Flying on our broomsticks into October

[HauntingHazel]

Witches, vampires & zombies - whoever/whatever you are, all are welcome on this spooky flylady thread.

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. 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.

October's monthly focus is paper clutter.

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

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

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

@HauntingHazel I didn’t make the pumpkins, they were from Hobbycraft, but I did crochet some pumpkin bunting, I must put that up in the front window (I have a few different seasonal crochet bunting strings in a box under the stairs, the rest of the Hallowe’en decs are in a box in the loft). I was a bit 🙄 about DS’s room, he tries but is dyspraxic and struggles with organisation and tidiness, words will be had next time he calls though as there is no excuse for pizza boxes etc. He usually spends the evening lounging on our bed (it’s bigger and we have Sky TV) and meticulously removes any glasses, gadgets etc that he has taken there every night but his own room is a bit of a struggle, he did get all his uni stuff back together without much help to be fair, but I was the one that put it all away when he got home in May, storage is a bit of an issue here. DD doesn’t do the cans and pizza boxes thing but does leave clothes all over the floor and there are often a few coffee cups in there, they take after DH who is also hopelessly untidy (I think DH and DD have ADHD which doesn’t help).

Right, off to work shortly, we are going out tonight but will get a few jobs done after work.

Inspiring ta-das, HauntingHazel. Sounds like you deserve that meal out!

Poisonwood, I was rather lamely going to suggest a long, thin mirror on the wall to the right of the door in your photos. Thought it might give the illusion of a bit more space and it's always helpful to have a full length mirror for a quick check as you leave the house (I can't be the only one who's gone to work once with a huge velcro roller on the top of my head, surely? ).
However, HauntingHazel's come up with lots of lovely ideas. I wish I was better at that sort of thing - my late MiL was very good at creating a stylish home.

EerilyDecorated, I sympathise. My elder DD's room used to be a bit Augean stables-like. It's the old story though: now she's got her own house she keeps it beautifully.
Funnily enough, my younger DD really loved Fly Lady when I first discovered her and divided her bedroom up into zones so she could follow the pattern in there.

House bleugh upstairs for me today and cleaning the remaining carpet edges in the hall. Also planning to clean the French windows in the sitting room, so that'll be all the windows downstairs done - a big ta-da for me.
The water that came off the hall windows yesterday was filthy. Sort of satisfying in a gross way, but I'm looking forward to "never seeing dirt again".
Happy FLYing today all.

If you had to choose between no pain in your body or no pain in your head which would you choose?

I need to do all the thing but i stopped taking the pain med due to the migraines it causes and now i just have pain everywhere. I do not expect the fact that I trashed the entire house yesterday by moving all the things so that i could play hunt the thing probably helped. I did not find any of the 10 things i was looking for and everything is in a different place than when i started. And honestly it looks no worse that when i started due to dislocated building chaos. I allowed myself a rest morning, but going to get up and tackle my to do list:
🍄 hang a cupboard on the wall,
🍄 move a unit back into my office space,
🍄 return the 16 drawers to the 2 units.
🍄 return the contents to the cupboard
🍄 empty out the DW, hunt down enough washing up to load and re run machine
🍄 run a couple of loads of laundry
🍄clean the curtain pole that CAN go away (nope still not found the box of fittings it was one of the things i was play hunt the things for yesterday)
🍄return the curtain pole, the fixings, and net curtain.
🍄PLay hunt the plant pots - return to curtain pole if can find it
🍄Figure out what to do for tea - probably a grab and go because i already know i can't be arsed
🍄Find the application form, make sure it is completed,
🍄Find the thing that was the initiator to yesterday's frustration activities
🍄Write a list for the med review with the doc tomo so i don't forget anything
🍄try to get up to the allotment for a mental health hour
🍄Make a list of stuff for an appointment tomo
🍄Try to get to the ironing
🍄Try to get to potting up the monsteria, and just move the poor thing out of the porch to stop it from freezing if i don't (throw figure out where on earth to put the poor thing that will prevent it from freezer into that item)
🍄Deal with the things that died in the fridge
🍄Figure out my schedule for the month
🍄Monthly evening meeting.

Urm, yeah going to stop there because it is making me feel exhausted and I KNOW there is a whole heap more that has to be done today.

@LaMarschallin I think a mirror will be good to include there actually, thanks - the nearest is in the living room and you don’t always want to be going back for a final check.

Ta Das:

Hoovered and polished living room/dining room
Hand Brushed sheepskin rugs
Decluttered bookshelves
Shined sink
Made enough dinner in order to have leftovers
Took two desks to neighbour who I’ve given them to
Organised hair accessories and brushes etc in to Tupperware
Organised children’s art and craft stuff

I feel drained, but am relaxing in my lovely living room and smiling that my kitchen is ready for the morning.

ED I could have sworn you said you made them on a previous thread, unless I'm thinking of someone else! I do remember that you're talented with sewing though! I hope the conversation with DS goes well. It does sound like he tries most of the time though.

Poison I do agree with LaMarschallin that a mirror is a good idea, it'll be functional as well!
Isn't it nice when you can sit down at the end of the day and enjoy your surroundings?

LaMarschallin I understand what you were talking about with seeing the dirt come off the windows, and then the satisfaction of knowing it's clean and can see that it's clean.

Dragons that is one hell of a to do list, and with pain to top it off! Did you make it through your list? Are you still in pain all over?

Today I just worked and cooked dinner when I got home. I'm not feeling the greatest and might stay home tomorrow instead of going to work. I had to stay all day today, despite not feeling good all day 😒

Thursday is errand day.

Thursday's mission is to set your timer for 15 minutes to clear off some of the clutter/ piles from your dining room table. Put away what you can. See how much you can get done in just 15 minutes.

Baby Step 3: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-3/
Keep doing what you've done so far: shine your sink, get dressed to shoes. Today take a few minutes to explore the Flylady website. (There's a lot of information on there, so you may need to set a timer!)

Really sorry that you've been feeling under the weather, HauntingHazel. Hoping you'll be feeling a bit more chipper today - staying at home seems an excellent idea.
SleepingIceDragons, that sounds so miserable; feeling very sorry for you. Your to do list looked daunting to say the least.
to you and HauntingHazel.

DH and I are going to a local farm shop today so might (let's face it, will) succumb to temptation at the shops there - especially the butcher's and the cheese stall.
Going to do a few bits in his hobby room today. Now I've got some clean windows, I really notice the dusty ones elsewhere 😱 There's no hope of clearing the stuff off the dining table as prescribed by FlyLady though, as it's DH's and none of it can be moved, apparently 🙄
I'd have a beautifully clean and tidy house if I got rid of him and the cat.
Don't think I'd enjoy that state of affairs though!

Ironically the only thing i got done yesterday was be a big grump and make tea. I did manage a good soak with a book which helped. I think there is a good bit of stress reaction (which is honestly not surprising) About to start my third day of I don't want to feel like this and my brain is starting to feel like mine again.

So today's to do list looks like yesterday's but with 2 appointments and an errand added in. But I am up and functioning so that is a very good place to start. I have just under 2 hours before i have to leave the house so i am going to see what i can get done before i have to leave.

What is every one having for tea? I am stuck and need some ideas.

@SleepingIceDragons the soak with a book will have done you the world of good, sometimes we have to focus on those bits - what are you reading? I’m reading Julia, it’s 1984 retold through Julia’s eyes and very well executed. We’re having gigantes plakis and salad for dinner, the kids love it.

Really glad you're feeling better, SleepingIceDragons.
We're having chili, various Tex-Mex dips, sliced heritage tomatoes (for a bit of health) and will be making those into fajitas.
Annoyingly, I'm finding it very difficult to find corn tortillas, which I prefer, so it's wholemeal ones (I'm diabetic so try to avoid too many carbs).
Had to look up gigantes plakis, Poisonwood - sounds delicious!

Unrefined carbs, I meant to put.

Dragons I'm having ready-made quiche with salad. Plenty of vegetables, takes 5min to chop stuff up and it's half hour to heat the quiche. Which gives time for a tidy round. It's one of my favourite zero effort meals.

🐿️ Yesterday I didn't do much except the basics and some tidying. I was busy devouring a novel almost in one day. Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher.
🐿️ Today is all about laundry. Swapping to warmer clothes and heavier duvets. Two loads on the line now and prepping some more ready to be hung out first thing tomorrow morning.
🐿️ Tomorrow I'll go to the nature reserve and surround myself with greenery because I think I need it.
🐿️ Everywhere I look there are squirrels eating or burying nuts this week.

Hello everyone, hope it's okay that I join in. I attempted FlyLady years ago but got a new job shortly after and it fell by the wayside.

I currently have a six week old baby (my first) and the house is a disaster - cleanish but there's stuff and clutter everywhere which is starting to get to me as I hate clutter normally. It's a two bed apartment so storage is limited and all of the baby paraphernalia isn't really helping matters!

I'm hoping to get some organising and clearing out done this month in between feeds, nappy changes and soothing baby to sleep!

Hi @GreenFlamingo11 ! You can definitely join. I'm currently expecting my first (due in about a month) so I'll be in a very similar place to you very soon! Are you going to start with the decluttering baby steps?

Thanks! I'm loving everyone's Halloween themed names! Yes I think I'll start with a little bit of decluttering each day along with the daily zones and missions. I imagine I'll be doing things in 10/15 minute chunks throughout the day!

Can I join please!
im struggling to declutter now the kids are leaving home. I just create more mess and chaos wherever I go. I’d love to decorate too - been here 10 years and still don’t feel like I live here.
first saw flylady when she was a big lady on her porch then led you into her chaotic kitchen to polish her sink. It felt SO WIERD to be watching a lady that I’d never meet in a million years chatting as if we were mates! Ahh the early days of the internet!

Ta das from today:

• morning routine
• booked COVID + flu jabs (tomorrow!!)
• chose new oven and hob
• 10min tidy in hallway
• fixed the printer! It prints!
• printed many forms I need to send
• eBay listing admin

Very little cleaning type flying this week so far. Just staying hydrated and rested - having a bad time with cramps and Braxton Hicks. But that seems to be subsiding now. Spring bulbs I'd ordered arrived yesterday so I'm hoping maybe those can be planted at the weekend - my "daily garden time" goal fell by the wayside a bit end of last month, and it's been quite wet and rainy here. Hoping to make use of the forecasted dry days to do those sort of "autumn tidying" garden jobs.

Lovely to read of babies on the thread, I wish I’d known of simple cleaning/self-care combined bits when I had my first thirty years ago!

I was feeling glum this evening as I’ve been utterly drained today and not done anything of what I wanted to do…but I have tried to turn that mindset around and be less harsh on myself so here is my ta da list:

Shined sink
Took a car load of stuff to dump (40 miles round trip)
Kept living room neat throughout day
Fed, watered and gave cuddles to tired children
Got stuff ready at Launch Pad
Cleaned toilet

Evening all, fairly minimal flying today, work followed by a lazy evening with my feet up (I have injured one of them so that's my excuse).

Our house is feeling a bit less cluttered since DS went back to uni with all his stuff. I need to capitalise on that feeling and do more decluttering, every flat surface here just seems to act like a giant clutter-magnet. One load of washing done, DW put on and that's been about it today. Tomorrow I have a day off so I need to make a list. But I'm going out for lunch with friends and if the weather is fine I need to get up to the allotment so it might be a short list.

Absolutely join us @GreenFlamingo11! The more the merrier! Congratulations on your new baby! Try not to do too much right now, your body is still in recovery mode. But little and often does help, just 15 minutes a day (or even just 2 minutes, if that's all you have) can make a difference over time.

LaMarschallin my stomach had settled, but woke up with a headache (it actually started Wednesday afternoon). I stupidly decided to go into work, after taking an ibuprofen. It didn't touch it. So, less than 3 hours of work in, I left. I took a nap when I got home, which seemed to help. I did manage to get 2 LOLs done later in the afternoon though.
Your comment about not having DH & cat made me laugh. Mostly because it's true!

Dragons I'm glad you're starting to feel better & more yourself again. Re dinner (I know it's too late for you now), we had stuffed chicken thighs (stuffed with cream cheese, bacon & spinach), creamy mushrooms & salad. All of it was leftovers, so super easy dinner.

Ditzy the damn squirrels here are pissing me off! Every year since we moved in, they rip open one of my swing cushions & steal stuffing out of it 🤬 so I have yet another swing cushion to replace.. I don't mind them, as long as they start out of my back garden! And someone around here feeds them peanuts. I'm always finding peanuts in my flower pots!

Also welcome to @Iamaf 👋 I actually didn't know flylady had recorded any videos!

Pumpkins get plenty of rest, you don't want baby arriving too early!

Poison that looks like a good ta da list to me! No need to be hard on yourself.

ED enjoy your lunch with your friends!

Friday is clean your car & purse day.

Friday's mission is to choose your own mission in zone 1 (I don't remember her ever doing that before!). Do you need to dust, sweep, mop? Do you want to put a tablecloth on your dining room table and set it nicely/add flowers/add a centerpiece? Do you need to do a 27 fling? Do you want to put up a Halloween/ autumn wreath on your door? Just pick something and do it! Set your timer for 15 minutes and do what you can.

Baby Step 4: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-4/
Shine your sink, get dressed to shoes, read the daily message on the website, now write those messages on sticky notes and put them up in the bathroom & kitchen (I do not do this, but it could help)

It will be a 27 fling day for me today. @EerilyDecorated it's the same in my house with every surface ending up covered in clutter - mainly belonging to DH who I think would be a hoarder if I wasn't here.

@Poisonwood I looked up gigantes plaki too, they sound really nice. DH and I are vegetarian, trying to be more vegan, and that sounds like something we'd enjoy.

@ItsieDitzyBitsOfOnionInTheSoup I'm going to see if my library has a copy of the book that's had you so engrossed.

Am off now to make soup ready for lunch.

Yes @MissMarplesNiece my DH is terrible for just dumping stuff on the side and moving on, he picked up his precriptions the other day and they came in a carrier bag, he took everything out to put in the fridge (insulin) but dumped the bag on the side and just walked away. So kitchen surfaces are on my list today even if it’s the wrong zone. We don’t have a porch but the hall could do with dusiting and sweeping, in fact I might wash the runner as the weather forecast is good. My car also badly needs doing, bag is OK as I cleared it out before last weekend away.

Quietly pleased I’ve managed anything today as feel pretty tired. Early night.

Ta Da:

Shined Sink
Hoovered Living room
Hoovered downstairs hall
Decluttered/gutted out under the stairs which was a dumping ground
Put a fire on.

Oooooh Loving ALL of the food ideas. Thank you!
@LaMarschallin we have all the allergies here, I often end up making wraps, they are easier and tastier. Taco shells are on my to do list to try at some point. As is lentil pasta.

We took the new med away. it helped with the body pain but there were too many side effects so I am back to every fucking muscle in my body including my nose hurts <shrug> least my head feels better.

Still working my way through the list. There has been a necessary amount of drama. People have had the riot act, wound are being licked, egos are dented. It was emotionally draining but necessary.

@Poisonwood the book i am reading is a non fiction book called New forest Folklore, traditions and charms. Not what you call a light read but very interesting. I am struggling to find fiction books i enjoy. I am really no into teen anx and really cba with author that like to use verbage and fancy ass fancy ass language because they can. Local library recommended a cosy mystery for me to try but i have not yet been inspired to pick it up. Possibly because i have about a dozen books that got started and abandoned. Apparently in recent years I have either gone for mighty tomes of 600 odd pages, or non fiction. Neither of which i find the easiest to stick with from start to finish.

Welcome to the newbies to the thread

I have just gone back to check on my huge list and i have the following left to do:
🍄 hang a cupboard on the wall,
🍄 return the contents to the cupboard
🍄return the net curtain. - decided to wash before return - need to do this wash
🍄Play hunt the plant pots - Can't find them, they will turn up when theyare ready
🍄Find the application form, make sure it is completed,
🍄Find the thing that was the initiator to yesterday's frustration activities
🍄Try to get to the ironing
🍄Try to get to potting up the monsteria, and just move the poor thing out of the porch to stop it from freezing if i don't (throw figure out where on earth to put the poor thing that will prevent it from freezer into that item)
🍄Deal with the things that died in the fridge
🍄Figure out my schedule for the month

which is not tooo bad considering. I need to get this and plenty more dealt with but I am super grumpy and today is going to be an evening walk followed by laundry and crochet with a program