

Out in the front are some even more gone-to-seed parsley, three rows of lettuces, a wild-sown tomato and - goodness, I have no idea. Last year it was carrots but I don't recall seeing carrots anywhere this year. Oh, it was garlic until a few weeks ago. More lettuces in the greenhouse - he keeps replacing them every time I pull one! More chilli plants too I think.

Alternate years we have runner beans. We tried baby sweetcorn a few times but they always needed harvesting just as we went on holiday. Radishes didn't like our garden, though last time was better. Spring onions are usually quite happy.

MrsTidyHouse · 23/07/2020 07:36

Bower yes, Scotland here :-)

JigoloHarMegiddo · 23/07/2020 07:50

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

KTCluck · 23/07/2020 08:04

Surely your DM is right and slim fast is the answer Meg Hmm. (Your plans sounds much better and I hope you enjoyed the chocolate).

Wish we’d gone for grey grout Bower. The floor is cleaned regularly but the heat u traffic area is definitely a completely different colour to around the sides.

ED very well done to your DD for her report, and you on your weight loss. I also now seem to be done another 2-3lbs after finding my motivation again. I have 4 to lose to get back to healthy BMI but about a stone to get back to my ideal comfortable weight.

Ta Das:
✅ LOL
✅ yoga
✅ beds made
✅ paid nursery
✅ got me and DD ready and left just about on time.

Shift starting now, have a good day everyone 👋

OP posts:
THATscurryfungeBITCH · 23/07/2020 08:20

Starting to think i may have to join in the weight loss chat. Combination of having had a baby in the last year + lack of walking in lockdown + home school hell biscuit eating has not been kind to my waistline

Bowerbird5 · 23/07/2020 08:37

MrsTidy wow he sounds very green fingered. I have the same herbs but no lovage. I had fennel last year but it hasn’t come up this year or seeded. I’m doing mixed leaves. I started some more last week for when these finish. Oh and basil and coriander but very slow. You sound like you will be eating lettuce for a while with all those😃

Thanks Meg it was a long time coming but glad it turned out ok. He had to take it right back to the stone too. Damn I should have taken a photo.
It is my sister (1of3)who is always on my case. The latest was I should tell DH to buy me a fit bit (they had just got them at Xmas) and that would help me lose weight. She has no children (sadly) and I have four plus first was an EMSC so my tummy is the worst bit they sliced me straight down and scar is a ‘bloody mess’ another Consultant. It still itches at times. My legs are ok and hips not too bad but Buddha belly and biggish boobs. I have lost some weight over lockdown.

KTC you could regrout it. We had that trouble with the last ones and the fact that he didn’t board it and they started coming up three months later. They were unobtainable afterwards.

merryhouse · 23/07/2020 08:48

I probably should join too (the accountability has been great for my household tasks). I think I may have put on over the last few weeks: I don't own person scales but my waist has increased and I seem to be a little - ahem - comfier in general. Have been eating icecream regularly and not walking, so it was inevitable really.

Looking out of the window this morning I saw that we do indeed have carrots in the front garden - I walk past them every time I pick a lettuce Grin. I think they're not doing so well this year - I'm sure we're usually in the middle of picking by now. We also have some hebe and a euonymus, a massive cotoneaster which the bees love, a front edging of lavender and a shrub with yellow flowers I don't know the name of.

Spillchuck doesn't recognise any of those except the lavender...

Have taken stuff out of the freezer for sandwiches, as well as peppers but not mince because we don't appear to have any. That's ok, I'm going shopping today.

Opened computer telling myself I need to write that report: we'll see if it actually happens.

MrsTidyHouse · 23/07/2020 09:20

Hi Bower. You've got us mixed up. It's merryhouse with the green-fingered H, certainly not me!

Although I do read all garden-related posts with some envy!

LittlemissAWOL · 23/07/2020 09:55

Wow some of you are amazing with all this home grown veg! Our garden barely has grass 🙈

Ta-da's so far
🛹 DC had rice pudding for breakfast 🤣
🛹 all dressed beds made/ rooms tidy
🛹 S&S
🛹 LOL
🛹 dishes (DS2) dried
🛹 DC pitched and in to tidy downstairs
🛹 took my new hoover for a spin

We'd done all of that by 8.45 (impressive for us) so we set off on bikes/scooters to the skate park. It was slightly drizzling when we left. It's a less than 10 min walk and it was pissing down when we got there 🙄. Didn't stop them having fun. We've just got home now and they're playing with the play dough while I have a cuppa (and a penguin but it's fine because I walked 🤣) and watch celebrity MasterChef.

LaneBoy · 23/07/2020 10:08

Garden envy here too! I’m not sure we have space to grow things without impacting the space to run around. But regardless we don’t have the energy either! The garden is very unfinished - well meaning friend started us off painting the fences when we moved but we ran out of paint and, again, energy. I am very much wanting to prioritise the house itself and feel that (hopefully) with the house and routines running more smoothly we will eventually be in a better place to tackle the garden! As for now though we are just happy to have one at all after ten years without, Cagletini can run about so that’s the main thing for now.

I’m having a lazy morning and don’t feel stressed this time so that’s good. DD1 needs to do her laundry. Hopefully I can get something done later. I have tried the boxing game a bit more - turns out I’m terrible at getting upper cuts on the right beat so I’m going to practice a bit when DS has finished battling Pokemon :o

I can’t eat for another 2 hours (14hr target today due to late disaster dinner yesterday) and I’m feeling it today - ED I’m the opposite and find the mornings much harder than the evenings! Well done for starting and for the weight loss. Is it fitting in ok with family life so far? The Caglets are totally unaware and DH only knows I’m avoiding evening snacking.

Meg I’m cringing for you from your mum’s oh so helpful advice 🙄 I’m sorry for little six year old meg - what a young age to start worrying about weight FFS!

I luckily don’t get comments like that - mum is a serial dieter, I have seen her do everything over the years, which did at least make me skeptical enough to not do that myself I guess.

Well done for the loss kt! And any others I’ve missed.

Nice to see lots of us attempting to tackle the body clutter as well as the house clutter! I have a few stone to lose but being fitter is in a way a more important aim for me as it’s much better for my MH when I’m exercising, it’s giving me a much bigger sense of accomplishment than seeing the numbers reduce on the scales (although that is good too!) and really I want to stop being so scared of my conditions flaring up. I know I can’t out-train those issues but if my base level of fitness is better then I bounce back quicker.

Gosh that turned into an essay sorry 😳

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 23/07/2020 10:24

I need to buy some scales. I have no idea what i actually weigh.

Ta da

❤ pots washed
🧡 worktops wiped
💜 dry washing sorted
💚 dryer on
💛 checked Indeed for jobs (no luck)
💙 quick bath
❤ bleach both loos
🧡 baby bottles soaking
💜 highchair scrubbed
💚 kitchen swept
💛 recycling out
💙 kitchen bin out

EasilyDelighted · 23/07/2020 11:08

Lane - the DCs probably won't notice, we haven't eaten breakfast together for years and I tend to eat my evening snacks in the kitchen while they are elsewhere in the house. I am trying to work out what time we will be eating in the evening and work backwards for lunchtime. Our evening meals have crept later during lockdown as we aren't going out so much.

Meg - I have dropped two volunteer roles this summer so I think I'll manage. This new one is for the swimming club, COVID related, they are hoping to get started again soon but need lots of trained, DBS'd supervisors in poolsides as parents are not going to be allowed in the sports centres.

Bower - I'm having a mixed year at the allotment, I planted out fairly late as we are in a frost pocket but as the last few weeks haven't been very hot some things are behind. Sweetcorn and pumpkins are doing very well, cucumbers and tomatoes ok-ish, broad beans ok, runner beans are behind, potatoes are flourishing but are maincrop so not harvesting yet. I don't grow much at home as our garden is very shady, just lots of herbs and flowers in pots on the patio.

I have some nice flowers at the plot too. The alliums are actually bolted self-seeded leeks, I let some grow wild.

Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread
Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread
Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread
martakeithy · 23/07/2020 11:33

Hi all
LaneBoy I hear about the schedule going out the window. Hope you had a better evening yesterday. Thanks for the info about the Switch games. Did you manage to try?
Bowerbird5 Haha not sure if teen grumpling works. I love the pictures.
Squandered that sounds like an "interesting" experience at the hairdresser"s Smile
kT your DD sounds gorgeous.
Xmummy2 off to buy more acocado today, am I brave enough to try.. Smile. Is your DS a January Bab too?
My DD was due on Valentine's, but I was induced early as they were worried about her growth. She was only 5lbs 12 oz at 36 weeks. So been hard work for her to get going. She's now 16 lbs 8oz and just under 60th centile from starting at 20th centile. So she's basically just been feeding almost hourly since birth. Shock
EasilyDelighted wave
MrsTidy Scotland too! Grin
Jigolo aaa sorry to hear your mum's well intentioned, but unhelpful comments are wearing you down. Great that you are getting some exercise. I think exercise is the key to changing mental health and body image. Wish I could find time. I'm having to do "mummy and baby" exercise on YouTube when I have the energy (once a week ShockSmile )
Thank you all for the support on feeding. Gave Babs a couple of micro spoons of banana this morning, which went ok. She made a terrifying face. Think she didnt mind it?
Yesterday I didn't manage the vacuum bag thing as I have Babby in with me and I cant get into the room when ahe naps or goes to bed - which is when I would actually have to bring the bags out to work on,so will try that.
Still have to finish swish and swipe kitchen and bathroom
Have done one hotspot drainingboard,well almost
Boodwa will be getting vacuum bags underway
Have laundry to put out
Will do new load on Friday as too wet today. I doubt this lot will be dry very fast.
Tumble some washing and put away
Washing up which Ds is supposed to have done Hmm
Get DS to vacuum (no vacuuming socks)
Possibly plant some bedding plants if time
Have remaining chilli beef with tortillas for dinner maybe or tacos?
Hummous and carrots for lunch and some oatcakes with peanut butter
Still to do vitamins
Baby wash
Dress
Baby bookbug
Exercise of some description
Update tax credits
Send phone bill for cashback
Pay factors and set up SO
Clear credit card
At least one thing listed on Ebay
Think thats it
Will have to check Flylady as I cant remember what else I have to do?
Good luck everyone

JigoloHarMegiddo · 23/07/2020 12:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

Stilllivinginazoo · 23/07/2020 12:23
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