Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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:
Thread gallery
88
SingToTheSky · 20/12/2020 09:46

🎄❄️🎁 Sunday 20th December LOOK I REMEMBERED TO CHANGE IT! 😂😳🎁❄️🎄

Zone - we move into 4, the boudoir

Daily Focus - renew your spirit - more needed than ever today, perhaps. Look after yourselves by order of your friendly thread host!

Today’s Mission - none

✈️ FLIGHT PLAN ✈️

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

Bit of tongue in cheek humour

Anyone got any festive funnies to share some much needed cheer, do share 😂

🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

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:
HillsBesideTheSea · 20/12/2020 09:57

Love the pictures Sing

Morning.
I am about to get up and going and can guarentee there will be conflict today.

Tinselette · 20/12/2020 10:01

Very funny sing. Particularly like the mask one. Don't tell me it's the boudoir. Stuff from painted wardrobe in other room resides on my boudoir floor. Currently lounging on sofa after Tesco shop. Need to rearrange fridge so psychingn up for that. Hope head is better hills after migraine. Don't expect too much of yourself today.

HillsBesideTheSea · 20/12/2020 10:13

Sorry Tinselette the to do list is horrific so I will be a flying, and flying hard.

But slow to start, and having resolved the first issue of the morning.
P.o.3:
Hair up and dressed
laundry downstairs and first load on
Bread set to rise (4 batches I think)

Might also give the house a good airing out as it is stuffy.

IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly · 20/12/2020 10:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2020 10:38

singGrin

Right shop done,wiped and put away
Wash out/in dryer/put away
Everyone fed and watered

Next stop wrapping......

foxessocks · 20/12/2020 11:49

I like those sing Grin

Well done for kitchen clean glittery

I started well but have now sat down and am literally just waiting for dh to come home, he has popped to the shops and the engine management light has come on Confused

Anyway, ta das
Quick 15 minute HIIT
Helped the dc wrap their presents for dh
Hoovered behind the sofa / side table
Dusted side table / coffee table
Decluttered side table junk drawer
Decluttered 1 X toy basket
Worked out what pieces are missing from a game so I can try and find them Hmm
Took bits and pieces upstairs
Emptied bins
Tidied round the Xmas tree, discarded advent calendar rubbish etc

I'm going to force myself to carry on now to distract myself as I'm hoping dh will make it home without requiring roadside assistance 😫

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2020 13:03

3hpirs and I've broken back if wrapping situation...
Still few bits "quarantine" sprayed with Dettol and left few days before touch contents
I've another delivery expected tomorrow,but had text saying "might" come today

Still need to clear up the house a but and sort bins /littertray etc

IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly · 20/12/2020 13:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

Tinselette · 20/12/2020 14:24

We have a turkey crown, gravy and carrots. Just spuds next week. Going out for a Christmas meander to deliver disinfected cards. Then attempting the Muppet Christmas carol...

HillsBesideTheSea · 20/12/2020 14:25

Cute crafts Woolly

Fingers crossed the car manages to get home Foxes

Well done on the wrapping Zoo I have a total of 3 presents to wrap. feels very odd tbh. However, i do need to sort a whole load of card writing and parcel prepping though which is mildly yikes.

I haven't got a list and feeling rather discombobulated atm...

HillsBesideTheSea · 20/12/2020 14:35

Enjoy the meander tinselette

SingToTheSky · 20/12/2020 14:45

Afternoon all

DH is out volunteering, I did get a bit of time to myself earlier as he took Cagletini to the park. Can’t leave her to get stuff done now so I’m just lazing and trying to resist eating the Christmas food 🙈😂

OP posts:
Mc3209 · 20/12/2020 16:07

Zoo hugs your way 💐 You are doing a fantastic job keeping everything together. Please look after yourself too, zoolets need you to be happy and healthy. We are always here if you need to talk.
Hills I am borrowing your 'rocky init' phrase if you don't mind 😊 it tickled me the right way.
Foxes I fully empathise re car. Mine wouldn't start either and jump start has been unplugged since late October... So waiting for it to charge. And adding insult to injury, there is mould on the passenger seatbelt🤢 Really need to sort that, and dry out dehumidifying pads that have been in the car for a year straight.
Woolly very cool decorations! And very impressed with kitchen deep clean.

I've done no flying yesterday, so the house is dishevelled today. Haven't done much flying today either, but I have all intentions.

Ta da so far:
🎉LOL
🎉DW rotated
🎉Went for a walk

Still to do:

  • finish Christmas cards
  • hoover downstairs
  • kitchen blitz
  • bathroom blitz
  • 2 more LOL
HillsBesideTheSea · 20/12/2020 16:18

MC go for it.

I have now lost my 4th cup of coffee for the day. But found the third with a quarter cup of cold coffee in it Hmm
ONe of those days

foxessocks · 20/12/2020 16:57

The car is ok (for the time being at least, it got him home anyway!)

MC oh no sorry about your own car issues, not what you need!

Hills I really hope you get to drink a hot coffee in a minute!

The rest of my day was fairly productive although I did mean to get the kids outside for a walk but we didn't. Tbh I didn't want to disturb them as they've been playing quite nicely today, only a few incidents of arguing etc!

Ta das
Dh hoovered upstairs
Tidied and decluttered ds bedroom
Dusted ds bedroom furniture
Dusted the rest of downstairs furniture
Wiped dining table and all the mats
Decluttered rest of the toy baskets downstairs
Decluttered kids books downstairs and made a pile of the ones we haven't read yet to try and convince them to try some new books at bed time 😂
Casserole is cooking (leftover beef and veg)
Baby potatoes are roasting
1 X LOL
Dishwasher has been on what feels like 100 times
Recycling out

Tinselette · 20/12/2020 16:59

Muppets a triumph!

foxessocks · 20/12/2020 17:00

But I never did finish hoovering the living room 🤷‍♀️

I have to keep reminding myself I still have work next week as I keep eating the Christmas food and drinking alcohol 🤣 sing did you break into your Xmas food in the end or manage to resist?! (Sorry if it wasn't you who said that I can't scroll back and my memory is failing me!)

foxessocks · 20/12/2020 17:01

Hooray tinselette that reminds me I was going to watch home alone with the kids today but forgot that too. I don't dare try Muppets again after dd cried over it.

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2020 17:49

I watched home alone with dd2 the other night.really wanted watch some with everyone..still a few days left to try and squeeze some in

Tada
Emptied and scrubbed littertrays
Sorted kitchen bin,and all waste bins
Bag up overflowing recycling
Rant lil zoo over recycling littering her side if room
Bins out
Swept kitchen floor
Talk D's down from ranting and tears after dropped his toblerone minis in cats water bowl spillage

Tired,stressed,festive anxiety adding to usual variant.fun times....

merryhouse · 20/12/2020 17:58

TaDa
washed up from last night
ordered a brooch for H's sibling which claims it will arrive before Christmas (presents from said sibling arrived and we realised we hadn't done them...)
made bed
moved my whole pile of stuff - didn't actually sort it any more but did manage to put some family history stuff on a shelf in files (woo hoo!)
swept dining room
polished table
cleaned dining room floor
laid table, including putting advent ring back
put another can of pepsi in the fridge
par-boiled and put in to roast potatoes (because H is on a Zoom social with ancient friends)
decluttered some old tonic water which has been sitting in the cupboard since we started Drinking Less and is not suitable for a Christmas g&t but goes nicely with some orange juice
put Christmas cards up on pin board
wrote awkward card (it's not done well, but it's done)

Twenty-five minutes till S1's train gets in (I'm assuming he's caught it...)

IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly · 20/12/2020 18:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

TheUpholder · 20/12/2020 19:14

Aww bet you’re so pleased to have your boys back Merry and Woolly! And excellent ta da lists both of you. Lovely crafting Woolly. Glad I’m not the only one who only moves the chairs for mopping once in a blue moon Blush

Hope you’re feeling a bit less flat Foxes. Well
done on managing to be productive. Fingers crossed the car is ok. Mine seems to have stopped beeping at me about tyres and oil now (I did sort both issues but it took a few goes to get them to stop going off, I didn’t just ignore them Grin).

If you can’t have a dishevelled house on a Sunday with a teeny baby when can you Mc? I certainly do without the baby.

I’m enjoying the memes Sing.

Today was much the same as yesterday, TV and tea amongst bursts of being productive and an early evening family walk. We also had a few family zoom calls too.

Ta Das:
🏆 DW emptied and reloaded x 2
🏆 living room tidied
🏆 DD’s bedroom dusted throughly, window cleaned, bed frame cleaned, decluttered some outgrown clothes and toys
🏆 more bathroom floor scrubbing - I think two more 10 minute scrubbing sessions should do it. Hurts to do any longer!
🏆 downstairs basin and loo throughly cleaned and floor scrubbed
🏆 LOL in and hung up
🏆 clean washing away
🏆 cooked and demolished sausage and mash.

Currently having a well earned relaxing bath by order of Sing. Will allow DD in soon and hope for an easy bedtime.

isawthatt · 20/12/2020 20:03

Hiya all, well we’re in lockdown here and not really sure when it will end. We hadn’t planned to meet up with anyone at Christmas so it doesn’t change anything there but I just feel so upset. DS2 has only ever known a world like this, he’s never gone to a cafe, or to baby group or even to soft play with his siblings. He’s only known his own house and the park. He’s not been held by anyone other than me, DH, the DC and my midwife. He hasn’t met his grandparents or aunties and uncles or cousins. It makes me so desperately sad, and I know he won’t remember it but we’ll never get this time back. I’m worried about entertaining the DC, we live in a small village with basically nothing to do. I’m worried about them going back to school and catching the virus. I’m okay when I don’t think about it but yesterday I reflected on everything and it made me feel crap. I just want to see my family again. We are all so close and would have get togethers for everyone’s birthdays, it makes me so sad that I’ve missed out on so many. I know everyone’s in the same boat but I just wish we weren’t in the boat to begin with!.

I’ve given myself today to be kind to myself. We went for a walk earlier, we’ve watched Fred Claus and played some games. Santa came to our street last night, the DC got a picture with him and they were so happy. They’re still so excited for Christmas and it’s keeping me going. They’re still excited, Santa is still coming to visit them, they still get to be with their parents and their siblings and we’re going to try and make it the best Christmas we can. So I’ve decided to try and perk up, I’m going to have a bath after dinner and freshen myself up a bit and give the house a good tidy, then I’m going to plan activities for us to do everyday. It’s a crap time but I need to stay positive!.

sing she took to it really well, I was very impressed!. I’m sorry to hear about your friend that sounds so difficult. I hope that you can get you’re heating sorted soon. Love the memes again!.

So sorry to hear about being in tier 4 foxes💐. It’s understandable to feel the way you do, just be kind to yourself.

Thank you tinselette, it’s horrible when they’re ill isn’t it. Love the 4 stages of man😂. Good luck with the homeschooling.

ED I can knit but I don’t do it as much as I should, I never find them time!. Well done on getting your list done.

Sorry you’re feeling like you’re unravelling zoo can your DC help you out at all to take some pressure off you?. Sorry about the lack of sleep again. Well done on getting the wrapping done!

I’m sorry to hear you’re in tier 4 wooly💐 I’m glad DS1 was able to get back. Sorry about DS2’s gf’s parents, that sounds really tough. Love the crafts!

up I’m glad to hear your plans are still able to go ahead!

Glad to hear the migraine is better hills, I don’t have FB but my family group chat is going crazy. I think people are angry that we were promised something they couldn’t give us, it’s been handled very poorly.

tidy well done on doing all that, I’d definitely be boasting!

mc my house is dishevelled every day!. I hope you can get your car sorted out!.

Since I started the first post I’ve managed to have a bath, walk to the shop with DS1 and get some biscuits and milk, watch frozen 2 and bath and put the kids to bed. I’m going to give the kitchen a good clean now and the bathroom. Will hoover as well. Feeling very emotional but much more put together. Big hugs to everyone here who’s struggling and a massive thank you to you all. I’ve not been on this thread long and you’ve all made me feel so welcome and it’s lovely to have people to chat to.

Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!
MrsTidyHouse · 20/12/2020 20:33

Enjoying a surge of confidence after yesterday's achievements.

Today's Ta-Da!
Fridge and freezer clean and tidy.
Cupboards straightened up.
Supermarket order sorted. Although still tempted to add biscuits.

Kitchen good enough.
Tumble-dried and put away.

Hoovered bedrooms.
Small bureau now in LG's bedroom.

All laundry out of bedrooms and bathroom into utility.

Tomorrow's To-Do :
Stack bookcases on top of each other.

Cables, boxes, out of DS's old room.

Start laundry mountain of school uniforms.
Garden tidy if less rain.

Take car and LOs for a run?
Look for star. Too much cloud/rain probably.

Swipe left for the next trending thread