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

[SingToTheSky]

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! 💐

All my emojis on the app have come out as gin bottles🤣

Love the meme Isaw. Accurate

DD’s tree is very cute sing. Sympathies at the nit combing

Yay for working internet ED.

Glad having to work went in your favour Hills

You’re on a roll with the decorating Lisette!

Hope Frog has been successful Woolly

There wasn’t much more flying in the Up house today. Just the odd bit of tidying here and there. DH and I have just done a quick living room blitz and are settling down to Schitts creek which we are getting a bit obsessed with. Glass of gin in hand as inspired by Foxes. Cheers!

up schitts creek is amazing!!! I was genuinely sad when I finished it!

Tinselette my dd was obsessed with Thomas the tank engine too, I have a photo of her age 3 meeting the fat controller at Thomas land, she was giddy with the excitement!

That’s another show on my watch list. One of the things I’ll be putting in my bullet journal is the many series I want to watch - too often I just put something old on that I’ve seen several times, I have to really be in the right mood to try something new so I hope this will encourage me a bit!

ta da
🌈woke up and shoved DS out the door at appropriate time with all necessary additions (scarf etc)
🌈various movings on of laundry
🌈walked to piano lesson and taught
🌈festive shopping
🌈hid pressies at home
🌈ordered calendar for DD1, and a present for DSDs’ hamper

Not actually sure I’ve achieved much else today I’m so tired 😳

Just to clarify, I meant Schitts Creek was on my watch list. Not Thomas the Tank Engine. I had quite enough of that as a child and it was one of those things that (for me) didn’t live up to the memory when DS was into it!

The original book series (three little railways) was the best of all. I have fond memories of the books from my childhood. Never saw the series til ds, and he grew out of childrens programs fair earlier then most.

I can't stand to watch time team, how is it made, myth busters and all sorts of stuff of that ilk becuase it was watched on repeat over and over and over and over again

I have finally sorted my shit and got pictures. will try to up load them another day. I got lost ina book and finding ti hard to extract myself to finish waht needs doing tongiht.

Ah bollocks, should have proof read that. Sorry.

And today will be bought to you by brains too awake to sleep at 130am
FFS
Foxes such a cute card!

Can't remember rest personals,so quick wave to all
Kcc
DC used so home made white choc fudge
I've knitted a few toys/jumpers over the years,as requested
Dd1 potato printed couple rolls of lining paper at 3 with Xmas trees/stars/bells etc to use as Xmas wrap(one DC I had more time on my hands lol)

We make stars,snowflakes and paperchains usually each year.not sure this year for to new paint work if/how to hang

I'm hoping to complete front room and tackle The Great Kitchen Deep clean today...

Tada
2hours sorting a cupboard in kitchen,incl empty,wash it out,and wash up everything that was in it/sort out baking crate

zoo that's a lot done already Good luck with great kitchen clean. Hope you get some rest later. You got next to no sleep. I'm tidying paperwork in new office and sugar soaping wardrobe for painting.

Finally caught up. I fell asleep try to read all the posts last night.

Seems a lot of us are feeling lethargic at the moment.

Well I pottered about yesterday working very slowly however I am pleased to say ...tree up.

Ta da
Dresser cleaned and some things removed. Looks much better.
Decorated, I hang some garland across tiny pine cones, acorns etc.
Cornice cleaned.
Decorated the fireplace. Card string up.
Sorted through some decorations to possibly take to charity shop.
Repacked some , found lots of lights. Need to check through them today.
Cakes fed.
DH fed.
Today going to organise my window.
Need to get out of the house for a walk.
Need to sort outside pots. Plant more tulips.
Need to decorate kitchen window.
Make another card as think I stamped but didn’t finish address. Damn.

Foxes we are only just finishing season 1 but I think I will also be sad when we’ve watched it all. It’s so cleverly done I think.

Sing it’s very easy to watch and just short episodes. DH didn’t fancy it so I asked him to give it 5 minutes and we watched 5 in a row the first night . Your ta da list is pretty good for a Saturday, and shopping in the current situation is worth several ta das I think.

Hills this is probably quite sad but I am looking forward to your photos. I have a bit of a thing about planners and journals etc.

Zoo sorry about the early start and good luck with The Great Kitchen Clean. Good start already!

DH had to work this morning but is already on his way home. I’m very pleased about this as DD is in a rather demanding mood this morning .

Ta Das:
😴 breakfast for us and cats.
😴 half emptied DW while the kettle boiled
😴 s&s upstairs
😴 beds made.

Still not feeling very awake so will have another cuppa before finishing the kitchen and get us dressed. Today’s plans are a start on the home bleurgh, some cards sorted, another delivered Sunday lunch (MIL isn’t well and asked us to her order her one and how could we resist one for ourselves?) then we have a Christmas light thing booked at a national trust place later today. Hoping DD’s mood improves by 5pm or it may not be enjoyable .

Cross posts. Impressive start from you too Tinselette.

You were a busy bee yesterday Bower. Bet you’re glad to have got the decs up.

Morning all. Admirable lists from many already, while I’m still bleary eyed and in jammies/snuggly dressing gown!

Today is meant to be tree day as if we don’t manage it today I don’t think we’d be able to fit it in until Friday. So, lots to do. Cagletini did end up with us again but she was dry again so that’s good. DS is still full of cold though.

Must try and figure out what needs doing. In a word: lots.

🎄❄️🎁 Friday 11th December 🎁❄️🎄

Zone - we move into zone 3, the bathroom

Daily Focus - renew your spirit!

Today’s Mission - clear flat surfaces in the bathroom

FYI the holiday mission page is still showing at #4, I think she’s forgotten it. Some of the other bits aren’t updating either. She might be having some time off (which is ok, because you’re never behind with flylady!)

✈️ FLIGHT PLAN ✈️

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

This meme made me laugh this morning especially due to the current habit of the month!

Here is one of my fave versions of O Holy Night. The Swingles are fab, also it’s not a Christmassy one but if you’re into classical music at all, check out their version of Libertango as well, it’s fab!

🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

Tree day here also...but sitting room is in a state.
Ds needs to tidy his room so i can get the ladders in to bring the Christmas decoration boxes down.

School Christmas cards to write....grrrr

Billions of other things to do...Dh is going to cook a Christmas dinner today...as his mum called to say if we didnt mind she wont cook it this year and due to covid bubbles.
I said I didnt mind as its alot of work for her and I understand. So I encourged Dh to make it this weekend as I dont make it properly in Dh opinion.

woolly i love your frog...i love the paper pattern!

Foxes such a well drawn and beautiful card!

sing love the rainbow tree.

tinsel love the dusty pink paint for your office.

Up you have done loads!

hills weldone for sorting work.

foxes i am going out to buy angel delight!

zoo hope you get some rest today after your 1.30am wake up!

Saw lovely you did printing with the kids.

Oh no, I havent washed the school uniform! 🤦‍♀️

I love making and crafts but not organised to have things ready on time.
We did stained glass window biscuits, kids loved it.
I have got all the crafts kits, stuff bursting out of drawers....but I dont make it. Lol.
Will find a picture of something i have cobbled together.

🍒🎄🖐 everyone i have missed.

Achievements so far - booked a couple more tesco deliveries for January (and changed my reminders so I get reminded to edit baskets the day before - the fact I’ve never ended up with a delivery of nothing but Malibu is a miracle 😂)

And delegated some chores to the girls (DD1 a bit of tidying, Cagletini putting toys away). That is all. 😳

They’ve got some boxes out ready for stash and dash. However Cagletini has stashed herself in one of them instead. 😂

dancing enjoy your Christmas dinner today!

Sing that made me chuckle that she has stashed herself in a box, children and cats just can't resist a box can they?!

Ta das today so far
Got up quite late, shower, kids got themselves dressed without being asked (!) , breakfast sorted

Dh went to the tip again, he took some old kids bikes that were broken but the guy at the tip said to put them to one side as they have a charity that collects them and fixes them up , that made me happy as I was a bit sad about the waste

Dishwasher on

Washing on (ds did actually wet the bed last night so lots of washing to do!)

Dh helped the dc to wrap some presents

Did a HIIT workout with the kids, ds did the whole thing, I had to sit a bit out because it was so exhausting but he didn't stop he does look tired out now though

Lunch in the oven (roast chicken)

Stopped for a cup of tea. I need to get dd to write her cards for her teachers..I'm not sure ds is going to do them, he wrote one for his best friend but he really isn't that enthusiastic! I was hoping I could at least get him to sign his name in cards for his nursery teachers

DD1 then put said box on her skateboard so she had fun being pushed up and down the hallway 😂 shame I can’t add a video on here although then you’d see my messy house 😂

We’ve managed a bit more tidying so far, including DH scrambling into the hallway cupboard to stash things a bit less haphazardly (sadly the playmobil rocket launch tower didn’t fare too well 😫) and found a huge amount of Ikea tubs in which we can stash and dash for now 😳😳😳

Also found a massive pile of clothes. I had no idea there were that many. It’s from when my friend gave us all her outgrown stuff (she has two girls and two boys) and I went through keeping some for Cagletini and a friend’s baby, found some for a donation too, but evidently I just shoved the rest and forgot! But I’m now going to go through them as nursery said yes please to my offer of some outgrown toddler clothes.

i have a massive case of the grumps this sunday.
Didn't sleep til most people are getting up and then alarm clock went off at half 9. (alarm was actually set to half 8 but apparently i slept snoozed that)

People are really annoying me and I want to tell them all to FUCK OFF (especially to go away and get out of the house) they are making it almost impossible to get shit done and then complaining that shit isn't getting done

ta da
first load of washing on
carrots blanched and into long term storage system process
boxes for stash and dashing identified (1 specialist training equpi, 1 charity shop and 1 tip included so only 4 of the 7 will need sorting later which is something.)
christmas decorations are being brought down - delegated
dishwasher loaded - not quite full enough to run though
wool wash soaking for handwashing completion shortly.
Laundry has been sorted into pile on the kitchen floor

about to get dressed and go do the bring things in drop stuff into car thing.

(small people in boxes are the cutest sing

FYI control enter might give you a new paragraph on fb but it posts stuff on mn and i keep forgetting so forgive the obviously needed proof reading posts. most the times i just wanted a new paragraphy

Oops just realised I didn’t change the date on the link post. It is definitely NOT Friday. 😳

Two massive bin bags of non-donatable clothes. 3 piles of clothes that are good enough to donate but need a bit more sorting and I need to message someone about some of it. Not sure whether I should dig out the other clothes from upstairs - I know they’re all donatable as I already sorted those at a different point, and it would mean they’re all gone at once, but it depends how deeply buried it is 😳

I’m hungry and tired and craving junk food

< sends caffeine, chocolate and portable force field to hills >

Ugh. People. I have sympathy! X

Oh and I meant to say well done for having some stash and dashing well organised hills that’s really useful!

I find it slightly easier to stash less now, as there are more things that now have a place (even if it’s stuff like a random box of toys or game pieces... at least they are categorised!). The downside of this for me is that I can’t stash and dash so quickly as I keep putting stuff away properly 😂

Well, that was a week and a half. DLMS with DHt this week, he was on annual leave and at times, I swear, he thought he lives in a hotel.

Very much impressed with all ta das today, very productive. I had a late start this morning as McTiny was snoozy and I took advantage having a lie in.

Ta das so far:
🎉 Aquarium maintenance X3
🎉LOL on

To do:

• blitz the bathroom
• home bleugh to give me a head start for the week
• prune the bonsai and water all indoor plants

McTiny has his first set of jabs on 24th of Dec. Looks like we are going to have a fun Christmas..
🍒👋 to all!