Fresh February for Flybabies - Feb 25 Flylady thread

[DillyDeclutter]

February is a nice short month to try something new with housework! If you're looking for 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! Especially not in the shortest month of the year!

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. 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/

Morning! I’m annoyed I woke up early today, still haven’t got up though. It’s been a mixed few days and not very productive but today I need to get stuff done before I see a friend for lunch.

@HazelNotHungryLC yes I did, but then DS came home from uni on Friday with a huge dirty Mt Washmore of his own so the house has still got piles everywhere, but he’s going back with it all today. We got rid of our big desk a couple of years ago as part of some house renovations and it was good riddance, no one used it any more, we bought it about 12 years ago when we just had one family desktop that everyone shared but those days are long gone and no one here WFH. We just desk on any flat surface now, but that does mean clutter accumulates on them (chargers, papers, pens etc). I’d like a tiny dedicated desk somewhere but we haven’t really got space even under the stairs and actually I like working in the kitchen, however I don’t like the mess <dithers>. @Scourgify your littel new office does sound very appealing.

I’m considering getting rid of the desktop computer too, it’s ancient but still works (it’s a Mac so it is just a big monitor and keyboard) but no one uses it much any more, it is on the dining table which is up against a wall, I pull it forward if I do want to use it. I would replace it with a laptop, but unsure whether to go Windows or Mac. But getting rid would need a huge sort out of stuff saved on it such as photos.

DH dropped something through the big sofa on Friday (it’s a recliner in three sections and things can fall through the gaps, which is annoying especially as they often don’t fall right through and get caught in the reclining mechanisms). Upshot was that he pulled the sofa out from the wall yesterday, it is very heavy and I can’t do it, and vacuumed under and around it, plus the rest of the living room, so that was a job well done.

I am still at it and doing my baby flying. Have bought note book to jot down my routines and still make sure I do the dishes before bed and get myself ready for the next day. Can't really do much in the mornings so decided to split it into straight after work (before dinner) and before bed (incorporate into my wind down, shower, skin care regime). Stripping bed and fortnightly LOLs today. I live on my own and find fortnightly I get full loads, any sooner and the drum is half empty and feels wasteful

Hello,

I'm still here lurking in the background. I have had quite a productive day (even if I am still in my pjs ! )
⭐️ sorted through switch games and sold one the kids no longer want, also put everything in a lovely canvas basket so looks nice and neat.
⭐️ decluttered ds's old football kits - got rid of the socks & shorts but kept the shirts , may create a memory something out of them once he has finished playing football .
⭐️ folded all dry washing and put into rooms (this took nearly an hour 😱)
⭐️ washed and kind of ruined ds north face coat - everyone in the house is a little bit mad at me 🙈
⭐️ decluttered and tidied a bookcase in the playroom that is used to store games , which meant some of the Xmas games have been too moved off the floor and onto the bookcase.
⭐️ most of the school ironing has been done , possibly another half an hour later whilst watching dancing on ice.

This has been my most productive day in a long time , I'm hoping it means I'm out of the naughty corner and will start being organised again soon !

Also to add I didn't sell any of the kids , only the switch games they no longer wanted !

Morning!

Baby step 10 http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-10/ - set your timer for 15 minutes and go gather up all the trash you can find to throw away and put it in the garbage can outside. Then set your timer for another 15 minutes and sit down and put your feet up and read a favorite magazine until the timer goes off!

This week's zone is the bathroom and one other room. I'm picking our study. Missions are AWOL again so choose your own adventure, I'm guessing decluttering in there for 15 mins could be a good place to start!

We had a bumper cleaning weekend as we had friends come to stay with us so we went into "guest mode" : all beds changed, towels changed, laundry folded and away, whole house vacuum, kitchen totally cleaned, coffee table wiped down, you name it.

So today I'm basking. Emptied a bin. I even did some eBay admin. Feeling calm!

Morning all,

Yesterdays tada's
⭐️ morning routine
⭐️LOL
⭐️ washed all bedding and remade beds
⭐️ hoovered downstairs
⭐️ evening routine
⭐️ an hour on my cross stitch and a bit of time reading .

This morning I'm going to have 5 minutes on the playroom before work as well as the morning routine . It's the worst room in the house and looks like it should be on a hoarders tv show 🙈 next week is half term so I'm hoping to have it fully decluttered by the end of next week 🤞

@ParsnipSnap happy you had a calm home bleurgh day - it's amazing how much gets done when there's guests arriving isn't it ! I need to try to fool my brain into thinking we have guests each week 😂

Morning! I'm away with work for a few days so no flying here.

We are still in the bathroom and one other room, potentially the laundry room. The mission is to throw out any old towels and to go diving behind the washer and dryer for "socks and dust bunnies".

Baby Steps day 11: keep up what we've already done and spend 15 minutes writing your favourite inspirational phrases in your control journal http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-11/

I haven't managed much decluttering this month as yet, but I've been doing the morning and evening routines, and the daily missions, so nothing has got worse. Which is a win in my book. 😀

Trouble is I have decluttered all the easier bits, so it all looks much better, tidier and cleaner all over. All the low hanging fruit is gone and I am just left with the things I really don't want to face. Like stuff I put away when we moved in and I haven't touched it since. Its just a bit emotionally challenging to go back to that time.

I hoovered all through the downstairs and did a LOL yesterday, and today I have done a much needed big shop. I wrote a list so that counts as planning. I bought an easy dinner for today, so the rest of the day I'm going to have a good read with my feet up, possibly a hot chocolate and digestives on the side.

Morning! It's Wednesday which is anti-procrastination day. Do something you have been putting off. I'm going to sort out the last piece of the holiday childcare jigsaw.

Baby step 12 is to keep going with your routines and to delete the old Flylady emails (or maybe the Mumsnet ones if you have thread notifications on)
http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-12/

Today's mission is to check what bathroom supplies you need in advance of tomorrow's errand day.

Nellie, I appreciate that feeling. I opened my overflowing memory box from late teens last week - and shut it again very quickly.

Hello, I'm new here and going to start today with baby step clean my disgusting kitchen sink. My DH does more cleaning than me, and we often argue. I've got a busy life at the moment. Wednesday is my day off work with my 2 year old who still naps. Got to do the school run first, then clean sink (autocorrected to stink)

It's been a few days since I've posted!

Searching how did you ruin DSs coat? And why is everyone mad at you?
ED the struggle is real when it comes to laundry, it's just neverending!
Hip to do laundry every other week would be amazing!
Parsnip did you manage to get some rest in since you got your house done over the weekend?

Searching I doubt the playroom is as bad as you compare it to, but I do know that feeling though, even though we never had a playroom for our DC, their toys took over the living room and their bedrooms if it wasn't kept on top of.

Nellie it definitely takes time and revisiting the sentimental stuff for decluttering. One thing I've noticed though is the more times I go back and look through stuff, I come across things and wonder why I kept them! It usually is 6 months or a year later though, sometimes longer.

Welcome to the thread @2in2022twoyearson 👋 it's amazing how much of a difference a clean and shiny sink can make!

Dilly thank you so much for running this thread again, a break was very much needed this month! I'm just sorry the website keeps having glitches

YesTaDas:
🐶 took dogs to groomer
🐶 trip to the bank
🐶 shop for a couple of things missed when grocery shopping
🐶 LOLs x5, including sheets & towels
🐶 vacuumed
🐶 mopped
🐶 bleached bathrooms
🐶 delimescaled bathrooms
🐶 accepted the delivery of our hot tub!
🐶 meeting at the school for yet another fundraiser for band
🐶 handwashed dishes
🐶 had DS rotate DW
🐶 emptied bins
🐶 lunch ready for today
🐶 clothes ready for today

I'm at work today and will be at a basketball game again tonight so I'm sure I'll have no ta das, other than the really basic stuff!

Hi 22in2022 welcome! My dc are 3 and 6, life is busy! Today is my "day off" with the 3yo but I never get much cleaning done. (But we have a lot of fun)

Hazel you are always so organised!

Thursday is errand day. Its supermarket shop day for me.

Baby step day 13 is to do a mission http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-13/

And on that note our mission today is to wash the bathroom mats:
Take the rugs from your bathroom and wash them. Before you start the rugs in the wash wipe down the top and front of your washer and dryer. Then throw the rags in with the rugs from the bathroom! If you do not have any rugs in the bathroom, take this time to reboot your laundry.

Dilly I don't always feel super organised! I do have to be somewhat organised though, since I'm out of the house almost 12 hours a day for work. If I don't take advantage of my Tuesdays off I feel like I fall behind and have to catch up at the weekend.

After work today DS has an opticians appt, so either lots of driving back and forth or DH can bring him, depending on the time he's heading this way.
I haven't even been at work an hour yet and I'm ready to be done with the day 😂
We're also supposed to be getting a big snow storm today, so that's fun.

Morning! It's Friday which is clean out your car and purse day. I hoovered the car out yesterday, yay.

Baby step 14 is to start using a calendar (Flylady has an essay on it!) http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-14/

Mission is an easy one for me as we only have bathroom and kitchen bins: Empty the garbage in the bathroom, laundry room, extra bedroom, kids rooms, and the office.

I won't be cleaning my car out at all in this weather! It really needs it though 😳
Look at you Dilly being ahead!

We got the hot tub filled up after work, we're just waiting for it to warm up now. It won't be hot enough tonight though, unfortunately.

How was everyone's Valentine's Day?
I worked all day, then we tried to go out to eat, gave up after the 2nd restaurant and decided to have leftovers instead! Not much cooking involved so I was happy with that!

DS did the home bleugh today so it should be good for the weekend.

I've decided to restart flylady after our holiday as we are a Sick House. My 2 year old was sick on Wednesday evening so me and my husband took turns to have day off work with him Thursday and Friday. Yesterday was not fun as I had waves of nauseous with a headache and parenting from the sofa mosty. I thought I'd be ok when and my husband did the school drop offs and pick ups and I did get out the house with ds, thinking 36 hours if ok. But last night my husband became sick so was... happy valentine's. We're going away tomorrow so I'm just hoping my DD doesn't catch it. I'm feeling a bit more alive but haven't eaten (vomited overnight) I will try and deep clean the toilet room now.

Morning!

Baby step day 15 is to start making your bed each day. http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-15/

No missions at the weekend, it's family fun day. Fun might be slightly curtailed here as I forgot to charge the car up last night and it is sleeting!

Hazel my DH got me some blue roses. He is fairly colour blind so I just said how lovely, thank you . . . I don't think he knows they are blue.

2in2022 sounds like you have had a super rubbish few days, be kind to yourself! (A

Hi everyone! Flying has definitely still been taking a back seat here, family stuff has been intense, and work is picking up too which is exciting! I’ve got a big project that needs to be delivered by the end of March, it’s a bit daunting but an incredible opportunity.

I am very glad it’s half term. Big family event at the end of it which is a bit stressful in some ways so I’m glad I can get some rest this week - ex has Cagletini for most of it. But I need to also balance lots of time to work (writing at least four training sessions) and try and get my house less gross… it’ll be a challenge to balance it!

Struggling to get started lately so I need a power of three list!

po3.1
❗️rotate DW
❗️towel LOL
❗️gather some rubbish

Woohoo that’s done. 45 minutes was worth it. Going to play piano for a bit while I have the house to myself, and then will crack on with some work!

Hope everyone has a lovely Saturday

2in2022 I hope you're all feeling better soon! Are you going anywhere nice?

Sing well done on getting your PO3 done! As life gets busy, there's definitely a struggle to balance it all. It looks like you're smashing it though.

Dilly awww, that was lovely of your DH to at least try! Sometimes men can be clueless, when most of us don't really want a huge fuss and just a little token can go a long way.

I still have to figure out what to do for dinner tonight! ILs are coming over as it's our turn to host. The only other plan for the day is to get in the hot tub to try it out, but I'm sure that won't be all day though!

Went out yesterday with DH ( London) then I made a vegetarian shepherds pie for dinner ( DD,DH and I are vegetarian, DS isn't)

LOL yesterday -towels
LOLx 2 loads dark washing ( I don't seperate black/dark now . More black/dark delicates on a 30 wash and black/dark manky stuff like underwear/socks/DS gym gear goes on a hot wash with Astonish laundry cleanse and a scoop of Astonish powder )
12kg washing machine so I can get a lorra lorra washing in there .

DS bedding on now

I have gone through the bags that seem to overtake the hall . I still need to keep a few though we have deliveries now . I still might go to Sainsbury or Asda IRL.
Doing a Costco list for end Feb (need bags for that too)

All my fold-up re-useable shopping bags have been emptied of random reciepts .
I'm working next week (my DC are in their 20s ) so looking forward to the roads being quieter .
Then I have some random time off end Feb , just to potter (maybe tidy up the garden) and the cats are going to the Vet (routine vaccines )

Vacuumed hall/stairs/landing/bedroom.
'

Going out tonight (yay . Saturday Night , I feel the air is getting hot as Whigfield would say )

70 that sounds like a nice balance of work & rest! I need to make a list for Costco too, it's going to be expensive this time 😢

Ta das so far:
🚲 solution added to hot tub to balance the pH
🚲 dinner figured out for tonight, chicken pulled out of the freezer, list created
🚲 spin bike workout
🚲 teeth whitening strips put on
🚲 shower, scrubbed & shaved
🚲 self tanner applied

I do need to get some laundry done this weekend. I am on a long 4 day weekend though, so not in a rush to do it all today.
I am going to be making chocolate covered strawberries for tonight's dessert as well 🍓