New Year, Fresh Start for your home - January Flylady thread

[HazelNotHungryLC]

Are you looking to finally getting into a new routine with housework? Something simple to start that can be easy to add to over time? Flylady may be the answer 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/

Hazel they hoover, dust and clean the kitchen and bathroom. There's a longer list of things they don't do but it's helpful to have the weekly reset. Having said that, they didn't turn up this week! Hope your dd is better soon and you escape the bug.

Putting a LOL on now and then bed . . .

Searching how long does the eyebrow & eyelash tint last? I'm assuming they are specific products for that use.
I had to laugh and re-read part of your post. I thought you said removed teeth! Clearly I read it wrong 🤣

Broccoli oh my, you have been busy! Hopefully your guests are helpful when they stay with you this weekend, and you can relax a bit 🤞

Dreaming that would be helpful! Too bad they didn't show up though!
DD is still feeling rough, but she's back home now, she made the drive back today (Tuesday). Before she left I did warm her up some chicken stock, with some added pink Himalayan salt for some good measure. She couldn't face eating yet.

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.

Wednesday's mission is to clear off your bedside tables. Throw away any rubbish on there, take any glasses or cups to the kitchen etc. Wipe the surface down and put something pretty there. (I actually did this today, although didn't change anything on mine).

Baby Step 22: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-22/
Learn how to build your control journal in 15 steps.
Continue with your routines. (Everything is listed on the link for the routines).

I'm at the 'fed but not dead' stage.... I have clean clothes and food (had an asda delivery last night) for me and the cat.
Dishes still being done (who knew it only takes 10 minutes if you don't leave it for a week!)
Lunch for the next day sorted while in the kitchen
Bed made and keeping the coffee table clear
Have made a big dent in the rubbish bags stored in the spare room due to the slippy roads we had a few weeks ago. Due to my hip and needing to hang on to bannisters I can only take one bag each morning. 2 left!
I'm just happy that things aren't getting worse!

🌻washing off drying rack,sorted ,put away non ironing items
🌻Calm meditation
🌻yoga-2x 10 mins
🌻dog walk,no limping so 50 mins
🌻made bed
🌻shower/dressed/make up
🌻prepped slow cooker stew for dinner
🌻had nails done,pretty & tidy again
🌻food shop,by myself
🌻food shop put away
🌻cleared up kitchen

small ironing pile to be done,forgot about it🙄

I thought it might be a fed and not dead day, but have done a LOL, tidied a drawer in the bedroom, ordered my mums birthday presents and written her card, and have sorted 2 big bags of clothes that I no longer like, or no longer fit.

I don't know what to do with them really. I should do vinted with some, but that means washing and ironing them, and I don't have the energy for anything extra. I think I might just donate the whole lot, and make it someone else's problem.

I had a very slow start to my day yesterday, but once I got up and moving around my energy levels increased so ended up a successful day!

YesTaDas:
🥶 morning skincare routine, makeup on, dressed
🥶 bank
🥶 grocery shopping (not much to get)
🥶 LOLs x5, including sheets & towels
🥶 vacuumed
🥶 dusted
🥶 bleached bathrooms
🥶 baked some low carb brownies 😋
🥶 rotated DW
🥶 emptied bins (& put empty bags in them - very important and I always forget!)
🥶 took bins out to street (DS usually does this, but was in the pep band at the basketball game at school, so did it for him)
🥶 clothes out ready for the morning (lunch was already done earlier in the week 😇)

I'm at work today, so not expecting to accomplish much.

I got rid of loads of clothes last year @Nellieinthebarn . I started with Binted but found it was more trouble then it was worth for the few £ I got for each item . Didn’t help that I had to drive to drop anything off though as I live in the middle of nowhere.
Excellent list @HazelNotHungryLC lots done!
I decided today would be a baking day even tho I can see the dust in the hall.😳
✅Calm meditation
✅3x 10 min yoga
✅bed made
✅dog walked for an hour
✅baked 2 sausagemeat plaits,2 meat pies,quiche & scones clearing up as I went along
✅husband prepped veg for dinner and cleared up after . I just served
✅everything hurts now( thanks fibro) so blankie & snuggles with beloved weirdo dog
my morning routines are brilliant, set in stone for that first bit of the day when I’m at my best. Energy drops out & pain often increases later so I have learned to plan rather then fight it

Hip it looks like you've made progress and keeping up with routines

Yogachick yay for no limping! Unfortunately my Coco has a limp that seems to be getting worse. I gave her meds tonight, hopefully they kick in soon 🤞

Nellie not a fed, no one dead day there! Honestly, I just donate all of our unwanted stuff. I've given up trying to sell any of it.

Thursday is errand day.

Thursday's mission is to clear the stuff that doesn't belong on your dresser. Throw away the rubbish, put away things that belong elsewhere.
Dust the surface and the things on it.
Put something pretty on it, perfumes, vase, picture, whatever it is. Maybe out them on a decorative tray or mirror. Keep this area looking that way for as long as possible. Or at least until next month 😆

Baby Step 23: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-23/
Add "afternoon routine" to your routines. Start with making dinner.
Keep doing your other routines too.

@HazelNotHungryLC do you know why Coco is limping? Is she very old?
And low carb brownies? Have you a recipe you can share?
Tadas:
🌻meditation & 2x 10 mins SB yoga practices
🌻bed made
🌻dog walked
🌻clothes pile cleared
🌻windows cleaned,dusted & polished hall & dining room
🌻wipe over bathroom 1
We’re having some electrical work done this afternoon,so husband & son got a lot of stuff down from the loft to allow access. It won’t be going back till it’s been sorted through.
Ironing pile still loitering but it’s behind the loft stuff so won’t be done for a bit

Yogachick I was thinking that she was limping because of the cold and being stiff, but last night I finally felt somewhere on her joint that she reacted to, so probably landed wrong when she jumped off the couch or DSs bed.
She is old, yes, she's 11, soon will be 12 in March.
I hope your electrical work gets completed today!

DH has woken up feeling under the weather, so I've done a mercy dash into town for some medicine and few treats for him. As I was going into town I took the clothes I sorted yesterday and just bunged them all in the salvation army bin thing. I didn't even look at them, just did it, job done.

Other Ta das!
The morning routine, LOL, emptied dishwasher, walked the dog, fed the humans and animals.

Mission this week, well I couldn't really do anymore to our bedroom until the linen cupboard is sorted out. I've packed the guest towels, and a sleeping bag, in vacuum bags. Now they take up less space I have room for some of the things that take up space in our bedroom. I'm planning on doing the same with the guest bedding, and maybe the spare sofa covers. But I might have to buy bigger vacuum bags for those. That should leave plenty of space for our spare sets of bedding and towels, so they don't have to be in the bedroom cupboards. That's the plan anyway.

Yogachick I forgot you asked about the LC brownies 🤦‍♀️ I actually cheated and used a boxed mix, but it's in the US, so I don't know what is available to you. I checked all the ingredients before I bought it and I've made them several times. I have attached a picture, incase you can find it on Amazon to be shipped, they're the best I've tried.

Nellie I hope your DH feels better soon! I like your plan for your spare bedding and towels, that's a great idea.

The vacuum bags are great for storage but they make everything smell plastic-ey . I wash things before storing then have to wash before using again.

I bought some zipper bags supposed to be the IKEA ones but they were much thinner and the edge where the zipper is came away . I think if I buy more I'll go to the big Blue&Yellow Shop in person.

No LOL done as my WM is still in dry dock . Hopefully being repaired before we either disappear under a heap of clothes or I see red and hoist my carcass off to the laundrette . Crossing fingers this weekend to get it sorted .

In the meantime I can tick off lists
To-Do:
cut back some branches
Recycle clothes
recycle textiles
return a dress I bought
vacuum
clean bathroom

I did my Aldi laundry /dishwashing stock up last week , they had some of the colour grab sheets that I might go back and try and find .

Put something pretty on it, perfumes, vase, picture, whatever it is
My FemaleCat has form for checking if gravity still works , anything I think is pretty she deems as a Crash Test Dummy and throws it onto the floor !
Two fruitbowls have met their doom at the paws of madam. I now have a metal fruitbowl ..

Down to one bookcase with cardboard boxes on top. Bits and pieces of packaging recycled. Plastic tubs to be donated or used in workshop.

In the red zone, and everything is shut. No school, no travel. Curtains are already wafting and it’s noisy outside. Loads of tall trees near us. Fingers crossed.

No excuses for not getting on with things.

70 I don't think I could handle the dirty laundry piling up, you're holding it together better than I would! Your cat checking gravity made me laugh 😂 maybe a pretty and heavy paperweight would work for you 🤣

Scourgify lots of progress made there! Another bad storm rolling in for you? I hope those trees hold strong.

Sorry for lack of links for today (I'll add them in the minute). Last night we weren't sure of we'd be heading to DD a couple of hours away as she was headed to the ER with suspected appendicitis, so my focus was on her (and helping DS cook dinner).
One doctor at the urgent care suggested that could be it and sent her away to the hospital, the ER doctor was dismissive. Both of them pissed me off! DD was sent home with nothing to help and no answers! Yet, now she'll have a massive bill, because it's expensive to go to the ER!
🤬
She's still really nauseous today, but I had her get some ginger tea and some electrolytes. We'll see if that helps.

Friday is clean your car & purse out day.
It's also date night 🥰

Friday's mission is to remake your bed, taking extra time with that and put clean sheets on. I just realised that I didn't wash my mattress protector like I normally would do. It's been a crazy week!
Freshen up your mattress, sprinkle bicarb on it, leave it for a few minutes or an hour, then vacuum it off.

Baby Step 24: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-24/
Add Swish & Swipe (S&S) to your morning routine

I have 2 washing baskets upstairs that are overflowing now , luckily I did the bath towels last week so we're ok ,
The WM is a 10kg so once it's up and running again I;ll get cracking on the many LOLs

From my ToDo I have TaDas

cut back some branches- did some but got cold
Recycle clothes-done
recycle textiles-done
return a dress I bought-done
vacuum-did downstairs but DD was WFH so I had to leave the bedrooms
clean bathroom-done

Shopping delivery - done
Made pancakes for breakfast for DC and me ( DH had a Greggs breakfast)
did the cats trays and refilled

ToDo:
I need to change my handbag , the one I;m using has too many pockets and it is soft so keeps slipping off my shoulder
Need to wash the car / coerce my DS into washing the car

Ta das: (shocking as it was a work day!)
😱 washed the Jeep (took it through the carwash on the way home) hopefully I dried it good enough that the doors and locks won't freeze!
😱 we booked our flights back home! 🥳
😱 I've requested a property for us to stay in, just awaiting approval from the host 🤞
I haven't told my mum yet, although she knew we were planning the trip. So I'm excited to tell her it's booked!
Now we need to spend no more money until we leave 😂 .. in June!

70 that's quite a ta da list there!

Saturday is family fun day.
There are no missions on the weekend.

Baby Step 25: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-25/
Read her own testimonial

Worked from home yesterday so got on top of the dirty washing.
4 x LOL done all drying in the spare room with the dehumidifier humidifier (should be able to put away this evening)
I swish the toilet in the morning but the sink and mirrors are a sight to behold. Have put a spray in my delivery basket and will leave it in the bathroom with a cloth so I can swish the sink when I've brushed my teeth
Working again today so making sure I do the dishes this evening and putting the laundry away will be about it xx

Hope DD feels better @HazelNotHungryLC
Tadas:
✅meditation /pre recorded live yoga so 1 1/2hrs,time well invested
✅made bed
✅dog walking,short as she’s frightened of the wind,which was bad because of the storm
✅bed made
✅filled in hole where light fitting didn’t quite match
✅cleaned bathroom 2
✅3 hour’nap’ as we went to a quiz last night , I’ve been struggling lately so knew I would need to rest to make it through
✅shiny sink before bed,this ritual is very soothing for me & I love to wake up to a clean sink & dishcloths

Yogachick DD said she's feeling a little bit better today, thankfully. Isn't it crazy that something as simple as shining your sink can be so rewarding?

Ta das, so far:
🚲 bathed both dogs
🚲 washed all the dogs beds and blankets
🚲 spin bike workout
🚲 shower
🚲 took all the remaining Christmas lights from around the main living area (I keep them up through the new year)
🚲 put up Valentine's Day decorations

I'm currently sitting with my feet up, eating a LC brownie 😋

Hi all, happy Sunday! Just checking in, clearly daily posting and ta da lists aren’t realistic for me at the moment. Maybe February I’ll do better 🤔

It’s been an insanely busy week with lots of social stuff (some with kids and some sort of work related as well as just fun). I am absolutely shattered but it’s been lovely.

I need a very restful day today as I finally have a day at home, but I’m also aware I need to get some stuff done and make sure I’m ready for another busy week (although I don’t have as much planned thankfully!). So hopefully I can manage a bit of housework and life admin.

In other news I finally managed to track down some ADHD meds this week, so I’ve started those after a long break (well over a year other than trying some that made me unwell). Hopefully that will help too although they’re a low dose and certainly not a magic wand 😁