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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
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JigoloHarMegiddo · 24/07/2020 14:05

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

LaneBoy · 24/07/2020 14:18

I want to get flu jabs this year. I took many years deliberating about it because I know a few people who were convinced their ME etc got worse after. But I had one in pregnancy and now the only reason I didn’t get one was procrastination! I think I’d get them for the Caglets too. Whatever virus it actually was back in March, DS was knocked surprisingly flat by it.

I’ve had a super super lazy day here. Not in the nice, doing lots of relaxing lazy things way, but the ugh, I am so unproductive way! 😴

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 24/07/2020 14:56

How old was he meg?

Zoo did your ds have it at the gp?

EasilyDelighted · 24/07/2020 15:19

I will qualify for a flu jab by virtue of being over 50, DH gets one for diabetes and I will happily pay for the DCs to have them.

I only know one person that's had Covid too, she was rough for a couple of weeks then better. We are trying to still be careful but I did let DD have her friend round and use the x-box the other day, I think for the sake of both their mental health more than anything. We are in a very low case area.

Gardening - Bower - I didn't answer your greenhouse questions. I think some shade is a good idea but I'm not an expert. Otherwise things can get scorched inside. As for the old door, maybe worth finding the contact email for your local allotment association and they could see if anyone could use it? I have a small confession to make (to SC as well), that beautifully tended patch behind the alliums in the photo is my neighbour's plot not mine. Mine is a bit more random, putting it politely. You are right that it is a lovely open site, we are hemmed in by houses and the plots are small but they have strict rules about sheds and greenhouses so only about 1 in 10 plots have either which gives it a lovely open feel. I regularly drive past one that is absolutely crammed with them and am glad ours isn't like that. More photos here, I've just
got back. Although it is cloudy it is very humid now, yuck.

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
merryhouse · 24/07/2020 18:02

Apparently I'll be offered the flu jab this year (once they've done all the Properly Old people). I can't be old, my hair's still (mostly) coloured. Our parents' generation seemed to be all grey/white in their mid forties - was it the war or the seventies or a mixture of the two?

I'd love to investigate stuff for other people, meg - but no, this is a PCC report for the postponed Annual Church Meeting. (I put together this booklet every bloody year, it's not like it comes as a surprise...)

TaDa

went for a walk! Put my tea in the insulated cup, in my coat pocket and was on the footpath by 7am. Forty minutes which the phone app reckoned was nearly 6000 steps but I'm dubious as I once timed my normal pace at about 100 steps a minute, and I had a couple of minutes rest to drink my tea at the top of the hill which was Very Steep and Very Hard Work. I don't like hills at the best of times and I'm out of practice...
changed bedding
hoovered downstairs while H was on cycle ride
finished mending gi, and hung it away immediately
exercise class
shower etc
put white wash on
picked and washed lettuce
made lunch
sewed button back onto shirt and put a couple of stitches in two other buttons
started mending some jeans but parcel arrived:
replaced under-door seals on shower! needed to use hairdryer to get them flexible enough to fit properly. Put everything away afterwards (including packaging, extension lead and hacksaw)
finished mending jeans - I could say darning, but given that I've pulled them out of shape I don't think it counts Grin
hung washing
made garlic butter, and spread onto baguette sliced
prepared pizza toppings

Haven't yet done any of the report. Maybe I'll do some more after dinner. Talking of which, it's nearly time to get off the table and start laying it.

JigoloHarMegiddo · 24/07/2020 18:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

EasilyDelighted · 24/07/2020 18:31

I would just like to say

My house is tidier than it has been in years. I have been spending so much more time at home than usual and I have been picking away at the clutter bit by bit, my blitz on the kitchen a few weeks ago got me started. I haven't actually thrown out huge amounts of stuff, although I have got a (small) car boot full to go to the charity shop at some point. Just putting away, throwing out odd small broken things and reorganising storage a bit. I bought some extra kitchen shelf storage a few weeks ago which has helped a lot (effectively doubles shelf space in cupboards) and replaced a short bookcase with a tall one in the dining room, moving the short one to the garden shed. Even the garden and sheds are pretty tidy. There's still a bit of a way to go upstairs but downstairs is looking great. Thanks to all you lot for helping keep the momentum going Flowers.

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 24/07/2020 18:33

That is a nice bread bin. The bread in this house tends to live ON TOP of the bread bin Blush

I am wondering a couple of things about flu vaccinations .....

1 - its now being given to year 7 in school, will this still be up the nose or as a jab, i had jabs in secondary?

2 - if i pay for it at chemist for my year 8 will it be nose / jab?

EasilyDelighted · 24/07/2020 18:36

I don't know but they get HPV jabs in y8, boys as well as girls now.

xmummy2princesx · 24/07/2020 18:57

Hi all! Been busy here 2day still decorating the house. Trying 2 get it all fun soon. So not much flying. Sorry 4 lack of personals.

zoo hugs 2 u ❤️

marta I luv this age! Still babies but getting a personality. I do feel bad 4 Sullivan being so close 2 Xmas I hope ppl don’t try and give him a joint Xmas and bday preszie!

merryhouse · 24/07/2020 18:59

Browsing my own Facebook the other day (I know, how sad am I) I came across this which I thought some of you might appreciate

Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread
LaneBoy · 24/07/2020 19:02

Oh bum I guess DD1 missed it then ed - she joined school in the December of year 8 and then obv lockdown in March and they’ve not said anything about it. I could ask the GP though as I’m guessing she’d be able to have it there (I remember having to get my DTP at the doctors because I’d been ill when they did it at school)

It’s a “inordinately proud I actually cooked some frozen veg with the frozen pizza” sort of day.

Cold veg, too, because I didn’t realise the toddler had turned the oven down on the pizza while “helping mummy” 🙄😂

merryhouse · 24/07/2020 19:03

H has just started watching the Test Highlights. I don't know what it is, but that music just lifts my spirits - does it mean summer? H on a day off? day relaxed enough to watch sport? I don't know

LaneBoy · 24/07/2020 19:32

Merry I love that picture :o although these days I can’t even organise my pencils. Sad times. (Parent of Toddler times, really.)

ED that’s so great about the house! Well done! Ours has much improved but it was so bad to begin with there’s still a long way to go 😳

Had a bit of a shock today as the toddler managed to get into DS’ room and onto the windowsill where one of the windows isn’t lockable or restrictable (fire regs I assume). We’ve decided to put latches on the tops of the outside of the bedroom doors - not ideal, but they will obviously never be shutting anyone in - just for the kids to put on when they leave their rooms so Cagletini can’t go in and put herself in danger (not to mention trash Lego sets etc). Now that she can climb over stair gates I don’t see another way round it :(

I seem to remember farthing wood being pretty dark meg so maybe a good thing if DS3 is a sensitive sort!

I do like the bread bin, we had a single one like that but our bread is generally kept in the freezer as none of us eat much of it. DS really likes pittas, wraps and bagels so we sometimes have them knocking about but again often put some in the freezer.

EasilyDelighted · 24/07/2020 20:09

Lane they will catch up with your DD, I read that nursing teams in the community are doing all the missed school jabs. When DD's friend missed one of hers she was able to get it done at the local GP surgery. Might be worth a call to the GP though.

martakeithy · 24/07/2020 20:48

Hi sll,
Trying to keep up and failing
KT love the home "bleurgh"Grin. That can be any old tripe can't it. Mine was,very quickly, washing (spray bottle and microfibre cloth) kitchen floor.
Hungry pwoar -10 hours! you deserve a bit of a break from the home bleurgh. Flowers
Jigolo you probably get all the bargain gifts rather than the overpriced tat. Let's find the positives. Grin
Managed to vacuum the boodwa, really treating myself as the Flylady said. The glamour.
Also did two vacuum bags, which seemed to unvacuum themselves again
Fed baby. Really not a fan. It is so much easier to breastfeed than feed a microdot of avocado then clean up the baby, the chair and wash up. Shock
All dinner was from Sainsbury's
Hope everyone is having a relaxing night

martakeithy · 24/07/2020 20:55

Lane just saw your post about your toddlini and the window. What a shock for you, obviously not the fearless tod.
It seems a bit of a burglary risk if a window cant be secured? You will just have drill the door lock habit into the olders. Have a gin too, I think that helps with a lot these sorts of things. Wine

martakeithy · 24/07/2020 21:13

Merry your pencils looj smashing. Very sharp. Grin
Xmummy they had better not try that joint present thing or they will get a joint birthday present and compost. The perfect match.
Easily well done on the tidy house. Especially if it has taken years. You never gave up, like an Olympic athlete. I am inspired Smile
Jigolo wow at your multistory breadbin. You could stand up at least half a baguette in there ShockSmile

KTCluck · 24/07/2020 21:26

Aah, caught up!

What a shock Lane! I’m grateful DD has never been much of a climber. My nephew was and it was terrifying where he could get to in the blink of an eye.

Meg the bread bin is a thing of beauty! Glad the OT visit went well. I love robins! I always think they just look so much more intelligent than other birds.

Merry I love the pic Grin. You’ve done loads today.

ED congratulations on your lovely tidy house! Need to go round mine and make a list of all the little things that need done - where I need improved storage etc.

Marta I can’t take credit for ‘bleurgh’. It was on the thread long before I arrived.

I know I had more personals but they’ve fallen out my head.

Good ta da list today:
✅ kitchen sorted and living room tidied before work
✅ decent shift at work, finished what I needed to, didn’t eat crap
✅ stocked up on fruit and veg at the market stall near work
✅ LOL (work uniform) as soon as I got home
✅ tidied, hoovered and mopped hallway
✅ cleaned living room window, TV, mirror
✅ dusted living room, including a the wood burner, hearth, fire guard etc more thoroughly
✅ hoovered and mopped living room
✅ wiped down dining table, dusted, hoovered,
mopped
✅ tidied utility, wiped bench, front of appliances, hoovered, mopped
✅ wiped kitchen benches, Cupboard fronts, hoovered and mopped
✅ carried pile of crap upstairs

Played with DD a bit before bed, and now I’ve run out of energy to shine my sink and stack the dishwasher.

Plans for the morning:
📌up at 6, yoga, shower, defrost legs
📌 s & s, make beds
📌 try on new outfit to work out which shoes/bag/jacket
📌 pack overnight bags for me and DD
📌 feed me and DD (DH is out early for a few hours overtime but under strict instructions to be home in time for my hair appointment)
📌 DW set off
📌 hair appointment 🥳🍾
📌spend an hour with DD, then drop her off with PIL before heading to then train station for our anniversary weekend 🙌🏻
📌 eat too much and drink too much. That’ll be the end of the ta Das Grin

OP posts:
LittlemissAWOL · 24/07/2020 21:39

Oh god lane how scary! DS4 likes to climb on the bunk beds. He can get up but not back down.

Nice bread bin meg. We could probably do with a bigger one a lot of the stuff ends up heaped on top of ours.

Love that picture merry.

🎉 ⭐️ for tidy house ED.

We had a movie night last night. Watched the new angry birds movie. This meant that the house ended up a tip and was still like that this morning. Have spent most of the day helping DS3 with his homework and then we had a quick tidy round and went for a walk to the nature park when DH came in from work. Quick dinner then dropped the bigs at their first face to face cubs meet since lockdown. Then went to Sainsbury's with DGM. Came in, made sticky toffee puddings, done a few dishes and now cba to do anymore. There's a LOL sitting in the machine. All I need to do is switch it on to dry and I can't even be bothered to do that.

LaneBoy · 24/07/2020 21:44

Thanks lovelies, she’s just so busy all the time. Nothing keeps her in one place! I need to get her back to the playground now it’s open again really but it is usually packed!

We need to be more proactive with little activities TBH. And decent snacks that aren’t fruit because she practically inhales it. Thinking PB on toast might be a good option because of protein.

We watched The Spy Next Door this evening which was quite funny. Definitely need more non-animated family films to watch as the caglets get older - any suggestions please? They like Johnny English, National Treasure, Night at the Museum, Mr Popper’s Penguins, My Spy, Sonic, HP, Percy Jackson, they used to like Escape to Witch Mountain as well.

I’m sleepy and really can’t be arsed to do anything this evening, I’m very unmotivated!

ta da
🦡reading
🦔deleted loads more phone notes - quite embarrassing how many old to do lists I had, I decided not to check for things I’d never actually done...
🦡moved laundry on
🦔boxing
🦡counselled a friend via text
🦔tried a short YouTube workout
🦡made (heated) dinner

LaneBoy · 24/07/2020 21:46

BTW the window wasn’t actually open (I only open those windows when she’s at the park with DH) but she was really keen to press the button to open it! The other one has the lock in the button. Gah. Bloody child.

Going to get ready for bed, DS still watching Pokemon!

martakeithy · 24/07/2020 22:12

Lane the little meddling fingers Smile. Films you have probably seen, but I will bore you by mentioning: Alex Rider: Stormchaser, Spykids, Shazaam! The Kid Who Would be King, a lot of Jackie Chan films and old Arnie films: Kindergarten cop sort of thing.
Do you think your Tod would like some hummous with carrot sticks, peppers or bread sticks.

I would like to complain, to the world in general, that my babby has started to bite (gum) me when I am feeding her and it is horrible. I’m actually scared of her little, crocodile mouth.

JigoloHarMegiddo · 24/07/2020 22:36

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

EasilyDelighted · 24/07/2020 22:53

My DS doesn't really watch movies but DD was starting to get into all the Marvel ones by about age 12.

I also remember crocodile mouthed babies

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