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Housekeeping

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Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!

993 replies

SingToTheSky · 30/11/2020 22:59

OK so clutter-free is a bit ambitious. But anyway, all welcome to join us for a jolly holiday thread, in which we very loosely follow (or at least half-heartedly mention now and then) the FlyLady system of housekeeping.

I’ll be posting links and reminding us all of various tasks up until Christmas Eve, for those who want to follow the system - and if it’s like previous years there will also be some specific extra missions to help us prepare our homes for Christmas. However, we really are just a bunch of frazzled Mumsnetters who will be very happy to welcome you along for chat whether you follow the system or not! We discuss housework, sure, but a whole lot of other stuff too.

We will also continue with the Keep Calm Corner, in which you’ll find various diverting questions, memes etc.

And finally a huge thank you to Foxes who did a fab job of running the thread for the first time in November! 💐

OP posts:
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ExpensivelyDecorated · 30/11/2020 23:00

Ooh, lovely new thread. Thank you Sing and thank you also to Foxes for last month. Flowers

SingToTheSky · 30/11/2020 23:01

Also, a few months back I 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.

Home Bleugh - Flylady's Home Blessing routine

Defrosting - this means shaving... thanks to me once writing that I was deforesting my legs and everyone (including me. WTF.) misreading it!

And a few basics:
LOL - load of laundry
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
DW - dishwasher
HSL - hallway, stairs, landing

And finally "The Naughty Corner" - this is for Fledglings who perhaps didn't get done what they had planned for the day but are in need of a comfy seat, pile of cushions, tasty snacks, stiff drink and friends to chat to!

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 30/11/2020 23:03

Wow you were quick ED! 🏃‍♀️

I shall share the link on the old thread and then I need to finish Christmas shopping (the online bits anyhow). 💸💸💸

DD1 is still awake which makes Christmas present discussion a tad tricky 🙄

OP posts:
ExpensivelyDecorated · 30/11/2020 23:38

It popped up in Most Active Smile

Sherin18 · 01/12/2020 00:01

Hiya, thought I’d pop on with my ta da list before I try and get some sleep. It’s been a horrible grey rainy day here, tomorrow is meant to be sunny but we will see!. I can’t believe it’s December tomorrow. I’ve got the elves out, I need to plan activities to do with them. I do regret starting them a bit😂. I thought I’d post in the new thread as it is December!. Thank you for the november thread foxes, and thank you sing for this one.

sing I don’t think potpourri is old fashioned at all! Wel done on the home ed sorting.

Sorry you’re so tired foxes!

It is annoying wooly, but I’d do anything to get rid of this heartburn at the minute!. That’s a brilliant list!.

It’s brill isn’t it mc, I was really worried about being trapped in but this will make everything much easier.

ta da
❄️Let DDog out for wee
❄️Made breakfast for me and DD
❄️Washed up
❄️Made beds
❄️Fed ddog
❄️LOL
❄️Decluttered some paper that was building up on my dining table
❄️Vacuumed whole flat
❄️Dusted
❄️Polished
❄️Took ddog for walk 1
❄️Made lunch
❄️Made Christmas cards with DD
❄️Wiped down table and hoovered under it
❄️Put up window lights
❄️Put washing to dry
❄️Washed some baby clothes
❄️Put baby clothes away
❄️Made tea
❄️Washed up and wiped down kitchen
❄️Shined sink
❄️Took ddog for walk 2
❄️Bathed DD
❄️Put DD to bed
❄️Put DD’s toys away
❄️Had a bath
❄️S&S
❄️Let Ddog out for wee

Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!
HillsBesideTheSea · 01/12/2020 00:15

Thanks Foxes for last months thread Flowers

Thank you for taking on the December thread Sing

Dancingtomusic · 01/12/2020 03:18

Foxes- Thank you for the lovely November thread. I have really enjoyed it.
Thank you for chatting about using a slow cooker. It reminded me I have a soup maker and Slower cooker. I hv dusted both down and reoganised kitchen so they are ready to use. I had sweet potato and cocunut milk soup. Its quite nice.

Sing thank you for the shiny new thread. I keep thinking 'blockbuster' leggings...then I hear the block buster theme tune!

Dancingtomusic · 01/12/2020 03:20

woolly that is a epic ta da list on the previous theard! Epic! How many washloads!?

Dancingtomusic · 01/12/2020 04:14

Hi ED
Sing- weldone on doing your lesson work and planning to do tution work.

Ta das
🎀2 lol and dryers of bedsheets
🎁2 dw loads
🎀try to put away a mini mountain of clothes. It didnt work as I couldnt close Ds wardrobe.
🎁gave lil fraggle a pack of cheap new felt tips, so she would stop asking me questions.
🎀above did not work.
🎁pushed thro to making lunch. Tinned heniz chicken soup and cheese on toasts- she was delighted- i must write this in my recipe book.
🎀wipe table down. Its been so much easier clearing up in my kitchen since I dragged my little round dining table into my kitchen. I can grab things very quickly from the dishwasher, fridge or microwave. If my legs feel like they are going to buckle, I can sit and still prep food. Best of all, its so close to the sink, clearing up is easier.
It been a game changer here.

🎁had stop a nap at 1pm as missing meds were causing me heart pain. Fraggle wouldnt let me sleep as she thought I would leave her alone. Drifted for 20mins
🎀 fraggle wanted water
🎁got up and in kitchen decluttered Bermuda triangle corner of my kitchen counter. Wiped it down. Applied very thin amount of baby oil to shine the worktop corner.
Wow woohoo!- found some missing blood pressure tablets and take them immediately. I can feel 5 days of not taking them has hurt me.

🎀 cleaned and moved microwave to the corner.
🎁decluttered worktop near dh coffee machine and told him I will keep it clear so he can prep any of his food there. He was very happy to have area free from childrens stuff and very happy he has the microwave next to him.

🎀 I was happy that now I will not be microwaving food warm, while my Ds sits right next to the microwave door. (Only twice and both times I asked him to move seats.)
🎁move and clean soup maker and slow cooker. And rejig new kitchen scales to its new place in the kitchen.
🎀try to make kitchen look pretty so I will maintain it looking tidy and clean.
🎁give kids hot chocolate and cookies as a after school snack. It was very nice to have a drink that Dh had made for me.
🎀 Decided to cook a spagetti bol for Ds. Looked up a Jamie oliver recipe. Dont have most ingredients but it turned out nice.
🎁Ds hoovered it up.
🎀Dd cried she hates spaggetti. I
🎁I wanted to cry as I shovelled food ino my mouth, while thinking what to feed her.
🎀warmed chicken soup for her.
🎁Dh told me he despises spaggetti. I told him I made it for Ds. Dh told me he wont eat.
🎀wanted to cry as back hurt.
🎁tidied up most of kitchen. Soaked the pots.
🎀put in fridge leftover food. Sob.
🎁took fresh clean bedding upstairs and remade my bed.
🎀quick shower for Ds
🎁get fraggles into bed.
🎀so grateful for my funny and cute fraggles put up with me. Wish I was a more fun mummy. Read them both a story and I was asleep 8.30pm and awake by 2pm.
So thankful I found blood pressure tablets.
Thinking whether to send in lil fraggle to school tomo as its a very long day for her tomo. Suppose I should try and sleep more.

🍒🖐 everyone.

TheUpholder · 01/12/2020 05:04

Thanks for the shiny festive new thread Sing! But frazzled? Us? Surely you are mistaken. Serene domestic goddesses, all of us 🤔

Thanks for keeping us all on track in November Foxes

Dancing sorry DH was so ungrateful. You sound like a lovely mummy Flowers I also wish I was a more fun mum (DH is the fun one here) but I know DD wouldn’t swap me and your fraggles will be the same.

Right. Must try and doze for half an hour before the alarm goes and I have to start Decembering.

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2020 05:56

foxes thanks for running November thread
Sing thanks for taking on the Xmas one!

Upserene domestic goddess is something I could never achieve,and anything thinking otherwise would have had to sunk huge quantities of festive cheerGrin
Wooly that was an EPIC list yesterday!

HazelNuttyElf · 01/12/2020 05:57

Thank you foxes for the previous thread, you did a great job of running it with the links.

Thank you sing for the new thread, I'm excited to get into December.

Dancing it sounds like you had a rough day today, it's okay to take a day off. Have DH cook for you instead if he's going to complain about what has been prepared. I hope you were able to get back to sleep.

After working all day, I came home to DD with a low grade fever and not feeling well (sounds like the start of a cold). We had leftover food from last night for dinner, then watched Christmas chronicles on Netflix. There's a 2nd one on there too, but wanted to refresh our memories before watching the new one. Other than cleaning up the kitchen after dinner (with help from DS and DH) I did no flying. DH emptied the dw and washed 2 LOLs. He took today off to use up some vacation time.
I'm off tomorrow, only have plans for coffee with SIL in the morning and the dentist in the afternoon. I have loads of ironing to do, so could be an excuse to veg in front of the TV.
🍒👋 everyone.

MrsTidyHouse · 01/12/2020 06:42

foxes Thank you for November, sing thank you for this thread.

Yesterday started well, went downhill, then slowly improved again. I got up early, as ai usually do, to try to make sense of laundry piles in utility, and the guddle in the kitchen.

I sorted the laundry into piles, set out the tubs for the supermarket delivery, and started hoovering the carpet tiles in the utility room. It's in entirely the wrong place, and gets cluttered so fast. I was moving stuff back and forth to get it clean (-ish). I moved the shoe cupboard away from the wall, and the gunk behind it was unbelievable. Then I got the bit between my teeth. Found an inchtape, and realised that if the shoe shelves were turned through 90degrees, and put against a different wall, the useful floor space would about double.

So I did that, rearranged the shoes, realised that the large tub of coathangers had been there for about several years and hadn't been touched. Put tub of hangers in the hot cupboard where hangers actually belong.

Swapped the wellie tubs around so that I don't keep scraping my shins every time I go into or out of the kitchen. Pulled boots out from under the belfast sink. Two pairs of massive hiking boots belonging to DS, and more wellies. Now have ten pairs of wellies and only two LOs, and there are more wellies in the garage!

Found a small ancient wooden box that fits exactly into a corner behind the back door. Put swingball pole and racquets in there. Now they don't fall on me when I hang up my jacket.

Another small box of hangers, the type for shoes. In another bag into hot cupboard. Cardboard box into recycling. Now there's a corner for shoes, wellies when LOs come in from garden.

All the time I'm hoovering madly, hoping nobody gets wakened too early. Hoovered inside and behind tumble-dryer, up and down walls with brush attachment, just everywhere I could reach.

Started washes, LOs get up and dressed and are beautifully helpful and well-rested. Breakfast goes so well, teeth brushed, etc. Looking forward to putting my feet up with a coffee and guilty biscuit after delivery. One eye on the clock, no need to rush, out to garage, and.....car won't start. Forgot on Sunday to fire it up and get fuel, so flat bettery. Instead of losing my mind, I connect up the charger

Back into house. Contemplate walking to school, but ankle too bad to get back again at pick-up. And expecting supermarket delivery soon. Phoned school, ask if we can go online for the day, very sympathetic to this, and got the okay.

So we had a lovely morning together. Had a lovely chat with LG, which couldn't have happened after an exhausting day of school. LB was a sheer delight. Hugs, smiles, no squabbling. I think they are so stressed by school and the outside world atm.

Caved into tv around lunchtime. Went out to garage to fire up, and.....charger not switched on. Still didn't lose my mind. Switched it on. Back to house. Admired utility room. Is that sad, haha?

The important thing for me that I didn't lose my mind (twice), I did what needed done when it needed done, dealt with three unexpected phone calls and the things I had to do consequently. Ditto emails and texts.

I'm determined to stay calm and busy today. Try to recreate the same atmosphere as yesterday for them after a day of school. Then perhaps contact school about children's stress.

Now I'm getting up and out to the garage to try starting the car. And it's freezing out there!

MrsTidyHouse · 01/12/2020 06:43

Sorry that's so long. I really, really don't want to get up!

foxessocks · 01/12/2020 06:56

Thank you sing!!

So glad the food ideas helped you dancing Smile

Sorry my last post on my thread was a bit grumpy, I had actually forgotten it was my last post or I would have written something more inspiring or not

Had a much better night's sleep last night, no early risers, dh woke me up at 6.30 with a cup of tea which is a nice way to start the day.

Haven't got much time to write much but will be back later on!

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2020 07:12

tidy that's sounds like a really productive day!

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Harpic lav
Paint a wall(coat one)

Need get lil zoo up for school(was awake all night night before,so could be tough to wake up)

Need get bread/milk etc today
Hoping break back of painting today.i have chimney breast complete,one side wall complete and a whole wall off that complete.one big wall,window wall and the other side chimney breast to do.woukd be easy if I wasn't working in very confined spaces as nowhere to move everything too so case paint a bit move stuff to paint bit more.place in chaos and mess stressing me out big time!I want worst of it done so I can locate and crack out the advent calenders later...

Tinselette · 01/12/2020 08:45

Thanks again Foxes you did a great job. dancing I'm glad you found your bp tablets and what a ta da list. Ah, 'We're walking through air...' is playing on the radio. 🎶☃️🎅🎄❄️

Mc3209 · 01/12/2020 09:23

Foxes thank you for November thread!
Tidy you've inspired me to have a look at my utility properly. I usually try not to focus too much on the details in there 😂 I mean, I will clean the floors/surfaces, but there is a little too much entropy there for my liking!
Sherin cute elves! I had one, but I can't remember what I've done with it... May need to buy a new one.
Zoo sounds like you are making a good progress in challenging circumstances.
Dancing I liked your diversion tactics with felt tips 😂 I hope you feel better soon 💐
Up that's great news that your little one is sleeping in her room consistently (fingers crossed!).

I need breakfast and a shower.
🍒👋

SingToTheSky · 01/12/2020 09:58

Morning all! I only properly woke up twenty minutes ago, as DH got back from the nursery run. Another late night. 🤦‍♀️ Bad habits are hard to break!

Dancing that’s a very productive day, I’m glad you found those meds! Totally relate to the frustration of feeding your fraggles 😣 sorry DH isn’t more supportive 🤬

MrsTidy what a list!!! I’m so glad the school let them have a day of online learning, but I hope you are proud of yourself for actually being upfront about the struggle to get there and for asking them. 💐

I’ll be back with links and such shortly, just had painkillers, I don’t think today’s list will be a good one! But as long as I get my assignment finished I’m ok with that. Might have breakfast and head downstairs in a minute.

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 01/12/2020 10:48

🎄❄️🎁 Tuesday 1st December 🎁❄️🎄

This’ll be a long one for the opening link post. FYI I’m planning to do links/KCC until Christmas Eve and then stop, like an advent calendar 😁

So, first of the month and the habit for this month is...

PAMPERING!

That might seem frivolous and not related to housework, but you can’t pour from an empty cup, put you own mask on first (on a plane I mean, I don’t mean a face mask 😷) etc. And I honestly think it’s more important than ever after the year we’ve all had. So let’s all try and do some self care! In fact, here’s a bonus question (you don’t have to answer on the thread, but try and think about it, because you are worth it!) - What can you do for YOU today? I might do a cuticle scrub, hand cream and paint my nails later.

Housework stuff:

We are in Zone 1, the dining room and hall/porch. It’s Tuesday which is planning day!

The missions for the week are here. Today’s is to remove autumn decorations!

FlyLady has also put up some holiday missions. I’m a bit confused about how they work date wise and we are apparently on the second super cruising one, so to catch up:
#1 is to spend fifteen minutes decorating something in your home (many of you have already done more than this!)
#2 is to check your linen closet for sufficient bedding etc (not sure how relevant that is with current rules!)

And here’s the master list - it looks like the normal holiday missions are from last month too (I suppose that’s due to Thanksgiving) so plenty to look through IF you want to, but remember we are never behind with FlyLady!

🎄❄️🎁 The Keep Calm Corner Advent Calendar 🎁❄️🎄

For today, here’s some ideas from Google of how to decorate Mount Washmore :o

And a question: Do you normally put your decorations up at a particular time? And has lockdown changed that?

Generally we would not decorate at all until after my birthday (7/12) but more realistically it would end up being the end of term. In our old house we had so little space we couldn’t really decorate without tripping over a tree 😂 and it’s sort of a tradition now. I don’t really like having the decorations up too long because the house is a mess already 😳 so normally the tradition is that we tell ourselves we will decorate when the house is tidy, until we give up on that idea and just decorate around the mess at the last minute. 🤣 I’m trying to think of ways to make the house more cosy and festive though, hence my questions about cushions and potpourri etc. The Caglets are allowed to decorate their rooms whenever, this year we’ve started giving them a fiver to buy new bits for Halloween and Christmas but I am going to buy DD1 a little rainbow tree for her room too.

Gosh that was a really long post sorry 😳 fear not, they won’t all be like that 😳 anyway... here we go for December! 🍾🥂

Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!
Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!
Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!
OP posts:
Dancingtomusic · 01/12/2020 11:59

🤣
Sing i love the mount washmores! Lol.
Thank you for the kind words.

News- I think I might have found somewhere to store the big bags of rice, flours.......omg.....!
I had nearly given up this morning ....on ever surviving it.....

Dancingtomusic · 01/12/2020 12:07

Up- thank you re fun mummies

Hazel it would be lovely if he cooked for us.
I really can wait to see the Christmas cronicles film.

Tidy- welldone for not losing your shit and how beautiful it turned out to be such a special day with your Dc.

Foxes- thats so nice of your hubby to bring you tea in bed.

Tinsel- such a Christmasy song!

Mc- thank you. Utility rooms are a black hole here.

Dancingtomusic · 01/12/2020 12:12

A bit of my kitchen I sorted yesterday. Angled photo so you can't see the escaped breadcrumbs. I think I can use the little cupboard under the toaster to sort the huge 10kg bags of rice and flour. It might free up space on the sofa of doom. (Yes the sofa of doom still exists. Long time readers might remember the adventures of the sofa of doom.)😂

Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!
Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2020 12:14

KCC decorations...zoolets put up mini trees etc on 1st Decin their rooms
Tree goes up then too normally
Over next week or so we add to that,when younger we did cinnamon scented salt dough and hung from ribbons in hall with dry orange slices
Paperchains amuse for hours-we used make newspaper ones as totally recyclable and I like the look of newsprint-is it homespun? and cats are bit to curious I suspect there would be accidents!!
DS birthdays 18th ,so we usually make paper chains etc after that.my friend has daughter birthday 19 th and she refuses put up tree til after her birthday so it's still specialI get fed up of clutter though and often it's dismantled boxing day/27th....

Tinselette · 01/12/2020 12:15

Sorry sing I meant to post to thank you for doing December. What a lovely welcome 🎄🎄🎄