August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!

[SingToTheSky]

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! 🍒👋

Upholder that is some impressive list you've got there!
I am sold on the idea of photobooks. I might borrow the concept of one per season.. I love physical photos (I know digital are more convenient etc, but I just never look at them which is a shame). Same with books actually, give me a physical book anyday over a digital version, even if I have to lug it around 😬

I use the Photobooks app mc. You get a ‘free’ one every month (although delivery is £5.99) and it’s really easy to upload the photos straight from your phone.

They are quite small too so don’t take up much space which obviously suits all us anti-clutter fledglings

Are they decent quality up? I am tempted to make a lockdown one.

Well I am really gutted. Friend texted at 5am to say her youngest had been feverish all night 😭 so she obviously can’t come out. Hoping they’re asleep now and that it’s just random not a nasty virus 🦠 have cancelled the booking online.

DS has had prickly heat for about six days now?! We’ve given him some antihistamines. He looks a bit puffy (not in the face though).

Not sure what my plans are for the day now. DH has to collect meds though. I might just go somewhere anyway - it’s harder on Sundays (buses).

Morning all

Sorry to hear you had to cancel meeting up with friend sing hope her dc is ok.

Sauce wise i love peppercorn, have been known to eat leftovers with bread 🤣

Well done on ikea building zoo

Re converse ballet flats, i bought a pair once and found them very narrow. I do normally live in converse but i dont think the ballet ones suit my feet!

I’ve never had a problem with the quality sing. Obviously I’ve had better ones that I’ve paid more for, but the photos always print out fine so for the price and convenience they do the job. They are just paperback but it’s not much to upgrade to hardback. Sorry to hear your plans are cancelled and hope the antihistamines help DS.

That yeah I do have narrow feet and I think these are narrower than the usual ones.

Ta Das:
✅ my bed made, DD’s stripped and remade
✅ LOL in
✅ quick tidy
✅ breakfast of french toast
✅ DW and dishes done
✅ benches wiped
✅ hob cleaned
✅ me and DD dressed
✅ s & s

DD wants to go out on her scooter then I’m hoping she’ll play for 10 mins while I mop downstairs. Seems to be brightening up here 🤞

Aah thanks up I think my mum used a similar service once, as the older caglets each have a book from her. I really should do something with all our photos, I would love to have some of those big multiple-frame things on the walls with lots of family photos. My iPad and phone albums are just full of random screenshots etc!

👽🪐👽🪐👽🪐👽🪐👽
Saturday. Family fun. Supposedly.
It’s the last day in zone 2, the kitchen. But no missions!

KCC
Favourite biscuit?

I am trying to channel my inner snob these days so although I like the odd bourbon etc I don’t eat many. I rather like those Liebniz ones that have chocolate on top! I do love a jammie dodger now and then.

I really miss cookies called Boasters - they were quite chunky with big bits of chocolate and hazelnuts. Sad times when I couldn’t find them anymore!

Aaaaand now I’m hungry.

🪐👽🪐👽🪐👽🪐👽🪐

upholder thanks, I will look into it!
Sing ah no, sorry about your friend. I hope her DC is ok.

KCC I am more of a rich tea biscuit or a chocolate hobnob. To be honest, will eat whatever is in front of me though.

Currently sitting getting my hair coloured. I am sweating like a pig (as I am sure you all wanted to know). A bit worried that when I stand up to leave I will have huge sweat patches on my dress (it's a tent like short dress which will show it up nicely 😳)..that would be embarrassing..

Sing - sorry that you couldnt meet up with your friend. I hope you get to see her soon. Thats interesting your mums friends was a costume designer Citv, so nice you got some tshirts. The 'Hecks' colourful blanket was the best thing they owned.

Up- I like the idea of a photobook for each season. What a lovely memory that is physical to hold. I enjoy taking photos and I have 1000s stuck on a hardrive or filling up my phone.

Mc- enjoy having your hair done and being pampered. I am sure when you get up everyone will be looking at your lovely hair and not notice your dress. I understand what you mean though....when you get up swoosh around gently with your dress and it should dry your dress.

I love all biscuits, rich tea, digestive, bourbon, the special chocolate like mentioned above...........i need a biscuit now......tea and a few biscuits...!

We have a family gathering today! We need to be there in an hour and we’re still in our pj’s. Wish me luck!

sing it’s good that the support worker was nice about not implementing the stuff yet. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better. Sorry to hear about your friend, I hope her and her family are okay.

chic I’ve managed to plan all our presents, just got to buy them now!.

He had bellyache zoo, I think he ate too many sweets. He has a really sensitive belly so he ends up feeling quite bad after only a little bit of bad eating.

alex are you entitled to any childcare help?

upholder you’re so right! Very impressive list!

KCC I love an orange custard cream!

Ooh mc enjoy your new hair!. Don’t worry about the sweat no one will notice.

I came here to post asking for advice please....
My 4 year old girl, will be staring reception in September. I am looking at school shoes....what are the best styles for a girls shoe?
I am used to buying boys shoes and Clarks have been a brilliant shoes for my son. I am soo tempted to buy the same shoes for her. She is big and tall for her age and has Wide feet. The delicate little narrow shoes she can't get her foot into them!

Any advice will be helpful thanks.

My dd (7) has these and i love them www.clarks.co.uk/c/Street-Soar-Kid/p/26141210 they look like a buckle but are velcro

zoo don't feel bad about missing your mum's birthday, I'm sure she would be grateful that you even thought of her. The roses in a silver dish sounds beautiful and I'm sure she would appreciate it, even a day late. 💐 for you.
Up does elbow grease have a smell at all? DH found some in the dollar store I believe and used it at work. I have yet to use it myself but have heard great things.
Sing good for you for taking some time out for yourself. Did you manage to get much of your course done after that?

Sorry there aren't more personals, you lot are hard to keep up with!
I feel hungover today, from lack of enough sleep. I do work my 2nd job today and have a lot to do at home today too.

It's just after 9am, have some ta das already:
🌹 Swept kitchen floor
🌹 Drank 2 cups of coffee
🌹 Picked up groceries using pick up

Still to do:
🥱 Make ranch dressing
🥱 Make cauliflower casserole for dinner tonight
🥱 Get ready for work (have to be there by 11am) - I might have to iron an outfit 🤦‍♀️

Going to ILs tonight for dinner for a change, DH and DD are working on the car she'll be having from her grandpa, but it needs a lot of work done on it (motor has been taken out of it to get repaired - they took it out last year!). Since they'll already be at their house, that's where we'll be eating. I bet be getting off here - I'm running out of time!

sing sorry visit got cancelled
That my feet are too wide where toes join foot for converse pumps too,regular ones are fine!

Thanks hazel yep managed two questions last night. Now have one question and another to rewrite, then checking them all (7 in total) as I’m not happy with all of them.

Done nothing today though, change of plans really throw me off 😳 I’ll have to try some later.

The toddler asked for a bath again 😂 I was wondering can anyone recommend some decent-but-not-bankruptingly-pricey toddler bath stuff/body wash/shampoo?

Hoping I can be productive later as all I’ve done is a bit of exercise bike time and watching super nanny 😂

Alex I forgot to say, sorry about the redundancy. Totally understand the worry about chronic health stuff. I got my first big flare up less than a month in to going from 17h to FT. Kept going for a few years but lost the job due to multiple absences and haven’t worked out of the home since (bit of tutoring etc). I’m feeling ready to look for something (the studying I’m doing is the very first step) but I am definitely not attempting FT.

Cagletini is 2y10m by the way :) I am a bit sad that she’s finally happy with water and I can’t take her to the pool! Plenty of years ahead for all that though.

Looking forward to dinner and hoping the Caglets sleep better tonight, DH has felt pretty rough today which is always a bit stressful.

Asda sell coloured foam soap £2 and bath crayons £3 sing

meg I'm not a teacher, but sorry, I can't go into detail, as I'm a bit fragile atm, and RL has left me with a lot of trust issues. There are two much-loved LOs in our lives, at primary school.

Less like flying, and more like belly-flopping this week. Nevertheless, there's still the vestiges of a routine in place. And everything is slightly tidier all the time, which is weird. I get less and less tolerant of mess, and more and more likely to pick up after myself automatically.

Does anyone else take ages to make an online shopping list, eg for tesco? I spent an hour on it this afternoon, but I used to drift around the store twice a week sometimes, and pop in about three more times for meal deals and extras. Maybe an hour spent on a list isn't so bad. And dealing with a large delivery is down to a fine art now.

Is that why tesco has a message on its page asking ppl to go back to the store instead, so that we spend more?

Ooh thanks that! I’m so tempted to buy lots of bath toys TBH - all the nice things I didn’t bother with because it was pointless when she was screaming too much to play!

Tidy I’m sure they had a saved basket function before, where you could save particular items and just add them all at once each time (and then delete anything not needed) but they don’t seem to have that anymore :( you can save the written list but you’d still have to go through each item and it’s probably quicker just to add from favourites/usual items. I’m trying to think of ways to keep it as quick as possible even if it means I miss the odd special offer. TBH most stuff we buy is own brand anyway.

Up glad you got your day to yourself today!

Oh hang on I’m a muppet. Is this what you meant?

Note the last time I was organised... 😳

Naff all done today except
🐶 S&S
🐶LOL
🐶 few dishes

We did get the new oven though and went to the beach with DC and the newest member of our family. I've attached a photo but he's a bit camera shy so it's not brill.

Awwww double so cute! 😍 How lovely 😊 🐶

Still waiting for DS to finish screen time so he can shower and have his hair sorted 🙄 and then have some more antihistamine, DH got some of the liquid stuff in town as he struggled with tablets (previous piriton bottle expired in April 😳)