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Housekeeping

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August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!

962 replies

SingToTheSky · 30/07/2020 12:29

Hello and welcome to the (slightly early) August Fledgling Thread! Join us for housework chat and a ridiculous amount of non housework chat too.

We follow (supposedly) the FlyLady system, which helps you gradually build up a set of routines. This month I won’t be putting regular links on, but there will be regular references to whatever the current zone and daily focus is. Please ask if you need any further info!

Here are some links to get you started (but don’t sign up for the emails as you’ll get inundated!)

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/ - a set of little tasks to gradually add to your day - some are a bit twee so pick and choose what you want!

www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions - this updates weekly with a set of five specific tasks for the weekly zone - worth checking for ideas! I will try and remember to remind us what zone we are in. It changes on a Sunday and we will be starting with Zone 1, the entrance/porch/hallway, and dining room if you have one.

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php - this contains links for most other things so is a good place to check if you don’t know where to start

It looks like the focus of the month for August is LAUNDRY - getting into the habit of a full load washed, dried and away each day.

Also I was bored a while back so I put together a little glossary of the many weird and might-seem-a-bit-cliquey terms. We have been going a long time but we always love newbies - hopefully this list will help you settle in.
KCC - the Keep Calm Corner, invented by our lovely Fledgling SC back in March, where the OP posts nice diverting links, memes, questions etc to distract us from the pandemic.

Ta Da - instead of a to do list (which is of course welcome too) we often post our achievements, with accompanying jazz hands, in order to celebrate the positives, however small they seem! Sometimes if we want to share an embarrassed giggle/commiserations we also post a ta didn’t - the stuff we didn’t get done. Oops.

BRC - Bag/Box of Random Crap. These are usually formed when we are panic tidying and shove anything in “to sort later” which is also known as a stash and dash.

Power of Three or PO3 - the idea that if you’re feeling really unmotivated/overwhelmed by your to do list, you just choose three things to do, and then post when you’ve done them.

Cherry Waves - borne of a typo of “cheery waves” this is now - to the extent my autocorrect just changed it again - often how we sign off. You may also see it in emoji form! 🍒👋🙋🏻 (😷 for socially distanced waves!).

Haughty Corner - this is from a typo of the naughty corner - the virtual hangout spot where we hide from housework and eat virtual snacks.

Future Friend or FF - the idea (apparently coming from The Organised Mum Method) of doing something to make life easier for yourself in future. Includes things like choosing clothes for the next day, getting bags ready etc.

DLMS - didn’t lose my shit - in other words, somehow stayed relatively calm despite a stressful day!

SS/S&S - Swish and Swipe - this is one of the key parts of the morning routine, a quick once over of the bathroom.

And a few basics:
LOL - load of laundry
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
DW - dishwasher
HSL - hallway, stairs, landing

And finally, for any Fledglings old or new who are trying to lose weight in lockdown, here’s our new body clutter banishing thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/3975886-Body-Clutter-Be-Gone-The-Fledglings-Weightloss-Thread?pg=1

I’ll stop waffling there. Welcome one and all, a huge thank you to KTCluck for steering us through July while also working, and away we go for August! 🍒👋

OP posts:
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SingToTheSky · 09/08/2020 15:09

Flagging big time. iPad is charging as I think author should be phoning me soon. So I might just do nothing (or at least just read) till then.

PO3.3
❗️Sort meds for me and DD1 for the week
❗️Put other hook up in kitchen (for dustpan and brush)
❗️Attempt to make some plans to see various friends/do things with DCs/go out on my own, especially over the next week (this ideally includes finding the diary...)

OP posts:
Mc3209 · 09/08/2020 15:26

I am yet to catch up with all the posts, so please excuse me if I miss any personals.

So far today has been a laundry day, bed sheets and all. Just one more load to go and I will be done with it 😊 Love the line drying this weekend - windy and sunny, perfect!

So, the Ta Da so far:
🎉The garden hedges trimmed - with the help of DH, as those hedges are over 2m high (and overgrown), I would not have been able to sort them out myself. Now the garden waste bin is full to the brim with cuttings.
🎉LOL X3 - two of which are dry, waiting for folding
🎉DW loaded/unloaded X2

Still to do:

  • aquarium maintenance and water change X3
  • hoover and mop the floors
ChicCroissant · 09/08/2020 15:36

Bower I noticed that the website sneak peek and missions are the kids fly challenges - both in a completely different Zone to what the email sneak peek and missions are, in the email that I got last night! It's not the best website or the easiest to use, unfortunately.

Scorchio here this afternoon which is lovely, the morning was quite grey! DH and DD have gone out for a couple of hours and I didn't give them any sunscreen because it wasn't this nice when they set off. However their olive skin will love the sun, I would burn to a crisp in this!

Not much flying, haven't even washed up after breakfast properly yet Blush Sitting drinking a coffee in the quiet house, it's lovely! I don't get much time on my own. Have been to two different supermarkets today and Greggs for the coffee so I've got a few bits in for the week.

Welcome Alex. Zoo I used to be on meds that gave me really weird dreams, not scary just weird! That I may have a look at the green homes grant as we'd like cavity wall insulation for our house, but every time we get a survey from one of the door to door charlatans we never qualify for it free Hmm This house is pretty warm anyway, one of our other houses was freezing and it really made a difference!

Will enjoy my coffee and browse MN do some planning for the week. If anything goes wrong, I will blame Billy's cousin as they seem to be the one causing an issue outside meg's the other night Grin

Stilllivinginazoo · 09/08/2020 16:57

Alex I only clean inside windows often as one my cat sneezes huge green snot trails on them at regular intervals often

Tada
Fed cats
Wash on
Harpic lav
Make choc banana and crystallized ginger muffins
Wash up
Feed zoolets
Wash hung up to dry
Pop heron foods
Wipe shop put away
Coat one of my bedroom ceiling
Lunch
Prat on phone/put off second coat as palpitations/dizzy/breathless Ness making it hard going..

Coat two done.go me!
Ready start paintwork tom...

The girls have IKEA order coming Friday so need finish paint by then as half my furniture will need go their room in order to paint mine(square smaller room)I then put it back,plus lil zoo tiny wardrobe and have dismantle broken chest drawers and dd2 bed ready for arrivals Friday so I have space to build and house new things
Couldn't done without heatwave hampering things,but still...

To do
Bit tidy up
Self care Sunday

As it's hot really need shave my legs so I can wear shorts without scaring neighbours into thing there's a wolf in clothes putting rubbish in my wheelie bin🤣

Stilllivinginazoo · 09/08/2020 16:58

Forgot add
IRONED dry washing and put away

howlathebees · 09/08/2020 17:52

Hi everyone, it’s howl but with a very slight name changeGrin I was gone for a lot longer than expected because baby decided to really knock me about and we have also had some big life changes (which I will update you all on) would you mind if I popped back in?

foxessocks · 09/08/2020 18:22

Welcome back howl good to hear from you and really hope everything is ok!

Zoo snap with the IKEA orders! The heat has been very unhelpful this afternoon, I have just had a cold shower to recover!

It's been a lot of hard work today but photos attached! I'm exhausted!

I'm probably going to change the baskets about a bit in ds room, they're not quite right. We've tried to position blue drawers and cupboard doors for ease of putting clothes away so we don't have to bend down all the way to the floor 😂

August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!
foxessocks · 09/08/2020 18:25

Next one

August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!
JigoloHarMegiddo · 09/08/2020 18:25

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

foxessocks · 09/08/2020 18:26

Sorry last one didn't post, dd room

August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!
SingToTheSky · 09/08/2020 18:54

Love the room pics! Hurrah for Kallax! DS has that desk too.

Hey howl lovely to have you back! You are in good company with name changes!

Oh my word I am sweltering. Eesh. 🥵

Just bathed Cagletini on my own for the first time in goodness knows how long - it’s usually a two person task because she hated it so much! I didn’t do her hair today but it’s still nice progress and she is all proud of washing herself with the flannel. Of course now she’s messy again already 😂 oh and she also insisted on using DH’s shaving foam 🙄😂

Author did phone me later than expected and it was frustrating work today. Done for a while now, with the phone calls anyway, I need to edit what I did the last couple of times but that can wait until I’ve caught up on my course 😳

I have to now get my power of three list done 🙄

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 09/08/2020 19:53

Another disagreement over maths with the teenager has somewhat sapped all remaining motivation 🙄 how do you persuade a naive autistic teenager who is convinced that she will be a singer/dancer that actually she does need to still do school work 🙄

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 09/08/2020 20:21

Welcome back howl, good to see you again. Hope you are OK.

Yeah that Louis Hmm Our new troublemakers, Louis and Billy Grin

Feeling slightly stuffed after tea, must wash up before motivation drains away completely.

Love the IKEA work today - my DD's bedroom is the only bit of IKEA in the house, it's Trofast though (the sliding bins). I like the baskets, more flexible. I need to go through the bins again, I think one is full of magazine freebies (why do children's magazines always have stuff on the front of them?!) that has never been used! We save some to put in shoeboxes at Christmas (or donate to others who make them up) but I doubt that will happen this year either.

Stilllivinginazoo · 09/08/2020 20:41

howl welcome back
Foxes❤️gorgeous
Sing no idea.ds convinced go be author and never leave my side,so no need go to school/educate

Tada
Decided clear TV unit corner as sea dvds not in boxes etc
I ACTUALLY TOOK EVERYTHING OFF IT..
Lifted down from top meter cupboards
Wiped surface
Wiped TV unit and put back
Sorted bag worth paper work
Sorted all dvd/cd and returned
Sorted wires back into TV for virgin box and
Dvd player
Sorted behind drawers dd2 uses for her stress toys/relaxing crafts
Swept around cat tree

Feeling quite proud myself as was tired and unmotivated.took me 2hoirs but looks so much better!

Fed zoolets< Mexican corned beef wraps.last banana choc ginger muffins, ice cream,tinned peaches and strawberry sauce>
Think dd2 and I just go have cheese sandwich.im too hot to be bothered anything else but crisps

Time chase lil zoo to go up and take a shower.think D's just had one
Wish it was cooler.stifling in hereSad

howlathebees · 09/08/2020 21:32

Thank you foxes everything is really well! Your DC’s rooms are lovely!

Thanks sing I did see all the name changes, had to go back a few threads to see who was who!Grin. I must admit I was like your DD never actually did work because I always thought I’d do something bigger and better!

Thank you chic and zoo

We went to IKEA today, I wanted to get some more kallax storage and get a few toys for the DC. The queue was massive, although it moved fast. But I felt very safe inside. We have a big kallax in the boys’ room, I’ll attach a pic if I remember.

Anyway to update you all on why I’ve been gone! I had morning sickness awfully until about 10 weeks into the pregnancy. Then it just went and I’m feeling so much better now. We have also had new floors put in in the living room, got a new big car (7 seater van with lots of boot room so we can go on holidays), I got a new job which doesn’t pay as much but I only work mornings and have term time off which means I can be at school pick up and drop off and we don’t have to pay for childcare in the holidays so it technically saves more. I’m now 14 weeks, due on the 5th Feb, and we have had a scan and can very clearly see that we are expecting our 4th boy!. I’m absolutely chuffed as I was secretly hoping for another boy.

SingToTheSky · 09/08/2020 22:00

Oh that’s so awesome howl 😍 I have a friend with four boys and she loves it. Glad the sickness has gone and congrats on the new job!

I haven’t completed my last list really. Still not too sure what’s happening in the week but I might just disappear somewhere for a while tomorrow morning because I really need to focus on getting my assignments done. The week seems to be insanely busy already.

ta da
🔥reading at various points during the day
🔥added bit to Q4 of assignment
🔥emailed tutor
🔥note taking/planning for next assignment
🔥persuaded DD1 off her phone long enough to do a few basic chores
🔥15min exercise bike
🔥got DS to do some maths
🔥ordered meds
🔥lunch for me and DD2
🔥printed DD1’s maths
🔥put up command hook for DD1’s dressing gown
🔥45min very frustrating work work
🔥prepped everything except the roast chicken for tacos
🔥bathed the toddler
🔥maths with DD1
🔥had tricky conversation with DD1 about looking after herself
🔥messaged new dance school her friend attends because they’re opening this week! Then later booked her on to two Thursday classes
🔥sorted meds for me and DD1... and realised I’d run out of various things and DD1 needs her meds ordering like three days ago (DH has now done it)

OP posts:
Mc3209 · 09/08/2020 22:18

foxes love the Kallax! Now I want one, but realistically will get one when I will be sorting out the nursery. (Haven't even started yet. It's a spare bedroom at the moment, and some existing furniture will need to come out before the nursery furniture goes in, and I don't even want to think about where to put it right now. Hopefully there is plenty of time to sort that out, as the baby will stay in our bedroom until at least 6 months once he is here).
Sing may the force be with you, trying to persuade teenagers is a tricky task!
Howl great to hear your morning sickness is better. I didn't realise how rubbish I felt in the first trimester until I felt better in the second one. Team blue here too ☺️

My Ta Da:

  • aquariums cleaned and maintenance done
  • laundry is done and folded
  • kitchen and bathroom S&S done
  • downstairs hoovered and floors mopped

Tomorrow is the first day of working from home for a while. Let's see how it goes.

EasilyDelighted · 09/08/2020 22:51

Evening all, I have failed with keeping up with the thread but have had a very busy weekend. Might pop back tomorrow with a longer update.

You lot would have been proud of me yesterday. I went to Aldi (don't go there often but use their washing powder and needed to restock). While I was there I notice a bottle of something called Elbow Grease which claimed to deal with the toughest grease layers so I had to buy some. Then at 10 o'clock last night I remembered about it and decided to tackle the cooker hood and adjacent cupboards. OMG this stuff is amazing. Did exactly what it said and took all the grease away with virtually no effort Grin.

This heat is doing my head in. Please let it cool down a bit soon.

howlathebees · 09/08/2020 23:15

Thank you sing! We’re so happy just counting down the weeks now. I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling so busy, I hope you can sort of manage it a bit tomorrow!

mc thank you, first trimester is awful isn’t it! I’m so happy to be into the second now. Congratulations on your little boy! They’re absolutely brill!

I love elbow grease ed! It’s meant to cool down from Tuesday in my area, I hope it’s the same for you!

I’m going to start flying again from tomorrow so no list today!

HungryHazelEyes · 10/08/2020 01:30

Welcome Alex and welcome back howl I'm glad you're feeling better.

Ta Das:

Saturday

🍷 Shopping at Costco with MIL after we had lunch.

🍷 Made dinner for ILs.

🍷 Finally remembered to give SIL the things I set aside for her that I no longer wanted. So I had a few outs: picture in frame, shower caddy storage (brand new but unable to return) and one top. MIL took another top and some spring decorations.

Sunday

🍹 5 LOLs.

🍹 Grocery pick up.

🍹 Skyped mum.

🍹 Trimmed 2 trees 🌳 they had branches hanging down so low it was hard to mow under them.

🍹 Chopped the branches down to fit in 2 bin bags.

🍹 rotated DW.

🍹 Cooked bacon this morning for dinner tonight (going in a casserole)

🍹 Made ranch dressing (also for the casserole)

To Dos:

🥱 Make the casserole for dinner.

🥱 Handwash dishes that can't go in DW.

🥱 Ironing!!

🥱 Get outfit out for tomorrow.

I sat down on the couch 45 minutes ago and now I'm having a hard time getting motivated. I am getting hungry though so that might be the motivation I need 😆

THATbasicrebelBITCH · 10/08/2020 05:30

Morning all!

ed you have just reminded me i bought a bottle of elbow grease about two weeks ago! Will use that on cooker hood and cupboards today i think

foxes your dcs rooms look lovely

Welcome back howl! I have four boys (and one girl who may as well be a boy) so this is very much a boy house

You are all making me want to buy more Kallax!

Good news on bathtime sing

Another busy day here yesterday, could have done without DC5 waking at 4.45am!

Predicted highs of 25 here today

Brew
TheUpholder · 10/08/2020 07:14

Hi everyone!

Welcome back Howl, glad the sickness has subsided for you.

I could do with some of that elbow grease on my cooker hood ED. I use Koh for everything and it’s great on the oven door but for some reason didn’t make much difference on the hood.

Hope working from home goes ok Mc

Foxes both bedrooms look great! Love DD’s wallpaper.

Meg that pegboard 😍. I need.

We managed a quieter day yesterday. MIL took DD for a walk while I got tidied up (DD just seems to be pulling everything out faster than I put away at the minute!), gave a cursory flick of the duster, and hoovered everywhere. We had gammon for lunch, cleared up and then had DM and DSis round in the garden. We had a short walk along the beach to the ice cream van and straight back later in the afternoon. Easy tea of gammon sandwiches and then tidied up for the millionth time. Got 2 LOLs done and dry too.

Today there probably won’t be much flying. Off to the county park for a picnic with DSis and DN (DH has to work) and then probably to DF’s garden on the way home.

First need to drag myself up, get the morning routine done, prep my half of the picnic and get DD ready. Catch you all later .

MrsTidyHouse · 10/08/2020 09:11

I keep falling off this thread, mostly full of enthusiasm for new zone on Monday, overwhelmed by Wednesday, and distracted by agonising for the rest of the week over what to declutter.

So this week I'm going to follow the zone missions and the laundry habit. If there's not enough for a full load, I'll tackle the utility room and toilet. Here goes🙂

Stilllivinginazoo · 10/08/2020 10:57

ed in conjunction with pink stuff it will remove pretty much anything!
That i was up at 4.30 with a panic attack and temp here is set 32 today.can I come stay at yours?I promise to be good...

Tada
Fed cats
Wash on
Harpic lav
Water garden plants
Quick wipe kitchen surfaces
Clean kitchen windows
Wipe tiling
Wipe toaster
Wipe kettle
Wipe cupboard fronts
Sweep floor
Bins empty

Living room
Clean windows
Pull out sofa 1 and clean behind/liberate cat toys
Clean around fireplace
Wipe mantlepiece after remove everything,returning only necessity
Empty fake coal and clean out fire properly
Clear and cwipe blanket box of games
Sort my relax/recharge drawers
Pull out sofa 2 and clean behind
Sort dvds on bookcase,polish
Clear and clean dining table

Hang up washing
Make cinnamon swirl banana muffins

Bathroom
Clean windows
Wipe sill
Wipe bath skirt and radiator
Clean tiling if bath/shower
Wipe bath and sink
Wipe cat food mat
Refresh water

DS room
Wipe windows
Water plants
Quick polish
Sweep floor

Went hoover stairs and Hoover's not rechargingSad

Woke zoolets
Took D's to Waitrose(nearest shop) as no salad veg and there's no way I'm cooking in this heat!(acquired other stuff whilst there)
Staggered home uphill gasp for air as he hopeless at carrying things Sad

JigoloHarMegiddo · 10/08/2020 11:07

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