Fledglings Flying into November

[ExquisiteIyDesigned]

November is the month where we move from autumn into winter all are welcome as the Fledglings cosy up in their nests on this 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. Check in here instead or download the app, see below.

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
BRC - box/basket of random clutter/crap

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. You can also modify the tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle.

November’s monthly focus is menu planning.

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

Baby Steps http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/
Monthly habit http://www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/november/
Launch pad http://www.flylady.net/c/lp.php
Flight Plan (all the day’s tasks in one place) http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0
Sneak peek for the week - summary of the current week so you can plan ahead http://www.flylady.net/c/sp.php

Morning all, had a bit of a lie-in today, yesterday I woke up at 4 so a catch-up was needed. It’s my day off today and getting my hair cut at 9. Still haven’t phoned the dentist, must do that too. Then going for lunch with some friends I only see once or twice a year so that will be nice (former colleagues).

@Dolphinnoises thank you, there have been times in the past when I have run the thread only because no one else has been able to and I haven’t really been in the right frame of mind and struggled (forgetting to post in the mornings, not having much to say, feeling fatigued by Flylady - I’ve been on these threads for many years now). This time I have felt really up for it and it has got me back in the Flylady frame of mind as I had drifted away a bit. So all good!

Another frosty one here but it’s due to turn stormy tomorrow. Still no snow.

Friday is clean out your purse and car day. I have kept the front of my car fairly OK these last few weeks but I have had some old flatted boxes on the back seat for about three weeks (destined for the allotment), maybe I’ll drop those up there today, although won’t be staying as the ground will be like concrete. I also want to take up some more sacks of gathered leaves for leaf mould.

http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0

Today’s mission is to strip your bed and re-make it, properly, all the nice touches. I do usually leave this one till the weekend bu tI don’t do cushions, runners etc as there’s nowhere to put them when we go to bed apart from dumping them on the floor which kind of defeats the object.

Morning! I’m going to ignore that mission as I feel like my bed is made just fine - instead I am going to do what I know needs to be done - a clothes sort out so I can close my drawers! Happy Friday everyone!

I wish I had stripped the bed now because it has turned into a very breezy sunny day and they would have dried on the line, oh well

Hello all, another late night post from me when I really should be sleeping (oh has got a cold and snoring like a steam train so I'm back downstairs so I don't disturb him too much , I can stay in bed tomorrow so I can catch up on sleep)

This week has been a good week for some zone work . I have cleared most of the floor space , packed some summer clothes away and I have decluttered one of my fitted wardrobes which has cleared a full shelf and space to spare on the other shelves so it isn't all crammed in. I have put some Christmas presents on the spare shelf - it's nice to have somewhere to put some of the presents rather than shoved anywhere that they'll fit ! I have also started to declutter the bottom of a double doored fitted wardrobe (I have 5 all together , 1 double doored and 3 single) 2 black bin liners of rubbish and a black bin liner ready for the charity! I have even ordered some new bedding that will arrive tomorrow and I'm picking up some new pillows too 🙂 tomorrows plan will be to wash the new bedding, anything that's been left out on the surfaces looking neat and have half an hour dusting , cleaning the window and mirrors , a thorough hoover of the floors etc ! I'm looking forward to getting into some fresh new bedding and a clearer room this weekend ! I have probably spent about 8 hours or more in there this week. It'll take a few months of the fly lady cycle to fully declutter the whole room I think. The rest of the house is a shambles because I have focused any spare time to the bedroom.

In other news , dd1 has been invited to an interview at Cambridge ! Such an achievement for her , she is so proud to have gotten this far and has worked her socks off for it . She has 4 other uni offers so is going into the interview knowing that she will be ok if she doesn't get offered a place but is looking forward to the experience.

Not sleeping is horrible, Searchingforbaileys, you have my sympathy.
Sounds like your bedroom is coming on apace - well done you! 👏
Definitely think it's sensible to clear one room at a time and the bedroom is probably the best one to do as you can retire there, away from the clutter, at night. I suspect a tidy room may well help with the sleeping too. At the very least, a cluttered room won't enhance relaxation.
Brilliant news for DD, you must be so proud of her. I was too terrified of the interviews (waaay back in the day) to apply for Oxbridge so am especially impressed that she's looking forward to it.
Blow the clutter - you've spent your time well with her, obviously 😊
Do you have to wash the bedding? I must say I don't bother but I know some people have allergies etc

Chez LaMars Saturday progresses as usual. I'm back in bed with my coffee after first stage of morning routine.
We'll walk out into town for the Times and maybe a nice coffee. Puzzles, crossword etc and one task - maybe clearing out one of the bookcases in the sitting room, now I've made a start on the upstairs ones...🤔
Tonight, as ever, Strictly and DH is cooking again!
Luxury...

Definitely starting to lag with FlyLady at the moment.

Yesterday's wins:
Wiped down soggy windows
Disinfected oboe reeds
Household admin
Baked cake loaves
Cleared draining board
2x washing up
2x LOL
Vacuumed hall, lounge and bottom of stairs

Today's plan:
Change 2x beds
Change towels
Many LOL
Lots of washing up
RM parcel collection investigation
Vacuum car
Luften lounge

@Searchingforbaileys congrats to your daughter for the interview! A very exciting moment in her life no matter where it goes.

@Dolphinnoises I love a clothes clear out, especially when it fixes something that's been bothering you for a while

@ExquisiteIyDesigned definitely appreciate you running the thread - after I ran one earlier in the year I discovered how much it takes it out of you! Grateful that these threads exist else there's no way I'd be even vaguely still following the system.

Hi all 👋
We've had a very busy and stressful week here in the Hazel household.
Coco is now home! I was able to pick her up on Thursday. She's feeling so much better! Dobby is so, so happy she's home again.

Flying just didn't happen the way I've wanted it to at all. I haven't been able to do much of the basics either 😳
I did get some caramels made last night, so my mission this morning is to wrap them all.
I have general tidying I need to do, bleach both bathrooms and go shopping for food I need for tonight (family dinner is at our house).
I am going out to lunch with a friend today as well, we had to reschedule from Tuesday. DS also has a driving lesson this morning. Today is a pretty full day, hopefully I'll be back later with some ta das!

ED I really appreciate you running the thread, I've been reading along in the background. I would have completely failed as thread leader this week!

Dolphin did you manage to get your drawers closed?

Searching yay for a clear shelf! It makes it so much easier to keep track of presents when they're not all hiding (and don't miss any and find them 3 months later... 🤦‍♀️)
Well done for DD getting an interview! The experience would be great for her to go. Cambridge was only 45 minutes away from where I grew up, we never went there when I was a child, but a teenager/young adult I loved to go there for the shopping! It helped that DH & I had moved to Newmarket, so was much closer at that point too!

LaMarschallin your weekends always sound like a perfect balance of work and relaxation!

Beetroot you're at the end stage of pregnancy, you're bound to slow down a bit! How are you feeling today?

Thanks all, it's really nice to be appreciated ❤️

Have had an unexpectedly stressful week, now getting back on track. Starting to declutter some toys and children’s books. DH found a workshop that could fix my Dyson, which is fantastic!

Can I list decluttering here?

Well it's a 4am post rather than a midnight to early hours one today ! I got to sleep eventually but then woke up and couldn't get back to sleep 🤦‍♀️ it's going to be a long day ! I've had about 4 hours solid though so better than some nights !

Yesterday I was very tired, I nearly typed exhausted but I know I've been much worse in the past than I am currently . The only housework I did was a quick tidy of the living room in which I asked all the kids to help - we set a 5 minute timer and that was the only tidying I managed 🙈 I did meet up with friends in the afternoon for a couple of hours then the evening was celebrating dd1 uni offers and interview. She chose not to go out but to have a takeaway and watch home alone , lots of laughter and ds even stayed downstairs for the full film before he went back to his xbox !

Early morning whilst everyone is in bed plans :
❄️ read some of my book in the hopes I may go back to bed for an hour
❄️ if I can't go back to sleep , fold the clean washing , clear the dining table and start the uniform ironing

I'm so happy for you that coco is home @HazelNuttyElf , I'm sorry you've had a tough week , it must've been very emotional having coco so poorly 💐 wishing her a speedy recovery!
We've only been to Cambridge once when we were dropping dd1 off to corpus for the pelican programme celebration - it seems like a lovely place . People stopped their cars so we could cross the road even though there were no crossing and so many people on bikes ! It's good to hear that someone else liked to spend time there too . We would love to visit again. Enjoy your lunch with your friend and good luck to ds driving lesson !

@BeetrootBootreet thank you , yes it'll be such an experience to go through the interview process and will hopefully give her confidence for other interviews in the future! I hope your day went ok yesterday- that was quite a to do list ⭐️

Thanks @LaMarschallin , dd1 is quite an incredible person , I just wish she could see herself in others eyes , she does doubt herself quite a bit ! I do wash bedding first and clothes , my skin is quite sensitive so I always air in the side of caution, the bedding I ordered is being returned though , it feels horrible ! I'm going to go to the shop to pick one instead .
You had a nice day planned yesterday, I hope it went well - I also enjoy strictly!

Sending more appreciation your way @ExquisiteIyDesigned 💐⭐️ I know I mostly pop in here sporadically during term time but I really appreciate this thread ! It's the only one I post on !

Scourgify of course you can list decluttering here! It's actually part of flylady anyway 😊

Searching that's a lovely way to celebrate uni offers and interviews! I'm sure it'll be something you can all remember for a long time.
Were you able to get back to sleep?
On sheets, we only ever sleep well on our sheets now, they are fleece/brushed fleece. When DD first got her sheets I thought they would be too hot for DH, but we tried them anyway and he loves them, as do I! They aren't too hot or anything either.

It seems despite the email I had telling me the parcel connection had failed, the tracking code shows it has reached the right town... so maybe all is well... very disconcerting!

Yesterday's wins:
Changed 2x beds
Changed towels throughout
5x LOL done and put away
3x washing up
RM failed parcel collection investigation
2nd RM parcel collection arranged (different parcel!)
Cleaned ensuite toilet
Emptied ensuite bin
Swept hallway and porch

Items for today:
Vacuum car
Luften lounge
Cat food/catnip shop
Recycle Brita filters
Swap SodaStream gas canister

I've had a busy day today!
Ta das:
🍬 showered, got ready for the day
🍬 made grocery list for tonight's dinner (Saturday still here)
🍬 dropped DS off at school for his driving lesson (he did very well apparently, and is liking driving more and more)
🍬 went grocery shopping
🍬 picked DS back up
🍬 cleared out fridge
🍬 emptied bin
🍬 put away groceries
🍬 rotated DW
🍬 handwashed dishes
🍬 wrapped caramels that I made last night (all 80+ of them!)
🍬 mopped floors
🍬 bleached bathrooms
🍬 started on dinner early enough that I didn't get stressed out!
🍬 enjoyed my evening with family. They have now left, so I'm enjoying the quiet with a cup of Roobios tea, with my feet up, before I go to bed

@HazelNuttyElf these last couple of weeks of pregnancy doesn't seem to be doing a lot to delete my energy levels, which are typically quite sporadic anyway. Feeling exceedingly ready to not be pregnant and get on with baby chaos instead though. 42 weeks rapidly approaching, which is testing my patience and my intention to avoid any interventions!

@Scourgify I'd happily read about decluttering! So satisfying.

42 weeks! Eeek! You have made it too comfy in there for your little one! I would suggest lots of walking, but I'm sure you've already tried everything at this point!

@HazelNuttyElf yup, daily neighbourhood walks, curb walking, stairs lunging, yoga, epsom salted baths, swimming, low impact cycling, incense, different foods and drinks, massage, music playing (for the diaphragm movement), and date nights. And plenty of days of "right, do nothing special just have a normal day". Nothing 🤣 I've had plenty of days with regular cramps and some contractions but they have always tailed off instead of escalating to birth. Plenty of practice before the main event. She'll come eventually......

@BeetrootBootreet my older 2 were late with ds needing an eviction notice (pessary induced labour ) dd2 however surprised us with an early entry at 36 weeks - I had kept up the Zumba classes all the way through pregnancy so my recommendation would be to dance around your living room if you can with lots of wiggling and squats . Being heavily pregnant is hard work ! 💐 exciting that baby will be here soon !!

No sleeping @HazelNuttyElf I've been reading my book rather than starting the chores though so at least I'm resting, it's quite peaceful knowing everyone is asleep upstairs 🙂 happy ds is enjoying his driving lessons - it's such a big step towards independence isn't it ! Caramels sound amazing! Do you make them every year ?

Yes I do! I also sell them to friends, family and coworkers, along with different flavoured truffles. I gift them too, although most people I usually gift to need to avoid sugar 😢
That batch of caramel was the first of many for Christmas orders, FIL actually just had me package up 24 of them so he could take them to guys at work to share, he'll also pay me for them, so that's for Thanksgiving, he'll do the same at Christmas (he also ordered some for Halloween).
Sorry you didn't get more sleep Searching but at least you were resting, like your said.

Beetroot I figured you had a few things you were trying! She'll come eventually and the waiting game will all be a distant memory.

You lot are lovely, honestly it’s been a pleasure running the thread this month.

Well, yesterday I went to Parkrun, despite the weather, hadn’t been for a few weeks due to various logistical reasons but made it round in one piece and it was fine weather wise after the first few 100m as the course is fairly sheltered. Then changed and stayed in town for a bit of Christmas shopping and lunch (it’s an indoor shopping centre). Came home and had a nice warm bath. Then had to go and pick DD up from work (5 miles cross country, had to slam the brakes on for a fallen branch, luckily we were going slowly. The roast dinner and Strictly. So yesterday was really a renew your spirit sort of day. We don’t have roasts very often, and not necessarily on Sunday but it was exactly the right sort of food for this storm. Still very stormy this morning.

So today’s plans include taking DD to work again, food shopping and housework. I have made a list of jobs. DH is off to see his unwell friend again so will be away for a night or two, not sure yet, depends how friend is.

@HazelNuttyElf sadly I have mostly given up baking because of having weight issues, but I love hearing about yours. I have given up the bootcamp way of eating as it just wasn’t sustainable for me but have been making incremental changes, I had my checkup with the GP a couple of weeks ago and have managed to get my cholesterol ratio back into the normal range by means of higher good cholesterol, as well as avocados and oily fish which I have been eating regularly for a couple of years I have added lots of oats and seeds in the last 6 months and it seems to be working. But weight is still an issue.

@BeetrootBootreet surely not much longer now! Mine came at 36 and 41 weeks, so I’ve never got as far as you but I do remember the limbo of just waiting at the end.

@Searchingforbaileys congratulations to DD! That is amazing. My DD is applying to unis but I don’t think she intends so go, just wants practice at the process and a reference on record before she leaves college.

@Scourgify please do tell us about the decluttering, it is an issue I’m sure we all have to a greater or lesser extent.

@LaMarschallin hope you managed your trip to town and coffee. It is a lovely thing to do, I often go by myself and take my diary and have a little catch up.

@Dolphinnoises hope you got the clothes sorted. I need to reorganise my wardrobe and the drawer where I keep my vest and nightclothes. I Marie Kondo’d my clothes drawers a couple of years ago and it has worked really well, this is the first time I have had to empty one out and start again with it so far.

Oh dear, I fell off again. In my defence, I last had personal control of my life / diary on 13 November, so it is no great surprise. DH did well while I was away with Mum and I got home to a clean enough house, the washing done and he & DC#4 fed and the dog cared for. I spent Monday setting up for the rest of the week.

However, first thing Tuesday DC#3 texted to say they were in hospital 100+ miles away (at Uni), could I please come up? They were being tested for blood clots and may have a rare connective-tissue disorder that most doctors have never heard of or experienced, so they needed a backup and, frankly, an older person not to take any rhubarb from the medics. I arrived just as they were saying "it's not a heart attack, you can go home" and was able to explain that we never thought it was a heart attack and please read the notes again. I was there until Friday tea time, and DC#3 is still not right, although back in their student hovel. DH and DM and I (when I could stick a leg out of a window in a corridor and get a signal) spent three days phoning everyone we could think of to try to get to medics who knew about DC's case. We're not there yet, but we have made some contacts and I am 🤞 for all the medical secretaries to get back to their desks tomorrow morning and get me some answers, even if they're "not my medic, but have you tried this one?".

So, I totally abandoned Flylady, DH & DC#4 have had takeaway all week and not seen a single vegetable and WillowHound has been furiously grumpy that Mummy went away again and has been piddling in corners to make his point.

YesTaDa:
🧡 HUGE braindump list written
💛 Hoovered boudoir including mattress, headboard and sides of bed
💚 washed and dried mattress cover, changed bedlinen, washed dirty bedlinen and put away
💙 surprise hair appointment, amazingly I was able to book one yesterday morning for yesterday afternoon
💜 a little light Christmas shopping on the way home from my hair appointment
🧡 tried new handheld carpet cleaner. Was rubbish, could have achieved more with a tin of vanish, a soft brush and a hairdryer 🤬
💛 Packed up new carpet cleaner to send back
💚 Tried new Tesco pasta bake for tea. Tasted of nothing. Never again
💙 Worked more on my Christmas Embroidered Stocking that I am determined to finish for House Presents this year (I started it at least four years ago) and watched The Crown.

TaDa
🧡 Walked WillowHound with DH
💛 WhatsApp'd DC#3 about medical stuff
💚 Partially emptied the garage looking for the hose for the old, enormous, behemoth of a carpet cleaner. No luck. Ordered a new one (which will surely make the old one turn up on Wednesday)
💙 Parboiled cauliflower to roast for tonight / freeze if I'm the only one who wants it
💜 Washing, washing, washing...

To Do:
🥕 Renew spirit with more sewing
🥕 update Christmas planning lists
🥕 Roast lamb etc for dinner
🥕 Maybe start making cracker fillers (Who Am I? cards, particular to the cracker recipient)
🥕 Start making Christmas scented bags from old scented wreath - all the DC have said that smell IS Christmas too them, so now the wreath has basically collapsed I shall send them a bag each.

Oh @GreenWillowAndHolly what a week. Thank goodness your DC3 has you to help out, uni students may in theory be adults but there are times when help is needed and Mother Knows Best.

ED yesterday sounded like a well rounded day, although I'm sure you could have done without the tree in the road!
I'm struggling with my weight at the moment too. I'm doing the bootcamp right now, and mostly eating low carb, but I'm struggling with water intake and portion sizes 🤦‍♀️ I'm close to my goal weight, but not close enough for me.

Willow I'm sorry to hear about DC3, I hope you get some answers this coming week.
I also have had a dog who decided to pee when he wasn't happy. Thankfully he was a Chihuahua, but would still cock his leg up on anything and everything when he was mad about something 🤬
I love the scented bag idea, that's lovely 😍

I'm having a hard time getting moving this morning, but it is time to just start working! I'm making a start on my truffles today and would like to get a lot done.
I did order customized labels for the different flavours of truffles, add well as tags to go on the boxes. I think I can count that as working!
I have also got most of my Christmas shopping done now (thanks Amazon!) And really just need to get FILs sorted and buy the main gifts for DH & DS (I already know what I'm getting them).
I am paring down Christmas this year!