Flying through August & the summer holidays with Flylady!

[BloomingHazel]

Welcome to this long running thread, we may seem clicky, but all are welcome to join in!

Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - it's an excessive amount sent every day.

There are Baby Steps for starting out, add one thing at a time to start good habits and routines.

There are 5 zones that we will rotate through, don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism!

Habit of the month of August is Laundry

Daily missions: each day of the week has a different mission.

• Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh)
• Tuesday: plan & play
• Wednesday: anti-procrastination
• Thursday: errand day
• Friday: clean car & purse out and date night (what's that again?? 🤔)
• Saturday: family fun day
• Sunday: renew your spirit

Common acronyms we use:

• LOL: load of laundry (washing is certainly NOT funny!)
• DW: dishwasher, we are not rotating wives by any means, although an extra pair of hands could come in handy sometimes 😆
• LMS: lose/lost my shit
• DNLMS: did not lose my shit

I'm sure there's more I haven't mentioned, feel free to ask us to explain something. I'll try to update links every day, although if you can, it's worth downloading the app, you can even have it send you notifications (although I only have it for when the zones change).

As a side note, this is my first time leading this thread, please be patient with me if I miss something. We really are a friendly bunch!
Links are below 👇 if I happen to not add links in time, they do update at midnight for you.

Launch Pad: www.flylady.net/d/new-links/

Zones: www.flylady.net/d/zones/

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

Oops think I, just posted in the July thread Shows I haven't been on much!

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm now working for Tesco's in the clothes department. I'm feeling very anxious but also excited. Waiting to find which shifts I'm on then need to rewrite routines and start meal planning.

I'm going to try and read some more of this thread and catch up on you all.
Hope you all have a good day

Back later

pompoms threads during the summer holidays are usually pretty quiet, and for good reason! It's hard work running a household and taking care of DC, that's why these threads and multiple systems are out there! So no worries at all 😊

Shannara congratulations on your new job! It sounds like you're already thinking ahead with routines and meal planning, that's half of the battle when starting anything new 😇

Things here are possibly starting to move, we are waiting on a couple things, then the restoration team are going to hit the ground running, not stopping until everything is done. That's the plan anyway. That also means people coming in and out of our house when we aren't home (no way can we take that much time off work) for 3 days a week anyway, I'm home Tuesdays, DS will be home Fridays.
One of the cleaning crews will be in on Tuesday, going to clean on the mechanical insides of some appliances, including washer, dryer, fridge, microwave etc. Should be interesting to see what I can accomplish that day, if anything!

A very late post marking - end of term was crazy , followed by a wonderful holiday in Cornwall. Currently recovering from dental implant surgery but still managed to clean and unblock the bathroom sink whilst being half asleep ( I was sedated for the treatment yesterday)

The home has turned into chaos , holiday washing everywhere , the routines weren't followed at the end of term and heading into the holiday . It is nice to see a few things that have been sorted previously still looking clutter free - gives me hope for the future haha!

I hope everyone is well and have enjoyed the occasional good weather days we've had 😊

Post even if you are not flying pompoms come for the support and the chatter. Just take a seat in the fully stocked naughty corner.

Didn't manage to get everything on the to do list yesterday, planned to do it today but insomnia bit me and i have not long been up. Which means it is too late to run those errands.

So much else that needs to be done. But a good solid frying up breakfast has been had. And i am almost up and functioning.

Evening everyone 👋
Not much happening in Cherry Towers on the flying front.
My anti procrastination TaDa was to sort out my diary, I bought a Filofax ages ago and it's just sat on a shelf.
I had notes and dates all over the place, but it's all pulled together now.
Swept out my cleaning cupboard now that I can get to it, it's for my surplus cleaning product storage, plus brooms and vacuum.
I'm using everything up and only replacing with stuff that works and I like the smell of.
This morning I bagged and netted enough hay for the weekend, it's a horrible job, but we're going to a steam fair tomorrow and out to lunch Sunday and it's one less task.
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend 💐

I actually cleaned my Jeep out today, well sort of! I went through my centre console and shredded old papers that didn't need to be in there anymore.
I didn't do anything else though 😳
This week has felt like a long week, although we are to the point where we are close to work starting on the house. We have to go through the final paperwork before we send it off to the bank, then it's out of our hands again.
I also fell when I was at work today, I tripped up a step 🤦‍♀️ I got a couple scrapes and bruises, but my pride was more hurt than anything!
I'm just glad it's the weekend!

Saturday is family fun day and Sunday is renew your spirit day 😊

@BloomingHazel falling is awful isn't it but we all do it at some point so don't be too embarrassed. Only you are still thinking of it.

I cleaned me bag out yesterday in a baby step back on track.

H put the camping stuff away yesterday and we have almost completed the post camping washing. Is it actually worth it? I know the kids had a great time away but I'm exhausted. I was exhausted before going by packing and shopping, exhausted whilst there 'sleeping' with two kids up many times and blow up mattresses and sleeping bag failures and now the house is chaos.

Does anyone camp here? What's the best sleeping/bed set up you've found?

Welcome back pompoms shannara and sunny 🥳

YesTaDa
🌊aqua aerobics class followed by steam room - bliss!
🌊bought next set of storage cubes - will go on the bottom row for heavier toys
🌊played a game with Cagletini and confirmed it can go in the donate bag

No real progress yesterday but it was worth it to try the class. Don’t plan to do much today either as it’ll be a really long day at home with just DS and Cagletini (the others are out volunteering), not sure I have the energy to go anywhere either.

Morning all

BloomingHazel being dyspraxic falling is an ongoing problem, I constantly have bruises I don't remember getting! Glad the house renovations are getting closer.
partypompoms I always need a holiday to get over an away holiday.
Cheeryogdog thanks for the calendar reminder, I have an academic year diary so need to transfer all the birthdays!
Searchingforsunnydays glad you had a nice holiday cornwall is so beautiful.

Our holiday this year was 2 nights at Alton Towers, exhausting but fun.

ToDo

Take Dd's computer to PC world, third time in a month! Some of her keys aren't working, wish we could have done hers when mine went in, then off to McDonald's which is opposite.

TaDa
Washed our towels

Anxiety is rising about the new job, trying to stay calm with lots of calming breathing!

Have a good day everyone

Aw shannara starting a new job (congratulations!) can be so daunting! Remember they wouldn’t have hired you if they didn’t feel you were the right choice, and they won’t expect you to know all their procedures etc straight away, it’s ok if you don’t know what to do! We will all be cheering you on 😘 and soon you’ll feel like you’ve been there for ages.

I have to my surprise managed a little more decluttering and housework - I was relaxing with some YouTube and felt motivated by Clutterbug etc 🤣 it’s sooo hot though and I also can’t seem to leave the younger DC alone for long lately without them arguing 🙄 so I’m having plenty of breaks.

po3.1
❗️Hang up wet laundry
❗️New LOL
❗️Put a few bits gathered upstairs in the charity bag

I have been trying to think of how to get all the unwanted stuff actually OUT of my house. I really don’t think we can avoid a skip anymore (we don’t drive and no longer have access to a van as DSS’ work rules changed) but the logistics scare me as well as the costs. 💸💸💸

However I’m hoping to also sort some other ways of getting a few bits collected - eg an old computer (which was actually from a charity that refurbished them in lockdown), a couple of bits of furniture and some clothes that could go to a nearby donation bin, saving room in the charity bags which are heavy.

Afternoon all

Went abit awol in the week!

Congrats on the job shannara!

Catching up now ....

pompoms we go camping, but since we got this camper it's a lot less stressful, so I'm afraid I'm not helpful in that sense. The only thing I can think of is to not go cheap on the air mattress and sleeping bags. Make sure the sleeping bags are rated for the temps you will be sleeping in.

Have everything ready in plastic totes, like cooking utensils and pans (if you have a camp stove you take). Keep those in there year-round, so only use them for camping. Same with bedding (extra blankets etc).

Keep meals easy, prep what you can a day or two before leaving. Foil packet meals are easy to put together and cook on a fire, especially if everything is already cooked and you're just warming it through. There are a tonne of recipes on Pinterest and lots of other ideas too (for storing etc, some are pretty genius!).

That was a lot longer than I thought it was going to be, I'm sorry. I realise I added more than what you asked for, so take what is useful to you, if anything.
Have DH take the DC to the park for a couple of hours this weekend and get some rest and relaxation in, or you leave the house for a couple of hours, doing whatever you want to do!

Shannara I'm sorry to hear that falling is a regular occurrence for you, that would be hard to live with.
I miss Alton Towers! I was just talking to a coworker about it yesterday. I would love 2 nights there! We always went for the day, so tried to cram as much in as possible, it would be nice to have that extra time to not rush so much.
Starting a new job is scary, hopefully they will welcome you and make you feel at home. That is a sign of a good employer.

Sing I could see getting a skip in being scary, however, don't you have an idea of things you want gone already? Can you make a list of everything, or designate an area of each room (or put it in one room) for things you want to see gone? If there's things you're not sure of, put them there anyway so you can see what it would be like without it. If you change your mind and want to keep those items you still have them.
Of course my suggestions may not be helpful to you either, but it does seem like you have an idea of what you want to actually keep, that's useful to you, what you actually use, like or love.
Do you have a collection service near you? I've heard of Anglo something (not sure if it's collection) and heard they are really good, maybe that'll be less scary than a skip?

Hi that 👋 how are things going with you?

@Shannaratiger congratulations on the new job. When do you start?

I'm so out of practise that I posted before saying much!

✅ family time was just me and the girls as H was building wardrobes. We all painted each others faces with the face paint set that rarely gets used. They loved that a lot.

✅ I let the 5 year old choose some dresses for Autumn from Vinted so that was a treat for her.

✅ played a game and read some books with the kids.

✅ 2 lols

I'm not very well (maybe Covid as H has it at the moment) so all this seems a big achievement. He only tested as works with someone vulnerable. I'm not testing though. Is that controversial? I don't want to live by self inflicted stricter rules then anyone else now however I feel I should test as it's so likely I've got it.

Pompoms covid is part of life now. We have to get on and live with it. I'd treat it like any other illness. If you feel ill don't go out, stay home and rest up. If you feel fine carry on as usual. The way you'd behave with any other contagious head cold or flu type bug. I wish people in the UK were more considerate and wore a mask when ill, didn't go into work spreading their germs around etc, but that's not how it is here and you'd come under fire from nasty folks who singles out anyone behaving differently and employers etc, so I wouldn't worry about it. All you can do is fit in with the laws and culture of the country you live in

Congratulations on the job Shanara

Sing British Heart Foundation will collect everything, even furniture and electrical items if it's donate-able. Not trash

I can do the tripping up the stairs thing too Hazel feels crazy doesn't it, but I guess it's less dangerous than falling down them I speak from experience 😣

More progress with decluttering, everything is looking more streamlined, like is with like, and I know where things are now. I've been considering going minimalist eventually, at some point in the future. Use things up and don't replace. It's stopping me living my life properly, all the moving things around to clean behind and to find other things underneath etc, it takes up time. I've been watching YouTube videos about zero waste living and think it'd combine well with that approach too. Thinking about what to keep and what to declutter has made me feel fed up with having so much stuff and having to deal with it

Briefly flying in, will do a proper post shortly.

Sing skip was the best thing I've done for decluttering. I would strongly recommend it. The company will take care of the logistics (delivery/collection), the only thing you need to plan is where it is going to go. If it's on your property, then all hunky dory, but if you need to use pavement/any other part of public space outside of your property boundary, you will need a permit. It's very easy to obtain, company usually sorts it out for you, but it will take extra 3 working days and will have an additional charge.

Things are still a bit crap here

THATtwat is looking at moving out soon. Issue is hes being very unhelpful with plans for the DC and childcare going forwards suggesting as he wont be living here he wont be doing any of the usual pick ups etc as that would mean him going out of his way

Ive contacted a childminder and two out of school clubs. Hopefully he either comes around to my suggestion he do 1/2 pick ups and tea a week or i manage to sort childcare. I have until the 11th to sort something

Ive also realised ill have to close my tax credits claim and claim UC which i only ever hear bad stuff about so feeling a bit down over that

This morning i downloaded the flylady app, does anyone use this?

Thanks for advice re getting rid of stuff! Will have a proper read and take notes later 😁 currently keeping an eye on the football while putting laundry away (DS and Cagletini are getting on better today so I’ve left them with the telly downstairs… 🤞)

That sorry things are rubbish, but I hope you can be proud that you’ve taken some steps to ending/taking a break from the relationship 💐

Will have lunch once I’m done with laundry. This afternoon when everyone’s home (DH and DD1 are watching with DSCs, Cagletini wouldn’t manage the shouting at the telly noise so we’ve stayed home) we are focusing on clearing up enough to get the new beds in tomorrow. DS’ can be built straight away but DD1’s will have to be left downstairs as we haven’t even cleared her room yet.

I’ve stalled a bit with organising Cagletini’s stuff. She’s got more storage than I thought (now that I’m being more ruthless with decluttering) which is great, but while it does mean I could keep eg painting stuff, home ed supplies (maths manipulatives, phonics stuff etc) and/or her board games in her room, those aren’t really things I want to keep there, because of her tendency to just pull stuff out and potentially lose bits. Jigsaws I don’t mind so much - they’re usually cheap charity shop purchases and easier to see if something’s missing - so they’re already in there.

But then I’m not too sure how storage will work elsewhere in the house. It’s a head scratcher for sure! 🤔

sing you sound like your getting really organised!

Yesterday i managed to clear, tidy, organise and clean a corner of my kitchen where crap gets dumped. So that looks better. Today i am aiming to tackle to heap on top of the dishwasher and the hall

Congratulations on getting rid of THATtwat and fingers crossed for the childcare solutions. Cleaning out the messy corners are the worst, I felt so relieved when I did one of mine THAT

I'm procrastinating doing the cleaning today

that I use the flylady app, it's more user friendly than the website, but still not the greatest. You can modify and personalise the daily task tick list and it's where I've been getting the daily missions from as the website doesn't seem to take me there anymore.
Well done on working on getting rid of THATtwat maybe he needs to realise that if he helps with drop offs/pick ups, he will save himself money, as he'll have to help pay for that childcare. Do you have copies of his proof of income, in case he tries to not pay his share of child support?

pompoms I hope you feel better soon 💐 I won't test either, but I live in a different country, in an area where it didn't get very bad at all. You did well for not feeling well, but please make sure you rest so you get better quicker.

Ditzy I would love to go minimalist as well, other than seasonal decorations as I love them! I don't think we'll ever get there, but may be able to reduce more when we have a skip outside our house for construction.

Sing I'm assuming that the storage in Cagletini's bedroom is within her reach, so I can see it being an issue, I'm sorry I'm no help without knowing the space you have in your house! It's there a cupboard that may have space to store that stuff? Or could have, if it still needs to be decluttered?

It's crappy weather outside today. We are going to go through the paperwork for the house and belongings today so I can send it off tomorrow. It sounds stressful already and we haven't even started yet (10:30am here). I do need to get dressed still, just finished my 2nd cup of coffee. I also have lots of LOLs to get done today too, and make sure DS has everything ready for tomorrow as he goes back to school 😱

hazel unfortunatley he is self employed