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! 💐

Morning folks. Need a pointy stick to get me out of bed this morning 😳

*po3.1
❗️Breakfast, vitamins, water
❗️Find suitable piano books to use in today’s lesson and remind myself WTF I’m doing 😳😩
❗️Shower/dressed

We haven’t really done the walk to see the lights much as I was often in a bad way energy wise. But I’d really like to do that on Christmas Eve I think. I’m walking a lot better now.

Also found out a friend is going to join the same gym as me so I’ll have another exercise buddy! Woohoo!

Trying to decide if I want to go into town after my lesson today. I could get a few bits sorted, and perhaps have a browse of cushions in Dunelm. However, it’s Saturday! And the photo my friend sent yesterday, during school/work hours, was quite bad enough. Ugh. People. So many people.

ED what a lovely memory ❤️

Hazel oh no to lost hamsters! I lost my friends hamster once when I was looking after it for her, my dad had to move all my bedroom furniture extremely carefully to find him, it was nerve wracking and I never ever wanted my own hamster after that!! (We found him and he was fine!)

We will probably do a Christmas light drive as well because apparently the next village along have some great ones and it's a bit far to walk and not a very well lit path. Not sure yet.

Good luck today sing hope the lesson goes well!

Glittery I'm the same, not much flying has gone on recently and it shows. Going to try and get some done today.

Have had a slow morning so far though, dh is out in the garage knocking down walls or clearing space to knock down a wall anyway. I helped the dc do some Christmas cards. I've looked up a chicken korma recipe for tonight and a chocolate muffin recipe for this morning. Read some of my book. Took loads of rubbish round to the recycling and hung the washing up.

It was really odd Thursday I braved the shops. Lakeland was bat shit, people everywhere, no clue about social distancing. Asda (the big one in the city) really quiet, social distancing, calm and actually quite enjoyable. Good luck with town Sing

I was going to have an early night and a lie in this morning. Neither has happened so i am trying to get going on 6hrs sleep. It's a struggle. But i promised that i would get the lounge tidy enough to put the Christmas decorations up. The dining room wont be but it can't until we have had the new cooker installed because a lot of that stuff would block the path through to the kitchen. But it shouldn't be too long to get that straight.

Lights were not really a thing ds ever enjoyed. He is an Aspie that really doesn't like the change aspect of Christmas and struggles really hard with all the extra sensory input. Even as old as he is now he is not a fan, even if he has better coping skills. He has however, agreed to put his height and balance to good use and help hang the wall garlands so people who should not be up ladders are not!

RIght i need a list. It's going to be a long one today. Forgive me but this is going to be a paper list that i will probably forget to post simply because i need the joy of crossing things off a list. Helps when progress feels slow.

Just got home. Lesson was awesome, pupil is very sweet AND they want me to teach twice a week not once!!! I’m elated and haven’t stopped smiling.

I did walk into town after (they live very near), walked through the mall and thought NOPE so left again and just did my asda shopping and walked home again. It was far too crowded to think straight in town so I’ll try again in the week.

ta da
bread flour order in.
Sorted proofs for checking of the christmas letters
Discussed systems within the house with mum
reminded teen of deal about him seeing a friend today - laundry, rubbish and washing up out
got dad to agree to prep potatos for me - can't touch the things without gloves I am so allergic now
Started shopping list for on line shop
Started shopping list for in person shop
Rescue my collection of coffee cups from where they have been "lost" over the course of the last few days
Take "the strong" pain killers to try to get pain levels under control - pain was really starting to affect my mood
Recognise patterns in exposures/behaviours/seasons that affect pain levels
Start 2 lots of bread
Put first lot of plants into sink to water them.
Finally get up and dressed - i find pjs easy to get stuff done in sometimes when there is not enough energy to want to face getting dressed.
Collect washing at bottom of stairs
Decide that I am going to decorate my room and then worry about tidy, i need cheering up and motivating and whilst i don't like decorating mess, it might help the getting started thing.
decide i need a tub for fall decorations
Check on teen's patch test - we are dying his hair this weekend. It was hard to say no to the sensible colour requested.

Hmmm next up?

Load of washing
finish windowsil and clean window
brunch for me and teen
load of washing up
and then prep for getting the stuff from lounge sorted as will need to close the lounge to through traffic and lunch is approaching.
Make revisions arising from proof
Find printer ink
print letters and return files to mum - she emails lots of family so they get it that way instead of snail mail
Rescue food from car

It's a start.

That's good Sing

No pointy stick Woolly but do have extra strong brew steeping if you want a mug...?

🎄❄️🎁 Saturday 5th December 🎁❄️🎄

Daily Focus - family fun day

Today’s Holiday Mission - ok I’m super confused now as it’s jumped to 6. WTF.
#4 - get hair, beauty etc pre Christmas appts booked
#5 - fridge fling! (In normal language that means “clear out the fridge”)
#6 - make lists of what you need for Christmas food, baking ingredients etc (that’s s damn good one actually, I really need to take note)

✈️ FLIGHT PLAN ✈️

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

Here’s another Pentatonix song I discovered last year when looking for Christmas music, and it fast became one of my instant festive mood lifters. Which is worrying if you look into the lyrics. I have no idea why it’s festive, but oh well. 😳

🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

I did the lists back in August. And now have master lists I can pull out each year. Although I do really recommend it. It takes a bit of the stress out of it. I really don't like Christmas until i sit to eat. Being the grown up that makes it all happens ruins christmas imo.

I definitely need to follow your lead there hills!

Ooh also my bullet journal arrived yesterday. I am excited! I’ve been thinking about what to track (it’ll be for keeping track of things rather than an actual diary really - will have a family diary as usual and we have a weekly planner by the door too) but any ideas would be good. I do want to build up to housework/control journal type stuff. But it’s mostly going to be my own self care/mental health kinda stuff.

I’m so cold still, I’m under the duvet!

I can give you a few ideas of what i have in mine later if you like? My bullet journal is where i put the christmas list

Oh yes please hills that would be lovely :)

I'd love to do a bullet journal type thing, never seem to get round to it though. A section for Christmas too so you can write ideas and stuff down during the year. I keep everything on my phone notes, Christmas lists, meal plans, shopping lists, recipe ideas but I like the idea of writing so I don't feel so tied to my phone all the time. But every time I start I think oh this will take ages I haven't got time may as well carry on as I am! I did start writing the home bleugh list every week to tick off but that's only because dh wanted to be able to see it too so he could help more now I'm working longer hours. He helped before but very much in a just do whatever he saw in front of him (which is fine!) and I used to say to him why do you never dust?? turns out he just never thought of it!

Anyway that was a ramble.

Ta das!
Popped to shop for bacon for lunch and stamps (but I didn't buy enough no idea why!?)
All had lunch made by dh
FIL dropped round an elf on the shelf for each of the dc 🙄 he knows I didn't want them because now I have to do stuff with them!! But tbf the kids were so happy so I suppose I can't really hold it against him
Gave FIL his Xmas cards from us and the kids did one for him too
He stayed on the doorstep which still feels very strange, my overwhelming urge is to make a cup of tea for us all! Could have made him one and got him to drink it on the doorstep 🤷‍♀️
Made chocolate chip muffins
Dealt with whining children ,don't know what's up with them this afternoon
Mopped kitchen, downstairs toilet and bathroom
Washed towels

Still haven't dusted or done the mirrors...and need to hang the towels up to dry. Then roast the butternut squash to go in the curry. Then make the curry. I'm never very enthusiastic about curry!

Foxes covid has your back - quarentine them... ;) that will buy you 14 days... all you would need to do is pop a thing in the jar with them each day. would make it less full on if you are not up to much. I actually think a spread in a bullet journal for ideas for elf on shelf so that you have lots of ideas planned out before you get to December would be really useful. I get analysis paralysis sooo much in December simply because there are so many decisions that have to be made that the more I can do throughout the year makes it a much easier time for me.

My phone notes are a total shambles foxes 😳 I did start moving over some lists to the reminders app but then that’s a mess too. And my Pages app on the iPad where I keep some lists as a proper document, stuff like home ed planning especially. I need a serious digital declutter! 😳

I have not done much this afternoon, think I’m a bit tired from the nerves today 😂 and it’s cold, I did turn the heating on but I have a feeling the boiler has gone again 🙄

I’ve just been browsing online, ordered what I swear WILL be the last present for the Caglets (a minecraft mask for DS... who’d have thought last year that would be a thing? Thankfully he actually loves wearing masks - not sure if it regulates him a bit - so he will be tickled by this). 🥶🥶🥶

I'm enjoying this Twitter account twitter.com/catshouldnt/status/1335257491857281024?s=20

Not worked. Will try again twitter.com/catshouldnt?s=20

May be of interest to Scout cat 😁

Love that Twitter page Tinselette!

Woolly I’ll do your sink shining if I can bring all the random bits of sewing I’ve procrastinated over in return . DH has this weekend off! He was supposed to be working it but last minute change of plan. I gave him a lie in this morning, and have been out with DD most of the day so he’s had peace. Hoping the favour is returned tomorrow!

Glad your first piano lesson went really well Sing. Hope the boiler is fully repaired ASAP, and yay for the DW possibility.

Foxes our elf just hides every night. Minimal effort required. He was hanging from the living room light this morning.

It’s taken me a while to catch up on the thread and the rest of the personals have deserted me.

Me and DD had a lovely day today - our Santa visit that we booked ages ago went ahead - it was moved outdoors and we sat opposite. It worked really well and DD was delighted. It was in a local garden attraction and the weather brightened up just as we arrived so we had an hour exploring with a bit chocolate afterwards too. Unfortunately DH couldn’t come as we hadn’t booked him a ticket thinking he was working. He’s enjoyed the peace though! Rest of the afternoon has involved TV, eye spy and being entertained by DD singing Christmas carols. Frozen pizza and veg sticks for tea.

I did manage some ta Das this morning though:
🎅 beds made
🎅 s&s
🎅 DW and WM emptied and reloaded
🎅 lots of clean laundry away
🎅 DD’s bedroom and my dressing room tidied
🎅 ordered takeaway Sunday lunch from a local restaurant for tomorrow
🎅 managed to get hair appointment for my week off.

Tomorrow’s plans are downstairs home bleurgh then tree etc up . Now it’s bath with a gin then DD to bed and another gin

Hope you’ve all had some downtime/family fun today.

Well that snowballed. I now have two more pupils booked in for Tuesday 😂 they are friends and former pupils though, from before I had Cagletini, the older one was then ill for a while. And they’re familiar enough that I don’t feel too much need to tidy up a lot for them to come here 😂 someone else has asked too, but I’m not sure if they want online.

I’ve had my first bit of Christmas guilt as I can’t say yes to seeing some friends we normally host (often on Christmas Day itself) as they would often be at a loose end. But DSCs are two households.

I’ve also ordered myself some ear plug things. They are called “calm” and are meant to stabilise background noise so you can focus better 🤔 £20 well spent I hope!

I particularly liked the cat on the catwalk!

Great thread tinselette I love the hanging upside down ones 😂

Strictly time yay

ta da
🥰piano lesson
🥰walked to and from town
🥰quick asda shop
🥰arranged more piano lessons
🥰wrote in my journal
🥰unpacked some deliveries into appropriate places
🥰quick tidy in our bedroom - filled and hung up new odd sock bag, stripped Cagletini’s bed etc

Errr think that’s about it

Hiya everyone, hope you’re all well. I’m still full up of a cold so today has been a duvet day. My family have been really helpful bless them. DM took ddog for a walk before she went to work this morning and my step dad took him again when he got back from work. Today hasn’t consisted of much housework, we watched lots of CBeebies!. For our activity today we did jingle bell painting (paint bells and then roll them on paper to see what pattern they make) DD loved it. Then we watched the snowman and then the snowman and the snow dog, DD really liked it but got quite upset when she thought they’d melted forever. She’s started repeating things I say to herself, today I told her my favourite Christmas film was the polar express and she said “my mummy’s favourite Christmas film is the polar express” to herself, it’s adorable!. It makes up for the fact she never bloody sleeps!. She’s in bed now and I can hear her talking to herself, I’m wrapping up some Christmas presents, I’ve tried to be fancy this year (pics attached)

hazel I’ve had lots of fluid and rest today, my family have been brill. Still feeling a bit rubbish but will try and get back to myself over the next few days. Glad to hear you found the hamster!

Thanks wooly we are having a lovely time together before Christmas. I hope you enjoyed your busy Christmas day!

Oh ED that sounds like a lovely christmassy day! It reminds me of when it snowed when I was little and my DM and DSF pulled me on a sledge to the shop. I had so much fun!

That’s great sing the tutoring sounds like it’s going very well!. Sorry about the Christmas guilt though.

I love the twitter page tinselette!

Aww it sounds like you’ve had a brill day up, I haven’t booked any Santa visits this year but it’s great to know they’re still sort of doing them.

foxes I don’t do much with our elves really, I put them in different places each day and DD has to find them. Sometimes I might do something creative.

hills them shops sounds crazy! I’m thankful that it hasn’t been to bad here.

Right I should finish the wrapping!

Sing that's really exciting re students and lesson going well! I hope your boiler is behaving.
Bower thank you. Yes, I am still working through my pregnancy vitamin stash.
ED what a lovely memory, made me all warm and fuzzy just reading it.
Sherin I hope you managed some sleep. Wrapping presents is one thing I gave up on this year (or any year for that matter..) I just put them in a pretty paper bag with some crinkly paper on top - quick and presentable. Your DD sounds like a wee cutie ☺️
Hazel well done on finding the hamster! I like these furry beasts, but it's their Houdini antics that put me off getting one (and the fact that they don't live very long, I get really attached to pets, even my fishies are like members of the family).

Ta das from yesterday:
🎉Beds made
🎉LOL - washed, dried, but not folded. That's for today.
🎉 Evening routine
🎉Went for a walk
🎉 Aquarium maintenance x3

Right, off for some more sleep before starting Sunday.