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

Lots of anti-procrastinating from me today.

Ta-da's:

🥶 Morning routine.
🥶 Unpicked the hand warmer parts from a coat because it was too tight and re-stitched the sleeve hems.
🥶 Extra LOL.
🥶 Meal planning for the rest of the week, better late than never. I'm running down the freezer so dinner is getting interesting now.
🥶 Wrote the shopping list.
🥶 Bought a pure wool blanket for my bed.
🥶 Something I ordered last month arrived finally late evening so I got that sorted out.
🥶 Cozied up with my latest novel this evening.
🥶 Evening routine.

🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀

Thursday 19th January

Hi all, sorry for not posting links. Today is errand day and we are in the bathroom too.

This week’s missions www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions

Here’s the launch pad:

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀

🥶 lol
🥶changed bed
🥶visit to library
🥶errands to post office and chemist that I've put off for months
🥶lots of good play time and stories
🥶Evening po3

I'm so tired I don't know how I can stay awake for a moment longer

Freeeezing here again today which makes me want to do very little.

🥶 toddler group
🥶 cleaned out car. Every Friday I have to wait in my car for 15 minutes so I've decided that's my clean out time. I might even end up cleaning it inside in that time eventually.
🥶cooked tea...drove myself to drink trying to get two under 5's to eat stir fry. They are very good eaters but this is new to them and went down like a lead balloon. Ended up going to shop and buying red wine.
Not a zero spend day now!
🥶evening po3
🥶aiming to finish book night and then I'll have to go to the library tomorrow to find a new one.

Pompoms I'm freezing too, had to have the heating on last night I normally turn it off.

Ta-da's:

❄️ Morning routine
❄️ Filing
❄️ Decluttered
❄️ Put out the living room hotspot
❄️ Transferred pics from phone to computer because phone looked like it was going to give me the blue screen of death today, pulling the battery out for a few minutes fixed it but for how long I don't know. It's starting to overheat I think, with limited use so not good
❄️ Evening routine

YesTaDa
🎨shower/hair wash
🎨phonics activities and reading with Cagletini
🎨maths with Cagletini
🎨maths with DS and his friend
🎨made tutoring invoices (anti procrastination)
🎨went to gymnastics with Cagletini
🎨rearranged plans for meetings tomorrow in light of last minute hospital appt
🎨helped put fresh bedding on
🎨put Cagletini to bed
🎨reading

ta da
🧬quick bit of work
🧬went to hospital appt (all good)
🧬read lots especially while having lunch by myself
🧬bought a couple of household things and more work clothes in sales on the way home
🧬put Cagletini to bed

It's freezing here today! Was freezing last night too.
DS did some of his chores yesterday, but will need to finish them today (mostly vacuuming). He hasn't been the best at getting the LOLs moved over as he should so I told him that for every LOL I have to move over at 10:30pm, he will have to give me $1. It has been working really well, until last night. He gave me $5, said he would need $4 back as he didn't want to move the LOLs over 🙄 ugh! This will NOT become a regular thing as the whole point of this system is so I DON'T have to do things late at night! He is also a saver though, so he will not want to part with his money too much 😂

Anyway, no set plans for today. I really need to clean my Jeep inside and out, but it's so cold today that I just don't think I can! I'm going to try this afternoon, and need to least run it through the carwash. It just really needs a good vacuum and wipe down too 😳

I just need to finish my grocery list, put in my grocery pickup order, attach any coupons I have available online. I do then need to get some rolls baked for dinner tonight, per request from ILs.

Ta-da's:

🌨️ Morning routine
🌨️ A very chilly visit to a nature reserve. A few birds chirping but I think most of nature was hibernating. Was peaceful though
🌨️ Then cozied up in the warm to watch a film
🌨️ Evening routine

❄️walked to the park and library
❄️made pizza
❄️encouraged h to do a job round the house
❄️started 2 new books: 1 for me and 1 for h and I to read together about parenting.
❄️put some items on Vinted

YesTaDa
🎂sent tutoring invoices (anti procrastination)
🎂messaged about lessons (anti procrastination)
🎂requested repeat prescriptions (anti procrastination)
🎂updated Zoom payment card (anti procrastination)
🎂LOL of non tumble stuff (mine/DD1’s/DS’)
🎂put stuff in DW

Something of an anti procrastination theme there. 🤔

Get you with all your anti-procrastinating Perry! You are a shining example to us all.

YesTaDas:
🥶Did 2 minute tidies in each room
🥶dusted living room
🥶decobwebbed hallway, dining room and bathroom.
🥶cleaned bathroom
🥶hoovered and mopped downstairs
🥶emptied upstairs bins
🥶big shop purchased and put away (new bedding seems to have sneaked into my trolley)
🥶3 LOLs washed and dried (including new bedding)
🥶loads of clean clothes put away
🥶bed stripped and remade
🥶 finally tidied and decluttered craft/toy unit
🥶 cleared giant hotspot on dining table
🥶 dealt with huge pile of DD1’s artwork
🥶 ordered some holiday clothes for the DC

I’m currently enjoying lounging in bed with a cuppa while DH is up with the DC, but I’m going to have to move as I promised bacon sarnies in exchange for an hour’s peace which is most definitely up now.

I don’t think today will be as productive although I have uniforms to iron and could do with a bit more tidying in DD1’s hovel bedroom.

Loving the tiger cake! I did a really similar one once but yours is faaar neater than my amateur efforts!

@Upsadiddles sounds like you have done a full home bleurgh really!...on the weekend!!!

That's what I'm aiming for today as I've packed everyone off to the MIL. I feel like I've won the lottery having the house to myself! But I would like to crack the home bleurgh so I'm foot loose and fancy free to do something fun with the baby

willow I'm glad to hear your DD is recovering well. It really is a good idea for you to take some time off work to recoup and take care of DD.
pompoms were you able to get the home bleugh done AND relax?
Up don't you just hate it when things jump into your trolley?!
Perry lots of anti-procrastination done, well done!

YesTaDas:
🍞 meal plan done for the week
🍞 grocery pickup order placed
🍞 grocery pickup order picked up
🍞 groceries all put away
🍞 rolls baked for dinner
🍞 took DS to urgent care to have his ear looked at. He has no pain, but having a hard time hearing. Turns out he has a perforated eardrum! No infection though, which is good

I had to take DHs truck to urgent care - my Jeep wouldn't start! DH had to replace the starter, so did that while I took DS.

I figured I'd post before I lost it all!

Ta Das:
🥶 worked at my 2nd job (9-4)
🥶 took Jeep through carwash on my way home
🥶 vacuumed Jeep
🥶 took DD out to dinner, spent a couple of hours with her, which was nice and not done frequently enough
🥶 DW loaded the rest of the way (DS rotated DW while I was at work)
🥶 handwash dishes washed
🥶 fronts of cupboards wiped
🥶 countertops and backsplash wiped

I still need to clean the windshield on the inside of my Jeep, as well as wiping the dash clean, but it's good enough for another day! I feel better for doing what I did today.

I hope everyone has a great week!
🍒👋 to everyone

YesTaDa
🤖gathered dirty clothes from upstairs
🤖hung out laundry from last night
🤖put another non-TD LOL on
🤖finished loading DW and switched on
🤖played a maths game with Cagletini
🤖cleaned planner board
🤖hung out laundry
🤖new LOL
🤖updated diary with various things
🤖changed Cagbunny litter tray
🤖showered and moisturised
🤖sorted vitamins for the week
🤖pottered around a (tiny) bit tidying
🤖LOL into TD
🤖another LOL
🤖LOL into TD
🤖read a chapter of uni book
🤖put Cagletini to bed
🤖put laundry away and hung up new work clothes while listening to audiobook
🤖wrote week up on board

🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮

Monday 23rd January

We are now in Zone 4, the master bedroom which FlyLady sometimes calls the Boudoir. Fifteen minutes decluttering a day will make a difference! Hopefully
🫣

Today’s mission is to start decluttering the closet.

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

Remember the habit of the month is sink shining and today’s focus is the Home Bleugh.

Here’s the launch pad:

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮

I really need today's Mission Perry! I'm feeling disappointed the internet isn't a safe place. I'd love to post pics of my clutter before and after. Also I'd post on the clothing thread. But I don't want pics of me/my home on the internet because it's very outing to do that and doesn't feel safe.

Glad DD is ok Willow that's such a scary thing to happen. It's made me get off my butt and move around more anyway!

You've done well getting things done when you had two unexpected problems crop up Hazel.

Pompoms I love that feeling of having the place to myself and no interruptions, to get on with whatever.

New bedding always creeps into my shopping Up. I've got a whole box of it. I need to stop buying it because I want to go minimalist with it, in the end having only two sets per bed.

Yesterday's ta-da's:

⛅ Morning routine
⛅ Home blessings
⛅ Evening routine

To-do:

All today's stuff.
Consider what the heck I'm doing with my life. I feel overwhelmed and things seem somehow wrong.

@HungryHazelEyes I did the home bleurgh except the bath as toilet are coming today. AND I read my book AND I got the sewing machine out which is heavenly to me but what really renewed my spirit was putting really loud music on while I cleaned. I sang at the top of my voice and I felt wonderful afterwards.

So today was easier
❄️ went to baby messy play session
🥶 mopped floor even though I did it yesterday as it was bogging again
❄️ craft with kids after school
🥶 evening po3
❄️aiming to crochet
🥶 picked up Vinted parcel
❄️lol
🥶 filled bird feeders
❄️ finished sewing project: doll carrier
🥶decluttered one item
❄️ spent £2 on craft stuff that I fancied that wasn't on my list so no zero spend here today.

I love singing too Pompoms definitely a good way to brighten the day

Ta-da's:

🌠 Morning routine
🌠 Two extra LOL
🌠 Tidied up the garden, spring bulbs starting to make their appearance but still ice on the birdbath and a few autumn leaves to sweep up
🌠 Filing a random bit of paperwork
🌠 Painted my nails
🌠 Planning for the week ahead
🌠 Meal planning too
🌠 Researched where I can declutter a teddy bear to, to keep it out of landfill
🌠 Experimental recipe for dinner which turned out well
🌠 Took a walk, saw a shooting star
🌠 Evening routine

🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩
Tuesday 24th January

Today’s mission is to spend 15min rehoming stuff that doesn’t belong in your room.

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

Today’s focus is planning!

Here’s the launch pad:

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩

YesTaDa
🍫showered and ready for work (some days this means smart top and pyjama trousers…)
🍫phonics books with Cagletini
🍫ordered a few more phonics books for next stage
🍫work including supporting colleague on a school visit - at least it got me out of the house!
🍫15min decluttering in bedroom

Not the most productive day but ah well.

po3.1
❗️Meds and a cuppa
❗️Pay an invoice
❗️Fill in e-consult form when it opens at 8.30

Morning everyone.I am still having a lot of trouble with the Ipad so not able to post much. I am still reading along and amazed by some lists and able to commiserate with those procrastinating or plans not panning out due to other people.

Glad we are in the boudoir( I always thought that was someone on here that started that) as I have been trying to get it in better shape. I have too much stuff in there. Not a lot compared to other people's standards but too much of stuff that shouldn't be in there but where do you put it. Christmas crockery goes in two boxes under the bed.Some still out at the moment in the dining room as I now keep it out fromChristmas Day until 1st Feb as I love it and want to enjoy it.One small wardrobe crammed and a small low chest of drawers and a larger one.Two small bedside cupboards, my Victorian bed and a inherited small table in a corner which just has decorative stuff on. A small oak box with family heirlooms which we cant find the key to it.Oh and my dad's trunk from sea which houses my shoes and boots. There are too many things. Oh and a pine bedding box at the ned of the bed mostly holding -hoarding- curtains and fabric.It is a decent size room about 14' ?' x 12'?"

Yesterday
Stripped bed and changed linen.
Dusted top and things on small chest.
Put away some jewellery that was left out.
Cleaned inside of my window.
Emptied laundry basket, 1 LOL.

Cleaned bathroom basin and loo.
Checked towels.

Had a late lunch and received a mercy call to pick up friend's child as she had workmen in and didn't want to leave them. Enjoyed walking back listening to her 3 year old. We had a lovely chat.😁

Plan for today.
Make bed
Dust other chest and stuff on it.I have ornaments and photo frames.
Tidy pile of random stuff next to bedside. i have been putting stuff there so I will move it.😂For about 3 weeks. Not a huge pile but a pile.
Mop wooden floor.
Vacuum Persian carpet/rug.

Going to try and spend 2 hours in there. will put something on to listen to as it makes it go quicker and less stressing.

To those just starting out it does work (most of it) if you persist. We have accumulated a lot of stuff and live in an old and therefore dusty cottage. I can remember days when I had very little clothing and things and could whizz around cleaning a small bungalow in a few hours every day and I had children! I am too sentimental and keep most things people give me. My friends now are like me and so we buy useful( gloves, socks, scarves) or edible presents because we have too much stuff. I am still working through the candles from church, school and friends and my son bought me one this year. No problem when there is a power cut here and I am trying to remember to light one on every night.
Happy days!

Going to be honest that I am more reluctant to post after the recent spate of straight to press threads.

I have spent the last week sick. Only just recovering and still not great. Stress migraines when they settle in are the worst.

Nice to see how productive everyone is managing to be. Hope your dd has a good recovery willow

@HillsBesideTheSea do you mean the press are picking up mn threads as if it's actually journalistic news?

I can't imagine anyone being interested in my cleaning routine though!