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! 🍒👋

Good evening! We've been out shopping today, bought DH more clothes and DD some school shoes and trainers. It was nice to be out and about as a group again, and we even got to eat lunch out of the house - I haven't had food that hasn't been home-cooked (for DH's diet really) for months!

zoo those roses are gorgeous. Sorry you are feeling so emotional at the moment, don't forget to look after yourself as well as everyone else.

Favourite furniture - after lockdown, our dining table and chairs might be in the running. Only a few years old but it has been so well-used for everything during lockdown.

Not done much flying today but can catch up tomorrow I am shattered, haven't walked that much in ages but it was so nice to be out.

Zoo I’d go for more crying personally, I always think a good cry helps but I give myself a time limit and attempt to put my big girl pants on when I reach it.

Enjoy your few days away Hazel, sounds lovely.

Meg the planners haven’t gone up that much and it says a couple of weeks for delivery, but it’s enough to put me off. Amazon suggested Clever Fox ones that look very similar.

KCC- I have three. Huge mirror above the fireplace which is made from driftwood and various bits of reclaimed metal work, and the matching TV unit by the same local very clever bloke. The third is an antique set of drawers which has been painted white and shabby-chiced (well, so not by me) which MIL bought us for DD’s room when she was born. It is massive. I’ve got almost all of her old clothes stored in it just in case (we are still undecided about having another), and the bottom drawer is so big it has a spare king size duvet in as well as pillows and bedding.

The lazy morning continued but it brightened up in the afternoon so we managed a walk. I was hit with a random burst of productivity when DH got home so have a much better ta da list than I expected (woohoo! )

✅ went through DD’s wardrobe and got her to try everything on for size. Summer things hung on one side (ready to be plonked in a drawer for next year/future mini ups/donation/selling once the weather turns colder). Last year’s winter stuff also checked and was pleasantly surprised that lots of the jumpers, tops and dresses still fit .
✅ ordered a load of basics that she’ll need, mainly trousers. She’s a nightmare with anything like leggings as she hates them being tight but hopefully I’ve found some bits she’ll wear. Should just be shoes, wellies and probably a coat to get.
✅ thorough tidy of downstairs. DD’s toys have slowly been infiltrating everywhere but I feel it’s back under control
✅ downstairs hoovered and mopped
✅ dining table wiped down
✅ DH successfully nagged to remove pile of his crap from dining table
✅ dining room sideboard dusted and hotspot cleared
✅ patio doors cleaned
✅ kitchen and dishes sorted after DH cooked salmon risotto
✅ breakfast and lunch sorted for work tomorrow
✅ clean laundry put away
✅ tidied DD’s room before bed with her help

About to go up to bed now and just have the cushions etc to plump up. Must remember to set my alarm for going back to work tomorrow. Yak.

ta da
🍏assignment at various points through the day - managed to submit it
🍎played with Cagletini
🍏sorted all the odd socks, got rid of some
🍎bath, defrost, moisturise
🍏properly cleaned all the fiddly bits on my glasses. Euwww. Remind me in future to get ones with moulded nose pieces and not separate ones?
🍎exercise bike (really should’ve done that before the bath)
🍏DLMS when the system hadn’t saved part of my answer right before I was trying to leave
🍎fast walk to the cinema
🍏booked next week’s yoga and reminded friend so we both got a space (they book up super fast now as only 16 spaces)

Ooh mc what type of music do you play? I have just fallen out of the habit, I’ve found it hard in lockdown as I got self conscious in case neighbours were home and I disturbed them! I like classical like Beethoven and Chopin mostly but tend to stick to more modern stuff when I barely play as I can’t concentrate so much. Mine isn’t at concert pitch either - it wasn’t even when I acquired it 23 years ago! And it’s gone downhill TBH, I think it will need replacing which is sad because it’s been with me so long.

Stressy definitely approve of the kallax choice, they are great! We have various size ones all over the place.

I had such a lovely evening. Quick dinner with friends and then we saw the film, it was a film of the most recent Muse tour and I felt old as there were older teens there watching and I thought jeez I’ve been listening to Muse since before you were born 😂

Must go to sleep now as it’s yoga in the morning but I’m getting a lift so don’t need to be up quite so early yay!

We had a nice day today, the rain held off until about 7. So I took the DC and the dogs to the country park. My bump is really starting to show now and I had quite a few funny looks (considering I look about 15, with 3 DC, 2 dogs and clearly pregnant I don’t blame them😂). The dogs got really muddy so we’re showered when we got home. DFIL called and apologised for his behaviour (no doubt prompted by DSMIL), he said he was just joking but he understands it came across bad. I sternly told him it wasn’t very funny and it has upset DH and I, and reminded him that we are very happy with our 4 boys. He seems fine now though so we can move on!.

sing we only had our for exams, went to school in the early 00’s so had them big desks but I always felt very cool with the old desks. The boys love reading on the desk, DH didn’t want it because he thought it would be haunted (though he swears he doesn’t believe in ghosts😂)

Thank you mc❤️

zoo there’s an Aldi and asda next door to each other by me!. I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling so emotional, sending hugs your way xx

Well done on the assignment work sing!

foxes DH did that thing where you don’t eat after a certain time. Good luck with it!

hazel that’s rubbish about the customers! When I was in uni I did some cleaning for a shop and some of the customers were just so disrespectful. It’s made me a lot more considerate. And thank you about IL’s❤️

meg can I come and live in your house please? It sounds gorgeous!

Ta da
✅Made beds
✅Dressed DC and I (DS1 dressed himself)
✅S&S
✅Fed and watered animals
✅Fed and watered my DC and DH
✅LOL
✅Saw DH off to work
✅Went through DS1’s school booklet
✅Did 30 mins of educational activities with DC
✅Put film of for DC
✅Cleaned hotspots in bathroom
✅Cleared out spare room
✅Made lunch
✅Washed up from lunch and breakfast
✅Put washing on airer to dry
✅Walked DC and Ddogs to park
✅Washed DDogs
✅Did 30 mins educational activities
✅Cleared out chickens
✅Mopped dirty kitchen floor
✅Prepped dinner
✅Saw DH home
✅Ironed and put away clothes
✅Served dinner
✅DH washed your from dinner
✅Bathed DC
✅Put DC to bed
✅Tidied living room
✅Showered

I also found this on Instagram which I think some of us need to remember right now!

Zone - bathroom and one other.

The bathroom is reasonably clean, as I wipe down fixtures and fittings morning and evening as part of new normal.

Shelves of basic toiletries are neat and tidy.

Peeling paint above door - must find ladder and brush to scrape with.

One other - kitchen is ongoing challenge, utility piling up again, garage needs gutting. Plodding along withese areas as and when there's time.

Our utility room is awful. Garage was cleared at weekend.

all round

My fave piece of furniture is my bed. Because. Sleep ❤

that sleep what is this mythical thing you speak of??

Tada
Wash load one done,dry put away
2nd in drier
Fed cats
Lav harpicked
Poo picked littertrays
Sorted cupboard understairs

Started touch up kitchen-it went very very pale grey from white and only when lights not really bright can I see glaring obvs bits I've missed as a)blind as bat even with glasses.b)stupid stiff limbs mean hard to twist into award spots/minimise up down ladder which hurts hips

About fix brekkie,then touch up continues

Ta da

❤ dryer emptied
💙 slightly damp washing from airer into dryer
🧡 dryer emptied
💜 last nights wash into dryer
💚 me and dcs all up and fed
💛 dc5 changed, dressed and down for nap
❤ had a quick bath

That how could I forget about my bed! I second that especially at the moment. It was my second eBay purchase. It is an 1880s black wrought iron with brass knobs and a brass rail. I have a memory foam mattress on it. It suits the house as it is a 1850s stone cottage. I wanted a bed like this ever since I was 17 and saw one in a friend’s antique shop and flat. It was their bed actually.

Glad to hear about others car journeys. I often went with BF and the kids used to comment about mystery tours as we would go down roads just because we hadn’t been before.🤣 I am missing her company. We went through the child rearing years when our eldest were 7/8 and we had three boys each. Her three are one year younger than mine. She looked after DD when I was at college so she is treated a bit like a sister by all of them. Her boys often ask after her especially her middle one. Which is funny as my middle one and DD don’t get on much and he rarely asks after her and she is the same! Kids!

Sing I do think you are asking some very interesting questions for KCC. Well done for getting the assignment in.

Zoo You have been doing a lot of extra this week with all the painting. Try not to go at such a pace today. I think you are probably over tired. The not sleeping doesn’t help but try and lie down in the afternoon with a book at least you are resting then.
I was very weepy a fortnight ago. I think it might be a sign of the times too Zoo.

I got most of the things done yesterday. The ironing took ages but I have discovered the rinsed out Method spray bottle is excellent for ironing.

Right better crack on.

bower if I lay down at any time I am asleep in under 2minutes,often under 1(zoolets find funny to time me).I always say wake me in 20 minutes tho.any longer leaves me even more tired and groggy!chronic sleep deprivation is not fun

Tada

I shoild also add we are "high cause for concern" area re covid.cases are rocketing herand we are currently not allowed meet outside our bubbles indoors without masks,no car sharing,limits on numbers of different households meet in public places.i will be surprised if this isn't tightened by end week in which case going dentist may not be an option we can have?

I need to catch up on the thread, hidden under the decorating whilst filling in the job app and wrangling the children. Thanks TheUpholder, it's true it's a balance between what works now with little children and the future. I decided to apply and see what happens.

Struggling with the cleaning, tidying and decluttering, there's not enough time for both.

Hi folks sorry I didn’t get the post done before yoga. Then we had DD1’s support meeting which was lovely and motivating! I’ve been a bit distracted too because my friend sent me a job that she reckons I should apply for and OMFG she may be right... maybe... aaaaaargh scary!!!

🧘🏻🧘🏻🧘🏻🧘🏻🧘🏻
Happy Tuesday folks. Planning day which certainly fits here with the meeting we just had! Remember we are in the bathroom zone plus one other room :o

KCC inspired by today’s meeting/the daily focus and shamelessly piggybacking the recent planner discussion, What is the nicest planner or calendar you’ve ever had? And what would your dream one be like?

We started using nice diaries for a while although we’ve had the odd year we haven’t bothered and of course this year’s diary has languished on the shelves a lot! It’s a fact of the day diary but it has a pretty green cover and I like reading the random trivia (did you know for example that croquet was dropped from the olympics after 1900 when only one person showed up to watch? 😂).

We had a free RHS diary from the book people for 2011 and although I’m not plant mad (sorry 😳) I did realise how much nicer it was to use a really lovely quality diary instead of a cheapie that fell apart and didn’t really make me want to use it. So I try and get nice ones now - sometimes from galleries like I had a Tate one once.

Dream planner - I would loooove to have a big one on the wall that was attached properly (we’ve tried cheap small whiteboards but they never last) and forming some kind of control centre I guess. Big, bright and full of our life stuff!

I’m in soft play! The one near us has just reopened so me and a friend have come with our DC. It’s absolutely brill, something I never thought I’d say about soft play. We had to book and we get 90 mins. Was really cheap too! Am chuffed.

I wish I had a utility room! I always wanted one as a kid lol, I’d like a bigger kitchen really. It was fine when it was just Me, DH and DS1 and DS2, but it needs to be a bit bigger now with the amount of prep for people. It’s liveable though.

It’s lovely to hear about everyone’s homes, it’s making me very jealous.

zoo sorry the DC are worried about the dentist, I used to love it as a kid but now I’m older and there’s a possibility I’ll actually need something done it scares me.

sing that’s great about the meeting! And the job!.

KCC my favourite diary is probably a Christmas planner I have, it’s just gorgeous!.

www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Organiser-by-Rachel-Ellen/dp/B0732Z1N92/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=christmas+planner&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1597759740&sr=8-3 This is it meg, it’s brill. Lasts 5 years, has a pocket for you to put any spare things in. A place for receipts so you don’t forget anything. A Christmas card list, a list of presents and thank you letters. It’s great

:o at pockets meg

DD1’s support worker and I were comparing notes on laminators and comb binders today. DH was
😂

Going to phone the organisation tomorrow about the job - absolutely terrified to be honest, but I need to find out in a general way about locations and travel requirements etc.

Just watching more of The Middle and we have got to the episode called Spring Cleaning... so funny and relatable 😳 DS is also watching and has spontaneously decided to clear up the duplo 😂

Sing I fancy myself as baroque player, but in the reality it's the romantic stuff that comes out better for me. Lately I am getting into Boogie Woogie but I've never dabbled in jazz before, so it's pretty painful to listen to at the moment 😂
Good luck with the phone call tomorrow! I used to dread making phone calls before, but I ended up forcing myself on purpose and now got desensitized completely to the point where it doesn't bother me anymore.
Howl now, that looks good. Christmas planner.. (I can't believe I am saying C word in August).
Alex sounds like you have your hands full.

Ta Da for today:

• S&S kitchen
• not made a mess

Need to crack on with the spare room, which is currently a dumping ground for baby stuff. May need to start washing/organising it.

Also, carpets and hair drive me nuts! We have quite an aged cream carpet in the bedroom, and regularly I have to run a rubber brush over it to get all the pesky hair (mine... 🙄) and then hoover, otherwise hoover just doesn't pick up all of it. So I've done it yesterday, it looked good, but today I can see those hairs on the carpet again! So frustrating! And I am not going bold (I think). What do you, gals, do to get rid of hair from the carpet?

Good luck for tomorrow sing the job sounds ace!

mc it’s great! Has really helped me plan for Christmas. I don’t forget anything now. I’ve been planning since July. Don’t have much else to do though!. I can’t help you with the hair, I just hoover and pray it’s out!

I’ve already shared on another group I’m on, but I got the boys’ school labels sorted today and wanted to show everyone (have scribbled our surname). But they’re so cool! DH thinks I’m nutty when I sent him a pic earlier so thought you might appreciate then

Howl love love love the labels!

Howl Glad your ILs apologised after being so rude!
Sing Good luck with your course and job.

I will get back to flylady tomorrow, I promise

I meant to catch up properly and I keep forgetting the comments I meant to reply to sorry 😳 I’m a bit frazzled. DH had a nightmare at the hospital due to a mix up with appointments but he got his MRI in the end.

Howl well done for being so assertive with FIL!

Love hearing about everyone’s furniture and the piano music mc 💕

Nope I have forgotten the rest sorry. 🤦‍♀️

I doubt I’ll be sleeping for a while but I am definitely not going to be productive any more today. Toddler also had a late nap (she’s mostly dropped them lately) and I can hear her giggling and shouting about boobies 🙄😂

ta da
🧘🏻1.5h gentle yoga class (lovely again)
🧘🏻Quick shower and changed ready for support worker visit which required loads of thinking
🧘🏻Investigated job possibility/discussed with DH
🧘🏻Homestart phonecall
🧘🏻1hr of FL course

Zero housework again 😳

Soft play was great today! It was really nice to see the DC have some fun. And it was really quiet and ran very well. Will definitely go again before school starts.

Thank you mc!

Thank you alex!

Thanks sing! I felt like a proper mama bear when I did it😂 Nobody says my baby’s boring! Cagletini is so funny!

ta da
Made beds
Got kids and myself dressed
S&S
Fed animals
Fed humans
Saw DH off to work
LOL
Hung out washing
Did 30 mins of activities with DC
Went through DS1’s school book
Ordered school supplies
Made a list of things needed for bathroom
Made a list of things needed to be packed for holiday
Cleared out spare room
Made snacks
Washed up from breakfast
Brought washing in
Ironed
Put washing away
Went to soft play
15 mins of exercise with DC
Cleared hotspots
Prepped tea
Took DC and dogs to the park
Saw DH home
Served tea
DH washes up
Read with DC
Bathed DC
Put DC to bed
Tidied up toys
DH washed up
Played with dogs
Cleared away living room
Cleared dining room
Showered

zoo I might have dozed off that quickly this afternoon on sofa upright🤣 I had to take medication to get mine back into a pattern. I am on them again but for stress now and 5x the dose I had before. GP said no one can function properly on so little sleep but I felt I was actually really on the ball at work. Needed a nap at 5pm when I got home likewise 20 mis was enough. I was sent to EnT specialist GP and he thought I might have sleep apnoea. Might be a thought Zoo.

Howl love the Christmas one. I have had one for years. I bought one for a friend who loves being organised and bought two for myself. They weren’t dated and were for five years so I have nearly finished book two so I might have buy one of those but I might need the Wrendale one and I am needing new oven gloves soon and I was thinking I might chuck the old teatowels so might need the hare and owl tea towels. I don’t buy anything on Amazon but DH has an account. Looking at those makes me think I might be missing out.
Lovely names. I have taught two Levi’s they were at school at the same time both have a hyphenated first name. I had two at Crèche once both cousins.

KCC - diary. My sister used to send me one from Australia then it became too expensive. I have had a couple of Country Living ones which are beautiful and an RHS one which I loved.Sis also sent me a Steve Parish calendar several times which are amazing. DD sent one this year which has lovely animal prints in it.

TA Das today
Washed up.
Kitchen corner tidied and vacuumed after using feather duster down the sides of the book case.
LOL
Vacuumed kitchen.
Tidied basket of toiletries so only the ones open are out to be used up and the rest went into the laundry box where I keep spares, holiday toiletry bag and hospital toiletry bag.
Sorted through a basket and bagged up some towels and clothes for charity shop. Found two or DDs so will put them with her “stuff.”
Decluttered basket.
Vacuumed through.
Went through medical drawers and chucked some.

My ‘other room’ is the dining room that I didn’t finish. It is looking possible this week.