April Flying with the Fledglings - We’re No Fools

[EffortlesslyDecluttering]

Welcome to the April Flylady thread, we are starting the month with spring well and truly sprung, flowers out, longer days and hopefully warm, dry weather.

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 - unless you want to end up with a very cluttered inbox.

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! Her motto is “you are never behind”. We will be decluttering and cleaning in these zones with a daily mission posted, these are tasks that should take up to about 15 minutes.

Other daily themes: each day of the week has a different regular to-do:
Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh) - hoover, dust, change beds etc
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.

Note: The Flylady website and app are not working reliably at the moment, both are stuck in Zone 5 and have been for several weeks. So the launchpad is not always up to date. However the Zone and Babystep pages are useful for reference. I will be posting the daily Flight Plan from the Flylady FB page instead for the time being.

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/

Tada!

Yesterday.
Volunteered at parkrun (didn’t feel like running due to backache)
✅stopped at garden centre, hardware store and charity shop on the way home
✅used hook from hardware store to hang some things up in shed
✅sowed lots of seeds
✅3 x LOL including 2 beds worth of sheets
✅tidied landing
✅got Easter decs from loft and as is my rule, brought some things down to throw away
✅tidied our bedroom floor
✅more stuff to throw away, take downstairs, bin
✅hoovered landing, stairs and our bedroom
✅cleaned our bedroom window and sill, they are sash windows with lots of nooks and crannies so it took a while
✅cleaned full length mirror in our room
✅re-made our bed

Today.
✅An hour at the allotment
✅vacuumed and mopped kitchen, dining room and bathroom (it’s downstairs)
✅vacuumed living room
✅spent about 2 hours decluttering and cleaning DS’s room (he has been making flying visits and leaving it a bit untidy, but also it hasn’t been vacuumed or dusted probably since Christmas when he was last home for a longer stretch, his window and sill also needed cleaning).
✅general tidying, made a charity shop pile
✅about 5 x LOL (making the most of the weather, included winter coats to put away and front and back door mats)

@THATbasicgirl I’m glad you’ve got the wheels in motion to finally declutter ThatTwat.

@BloomingHazel exciting about the fruit and veg growing, as you can tell from allotment mentions, that is something I’m very keen on.

@LaMarschallin I have a high forehead too and think it has receded slightly at the sides, it doesn’t look very flattering when I tie it back now but I don’t suit normal short fringes, I am thinking about getting a long one cut back in next week so I can wear my hair up but with a bit of coverage.

@2in2022twoyearson sorry you are suffering, plenty of comfy space in the naughty corner

@DillyDeclutter I’d have been a bit miffed at council man too, but he was probably trying to be nice.

@ParsnipSnap good to hear from you, sounds as though you are on top of things. How old is BabyParsnip now?

@Scourgify well done on the life admin, I REALLY must sort out my pensions. I read an article saying that it is a real problem now that in the 10 years or so sincfe auto-enrollment people are accumulating loads of small pensions, not just older people like me but even the under 30s typically have several now and over their working life it’s going to be really hard to keep track and manage them all. Hope teens being away gives you a much deserved break.

@Nellieinthebarn I agree about small bags, I am a convert to the little Uniqlo ones, so much easier to keep tidy.

<Waves> at anyone else lurking, do pop in and say hello.

ED* *I've been consolidating my pensions, I had 7 and now have 3 (am 40). It was a lot of effort and there are good reasons to spread risk at least a bit. The ones I fiddled with all had small amounts in (like £500).

Curtains washed, house hoovered, kitchens cleaned.

Also tidied out the DC "too small" box and listed a lot on Vinted, it has all sold. Now to parcel and send it all.

Must also get the Easter crafts out before the school holidays start!

I've got a final salary one I need to keep, another one which went into the pension rescue scheme or whatever it's called (the company went bankrupt and it was final salary, luckily only two years service in that one), and several others including two that I currently pay into (2 jobs). Some I have online accounts for, some still paper only, I need to get them all online and then there are two at least that I'd like to consolidate.

Just sorted three loads of dry laundry and put all mine away. Keeping on top of it really does make a difference.

Morning all,

Today is Monday and that means Home Blessing Day (vacuum, dust, change beds, empty bins). I did most of that over the weekend so feel ahead for a change.

Into Zone 2, the kitchen today. Our mission is to reach up and get the cobwebs, dust from light fittings etc.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-Flight-Plan-for-Monday-.html?soid=1120012284937&aid=2TpmCwYmwMM

I'll do my home bleugh tomorrow, but after work today I wiped down the countertops and put things away I had out from making my goodies on Saturday (I was not worried about doing that on Sunday).

To dos Tuesday:
✂️ haircut & colour (it's getting chopped off short again, it's still short, but annoying me when it touches my neck 😳 so taking more off this time)
💵 bank
🐶 take dogs to groomer
🐶 bathe dogs
🍬 finish truffles
🍬 dip pretzel rods in chocolate
🍬 finish baskets for the fundraiser (might be another night though, but they have to be ready by Friday)
🧼 home bleugh

I guess I'll see what I can get done tomorrow.
Of course, I just remembered I also have to go grocery shopping (I still need to meal plan) 🤦‍♀️
So much to do, so little time..

Oh, and then there's laundry..

I didn’t get much done yesterday, work, then two exercise classes, then came home, flopped on the sofa and booked a holiday cottage for June. The DCs finish college / uni at the end of May so it will be nice to have a break together.

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day. I’m going to the cinema tonight so that will be Play. Then our mission is to wipe down the front of our kitchen cabinets, I’m going to do that now before work as I noticed at the weekend they had some water splashes, fingerprints etc.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-Flight-Plan-for-Tuesday-.html?soid=1120012284937&aid=rIshcTwgrV4

Funnily enough, I wiped down one kitchen cupboard just now while waiting for the kettle to boil, so that's a small start 😊

It's spring cleaning at church this morning and I've got my hair appointment in the pm, so not a lot of time for other FLYing.

One of the kitchen tasks I want to do this week is sorting out a big folder of recipes that I've collected. Lots of good ones but I know there are some very similar to each other and some I've made and may not make again (more because I like to try new things than because they weren't nice).
The freezer is also in dire need of defrosting as someone <coughDHcough> didn't shut it properly some time last week.

Sounds like you did plenty yesterday, ED. Work and 2 exercise classes and booking a holiday sounds like plenty to be going on with. A family break sounds lovely.
Not much scheduled play here today, but I'll probably buy something nice for supper and give myself the day off from cooking.

Starting to feel properly rested. The life admin is underway; yesterday I sent off my dvla paperwork. Also doing a general sort and tidy of other paperwork to make easier to tackle without having to search in a panic.

Gradually reclaiming the gardens. Front has weedkiller on edges of paviers. The back has become neglected and overgrown over the past couple of years. Yesterday I uprooted a buddleia and a small tree that were in the middle of a path. The council collects garden waste every four weeks, which is great for me in this mess.

Very little housework being done. I’ll do it when the forecast is for rain, probably next Monday.

I did that at Christmas @LaMarschallin I have a big folder with "meal" recipes in then two smaller ones for cakes/puddings and other which is random things like bread, chutney whatever. When they get too full I take them all out and realise I've got 5 recipes for lemon drizzle cake or whatever for a clearout. But also as I use the recipes I don't always put them back away and there is a big pile I need to put away now, the folders live in the dining room and the used recipes tend to get shoved in a magazine rack in the kitchen.

Snuggling up in the naughty corner with my lemsip today. I'm at work, which DH is home with kids on the Easter holidays. So more restful here, trying to do as little as possible. I do want to get better at cooking and meal planning. Dh does most. I'm painfully slow at chopping veg compared to him. Get hello fresh trial, was nice but DH didn't like it. We have loads of rhubarb out. I've done a crumble and stewed 2 loads. Had rhubarb overnight oats one time.

Woke up with ds telling me 'get up mummy you cheeky boy. Thought you were downstairs.'

DH realised last night that he had no work shirts that were clean 😳 so last night I put on a load of laundry, using the delay feature (never used it before) and it worked beautifully! I put it in the dryer this morning and it was done before he had to leave for work 😇
I think he takes for granted that I'm usually keeping up on laundry on my days off, and this weekend I didn't! Oops 😬

Anyway, some ta das: (8:30am)
😇 2nd lol in washer, 1st in dryer (sheets)
😇 dressed, makeup on, hair pulled back (it's too long!!)
😇 took DS to school, he drove for practise
😇 2 cups of coffee drank

I'll be heading out in a few minutes for my hair appt. I'm so very ready for the chop, it's ridiculous!

Ta das:
🍬 hair appt (I may have had her take too much off the front of my hair! 🤦‍♀️ oh well, it'll grow back!)
🍬 dogs to groomer
🍬 bathed dogs
🍬 put sheets back on our bed
🍬 meal planning done
🍬 grocery shopping
🍬 finished 2 lots of truffles
🍬 rotated DW
🍬 helped DH remove some of the lawn, to make a patio for our hot tub, and a path to our vegetable garden
🍬 more LOLs x6
🍬 put clean clothes away
🍬 got my lunch ready for tomorrow
🍬 clothes out and ready for the morning

I'm exhausted and didn't do as much housework as I was hoping, but did get a lot done.

DD texted me that she has pneumonia 😱, so hopefully she'll be better soon. She is at home, not hospitalized, so that's good!

My day off needs to be about 3 days long.. today went by really quick!

Sending Get Well Soon wishes to your DD, Hazel
Such a worry for you, but you're right, it's definitely good news she's not in hospital.
Impressive list of Ta-das - very well done that Fledging! 😊
Grocery shopping here this morning. Will finish sorting my recipe folder (hopefully!) and the kitchen windows could do with being cleaned.
I also had my hair done yesterday. Very pleased to be reunited with my fringe and happy with the colour. It's an expensive business though.

Morning all, Wednesday's mission is to declutter the fridge and wipe the shelves, don’t empty the whole thing but a good clear out.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-Flight-Plan-for-Wednesday-.html?soid=1120012284937&aid=FB7DbSJRHgk

Today;s babystep is to add a 5 minute room rescue to your daily routine. I have copied a link which explains the Flylady jargon here

https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/fly-faq/

% minute room rescue means to consistently do 5 mins a day of clearing in your worst room, don’t try and do it all at once, just 5 mins a day for a month will rescue it.

@BloomingHazel sorry to hear about DD, hope she is better soon

@LaMarschallin I did the kitchen patio door insides when I did th ecabinet yesterday, it does make a difference.

@2in2022twoyearson sorry you are still feeling unwell <plumps up the naughty corner cushions and re-stocks the lemsips>. My rhubarb isn’t ready to pick yet but usually I get so much I have to take it to work and give it away.

Thanks for today's update, ED. A sort out of the fridge will be a good thing to do, especially as the freezer must be done soon too.
I also used to take rhubarb to work as well as large courgettes/small marrows.
I was always staggered by how quickly the latter grow - from bite-size to something like a small, green zeppelin in a day, it seemed!

Our fridge freezer needs a full defrost. Plus I cleaned out the bottom drawer a few days ago. My mum used to have good rhubarb and courgettes then she retired and moved more north and is jealous of our rhubarb now. We used to live off courgettes for a month or so.

Thank you LaMarschallin & ED DD seems to be doing better now she's got antibiotics in her system, thank goodness!

I'm a day late on the mission, I wiped the fronts of the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen this evening. I also wiped down the extractor fan hood. I even wiped down the floor! Of course, it's because I cooked salmon and the splatter from pan frying it was everywhere!
I also did the handwash dishes and put them away 😱

Right, best be off to sleep now, it'll be a busy day at work!

Glad DD is improving @BloomingHazel

Well, a day off today, and the weather has turned dull and grey. I am going to get some washing on the line and tackle the fridge as I also need to do the food shop so it would be good to do it while it’s half empty.

Today is Thursday, which means Errand Day, I don’t think I have any that need doing but something is likely to crop up.

Today’s babystep is the Power of 15 - using your timer. The idea is to spend 15 mins clearing clutter and then 15 mins relaxing.

https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-10/

Our mission today is to thoroughly scrub the kitchen counters, moving small appliances, fruit bowls or whatever to do so. I must admit we are anything but a minimialist household, I actively dislike the completely bare counters look in a kitchen and like having appliances out, but it does make this task a bit harder.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-Flight-Plan-for-Thursday-.html?soid=1120012284937&aid=ZpCm4mcsozs

Friday! at last. I did clean my counters yesterday and have a half-hearted go at the fridge, but really the fridge needs doing properly.

Today we clean out our handbag and car and it is date night, I haven’t got as far as thinking about that yet. Busy day planned, supermarket in a minute, then yoga class, coffee with friends and picking DS up from uni later. So date night will probably be fall asleep on the sofa night.

Our mission today s to sweep and mop the kitchen floor.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-Flight-Plan-for-Friday-.html?soid=1120012284937&aid=2QxwA5AOALM

I'm back at work today. Was off sick yesterday with a cold, not too unwell so I did take some things I sold on vinted to the post office and bought some more cold medication. The capsules, with caffeine, previously I had a coffee followed by a lemsip so capsules are the same medicine but more efficient. I also had less medication for a couple of days thinking I'd give my body a chance to fight the infection better when I rested but changed my mind. Today I woke up feeling less bad but now feel congested as I'm going into work. It's always a tough decision for me whether to take sick leave....i believe more of my colleagues should stay home with a cold because often they just infect others then we're more short staffed. I worry about what others think and it's my last day before annual leave so thought it would look bad to be off.

I will be clearing my car out tonight as it's collecting dirty tissues. Maybe I'll even clean it this weekend. I could do my bags this evening as I don't need work paraphinalia in it next week.

Whole house bleugh to be done today. Won't be as thorough as usual as I usually split up- and downstairs, however, I always vacuum and mop the kitchen floor as part of it so that'll get done anyway.
The recipe folder still hasn't been sorted out, but there's rugby on tonight so "date night" will probably consist of DH watching that while I sort recipes and occasionally consult him on what to keep/throw.
Not wildly romantic but companiable and we'll enjoy each other's company.
So pleased to have defrosted the freezer yesterday. Turned out to be a bigger job than I thought, but it gives me such pleasure now to be able to open and close the drawers easily and to know exactly what I've got in there.

Well. today turned out to be productive.

Tada!
✅washing done and on line
✅sourdough made
✅food shop and put away
✅yoga class
✅kitchen bins emptied and wiped
✅litter trays de-pooped
✅kitchen floor swept and mopped
✅DW emptied
✅seedlings watered
✅mail opened and recycled
✅(TMI) bowel cancer screening sample done and posted
✅swish and swipe
✅online yoga class
✅coffee with friends
✅picked up DS (took 4 hours)
✅dinner
✅2 more LOLs done and on line overnight
✅this morning and yesterday’s LOLs sorted and my stuff put away

I do weekend shift work and because I've been feeling rough I gave away todays shift. Then, I was back yesterday and feeling ok. When I college was feeling poorly, going home, worrying about her shift today I offered to work it. As I'm on annual leave until Easter, plus I will be happier next month with more money in my paycheck.

Then, of course my cold symptoms came back. This is the first year I can remember im coughing with a cold. I used to have a strong chest, and while I occasionally got headcolds, they never went to my chest. This is my second virus this year that's gone to my chest.

So todays todas:
Get through work
Tidy out my bag and car- didn't have the energy to do this yesterday.
Do some studying, Even 30 minutes.
Do my (quite short) morning routine.
Forget my evening routine.