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! 💐

tinselette thank you for that.i had really awful day(zoolets not being helpful/considerate)and it perked me a little
Tired of the exhaustion,pain,and generally feeling rubbish now top off depression.

Today's plan-
Music on
Sort kitchen and living room
Try get tree up
Order D's birthday gifts/some Xmas gifts
(All this morning)
Then time out pm
It may not pan out as such,but here we go....

😴

Morning, thanks for the elf advice everyone we actually did just hide them, one hanging from a light and one climbing ds bunk bed. The kids thought it was great. I'll do something more creative every now and then when I feel like it!

I wasn't very motivated yesterday but the curry I said I didn't really feel enthusiastic about turned out to be absolutely delicious! It was this recipe if anyone interested, the dc loved it too so a winner all round! realfood.tesco.com/recipes/chicken-korma-curry.html

Today I want to make soup for lunch, do some proper flying, kids are back to swimming lessons later and dd needs to do a bit more homework stuff (she did one task yesterday but just wasn't really in the mood for it. She said in a very teenage way "homeworks just not my thing mum" I mean I think they have too much of it anyway so I'm not pushing it, she's only 6! Made me laugh.

that

De-lurking to say I do not recommend Jack Frost. My 31 year old ds reminded me last week that he still remembers being traumatised when he watched it!

Just sitting down having a catch up with the thread under a blanket and getting very frustrated with the heating!

Hi roystonv I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jack Frost!

Hazel hope naughty hamster is feeling suitably contrite!

Hey that

I have been asked to write down what I want to do tomorrow. I’m not sure really! Normally we’d go out for birthday meals but while we can now, I’d feel stressed about Cagletini - it’s hard enough when toddlers don’t want to sit still but with social distancing it’s obviously even worse if she wanders around, and we haven’t navigated the whole potty training outside the home thing yet. (Hoping toilets are open in supermarkets now?! DH is taking her with him next time). So I need a cake and takeaway I think 😂

Morning.

trying to figure out how to get going this morning. still have stuff from my list yesterday.

So i went through my bujo and these are the top tips i have.
Future log - use it for recording things for the months you have not set up.
ONLY set up 1 month at a time then you can tweak as you see what works and what doesn't
Pinterest - lots of ideas for mood trackers depending on how fun you want.

Habit trackers - really useful. I used a habit tracker to keep track of meds taken, things that I needed to do regularly or forgot.
Sleep trackers - this one I have kept because for me it is a big issue
I have tracked symptoms/migraines/food exposures and peak flow at various points.
Some people track their periods on a tracker that is either monthly or annual but I just add a coloured dot to the day on my sleep tracker
I have meal plan bingo in my planner in my monthly section
I have goals and other things like a 1and 5 year plans in the back, Also the titles in a book series that I am collecting so that I know if i have the book when I am stood in the book store.
I have a want/need list so I can write things down, see if I still want/can budget it in
Some people put a budget in theirs, but I have a whole separate planner for that.
I have a reading tracker for next year as I want to try to do more reading for fun.

I have a cleaning spread, a house plant care spread, a christmas food spread, a present list (although with small kids this might not work so well for some) - these are not trackers but help to keep thoughts straight and give a place to referred to.

I have changed and adapted as I have gone through habit trackers didn't work for me so I don't use them, productivity chart lost steam, project trackers I have found useful. I was watching a youtube and the wise words "A bullet journal should never become another thing to beat yourself up about, it is supposed to make your life easier and if it doesn't change it."
I like pretty but have no time nor skill to achieve the result I want so I use print outs of pictures I have taken or found.

I can post a few picks of my 2021 setup in a few days if you like, I am working at getting that sorted atm. It is not complete but getting there. I am reluctant to show my current setup with all the personal details.

Hills thank you so much for that list! I shall have a proper read and take notes shortly. I’m very excited, the book I’ve chosen looks lovely. I just feel like tracking some things will give me a bit of a boost as well as pushing me to actually do stuff!

I have the house to myself for a bit so I’m going to watch TV and snack 😳

Lovely gift wrapping sherin I think I’ll start mine on tuesday!

🎄❄️🎁 Sunday 6th December 🎁❄️🎄

Zone - the website is confusing me today with some things changing and others not, but we should be moving into zone 2, the kitchen

Daily Focus - renew your spirit!

Today’s Mission - none because it’s the weekend

Today’s Holiday Mission - it’s now gone back to #4 🤔

✈️ FLIGHT PLAN ✈️

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

I’m enjoying all the elf talk! We haven’t done it but I love seeing everyone’s funny photos, a few of my FB friends post their elves’ antics!

🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

One other top tip. You WILL make mistakes in it, that is ok, and normal. it is not ruined, it is a working book and there are many ways to fix it. I have to move and get going but I will send you a link later (possibly tomo) on mistake fixing.

Ooh hills with that tip, you clearly know me too well 🙈😅 Thank you, that’s a very good point.

sing I forgot to say well done on the piano lessons!

I think that is a major thing for me, I don't write stuff down because I always want stuff to look neat and when it doesn't I get frustrated! I definitely think a bullet journal would become something I stress about 🤷‍♀️😂 that's a very good pointhills!

Ta das
2 X LOL including dd school shirts as realised she had none for the week ahead
Chatted to MIL who stopped by with Xmas cake and Xmas cards, so we had a little outdoor time with her, haven't seen her for absolutely ages so that was nice
Made tomato and pepper soup (it hasn't made anywhere near as much as I had hoped 🙄 )
Dh made us all bacon sandwiches and cups of tea for lunch again
Took loads of recycling to the bins
Dh tidied up after my soup making
Finished reading my book (definitely comes under renewing my spirit!)

House still looks like an explosion of clutter right now

Hills I LOVE your bullet journal tips! I also have a whole book dedicated to budgeting. I’m a bit obsessive with it. The front is budgeting for each month and spending trackers, and the back there’s various future planning, savings pots etc. I’ve had the current book since pre-DD and I feel a bit sad that I’m on the last few pages!

Royston I’m 34 and also still traumatised by Jack Frost! We love the Christmas Chronicles at the minute, and DH introduced DD to Home Alone recently which was a massive hit despite me thinking she was too young.

Hope you’re a bit more awake That.

How’s decorating going Zoo? Hope it’s been enjoyable and you’ve now got your feet up. It sounds like you really need some down time

Ta Das:
🎄pulled out TV stand and both sofas to hoover and mop underneath, and did under cushions too.
🎄de-cobwebbed living room ceiling
🎄wiped skirting boards
🎄cleaned window
🎄cleaned log burner, hearth and fire guard
🎄furniture rearranged
🎄tree constructed and decorations on, with only one bauble casualty (one of my favourite posh ones, my fault)
🎄half the additional decorations up
🎄wiped inside of front door frame which was rather manky
🎄demolished delivered Sunday lunch
🎄crashed on sofa with no energy and a big mashed potato belly, hoping DD will fall asleep

To do:
🎯 put up rest of decorations/lights
🎯 put away decoration boxes
🎯 sort lunch dishes
🎯 tidy hallway
🎯 clean the rest of the downstairs floors
🎯 attempt the cheesecake that arrived with the lunch, once there’s room

up finished painting thursday.still trying get the room straight as painting in small spaces with clutter creates carnage..
Hills I'd love see planner please!
Foxes spare soup this way if you don't mind
Bower i hear all birds/poultry got be kept indoors now to reduce bird flu rusks as been found in wild birds?

Another long day of plodding on at chez zoo
Living room us 3/4 sorted
"D"p has decided work overtime tonight and not come tomdedpite promising help shop so another shop trip today.dd2 to anxious(and did do bins and little bit help cleaning) D's finds weight of even loo rolls bothers him so useless at carrying.lil zoo refused help
It's been like this all weekend,no help or co operation from various quarters,mostly all together
Huge to do for tomorrow
Still need order Xmas stuff
DS birthday 18th Dec,no gifts sorted.yet

I'm at rabbit in headlight point and so tired and sore I just want hibernate!!

Wash machine sounding like rocket launch,so near ready pop in dry which bleeping is done so best go deal with that as clothes are trickling downstairs again and pant and sock levels are approaching critical...

ED had a lovely image from you and the kids on a sledge.

Zoo yes don’t know how people are expected to do it though. My girls have a coop and two small caged areas and then we have a pen with chicken wire and omelet fencing on top. Very small birds can fly through the wider squares. It means keeping them in the coop run which isn’t very big they won’t like that.

Up great list.Sorry about posh ornament it is never the cheap ones that you don’t like much. Try eBay for a replacement. What was it like?

I also cleaned the sitting room yesterday in preparation for the 🌲 I have a very manly front door. I did point it out to DH but to no avail I shall try again tomorrow and if not I will start it is covered in splashes of plaster. Plastering is all finished and we are not expecting to see DD—until we get the two remaining tiles means a trip to Hexham. Think they are still in Tier 3 so not sure about going and also waiting for next batch.
Just need to do under the sofa. I am going to wash the covers tomorrow clean and vacuum then home bleugh.
Kitchen
Plan to do shelf unit
Take dresser items off and dust all

Quiet day today
Mass their morning, felt ok as I sit near the door.Someone has had new baby during lockdown looks about a week old. I had chance to say congrats. They haven’t been coming long two other children.

Coffee and scone
Home watched Poirot
Lunch bacon and egg sandwich.
Another Poirot DH and a bit of a doze
Christmas candle on
Prepare chicken for Roast dinner
Going to Advent window shortly.

🍒👋👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒🤣🍒to everyone.

Hiya everyone! Hope you’re all doing good. It’s freezing here today, I’m still feeling a bit rubbish but walked ddog myself today so feeling slightly better. I can’t believe it’s only 6pm, today seems to be dragging. I can’t wait to get into bed tonight!. We watched Father Christmas earlier, DD loved it. And we made some Christmas jumper pictures. I need to apply for DD’s place at playgroup for September soon, it feels so weird to think she’ll be out of the house most of the day, I’m not sure how I’ll cope😂. I need to do bath and bedtime but I’m enjoying my place on the sofa with some ice cream!. House work has been non existent today, but I’ll get started again tomorrow.

mc I don’t normally go all out with wrapping but thought I’d try this year, it became a bit of a pain after a bit!. DD is adorable if I do say myself!

zoo I’m sorry you aren’t feeling so good. Things sound so stressful for you💐

Glad to hear the Curry was good foxes, I might try the recipe out later in the week. Your DD talking about homework has really made me laugh.

Roystonv I didn’t like Jack Frost when I was little, it really scared me. But I quite enjoy it now.

Ooh hills thanks for the bullet journey advice! I might try it out.

sing I still have a fair bit of wrapping to do but I’m glad I got a lot of it done. I can’t believe it’s Christmas time already. I love the meme😂

you’ve got loads done today up! I’m very impressed

It sounds like you had a good Sunday bower, I’m very jealous of the bacon and egg sandwich. I haven’t had one for ages!

I love soup for a nice comforting food, it's like a hug, I feel the same way about a cup of tea

I blitzed the house this afternoon. Went room by room and just put stuff away. Took me ages but it was definitely worth it as came back from kids swimming lessons to a nice tidy house. Dh hoovered downstairs and changed dd bed too so a few things ticked off for next week's home bleugh.

I have made ds packed lunch for tomorrow and dd school shirts are on the radiator (nothing like last minute!)

The dc got their swimming badges today so they were very excited. But a bit over tired when we got back. Gave them beans on toast for dinner followed by a blueberry and banana milkshake (delicious, I highly recommend!) . They are tucked up in bed already. Dh is cooking us a beige freezer food dinner

Sherin I love a Christmas film, tried to find one to watch earlier with the kids but they nagged me to put cat in the hat Christmas special on instead which wasn't quite what I had in mind I always tell myself I'll find the time to watch a nice Christmas film that I choose but never do!
I bet your dd will love playgroup. I still feel strange when both the kids are out of the house most of the day at school or nursery!

foxes wouldn’t normally suggest it but names/titles in a hat you could rig it with ones you want. Kids pick😁
Window visited chicken almost ready when we returned, washed up and put away. DH dried and did the trays. I smell banana cake.

Had to rescue the banana cake. It is light as a feather I have just had a square piece.
Oh Sherin Kelly’s ice cream mmm I remember it. I can’t have any dairy products now. Luckily Ben & Jerry have stepped up and make several good ones especially peanut butter and brownie.

zoo still painting here. Waiting for wood filler to arrive to tackle skirting. Will have to leave room empty to let the paint smells disperse and need to make sure of no dust or Ds's asthma will kick off. Hope Ds will be in by next Sunday. I HATE stuff displaced to our bedroom. I feel tense with clutter around. But downstairs the Christmas tree is up 🎄🎄

That's a genius idea bower

That’s DH’s fave ice cream brand sherin! I love Ben and Jerry’s myself, sooo many good flavours... ooh I should get some for birthday pudding 😀 the weirdest one has ready salted crisps in it! Weird but it works.

I’m hiding upstairs while the others wrap my presents. I did plan on doing the amendments to my first assignment today but I was practically falling asleep earlier 😳 so I have achieved absolutely nothing all day!

Evening all, our broadband has been off most of the day leading to a lot of frustration (DS has had to do a lot of coursework with a laptop tethered to my phone as I've got more data than him). BT are sending someone out to fix it tomorrow - it's not just us, others here have reported it too.

Apart from that, I spent a lot of time proofreading the coursework with DS, fetched the click and collect shopping and put it away, 4 x LOL, took DD to swimming, opened a new savings account (one of those monthly ones with higher interest), cooked dinner, phoned BT, watched Strictly. No Christmas films watched yet.

I've used a bullet journal for several years but nowhere near as extensively as Hills. Mine is a diary (monthly spreads done about three months ahead, mostly blank for this year) and journal, plus a book of lists, lots of lists. I take it to work and on holiday but don't carry it around otherwise as it makes my bag too heavy so anything I need to know while out shopping etc goes on my phone, as does my detailed calendar. Finances are all electronic apart from my tax return which is done (literally) on the back of an envelope. No habit trackers, never managed to stick with any for more than a few days. No prettiness and I have no qualms about crossings out. I keep Christmas present lists in there but everything else goes in my Christmas ring binder (all food and drink related stuff) or my Christmas notebook (card lists and lists of who gave what to the DCs to ensure thank yous are correct and timely).

That’s a great idea bower

I often don’t choose stuff either foxes I’m terrible for just shrugging and trying to fit in my own favourites at other times! It’s harder now the kids are older to find stuff we all want to watch. I need to dig out my copy of Bill Bailey’s orchestra DVD as they’ve never seen it, they think he’s funny though so that’s my plan for tomorrow instead of movie night.