Fledglings flying into Joyous June - Monthly Flylady thread

[DillyDeclutter]

Join us in building routines to make housework more manageable. Start out with the baby steps, add in the missions in each zone, it will eventually become second nature. Jump right in, you're never left behind!

This is a long running thread, but we are a friendly bunch and all are welcome to join in 😊

June's habit of the month is drinking water. Whatever gets you drinking, fancy glasses, ice, floral decorations- go for it!

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.
Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/
Baby Steps: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/
full disclosure: the Flylady website is going through some changes and there have been some issues with it loading/ updating, so I will do my best!
The Current FLY Zone | FlyLady.net
https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

That was yesterday, I can't even remember what I wanted to get done. Haha.

😂😂😂

Very at the moment, busy weekend, dds birthday party Saturday then her friends on Sunday. She had a different friends birthday on Monday. She doesn't even go to loads of parties but lots of her friends are her age! Should have done a joint party, will do that next year. Last night I just shinned my sink. Felt better than doing none of my evening routine.

Morning!

Today's mission is to shine your counter tops in the bathroom and guest room.

Friday is clean your car and handbag day.

Today's baby step is to add laundry to your morning and evening routines. This works really well for me - I put a load on at bedtime and hang it out first thing in the morning. Then I fold the dry washing when I take it in in the evening.

https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-20/

It is hot hot hot here today!

Hazel nice to hear you're home safely.

22in2022 we are well in the birthday parry stage for my dc. Organising a joint soft play party for my two was one of my most stressful tasks last year! Not sure what we will do this year, probably something more low key.

2in2022 that does sound like a busy weekend! What are you doing for your DDs party?

We've done loads of things for our DCs birthdays over the years: park, bowling, mini golf, arcade, but I think one of the best ones was for DS. We had a Nerf gun party. A tonne of nerf guns, lots of ammo (with a safe area where they could reload) and just run about the garden shooting each other. I even got cheap army hats from the dollar store, along with ammo vests. We joined in as well and had a blast!
It's so much easier now. DD is 21 now, so we just had cake at our house and dinner out. DS has just a couple of friends that usually just come over and play on the Xbox!

So I had 10.5 hours sleep last night! I needed it! It was good to be in our own bed again. I do still need to unpack. DH unpacked his stuff last night, but I wanted to take a shower before going out for dinner. I was far too tired last night!

Plan today is:
☀️ unpack & put everything away
☀️ laundry, lots of laundry
☀️ meal plan
☀️ grocery shopping
<at some point over the weekend>:
☀️ vacuum
☀️ mop
☀️ bleach bathrooms
☀️ pull weeds
☀️ general tidy

We are taking ILs out for dinner tonight for everything they did for us while we were gone. We couldn't have left without them!

Oh, I weighed myself this morning, the damage wasn't too bad, I only gained 2.8lbs! DH said he gained a lot more than that though, but he definitely ate more while we were gone, than usual.

@HazelNotHungryLC hired a church hall, having 17 school friends (6 and 7 year olds) we are the entertainment, play traditional party games, eg musical chairs some relay races also a pinata. Will be packing ice pops! I'm feeling under prepared.

House is falling apart around me. No hot water unless I boil kettles. Kitchen sink blocked itself at tea-time, I plunged it a bit too vigorously and water started dripping into the unit below the sink from the join in the pipes. And on the hottest day of the year! I suspect there has been a very slow leak for months.

And the fridge is playing up with some stuff fit only for the food waste bin. Doing several laundry loads to get futility room cleared for repair work tomorrow.

2in2022 the party sounds like it'll be fun! I'm sure the kids will all have fun.

Sunshine that sounds like a lot going wrong in your house, I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope that it all gets sorted soon!

Ta das:
🐶 bathed dogs
🐶 vacuumed
🐶 mopped
🐶 bleached both bathrooms
🐶 cleaned mirrors
🐶 wiped countertops in kitchen
🐶 general tidy and things put away
🐶 LOLs x6, including DSs sheets

I still haven't gone grocery shopping, but I'll do that tomorrow. We're going to have a BBQ for family on Sunday, as long as we can figure out a time when the non-local family members are local. We're also having our family dinner at ours tomorrow night and will need to get a few things in for that too.

Morning, Saturday is family fun day, no missions at the weekend. We're off to a nearby forest Park to hopefully have a nice cool picnic under the trees. Hoping everyone else hasn't had the same idea!

Baby step 21 is to keep going with your routines and read some of Fly Lady's posts:
https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-21/

I have just cleaned put the washing machine, bleugh, DS keeps leaving paper in his pockets and it had formed a grey slurry under the seal. I made him help!

Sunshine that sounds very frustrating. Hopefully kitchen sink/fridge/utility are your three pieces of bad luck and it's over and done with.

Hazel you are always so busy!

I think the jet lag might be starting to set in. I had lots of sleep the night we got back, but last night I fell asleep on the couch somewhat early (for me anyway) and ended up going to bed late (after midnight). I woke up at 6am this morning. Not as bad as it's been in the past (sleepy at 3pm, awake at 4am kind of thing), but it might be a good thing to help me get back to a routine for Monday.

Dilly picnic in the forest park sounds lovely. I hope that not a lot of people show up today.

I have to keep myself busy! I was actually missing cleaning and laundry etc, while gone, so made up for that yesterday. Crazy, I know! When DH was told about family coming into town he said he'll let us know if they make plans, so then DH suggests a BBQ at our house instead! We do love hosting though.

My plans for today include grocery shopping (mostly have a list), applying my self tanner, repainting my nails, prepping food for tonight and tomorrow and a couple more LOLs. I really need to wash the Jeep as well. ILs, including SIL & BIL will be coming over for dinner tonight.

What is everyone else doing today?

Posted this in the wrong thread earlier today.

DH is trying to unblock the sink with our last remaining wire coathanger. Electrician is coming in about half-an-hour to track down the reason for no immerser or central heating timer for hot water. Fridge has frozen all the fruit and salad overnight now thawing into mush and I'm contemplating going to tesco to replace it all.
Kids are kicking back with screens and I'm having a latte very soon. Very hot here, with thunderstorms forecast. Will look for a shady spot under my tree.

It turned out to be too hot all day to enjoy even the shade. On the plus side, the immerser works! Sink drain pipes full of chemical stuff overnight to clear the build-up. TeenGirl walked to tesco, got the messages, then I collected her. TeenBoy is off to youth club and I'm about to put a wash on the pulley.

@SunshineAndSummerShowers2025 I hope your house stops working against you soon!

I have not done my evening routine the past few days. Got a day out with the family today. I still need to complete my morning routine. Living room is a mess as DD opened presents and we hadn't done a toy clear out or anything. Our living room is our playroom.

This morning I have decluttered a soft toy box in the living room of DS, bagged up the baby toys for the attic and filled the the space with toys from the floor.

To do:
Finish morning routine
Get DD up and set her making her friends birthday card and wrapping his present.
Head out for the day

I've been feeling so exhausted with heat and stress of my dds birthday I have managed to book monday off work annual leave to recover. I do need to give myself a day like this every few months, but...I'm challenging my hours but am waiting on confirmation about ds nursery place so It's all on hold.

Morning!

Aargh Sunshine hope you get sorted soon.

2in2022 it's so hard finding a balance- and I hate decluttering soft toys, I always feel so mean!

We got up to the forest Park yesterday just as the rain came. So we went home and had an inside picnic. Then we had some of DH's friends round for a meal - done two DW loads but a lot of the washing up is not yet done . . .

No missions at the weekend, Sunday is renew your spirit day. We had a park playdate planned but not too sure about the weather!

Oh and we are moving into Zone 4 - bedroom, closet and master bathroom.

The bedroom was the first zone I got on top of and I've maintained it, so an easy one for me. There's always more that can be done though!

Sunshine that's a lot going on for you. I hope things are able to get sorted quickly.

2in2022 a day off to recover is sometimes needed for sure. It's good that you can recognise when you need to do this for yourself.

Dilly typical rain showing up at the worst possible time! My bedroom stays as it should as well, I usually do a little deeper clean in there on the bedroom weeks. On Tuesdays, when I'm off work.

YesTaDas:
🥗 washed Jeep in carwash
🥗 grocery shopping (took all my coupons with me as well and saved a lot!)
🥗 showered, scrubbed, shaved and applied self tanner
🥗 prepped food for dinner
🥗 had everything ready, table set etc before everyone showed up (never happens! I'm usually stressed out at the last minute)
🥗 DW rotated x3
🥗 handwashed dishes

We're having a cold spell here, just this weekend, then our temps will rise again. This meant we had to eat inside last night, instead of outside on our patio.
We are having a family BBQ later on this afternoon, so will spend some time prepping and cooking today.
I do still need to repaint my nails, which shouldn't take long at all.

Morning everyone ☕️
Well I haven't posted everyday like I said I was going to this month, however, I've only stayed in the naughty corner for a week maybe 2 ? The business of general term time work and kids clubs added with the heat has wiped me out - I even went to bed before my youngest a few times because I was just sat on the sofa with no get up and go ! I haven't felt like that in quite a while, I'm borderline hypothyroid, meaning my thyroid and vitamin levels are all over the place so maybe I'll start taking my folic acid and magnesium this week to see if it helps to boost my energy levels . Doctor says I shouldn't have thyroid medication until the levels go up to 8 and I'm 5.5 when they last tested - so I'm suffering but not quite suffering enough 😂

Anyways , enough of the moaning, today is going to be a good day . I have a massively busy day , leaving the house at 830 then won't be in until around 630 after dd2's after school club so I'm going to embrace 5 minute timers here and there in between the madness !

@HazelNotHungryLC I'm so happy you've had a lovely time being back here ! It seems to have flown by ! I hope the jet lag eases for you soon .

I'm just catching up on old posts after a busy week.

@HazelNotHungryLC that nerf party sounds great. We only had 15 minutes to set up and guests arrived early. It was the main village festival day so lots of parents were rushing off to help stalls or watch siblings in a show. So I got a couple of parents helping blow up balloons but there were empty ones lying about they had fun blowing up and shooting across the room. They loved decorating their party bags with stickers and decorations biscuits and a few of them did the origami. We also had use of an enclosed garden but it was a bit small. It was largely chaos but most children were happy. DD had a couple of little meltdown. The heat and pressure of it being her birthday got to her. Pinata was fun but DD screamed when it broke because everyone jumped on it (as I expected) and she started shouting don't fight there is one toy and one sweet for everyone.

We'll have less children next year! And maybe something with her best friend who was born the same day, we all went to a big soft play centre with her best friend for his birthday yesterday so DD is exhausted.

Today I have booked a day annual leave to recover/ get the house and shopping sorted. DD is having a lie in she'd normally be going into breakfast club now, but I'll wake her in half an hour.

Morning!

Today is home blessing day . . . We are in the master bedroom this week and the mission is to clear out under your bed, leaving the space empty. No arguments, apparently, even if (like me) you feel you have no space elsewhere to store the things that are currently under there (in my case, mostly jumpers).

Baby step 23 is to add an afternoon routine https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-23/

I should be working so I'll be back for chat later!

Sorry, my DH declared under master bed as key storage and keeps his Nintendo collection under there. In boxes. I can do the edge of under the bed, possibly anything not in a tub, pull tubs out and dust... but today is also for rest and I have a list so I'll at it to the post poned Todo list (does that have a name on this thread) the never do list?

Tadas:
🙌Wiped down inside of the car and cleared out rubbish, wiped down windscreen wipers as there not really working great. Wanted to clean more of the car eg outside but can take it to the car wash with kids for family entertainment.
🙌Cleaned toilet room.
🙌Stripped bedding.

🙌Put laundry on.

To do
👉Hang up laundry.
👉But dog food and grow bags
👉eat lunch
👉Cook chicken curry.
👉 Finish sorting storage box I've started sorting under DDS bed, just one box then stop!
👉 Do some ringfit
👉Have a long bath.
👉 Hang up bedding lol.
👉 Make beds

We've got a kingsize, high, lift up divan bed which is chock full of stuff (it's an amazing storage space) but no way is it going to get done in a day. It is on my list though. I keep out of season clothes, my yarn stash, occasional use bags and shoes, box files of old paperwork, skiing stuff, DCs keepsake clothes (leavers hoodies etc) in there.

I need to improve my evening routine as I've not been able to consistently follow it. I have two children, they're in bed by 8:30 normally and I've set a bedtime of 10. Husband and I spend some time together most evenings. So my evening/like my morning is always disrupted, hard to nail down a routine. What I have written so far that i need to tweek, maybe you can help? I think it's too long and needs ordering.

🌙 Prepare tomorrow's lunches and breakfast (DH has normally done this earlier)
🌙Wash self
🌙Bags packed - I rarely manage my own and DH does everyone else's
🌙 Clean dining room table - I do normally get this done.
🌙 5 minutes hotspots
🌙 Journaling, review today's accomplishments - this normally gets skipped
🌙 Painting with TV
🌙Let go of anything bothering you - I don't actually know how to do that and I read it and remind myself of irritation.
🌙 Brush teeth
🌙Lay out clothes.

Tadas

🎉Hang up laundry x 2
🎉Buy dog food
🎉eat lunch

To do
👉Cook chicken curry.
👉 Finish sorting storage box I've started sorting under DDS bed, just one box then stop!
👉 Do some ringfit
👉Have a long bath.
👉 Make beds

I missed from the mission that you're only supposed to spend 15 minutes under the bed! And, living in a normal UK house with very limited storage, I have nowhere else to put these things (except behind the sofa with my yarn stash) so like you ED it's all staying there!

2in2022 that seems like quite a long list for the evenings. Can you combine some of the tasks, or tie them to something else? Like, I wash and brush teeth at the same time, so it's one job. I journal in bed so it's always in the same place and same time. I do the bags while I'm cooking tea. (My "afternoon routine" is more like a teatime routine . . .)

I've not got an afternoon routine, but yes DH does sandwiches while he's doing dinner so I could just cut that from my routine and leave that as his job. I like my spot I do my journaling by the window in the living room, it lends itself well to coffee in the morning, which is my designated Journaling time. I'm not an evening person so too tired to sleep but i think a quick review of the day and congratulating myself on what I do well should stay in my routine. Straight after hotspots is good as my writing space is a hotspot. I'm changing it to

🌙 Clean dining room table
🌙 5 minutes hotspots
🌙 Journaling, review today's accomplishments, check diary.
🌙 Wash and brush teeth
🌙Lay out clothes

I've removed the TV time in the middle as it breaks it up and makes it harder to follow. I could do TV after the bedtime routine.

2in2022 I think it just needs a few tweaks so it's easier to move to the next thing. Try to get everything done in one room, then move to the next.

😴 after dinner, get lunches/ breakfast ready
😴 wash dishes/ rotate DW
😴 wipe down table, countertops, shine sink <be done with the kitchen & dining rooms>
😴 get bags ready for next day
😴 5 mins hotspots
😴 painting
😴 Journaling (or do in bed as Dilly does) and add your list of things bothering you just to get it out of your head, or positive thoughts if you don't have negative thoughts <be done in the living room>
😴 lay out clothes
😴 wash
😴 brush teeth <be done in the bathroom>
😴 go to bed