May the Fledglings Fly with you

[EspeciallyDistracted]

Hello everyone, and welcome to the May Flylady thread! I have shamelessly copied the OP from the April thread, thank you Sing

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!

Dear God this is the raverly farse all over again.
Fucking industry standards need to be more user and disability friendly!

Hi,
I found my log in.
I am not sure i will be here for long because the font, layout, spacing, and colour choices are almost impossible to read.
I have feelings about the industry standards forcing disability off the web due to accessibility issues.

but i have been flying. A lot.

there was a whole debarcle of having to get from building site to super tidy in less than 2 weeks.

Right bare with, especailly if this is a poorly timed post. I need to go figure out where the flying monkeys you actually are on the thread because it is all bonkers in layout.

Hi Hills, good to hear from you and yes the thread is struggling to keep afloat with the changes

It is the font, and spacing that is the biggest problem for me. I am on enlarge to 150% With a green overlay layer over my laptop screen that keeps falling off just so i can read this. But i will be fair it is a bit better than the rav choices originally the tinting to the none writing area does help somewhat. I should probably pick up some spare overlays just so I can tape the one i have to the laptop.

I have had a cursory read through the thread - Welcome to all the new comers! I will learn your names and catch up with your stories as we move forwards. Bare with me, i am shocking at names at the best of times.

Hills I don't know if it's any help to you but there's a custom option for the colours which wasn't there before. There's a choice of colours you can pick for OP posts, your own posts and I think I saw you can pick for everyone else's posts too. Maybe you could change it all to green if that's easier?

I don't know how you went from building site to super tidy in 2 weeks but kudos to you!

Ta-da's:

The past few days I've been mostly focused on decluttering. Trying to embrace FlyLady concept that you can't tidy clutter. I'm very organized but I do find myself moving things round a lot and not using new things because the old ones "aren't used up yet". Trying to work on accepting things don't have to be totally broken or worn to rags before I get rid of them, if they're past their best they can go. I even find myself keeping empty cardboard boxes, if it's a sturdy box, with no particular idea of what I'm keeping it for!

Lots of tidying up is happening along the way. I'm making good progress with keeping hot spots clear.

Yesterday I had a break for a day at the park.

Thanks Ditzy i had those colours set up from way back when when trills changed her colours via code and broke the whole site for everyone and HQ gave us colour setting options

How did i do it?
Stash and dash, no sleep, threatened anyone who got in my way, having meals in the freezer so didn't have to cook, burn a load of stuff instead of shredding it, banning people from the upstairs and garden. Still trying to recover from the burnout over 2 weeks after the event. It was bad, really bad, I don't recommend it.

Hills that sounds awful. Hope you recover soon. I didn't realize others could change colours before, Like Hazel I use the mobile site and there wasn't the option.

Up yes I've been quite productive lately, I'm feeling pleased with myself 😇

Willow that sounds a total disaster with the steroids. Hopefully the doctors can fix you up soon.

One thing I have noticed is Mumsnet is absolutely drinking my data allowance these days. I don't know if it's a browser update that did it or the Mumsnet site. I've cleared cookies cache and data many times but this seems to be how it is now, so I'm going to be posting a lot less.

Morning all,

Sitting in the garden with a cuppa and a cat. It’s nice at this time of day before there’s too much traffic noise. We abandoned No Mow May yesterday and cut the grass, I was getting fed up with dandelion clocks and the nettles that had sprung up, we have left one long bit in a corner. It looks much better now and it is less perilous getting to the garden shed (I got stung by the nettles yesterday).

It sounds as though everyone’s experience of new MN is different - I hadn’t noticed it using data particularly but I mainly use it at home on wifi —or at work—. I did have the colours set before on the mobile site (Ditzy - you had to set it up on the desktop site but they showed on the mobile site, that was one of my grumbles about old MN, that you had to go to the desktop site to access the settings menu and wasn’t obvious at all how to do it, I only knew because I was around when they first introduced the colours). About a year ago they removed the “desktop site/mobile site” toggle from the bottom of the screen too so you could only switch through your own browser’s system. It sounds horrendous for you Hills - and many others are reporting things like black boxes appearing, constant need to re-login.

Anyway, well done on surviving the big blitz Hills, hope things are a little calmer now.

Ditzy - you are doing really well by the sounds of it with the decluttering. I too find it hard to let go of things but as you say just moving them around is counter-productive.

Willow - hope you are feeling better with the change in meds.

Right, today we are in the Master Bedroom. Our mission is to declutter under the bed. I took out all DD’s winter school uniform and PE kit yesterday and decluttered it to someone with a younger DD so that’s a start.

Flight Plan for the day is here flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-60

I have a drawer left to door under my bed so might actually attempt that today. DH is home later this morning, so it appears we have survived the weekend. The house and laundry are both mostly under control so I’m not feeling under pressure to do much today.

lovely to see you back Hills, sounds like you’ve been ridiculously busy so hope you get a bit of rest now.

ED a cuppa and a cat is my idea of perfection.

Up it's so lovely to feel on top of things.

I thought I was tidy before but FlyLady is definitely improving me. I've amazed myself at how well I'm doing with decluttering, hoarder that I am. Another two items went out today. I keep reading little posts here and there on the FlyLady website and so much of it resonates.

Today has been mostly about deliveries. Had to go fetch the one I missed on Saturday when I was at the park, got back in time for another. It's mostly storage boxes for craft things.

I did a whole lot of nothing yesterday! Well, other than grocery pickup order placed, picked up and put away. I'm not even sure if I reached 3000 steps 😱
I did actually put gel on my nails though, sitting on the couch for over 4 hours to do them 🤣

I changed the colours on mn on my phone through the chrome app that I use, did that a few years ago. I haven't logged in on my computer since DD was a baby (fyi, she's 18!).

I will have more for ta das tomorrow as I'm off work, but I really should have got more LOLs done yesterday (and did none).

I still haven't cleaned my swing cushions 🤦‍♀️ maybe I'll do them tomorrow

hills good to see you again! Sorry the updates don't work well for you though

I will either find a way to get the site to work or I won't. I survived the great Rav update debarcle and so far the quiet is better than the we don't give a shit attitude that went on over there.

Up - lovely you might need to define rest for me sweetie. I fear it is one of those words where i seem to have a faulty definition

So i skipped out on home bleurgh but i did do:
> stew in slow cooker so people would be fed
> supplied teen with resources so he could make himself burritos (mostly me sticking head into freezer)
> play hunt the bread flour only to realise it is still on its' 3 week quarrantine in the freezer and I am going to have to did to the bottom of the freezer to get to it.
> provide person with alternatives to bread for lunch for next few days
> play hunt the bits of paperwork with all the medical appointment times and dates etc on because i am getting booked up in August already
> travel to the city to pick up some meds only to find they only issued part of what was requested
> do the big bulk monthly shop whilst there
> contact GP about missing items and get that sorted - will be ready in a few days
> planning day stuff done didn't buy a new notebook and pens. nope. wasnt me. didnt do it. <hides evidence>
> beat the owl
> 30 mins reading - new habit trying to cultivate for each day
> daily pages - another new habit trying to cultivate for each day
> Review some practise papers for exams
> wash up some pots - only what would be needed today
> work on the christmas present craft projects - again aiming for 30mins minimum per day so not chasing tail in run up to Christmas
> Check tyre pressures
> collect laundry ready for tomo
> convince teen to move the tub of fish water for me so ready for tomo
> Have the I am fed up of repeated conversations that are had, that no fucker ever remembers rant. As people forgot we had arrangements for this morning.
> take an accidental nap instead of studying after realising didn't have the text book preferred for working on the planned unit, and stalled out on the stuff did have with me - cars are surprisingly comfy. Especially if you keep spare blankets in there
> Go through tech stuff with teen
> meal plan for the week
> Create the batch cooking list for the month
> update all the calendars
> do the dang physio exercises

In short for the newbies: I switch monday's home bleurgh with tuesday's planning, threw in some body clutter, some professional focus, and some renewing of spirit. So i mixed and matched it today. I mean I could have done a fling boogie, hot spot or 15mins declutter but meh, no need to be over achieving.

Now if you forgive me, i am going to steal that giant pile of floofy blankets in the naughty corner because i only got 3 and half hours sleep last night and despite the 20min nap I am heading towards over tired toddler mode and sleep is probably a better option. Night.

Hazel i have been watching the weather on your pond side. I hope you are managing to escape the worst of it. The Gaylor tornado was a doozy and goodness knows i would not have been impressed with colorado's dumping of snow. Hope the severe heat expected is not as bad as feared.

Well from your list Hills a nap (accidental or not), reading and crafting would count as rest to me, although I bet it doesn’t always feel it in amongst the rest of your list. FlyLady would approve though I’m sure. Also, as I’m a bit sad, planning/writing lists is restful to me. It’s my Monday morning baby nap time thing, with a cuppa and pretty pens <peers admiringly over Hill’s shoulder at new notebook and pens that she absolutely didn’t buy> I’m always amazed at how much you get done in a day.

Oooh I love storage boxes Ditzy. Pleased 21 year old me never had to hear me say that.

Enjoy your day off Hazel

TaDas:
• Usual routine stuff plus DH’s jobs of bin emptying and cat litter tray
• emptied remaining under bed drawer, cleaned it out and put final vacuum bag of winter clothes in it. Sorted the stuff I’d emptied into my ‘memory box, the ‘to eBay/donate’ pile and the bin
• decluttered the memory box so it closes again
• cleaned windows and mirrors in all 3 bedrooms.

Popping in, I’d love to say that in my absence I’ve been flying but nope just surviving really. Life is currently the height of Too Muchery. Seem to be slipping back into dodgy sleep patterns so best try and sleep. Love to all. 💐

Morning all,

Sorry to hear about the Too Muchery Sing <adds it to Fledglings Phrase Book>. Hope you got some sleep.

Hills - <peeks into naughty corner> sounds like a bit of Too Muchery for you as well. hope you also got some decent sleep.

Good work on the under bed stuff Up

Hazel - I think your gel nails count as Renewing Your Spirit.

Ditzy - have you ever read the Flylady book? IT’s called Sink Reflections and is quite old now, I used to have it but lent it to a friend whose house is nearly as bad as mine and haven’t seen it again. It is a bit twee but makes total sense of the whole Flylady system.

Right, today is Tuesday, I’m off to work shortly but today’s links are here

flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-60

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day and our mission is to tackle the clothes pile. Which most of us probably have at least one of <glances at bedroom floor>

DH and I are taking the day off to mooch in the child before school ends.

Up sounds like the household is under controland glad DH is back now to take some of the strain.

Sing sorry to hear about the too muchery. Wishing you a peaceful few days and rest.

Hills great to see you again.

And breathe.

Things I am looking forward to:

This morning's trip to city
Chelsea garden thingy on TV.
Taking more care of myself
Getting front garden sorted.

Am not looking forward to:

Sorting out hospital scan (not gravely ill just need a checkup)
Organising the summer holiday (difficult with possible medical appts)
Childcare/holiday club plans.

🌿🌷☀️🌼

Bean enjoy the child free time
Sing i hope that you are able to hang in there and not get to overwhelmed by the too muchness
Up there is something pretty appealing about nice new stationery and the ability to do a good planning session isn't there. I need to finish setting up June in my Bujo. I have to confess it was barely used in April and May.

I think i might make today my anti-procrastination day - tomo is a bit meh with hospital stuff that will leave me tired and in pain after. Plus i have multiple things i need to get booked and sorted that i have been delaying on.

Top tip for any beginners. Although the fly lady has dedicated days for these things; she does encourage you to personalise the system to get it to work for you. For me this week means mixing up the day's of stuff that wouldn't normally get mixed up. Planning day never works for me as Tuesday seems so random and Sunday in prep for the week just always works better. Just try to pick a day for the thing and consistently stick to it. The key is to be consistent so it becomes habit. Ie after tea on Sunday I sit down with my planning stuff. I do not have to think about it. I just do it.

God I hate Tuesday for planning Hills - I'm with you there. Hope hospital stuff goes well.

I had a nice time. I had mussels and monkfish for lunch - not had either for such a long time.

Bean enjoy your day, it so lovely 😍
hills thankfully we don't have all the crazy weather here, just all 4 seasons in one day 😀 we have had some cold days though, we are ready for it to get warmed up now. It seems like it is, then a few days later we have to pull our winter coats out again 🥶
ED it's a shame that you never saw your book again, hopefully it's because she's made really good use of it?
Sing sorry to hear of the Too Muchery 😢

So far for anti procrastination I have:
> booked 3 exams, and got a choice of 2 dates for the 4th - will book after sitting this batch of 3 cos timing availability...
> booked car into garage
> smear booked
> stripped the teen of his much lived in could almost stand up on its own hoodie and got through the wash
> figured out how to get to the exam centre a couple of cities over and the timings with alternative routes

In general flying terms i have:
> just put the 2nd load of washing on and hung up the 1st
> Muttered at the people about getting ALLLlll their washing up into the kitchen
> Sorted tea for tonight
> Defluffed ready for shorts requiring physio tomo and made sure said shorts are in wash so will be ready and dry in time
> Found the batch of study notes i needed yesterday but didn't have
> winced at the bill for the exams
> Checked various emails and inbox zeroed as much as possible
> Beaten the owl
> allocated homes to the new batch of plants
> watered all the plants
> changed the water on the fish tank
> had a lie in
> found the brand of eye drops i need to head to a town over the county boarder to get order because local stores can't get from their supplier yes it is bonkers but it means i get a nice trip into the hills and I will have a picnic tea and study at same time, maybe take a walk so not all wasted

And there was me feeling like i had wasted the day so far. Sometimes it is deceptive until you write it down!

Hills- bloody hell thats a list!

Big wave to everyone here.
Kids all illm
now i have caught it.

Life is mental crazy busy- wish i could tell you everything- body aches too much.
Flying has gone out the window, although managed to clear the sink and parts of kitchen
🍒👋

Oh Dancing no! Not a tummy bug, is it?

kinda dancing that list was the product of about 4hrs.

Also ta da:
drive to next county and pick up meds
catch up with 2 friends - separate events
pull out text books - discovered still missing a needed book wtf hills? did you not double check you fool?!
Wonder why laptop was making an alarming sound - breathe sigh of relief when discovered nothing sinister
3hrs study on the hill
Pick up stamps and card
Write card and cheque
put tea on to cook
put 3rd load of washing into the machine
take a walk to the local post box - 20mins away

All that is left is to craft for a bit. Where has the day gone?

That's a lot crammed in one day hills
dancing I hope you and your family feel better soon

Ta Das:
🎓 cooked DH his eggs for the week
🎓 picked up DD from her house (where she is currently staying) to take her to urgent care, she has an earache
🎓 went to the grocery store to pick up a few things, prescription wasn't ready
🎓 went shopping with DD (at my 2nd job) was able to tell my manager I couldn't work on Sunday
🎓 went back to pick up prescriptions
🎓 dropped DD off at her house
🎓 got lunch ready for DH and me
🎓 washed swing cushions (& gave myself a small blister on the tip of my finger)
🎓 got solar panel charging for the twinkle lights that I want to put up outside
🎓 washed mattress & pillow protectors from master bed
🎓 washed sheets
🎓 2 other LOLs
🎓 S&S both bathrooms
🎓 cleaned the ceiling fan in the master bedroom
🎓 dusted the bedside tables in our bedroom
🎓 Watered flowers
🎓 rotated DW
🎓 relaxed on the couch and watched a couple of my shows

I only got one cup of coffee today, instead of 2! But nobody died or got hurt, so can't be too bad 🤣
We are having a BBQ on Sunday as it's Memorial Day weekend. I actually have a 4 day weekend since I'm off Tuesdays anyway. We will have a house/ back garden full as a lot of people are coming. DD graduates from high school officially on Thursday night so then she'll have her diploma in hand at that point.
It's crazy how fast this year is going already. It feels like it's the beginning of April to me 🤷‍♀️

Good morning lovelies

Tomorrow is my last day of uni

Holy fuck

I will have actual time to fly! (Or nap)

Morning all,

Wow That - what a milestone! We hope you’ll include “time to chat” in that list too.

Hills <bows, feels inadequate>

Hazel - busy day for you too. We’ve got a national four day weekend next weekend for the Queen’s Jubilee, it will be weird having bank hols on a Thurs/Fri.

Dancing <hugs> hope you all start feeling a bit better today, it’s so miserable when everyone is poorly.

Bean - glad you had a nice day out yesterday

Waves at all the other Fledglings <peeks into naughty corner and finds big pile of them all snuggled up under blankies>

Right, just making a cuppa if anyone wants one.