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

zoo I am sending you positive vibes and thoughts etc etc etc for some very very good luck to come your way ASAP.

Sc love the idea of a play doh cleaning fairy, if you grant wishes please can zoo have the next 3?!

Play doh did indeed get everywhere and also the paint which came out afterwards luckily I put loads of towels down this time since we already have paint on the floor which I can't get off (nope I still haven't got round to trying the tips you all kindly gave me - one day 😂🤞)

Ta das
More laundry (think I've done four loads today!)
Helped kids with bubble painting
Tidied the play doh away and swept kitchen
Helped dd with some more school work
Put washing away
Tidied ds bedroom
Tried to make some space in the spare room (currently the dumping ground)
Decluttered and tidied the towel and bedding cupboard
Ordered some clothes storage baskets for dd bedroom as we are getting rid of her completely useless chest of drawers
Cleaned the kids toothbrushes (random I know but they are electric and they get very gunky around the bottom!)

The kids have been so good today but a fight is now breaking out so I'd better go and sort that out.

Zoo wow what a shock😳

I think they should do more for you on the other hand it is unlikely to happen again so random.

To cheer you

zoo

So we've ended up child free tonight 🎉

So far I've used it to
⭐️ have dinner in peace
⭐️ wash much fewer dishes
⭐️ do some ironing
⭐️ Empty and clean out my fridge
⭐️ tidy small boys bedroom

I'm now going to finish putting the ironing away and then have a long hot bath 👌

wow zoo... let's hope the week improves, hey?

TaDa

(answered 2 emails last night - one positively, one apologetically)
s&s x2
took stuff out of freezer
swept dining room floor
exercise class & shower
made bed
made lunch (early because S2 has online open day)
sliced and froze rest of loaf
washed dining room floor while H and S1 discussed the finer points of star wars physics
put stuff in loft
lol
gave up and did some more jigsaw
prepped pizza toppings (H does the actual cooking)
washed up after dinner
set breadmaker for bacon sandwiches loaf

porch floor can wait till tomorrow (yeah right)

Oh Zoo I really hope you and the DC get a break soon What a shock to come home to.

Enjoy your relaxing bath and childfree night Awol

I have literally nothing else to add to my ta da list other than a little bit of financial stuff. I watched 2.5 episodes of Little Fires Everywhere on Prime (think i like it) then frozen 2 with DD. Early night as I have a headache.

I love u saying ‘ta didn’t meg😂

Well done on the painting KTC

sc ur so right. I think it’s like now only a few things r opening so the stiff u was looking forward 2 might not happen for YEARS!. I keep thinking about it sum times and realise what a crazy situation this is!. Thank u, I’m sure I will have a luvley time. First stop is a maccies and then we’re going on a drive to a park or somewhere!. Ur DD’s uni plan sounds good. When will she know what uni she’s got into? Or is she not applying until next year?

Luv the holiday planner AWOL i might pinch that idea!

Oh god zoo! What a crazy week. I hope u get sum good luck soon x

foxes I’m glad 2 here ur kids have been good 2day!

Enjoy AWOL and the morning as well. Have a lie in.😀

Merry do you use your bread maker a lot? What type do you have? I have been thinking about getting one but DH isn’t keen mainly because it is something else to store. I have found somewhere to keep it now so it needn’t be on the worktop.

What jigsaw are you doing? We have just done a garden one belated birthday present which was quite difficult and “The Bizarre Bookshop”
Colin Thompson ( if I remember my bf has some of his work) and looking for another one tomorrow. I have some Christmas ones that I haven’t done. We used to buy a series Christmas family puzzle. My kids loved them 1000 piece.

Good list😃

KTC hope your headache goes by tomorrow.

Ok so I found out if you take a photo via the attach image thing, as opposed to just uploading one, you lose your post 🤬 but never mind, here is a pic of Rowan’s squirrel that she drew this evening :o it has cheered me up on an otherwise crap day. Not that the day itself has been crap really, just one of those days where everything feels A Bit Shit.

ta da (thankfully this was still on my clipboard as I write it on my phone notes)
🦩LOL
🦜home ed
🦩put a few bits out on the tip pile
🦜put washed bags in dryer (cool air) to finish off
🦩bagged a few old pairs of shoes etc to bin
🦜put some clean clothes away (or as “away” as they can get without a wardrobe with hanging space)
🦩signed up for a home ed resource offer
🦜cut up pile of magazines (and even a couple of old books that were already ripped) for Cagletini’s collage supplies
🦩got DS ready for scouts
🦜persuaded DD1 to get stuff done, pulling teeth would certainly be more fun

Another decent day 2day. Still rly rainy but we went for a walk. I had the appointment with doc 2day about sullys meds and I can pick them up from chemist on mon so vry excited 2 c if they help him!.

Ta Da’s
❤️Beds made
🧡Breakfast, lunch, dinner cooked and washed up
💛Got dressed
💚LOL
💙Hoovered upstairs

I've spent the past 2 hours of my child free Friday night going through about 5000 pictures on my phone and deleting crap ones/screenshots/ones I don't need now. I seriously need to get a life! 🤣

Love all these lists that so many are posting. Helps me stay on track:-)

Put on load of laundry.

Found two file boxes full of very dusty coathangers. Sorted, washed.
Winter weight clothes now in out-of-season wardrobe.

Filled buckets at garden tap for wonky toilets.
Three chairs upstairs to spare room. Ceiling has leaked again.
DS thick black socks all upstairs in out-of-season wardrobe.
Turned out that the mound of thin black socks may be mine.
Cleared big table by taking all my boxes of knitting up to my bedroom.
Took seven of DS's boxes downstairs to big table for him to sort.
I sorted one box of random stuff. Packaging out for recycling. Ties away in wardrobe, socks to be checked for holes.

DS used table to sort through two of his boxes. He found useless bits and pieces that are now in the bin / recycling trolley. His aim is for two boxes each evening. Good to have him on board.

Tomorrow - try on the thin black socks to see which are mine.
Look around the house for any more random socks.

Sleepy sleepy sleepy. Managed to book a couple more Tesco slots though - it’s a bit less booked up on there now, and they’ve increased the item limit again (95 now), but it’ll still be a while before it’s back to normal and we can just book one the night before - if ever!

At least that’s sorted till the end of the month now though. But I must remember to sort the actual orders, otherwise I’ll end up with 8 bottles of Malibu as that was the quickest way of securing the slots 😂

KT I love the otters and cat pictures your dcat looked pissed off you had seen him/ her 😆

lane I love cagletini's drawing of a squirrel, so cute.

zoo 😲 at what you have been through the last few days. I really hope things start to look up soon. It's not fun watching your DC go through tough times either.

bower you seem to be very patient with your bathroom situation, I would be stressed out and angry if I was in that situation, of course not at anybody in particular, just frustrated. I love your hen pictures too.

I don't remember what everyone put so I'll have to take another look to do more personals (I'm on the app)

The last couple of days I worked, not done much flying other than normal routines. Today (Friday) I worked my 2nd job. Tomorrow is independence day so the office was closed of my main job today. I volunteered to work this weekend at my 2nd job, starting to regret that decision, oh well, the money will be nice.

Ta Das today (before work):

🇺🇲 1 LOL.

🇺🇲 S&S.

🇺🇲 Sorted out fridge, took out old leftovers.

🇺🇲 Loaded DW and started it.

🇺🇲 3 cups of coffee ☕ I usually only have 2 as they are big and get a stomach ache if I have more than that, but not today 😁

🇺🇲 Swept kitchen floor.

🇺🇲 Went to work (5 1/2 hours) went out for dinner with my ILs tonight and had a margarita, it was delicious 😋

We keep hearing fireworks being let off by neighbours all around us, poor ddog gets freaked out by them, been like that all week, and will usually continue until the end of the weekend (if we're lucky)

Hazel she was looking at me like “go on, try to move me, I dare you” Jealous of your margarita! Hope work goes ok over the weekend and you get to enjoy some of Independence Day.

AWOL decluttering photos is flying. You don’t need to get a life, you are just a very dedicated fledgling

Lane Cagletini’s drawings seem really advanced! Malibu reminds me of my first girly holiday aged 18 and makes me feel a bit sick. I hope you don’t end up with the 8 bottles!

Merry and Tidy fab lists. It’s amazing how socks can infiltrate everywhere isn’t it.

Bower headache has gone thanks. I don’t usually get them. May have been the paint or hay fever or dehydration (I’m terrible at remembering to drink water) but I’m right as rain now. Loves the hen pics.

launchpad for anyone wanting it, although there are no missions today. Focus is family fun day. We have nothing planned on that front by all ask DD what she wants to do.

To do:
📌get up - I’ve been given a lie in and cup of tea by DH
📌usual morning routine stuff
📌downstairs home bleurgh
📌wipe front door down and a bit of TLC in dining room
📌second coat of paint in downstairs loo

Aiming to be done by lunchtime so I can have a nice afternoon with DD.

KCC - not sure how I feel about this as I’m not sure the atmosphere would work, but at least it is light at the end of the tunnel for those missing live music. I do quite like the idea of having your own platform - plenty personal space and a easier trip to the loo!

Waves to Zoo, SC, Ed, That, Chic, Too, Lisette, Foxes, Meg, Princes, Wine, Kinky, Cornish, Duck. Have a good Saturday everyone.

I saw that article kt and the first thing I thought was imagine how much a ticket would cost! They cost a bomb when they're able to fill it, if they're trying to get roughly the same money with a fraction of the people it's going to be rather expensive.

I've just woken up. DH fell asleep on the sofa and never made it to bed so I've had the bed to myself and even though I went to bed late I've had 7 and a half hours uninterrupted sleep.

To-do's for today
❤️ have a bath and I think I'll do my hair and make up for the first time in forever
🧡 ironing
💛 as many LOL as possible
💚 go to post office
💙 go to Tesco for DGM shopping and our shopping and hopefully fine printer in there

That's it I think.

Hi all,

Thanks for links and KCC KT .

zoo

Lane, re stationary storage. Lots of good ideas from people. I think also to accept (as it sounds as if you already have with art stuff) that toddlers get into everything as you know so maybe a pencil case or box that each older child keeps on their room on a high shelf or wherever is out of reach. Then they can bring it down when they need it. Irritating but realistic. Love the squirrel drawing .

Bower, fingers crossed for bathroom progress. Thank you for hen pictures.

Well done on your own time teaching progress That

Was going to say other things but I have DD2 jumping around everywhere and cannot concentrate.

princess, I have a difficult relationship with my own parents who also often do not see me as a grown up so I can sympathise . Have had quite a lot of useful advice on this thread about it actually . Essentially it boils down to what KT said that you cannot control their reactions, only yours. Easier said than done of course though!

Ta da:-
Went for run
DD2 has done a zoom class. Of a fashion anyway. She hates zoom .

To do:-
Get DD2 into her zoom class

Cherry waves to everyone.

Have you tried a butchers for gluten free black pudding? I've seen it in one near us before.

Well done on weight loss! I really need to do something about my weight and doing what you've described sounds like a way to ease myself in to eating properly again. I was overweight before lockdown but have managed to put on 1.5 stone so something's gotta give.

💜 had my bath and read some of my book. I'm not enjoying it tbh but once I've started a book I have to finish it so I'll persevere.
🖤 S&S
🤍LOL

Trying not to go into the LR because I can hear DH on the Xbox and i know for a fact the blanket will still be out and he won't have straightened the cushions. It would have taken him 2 mins but no he'll leave it for the maid 😡 he's not sat on the sofa btw I'm not that bad to make them tidy it before sitting on it 😂

Meant to say earlier I am totally with those of you struggling to look forward to the new normal. I like being busy, I want to go for drinks with friends and actually enjoy our rare nights out, not worry about being 2 metres apart (or even 1 metre plus). I see lots of cafes etc reopening which is ace. But no way do I trust taking my kids in yet. Not because I am worried about the virus but because it would be so stressful keeping them away from everyone and I would need to go with them to the toilets to make sure they stayed out of people’s way etc. Plus most of the tables locally look as if they are set up for people that are from the same household. I have absolutely had enough of seeing people from my own bloody household! Did think about escaping for a drink with a friend but even that looks a bit shit.

I am very untypical of MN in that I actually like play dates (as long as another parent comes who I can gossip with ), soft play, people dropping by unannounced.

Ugh. I am genuinely grateful for progress and absolutely understand why social distancing must continue. It is just all a bit shit though.

House is constantly a mess and because the kids are here almost ALL THE TIME I can never get on top of it.

Apologies for the rant!

Helloooo!

Love the hens Bower! We have Panasonic SD2511 (with special nuts and grains dispenser in lid which you don't need but is added bonus) and can thoroughly recommend.

Like Megiddo I hate crowds too and that looks like an interesting solution KTCluck! They are doing similar things with music concerts in Amsterdam where audience is grouped on mini barges. Dh and dd are going to a drive-in movie at the coast one evening this week which is a similar concept. I'm very boring and worry about things like lav provision!

Just love the squirrel Lane

Whoo hoo to weight loss Megiddo . I think the "no S" diet is a really good idea. I tried it a number of years back via a thread here and wasn't successful but it's because I'm not very disciplined and it gave me too much room for manoeuvre but others on the same thread had really good success with it. (Although it was necessary to avoid/ignore the dieting obsessives who seem drawn to dieting threads on here who consider a teaspoon of cress to be an indulgent breakfast.) Wishing you continuing success!

Hope you are ok Zoo

And That and Foxes

Happy 4th of July Hazel! (Hope your dog recovers from firework fright )

You are going great guns MrsTidy and really good that your ds is on board!

Sorry your dd2 still having to withstand Zoom classes Toostressy really feel for the children/teens with this

Well done for tech decluttering LittleMissAwol and I am VERY impressed by your holiday plan.

Thank you Mummy dd not applying to uni until next year v v stiff exam requirements to plough through before then! Hope the meds work for your son.

Well done re: fab ta da list Merry!

Huge waves to everyone! We have been working he of the long face this morning and more horses on the telly this pm as its the Derby and the Oaks (just fillies) all at Epsom on the same day! Totally bizarre!

Btw, do you have a water bottle KTCluck? That helps I think if you can carry it around with you. That goes for all people looking after small folk I think as it can feel too "just one more thing" to have to serve yourself as well, so one tends not to bother sometimes.

Incidentally everyone, where does everyone store their water bottles? We have lots now in our (one) kitchen cupboard but the lids and sometimes inner lids are separate and all clatter about and fall over. I don't like storing them with lids on in case of mould after the Sistema issue. How does everyone store them?

Hope your day improves Lane x

Lane great drawing

Meg I have sourced some gluten free black pudding for you. Not sure what postage is but Macbeth’s.com make it. We knew them and there ordinary black pudding is very good. Someone else owns the shop now but kept their name. They had a farm in Aberdeenshire of Aberdeen Angus their steaks were fantastic. Might be too costly but perhaps for a treat with a steak. Stornaway black pudding is also very good. Our local family chain do sell it but don’t have it on their website just now.

Hens these are the pips. Persephone and Lady Penelope. Gladys was out foraging. She did try to get in with them if only I had had the iPad then! They have gone broody so only two eggs today from Gladys. Glad you enjoyed them. Thought they might cheer Zoo up. What a random thing to find. Surprised police weren’t sent to investigate. At least he was alive and disappeared probably looking for a friend’s house.

The builder is here 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
He is putting the bathroom floor down. It is starting to niggle me Hazel. He is such a lovely lad though and a lot of it hasn’t been his fault. He should be finished laying it today. Then back on Monday to grout it and plumber back to re connect toilet. It is a bit of a trek to the shed. I do have an old fashioned potty so may succumb to using it.

Ta Das
🐔Bed made
🐔LOL
🐔Washed up.
🐔 Swept floor.
🐔 recycling out.
🐔kitchen tidy up.
🐔cleaned out drawer in dining room took everything out ( photos & paintings) and put them all back except one thing. At least DH saw me do it.

Back to painting now.

x post

Toostressy Like you, I don't trust going out to restaurants or cafés yet. But I am going to have a sd "bench" meeting with my friend in the outdoors. You just need to identify a park, and a place and bring wine! We are going to wear masks. Hopefully, we will both feel better for it afterwards.

More power to your elbow with the painting Bower and KT!

lane/bower gorgeous pics bought smile toy face thanks
And to everyone offering sympathy/good wishes.much appreciated.bloody love you guys!!❤️❤️

Well today was ment be going sainsbo with "d"p he "didn't fancy it" and isn't coming.off tom too,I asked if would be see DC for a walk.maybe....ffs

Talking useless,hope that won't be "paying "for pubs opening up today.thinking of you lovely!!(remember you saying him indoors been much better since pubs shut)

So I've trail nearest shop with a wobbly teen who having dizzy spells on propranolol,but wouldn't be left at home.thank heavens for our old lady trolley!haven't bought enough last more few days,but we've bread,milk and some veg bit/loo rolls.may take D's out for early morning walk/exposure to outside to co op for few more bits

I'm not changing habits particularly.realised we quite antisocial fuckers so it's not been too bad for us,bar missing dd1....

Shop wipe/sorted and put away
Washed up last night's stuff

Need clean dining table will need a good scrub and need some bleach or zoflora/disinfect on that

Other than that it's B.A.C.E as defined by camhs.thought I'd share as not bad thing for everyone to use

Body care(exercise,rest/sleep,taking care of illness,eating well)
Achievement(chores/work/study)
Connect with others(family/fruends/)
Enjoyment-(fun,things give pleasure)

As part of this dd2 and I sat watching toy story 1 last night.funny at 16 she now sees things in it she didn't as a child and still loves it so.was good to see her laugh a few times,albeit it slightly heartbreaking as she sat curled up with her mumkey ted and a soft blanky.strange how dispute years rolling by when upset/distressed they seem so little still...