Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flip, flap, the Fledglings are back! April 2022 Flylady thread, all welcome!

456 replies

SingToTheSky · 31/03/2022 20:38

Hello everyone, and welcome to the April Flylady thread!
We welcome newbies and returnees - if you are curious about the system feel free to ask questions or lurk! We do follow it, erm, loosely to say the least. So there is a lot of chat about random life stuff as well as housework, decluttering and organising.

A key element of flylady is not being a perfectionist!
I don’t think the regulars would mind me saying that most of us here are not naturals at housekeeping etc, so please don’t feel we are some intimidating group who demand perfectly shined sinks. We are human. We fall off the wagon. We commiserate and help each other climb back on, and we stock the virtual naughty corner with snacks and blankets for the days when adulting is just too hard.

So, the system:
🔹Some baby steps which are designed to help you build up a routine.
🔹Daily missions to help with sprucing up particular areas in the zones, for example the first zone of the month is the entry/porch and dining room if you have one.
🔹Try and do 15 minutes decluttering a day. It didn’t get cluttered in a week so it will take a lot longer to clear it!
🔹Daily focuses to help shape the week.
🔹Here on the thread many of us post to do lists, but also “ta da” lists of things we’ve achieved that day.
🔹We also recommend the Power of Three technique - if you’re overwhelmed with too much to do, just pick three things and don’t think about the rest.

Anyway, I will post some links each day (hopefully) but whether you follow the system or not - many of us just take the bits we like or build our own flylady style system to suit our own lives - do join in if you want a place to chat about keeping a house and family running!

Finally, thank you hugely to the lovely willow for steering us beautifully through March! 💐

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Stilllivinginazoo · 02/04/2022 06:35

What's the new skill you are learning red
Enjoy the holiday fly

Yesterday's tada
Found floors after sorting over flowing recycling and rubbish bins
LOL

Today I'm determined to start reclaiming this bearpit again!!

Be back in a bit with a tada

SingToTheSky · 02/04/2022 08:31

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

Morning all.
We are on the second of April and it’s SATURDAY! So that according to Flylady is Family Fun Day. No missions either as it’s a weekend but feel free to declutter for 15 minutes in zone 1!

The baby step for today is a controversial one - getting dressed to shoes - that we mostly interpret as “get dressed and ready for the day” rather than actually wearing shoes in the house.

She says, while still in pyjamas…

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

OP posts:
GreenWillowAndCatkins · 02/04/2022 08:52

Morning! It's a lovely bright day here, but cold.

Wild loving the new name.

Fly I hope you have a lovely holiday, you deserve to put the house and marking down for a fortnight. We are out of whack with many of the rest of you and have another week of school to go.

Dancing it sounds like you're going great guns with the decluttering. I can't believe the Fraggles are 7 and 5 already, they were so small when we first "met" you!

Hazel I hope DH is getting to grips with the the idea that a single sink for washing up is mightily tedious. Perhaps he should wash up every night for six months a few more times, to really cement the idea?

Sorry to hear people are still poorly. Sending positive healthful thoughts and reminding you all, as per the book I'm currently reading, that convalescence is very important (if not more important than beating the actual illness) and so there should be fresh air and sunshine and hot tea and blankets over your knees etc.

Hills that sounds like a great list, I hope you got a decent sleep too.

Today I will actually be decluttering the hall / entryway as I am putting the study back together while DH is out with DS2 on a Birthday Trip to London.

Sing good luck to DD in her exam.

But first, coffee. 🍒👋 to everyone, hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Stilllivinginazoo · 02/04/2022 09:08

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Scrub kitchen surfaces
Wash up.wioe kettle
Wipe toaster
Sweep kitchen floor.sweep living room
Floor
Make jusrol croissants
Lft test lil zoo and dd2
Dd2 has had a first negative,lil zoo remains clear.for now...
Wash in drier
More on
Breakfasts(incl nice toast mountain for me)
Now to try and find my missing bankcard(need to top up meters FFS) and find front room properly

Dancingtomusic · 02/04/2022 10:57

Zoo- 'bearpit' 🤣

Willow- that book sounds very interesting- what is it called please? I love interesting things.

My plan-
Is to work more in sitting room to declutter.
Move sofas and vaccum. (Never will i buy recliner sofas that require a degree in physics to move without falling apart, toppling over or possibly ripping the carpet. Ffs.)
This might be to ambitious....but I want to move all the funiture around...

I have exhusted myself just thinking about it. 🤦‍♀️
Evening out, late night is not conductive to changing rooms style day. 😂

swallowedAfly · 02/04/2022 11:10

Thanks all.

Bit of a slow start today. Have taken the dog out, taken out rubbish and recycling, put on a lol and made coffee and come back up to bed with two charity bags that I intend to add to shortly.

When I've had my coffee and mn time I shall start making headway in the bedroom so I can actually see the floor and try and get everything that needs to be donated or chucked etc into one corner in an orderly fashion and have that hopefully result in at least an empty drawer and some hanging space for nephew when he stays.

I need to sort surfaces of bedside tables and of the now nearly empty chest of drawer carcass that has all my perfume and cleansing stuff and various other random crap on top (just one drawer of random crap left to remove and empty and then that last drawer and the carcass can be dismantled/smashed by ds to go in bin). Going to make use of the canvass storage boxes bought to go in the kallax when it gets built to store a lot of this 'stuff' whilst I'm away.

Basically everything needs doing in my room and still a fair bit downstairs and the stairs and landing carpet needs deforesting (as do I).

Leave things till last minute? Me? Blush

Stilllivinginazoo · 02/04/2022 11:43

You are not alone with last minute things fly
Dancing are your recliners super heavy too?I HATE ours with a passion.never again.theyre on last legs now and will be glad to get something simpler!

BeanAnTae · 02/04/2022 14:51

I'm just checking in - now have Covid so I'm self isolating in my bedroom. I have tidied the bed and sorted out stuff on the floor. Eaten lunch, and about to have a quick shower. I'm reading a book on how to be a productivity ninja which is rather good! (Sprays viricide over thread)

BloomingHazel · 02/04/2022 18:14

💐 for everyone battling sickness, I hope everyone under the weather starts feeling better soon

DD and I are going bulk shopping today. We are about to leave our town, but the wind is already kicking up so it'll be a rough drive there against the high winds 😥 DD is driving us there in my Jeep!

We'll have to make it quick there though as DS and I have been asked to make rolls to go with dinner tonight.

Hopefully be able to get back on here later 🤞

BeanAnTae · 02/04/2022 18:57

Hope you got back safely Hazel. Lovely evening sunshine up here.

SingToTheSky · 02/04/2022 19:54

Evenin’ all.

Busy morning segued into lazy afternoon here. Finally retreated upstairs to watch another episode under the duvet, I’m freezing today! Just had dinner brought to me 🥰 so am going to take crockery down in a moment and then clear up a few things. Will have a big family clean up in the morning again but may as well do some easy bits now. Also need to do the planner board and sort my meds box as I did neither this week 😳

OP posts:
Mc3209 · 02/04/2022 21:39

Hiya, Fledglings! Can't believe it's April.
Dancing I've rearranged our living room too today. Needed to jiggle things around as now McToddler is turning into a climber and also took a liking to digging in the big flowerpot. I did hoover under and behind all sofas as a result. How are your little ones doing?
Red glad to hear you are better.
Sing having your dinner brought to you - live that!
Hazel did you manage to make it?
Bean ah no, sorry to hear about your lurgy. Hopefully it will pass quickly and uneventfully.

Ta das:

  • rearranged living room and hoovered deep dark corners including behind the sofas etc.
  • usual morning and evening routines

I've started watching new series, and oouuuff, one of the main characters got me a bit hot under a collar 😂 It has been a while since I had that reaction to a fictional TV character 🤣🤣 Must be hormones or something!

SingToTheSky · 02/04/2022 22:09

Well clearly mc we are gonna need to know what TV show this is!

OP posts:
Mc3209 · 02/04/2022 22:26

Sing it's The Last Kingdom, with Alexander Dreymon playing Uhtred 🤤 And I don't even like dudes with long hair in real life! 😂

Dancingtomusic · 02/04/2022 22:36

Mc- yes you must tell us the tv series!
Is it Bridgerton series 2! As I absolutely loved it, and fell for the main character Antony. I loved the attention to detail in the dresses and the set design is out of this world - on point with the colours. I would so love to meet the design team!

Sing- thats so lovely you got a chance to get away and watch something.

Willow- I know the fraggles have grown up so much.

McToddler! Awww! Wow! Time has flown!
Aww your plant pot!
My little/big fraggles are growing up thank you and being lots more independant with getting dressed and not clinging to me anymore. Which means my hands are free to declutter or fold clothes and put them away.
My 7 yrold sweet boy has developed a attitude and doesnt want hugs. I feel like since my mother in law passed away in Dec, my little boy took it hardest.
My little girl is very bright, funny and chatty. We are discovering she is great chatting to adults but struggles with bonding with best friends. Its a minefield and sometimes it makes me wish I could magic her a best friend so the hurt goes away. Part of me just wants to tell her, be happy in your own company.

Leaving chocolates in the naughty corner.

Tadas-
🦄Decluttered away a corner of stuff from sitting room.
🦄Half emptied ottoman double bed, vacuumed up all the dust, then reorganised and packed things into ikea bags.
🦄Ask my dad if he wants a few pieces of furniture- hopefully i will drop that off tomorrow. Worry about dad as he still isnt feeling well, I havent been popping over as i have been focusing on the great decluttering challenge.

Dancingtomusic · 02/04/2022 22:38

Mc- oops...I have just seen its The Last Kingdom 😊

merryhouse · 02/04/2022 22:46

ah well, Uhtred...

Redsquirrel5 · 02/04/2022 22:57

Zoo just been having a go at knitting more patterns. Made a hat, now making fingerless gloves. I will take a photo when I have finished.

Been up nearly all day though fell asleep this afternoon watching Four in a Bed.
Sorted somethings in boudoir. Put some (not all) washing away. Wiped window sill. Wiped top of door( yuk, disgusting) and each horizontal bar.
Boudoir isn’t complete but looking much better. Hope to put the rest of washing away. Then remove anything that shouldn’t be in here. Did put some old leggings, tights etc in a box until all collected then bag as rags.
Sorted a handbag in the sitting room. It is fairly tidy just needs vacuumed.

HillsBesideTheSea · 02/04/2022 23:12

Dancing 7 yo boys can have a hormone surge and it is not uncommon for it to be a very trying age for parenting boys. Sorry for your loss though

Are y'all telling me i should probably start watch tv/shows again?

SingToTheSky · 03/04/2022 00:07

:o Mc :o

ta da
🧚‍♀️helped Cagletini make a birthday card for DSD2
🧚‍♀️took the girls to dance lesson/exam
🧚‍♀️put laundry in dryer
🧚‍♀️rubbish and recycling gathered in boodwa
🧚‍♀️emailed dance and chemistry teachers
🧚‍♀️sorted vitamins etc for the next fortnight
🧚‍♀️ordered meds
🧚‍♀️diary check with DH (must actually write on board tomorrow)
🧚‍♀️Cagbunny care
🧚‍♀️gave kitchen bin a quick clean

Today it was DS’ turn to help DH with the donations - this time moving them to the school next door which was acting as a collection point (the town’s Polish School uses it on Saturdays). He did well helping sort the donations and packing them efficiently 💕

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 03/04/2022 06:11

singStarfor D's helping with donations
Red yes I'd love to see pictures!
MC
Dancing sorry for your lossFlowersfraggles grow so quickly.dd2 is 18 soon HOW??lil zoo is 15 in autumn..
Hazel hope winds don't cause any damage and you are ok

BloomingHazel · 03/04/2022 06:32

The wind didn't cause any damage that I'm aware of and we made it back safe and sound. We had a nice lunch together (DD and I) and caught up a bit since we hardly see each other (she's at work before I get home from work).

zoo your P really does need to step up! 🤣 at lil zoo attitude repelling Covid!

Ta Das:
🌷 bulk shopping with DD
🌷 made rolls (DS was going to help, but DH needed his help outside. He did help me shape the dough into rolls though)
🌷 rotated DW
🌷 wiped all the countertops
🌷 Swept the floor (I made a little mess with flour)

We had dinner at ILs. I'll be cooking the next 3 Saturdays, at their house. It'll be nice if they can come to ours again, but with DH grandma so tired all the time, I just don't see it happening.

I do need to bake cupcakes tomorrow. A friend placed an order so I'll get them ready for her for Monday morning.
Falling asleep now, sorry for lack of other personals but I am reading along

MrsTidyHouse · 03/04/2022 08:40

LOs left for a short holiday yesterday. I'm determined to have a break myself next week, just puttering locally, going to the country park, etc. This weekend is catchup with kitchen, batch-cooking, laundry, so that there is as little as possible for the next week. All the cooking and tidying and stairs should keep me warm. I can stay in the kitchen most of the time while I'm on my own. That should cut down a bit on fuel consumption. Meanwhile, I'm so cosy here in bed, I just don't want to move....

SingToTheSky · 03/04/2022 11:17

😴😴😴😴😴

Morning all! Just about! Apologies for lack of links but well, it’s Sunday! For information though we do move into Zone 2 today, which is the kitchen.

It’s also the day to Renew Your Spirit - do something just for you.

😴😴😴😴😴

OP posts:
WildBlueAndDitzy · 03/04/2022 11:20

Yesterday we went to the big park and had a lovely afternoon. Got a couple of admin tasks done, another couple to do today. Today's main plan is watching a film or two. Yesterday wore me out. Decluttered two things. Reading about everyone's cooking is making me hungry.

Sorry you have covid Bean

Dancing you poor thing, I detest recliners, they're such a PITA, cheering you on for getting something new and better.

MrsTidy I'm conscious of the fuel too. Decided that as long as it's only hands and noses that are cold we'll have to put up with it, any colder than that and the heating will have to go on.

Glad you're recovering Red