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've not been doing too great this week to be honest, some positives, but starting the week sick, feel better now. Others at work had it at the same time so a virus, argued a lot with DH and shouted at my kids. I've stopped cleaning and prepping for tomorrow, but tonight I've cleaned my sink... but not prepared for tomorrow. Got a busy last week of holidays left, but September will be better. I read on the flylady website FLY is finally loving yourself. I have to remember that mindset that housework is a form of self care not a chore I don't want to do.

@HazelNotHungryLC a day of doing nothing is what we all need sometimes. My manager actually said he thinks taking an occasional mental health day off sick is good and more people should do it. I did, around exam time. @THISnewbeginning GCSEs seem so important at the time but as long as, he passed maths and English and there enough to get you onto the next stage, no-one cares as an adult.

This morning, I overslept but got dressed first and unloaded the dishwasher (part of my Mr)

Dilly well done on LOLs from holiday! As well as good to just jump in.
THIS at least he did well enough to be able to enroll in college.
Alwayslearning25 I think that is what we all seem to forget about housework, that it's a form of self care. Having a clean and tidy home is very good for our mental health, as well as physical health. Even though it is a little twee, doing the home blessing is a way to show our family we love them, as well as our selves, and even better when everyone helps out so the burden isn't all on one person.

I'm so sorry I just realised I haven't done links yet! 🤦‍♀️it's a bit late now!

Saturday is family fun day.

There are no missions on the weekend.
In case anyone is interested, Friday's mission was to clean our windows in our bedroom and master bathroom if you have one. But remember, no need to play catch up with Flylady, just jump right in!

Baby Step 23: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-23/
Add afternoon routine to your control journal. Start by adding "get dinner ready". Plan ahead so you know what meals you have for the week. Think about what activities you have going on for each day and plan accordingly.

If anyone is interested, baby step 22 was to learn about how to build your control journal. I'm going to leave the link here, in case you want any tips: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-22/

Extra fun family day, visiting my parents for an extended Family gathering my cousin with children my childrens age are visiting too.

The understairs cupboard is turning out to be a lot less messy than I thought it would be, once I got past the initial top layer. I’m going to have wall-mounted wire baskets for ring binders and letters which will keep everything under control.

Noticed a never-used pine stool under the kitchen table, and brought it into the living-room as a small table for a coffee cup and a book.

Much hoovering today after I discovered woodworm in the storage drawers under the bookcases. There were enough gaps on the shelves for the contents of the drawers.

Teens left their uniforms upstairs Friday afternoon, so I did not put them in the wash. I’m trying hard to nag less and let them live with the consequences of their (in)actions.

Alwayslearning25 that sounds like a very fun day. Did you all have a good time?

Scourgify that's a positive to discover the under stairs cupboards to be not as bad as you thought! It sounds like you have a good plan for that cupboard too!
I don't blame you for not reminding your teens about their uniforms. I'm sure they should know what they need to do.

We had a BBQ this evening, for DHs birthday. We had a very good turn out, even DD showed an appearance! I realised I don't have any birthday paper plates and we had to use 4th of July plastic cups 🤦‍♀️ apparently I wasn't prepared!
Everyone had a good time though, kids were in the pool having fun, lots of food got eaten and at there was one who got so drunk he was throwing up (thankfully in the toilet, and no mess!), so they left early!
Most importantly DH had a great time 😍

Sunday is renew your spirit day.
There are no missions on Sunday.

Baby Step 24: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-24/
Swish & Swipe (S&S) to keep your main bathroom guest ready at all times.

Tomorrow we are going out for a drive in a side by side we are borrowing from DHs work for DHs birthday. We will be out most of the day, so I'm glad I got most of the cleaning up done from the BBQ. We will still need to vacuum, mop and clean the bathrooms, but I may see if I can get DS to do that while we're gone (he's staying home).

What will you be doing?

Happy Sunday all

Good news on the understair cupboard scour I have an understair cupboard here which I'm planning to make into shoe / coat / bag storage for the smaller dc as they have a lot of stuff and can't reach the other pegs we have. Drives me a bit nuts that they can't get own coats. I will store some bits in there like boxes of old papers etc and maybe seasonal stuff. Atm however it is a dumping ground.

I dont do any laundry for my teens except ironing (if required) - they are pretty good at it now and know if they don't do it its their own fault

We did have fun, was nice catching up with a cousin I've not seen in ages. I spent most the day eating delicious food.

I didn't know what a side by side was Hazel so I've just googled. No way you'd get me in one of those! Hope you enjoy it!

We had a walk this morning, found lots of blackberries, returned this afternoon* *with basket and have just made jam.

Decobwebbed downstairs earlier.

Bank holiday here tomorrow, not sure what we will do. I'd like some me time but I suspect DH will have ideas about what I should be doing with my time! I meant to plan a BBq but I haven't- not too late i suppose.

Brought paperwork down from my bedroom to the cupboard. My bedroom feels more relaxing now. Also moved small chest of drawers and bedside table to the cupboard, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much better both spaces look.

I'm in the naughty/sick corner.
Been under the weather for a few days then Friday afternoon felt like I'd been run over, flu yet again.
Today I've done a bit of washing up, did a LOL, put 2 LOLs away, had to sit down every couple of minutes. Just remembered today's LOL is still outside getting "darked" on (other) lol 😆

THIS little DC being able to reach their own coats will be a life changer for getting ready to leave the house!

Alwayslearning25 sounds like the perfect day!

Dilly the side by side was a lot of fun! I was the passenger while DH was driving it. It was dusty and it rained, but this one had a windscreen (they don't always), so at least the rain didn't get us in the face!
We used to go blackberry picking with my dad when we'd visit (we visited earlier this year so didn't get to go in memory of him). DD got a tattoo with blackberries in it as a tribute to him. Jam sounds delicious!
Re BBQ planning, make sure you have enough paper plates, cups and napkins for everyone! no I didn't have to use 4th of July cos for DHs birthday BBQ! 😳
Burgers, hotdogs or sausages, with toppings such as lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion for the burgers, maybe sautéed onions for the sausages. Buns for all of it.
Sauce options for both, ketchup, mustard, mayo etc.
Have sides such as potato salad, veggie tray, fruit and crisps.
Drinks options as well. But keep it all simple!
Sorry that was a bit much and you didn't even ask! 🤦‍♀️ We just do them all the time here so don't usually forget stuff!

Scourgify well done for rearranging spaces to make them work better for you! A relaxing bedroom is so important.

Cherry I hope you feel better soon 💐

Monday is home bleugh day.

Monday is the start of a new zone - 5, the living room. This is a rare month that we actually get to spend all week in that zone!

Monday's mission is to look for dust bunnies and get rid of them. Look in the corners of the ceiling, check under the furniture.

Baby Step 25: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-25/
Read her personal testimonial about her building up her routines and how it took her several months to get the routines down.

I like living room week, it feels easy to make a difference. Partly because I can do lots in there once the dc are in bed.

Did an extra LOL as the weather was so lovely.

We had our bbq Hazel and enjoyed it although we do things quite differently! All the best china and glasses go out into the back yard. DH hates paper plates. Today, it was just 7 of us, we had:
Marinated bbq courgettes
Marinated bbq green beans with chickpea salad and harissa tofu
Sweetcorn
Halloumi and tomato kebabs
Gnocchi and pepper kebabs
Potato salad

For us it's more of a grilled outdoor meal than a traditional bbq, we are veggie so lots of the standard options are not really in our line.

Hope you are feeling better Cherry.

Pulled out all the boxes, tubs, etc, that line one side of my bedroom, and hoovered up all the dust and fluff.

Going to switch around a couple of pieces of furniture in there and shake up any clutter that is threatening to become a permanent feature.

It’s a bit strange having all these little spaces appearing around the house. I even tidied the kitchen clutter corner today and put things where they belong.

Dilly very different BBQ to us, but the food sounds delicious!
We had 18 at our BBQ, unless I missed someone! We don't usually use paper plates (for every day), but I don't want my glass plates broken (not that I would have enough anyway!).
I also like the easy wins like in the living room, it's so motivating!

Scourgify empty spaces is exciting! It will make keeping on top of everything so much easier.

Back to work today for me, so no flying other than the very basics.

Tuesday is plan and play day.

Tuesday's mission is to spend 15 minutes getting rid of anything that doesn't belong in your living room. Sometimes we don't see things that have been set down as they blend in. Take pictures if you need to, they help us to see things we don't notice anymore.

Baby Step 26: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-26/
A reminder that you are not behind! Just jump right in where we are.

I'm back at work after a long weekend. My morning was all over the place with broken up routine. So I need to focus on that, with back to school near. Plus evening routine that will make the morning smoother. I did clean the sink and have my lunch ready, but not my clothes which were uniform, outside on the line.

I've not implemented an afternoon routine. My afternoons are different. I now work 3 set days. On those days DH is back before me and does dinner. The other 2 weekdays I should have an afternoon routine. Maybe an after school one and get DD involved, or an after lunch one where I get things done before the inevitable slump.... Then the weekend days are so variable... sometimes I work, sometimes we do days out, sometimes we're at home etc. do you all have an afternoon routine?

do you all have an afternoon routine?

I think it’s harder to work out an afternoon routine than a morning or nighttime one because it's harder to predict how the day will be by then.
My only definite one is preparing supper in advance as much as possible, but I'm retired and my DCs are grown up which makes that target a lot easier for me than if I was still working or looking after DCs.
Hope you find something that suits you.

We've agreed when he's back to work, I'm doing dinner Monday and Wednesdays (my non working days). He's the main cook in our household, and I've barely cooked anything, and I always do spaghetti Bolognese. So to begin with at least, dinner will need a lot of thought.

I dont have any routines. I'm just all over the place!

I want to try meal planning for teas mon-friday once I'm back at work