Fledglings January 2023: the one without an interesting title

[CurseYouPerryThePlatypus]

Hello everyone, it’s that lovely time of year when we all aim at a fresh start! Welcome back to our regulars, and if you are new or returning, a huge welcome to you as well! Please feel free to post or lurk, whatever helps you most.

So, Flylady. That mysterious system that promises a lovely clean house! This link is a good place to read about the basic principles, but we strongly recommend ignoring the first bit - do not sign up for emails as you’ll be inundated!

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

If you’re new to the system, or are wanting a refresher course, the baby steps may be a good idea. Some are more useful than others, we’ve found, and stuff like affirmations may not work for you, so pick and choose what you want to try. You don’t have to do it all! Perfectionism can be left at the door, we celebrate any achievement here no matter how small it seems (this is why you’ll see our Ta Da lists as well as To Do lists!).

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

There are parts of the house called zones, each taking a different part of the month, and missions in those zones to do little tasks we may have neglected. If you don’t feel ready for those though, a good way to start is doing 15 minutes decluttering in that zone! Remember it didn’t get messy in a day so it won’t be fixed in a day either. Slow and steady.

Then there’s the daily focus - each day of the week has a theme, although many of us switch them around to suit our own lives.

Each day I’ll provide the link to the launch pad, which is where you can see what is meant to be done that day (but again don’t feel you have to do all of it! That way lies burnout!).

A couple of principles we talk about on here are:
Future Friend - the idea of doing something today that benefits you later, such as choosing your clothes or making your lunch the night before.
Power of Three (po3) - if you’re overwhelmed, just pick three easy tasks - no matter how small - and forget about the rest until they’re done. Then reassess and decide another three.

Finally a few acronyms:
DW - dishwasher, not dear wife!
LOL - load of laundry, we aren’t finding washing hilarious
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer

Found a very old apple core in a plastic cup in the door pocket of the car.

Been miserable about the state of the garage each I drive in. Spent about an hour tidying up areas that are my mess, but I refuse to make myself responsible for his crap.

put some stuff that was earmarked for a garden project into the recycling, piled up some broken electronics and phones for the dump. Old fruit crates stacked ready to go to the farm. Some old tubs and containers from the garden now all in one place to decide about later.

Speaking of garage, I need to make a drive (or more like several drives 🙄) to a local recycling centre to get rid of gazillion of large cardboard boxes that have accumulated there. It was supposed to be sorted last summer, as DH was supposed to organise it. Well, needless to say, it hasn't been done. Honestly, you'd think he is the only person on the planet who is WORKING. 🙄

Hey all,

I think I would prefer to be called Lolly 🙂

And nope, I didn't get all my list done...

-Wash dishes ✅
-Antibac and tidy up kitchen ✅
-Mop kitchen floor ✅
-Clean the loo
-Mop bathroom floor
-Sort the laundry out ✅
-Do some ironing
-Tidy living room ✅
-Phone mum and brother re estate agent selling our deceased family member's house ✅
-make packed lunches ✅
-chucked ds in the shower ✅

Predictably the telephone calling bits to mum and brother went on for a bit longer. Not a problem, I'll add the bathroom floor mopping and ironing to tonight's list. It's just Wednesdays are a good night for me to catch up on chores as I have the empty house to myself.

My list for today:

-showered ✅
-bleach loo in bathroom ✅
-coffee ✅
-Feed DS breakfast
-make the beds
-AM school run
-PM school run
-make tea
-wash dishes
-bleach downstairs loo
-mop bathroom floor
-general downstairs tidy up
-ironing....

@User: ha, yeah they like that I'm busy at work excuse don't they 😆

Right best get on before school run and work. Ciao.

Hi lolly welcome!
Scourgify love the new name

Sorry about the argument pompoms and that you were also feeling overwhelmed ditzy 💐

YesTaDa
🛡shower/hair wash
🛡working breakfast with colleague, planning etc
🛡volunteer “Christmas” lunch (we all voted to move it to January!)
🛡printed some revision stuff for DD1
🛡pub with DD1, her BF and his mum

So not a very productive day, but verrrry peopley. I am happy to have no meetings today or tomorrow - still lots of work to do but I’ll be staying in pyjamas I think and spending time on home ed as well, DH is doing most of it these days.

Thanks all for kind thoughts re overwhelm, TBH the demands on my time aren’t likely to get better until the summer holidays due to my main work project finishing and DD1’s GCSEs being over. Unfortunately for the six weeks between half term and Easter it’ll likely be even harder because DH has a pain management course two days a week. Will be worth it if it helps him long term though.

I will have a think about how to make those six weeks a bit easier, if I can stock the freezer with meals for those two days it will make a difference for example.

🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔

Thursday 26th January

Today’s mission is to tidy your dresser.

You can see all five missions for the week here www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions

Today’s focus is errands!

Here’s the launch pad:

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔

Need some motivation!

po3.1
❗️Breakfast and/or hot drink, and vitamins
❗️Find email address for education people at local(ish) NT property - apparently they have beehives which is a topic Cagletini wants to learn more about! 🐝
❗️Reading practice with Cagletini before I start work, I didn’t have time yesterday

So, today we found out that house we are renting is being put on a market, so we need to move within next 2 months. That will be a house move, a new baby, and a job change (or unemployment if things really go tits up) all within period of 6 months. I can't even do wine therapy to get over the shock of it all!
On the up side, I guess this will be a good time to hire a skip and declutter like there is no tomorrow..

@UsernameNotPresent what an absolute shock

Oh no username that's terrible! I hope you are able to find place to live soon, it's awful that you don't have much notice 😢

Hi to the newbies 🙂

Thanks for the sympathy Willow and Perry. Unfortunately I can't really offload here because I'm always taking care to cover my tracks. This feels like a cozy thread full of friends but at the end of the day it's still the internet available for the whole of humanity to read. And I value my anonymity 🥺

UNP I can't remember if I congratulated you on your pregnancy but if I didn't, here it is:
🎉🎊🎈✨ congratulations!✨🎈🎊🎉
And commiserations for all the other shite.

I too liked the story about the Saint Pompoms.👼

Well done on clearing out the garage Scourgify. Other people's crap doesn't last long here, if they don't tidy it away I bin it when they're not looking #iamnotyourslave. De-moulding the car is my least favourite job, I don't envy you that one. 🍎🍏🚗🧫🦠

🍒👋 To everyone

Tuesday ta-da's:

⚰️ Morning routine
⚰️ Took in parcel
⚰️ Called bank to sort something out
⚰️ Food shopping
⚰️ Major decluttering of living room
⚰️ Evening routine

Wednesday ta-da's:

🏚️ Morning routine
🏚️ Checked new gadget working and filed guarantee/receipt
🏚️ Sorted out yesterday's parcel (birthday present for DP)
🏚️ Extra LOL
🏚️ Started writing my successful recipes in a notebook so I don't forget them
🏚️ Walked to the post box with a letter for some fresh air
🏚️ Made a wishlist from catalogue that arrived yesterday, trying to be more conscious with purchases this year and not mindlessly buy everything
🏚️ Evening routine

Today's ta-da's:

🧼 Morning routine
🛌 Tidied my shithole of a bedroom. It's not perfect but it's a lot better
🛋️Tidied living room
🧹Tidied hallway
🛏️ Tidied other bedroom
🧺 Dried the extra LOL from yesterday and put away🧦🧤🧣👖👕
🚶Took a walk

To-do:

📖 Relax reading a book. I'm nearly at the end of the current one and can't wait to see how it turns out
🚿 Evening routine

ta da
🐝reading practice with Cagletini
🐝emailed NT property about workshops
🐝maths with Cagletini
🐝bit of diary admin
🐝work
🐝maths with DD1
🐝discussion about bedroom changes and screen time rules
🐝completed another college application with DD1

Sorry to hear about the rental ending UNP, that’s the last thing you need.

I have had a lazy start to the day, I usually get up and take DD to the station but DH was leaving for work when she needed to go so I let him take her instead and stayed in bed, I do like taking her as it gets me up and about and out of the house but it makes no sense to take 2 cars out when 1 is going anyway (DH usually goes to work a bit later but was going in early today as he needs to leave early). Anyway, I got up in the end, showered, out a load of washing on and have just done a yoga video. Pondering whether to hang the washing out or use the heated airer.

Then need to do a bit of tidying, run the vac round, mop the kitchen floor, the list goes on.

I forgot to mention that as well as Kondo’ing all my clothes drawers last week I also decluttered both our main food cupboards and both fridges (we have a second one in the garage). So that was a very productive few days, need to keep the momentum going.

📎📎📎📎📎

Friday 27th January

Last weekday in the bedroom! Make it count!

Final mission in the bedroom is to remake your bed

Today’s focus is cleaning out your car and/or handbag

Here’s the launch pad:

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

📎📎📎📎📎

I did errands today. considered cleaning out my car. avoiding date night as there is abroad travel about to happen and I am "buggy" aka i have a flu virusy type thing trying to take hold so it would be unkind to expose traveller to.

I am hoping that i really can hit the ground running tomo as there is a lot i need to get done, and i am tired of feeling tired and drained by stress all the time.

Eurgh I have tonsillitis so have spent much of today and yesterday in bed.
I do get little worlds where I can do things so I have
✅ batch booked a stew for 3 meals
✅ lols
✅ read many stories to baby
✅ refilled bird feeders
✅ s&s loo
✅read my book
✅ wrapped some bday presents.

I feel absolutely awful but so glad it's at the end of the week when all my flylady stuff is done in the house.

Agree with that Willow, though now there is just two here it is a part time job mixed with cant be arsed. My get up and go has got up and gone.

Hills- No date night in this house, ever!

UNP - So sorry about the rental.I think quite a few landlords are selling up.I would but I have DS3 as my tenant😁

Pompoms - sorry to hear you are unwell. Turmeric?

Perry- Cagletinit reading🤗There is a book with lovely illustrations about bees, it might be DK I can't remember the name of it just can picture the illustration of honey comb close up. You could link onto planting bee friendly seeds in the spring which she might like.

Scourgify- oh yes the mushy apple core. I have had that experience and it was me that left it in there.Eating an apple in the car, probably my school lunch a few years ago. Also black banana skins.😳

Lolly - welcome. We rarely get our lists finished that is where the Pof3 is ideal. List 3 things get them done then list another three😃makes you feel like you have achieved more.

ED- have a look on the Everhot Appreciation Page. There is a recipe for Risotto on there which is easy. I never thought about sticking it in the oven. We are going to be eating Risotto at least once a month now. The best thing is you can prep it earlier in the day and then cook quickly then in the oven while you have a glass of wine/gin/fruit juice. Would love to go and make bread with Linda.😄

Ditsy- I know what you mean especially as some have been published again recently. I have typed it all out then decided it might be too outing and deleted it all and I found that quite cathartic actually.

Waves to Hazel and anyone else I have missed. Going to post in case it goes.

Yeah!

This weeks Boudoir achievements.
Dusted large chest of drawers and ornaments.
Took them all off and decided to rearrange them for a change so have large (DP nanna's) Victorian jug with faux Hydrangeas on there and tray and little pot all matching and mostly pink/plum shades. It looks very pretty on there.
Dusted top of small drawers and all stuff on there.
Dusted small table and put presents that match on there.
Cleaned out bedside table and decluttered. Cleaned top.
Sorted stuff in my tin of random stuff.
Lost TV aerial down the back of small chest so pulled out and retrieved it and then went 'bunny' hunting behind and under as far as I could dust/mop. Those long handle telescopic dusters are great.
Sorted and put away some clothes.
Folded sheets and put in a small basket ready for ironing pillowcases/ maybe sheets for bed change on Monday. I did mine on Home bleugh mission.
Vacuumed mat about 4 times this week. It is such a lovely old, silk one I hate to see bits of fluff on it.It was my gran's I think. They had loads which they brought back from Myanmar. I have old floorboards.
Dusted top of wardrobes but didn't get the boxes down this month.

I just have one area near the door that needs decluttering. You always finds some that doesn't fit in any area.

I have knicker/bra drawer and
Sock /tights and
T-shirts, Marie Kondo and I have kept it up.
I haven't done the rest.It is ok if you have tops that would fit a 6 yr old but I am a 16 working towards an 18 (if I'm not careful and don't lose any weight) so they don't fold quite the same.
I do have coloured coat hangers which happened by accident then I thought ohh could be an advantage. Skirts on duck egg, Tops cerise, dresses red purple etc Easier to pull out and then the rest in drawers. Everyday wear tops in middle drawer then trousers, leggings, jeans in bottom drawer.
Likewise tops and trousers, velvet skirts x2 in small drawers but more for going out.
I wear things until they wear out. Some are 😱decades old. Vintage!

Today's TA DA
Bed made
Collected any rouge Christmas stuff and any Snowmen into a basket from all rooms.
Filled in my Pension online, go me.
Put away some shopping DH put in the Christmas Basket.

DH actually tidied the kitchen and washed the floor as some friends were coming for meal. He hates socialising and scuppered my after New Year plan by making a large jigsaw on the table day before I was going to ask them.This time I asked her in front of him. It worked and I think he quite enjoyed it.These are my best friends and her sis. Known all of them 35 years! I like cooking and entertaining but he doesn't. it is embarrassing when people have had us and he thwarts attempts to have them back.
Sorry for two long, long posts but it is difficult to get on here.I don't know what he does.

On a sad note a 15 yr old girl has been stabbed and died yesterday afternoon by a 16yr old in a lovely small town not far from here. What is happening to our world. RIP

Hey all 🙂

@Redsquirrel5 think my problem is remembering to come back on here to write my updates....🫤 And yeah I saw that murder on the news this morning. Awful. 16 year old lad arrested. Awful.

@UsernameNotPresent that is really unsettling news with a new baby aswell. I hope you find a new home to your liking.

Like others on here from the sounds of it I've had a cold I've not been able to shake off the last week or so and went super early last night (been knackered all week) and had a great sleep and feeling much better today. Hopefully that's it gone...dh took ds to Grandma's to walk her dogs this morning, and to try out ds's tennis ball launcher gun thingymabob that the dogs run after that his Gran got him for Christmas 😆 I met up with a friend for breakfast at a cafe in town and then we went for a cheeky beer and then Wilkos together and we stocked up on few household essentials + I got some thank you cards for ds to write out for his Christmas+birthday gifts + grabbed some sweets for D's and I 😁 Just chilling for the rest of the day now.

Today's list

-made beds ✅
-waahing machine on x2 loads ✅
-hoovered downstairs ✅
-registered ds's premium bonds ✅
-got a car insurance quote (urgh) ✅

Hope everyone's having a good weekend.

Hello to everyone from my sick bed.

I will make a February post tomorrow and share it here. I haven't forgotten I said I'd do it.

✅ s&s loo
✅ made pancake batter
✅ had lovely family time at home with all kids here
✅ finished my book to renew spirit.

Aiming to do the bbc bird count tomorrow.
Really hoping I feel better. Tonsillitis is literally the devils work.

Just flying by with lists not read back at all 😬😩 although I did notice recommendations for Bees Day thank you red 💐

(note, when Cagletini requested a day learning all about bees, I realised we couldn’t really call it Bee Day 🤣)

YesTaDa
⚜️got straight on with work for a while
⚜️reading practice with Cagletini
⚜️more work
⚜️maths with Cagletini
⚜️sorted a bag of books from the selling cupboard pile for DH to drop at the charity shop tomorrow - I’ve finally accepted that it’s just not going to happen. Some books I’d actually rather keep for when Cagletini is a bit older, now that I know how keen she is on topic books for home ed (yes they really have been there that long)

ta da
✒️quick shower as had to quickly rescue Cagletini from a tea spillage just as she and DH were meant to be leaving for dance class
✒️LOL
✒️tutorial - feel simultaneously more and less panicked about next assignment 🧐
✒️hung out LOL as it was all non tumble stuff
✒️walked to town to meet friends and had lunch
✒️bought a few house bits in wilko
✒️delegated various tasks to Caglets as they are switching rooms

💐 for those of you who are feeling under the weather (or proper poorly pompoms looking at you)

Ta Das:
❄️ meal planning for the week
❄️ grocery list
❄️ online coupons added
❄️ grocery pickup order placed
❄️ video chat with Mum
❄️ shower and used body scrub
❄️ applied self tanner
❄️ helped DH put a shelf up for me
❄️ cleared off countertop and put stuff on shelf
❄️ S&S bathrooms
❄️ picked up groceries & put them away
❄️ put away New Years decorations
❄️ put out Valentine's Day decorations (including some red and white lights)

I'm about to rinse off the guide colour from my self tanner and thoroughly moisturise my skin.
DS asked for a friend to come over this afternoon and they have been hanging out for a few hours. It's been a really nice day! We will be going to my ILs for dinner tonight, should be able to discuss the plan for their flooring. DH will be laying it down for them, hopefully sooner rather than later!

ta da
walk around the house muttering about the fuckers that live in the house.
Repeat the phrase "can't wash up what i don't have available to wash up"
Explain all the steps in the activity planned for today.
keep in mind this lack of big picture thinking is just part of cognitive compromisation
check that the doughnut dough actually rose during its overnight cold rise
put on a load of washing
sort out some admin
mutter dark words about the lack of quality of sleep and the fact i am totally exhausted.

Ugh, tonsillitis Pompoms, poor you 🤒. Goes off to Google BBC bird 🐦🦉🦅 count

Glad you're feeling better Lollie 🤧

I love sorting through all my clothes too Red. Congrats on having friends over 🥗🍲 must be frustrating if someone always thwarts your plans

Hope today's activity went well Hills, I guess at least you could console yourself with donuts 🍩 if it didn't

Agree with you it's definitely a full time job Willow 🧹🧽🧼

OMG valentine's day 💌 I'd forgotten all about that Hazel, thanks for the reminder

Bee Day 🐝🚽 no I agree that doesn't really work Perry 😆

Friday ta-da's:

🦂 Finished novel, a sweet romance with plenty of disasters and a happy ending
🦂 Took in delivery, unpacked and put away
🦂 Met up with a friend for a cuppa in town
🦂 Wrapped birthday present

Saturday ta-da's:

🐝 A cold walk round the nature reserve
🐝 Shopping for pancakes and a new blanket. It's beige with bees on, will match with my floral cushions
🐝 Cleared out the fridge. Too many furry things wasted
🐝 Cooked a few things before they went off, to be eaten over the next few days

Today's ta-da's:

🦀 Extra LOL
🦀 Home blessings
🦀 Spent too long on Mumsnet!
🦀 Movie night