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Housekeeping

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Flylady Fledglings February: Thawing out of winter

279 replies

freezingpompoms · 30/01/2023 19:08

Hello everyone, iWelcome 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.

This is an incredibly helpful thread and the system can be confusing but someone on here will be able to answer your questions and get you on track.

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Searchingforsunnydays · 25/02/2023 17:16

Apologies for the typo’s in the last post - predictive text fail 🙈

freezingponpoms · 25/02/2023 19:10

SUNDAY:
Flight plan
www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

✅renew spirit
✅ declutter 15 mins
✅ shine sink
✅ reminder: Reminder: What’s for dinner?
Do you know what you are preparing for dinner tonight? Even if you can’t pull something out of the freezer right now, you can begin thinking about it. If you need some help. Check out one of Leanne’s Sample Menu Mailerss, or get an idea from FlyLady’s Kitchenn!

We are moving into the living room and also the porch, hall and dining room this week.

UsernameNotPresent · 25/02/2023 21:25

Sunny mario cart sounds like fun! How did it go?
Perry and Willow glad to see you back emerging from work/uni/kids/half term/redecorating!

Ta das:
🍰Almost. Unpacked. Kitchen. Just need to figure out what to do with a medicines drawer and 'random crap' drawer (no space for either of them in the kitchen), but that's the job for tomorrow.
🍰Washed mattress topper
🍰LOLs X2. I am missing my tumble dryer, but hopefully this will get me into better habits of doing regular loads throughout the week, and actually putting them away once dry. Previously, my sin was to do loads of LOLs in one day and then procrastinate with a massive pile of dry laundry.
🍰Sinks shined

THATissoooFETCH · 26/02/2023 08:19

Thanks for all the welcome backs i feel loved ❤️

I'm not seeing zoo though, has she fallen off too? I am going to try not to fall off again .....

Yes biggest two dc are now year 9 and 10. Eldest has recently been told to start looking at college option! Scary!

Abit jealous of the brand new house! Would love to move!

Upsadiddles · 26/02/2023 08:33

<Excitedly waves at That> Lovely to see you.

That was a very quick and efficient move UNP, I’m impressed. Hope you’re happy in your new home.

Glad to hear FIL is doing ok Hazel, what a fright for you all. Similar happened to my DF a few years ago. He needed surgery but it really gave him a kick and he is like a new man now, much more active and looks after himself.

Half term didn’t quite go to plan here as MiniUp was poorly for the first half so we did very little and flying did not happen. We managed a couple of nice days Thursday and Friday, and I managed to partly reclaim the house yesterday. Today I need to rescue the rest of it and do a full home bleurgh as we have a few people coming round to watch the cup final this afternoon. Also need to iron my work uniform. I better make a move Hmm

Upsadiddles · 26/02/2023 08:33

Oh and apologies, welcome Amore, lovely to have you on board.

CurseYouPerryThePlatypus · 26/02/2023 09:44

YesTaDa
🦡LOL1
🦡cleaned planner board
🦡chased invoices
🦡emptied bag
🦡emptied coat pockets
🦡LOL1 into dryer
🦡LOL2 on
🦡collected lots of rubbish in bedroom
🦡collected lots of recycling in bedroom including removing binding combs from uni stuff that I don’t need
🦡bit of general tidying
🦡got DS to do physics homework and checked progress
🦡hung up wet LOL2
🦡LOL3 on
🦡collected rubbish and recycling from bathroom
🦡cleared and cleaned windowsill in bedroom
🦡LOL3 in dryer

I tooootally crashed after my last power of three yesterday and squandered the rest of the afternoon. Ah well. Could’ve really done with a lie in today as well but Cagletini had other ideas!

po3.1
❗️Sort diary with DH and write up the week on the board
❗️Check if last night’s LOL is dry and start bringing other dry stuff upstairs (it’s built up again… it takes so little for it to spiral out of control!)
❗️Sort through remaining dirty laundry as it’s all mixed up with the Caglets’

HungryHazelEyes · 26/02/2023 15:00

that I haven't seen zoo in months 😢 she was having problems logging in with the new platform on mn. I think about her often and hope she's doing okay.

YesTaDas:
🧚‍♀️ LOLs x3
🧚‍♀️ took DS to his hair appt
🧚‍♀️ took DS shopping for clothes for his band performance, found everything in one shop!
🧚‍♀️ prepared food for dinner
🧚‍♀️ took prepared food to ILs, we cooked there instead of FIL overdoing it and cooking for us. He appreciated it

Today we are planning on spending more time over at ILs. The linoleum in their kitchen needs to be taken up so we can lay the new floor they bought. We wouldn't bother yet, however, they did a small section (3 layers!) and that section is starting to lift and will be a trip hazard. They were supposed to get the floor prepped for us, but in the condition it's in, they can't wait weeks/ months for it to get pulled up.
I'm just waiting for a phone call from MIL to say they're ready for us to head over.
I have to do grocery shopping/ pickup at some point today too, probably should work on a list 🤔

freezingpompoms · 26/02/2023 18:41

www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

MONDAY flight plan above.

✅ home bleurgh "hour" 😂 www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-monday/

✅ spend 15 mins in the living room getting rid of anything that doesn't belong there.

✅ Reminder: Where is your laundry?
Is it hiding in the washer getting smelly? Cold and wrinkled in the dryer? Are you living out of a laundry basket?
Go Re-boot your laundry. There are five steps: Sort, wash, dry, fold, and put away. Don’t leave out a single BabyStep! If you will stay on top of this, it will not take over your home. You may have too many clothes! Reduce your clothing and have fewer laundry pile ups. Do you have a FlyLady magnett_ to remind you that your laundry is waiting for you?
✅ pamper mission: www.flylady.net/c/pampering.php?tzm=0
Basically it's start using some of the pamper gifts or gadgets you own. Don't save them for best just get them out and use them.

I think that's quite enough for one day don't you!!!!

OP posts:
DitzyDaffodils · 27/02/2023 01:17

I've been good this month posting almost every day but I fell off a couple of days just now. Friday I did nothing at all, except the basics and I did those badly!

Saturday after a bad start we went to the beach. Initially felt guilty for another day of doing nothing, then remembered even FlyLady days it's family fun day on Saturday. First beach trip of the year, we didn't do as many as we'd hoped last year so it was good to be back. Cold and windy but the sea air revitalised me. Treated ourselves to a chippy tea on the way home.

Today I decided on a reboot. I've been using the PO3 to catch up with everything and rewarding myself with decluttering videos on YouTube. It worked! All is clean and tidy once again.

One thing I got from a video has made me think. It said every item we declutter we also decluttered the mental space that item takes up because every item we own has to have decisions made about it. If we don't own it, that no longer applies. It said eventually if you go minimalist there's room to be your authentic self, you have the mental space for it because you're not bogged down with stuff and other people's opinions about your stuff. I guess this is why FlyLady is always on at us to declutter. Everything, not just cleaning, becomes easier.

Having said that, today when I looked through a random drawer I didn't find anything to declutter but I did find multiples of things I recently bought again because I totally forgot I already had them. This has been a wake up call, we have so much stuff in this home we no longer know what we have 😳

Ta-da's:

❣️ Morning routine
❣️ Decluttering
❣️ Tidied bedroom
❣️ Tidied kitchen
❣️ Tidied living room
❣️ Home blessings
❣️ Caught up with laundry
❣️ My eyebrows had started take over my face so I strategically decluttered a little of those too
❣️ Got rid of an old 99% used up makeup pallet. Spent some time trying out a new makeup look and took some selfies, which I never do. This made me realise my dressing table is a disgrace so I've vowed not to buy any new makeup all year
❣️ Evening routine

Off to bed now. Hope all newbies, oldies and lurkers alike are all living your best lives. I'll catch up with the thread properly tomorrow 💮🌺🌸🏵️🌻🌼

HungryHazelEyes · 27/02/2023 04:16

Ditzy I have been throwing away a few toiletries lately as well. Some used up, others didn't smell right so got rid of them, including my favourite eye cream. I have another one I can use.

We ended up spending 5 hours at ILs, scraping and lifting up the old linoleum (3 layers). We are all achy now. We got home, took showers and went out for dinner with DD.
I have for my clothes out and ready for tomorrow, lunch is leftovers (I'm hoping it's enough).

🍒👋 to everyone

freezingpompoms · 27/02/2023 05:56

@DitzyDaffodils you've inspired me to have a declutter today.

The home bleurgh is done as we had friends over for lunch so I got H into action. I also did the ironing in the evening so I think I will declutter some bags of clothes today to stay productive. I've got some stuff that isn't selling on Vinted so will charity shop it and delete from my app. I'd hate to sell it after I'd given it away!

We haven't had a great weekend even though on the surface and to guests it's seemed perfect so this is a fresh start to a new week.

OP posts:
GreenWillowAndFairyLights · 27/02/2023 09:00

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

freezingpompoms · 27/02/2023 18:59

✅ good shop and meal plan
✅ sorted huge bag of clothes into various out piles
✅ listed a tonne of stuff on Vinted
✅ sold a few bits already so will package those tonight.

It's the last day of February tomorrow so if anyone wants to run the March thread please go for it, if no one feels they want to I'll carry on and make a new thread, either way is fine.

OP posts:
freezingpompoms · 27/02/2023 19:03

TUESDAY last day of the month...spring is coming but it has icicles on it 🥶_

Flight plan:_ www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1_
_
🥶 clear the hotspots and umping zones for 15 mins (I presume in the current zones of hallway/porch/dining room/living room)

🥶 declutter for 15 mins

🥶shine sink

🥶 Tuesday is plan and play day: do some planning then go and play. More below:
www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-tuesday/

OP posts:
DitzyDaffodils · 27/02/2023 20:36

Confetti cannon Willow? Aaaargh! 😱 Poor you. Happy birthday to DB though 🎂

Congrats on your Vinted sales 💷

Hop you don't ache too badly tomorrow Hazel, I always find the second day is the worst and then it starts to get better

Despite my best efforts I'm better at organisation than decluttering. Everything has a place and mostly I know where everything is but there's some areas of random things all mixed in together. Ended up bringing more in today 🤦 art supplies from the motorway services, ah well.

FlyLady was put to the test this morning when DP announced wanted to visit family 👪 60 miles away, whilst I was having a lie in 🛌💤, so I swiftly got going with the morning routine 🚿☕. I've been needing the checklist 📝 less and less over the past year I've been doing FlyLady and this morning it all ran smoothly and we were ready to go in half an hour 🧭⛽🚙

Ta-da's:

🪐 Morning routine
✨ Trip out to visit family
🪐 Paint nails
✨ Planning for the week
🪐 Shopping list
✨ Meal planning
🪐 Evening routine

DitzyDaffodils · 27/02/2023 20:37

(oops)

Congrats on your Vinted sales 💷 Pompoms

Searchingforsunnydays · 27/02/2023 21:34

hi 👋

Not much flying yesterday because of swimming and football presentation but still managed to sort the uniforms and get some ironed for today ………… just !

todays tadas

✔️ 5 minutes on bathroom
✔️ beds made
✔️ general tidy downstairs
✔️ everyone ready for work and school
work
✔️ school runs
✔️ tea (warmed up leftovers from yesterday)
✔️ uniforms ready for tomorrow
✔️ 15 min decluttering in the living room
✔️ kitchen tidy
✔️ reading with dd2 and bedtime routine

I am off to bed to read soon , I have been sleeping so much better since starting last week - thankyou to you all for being my sounding board!! I am absolutely exhausted though - must be catching up from all the lost sleep!

Big thankyou to @freezingpompoms for running the thread for this month 💐

HungryHazelEyes · 28/02/2023 03:25

Thank you for the kind thoughts, I'm currently in the bath, soaking in Epsom salts due to the aches! Ditzy I have to agree, the 2nd day is worse! I'm glad the routines are working for you.

pompoms sorry to hear you haven't had the best weekend. Well done on the quick home bleugh.

willow I wish we were done, but that was only about half of it! We still have the dining room to take up, then we can start to lay their new flooring down. It'll look so pretty once it's done though, and be more functional for them (it was peeling up and breaking up).
You're a brave soul to get a confetti cannon in. DD wanted to have a party last year and have confetti on the table - I said no. If you want the party here, no confetti! There ended up being no party in the end.

sunny well done for being your future friend, it really helps!

No ta das today, it was a work day. Dinner was easy - leftovers. I'm currently enjoying a glass of wine while I soak. It was very much needed after today!
🍒👋 to everyone

GreenWillowAndFairyLights · 28/02/2023 12:01

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

Redsquirrel5 · 28/02/2023 12:25

Hi,
Catching up on everyone’s news.

Ditsy.I like the idea of decluttering and then watching YouTube as a reward and to spur you on. I am going to pinch that idea and try it out.

Willow. What a busy time you have had!

Hazel. That sounds exhausting but 👍 job I bet they appreciate it.

Sunny. Sounds like it is really working for you. Some things become second nature(S&S) unfortunately not everything though in my case. I still have clutter.

Going to do Ta Das then post and come back later.

POf3
LoL
Dishwasher emptied, breakfast reloaded.
Items put away( DH doesn’t put stuff in the baking cupboard but leaves it on the worktop outside).

To do
Home bleugh...didn’t get done yesterday as I went sorting & packing for Ukraine. We got all of it packed that was at church. Some went to new refugees here. Met two new woman.
There was a big meeting in the city on Saturday which I went to. It was so moving I was in tears. More than I realised here. We are going to try and organise something in Spring.

Bathroom.
Managed to get cloth cover and now the liquid for mop so going to clear bathroom floor and try this combo out and then hope to keep it inside airing cupboard so I can wash the floor more easily. Currently bucket and rag. It is very small. Definitely no cat swinging possible...not even a kitten. Walk in shower, basin , loo, shelves in alcove and a laundry box which isn’t for laundry but houses spares, guest towels( so DH doesn’t use them) and gifts from Christmas also spare loo roll.

Slow start as I am full of cold and sore throat, coughing and wheezy.

HungryHazelEyes · 28/02/2023 14:40

willow it makes it all worthwhile since DB enjoyed himself, in the end that's all that matters! Frustrating about the map difficulty, that sounds like the infrastructure changed completely.

Red I hope you feel better soon 💐

I've already got my first LOL of the day in the washer - the dog beds and blankets. Dobby is now having issues with his anal glands too, I'll be taking him in in a little while. I've ordered new food, should be arriving tomorrow. Hopefully that'll help 🤞

To Dos:
🧺 wash our sheets
🧺 wash the blankets from the couches
🧺 wash towels
🧺 more LOLs (notice a theme?)
🧺 take Dobby to groomer
🧺 give both dogs a bath
🧺 clean both kennels (we cannot leave them out when we leave the house, unfortunately)
🧺 clean both bathrooms
🧺 vacuum
🧺 take down Valentine's Day decorations
🧺 clean surfaces
🧺 put up spring decorations

I'm sure there's more, but I'll see what I can achieve today. It helps that I can be getting on with some stuff while LOLs are going, and a lot of things only take 5-15 minutes (like bathing the dogs). I want to fit a workout in today as well, I still haven't got myself in a routine yet 🤦‍♀️

HungryHazelEyes · 28/02/2023 15:55

Ta Das:
🧚‍♀️ dog beds and blankets in the dryer
🧚‍♀️ our sheets are in the washer
🧚‍♀️ cooked DH his eggs

In sitting down enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee before I get dressed and ready for the day (it's almost 9am, I've been awake 2 hours already!)

UsernameNotPresent · 28/02/2023 21:26

Red sending you healing vibes and lots of hot toddies to help you get over that cold.
Hazel good luck with IL's reno. It will be worth all the effort in the end.
Willow your description of DB's birthday made me tear up a bit (disclaimer: I am a bag of hormones at the moment). Sounds like he had a wonderful time. You may need an industrial strength hoover for all that confetti though..
Ditzy I am embracing pretty boxes and baskets with lids for storage. My goal is to have minimal stuff on the surfaces, so dusting in the future is a quick job. Massively future friending myself here, hopefully it will pay off.

Ta das:
☕Curtains up
☕Living room unpacked
☕Bedroom 80% unpacked
☕Dining room about 40% unpacked
☕All fishtanks sorted
☕LOLx1

By the end of this week I need to get my job application in. It's a biggie, if I get it that's us settled in this neck of the woods and life will be much calmer (than the alternative). No pressure at all 🫠.

We are going on holiday in few weeks, and I really want to get house sorted and set up before we leave. I don't want to come back to more boxes to unpack. This is more of aspiration though, as I am working few upcoming weekends.

icypompoms · 28/02/2023 21:58

Flying into Spring with icicles on it www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4753358-flying-into-spring-with-icicles-on-it

Here's the March thread

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