Swooping into September - Flylady fledglings assemble!

[MogTheSleepyCat]

First of all, a big thank you to SingToTheSky for leading us through the August thread, (you can park your mop and hang up your duster now)

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chatter along the way.

The FlyLady link is here . Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead.

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around again next month.

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with marketing nonsense. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• reinforce baby steps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
• And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the baby steps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

SingToTheSky put together a 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!

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.

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

ta da
⏰booked and paid for dance
⏱pretty much finalised plan for the week
⏰phoned college
⏱started notes for how HE may work if we end up back there with DD1
⏰home ed with DS
⏱shower/defrost
⏰paired learning with DS’ bestie
⏱various emails and messages to find out stuff
⏰booked next week’s yoga
⏱booked DS onto taekwondo for Wednesday
⏰arranged phone call with work advisor
⏱stressed a lot (still in progress 🙄)

So much has gone on the last few days on the thread! I thought I was caught up several times 😆 🤣 I was mistaken!

won welcome, please come back!
whirl welcome to the friendliest corner of MN.
zoo good to see you back again. Sorry you've had such a hard time lately. If you get your DC to clear their floors and keep them that way please tell me how - DD is being awful right now with leaving her clothes on the floor, and says they are clean 😒
bower how's your shoulder doing? Is DH in the good books yet? Your poor DS as well, so glad no one got hurt.

wellies good job on utilizing leftovers. I usually plan my weekly meals around leftovers, and things that can be used in multiple dishes.
Sorry to hear that many of you are having to self isolate and go through testing.
🍒👋 to everyone I've missed (I know there's a lot of you)

Ta Das from the weekend:
Saturday
🐳 Drained, cleaned and put away swimming pool (took all day to drain!)
🐳 Pulled weeds in back garden while pool was draining
🐳 Removed cat poo from front garden flower bed, added sticks and coffee grounds (discovered cat used it that night after all that so had sticks sticking out of the ground, haven't checked it since)
🐳 Cleaned all the foam padding we use under the pool, set them out to dry
🐳 Made dessert "low carb" apple crumble (since apples are high in carbs) with help from ILs
Sunday
🧽 Put the foam padding away
🧽 3 LOLs
🧽 Pulled some more weeds from front of house, decided we'll need to burn them when restrictions are lifted
🧽 Bought said torch to burn weeds
🧽 Finally did gel on my nails!

ILs tree is coming along, their house is so much brighter with it gone. Today I shooed the neighbour's chicken out of their garden since the fence is down while I was there for lunch. They are making plans for their garden now they have a bunch of space and it changed the dynamic of everything.

I did also manage to take stuff out to our camp trailer yesterday that needed to go out there. DH also sorted through some boxes a couple days ago since it's computer related (that's his domain).
I did want to throw away an old ripped floor mat that DH got for free a few years ago, the lawn mower chewed on it at one point. It was just sitting outside on the patio, annoying me as it's so ugly. DH wouldn't let me throw out out so I told him he better find a place for it and use it or I would toss it - he put it in the garage on the floor in there. At least it might actually get used now though.

I'm working today, but will be off tomorrow, hopefully I can get some flying done then.

I am with you on that Mog yuk to getting out and making it straight away. My mum was all for throwing the covers right back and airing and when making fresh hospital corners always or she pulled it out and you made it again. When I was at college we had to make a bed before we went to hospital placement so in September of that year she asked lots of the young ones to do it first then said anyone else have a go so my friend and I did a side each. We won the prize for best bed making both of us did hospital corners which none of the others did. Then we had to teach them. I had no both when I did hospital placement as we changed the beds each day. Some had nothing to do in their week I had 36in including isolation and safeguarding. DD was a baby and I was there 9-5pm so quite tired by the time I got home. So I told mum and she was very pleased as she was a nurse before I was born looking after soldiers from the war.

So I am another one that things didn’t go to plan on. Emails and phone calls from important person to be seen to first. Cleaned around my very tidy kitchen. Kettle not turning off at all now so sourcing and making quick phone call they didn’t have one but knew a store that might so lovely lady rang back to say yes two to chose from. I didn’t know there was a kettle for hot plate shortage. They had loads in January.
DH decided after ‘ important email and phone call’ we could go to that town instead of waiting until they sent it to nearer shop. So off we trundled down to the Lakes to go to one shop and buy a kettle.🤣😁 it was a gorgeous day and the scenes of the fells were fabulous. The tops are quite often Misty but today clear as a bell and we could see clearly to the Scottish coast. Lots of windmills.
DH was in a much better mood than last week so I now have a Le Crueset sp ? Off white kettle, a electronic timer, a big nozzle for piping fancy swirls and two desert spoons because some of ours have walked!
I got no home bleugh except kitchen because the dyson wasn’t charged and I couldn’t be arsed when we got home at 6:30pm.
I did pick leaves off the tomatoes and swept the greenhouse. Fed hens and those cheeky little blighters have been making me think they are off laying when in fact they made a nest under the perches and laid eggs there instead of the nesting box🤔🤨 cleaned out and fresh water too.

Yes would have freaked me out a bit too. So lucky as that street leads into town so areas on outskirts walk in to city centre so quite busy at times and no one on street when it happened. Lots of doors opened as terrace of Victorian houses. He must have been going very fast so maybe find out the car was stolen.Nothing in the press which is surprising because the rubbish they are portraying as news is shocking. They need to use spell check and go back to school because our Year 6 (last year) grammar was better. So slow news month and they missed that. The road was closed and swarming with police because the driver did a lot of damage and then did a runner. He could have easily killed someone. DH is going there tomorrow while I attend a meeting.
So home bleugh will have to wait. I am choosing the dining room because girls I can see the floor on one side. It is all in the car waiting to be dropped off tomorrow. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I have one bag which needs to go to Women’s refuge. It is bags of toiletries like those little hold-all’s with nice smelliest. I can’t remember what brand now I just thought great for someone fleeing and altogether.

Zoo is the queen of flying on here. I can remember a time I was very organised but I had a lot less clutter. We didn’t have much I think I had two pairs of jeans, one of cords and a few t shirts and a dress. A swimsuit - that was an essential we went to the pool every week and we lived by the beach. I was slimmer too.

Right that is enough wittering. I am nervous about tomorrow and a bit too upbeat I hope I feel like that in the morning so I can get through it. I feel like fight or flight and not sure which one will win tomorrow. I

I have put my clothes on the Everhot and put my big girl pants out and my posh handbag( that my sister found in a charity shop for a tenner) so I hope it is warm. It was 23 C today.👍

Just a thought Mog if DH is standing or sitting in the ‘other room’ can I give him away. Thinks that might encourage her DH in her’ other room’ on purpose.

Hazel 🤗 I wondered if you might be about. Shoulder still a bit crap. I can move it more but the ball ain’t sitting in the socket iykwim. So I am hoping before I go to meeting I can get through and see GP tomorrow night if he is still doing evening surgery like he used to. He will probably pull it back in otherwise he will send me for X-ray and it will be A& E. I wish I had gone straight away but DH made a snide remark so I didn’t bother to ask. I couldn’t drive.
DH is back in good books because he bought me lovely kettle. I think the drive to the coast was his apology. He doesn’t say sorry very often.
Yes son was a bit shaken up as he and his mate had only just gone into the house and he put kettle on. Five minutes earlier might have been awful. Neighbour is thoroughly pissed off because his car is wreaked. We don’t know who the other two cars belong to as people park there for up to two hours. It was supposed to be made residents only like around the corner. They are all Grade 2 listed as “ of significant historical interest” so lucky the pole saved our house as I have nearly finished paying for it.DS 2 and I bought it together 17 years ago. They are built in a nice colour brick. I think the brick is ‘of interest’ to as they are different sort of mottled dark brown.

Re zoo and Dd floor. DH used to collect anything on floor in a black bag...just as well he doesn’t come in my room. Not clothes but piles and shoes ...in case. I can see Uggs, slippers, sketchers and a pair of meds. One boot. One small basket to put away. One box of stuff. Some painting propped up to be framed( he is still shut) another box( not sure what is in that one) and a basket of stuff for charity shop. The other. Side of the bed is tidy bar four bags for weekends. One hospital bag packed in case I need carted off. I need to find a home for others. One DD gave me was her PIL and DD thought I might like it. I do I just don’t have room for spare bags. I wish we didn’t have mice and bats in the loft. You can’t risk anything good in there.
Why am I wide awake? Zoo will be up soon.

bower I was awake at 4.
Please make sure you get shoulder looked at
Did I read right you have a school meeting today?🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Orange hi lovely.nice to "meet" you
Hazel glad I'm not alone with floordrobe issues.sounds like you've been very busy.hope day off includes some time out
Sing when will you know if ddreturning HE?is there a set time frame you had for school?
MC good luck with the came

Right I've laid here way to long depressing myself with BBC news.
Busy day,meeting school named on D's ehcp in church garden to sign paperworkso they will give him access to remote learning whilst we sort out where he's going to go.hes a nervous wreck about it after almost 2 years out if school and meeting strangers during pandemic is not making him happy even tho we wearing masks and it's outside

Enough waffling,onwards and upwards ladies!

MC cake not came..this phones a monkey for changing what I write during sending process

bower - (big hug) goodluck for your meeting today. You will look the part with your lovely handbag.

I love hospital corners too.

zoo- hope your school meeting goes well. Thank goodness you have got remote learning for your DS. I feel for him. Secondary school can be overwhelming.

Mog- I am sorry your family had to go get tested too. Hope it all comes back negative.

Hazel- Hope you have/had a good day at work.

sing what a list! Love the alarm clocks.

Mc- will you be baking your cake today? Please send us pictures. Love cake, it can make the world right with a cup of tea.

I have caught the 'back to school lurgies', soooo glad I dont need to take the fraggles to school. So thats an advantage of a family self isolation! until the kids start trying to kill each other.
Right, off to make morning tea.

Morning all. Still no get result so it looks like another day off work.

Bower good luck for the meeting, and Mc good luck with the cake.

Orange glad you enjoyed your time away.

Sorry there were tests required in your family too, hope results come through quickly.

Forgot to post my final ta da list last night:
✅ upstairs dusted and hoovered
✅ bath, sink and loo cleaned
✅ viakal on taps, shower and shower screen. They’ve come up quite shiny.
✅ scrubbed tile grout with bleach and toothbrush as it’s looking very pink. I normally just spray on mould and mildew spray (think it’s mr muscle) but I can’t find it anywhere. This was much harder work and less effective although it’s better than it was
✅ cleaned bathroom bin
✅ mopped bathroom floor
✅ huge ironing pile done
✅ clean/ironed clothes put away
✅ DD’s bedroom tidied
✅ toys brought in from garden (we spent a few hours out there in the afternoon too)
✅ ran hoover over downstairs as there was grass everywhere - DD had been pulling it up and feeding it to her dolls
✅ sausage casserole for tea (DH did kitchen)

Today will just be about trying to keep on top of the mess of us being stuck in the house. I’d like to weed the front gravel and have a look at the rest of the weeks missions. Breakfast first though.

Ignore the random ‘get’ in the first line, and the ‘sorry about the test’ was meant for Mog.

Thanks 🙏 that it goes ok. The last two were cancelled. They never bothered to let me know for the first one I waited and waited. Last weeks cancelled for a technicality by someone attending. I may or may not post depending how I feel when I come out.

Good luck those SI and waiting for tests coming back. DS2s came back next day but that was a few weeks ago before the surge.
MC that cake looks amazing. Are you a reader of Country Living? I used to have a subscription I have a lot of old ones stashed in my bedside draw. Love the photography in them. Hope the cake goes well and you managed to get raspberries. We are still getting them in the veggie box. I might make that for this weeks cake. I could tell DH he is getting his a month early🤣 I bought two oranges to try another recipe for Orange and Polenta Cake. This one is Jamie’s and has almonds too. Please post a pic we would love to see it -drool over- it.

zoo I had managed to go to sleep by then. I hope your meeting goes ok poor DS I empathise with his anxiety.

Up your bathroom must be sparkling.

Dancing yes, I don’t usually worry about handbags but after putting dress to dry I walked through and saw my handbag and just thought oh that would go. Just because it has the colours of the dress in it. Started to change mind about my dress as it is a bit summery and low cut but last week I put a cami vest under and a cardio on top. I just think if I look nice it will give me confidence. I hope.

Right into the shower I go. Good luck those waiting for test results and those having meetings today.🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀💐

Thinking of you bower ❤️💐

Am just waiting outside nursery for my friend as I dropped Cagletini at nursery (tearful again - her not me!) as I can stick the buggy in her boot before yoga. Feel a bit worn out already as I left a bit late and walked fast - it’s so hot today! 🥵

DD1 did go to school in the end. I read some Hamlet (story version) to DS and got him started on maths - DH has a phone call from DWP so won’t be able to do work with him for at least an hour.

I’m wearing my trampoline park socks in the hope of having better grip when doing balances 😂

Hello all, good luck to everyone waiting for test results and with meetings and phone calls today.

Hope the trampoline socks work for you Sing .

Ta da:-
Made a plan for the day
Done some tidying in bedrooms (bedroom day today on the organised mum method)
DD1 is doing her home learning
Oven was fixed yesterday (kept DD1 out of the way in her room which is allowed in the guidance)

I am going to my first two class in over 6 months tonight! They are restarting. So this evening will be a bit of a rush but it is always worth it.

Ooh that’s exciting stressy! (am assuming you meant tap!) and yes the grippy socks did help :o

I am very happy as it seems they’ve just started aqua fit classes again :o so will book that in soon. I hope it’s the same teacher as she is so funny! The other advantage of going to this is that I’ll be able to see the new restriction-based pool layouts while wearing my glasses :o

Today went a bit wrong, as DH didn’t get his phone call from DWP until really late (if he had been that late, he’d probably be sanctioned or something 🙄) which meant I had to go back out to collect Cagletini. I am shattered now! It was also impossible to have the work advisor phone call while at the playground by the nursery (she goes every day after her session) so she’s phoning back at half 5 when I’ll not be long out of an hour zoom session. Sigh. Got another phone call at 2 as well and need to post a parcel which I’m going to have to ask DH to do. I’m glad I’m meeting mum and dad in London tomorrow for a nice lunch - might be tiring too but at least I don’t have to think about life admin and kid stuff etc!

Yes Sing, I meant tap . How annoying about all the phone calls today. Tomorrow sounds a lovely thing to look forward to.

What is up with this weather! I’ve put the blinking autumn decs up already and got my fancy Christmas candles out, and now it’s like the Bahamas. I had to her DD some summer dresses for nursery, I’ve got them a size up though so she can fit next year hopefully. Also bought some books for Christmas for her.

Finished work and am off to the park with the kids and the dog, I think we’ll stay for a while as the weather is so nice. I might get the paddling pool out.

Good luck with the test mog

Thank you mc, that’s so sweet of you :) good luck with your cake!

hazel was it your IL’s where the tree fell down in the storm (was lurking then I think). It’s great that they’ve found a positive way to turn their garden around.

Good luck today bower, I hope you can get your shoulder looked at!

Lovely to meet you too zoo!

Thank you upholder❤️

sing great idea about the trampoline socks!

stressy enjoy your tap class!

ta da
Made beds
Got DC dressed
Dressed myself
S&S
Fed animals
LOL
Made breakfast
Dropped DC off at nursery
Work
Lesson planned
Picked DC up

Well meeting was kind of ok.he will get three live lessons a week via teams.one each maths,English and science along some other onliners.how go individual tailor remains to be seen.also some work to do on paper and sent in post with SAE to return for marking.not sure what can offer other subject wise,nor had any idea if GCSE reading books we have bought as I know here inspector calls and Christmas carol are on list..glad I bought dd2 the revision guides so we can plod on thru those too

He didn't speak or make eye contact with them at all.they seem hopeful of "keeping him" (or lea won't place elsewhere).we shall have to see

For now we looking at history of local green spaces.we have two parks that were part large manor estates and have interesting history,plus nature reserve he adores is relatively new but named after famous local man we can look at.gives him much needed new information to share relay whether anyone wants to hear or not

In other news due to steady partial closure of school here for covid the girls school are offloading 6 form during free/study periods and for UCAS enrichment.tjose able to are expected learn online/at home during these times only attending for classes.as it's catchment is large there is provision for those not able to go home,but they do need to know numbers for safe guarding etc.only downside is we don't know how they go in and out or if it's from immediate effect!!(emailed and awaiting response)

Well that sounds productive zoo happy researching for him! We are self isolating as ds has temp. No tests available in the city ATM. This time there are Tesco slots. Last time we depended on neighbours bringing milk.

The testing situation is dire Lisette. I have ranted on here, emailed my MP, written to BBC news and shared a load of stuff on Facebook and Twitter about the issues . . Hope you manage to get a test.

Can someone else do links tonight? I am done in after the day I've had...

Mog I'll do the links no stress. Give me a mo

Links for Weds 16th September

We are in Zone 3: The main Bathroom and One Other Room The other room can be your spare room, study, even the garage.

Spend 15 minutes decluttering here before moving onto detailed cleaning.

Our missions for Weds: It is Anti-procrastination Day! It is time to take a look into the medicine cabinets and toss the empty bottles and boxes that are taking up space. While you are doing this also take a look at the expiration dates on the medicines that are there. If you have some that need to be gotten rid of take care of that as well. Grab a damp rag and wipe down the shelves. Don't take everything out, just lift, wipe and put back.

Baby step 16 click here It's check out the flylady website

Habit of the month is Before Bed Routine

Wednesday daily focus is antiprocrastination: Every Wednesday is Anti-Procrastination Day for FlyLady. This is a day that we take care of things we’ve been putting off. You can use this day to take care of any procrastinating you’ve done. You can do things like:

Do the Laundry
Make doctors appointments
Finish that report for work
Work on a project with your child
Clean the fish tank

Places very large glass of wine (250ml chamberpot) in naughty corner for Mog

Ach I know toostressy. Ds will probably miss school for two weeks as we only have a five day window to get the test. We were told to keep trying so that's what we'll do. I wouldn't mind but I've not been out for walks due to the mild tummy upset and now I can't go out just as I'm feeling better. But we can all work from home so not a huge problem for us in the end. But for others it could be a real problem.

I have a large medicinal hot whisky on the go as have now got a slight cold.

Actually I'm on annual leave on friday onwards because I've leave to use up. Great timing!