Sunshine, Flowers & Weddings ~ June Flylady thread

[HazelNotHungryLC]

Are you needing some guidance with routines and keeping up on housework? This is the thread for you!

This is a long running thread, but we are a friendly bunch and 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!
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 (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

There are more, 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). You can also modify the tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle.

Links are below 👇 if I happen to not add links in time, they do update at midnight for you.

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

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

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

Ta-da's

🌩️ Morning routine
🌩️ Decluttered bathroom
🌩️ Reorganization of airing cupboard
🌩️ Tidied bedroom
🌩️ Cleaned car
🌩️ Went to post office
🌩️ Went to nature reserve
🌩️ Resisted buying anything in the sales
🌩️ Exercise
🌩️ Evening routine

I'm worn out now 😴

Cabbage well done on getting started on the holiday laundry. Did you go somewhere nice? I'm sorry if you've already said, but my memory is terrible if you have!

Scourgify what is SW? I feel like I should know this..
Well done on starting on the paperwork, hopefully it'll be less overwhelming next time you tackle it.

ED oooh, you do still have some sunflowers growing! Yay!

Doctor that sounds like you've had a busy day today, and very productive!

Ditzy I'm not surprised you're worn out after all that!

I worked all day today, then helped DH trim a couple low hanging branches off our tree. Other than that, dinner was leftovers and I'm currently sipping on my bedtime tea.
My head has been hurting this afternoon, I'm thinking not enough sleep and water (it was busy at work today). Hopefully it'll be gone by morning.

Tuesday is plan & play day.
Bathroom
Tuesday's mission is to shine our bath tubs and showers. Only spend 10-15 minutes on this, just a quick scrub and shine will do. Use whatever cleaner you have on hand, she even mentions shower gel, if nothing else.
spare bedroom/other room
Spend 10-15 minutes getting the room ready for guests. If it's been a while since the sheets were washed, wash them.
DD is coming over on Friday and staying the weekend for the wedding. That room is already ready, which is nice.

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-11/

🍒👋 to everyone

@HazelNotHungryLC SW = Social Work. Teens are struggling, and our health is not what it was. I’m making sure they and I have all the support possible outwith the family as I can feel my mental health crumbling and a stress-related cognitive decline.

I can’t fault the individual professionals, I just wish there could be a more holistic approach to the family. Each new referral requires me to go over past history then deal with the inevitable fallout at home when I’m at my lowest.

And now according to TeenGirl all the long waiting lists are my fault!

Cue return of my eating disorder….

Clinging on by my fingertips until the end of term. At least the sun’s shining this morning 🌞 and I can go out and be calm under my trees. 🌳🌳

Oh @Scourgify that sounds really tough for all of you. Please please please make eating properly your priority. Everything else will be so much harder if you don’t. Feed your body, feed your brain, please.

Oh I'm so sorry Scourgify 😞 I didn't make the connection. Things sound so tough for you at the moment. Can they not talk to each other or add notes so things don't need to be brought up over and over again? That sounds like a ridiculous system!
I agree with Character you need to make sure you eat properly as everything will be tougher if you don't have the nourishment your body needs. Do you have any family who can step in and give you a break, even if it's just for a couple of hours?

Ta das so far:
🎺 dressed, makeup on, hair done
🎺 dropped DS off at band bootcamp at the high school
🎺 stripped the master bed & put the sheets in the washer

I'm currently sitting down, enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee. It's just gone 8am here.

To dos:
☕️ laundry, lots & lots of laundry
☕️ vacuum main floor & stairs
☕️ mop hard floors
☕️ more laundry..
☕️ bleach both bathrooms (I need to spend more time in them both today, to do a good job)

☕️ clean mirrors
☕️ go to my hair appt
☕️ more laundry..
☕️ finish making cheesecake for the wedding now I'm feeling 100%
☕️ pick DS up & take him to his hair appt
☕️ take DS to places to try to raise money for band (fundraiser)
☕️ more laundry..
☕️ deal with hotspots that are growing in the main living area of the house

I best get going, as that's quite a list!

Scourgify sending hugs. Totally agree the system is not set up for holistic approach to families, silo working is rife in our county council certainly. Can very much relate to the overwhelm, I have only just come back to the thread myself - we can all encourage each other! 💕

Sunday
✅sent a few emails
✅confirmed booking for a day trip
✅booked a trial class for Cagletini
✅booked apartment to stay for next month (presenting at a conference for my previous employer)
✅business admin

Monday
✅rotated DW
✅took in tesco delivery and put away
✅cleaned kitchen counters
✅put out recycling
✅paid dance fees
✅emailed DS’ college
✅visited neighbour and then went to meet work friends
✅made an enquiry about a joint pain course
✅business admin

Feeling a bit stuck this afternoon. Wait, evening - how is it 6pm already?! I’m going out this evening (nothing exciting) and I need to clear up a bit first. H is here with the Caglets and will leave when I come home as he’s got an early start tomorrow.

po3.1
🎯decide when to book cab
🎯rotate DW
🎯LOL

Ta das (so far):
🧺 sheets washed & dried
🧺 2nd LoL hanging to dry (was gentle wash & I threw in the bathroom floor mats)
🧺 3rd LoL in dryer (towels)
🧺 4th LoL in washer
🧺 vacuumed main floor & stairs
🧺 bleached both bathrooms

I'm currently at the hairdressers getting my roots done & a trim. I'm taking advantage of the break!

Ta das:
🍰 cleaned vacuum filter
🍰 2 more LOLs on the go
🍰 cheesecake finished & in the freezer
🍰 rotated DW

I'm waiting for DS to come out of his bootcamp, he has a hair appt right now and he's still not out 🤬 our hairdresser is aware he'll be late, but I have no idea how late!

Thank you for kind thoughts. I don’t think family can do more than they already do. They often do fun stuff with the Teens at weekends and during holidays, for which I’m very grateful with my arthritis, etc.

Recycling went out yesterday, some overhanging branches cut back today in small stages and chopped up for garden waste bin which goes out on Friday. The dishes are washed and kitchen tidy with breakfast ready for tomorrow. Fridge tidy and tesco online order in progress.

Similar weather forecast for tomorrow, so looking forward to more peaceful garden tidy in the sun, even though the wind is very chilly. Extra duvets at night this week.

@HazelNotHungryLC I don't think I said where we went, but we were on a big family/friends drop-in roadtrip sharing our pregnancy news. Had a lot of fun surprising everyone, and I got lucky with the timing of a drop in symptoms too.

@DoctorDolittle hurrah! Hoping the success continues with new bedroom setup

@Scourgify my sympathies with wishing for a holistic approach to SW. Sending solidarity for stress-triggered food struggles also

--

Now we're home (inspired by staying with the very very tidy friends!!) I have gone rogue on fly lady because I have finally had it with our disorganised conservatory, which partially functions as kitchen overflow because the kitchen is an original 1920s galley and we have a lot of stuff. We decluttered when we moved here... but it still wasn't enough as we both love tea and coffee and baking, all three things which have paraphernalia that isn't very cupboard friendly. So this is it. At the weekend we bought some snazzy Joseph Joseph tupperware (disguised as essential baby prep for storing postpartum meals, but I've wanted these for years!) and I'm going to track project progress here. Hope you don't mind as it's partly decluttering and also a lot of cleaning! Part of the reason for this project is that it was so cluttered we had trouble keeping the floor clean which is just horrifying to me when we're storing food related things nearby. So the new layout hopefully encourages better airflow and access and all things. Started in such a "F it, it's happening right now" rage this evening that I do not have a satisfying Before Photo but I might take an After.

Project Conservatory:
-Emptied 2x half height shelf units of kitchen bits
-Wiped down windows, floor (a bit generically grimey)
-Swept and mopped floor
-Flipped one shelf (a bit stained from pans)
-Put together new "pan storage thingie" so frying pans can be on their sides and be easier to grab that when stacked
-Replaced and filled one shelf unit in its new position

Nb. Rest of conservatory floor still covered in the things from the shelves currently homeless, one shelf unit currently very inconveniently in the middle of the kitchen. DW is thrilled Something Is Happening but not thrilled about all the stuff on the floor/blocking kitchen worktops. Thankfully she trusts the process 😁

i like the sound of Project Conservatory @CabbageBearGoat , great work.

@Scourgify please feel free to lean on us for moral support whenever you need to

@SingToTheSky hope you had a nice evening out

@HazelNotHungryLC hope D made it to the hairdresser eventually

Tada!
🌺Up and ready for work, put washing on and hoped someone would hang it out. It rained so just as well they didn't bother
🌺home via Lidl
🌺put shopping away (only a few bits)
🌺crochet
🌺fed cats
🌺early dinner - cooked by DD
🌺watched DS belatedly hang out washing and put another load on
🌺tabletted cat
🌺allotment with DS for half an hour
🌺hung out second load of washing
🌺took DS for driving practice and came home via Sainsburys for something I forgot in Lidl
🌺made my packed lunch for tomorrow
🌺baked rhubarb cake to take to work(allotment glut)
🌺booked hotel for a uni open day
🌺put clothes out for tomorrow
🌺more crochet

Scourgify I'm happy to hear your family does help out when they can. It looks like you had a productive day! I hope you get to enjoy relaxing in your garden soon.

Cabbage your trip sounds so exciting! I'm also loving the Project Conservatory. I think we all need to go through something like that periodically.

ED DS did make it to his hair appt, he actually came out of the building as I posted my last post!
I harvested some of my rhubarb today that I have in my garden. It smells amazing! I did it this evening so didn't have time to cook it yet.
When I read tabletted cat, I imagined you handing a tablet or iPad to your car for entertainment! I think I'm needing to go to bed!

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.
bathroom
Wednesday's mission is to wash your bathroom rugs and shower curtains. I actually did mine today 😇
spare bedroom
Clear the cobwebs from in the corners of the room

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-12/
Keep doing all the baby steps, they are all listed in the link ☝️

Oh excellent, I washed the bath mats on Monday night and we don't have a shower curtain. Bought a replacement head for my duster last week so Cobwebs here we come.

Caught up a little last night tidying out the freezer. Got rid of last years rhubarb as we are overwhelmed with fresh just now.

Our bathroom is tiny and we don't have a spare room so I'm transferring this weeks efforts to the dumping room which is supposed to be a combined office, library and music room with a sofa bed.

I wash the bathmat every weekend with the towels so that was done on Sunday. The shower curtain could do with a wash though, I usually combine that with cleaning out the WM so run it at 90C with the shower curtain and some bleach but no detergent. Might do that tonight. I have rinsed and thrown out a couple of empty shampoo bottles as this morning's bathroom effort.

Tuesday
✅meeting about some potential work! They definitely want to hire me but how soon I can start depends on my ex-boss due to my contract
✅spoke to volunteer supervisor - I have officially stepped back permanently which is a shame but needs must etc
✅took Caglets out for lunch using vouchers
✅rotated DW
✅LOL
✅cleaned counters
✅assembled and washed new fruit storage
✅birthday/Father’s Day shopping
✅went to autism parent group
✅drafted a new training presentation
✅LOL in dryer

Felt like quite a productive day but I’m exhausted again now. I need to look at my diary and decide when I can have a couple of days of absolutely nothing. TBH I feel like I need a month of nothing but that’s not happening!

po3.1
🎯breakfast
🎯put dryer back on
🎯get ready for zoom meeting, my dad invited me to one of his U3A classes 😁

Hello everyone

Sorry for nagging @Scourgify . I have 2 family members with ED’s so I’m afraid I got a little bit triggered 😳. I agree with you re the system, we’re lucky to have it but it is also an incredibly frustrating process and the single point of contact information sharing really doesn’t happen as it should.

@CabbageBearGoat conservatory project sounds satisfying. I’m similar with the kitchen stuff, I have cut it down but will never have a minimalist kitchen because I cook and bake and have guests. We could have probably done with putting in a few extra cupboards when we designed our kitchen but hindsight is a marvellous thing and we had to work with the space that we had.

@SingToTheSky good luck with the job!

Today so far
🐝morning routine
🐝school run
🐝buy hair dye
🐝general tidy/hotspot clearing
🐝clean glass door, mirrors and glass bathroom shelf
🐝dust everywhere (I cheated and just used the feather duster instead of damp dusting and moving stuff)
🐝pull out oven and get all the crumbs/peas from underneath
🐝vacuum downstairs

Now need to fold and put away yesterday’s lol, hang up the first lol of the day and put the second on to wash.

Phase One complete! Which means the conservatory kitchen overflow area is how it will be going forward, but the "this now needs a new home" clobber is still on the floor for now...

Project Conservatory:

• Swept and mopped floor again
• Replaced second shelf unit, flipped both shelves
• Filled new pan holder-upper thing (much readjustment required)
• Moved baking trays into Kitchen Proper, freeing up shelf space for the pizza boards
• Filled second shelf unit
• Rearranged first shelf hnit
• Comforted cat who struggles when we rearrange things

And to share the joy I'm posting an "after" picture. The bee and sheep magnets on the tops are to protect us from bashing into the corners as we're both prone to walking into things!

Flylady/general housekeeping:

• DW did all washing up
• Drying and putting away
• LOL in the washer
• Grocery delivery ordered
• Put loo limescale prevention block in downstairs WC
• Airer emptied and put away

To do:

• Install utility worktop
• Put away in utility/garage: slow cooker, Big Pan, spare steamer, biscuits jar
• Figure out plan for the excess plates and cutlery we don't use (charity shop..?)

Wishlist:

• Bake? Bread?

Ooh look at that organisation! Very clean and tidy

Well done for being ahead Dilly!

ED your on top of zone cleaning this week too!

Sing that's exciting to hear about a possible job opportunity for you! It's sad that you're unable to volunteer anymore. It sounds like it might be for the best though.

Character sometimes a quick job of dusting is good enough. I'm sure it all looked much better and cleaner once you were done!

Cabbage that looks so neat & tidy! I love the fridge magnets too!

Ta das:
😴 dropped DS off at band bootcamp 1st thing
😴 worked all day
😴 cooked dinner
😴 made my lunches for the rest of the week
😴 handwashed dishes
😴 wiped out microwave
😴 wiped countertops
😴 got my clothes out for tomorrow

I still need to go take a shower and move laundry along. DS washed a load today and it's still in the washer.

Thursday is errand day.

Thursday's missions:
bathroom
Spend 10 minutes going through cosmetics and perfumes. Toss them if you've had them longer than a year, they can grow bacteria. This includes lotions & creams.
spare bedroom
If it needs it, do another 27 boogie fling. If it doesn't, sweep or vacuum this room and you're done!

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-13/
Flylady introduces the daily missions and zones. Today's baby step is to do today's mission!

A weird day today. Had curtains fitted in the morning, which entailed moving a unit out from the bay window to give them space. In so doing, we discovered an unknown issue with airflow behind said unit creating a small patch of mould on the skirting board! Aargh! So, various discussions had about how to give the bay more airflow, turning into a discussion about where we'd eventually make space for playing/toys in the lounge, etc etc... one thing led to another and DW and I decided to switch which end of the living room / dining room was which. So we spent our lunch hour doing the big stuff like moving the sofa and emptying bookshelves, and odd moments here and there vacuuming etc. Lots more to do but huge progress done today. And we finally have curtains! So today's fly wins can be broadly summarised into:

-Vacuumed every square inch of lounge/diner
-Wiped down all affected skirting
-Moved many furnitures
-Vacuumed again
-Comforted cat who is delighted with having curtains again (she likes to sit on the windowsill when curtains are shut at night)
-Remembered to bring the wheelie bin back in after morning collection!
-Wiped down kitchen counters
-Emptied kitchen bins
-Put away grocery delivery

Today's mission isn't too relevant here (1. we did a very thorough job decluttering bathroom lotions and potions previously and haven't replaced any since, and 2. you can prise my ancient wonderful perfumes out of my cold dead hands) so I didn't feel tooooo bad about going off-piste 😁