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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:
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JigoloHarMegiddo · 29/07/2020 07:59

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

LittlemissAWOL · 29/07/2020 08:57

Finally managed sleep at around 5.30. Thankfully DC let me sleep until 8.30 so I've had 3 hours. So bloody tired still.

Have fed the DC and now just sat gulping coffee trying to keep my eyes open 😴

LaneBoy · 29/07/2020 09:40

Ok cool :) I will go with majority then and pare it back again. Let’s face it most of us know by know what the daily focus or whatever is... it’s doing it that we struggle with 😂 and we can easily assist anyone who needs more info :)

Yep kt I’ll start a new one early if needed no worries :)

Unmotivated as a slug today.

martakeithy · 29/07/2020 10:13

Morning,
Just reading through what you gave all been up to.
THAT could you buy enormous pants for your DD, that she could pull up to her armpits and, possibly some string to tie round the middle, keep it all in place?! Smile
Lane I dont even know what the links are? I am completely confused at the best of times. Just do what you think best (sorry about giving you a decision to make)
KT respect to the upholders.
Hope this day goes better than yesterday
Got to go and pick up the babby, she is wailing.

HungryHazelEyes · 29/07/2020 13:28

Marta I love your suggestion for that really made me laugh this morning!

So looking around before I go to work, feeling guilty for not putting a second load in DW yesterday. At least it's all rinsed and stacked neatly I suppose. DD is supposed to rotate DW as one of her chores, so we'll see if it gets done while I'm at work.

Right, best be off, 👋 everyone!

xmummy2princesx · 29/07/2020 15:26

Afternoon all hope ur all well! Currently doing sum shopping for my DSis’s bdays. And 4 Christmas lol is any1 else feeling Christmassy or is it just me!.

ta da
❤️Logan woke up 1 hour of time in bed with him
🧡Woke up with Sullivan
💛Fed Sullivan his milk
💚asthma and eczema routine
💙Breakfast made (weetabix and berries)
💜Got dressed
❤️Got boys dressed
🧡Brushed teeth
💛Made beds
💚S&S
💙Washed up
💜Dried
❤️Put away
🧡LOL
💛Laundry out to dry
💚Ironed
💙Made snacks for me and Logan (toasted bagel and cheese)
💜Put Sullivan down for a nap
❤️Logan did fly kids challenge and put his laundry back in his room
🧡Did sum of Andy’s exercise with Logan (got me moving too)
💛Fed Sullivan his formula
💚Drank Sum water from my bottle
💙Planned dinner (salmon broccoli and potato pie)
💜Decluttered sum of the living room
❤️Sorted out my hotspot (bookcase)
🧡Made lunch (cauliflower and pasta cheese)
💛Put both boys down for a nap
💚Cleaned windows in living room
💙Washed up
💜Dried
❤️Put away
🧡Cleaned fire place
💛Fed Sullivan formula
💚Snack 4 me and Logan (crackers and sardine paste)

marta thank u! And yes had dinner there yesterday but not had family around it yet. Am thinking of having family over for Sunday lunch one day in August maybe.

Thank u merry

I’m happy without the links lane :)

KTC thank u! It’s our forever home so trying 2 get it nice 4 us. The boys luv it!

THAT thank u it’s gr8 isn’t it! Was difficult but I rly enjoy decorating so just waited until they were asleep!

Sorry ur so tired AWOL

squanderedcore · 29/07/2020 15:37

Hello all!

Things still a bit tough going here but thanks very much for all the supportive words (as ever!) down thread and I won't say any more or else this post will turn in to one of my long, habitual whinges and dh is apparently starting his holiday tomorrow so trying to stay positive ... ! Hopefully dd will be in a better mood then too and will desist from threatening to call social services when I ask her to empty the dw! Grin

What I do want to say though is THANK YOU hugely to KTCluck for guiding us so beautifully throughout July! How you kept up with all of the chatter and everyone's activities I do not know! [medal emoticon] Flowers

And thank you hugely too to Lane for taking on August (good it's going to be in relaxed style) especially as I am sure you lead the thread relatively recently! Really good of you when you have so much else on!

That may be too late/no longer of interest but La Redoubte have some girls' vests in the sale, there are white ones if you scroll down
here. Grin @ crop top adjustments!

Take care everybody xxx

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 29/07/2020 16:13

Ty sc can i ask about the sizing on LaRedoute? I was wanting 8-9 vests, their sizing is 6-8 or 10-12 :Confused

LittlemissAWOL · 29/07/2020 16:49

Felt a bit more alive once I'd got dressed.

Ta-da's
☕️ LOL x 2. 1 is still on line haven't ironed first 🤷‍♀️
🧁 S&S
☕️ did homework with DC
🧁 had a Walk to the park
☕️ had a game of Harry Potter TP (i won 🏆 🤣)
🧁 made lunch for DC - ham and cucumber sandwich, yogurt, hummus and breadsticks.
☕️ swept floor
🧁 dishes
☕️ walked along to Aldi for a few bits and card shop for balloon for DS4 birthday

And er that's it's. Didn't even actually make it home after the shop I've just been sat in my neighbours garden.

Am now searching for the motivation to start dinner. They're getting sausage and chips. We were supposed to be having a roast but cba so that will have to wait for tomorrow. Have promised the boys they can make apple strudel for pudding too 😩

squanderedcore · 29/07/2020 16:51

Mmmn That French sizes tend to be smaller generally speaking so I would usually go for larger option. Disclaimer: I haven't tried La Redoute's vests before I must admit, as I always got dd's from Next.

LaneBoy · 29/07/2020 17:40

A productive burst in the morning was sadly not to last... I left the hob on for something like four hours 😰😰😰 it was the smallest ring and the lowest setting so shouldn’t be too bad and apparently we are mega in credit with the gas bill anyway but still. FFS.

I’ve been in a mood anyway and This Did Not Help. 🤬

Stilllivinginazoo · 29/07/2020 19:18

lane that's something I do often,usually with a bloody pan on it that ends up ruined....
SC good luck with dh on holiday..

Princes I'm starting to think if Xmas,mainly I'm scared of a lockdown meaning online running late.I do like watching Xmas films with zoolets and having hot chocolate/snacks and snuggles under fluffy blankies!
Meg enjoy the photos
awol you running on my sleep deficit,bloody huge sympathies
Marta perhaps a variation if that buys huge belly hugger pants could tuck into the crop top?Grin
Hazel no guilt over dishes,my dear.at least they not festering in hairy mould coats needing shaving throwing out before a swim in dw

plus my breathlessness has worsened on back awful periodI find I pant in a mask pretty fast and feel like I'm suffocating,plus it gets wet real quick😖

merryhouse · 29/07/2020 20:24

went to gym, made shopping list, did stuff DIDN'T DO ANY OF REPORT ffs

made sauce for lasagne, stood staring at it thinking "this is weirdly runny, I know I put three spoons of flour in I was counting them carefully" then glanced at worktop and realised the spoon was the 10ml not the 15ml...

turns out you can salvage that if you mix a bit of the runny sauce with the extra flour in a mug then add that and bring it back to the boil

ToMorrow
gym, shopping, make pies
make sandwich loaf, hoover upstairs, ironing
report, philatelist, emails

...and if that all gets done I will bloody well deserve a barbecue on Friday

KTCluck · 29/07/2020 21:45

Why thank you SC, I will wear my medal with pride Smile.

Zoo I don’t think you are overreacting, it’s what you’re comfortable with. I would feel quite happy having a workman in as I’ve continued to work as normal, DD has been back to nursery for a while and we’ve been out and about. Your circumstances are very different and it’s a big step when you’ve been in your own safe bubble for so long. It’s not unreasonable to ask him to wear a mask, and given the amount of people who have been shielding I’d be surprised if you’re the first to question it. I know you’ll probably feel really anxious on the day but if he is wearing a mask and sanitises his hands I’m sure the risk to you all would be extremely low.

I had the same issue with masks when I first started wearing them at work. I find now I’m used to it I feel less claustrophobic and I seem to have adjusted my breathing so that I barely notice it now. Might be worth wearing it in the house sometimes where you feel comfortable to get used to it perhaps?

Lane DH once left one of ours on all night. Luckily it was still dark when I got up so I noticed the glow. Surprised we didn’t have a singed cat Hmm.

Fab list Princes and good salvaging merry

Ta das:
✅ beds made
✅ LOL x 2
✅ clean clothes away
✅ s & s x 2
✅ DW / few bits hand washed
✅ hoovered downstairs
✅ DD’s favourite of boiled eggs and ‘shoulders’ for lunch Grin
✅ cleaned up milk spillage including taking apart DD’s little table thing (it’s a jumperoo type contraption that morphs into a table after. Great except for all the little nooks and crannies for the milk to collect). Turned out there had been a previous milky spillage that had festered Envy
✅ decluttered DD’s craft box, pens etc while she did some craft and got glue everywhere
✅ cleaned up said glue
✅ cleaned DD’s black/white board easel thing
✅ dusted upstairs
✅ cleaned bath and shower screen
✅ chicken pesto pasta for tea
✅ bathed DD and got glue out of her hair... I hope
✅ huge grocery shop while DH did bedtime
✅ Fridge cleaned out, shopping away

Ta didn’t:
🤷‍♀️Hoover upstairs
🤷‍♀️ any sort of prep for tomorrow
🤷‍♀️ tidy living room of toys. I mean, I did, several times, but I’ll be leaving a bomb site when I head up to bed

I did have a lovely couple of hours this morning with DD on the beach, and half an hour in the garden with her this afternoon. I always feel guilty at the end of the day that she hasn’t had enough undivided attention though Sad. Hope the rest of you have had a good day. I’m off to bed 👋

OP posts:
JigoloHarMegiddo · 29/07/2020 22:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

LaneBoy · 29/07/2020 22:55

ta da
🚂LOL (haven’t even put it in dryer yet)
🚂gathered rubbish
🚂gathered stuff for tuff tray into a bag
🚂put various things away (toys etc)
🚂got rid of some toys
🚂got Caglets to make some decisions about their stuff
🚂actually watched something I wanted to on the TV (yes this does count! As I usually just put up with whatever everyone else wants to watch)
🚂wrestled yoga mat into straps/bag
🚂made trail mix
🚂workout
🚂quick tidy (not much due to earlier efforts) for taekwondo class and prompted DS through a very challenging 12 days of Christmas style workout!
🚂prepped OP for August thread!

Headachy and tired and hoping I can sleep soon! Night all. I’ll set up the new thread tomorrow since we are still on p39

xmummy2princesx · 30/07/2020 00:23

Im sry 2 hear things r tuff sc❤️

I always do the same lane!

zoo that’s what I luv the Xmas films and fluffy blnkets! Am starting 2 plan pressies now tho. I don’t think ur overreacting about the mask I am the same.

I’m glad u had a luvly day meg

ta da

❤️Hoovered living room floor
🧡Prepared dinner
💛Put leftovers in bin
💚Played with DC
💙Warm milk 4 Logan and CBeebies to wind down formula for Sullivan
💜Bathed both boys did eczema routine and brushed teeth
❤️Bedtime stories
🧡Asthma meds
💛Showered myself
💚Washed down bath
💙Took off makeup
💜Brushed teeth
❤️Washed sink down
🧡Wiped bathroom floor
💛Put laundry in laundry basket ready for tomorrow
💚Washed up from dinner
💙Dried and put away
💜Wiped kitchen surfaces
❤️Wiped kitchen floor
🧡Shined zink
💛Put away kids toys
💚Straightened our blankets and pillows on sofa

MrsTidyHouse · 30/07/2020 00:38

I tried the school routine today, practising for the return in two weeks. Up early, lots of straightening up zone rooms, writing of lists, hard-boiling of eggs for lunch, then out to the garage for school run, and .....dead battery.

Did a quick spell in the front garden, including bringing in special stones for DGC, then got down to the bag of mystery paper, which wasn't as mysterious as I had feared, except for the missing Vehicle Tax Reminder. At this rate, I'll be getting Shanks's pony for the rest of my life.

Anyway, is Wednesday the anti-procrastination day? Determined to push on with paperwork, which has been neglected all year. All this year's bills and statements are now in chronological order, waiting for me to go through them to see where we can cut back.

Looked out the window, saw that the strong wind had wrapped a thin branch around the telephone cable about twelve feet up in the air. Bit of a panic, as DS is WFH. Cut back as many other branches as poss to lighten the pull on the cable, then DS sppeared with a stepladder and managed to chop it down with a very long handled branch-chopping thing. (It's very late, and my words escape me.)

Once I cleared all that up, I went into the kitchen and found I had left the latest credit card statement on the kitchen table, facing up and on the table near the window. I had a wee panic in case someone could see through the window and steal the number. Which was completely illogical, because the kitchen window hasn't been washed in at least a year and is totally opaque with grime, the boundary wall is way above head height, and the garden gate is always locked. In my defence, my panic about the return to school has been rumbling away in the background for about a week now. Tried to cure it all with bed and chocolate, fell asleep, and now wide awake in the middle of the night.

Well, I've rambled long enough. Time to write tomorrow's list.

Stilllivinginazoo · 30/07/2020 06:02

megI'd have loved a day like that.biggest sadness family breakdowns is the lack history/stories to pass down to zoolets.ive a few classics told in my childhood,but not many
Mrstidy I'm sure bank statement will be ok,life in general at present makes many of us much more anxious overall
Lane hope you got a good sleep
KT glad you did highchair ore mini heatwave,milk products are truly vile smelling if undetected ....

Forecast here is in the low 80s today,over 90 tom.glad it's short-lived.heat and I are not good friends..
Plan is get things sorted before 11 then gently coast the rest of the day

HungryHazelEyes · 30/07/2020 06:08

tidy that all sounds very stressful. I hope you were able to get some rest.

So I got home from work today to find bits of popcorn on the couch and floor in the living room 🤬 not only that but absolutely NO CHORES HAD BEEN DONE!!! Aaaarhhh! I was so mad. I was hungry as well so that didn't help. I quickly threw together a chicken salad for DS and me as DH and DD were working late (she helps him at work in the evenings sometimes). After dinner he helped me clean up afterwards, by rinsing our bowls while I rotated the dw. I then did the following:

🤬 Vacuumed couch.

🤬 Vacuumed the whole house.

🤬 Did a quick mop with a disposable mop with a sprayer (wetjet mop)

🤬 S&S.

🤬 Cleaned kitchen window as it's always getting splashes on it from the sink.

DH and DD then came home. DD got in the shower and DH was looking for food. He wanted leftovers so fried him a couple eggs to go with his sausages and pancakes (American style).

🤬 Put out Hotspot of papers on the kitchen table.

🤬 Oh, after I rotated DW I decided just to handwash some dishes as they wouldn't all fit. I also dried them and put them away.

🤬 Got my outfit out for tomorrow.

🤬 Took and shower.

I am currently in bed, about to go to sleep. The DC know not to have food anywhere in the house but up the kitchen table. It's been so nice outside as well that they can eat outside on our picnic table. It just makes me so mad, especially when I know that for a chunk of the time they are watching movies so no excuse really to slip away for a few minutes and rotate the DW! Grrrrr!

Sorry about the rant, it's just frustrating to come home after being at work for 10 hours to them have to spend my evening cleaning too. I think it took me about 2 1/2 hours to do all of the above, apart from shower.

Goodnight all 👋

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 30/07/2020 06:32

Hazel if i came back to that i would LMS!

Zoo i would want man to wear mask too

I have been stressing a bit about 'decontaminating' the dc when they get back from school. Between 7 of us we are going to be mixing with so many people Sad DC 1 and 2 bubbles are 120-150 kids (each) plus teachers, dc 3 bubble about 30 inc teachers, dc 4 bubble about 55 inc teachers, dc 5 will have nursery bubble i think 2 kids and 2 staff, dc 3 and 4 also have wrap around care bubble which i am not sure on size of, i then have take public transport to work and have a work bubble of about 8. I find this very stressful. Sad

Stilllivinginazoo · 30/07/2020 07:37

that my head would explode with so many bubbles to fret overSad
Hazel I would not only LMS I would've probably cast them outside like the animals that they are...hope today will be better for you

Tada
Fed cats
Wash on
Poo pick littertrays
Empty bins
Finished wiping large shop dd1 dropped at 915 last night
Wiped out two cute baskets and deposited potatoes,sweet potatoes and red onions into them
Wash onto line
More in
Sweep all lower floors

Evil wench that I am,about wake zoolets.ds had a panic attack yesterday,dd2 has many,lil zoo was on phone at midnight despite warnings.i think a routine is needed or we are not going to get to the end of the week without bloodshed..

Stilllivinginazoo · 30/07/2020 07:40

that Amazon has 5pk cami vests £6.99 in stock?

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 30/07/2020 07:43

zoo Brew

Ta da

💙 baby up, fed, changed, dressed and now down for a nap
💛 chucked a load of random crap scattered around kitchen in the bin
💚 ordered a bday present for dc4

I am starting to think Christmas. I have bought two presents (for the same child) and am planning on telling dc that i want Xmas lists early this year as things may be harder to get.

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 30/07/2020 07:46

zoo you are a Star

Ta da continued

💜 bought dd vests