Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flying into Spring with icicles on it

266 replies

icypompoms · 28/02/2023 21:57

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
6
icypompoms · 19/03/2023 06:38

@HungryHazelEyes happy birthday to you! Is it Mother's Day where you are?

Happy Mother's Day for anyone that's a mammy!

Hope you all get to renew your spirits.

www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-sunday/

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 19/03/2023 09:07

Nope, breakfast for everyone to fix, then food to cook for lunch and i have to make cake too.
None of that would be a problem except i woke up struggling to breath. apparently forgetting to take my inhaler has caught up with me. Could have sodding waited until tomo imo.
Plus note is that i can just crawl into bed at 3pm and be done for the day. Tea is coming out of the freezer.

HungryHazelEyes · 19/03/2023 15:38

pompoms it's not mother's day here until May, but since I'm from the UK I remind them of the UK one too and get MIL something like flowers. So we get 2 Mother's days 😆 My gifts are joint today though as they are expensive, so for both birthday and Mother's day. Are you having a relaxing day today?
I did order flowers to be courier delivered to my Mum today, so hopefully she'll have got them before I talk to her today.

hills I'm sorry to hear that there's still so much for you to do. Hopefully someone will help take the burden off of you today. Having a hard time breathing is awful and nothing to take lightly. It can be really scary. I have asthma, but haven't had issues for years, thankfully, so do understand how that feels.

Today I woke up at 9am, FIL was calling DH, they are coming over for coffee this morning, and FIL is helping DH put the new chairs together. DH thought his alarm was going off and cancelled the call 😆 they will be here shortly.
I've had my 1st cup of coffee, need to get dressed and somewhat ready for the day.

DomesticElf · 19/03/2023 22:04

Happy birthday, Hazel ! 🥳
And happy mother's day to all mums on here ☺️

Back from holiday today, despite me moaning about it, change of scenery did me good. If anything, I feel closer to McToddler now. Mum guilt is real for working full time and sticking him in nursery 5 days a week.

Ta das today:
💪LOL X2, out to dry.
💪Dry laundry folded and put away
💪3 fish tanks sorted
💪All plants watered
💪Unpacked suitcase and put everything away
💪Unpacked piano room. It's now a place where all empty cardboard boxes are stored, so will need to get that sorted this week.
💪Taken all the rubbish from the car (finally)
💪Future friended for tomorrow by prepping nursery bag and my clothes
💪DW rotated, kitchen cleaned
💪Little one fed, washed, and tucked in for the night

Need to plan my week properly tomorrow, including meal plan. I wonder how long it would take for post-holiday energy to wear off 😬
Also somehow managed to come down with a stinker of a cold, it's snot galore here.

HungryHazelEyes · 20/03/2023 02:46

I thought I had wished everyone a happy Mothers day, I clearly hadn't, I'm sorry! Happy Mother's day!

Elf I hope you feel better soon. Having a cold sucks. DD is sick too, not sure what yet, and we're all hoping we don't catch whatever it is.

Today (Sunday) was a very good day. There were a couple of things I ended up doing, like bathing Coco, because she thinks it's a great idea to roll in poop and get out all in her collar and neck 🤢 so she got a bath. DH put their beds and blankets in the wash as well. I then had to bleach the shower. So Coco is now clean, along with her collar. DS picked up the poop as well (he has just done it too) and Dobby smelt clean already.

The chairs got put together this morning, they are so comfortable. We put the old ones downstairs in the basement for when we have guests. I am ordering some new covers and foam for those chairs.
We looked at new phones for me today as well and I settled on one. Have got to place my order for the accessories, we'll order the phone after Tuesday, when I get my screen replaced through insurance.

I'm currently enjoying the new Bailey's (vanilla mint shake) it's better than I thought it would be. It was a birthday present. I have work tomorrow, so probably no ta das.

🍒👋 to everyone

Redsquirrel5 · 20/03/2023 12:28

Thanks ED I will try that(Safari, I log on every time) and I was thinking about the valeting when I was starting to clean a bit of our car.Gross!

DD has arrived back in time for Mother's Day despite the trains. First was cancelled, second was late and despite only being a few minutes they didn't hold connecting Leeds /Settle line train and she had to get another. It took her nearly 6 hours altogether with a huge suitcase and a large back pack and a bag.I think even DH felt a bit guilty for not going for her 3hr journey to Sheffield. Anyway she is here until after my birthday then back to Bristol where she has her old job back and studio space already set up. A girl from work is even putting her up temporarily isn't that lovely.🤗

Hills.Sorry.
He was doing so well I was forgetting he had any SEN issues. Even I get overwhelmed about where to start in the boudoir so I get it. Great that he did the shopping put away for you.

Elf Glad you have had some rest don't over do it.

Well I have done the bathroom and vacuumed the sitting room.I stayed in bed as I couldn't hear DD and wanted her to sleep in as she was exhausted last night. Back in her old room though it doesn't look much like hers now DH is in there.He is on sofa. I ain't ever sharing with him again. No way!

Right off to see art exhibition. Housework can wait. Fun time!

icypompoms · 20/03/2023 13:32

Forgot to do the link last night sorry. But pretty sure we all know it's the home bleurgh morning.

www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0
To do today:

✅ home bleurgh
✅ master bedroom is the new zone: spend 15 mins taking anything out of the room that doesn't belong there.

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 20/03/2023 14:56

I didn't have to help him with his room in the end. It was a disaster but the bed was safely accessible and that was what was needed.
Everyone was well fed so much so that no one wanted any tea really - sandwiches, I was forgiven for feeding and hiding so i got to take a few naps.

Anti-procrastination task: get quote for rebinding a book and look inside the fabulous looking bookstore i have been meaning to pop into for years. I need to go back and look around that shop properly it was amazing from what little i saw. It needs time to be allocated.

didn't disappear into my car office, had to take the strong prescription pain killers so have crawled into bed with a hot water bottle so that i can work from the comfort of curled up. After dropping ds at college. I have a week and half to get the house ready for house guests but not today.

HillsBesideTheSea · 20/03/2023 14:56

Sorry that is not the most coherant. Pain levels are stupid high atm and it turns my brain into mush.

DitzyDaffodils · 20/03/2023 16:48

Friday ta-da's:

✨ Tidied miscellaneous cupboard
✨ Decluttered
✨ Tidied underwear drawers
✨ Cleared living room hotspot

Saturday ta-da's:

🌟 Car cleaning and maintenance

Sunday ta-da's:

😇 Extra LOL
😇 Home blessings
😇 Tidied pyjamas drawer
😇 Sorted through half the stuff under the bed
😇 Decluttered
😇 Tidied bedroom
😇 Tidied living room
😇 Got an old CD player working
😇 Glued broken toy back together
😇 Filled in weekly planner

icypompoms · 20/03/2023 19:40

@DitzyDaffodils you e picked the right emoji. That's quite a list to be doing on a Sunday!

☔️ half a bleurgh as half was already done
☔️ 3/4 of the ironing mountain
☔️ took baby poms swimming which was my February aim so a bit late but brilliant.
☔️ tidied and decluttered socks and underwear
☔️2 lols

OP posts:
icypompoms · 20/03/2023 19:43

TUESDAY:

www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1
Incase you don't want to click on the link here's the list
🌸 • Morning Routine:
◦ Get Dressed to Shoes including Hair/Face, Brush Teeth
◦ Make Bed
◦ Swish & Swipe
◦ Empty Dishwasher
◦ Reboot Laundry (a Load a Day Keeps CHAOS Away)
◦ Check Your Calendar
◦ Check Your Control Journal
• What's For Dinner?
• Drink Your Water
• Declutter for 15 Minutes
• 15 Minutes of Loving Movement (exercise)
• Before Bed Routine:
◦ Lay out Your Clothes for tomorrow
◦ Check Your Calendar
◦ Put things needed for tomorrow at the Launch Pad
◦ Where are your Keys?
◦ Spend Two Minutes Clearing off a Hot Spot
◦ Shine Your Sink
◦ Wash face/Brush Teeth
◦ Go to Bed at a Decent Hour

🌸 master bedroom: 15 mins putting away the pile of clothes. We all have one somewhere..:mine is over the bannister or hung on the hooks on the door

🌸 plan and play day. I'll be planning the meals and shopping list

OP posts:
DomesticElf · 20/03/2023 21:19

Red how lovely your DD made it to see you. I hope you have a wonderful time with her.
Ditsy impressive list.
Hazel I hope your DD feels better. Cold weather viruses are pants.
Hills that sounds sore. Hopefully meds will kick in soon.

Ta das:
💥DW rotated, kitchen cleaned, sink shined
💥Lol X2 and out on airer
💥dry laundry folded and put away. This whole no tumble dryer business does wonders for me keeping on top of dry laundry 😬
💥McToddler entertained, living room tidied.

Too tired to do anything else. Tomorrow will need to do a bit of zone work.

DitzyDaffodils · 20/03/2023 23:49

Elf I've only had a tumble dryer in recent years. I'd cry if I had to return to life without one. I always had laundry on my mind from the moment I woke up

Get well soon Hills

Did baby Poms enjoy swimming Pompoms?

Hope you enjoyed the exhibition Red, glad DD made it in time for mother's day and congrats on reclaiming the bed! I hate sharing a bed, I want sprawling space and wriggle room

Happy birthday Hazel. Ugh, dogs and poo, what's the attraction I wonder? Stinky beasts

Ta-da's:

☠️ Morning routine
☠️ Took a walk
☠️ Tackled some more of under the bed
☠️ Decluttering
☠️ Evening routine

HungryHazelEyes · 21/03/2023 02:24

Elf I couldn't live without my tumble dryer! It sounds like it's working for you though.
Ditzy I don't understand the attraction between dogs and poop either 🤢
pompoms just like you I'll be planning meals and scheduling grocery pickup for tomorrow (Tuesday)
hills I hope you're feeling better. I'm glad to hear you were able to nap. Sleeping is so healing!

Last night Coco woke me up at 3:30am and I didn't fully fall asleep again until almost 5am. I wake up at 5:30am. I'm super tired today as I only had 5 hours of sleep in the end 😴
It was a busy day at work today too so I really feel exhausted. On top of that, my throat is getting scratchy and a little tender. I don't want to get sick 😫

We are having DS start to cook dinner once a week. Tonight he made taco soup, with a little help and guidance from me. It ended up being a great choice considering the weather turned awful today.
I should be able to get back on here tomorrow (my phone screen gets fixed, yay!).
🍒👋 to everyone

icypompoms · 21/03/2023 06:16

@HungryHazelEyes how old is your son. It's great he's cooking once a week!

OP posts:
Scourgify · 21/03/2023 07:16

The entire family is in the process of decluttering and generally future facing. Adult DD is dealing with child-related stuff, and adult DS has taken over H's tax mess. Adult DD has locked and blocked most of H's phone, and I'm a bit more relaxed now.

HillsBesideTheSea · 21/03/2023 07:25

Good morning.
I did a one sitting listen through at double speed of atomic habits last night. Am i right that the weird next day motivation settles down to less crazy levels?

Ta da
unload, reload and put on to run dw
put a load on to run in the washer
press start on the dryer
stand on scales
make coffee
clear through social media - whilst drinking coffee
clothes on
pain level assessed - still really high

HungryHazelEyes · 21/03/2023 13:52

pompoms he's 13. My goal is to have him feel comfortable in the kitchen and learn the basics. I'm scared to have him cut vegetables etc, but he's going to need to do it.

Scourgify it's a nice feeling when you can take a breath and relax.

hills I love the feeling I get after a mad rush to clean. The house feels calmer and I can relax more.

I'm currently enjoying my coffee for a few minutes, before I start on cooking eggs for breakfast.
I need to wash everything from our bed today: the sheets, mattress protectors, pillow protectors and the comforter. I will also dust the ceiling fan and clean the bedside tables. I want to bleach the bathrooms as well. I'll need to figure out meals for the week and then place a grocery pickup order for this afternoon.

My phone screen gets fixed/ replaced today, I'm not sure when they'll be here and how long it'll take. They gave us a 2 hour slot (9-11am).
I also want to apply my self tanner today, but will need to wait until after the people leave.
DS is also home. They are on spring break this week - and we had snow the first day of spring 🤨
I caught up with some sleep last night so feeling great this morning, other than a little bit of a sore throat 😔 I see me drinking lots of tea and honey today.
Hopefully I'll be back on here with some ta das later 🍒👋

HungryHazelEyes · 21/03/2023 16:32

Woohoo my phone screen is fixed! Unfortunately my new screen protector is delayed 🤬

Ta Das:
☎️ eggs cooked
☎️ bed stripped - mattress protector now in the dryer along with other whites
☎️ sheets currently in the washer
☎️ clean LOLs put away

That's it for now, but it's only 10:30am

icypompoms · 21/03/2023 20:50

@HungryHazelEyes it's brilliant and he'll be fine with the knives I'm sure. Mine are so blunt I let middle poms who is 4 cut simple stuff..:says more about my crap knives than my parenting.

☔️ swimming again today at a different pool to try out the ones around us.
☔️2 lols
☔️dyed hair

Not a lot else today but I don't have any piles of clothes so I'm off the hook there.

OP posts:
icypompoms · 21/03/2023 20:53

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

The mission also fits with anti procrastination day.

☔️ Wednesday is Anti-procrastination Day. We are going to straighten up the floor of your closet! Are the shoes piling up and you can't find two shoes that are a like? Do you think you have too many shoes? While you are lining up your shoes; pick two pair to give away or throw away. The next time you are looking for the pair of shoes that match your outfit, you will smile because you will be able to find them without getting down on your hands and knees. This will put another smile on your face and keep your hair from getting messed up.

OP posts:
DitzyDaffodils · 21/03/2023 23:01

Ta-da's:

🌳Morning routine
🌷Cleared out the rest of the under bed storage
🌳Meal planning
🌷Shopping for Easter decoration
🌳Gardening
🌷Tidied bedroom
🌳Decluttered
🌷Tidied kitchen
🌳Evening routine

Early night for me. 🍒👋 to all. 💤

DomesticElf · 21/03/2023 23:23

I managed to do some zone cleaning today. Miracles do happen.

Ta das:
🙈Bedroom surfaces antibac-ed.
🙈Pants and sock drawer organised
🙈Bedsheets changed
🙈LOL done

HungryHazelEyes · 22/03/2023 00:57

Elf same here re zone cleaning!

Ta Das:
🫖 mattress protectors and sheets back on the bed
🫖 comforter almost dry
🫖 video chat with Mum
🫖 vacuumed main floor and stairs
🫖 ceiling fan cleaned (before anything got put back on the bed) in our bedroom
🫖 bedside tables cleaned
🫖 sinks de-limescaled in both bathrooms
🫖 grocery shopping done
🫖 shower, body scrubbed, shaved
🫖 self tanner applied and currently developing

DH asked if I would go with him while he tries out his dirt bike. It's one he bought from someone he knows - it was a frame with a bucket of parts! He put it all back together over the last few months. The guy he bought it from said it wasn't running, so he took it apart to try to fix it and got stuck!
This is the first time taking it out on a track, it'll need some adjustments, but DH is seeing how it does so he can make sure everything is good on it. I'm proud of him!