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! 🍒👋

In July i am proud that i ...... did not resort to murder

Welcome Mc! Lovely to have a new fledgling and well done on the exercise too! Congrats on your pregnancy, is this your first?

Surviving and/or not killing anyone are definitely things to be proud of. At all times, TBH, let alone during a pandemic!

I should really go and find something productive to do, or I’ll end up sitting around during the FA cup that I really don’t give a fig about (sorry DH) and will also end up eating the snacks! Going to hand over the iPad so DS can do his online learning stuff to earn more screen time, so I really have no excuse. Yesterday was very unproductive so I need to crack on.

zoo beautiful cat! I think all furry creatures are hardwired to pinch seats when their owners get up, like they are claiming their spot.

Ta Das so far today:

🌡Cleaned washing machine (DH showed me it wasn't spinning right last night, figured I'd try to clean it)

🌡Hosed down front of house (metal siding) it gets dirty but also figured I'd try to see if that helps keep the house cooler in this heat.

🌡Watering front garden.

🌡Cleaned living room windows (in the front, by the front door)

🌡Had DS sweep under couch.

🌡Cleaned front door and screen door/ windows.

🌡Cleaned back door and screen door/ windows.

🌡Made DH breakfast (that was actually first but forgot!)

🌡LOL - towels.

🌡Watered outside plants.

🌡Wiped down bin in kitchen.

🌡Cooked bacon under grill before it started getting hot.

It's now 10:30am. DD got the job and has training to do today so I'll be leaving to drop her off. I do still need to put an order in for grocery pick up soon or I'll have to actually go inside which I don't want to do.

I'll catch back up in a little bit.

Hi all! Late 1 2day. Felt a bit gloomy about lockdown and my stepdad said he’d take us out 2 cheer us up so we went 4 a drive and 2 a cafe. Sat outside socially distanced and hands sanitised but me and my boys had sausage and egg sandwich and I had a cup of tea. I know the ppl who run the cafe have known them from when I lived in the same site as them when I was little they’ve never met my boys but couldn’t believe I had children lol :). Was luvly 2 c everyone and although I shouldn’t be at a cafe rly I made sure everything was safe so I’m not worried. We also went 2 stourport 2 the river and the rides and stuff were open but we didn’t go on them just had a picnic on the grass. Feel so much better 4 it 2day.

Thank u 2 bower and upholder I feel better knowing that about the jab. Hopefully the boys should be okay then. U know urself having asthma (or if ur kids have jt u second guess everything) sry 4 lack of other personals have a bit of a headache

KCC I’m proud 4 keeping sane and staying strong 4 the boys. I didn’t think I was gonna most days but I got thru it!.

ta da
❤️Logan awake at 6. 1 hour with him
🧡Woke up Sullivan
💛Gave Sullivan his milk
💚asthma and eczema routine
💙Breakfast made (scrambled eggs and soldiers)
💜Got dressed
❤️Got boys dressed
🧡Brushed teeth
💛Made beds
💚S&S
💙Washed up
💜Dried
❤️Put away
🧡LOL
💛Laundry out to dry
💚Ironed
💙Made picnic lunch (rice pudding, carrot pancakes wiv soft cheese and cherry toms, grapes, breadsticks and cheese)
💜Put Sullivan down 4 nap
❤️Logan did fly kids challenge
🧡Exercise
💛Gave Sullivan his milk
💚Drank Sum water from my bottle
💙Planned dinner
💜Decluttered
❤️Sorted out my hotspot
🧡Left 4 cafe
💛Had lunch (sausage and egg sandwich)
💚Family fun day
💙Had picnic
💜Got McDonalds on way home for tea

I’ve done a bit of tidying so far. Finally put all the tuff tray stuff in the new bigger box and it fits just right (but will that dissuade me from buying more...?) and a little BRC sorting, am merely dabbling though. Need to put a wash on and continue.

Princes that is really something to be proud of 💜

Hazel well done to your DD!

It’s an hour since I posted and I’ve not moved 😳😳😳 right, I AM going to go and put a wash on, then try my new (gentle) weight training routine in full for the first time. Much as I should be doing more tidying I clearly CBA 😳 #badhostess

@Sing yep, 27 weeks with my first. Terrifying and exciting times ahead 😆

Those are some impressive Ta Da lists!

My Ta Da so far:
🎉 LOL - Darks load (even dry too!)
🎉Deep clean of the kitchen - DH is great at making a mess. Started off as a quick clean, but couldn't stop until all was sorted 🥴
🎉Hallway hoovered and tidy

2Princes I might be wrong but I imagine you as a young mum. I was a young mum with DS1&2 not so young with DS3 and 35 when I had DD. I would just like to say I think you are doing an amazing job with your boys on your own during lockdown and now. You’ve decorated some of the house and their bedroom and you give them lovely food to eat. DH is going to try the sardine and 🥑 avocado!

Hazel thanks I am feeling more like myself. Still a little bit tired but otherwise fine. BF had it worse and said she didn’t feel right for a week. We hadn’t seen each other or her grandsons who also had it. Weird. We had flyscreens when I was a child on the windows too. Do you live in a town, city or country? I am quite interested in the differences. We have a New Yorker in our village and her brothers are here at the moment.

Welcome Mc we love having a new baby on the thread.

Great news about the paint Zoo not so good about ungrateful teenager.

July. Hmm. Not LMS with DH. He always leaves his chair out. I have asked him not to but he just ignores me. It is one of the heavier chairs( meant to swap it when he was out) and leaves the top of the canister of tea bags ...every bloody day! Left his plate and cup in the sitting room on the floor after brunch. I thought about Zoo and SC and the teens ...I have a recycled one here.
Getting as much painting done as I have. Learning how to upload photos on here ( thank you Sing) and trying out new recipes.

Not many TaDas today.

S&S
Looked for a bag for about 30 mins. Found it as I was about to give up. It didn’t help that I couldn’t remember what the bag looked like. It had toothpaste and shampoo and conditioner.
Had a lovely, long, hot shower and washed and conditioner my hair.
To newbies I was without a shower or bath for 5 months due to lockdown. It had been taken out just before. I had a bowl.
Quick tidy of sitting room was all that was needed.
Wipe down kitchen cupboards.
Helped DH make bacon and egg sarnies. Ate it.
Wipe cornice on cupboards.
Re organise a few things.
Fed hens.
Wipe worktop and move plant pots. I was going to buy some indoor plants but I haven’t wanted to risk Dobbies.
Washed up
Wiped Everhot.
Made a coffee cake.
Washed up
Picked pounds of black currants. DH joined me later so now we have four bowls full and the box picker so probably about 8 lb I have to think about what to do with them.

Need to go and make TEA. Lying on bed after picking loads of black currants and then we had late afternoon tea of tea and cake and a cryptic crossword. DH watching football.

There is salad made and I cooked the last three new potatoes this morning. I only have to throw the chicken in the pan for a short time so might make fritter chips with some spices.
Need to take something out of the freezer for tomorrow.

Right cherry 🍒 👋 to everyone.

Oh can I just say I never expect people to list me in personals. There are quite a few more people now so it is hard to remember everyone.
It was lovely while I was feeling poorly though😁

Oh thank u sing and gud luck wiv ur exercise!

How exciting mc do u know what ur having?

bower that’s made me cry! Yes I am a young mum (was 16 when I had Logan) and I’ve always wanted 2 be more than just a stereotypical young mum. Thank u so much 4 ur words it means so much 2 me I always doubt myself but that means a lot. I just want 2 do right by my boys. I hope ur DH enjoys sardine and avocado it is an acquired taste but we rly enjoy it :) well dun 4 not losing ur shit wiv him

❤️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 sink
💙Put away kids toys
💜Straightened our blankets and pillows on sofa

Hello everyone! Hoping to be better on this thread than I was last month. Thank you for excellent thread leading Upholder . Love the new name!

Thanks for new thread Sing .

Welcome to newbies .

Loved the cat picture zoo .

In July I am proud that we finally got some furniture for a neglected room. It still needs new flooring but that will have to be another time.

Well done to your DD Hazel.

Love the sewing area meg.

Lane, I have Disney Plus and Onward is not on mine.

Evening all,

Princes - I'm old enough to be your mum and am so impressed with how you cope with two little ones by yourself too, your love for your boys shines through your posts. Glad you had a nice day out, DH took i
us to Stourport for the first time last summer (he's from Birmingham so its not too far from where he grew up but I'm not). We had a lovely day out there.

Bower - I may need to pick your brain at some point. We are hoping to do our kitchen next year and I am so tempted by the Everhots (which I had never heard of till you got yours). But they are very different to our current knackered gas cooker.

Sing - you have done well on the activity. My proud moment is that on Thursday I finally managed to finish something that's been on my to do list at work for 2.5 years . I have been plugging away at it on and off but just couldn't see how to make it all work till about a month ago when I had a lightbulb moment and it all fell into place.

Tomorrow I am hoping for my first lie in for months. I have been working on Sumdays bit no longer need to (I get up early on Sat to help DS sort his newspaper round and in weekdays because it seems wrong to lie in on them even on my days off. I will have to work one more day in the week now though, swings and roundabouts.

Tada!
Paper round prep.
Took DS to work (he has just started another part time job)
Went for coffee at a shop I haven't been to since the start of March and sat in the sunshine with my bullet journal, bliss.
Home via allotment (watering necessary after mine heatwave yesterday).
Lunch
Bit of tidying
Bit of paperwork
Picked DS up again
More paperwork
Sorted litter trays
Sniffed out dead sparrow hidden in a corner of the kitchen bloody cats
Got DH to remove said sparrow
Went to town for haircut (clocked up 10k steps)
Met friend and chatted
Home for dinner in the garden
Zoom meeting about swimming club
Menu planning / finalising click and collect
A bit of holiday planning
Bed

Just remembered, Zoo - I liked seeing your geraniums the other day, I've got mine on the patio table, here's a photo but I had just deadheaded them so not many flowers. Thank you for the Ikea mention, I need to order a wardrobe for DS and you have reminded me.

Bower That shower must have felt like bliss! 5 month without shower. Wow. I take my hat off to you.

Princess I am having a boy. I did not have the patience to wait until labour to find out the sex 😆

Jigolo I am hoping to get something established by the time the little one makes an appearance. And then will have to learn how to do it all with a baby 😬

We switched to Lidl a while ago, significantly cheaper and quality is pretty good.

Now sitting on the sofa watching a movie with DH. If anyone is into French films, Indochine is good, rewatching it tonight.

Evening all. Stressed out this evening and only a short list and not in order
ta da
🥾got DD1 to do laundry
👢LOL
🥾tried workout
👢tiny bit of decluttering
🥾put away a few things
👢edited tesco shop
🥾booked lunch for me and two friends on Monday YAY!
👢looked at wardrobes on Ikea sale
🥾gathered tuff tray stuff into new box
Night all x

Oh and
👢somehow DLMS 🙄

Welcome Mc and any newbies I missed last month!

I think I recognise the name changers, but quite happy to blank anyone looking for anonymity

Not much flying but had a nice day. Did a bit of shopping and a LOL, as it is the habit for this month. If only I put it all away instead of creating the clean laundry mountain/ironing pile! DH heading back to work shortly (only one day per week) so ironing will have to recommence.

Sleep well fledglings!

MC welcome.
Princes you're doing a great job!age doesn't define capability of parenting
Bower arf at recycled teenager!
Ed does deadheading geraniums equal more flowers?(new to this gardening malarkey)

Not a great day yesterday.zooletswere bloody hard work

Morning! I am still in bed, sprawled out because DD SLEPT IN HER OWN BED ALL NIGHT! I had to stick my head in to check she was still breathing. Then she came in around half an hour ago to say she needed a wee, went herself, and climbed back into her own bed! I’ve been excited for this for so long... and now miss her and want a cuddle

Welcome Mc. You’ve got a good stretch to get some good routines in order. I waited until DD was here to sort my shit out and wished I’d started earlier.

Hope today is better for you Zoo, some self care sounds just what you need.

Bower my DH also leaves his chair out. Drives me mad.

Hazel well done to your DD.

Chic yak at recommemcement of ironing.

Hope you’re enjoying your long awaited lie in ED

Meg your ‘not much to report’ list reveals there were actually lots of ta das to report again . Hope you’ve had some time to enjoy your lovely new sewing space.

Princes I’m another one who thinks you’re doing a fab job.

Too well done on sorting the new furniture. I have two rooms that need new furniture and also some extra storage for the hall and living room. I’ve been putting it off for a while as a) it’s an effort to make decisions and b) there’s other things to spend money on plus we are trying to build up savings in case of job loss for DH in the predicted recession. (He thinks not but I’m more cautious).

Sing sorry yesterday wasn’t great, but hey, you have DLMS on the ta da list so it could have gone worse

Can’t scroll back any further but waves to Lisette, SC, Foxes, Tidy, Merry, Marta, Dancing, That and Chins

KCC - I’m proud of getting back on track with my weight loss (albeit slower than I’d like).

Yesterday’s ta das:

✅ 2 LOLs dried
✅ bit of ironing
✅ downstairs dusted, hoovered and mopped
✅ pulled out both sofas to mop and hoover underneath
✅ cleaned living room window and TV
✅ delivered birthday present
✅ pulled a few weeds from gravel in front garden

We had a lovely lunch out with PIL. It turned a bit drizzly when they took DD for tea so we stayed at home and had a g&t and a pizza while we had peace. Kitchen was tidy at bedtime (as we had done no cooking ) and the living room was ok, however upstairs is a bit of a bomb site with DD’s toys.

Today’s plans:
📌 dressed and out for an early walk - it gets ridiculously busy where we are on a Sunday in the schools hols
📌 sort out upstairs
📌 bit more ironing
📌 cook a roast
📌 phone calls to various family members
📌 usual Sunday planning/prepping of stuff for work and nursery, plus end of week/month journal planning/reflecting and some planning with DH regarding the rest of summer which we didn’t manage yesterday despite having plenty of time to think about it.
📌 a bath and some self care tonight while DH does bed time tonight.

An LOL a day is already a well established habit for me, so my focus for August is going to be a better evening routine. I’m hit and miss with the sink shining but other than cleaning my teeth and I normally just fall into bed. I need a better skin care routine, and earlier night.

Have a great Sunday fledglings 🍒 👋

Welcome mc congratulations on your little one, it's so exciting when other people have babies!

bower I live in a town. I really want to move just outside of town though, in the country. I want chickens, DH said he wants a couple of cows 🤣😳 but realistically I don't think we can afford what we need right now 😔

A few more ta das from today before I go to sleep (almost 1am here):

😴 2 more LOLs.

😴 Grocery pick up order placed and later picked up.

😴 Made DC complete all chores they didn't do throughout the week.

😴 Accidentally made DS cry when he thought I was telling him he wasn't doing a good enough job mopping (I just said make sure you do a good job) broke my heart, I felt bad as that wasn't what I meant.

😴 got dinner prepared for DH to barbeque the hamburgers (I make my own patties ready to cook, and today I stuffed them with cheese.

😴 Relaxed this evening with everyone and enjoyed a few drinks with MIL. I didn't make them strong tonight so I'm not drunk, thank goodness.

Right, I'm dozing off so I'm going to bed. I'll catch up better tomorrow, I hope.

Still in bed but have been awake since 6.30. I feel rested though, my sleep routines have actually improved through lockdown, having the alarm go off at 7 every day of the week instead of 6.45 on weekdays, 7.30 on Saturdays and none on Sundays has been beneficial.

Zoo - yes, deadheading benefits all flowering plants, it isn't really possible on things covered in small flowers but with single stemmed flowers definitely do it. The whole purpose of the plant in nature is to produce seed and ultimately more plants, so once it has flowered it puts all its energy into the seed pod. If you deadhead that stops it and it has to rewind and produce more flowers to try again.

ed thans for explaining.will deffo add that to my lists for this week,I want them flowering as much and as long as possible!
Up whoo hoo on a bed to yourself
Hazel well done getting the delegated chores done!

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Bleach lav
Quick tidy front room
Sort two brc
Paint 1/3 of kitchen

Stopping for a little break as joints are not happy me climbing on and off a chair mixed excess walking yesterday as dd2 was fractious..

Hi Up,
Thats great news your little one stayed in her own bed! Its a great achievement!

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Morning all! I nearly put something about Monday 😳 but no, it’s Sunday. We have an unusual start to the month in that we now have a full week of zone 1! So we will all have shiny sparkly hallways and dining rooms by Saturday. Ahem.

Focus of the day is renewing your spirit so make sure you do something nice for yourself!

KCC - another hopefully positive question: What are you looking forward to this month?

I’m excited to grab a few slices of normality in this bizarre new world we find ourselves in. I have lunch booked with two of my best friends tomorrow, I’ve only seen them each properly once. This month I’ll be trying the gym, maybe the pool (not too keen on lanes), and some new exercise equipment is coming to use at home :o (never did I think I’d be excited about that!). I might have a couple of days at my parents’ (which I’m mainly excited about because it gives me a break from being mum!) and I’m hoping to see a film or two at the cinema before masks are compulsory there too. We may get our new wardrobe too :o

I’m quite grateful there are a fair few things there. Isn’t it funny how many of those things I’d have completely taken for granted in the past?! I’m also hoping to sit down as a family and actually plan some nice trips that can be managed under current circumstances. This is something we weren’t very good at before lockdown either so it’s challenging but we need to make an effort!

Anyway I’m off to laze for a bit longer because it’s Sunday!
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆