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

I"m with you there ED! Our house just looks cold and old without much on display. I need plants and piles of books to cover up the cracks in the walks!

I do have a massive hankering now to just clear the whole lot out and put it in a massive skip and get rid. It's definitely time to renovate or move on. (It's actually much more complicated and expensive to get rid of old stuff here as the recycling laws are draconian.). Covid has presented me with an opportunity to put my house in order.

And ditto ED re: school paperwork! DD has brought home reams of it to sign. Stuff about Covid-19 and who is legally responsible if there is an outbreak on school premises. Stuff about permission to take and use photos (when all class photos have been banned this year). A massive "school work and behaviour" contract. A document about using the school internet hub thing and us parents agreeing to look at messages twice a week. (This is a laugh as some teachers didn't avail themselves of it once during lockdown - everything about thirty years behind the times here in terms of tech.). Documents about sport and exams and permission to leave school premises having finished exams and on and on and on ... . I suppose it's all necessary but it's a shame that so much effort from the head has to go in to all of this bureaucracy rather than the actually teaching and trying to make the fabric of the building more Covid-safe.

As for uniform and stuff, again like ED we have definitely got complacent. We are trying to use up the uniform we have as it's dd's last school year and she'll be wanting new clothes and a new lap top for uni, and driving lessons, and orthodontist bill is a bit steamy to put it mildly , so prefer to save money for those right now. She has about eight white school shirts whose sleeves are a bit short but we reckon it will soon be time for jumper-wearing and she can squeak by! She doesn't seem that bothered anyway thankfully! And of course there is always the possibility of buying new stuff and everything being shut down again.

Sorry. None of that was about Flying. I'm doing it. I just CBA to write down the lists as it is the same tasks over and over. .

Gah. Well turns out DH had bugger all sleep due to a flare up so he’s gone up to bed. I hate days where we have to tag team! So I’m not sure about the rest of the day and obviously I can’t go out and leave the toddler while he’s asleep. So I’m just going to sit with a massive mug of water and continue the home ed planning.

Great lists everyone!

Ha at family dialogues That and Willow! 😆😆

Hazel btw. Duvet covers are very easy to sew if in doubt about size. Loads of patterns about! Just make sure you wash the fabric before sewing in case it shrinks. And the beauty of sewing them is that you can fashion a generous "surplus" graduated flap at the end, to tuck in under the mattress, rather then having to faddle about with buttons or press studs. Or you can make one that closes up on two sides, which is much easier to change.

Anorangeday very of your guinea pigs! I love them but can't really have them any more because our dogs are keen hunters.

Devlesko eek at bat! Congrats on clearing room of doom!

Hope bruises not too bad Mog and yay to your first 25k! That's a huge achievement!

Upholder and ED (and AlextheLittlecat*) thanks for further decluttering perspectives/insights! V useful! Yes I think it will be more motivating to tackle decluttering on basis of need (when something is bugging me! Trouble is, while house is bugging me!) And you are right about deep cleaning. Think it will have to wait until everything gone and just maintenance cleaning done until decluttering finished. Will watch some decluttering vids to get me going! I quite like Clutterbug lady!

Still battling the "all or nothing" mentality even after all these years. The good side of Covid-19 though is that we are not entertaining and I can do my own thing schedule-wise. The downside is that I am not motivated by prospect of cleaner arriving to tidy up!

Hope you have a good w/e away ED!

Mahoosive waves to everyone!

Sorry re: typos and emboldening failures there, and if I left anyone out. I am trying to type on a tiny screen in a bouncy car (not driving obvs!)

So sorry your DH is still having such a rough time of it Sing

Afternoon all! Second day back to work done, there’s waaay less kids here lots of parents still keeping them off I think. DD didn’t want to get out of bed this morning (although she was up at 4🙄). It rained here last night so everything is all damp, we’re meant to have sun for the rest of the week. I love autumn sun. It got dark at around 7 last night, I’m really excited for the cosier evenings!.

hazel this may make me sound thick but what’s German chocolate? Is it just chocolate from Germany?

That’s good upholder I thought I’d have to get rid of all my nick nacks!

ED that’s like my home, we have lots of things so didn’t want to get rid of it all.

THAT that sounds like my DC. DS cant talk yet, but DD just drags him around and dressed him up. Thankfully he enjoys it.

wellies that stories so funny😂. I’m so excited for mine to be able to properly play together

sc we got them a month of so before lockdown. I love them, we can’t leave the dog alone with them though😂

sing I’m sorry your DH isn’t very well!

Hello everyone!
Yesterday was the most unproductive day yet. Managed to do a bare minimum for work, plus LOL. And that's about it.

Today is a bit better.
Ta Da:

• Finished decluttering bookshelves.
• Tidied up all my hair things into a basket in the bedroom, so they are not just sitting on the surface. Let's see how that will work in practice.
• Dusting and surface cleaning in bedroom and spare/baby room
• Bins sorted
• The usual DW and S&S

Now I need to do a bit more work, but I can't say I am particularly inspired. But needs must!

orange I used to think the same thing, so no you don't sound thick! It's chocolate cake obvs with a layer of chocolate frosting, followed by a thick layer of rich coconut and pecan frosting on top. It's my favourite and I can't eat the cake! I'm going to attempt a keto version for me. I'll take a picture after I make his this weekend.

SC I wish I was skilled in the sewing dept. I can't even sew a straight line with a sewing machine!

Sing I hope your DH feels better soon.

Love the kids playing together stories , my two quite often say to each other "pretend we are brother and sister" which always makes me chuckle 🤦‍♀️

Today's ta das
School run
Work AM
HIIT workout (a very short one because it was too hard and I had to give up half way through 😆)
Dishwasher on X 2
Laundry hung up and more put on to finish in the morning
Ordered dd new swimming costume for the second time as the other one I got didn't fit
Booked parent teacher meeting
Contacted someone to organise dropping stuff off to her house
Collected dd from school and did trial run of getting to nursery in time for ds (ds was at my parents today do could try it out without him but not actually have to get there in time!) We just about made it but it was really stressful...I could pick them up the other way round but then I'd have to race to the school with ds which is more challenging than racing the other way with dd either way I'm going to be an exhausted husk at the end of the week

Dh has also changed bed sheets and cooked hot dogs for dinner

Hope everyone has a relaxing evening if at all possible!

Evening everyone,

Orange remember, decluttering doesn't have to mean throwing away, it can also mean putting things back in their proper place too. If you like your nik-naks then they are not clutter! As others have said, crap like junk mail, bits for the charity shops, magazines for recycling, things that are not wanted or have no purpose, those are the things to get rid of.

Hazel you sound as though you are not in the UK (not a problem at all btw), what do you have instead of a duvet?

ED when I can work from home I love to set up in the garden too. I usually let the chickens out to free range at the same time.

Wellies and basicrebel kids playing stories are great. I confess I'm not very good at playing, my DS likes to control all aspects of any game and if I try to introduce an idea he'll tell me point blank it is rubbish! Or he will dismantle my lego builds as he has a better idea...

Take it easy Sing there's always tomorrow. Hope you're all feeling better soon.

SC how are the furries? One of them was a rather anxious little thing I seem to remember? And I think you and your DD had recently got a horse the last time I was on the threads?

The practice run sounds like a brilliant idea foxes - at least you know what to expect.

[cherry] [waves] to all other fledglings

Ta Da
Made packed lunches
Managed to get DS dressed for first day back at school without the huge fight it entailed last year
School run - DS sobbed the whole way; it was total chaos with all the new rules. Poor DS was so bewildered. We'll all get used to it
Work
School run
DW
Made beds
Cooked dinner - had two days properly following Slimming World now and feeling really good about it
DS bed routine.

Ta Didn't
No zone work done
No missions done
No laundry managed
Washing up not done
No fucks given.

Going to snuggle with DCat1 and read my new book. Am working from home tomorrow with no one else home!!! Will potter about during the day and see what gets done then.

Night all

Links for Friday 4th September

We remain in Zone 1: the Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room

Spend 15 minutes decluttering here before moving onto detailed cleaning.

Today’s mission is to clear your dining table of all the things that don’t belong there.

Our fourth baby step is to write yourself reminder post-it notes This is the start of your control journal (more on that to come)

I will not clutter the place with post it notes in this day and age, I have the HomeRoutines app on my phone which is a knock off of the Flylady official app.

Habit of the month is Before Bed Routine

The focus for Fridays is to declutter your purse, handbag and car day

hazel that sounds AMAZING!. I’ve never heard of it before, I hope the KETO version works well.

I will keep that in mind mog! I panicked a bit and thought I had to become a minimalist

I’m feeling a bit weird about work/nursery. I had sort of thought it would never go back to normal, seeing the kids out on the school rin is making me very emotional. I really hope it stays for them. It was lovely weather today, very sunny and crisp. I’m super excited for it to get to proper autumn, I’ve been watching old John Lewis adverts and looking at some Christmas presents for the DC.

ta da
🍂Made beds
🍂Dressed DC
🍂Dressed myself
🍂S&S
🍂Fed dog and guinea pigs
🍂Made breakfast
🍂LOL
🍂Dropped DC off at nursery
🍂Work
🍂Walked dog
🍂Picked up dog poo
🍂Made tea (fish fingers, mash and beans)
🍂Dusted dining area and entrance
🍂Ordered some winter clothes for DC
🍂Washed up
🍂Bathed DC
🍂Put DC to bed
🍂Showered

I cleaned out my bag today, that will be the first time I am ever ahead of schedule .

SC I do find the decluttering helps but don't think I'll ever get there. Although if I hadn't been decluttering, it would be a nightmare.

Wellies I love the story about your children.

Evenin’ all. Signing in from my phone as I used up the iPad battery with resource searching/downloading! I’ve made really good progress this afternoon though, this term is starting to really take shape.

Not read the thread properly yet but mog you mentioned that last time you were on Fledglings DD1 was still HE - yep she decided in July last year that she definitely did want to try school again, so in December after almost five years she entered year 8 at the local school! Poor kid had exactly a term there when they shut because of the virus 🤦‍♀️ so that was tough for her, but due to her autism and our health issues she was allowed back after about a month so that was good. DS is still preferring HE but during lockdown we got much more structured which is good as he’s now starting year 7 😱

I should really sleep as DD1 and I are meant to be going to London tomorrow. I’m not sleepy yet but I’m a bit grumpy and not entirely sure why other than the fact I’ve been staring at a screen for hours 😳

Yes you can definitely stop wellies!

Since DD1’s friend can’t join us in London, DS is coming along too! I need to look up where we will actually go though.

Wellies a well deserved 🍷for you!
Alex well done on clearing the bag! That's the chore I conveniently keep forgetting about every week 😂
Orange John Lewis adverts always make me she'd a year or two.
I am not thinking about Christmas yet. I refuse 😂 (I will regret it closer to the time I am sure).
Sing I hope your DH feels better soon.
Mog enjoy your working from home peace and quiet tomorrow!

Sing cross post! London trip sounds like an exciting day out for you.
Hats off to you for doing HE, I imagine it's a tough job.

Mog I'm in the US, originally from the UK. My whole family is still back there. We were going to visit for Christmas this year but Covid put a stop to that 🤬
We have a comforter. Which is basically a duvet in a cover but the cover isn't removable. I like that the stuffing doesn't move about inside but I hate that it's a process to wash it. We make sure to use a top sheet as well though but I'm ready for a change.

Sing I love London, we go every time we go back home. Last time we went we found an underground dungeon museum, we enjoyed it. They also do a haunted version where they have actors jump out at you etc which we would have enjoyed too. What's your favourite thing to do there/ favourite place? Every time we go I have to see the main attractions, especially the palace. Enjoy yourselves, I'm only as little jealous!

wellies that's one hell of a list! Btw, my phone wants to keep putting your old name on here (I use swipe keyboard) 😆

foxes what HIIT workout do you do? Is it on youtube or a zoom class? I used to go to a couple different classes but no longer go to that gym and they haven't done those classes at this new gym for a while.

Ta Das:

🎂 Worked all day
🎂 Baked DSs cake. I will still need to make the frosting and decorate it, but that can wait.
🎂 Met one of the parents of DS friend so he can stay the night tomorrow night.
🎂 Made dinner: homemade tomato soup with cheese on "toast" otherwise known as 90 second bread.
🎂 Played a game with everyone tonight (solitaire frenzy).
🎂 Got my outfit out for tomorrow.
🎂 Started DW (I also washed all handwash stuff too, but earlier).

Morning, everyone! It's Friday! Happy days 💃☕☕

Wellies I am due at the very end of October, and I'm starting to appreciate how real this 3rd trimester tiredness is.. Starting mat leave in less than a month, counting down the days!
What's your plan to "declutter" the days?

🍒👋 To everyone

Morning all! I’m tired this morning thanks to the toddler but the plan for London is to just wander a bit. The reason we are going is because DD1 wants to go back to Chinatown. So we will just stay around there/Leicester Square/Covent Garden and browse in shops/markets, and eat somewhere. Because of the restrictions I have absolutely no idea what it’s like up there at the moment, so we are treating it as an investigative mission :o

Favourite thing to do otherwise, not sure really! I tend to only go up for particular events now, most recent things would’ve been summer term last year when I took DS to a lecture at the Royal Institution, and a schools workshop on Macbeth at the Globe (not on the same day :o). I’m in a home ed trips group that arranges things really cheaply although of course it’s very quiet now :( I don’t think we did a single workshop or trip for the whole of the last school year in the end as we were so busy with other stuff before covid hit. I’m hoping that by checking out how things are now I can start arranging trips with DS again.

Sing Have a lovely day in London. We used to go a lot pre-children, it's not so easy now with littler ones. Like Wellies I also miss museums and galleries (and cake, but I'm not missing that out enough as I'm struggling to declutter the baby weight). I miss doing normal things and am looking forward to the day we can all go back to normal.

I haven't done anything apart from some washing and the school run.

Morning all. Have a lovely time in London sing. Have just discovered that the garden paint in the garage has gone off - been there a while. Making progress with the garden. Landscaper coming out over weekend for quote. Have assembled new patio furniture. Need to wash old plant pots and buy new plants. I'm finding it all very therapeutic - you were right Bower.

Just noticed the mess in dd office, after her GCSE Art work.
Paint on the carpet and a huge mess.
Trying to tidy this up with her today, and she's packing, so huge mess throughout upstairs.
Hopefully watching a film together tonight and dh has his first live gig since lockdown, which is a huge lift and gives hope for a fuller diary in the future.