Festive Flying with the Fledglings

[ExpensiveDecorations]

🎄Welcome to the December Flylady thread, this is a long running thread with many regulars but newcomers and returners are all very welcome. We love to chat as well as looking after our homes.

Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - your inbox will end up very cluttered!

There is an app that you can customise to suit your schedule and home but I haven’t tried it, others on here have, you can customise it and use it for notifications.

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!

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 a week. It's also date night (with your significant other, or friends, or yourself!)
• Saturday: family fun day
• Sunday: renew your spirit

Common acronyms we use:

• LOL: load of laundry (we aim to have lots of laughter too)
• Mount Washmore - multiple LOLs
• DW: dishwasher, not wife
• LMS: lose/lost my shit
• DNLMS: did not lose my shit
• BRC/DRC: box/basket/drawer of random crap

I'll try to update links every day, although it could get a bit hectic as we proceed through the month.

Links are below 👇 if I happen to not add links in time, they do update at midnight for you. Ask if there us anything you understand - our motto is No Fledgling Left Behind.

Launch Pad (the heart of the system): https://www.flylady.net/d/new-links/
Zones (different weekly focus areas of the house): https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/
Baby Steps (these build up into daily habits): https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/
31 Beginner BabySteps | FlyLady.net
https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps
Flight Plan (daily summary of the relevant parts of the system) http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0
Festive Flying http://www.flylady.net/d/cruising-through-the-holidays/

@FiveCows I started out on the poncetastic thread this year again but life has got in the way of much poncing, I love reading it though. I do make my own Christmas cake and pudding but that’s as far as it’s got this year.

@HazelNuttyElf they do look amazing.

Zero flying here yesterday, we all met up after work / college yesterday, went out for a bite to eat and then to see Wonka, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Did manage some evening routine stuff I suppose though. My evening routine is getting a bit long, making me go to bed later and later, might need to rething that.

Today is Tuesday, that means Plan and Play Day.

The Flight Plan is here http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0

The mission for today is to straighten out your laundry area. We don’t have one as such, the WM is in the kitchen with the detergent under the sink, the tumble dryer is in the shed, heated airer in DS’s bedroom (he’s at uni) and the iron and ironing board are in our bedroom (I did invest in a nice wall hanging thing for them this year, 20 years of the iron being stored on the landing windowsill and the board propped up behind our door finally got to be enough. I probably need to spend more time on the bathroom instead. Have a good day everyone.

Yesterday was a write off due to the emotional trauma of the weekend. But at least i slept last night.
My laptop is definitely dying a death. 100% cpu system interrupts are occurring more regularly so i NEED to get the new one ordered once it settles down for the morning (usually really bad the first 2 hrs of being on) I am out from 1.30pm today and there will be distractions so that is going to help the general malaise.

There is a lot to be done, and still no wish to do it. Goodness knows how much lighter it is going to feel when life is put back together...

I was shocked at how expensive it was to send 40 christmas cards this year, but i am grateful for the small bit of cheer that I am getting from the ones I am recieving.

Hazel they look amazing. Very professional presentation too.

I’ve been feeling overwhelmed recently but said last night in front of ds’ girlfriend that I felt like the house was absolute chaos and she very kindly said that she didn’t think it was any dirtier or messier than usual it was probably just all the Christmas decorations out making it feel busier. Oddly that made me feel better and I was able to focus a little better today.

Ta da’s
morning routine
lol
school run
quick tidy up
work 2 hours
lunch
lol hung up
2 lol folded and put away
clean bathroom
vacuum whole house
mop hard floors
School run
cook dinner

Doesn’t look like much written down but was on the go all day ☹️

@ExpensiveDecorations I haven’t even managed to make a Christmas cake this year. Aldi it is.

@SleepingIceDragons Dentist!

character that is a good sign that DS GF was so kind to you. Sometimes I think compassion is missing nowadays.
Thank you for the compliment on the truffles presentation. They are a night and day difference to when I first started making them, taste included, as now I use better quality ingredients, every time.

ED is Wonka a remake of the original or a 2nd one with a different storyline? I don't ever see any trailers or anything on new films so have no idea!

Ta Das:
🍯 LOLs x4, including sheets and towels
🍯 wrapped a present x3 layers (somewhat, I'm going to put it in a couple more boxes, wrapping each box, it's a main gift for MIL - she'll know what it is)
🍯 pulled staples out from the stairs (the wood sides, they will be painted, did have carpet on them)
🍯 vacuumed main floor, as well as stairs
🍯 took dogs to groomer to get nails trimmed
🍯 took dogs to vet, Dobby needed a shot or 3

The restoration company installed my kitchen hood (I bought it 2 years ago), it'll be finished tomorrow, it needs electricity and it'll need to be put up as high as it'll go or I'll keep bumping my head on it!
There's a couple other things that need to be finished, other than painting, but should be done tomorrow.
I'm fighting the start of a cold, so is DS, but not as actively as me! We'll see if he needs to stay home tomorrow or not, he said he doesn't want to, but wasn't wanting the things to make him feel better 🙄
I've had about 4 hot toddy's tonight 😱 Oops 😬 I have to work tomorrow!

Oh I forgot, I have more ta das!

🫖 emptied 3 totes of my clothes, putting them away in my closet
🫖 re-hung my pictures etc in my bedroom
🫖 moved my jewelry (necklace) hanger to my closet room instead of the spare bedroom
🫖 bathed the dogs

DS rotated DW and took the bin to the front, ready for it to be taken tomorrow.

@HazelNuttyElf it’s a prequel rather than a remake, the story of Wonka as a penniless but talented young man just starting out on his mission to make and sell chocolate and the three rival chocolate makers who set out to thwart his efforts.

@TheMainChristmasCharacter that was lovely of the GF.

Today is Wednesday, our flight plan is here http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0

The mission is to wipe down door handles and lightswitches around the house,k I don’t do this often enough. It is also anti-procrastination day, I must also phone the dentist.

Good evening everyone

Feeling on top of the daily mission today as I incorporate wiping the handles and light switches into my weekly clean so they’re all done regularly. <<smug>>

Today’s tada’s are less impressive
morning routine
lol
quick vacuum
Aldi for Christmas snacks
Sort dc stocking fillers
wrap most Christmas presents
send a return
organise a replacement
find two books in the library from my to read list
dinner
yoga class

quite a nice day really just not much housework done

Need to get the last few presents wrapped and cards written and sent and then there’ll be less stuff 1) lying around and 2) hiding in my wardrobe! IL’s arrive in 10 days so really should clear the spare room/office of paperwork and clean it before then.

Well done @TheMainChristmasCharacter that's a good idea to do it weekly. I was doing that during covid but the habit has slipped.

Tada!
Work
Picked up DH present from Screwfix
Went to Waitrose for a few things
Home and dinner
One load laundry
Put up some more decorations and stacked the boxes ready to go back to the loft
Unwrapped some Amazon parcels and hid the contents
Wrote some cards
Clothes out for tomorrow

Ta Das:
🎁 work (it was stinky at work, apparently all the drain pipes had broken under the building the last couple months, and was leaking. Raw sewage smell is disgusting 🤮). This is after I had to try plunging a toilet as it started overflowing 🤨
🎁 started wrapping more presents 😍 most of DDs are done now
🎁 cleaned the kitchen after dinner (although had to wipe the dust off surfaces. The guys were at the house again today and made a big dusty mess)

Hiya everyone I have been flying but not updating the thread so I'll just do a short stint in the naughty corner if that ok. Glad I found you again.

My aims today are a quick tidy around, hoover bedrooms and clean living room. The. The whole house will have been done this week! Then it's off to the school fair.

The naughty corner is always open for those that want to sit there quietly (I spent most of last month there). Well done on getting the whole house done @cosypompoms

I am about to go and do my lightswitches etc from yesterday, then get ready for work (only need to go in for an hour or so today).

Our Flight Plan is here http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0 and our mission is in the office/computer zone, empty the waste bin and dust around the stuff.

So i have some evil sort of upper respitory thing brewing. So far it is just crud and wheeze and hoping it stays at that level. But I suspect that a christmas dose of pnuemonia might be on my over due list. <sigh>

In the meantime.
Dentist = forgot
Doc appt = also forgot
pilates class assessment = done
christmas cards etc sent = Almost done. There are 3 to go which require letters and it will be ok if they arrive late. I am working on these
passport finally renewed and old one sent =done
Discover the car is actually a different colour to the one it looks and getting it washed before its tuesday's MOT is probably a good idea.

I have a long list of to do items to do, but minimal energy to do. So will have to see how far i get. One steps at a time. But it is also only thursday? So i have time to get the must get done jobs done this week.

@SleepingIceDragons probably the best thing to do is Vitamins, liquids and rest and see if you can fight the lurgy off. You don’t want to go into next week ill and knackered! Take this as permission to rest!

Ta Das today
Cleaned, changed sheets, festively decorated guest room for visitors tonight
Cleaned and tidied my study (I am in holiday from work now, but hoping it will spur me into some Uni work over the break if my space is clean and clear)
Cleaned, tidied and decorated DS2’s room - he’s shattered at the moment with school concerts etc so I thought it would be a nice surprise to come home to today. DS1 and DS3’s rooms will get the same treatment tomorrow.
Cleaned and scrubbed one bathroom. 2 still to do.
Dug out the sewing machine from the loft for a Christmas project

Having lunch now, but after lunch to-do’s

Clear washing down to utility room, including from DC floors 😬🫣
Clean bathroom
Hoover and tidy landing
Clear 2 rubbish bags to outside bins
10 min clear down in kitchen/ dining room

Aaaaand all done!

and have had time to fit in a Kit Kat chunky and a cuppa before my mum gets here 😜

I know I am going to be stiff and sore tomorrow, but my house looks and smells SO nice 👌 🥰

Hope you are feeling better @SleepingIceDragons

Ewww! Sewage 💩🦠 Hazel 🤢

I'm with you in the naughty corner Pompoms and I've brought cake 🍰🧁. The place is clean and tidy but I still have a lot of clutter and struggling to decide what to get rid of. Not going to worry about it too much until after Christmas

I recommend echinacea pills Dragons for getting rid of lurgy before it really takes a hold. Fingers crossed you don't get pneumonia anyway 🤞

Cows you're on a roll 🏆

ED I hear you with hiding the parcels quickly and disposing of the evidence packaging. I'm always happy if they arrive when I'm home alone, makes it so much easier

That was sweet of DS's GF Character

Ta-da's:

🏔️ Morning routine
🏔️ Hairdresser
🏔️ Decluttering
🏔️ Walk through the woods with a friend
🏔️ Took in delivery, unpacked and put away

To-do:

🪐 Movie night (James bond)
🪐 Evening routine

Morning everyone!

I've fallen off the thread again this week but i completed my course yesterday 🙌🏻 so hopefully i will be able to get back to routine . An early start for me as dd2 is poorly again so she's jumped into bed with oh around 4ish and I came downstairs to let them have a half decent sleep. I'm also full of a cold but I have so much to do before next weekend that I'm in full denial that I'm poorly 😂

Tada
🎄very early morning coffee whilst the house is quiet

To do
⛄️ general routines & work
⛄️ collect some hot chocolate and sweet cones for my class
⛄️ tea with Santa (may have to cancel with both me and dd2 being poorly)

Morning all! Sorry I’m late, it’s my day off and had a lie-in. Today is Friday, tidy out your car and handbag day, also date night.

I still haven’t done my lightswitches but I have phoned the dentist and written about half my cards now. Off to the supermarket in a minute.

Our flight plan for the day is here http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0

the mission is to spend 5 minutes each tossing out clutter in the bathroom and the most cluttered room.

Unfortunately the stresses of the last month and how run down i am outweighs the ability of echinachia to help. Additionally it is on my contra-indicated list. I have used other things instead. Ginger is a strong expectorant so I am going to pick up some fresh so I can add a slice to my honey and lemon.

Minimal flying from me for today and the weekend.

I didn't know that about ginger Dragons. Useful info, thanks. I hope you start feeling a little better soon 🤧

Well done on finishing the course Santa

You sound well prepped for Christmas ED. Hoping you don't have toothache though

Not so much proper flying going on here. At least I'm matching with the latest mission - decluttering

Thanks @DitzyDaffodils , no toothache, it's just a checkup for DD which has been on my to do list since about September. She's now booked in for Feb half term. As for presents, I get them all delivered to DH's work as I am in different places on different days of the week but he is very good at bringing them all home without meddling. If it's something I think will be recognisable, or if too big to store at home I get delivery to my main workplace though. During decluttering this year I re-allocated the place I usually hide presents in for other stuff so everything is wedged in the bottom of my wardrobe now (we don't put them under the tree as they would be visible from the street).

@SleepingIceDragons sorry you are so run down, I didn't know that about ginger either, I found it great for morning sickness, it's magic stuff.

@Searchingforsanta sorry you and DD are ill too, so much going round at the moment.

@FiveCows great effort there, I sympathise over DC bedroom floor laundry piles. Lovely to get your DS's rooms done though and a good idea about the office.

@HazelNuttyElf are you getting a break from the restoration stuff over Christmas?

@DomesticElf you must be very close to your move by now, good luck!

<waves> at everyone else.

I woke up early, I have been drinking caffeine more again recently to keep myself going (I seem to be doing a huge amount of driving) but worried it might be affecting my sleep, I've been awake since about 5. Off to London for the day later too so another busy one. But at the moment I have put my electric blanket back on and am staying in bed. However the cats are prowling.

Happy weekend everyone. I hope the colds are not taking hold and we all get some rest.

I wrapped the kids stocking stuff last night. So at least feel we've started something. Aiming to wrap proper presents tomorrow whilst hopefully H takes kids to his mothers.

Morning@cosypompoms , I’m sitting in front of the tree with a coffee, bracing for the day!
Busy Morning planned with a Christmas event at the DCs sports training. This afternoon we have DS’ girlfriend coming round and I might do some uni work.

To do’s
clear kitchen and dining room surfaces
20 mins clearing in master bedroom
Wash sheets master bedroom

Have a great day fledgelings!

Morning everyone!

Dd2 is quite poorly again, the doctor believes it isn't to do with the scarlet fever she has just finished antibiotics for and is viral . Poor kids throat is so sore , she isn't eating anything and has started vomiting but it's bile because her tummy is empty! This is the 3rd time being poorly since the beginning of November! Her little immune system must be struggling to keep up !

Todays plan was to take dd2 to gymnastics then oh was going to take everyone out afterwards so I could have a full day of wrapping and Christmas prep 🤦‍♀️ I've got to come up with a different action plan now but there's so much to do I don't know where to start !! So my first to do's are :

🎄make a coffee
🎄 write a list of everything that needs to be done before Christmas including the cleaning that I haven't managed to complete this week
🎄highlight the things I can get done whilst the kids are here including the order of priority or which ones I can complete whilst sat with dd2

Hope you start to feel better soon @SleepingIceDragons

Thanks @DitzyDaffodils , I was going to complete another course straight after this one but I'm taking a break - I really struggled time wise and scraped through this one . Well done for your decluttering!

Enjoy your day in London @ExpensiveDecorations ! I try not to drink caffeine after 4ish because it affects my sleep . I tend to have 2 cups first thing then one of those latte sachets (usually vanilla or caramel) in the afternoon for that afternoon slump. It's such a busy time of year though that most of us survive on caffeine! I hope your sleep improves, everything is so much harder to do when you're tired !

Good luck with the wrapping @partypompoms !

Enjoy the Christmas event @FiveCows !

I am struggling with tech issues bastarding microsoft so I am going to wish you all a happy Christmas and good new year now.