Heat Waves & Holidays with Flylady - August thread

[HazelNotHungryLC]

Summer holidays can be crazy! 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 has a different mission for the zone we are in.

Daily focus:

• 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. Although there are some issues with the website and app right now, so bear with me!

Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

Baby Steps: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

I'm glad it's not just me LMS in the garden!

I actually need to sort my bathroom out because I have a bloke coming to look at a leak

Oh no, you have a leak THIS? I hope it's not too bad 🤞

We are going camping again tomorrow after work, the last trip we can go for 2 nights this year. As long as the fridge works. DH is currently looking for the book for the fridge, I think he should just check it in the morning to see if it's cold. It wasn't getting cold when we were out there earlier, but I think it just needs more time.

Anyway, I worked late tonight, taking notes and recording a meeting. The only thing I did when I got home is rotated DW.

Friday is clean your car and handbag day.

Friday's missions:
Bathroom - grab an old toothbrush (I have the free ones from the dentist that I use for cleaning, not my teeth 😂), add a little bit of soap/ cleaner and scrub your taps on the sink and bath.
Other room - today, vacuum the floor. Even if you can only see a little bit of it, vacuum what you can see.

Baby Step 15: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-15/
Add make your bed to your morning routine. If you like to air your bed out, fold the top sheets/ blankets/ quilt over nicely instead of all crumpled up. It makes a big difference. You want your bed/ bedroom to be welcoming.

Ok, DH is getting frustrated our house is a mess but I think it's not too bad. I had a knock to my self confidence yesterday at work and last night, slept badly last night and in the night made overnight oats, left a couple of bits out on the side. That annoyed DH in the morning, understandably. Ironically I'm struggling to do housework because he's allredy cleaned what was on my routine and it throws me off. But that is silly because it's less for me to do!

I just tried to do 3 minutes hotspots but ds needed breakfast.

Before that I tried to tidy DS room but he started tantruming about wanting his books back.

Thanks, Hazel. It's upstairs house bleurgh today so I'll incorporate the tap scrubbing into that. Spare room will get its carpet done as part of that but it'll get a more thorough go-over.
I have the free ones from the dentist that I use for cleaning, not my teeth 😂
Hmm... It would one way to whiten one's teeth, I suppose 😁
Hope your back and hip are better, especially pre-camping trip.

Leak was just a worn out washer on a tap luckily. That is sorted now.

I've been really unmotivated all week. I think this happens when I get to the point of the month where I am wishing payday would hurry up because there is still stuff I want / need to make the house better for us and not being able to do this gets me down .... and then I kinda stagnate 😕

Any motivation today is much appreciated

Alwayslearning you sound a bit down too. I hope you have a better day today! Might be worth have a chat with DP about the house and what he thinks is so bad and maybe a joint routine so you each are doing set tasks?

Busy few days here. Really tackled the utility room yesterday - my third "bathroom" of the week as it has the WC off of it. It's been a long time coming.

Yesterday and this morning wins:

• ran cleaning cycle on washing machine
• deep cleaned washing machine (filters, powder drawer)
• ordered more hand soap refills
• cleaned toilet
• cleaned 3x sinks
• cleaned ensuite shower
• cleared clothes drying rack
• 3x LOL all done and put away
• decluttered utility surfaces
• wiped down utility surfaces
• wiped down cat flap, feeder and her mats
• emptied big utility bin
• vacuumed utility and WC
• put away all the loitering garage bits
• reorganised 2 cupboards
• dusted bannister
• changed another set of bed sheets
• finance admin

To do list:

• Vacuum out car (unsure of logistics of this with baby cabbage... might need to postpone to weekend)
• clean bath
• mop bathroom floors
• check date for next loo roll delivery

Ta da so far
🌎 LOL on
🌎 dining room swept and mopped
🌎 Hall swept and mopped
🌎 utility swept and mopped

Gonna try a PO3 and come back after that soooooo ....

🌈 strip my bed
🌈 bring down washing
🌈 put away all the shit on living room window sill

I definitely have some post holiday blues, not helped by DH coming home and seeing mess with fresh eyes, diving into housework. He works in a school and is off with the kids and I'm back at work.

Sorry to hear about post holiday blues Alwayslearning

Ta da
🌎 LOL on x2
🌎 dining room swept and mopped
🌎 Hall swept and mopped
🌎 utility swept and mopped
🌎 bed stripped
🌎 all washing brought down
🌎 living room window sill tidy
🌎 quick tidy cupboard under stairs
🌎 quick sort through odd sock basket
🌎 delivery of new sofa taken (been surviving with one and needed two)

It might not be holiday, I had a confidence knock at work earlier this week, there's a college I have an awkward relationship with... She's quite rude but, unlike other peoples rudeness it upsets me because I have a lot of respect for her as she's good at her job and I know she's a very kind person deep down, but stressed.

I've been looking a lot into ADHD/autism and think I am on the spectrum there. I'm diagnosed dyslexic, with slow audio processing and can freeze under pressure and this college has a tendency to interegate! I probably should find time to have a proper conversation with her about it, but she's always busy.

Anyway, I have been off work since 1, been to the library with ds who is now napping. Im a bit lost at what to do round the house. Was going to set a timer but don't know where to start. I might also nap.

Alwayslearning25 if your DH is also not at work right now due to the holidays, why isn't he doing all of the housework, especially when you're back to work?! If it really bothers him, then he needs to do a better job of keeping up on it!
Sorry, I just had to get that rant out! It does sound like you are trying, but overwhelmed and then the work situation makes it worse.
It does seem like talking to your colleague would have the best outcome.

As far as a starting point, find a corner with the least amount that needs to be done to it and work your way around the room.

LaMarschallin I would not recommend using bleach to whiten teeth! 🤮
My back and hip is starting to feel much better, just a little bruised from the adjustment.

THIS I'm glad the leak was an easy fix!
It looks like you found some motivation too! Exciting that you have a new sofa!

We are not going camping now, the fridge isn't working, hopefully it's the batteries and not the fridge itself!

Just checking back in, it has been a very busy month so far but I have taken it a bit easier today due to the heat which I am getting really tired of now. I upped my RT dose last week and I think that might be adding to the tiredness while I readjust. Then there’s work, parents, DCs.

So, in news from me, DD got her uni place yesterday so we are going to have some preparations to do there. DS is still applying for jobs, both DCs have part time jobs and are working all sorts of random days, it is getting complicated trying to remember who is where when and if anyone needs lifts. DS took my car to work and left me at home without one today which felt weird, but as he pointed out I’m always doing that to him on his days off….

Df is likely to be in hospital (rehab unit) for another 6 weeks at least but is doing well all things considered. Mum wasn’t coping but seems to have improved this week. But there will have to be changes when Dad is discharged, he is likely to have limited mobility and house modifications may need to be made, or s move to a more suitable place considered, so there’s a lot going on there.

As for the house, keeping on top of it after a fashion. 4x LOL done today and ran the robovac round the kitchen, just too hot for much else so just usual kitchen stuff, DW etc. I bought some blinds for the back of the house last month and those are definitely helping to keep the temperature down a bit inside.

Good news on the uni place ed we will hopefully be in that position next year for ds1

I left the kitchen a right tip last night. Regretted that at 8am

Ta da
☀️ dry dishes away
☀️ dishwasher empty and reloaded
☀️ few hand-wash pots in sink
☀️ One worktop clear and clean
☀️ cat fed

@ExtremelyDivided you've got a lot going on, hope you can carve out some time for yourself to unwind.
The heat continues to scupper my flying, but temps are coming down in the next few days so I'll be back on it.
Downstairs in my house is always cool, but upstairs has been brutal.
I've got temporary blackout blinds, for the heat but also because I wake up as soon as it's light (dawn is far too early lol), the downside is they block the fresh air out too.
@HazelNotHungryLC glad your back and hip are better. I have chronic pain in mine, the other day I was bagging up loose hay from the floor, bending was too painful, so I knelt down to do it and my knees are still hurting 😄
Getting old, don't recommend it!

That's a lot ED! That's great news for DD! Not exactly great news about your parents house though. Hopefully you can get some expert guidance on that.
You do sound like you need a good break though, although understandably, not exactly possible at this time. Do make sure you have a few minutes down time every day though, so you don't burn out!

THIS I have done that many, many times! You think you'll be fine, but the regret sinks in fast. Walking up to a shiny sink and clean kitchen makes such a big difference!

Cherry I have heard that getting old isn't fun! It is better than the alternative though 🤔
I hope your knees get better soon!

So, our camper is likely needing a new fridge at this point 😭 apparently lots of people have had issues with that particular fridge and have had to replace it. So it's looking to be an expensive fix.

Our swing had broken at the last BBQ we had, back in July, we just replaced it last night, bought a swing from our neighbours behind us! I will still need to sand & stain it, but for right now we have a working swing again! Yay!

Since we are home this weekend, we will have ILs come over for dinner. Including SIL & BIL. We are just going to cook burgers to keep it cheap & simple, but I think I will also make some kind of salad as well.
I need to go grocery shopping this morning (the car park gets very packed during the fair week, so need to be there before it starts today!), but I still need a list!
I also need to spend some time in the garden, pulling weeds etc. We'll see what I can get done 🤷‍♀️

Saturday is family fun day.
No missions on the weekend.

Baby Step 16: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-16/
Look on the website at the daily emails (there are links, but I don't know if they work).
Continue with your morning and before bed routines.

Shiny sink ....

So my kitchen sink is a big white porcelain (maybe) one - I'm sure it's probably got a proper name. How the fuck do i clean this properly 😐

THIS I had to do a Google search as I have a stainless steel sink.
Apparently Bar Keepers Friend is what's recommended to clean a porcelain sink, as long as you're not too aggressive with it and rinse it off really well. You could also use bleach or vinegar. Again, rinse them off really well, and dilute them.
Also, it says if you're unsure if it's porcelain or ceramic, look underneath the sink. If there's metal and magnetic it's porcelain. Ceramic is just that, so not magnetic.
You may need to Google to get better info, unless someone can help.

Sunday is renew your spirit day.
No missions on Sunday.

Baby Step 17: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-17/
Think about your bedtime. We all need our rest, just like our DC do. Try to set a bedtime, and stick to it. Think about what time you have to be up in the morning, and how much sleep you need. 7-9 hours is recommended for adults.

I'm still trying to get to bed early enough when I have to work the next day. I usually end up with 6-6 1/2 hours, other than my days off. Ideally I'd be asleep by 10:30pm. I rarely get to sleep before 11pm. This is definitely the baby step I struggle the most with!

We all spent the day at home. I was going to work, but had a dodgy tummy so called up sick. My department has a culture of people going in sick, and it's a bug bear of mine. It's a hospital which makes it worse but people don't want to let colleagues down then we have loads of people off together!

I cleaned the bathroom, including bath, taps tiles. Mostly relaxed with the kids.

Alwayslearning25 I hope you're feeling better soon!

I have a few ta das:
Saturday:
🌻 grocery shopping
🌻 trimmed trees in the front garden
🌻 pulled weeds in the front and a little bit in the back
🌻 swept everywhere outside
🌻 put out hot spots

Sunday:
🦥 dead headed plants
🦥 watered plants
🦥 LOLs x6

I still need to do a general tidy and put the clean clothes away. But I've been pretty lazy and moving slow today, hence the sloth emoji!

@THISnewbeginning we have a ceramic sink and I use either Barkeepers Friend or Pink Stuff cream (the one in the tall bottle like Cif).