🍁 Flylady November — Slow Days, Warm Drinks, and Shiny Sinks (title edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

[Alwayslearning25]

Well, here we are — darker evenings, the smell of woodsmoke in the air, and that slightly panicky feeling that Christmas is somehow next month. But fear not, lovely Flyladies — we’ve got this (mostly).

This thread is our little corner of calm amongst the chaos — a place to cheer each other on, share small wins, and occasionally moan about the state of the laundry mountain. Whether you’re shining your sink for the first time or just trying to keep the kitchen table visible for more than an hour, you’re in good company.

The Flylady system is all about baby steps — 15 minutes at a time, routines that mostly stick, and being kind to ourselves when life happens (because it always does). Pop in, post your list, or just lurk with a cuppa — everyone’s welcome.
Let’s make November about cosy corners, tidy-ish rooms, and gentle progress — before December sweeps in with tinsel and mince pies.
Kettle’s on. Who’s flying today? ☕🕯️🧺

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!
Zones:

1. Entryway, porch and dining room
2. Kitchen
3. Bathroom and one other room
4. Master bedroom
5. Living room

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. Well, they should but there is some technical difficulties on their end while they update the website. You can also check out the Facebook page Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/ Baby Steps: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

Cherry I hope that gets sorted soon. It could be so bad if the wrong meds end up in the wrong hands!

timoteigirl I don't mind adding the Christmas missions. It keeps it in the forefront of my mind!

Well today I managed to do 3 LOLs, including my sheets. I did do a quick S&S of both bathrooms, but not the deep clean that they need.
I'm going to attempt going back to work tomorrow. We'll see how I get on.

Well, I can’t even get any sense out of the FL FB page let alone the website, the daily comment hasn’t appeared on the app yet either.

So I am going to guess that we are in Zone 2 - the kitchen.

This is the detailed list for the kitchen. If you have decluttered you are welcome to move onto any of the tasks here. I am going to suggest that for a mission today we scrub the counters properly, moving any small appliances, fruit bowls or whatever http://www.flylady.net/d/zones/detailed-cleaning-zone-2/

The babystep today is dealing with negative voices https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-5/

It’s easy to beat ourselves up but remember, you are doing a good job, even by just showing up to the thread you have good intentions and that is a positive.

I find it easy to list all the things I haven’t done but forget what I have done and posting here is a good way to pat oneself on the back.

So far today:
Fed cats ✅
Removed a slug from the kitchen floor 🤮✅
Got washing out of dryer and put last night’s lot in✅
Made my packed lunch ✅
Spent half an hour faffing about with flylady 🙄

Today is Wednesday, anti-procrastination day, is there a job you’ve been putting off? I have one at work, a report I need to finish. Going to try and get that done today, the deadline isn’t for ages but if I don’t do this part other parts of the project might fall behind.

@EnchantingDecoration yuck slugs! I get them in the dog room from time to time.
Yes you're right on the thinking about what you have done.
I was looking through my photo gallery yesterday, and found a "before" shot of my bedroom, and felt really good about how much I've done in there.
It does need a tidy up because I've been sorting downstairs everything that belongs upstairs has been plonked in my room because there's loads of space there.
But it's probably 10 minutes to put it all away.
I'm planning another wardrobe cull, I'm piling on weight, so anything that doesn't fit, unless it's something expensive to replace, will be in the charity pile.
Hopefully when my house is in order I'll have the mindset to work on myself, and lose enough weight to wear the more expensive clothes I've stashed under the bed.

Today I'm going to clean my fridge and tidy the freezer, I found several half used packs of my veggie sausages when I was looking for something to eat, plus 3 bags of brussels sprouts, all opened.

I have slugs too. I have no idea how they get in. Yesterday I found two in the kitchen - big Slimy beasties.

so far today, my Kitchen based Fly lady activity includes
Emptying the washing machine and hanging up the laundry
Putting on another load
Putting that load in the tumble dryer.
I have sorted through a pile of random bits of paper and found things from 2019 - go me! I have chosen not to look at the other giant piles of paper around.

last night, While shining my sink, I managed to drop a bottle of concentrated surface cleaner on the floor. I ended up mopping the floor using the concentrated Surface cleaner. Then I realised the entire floor was sticky so my DH and I Had to re-mop the floor again. Proof again that no good deed goes unpunished.

We got the occasional slug inside our old house. Fortunately not in this house. We did have rats in the attic a few years ago though. Once gone we plugged any little holes with wire wool. We think they came from our semi detached neighbour. First we saw them in our garden running from their unkept garden and our dog got through the fence chasing them a couple of times.

We have an allotment and slugs often hitch a ride in with the veg. I like to scoop them onto a spoon and fling them into the back garden.

My fridge needs a clean and im behind with the washing. I've got two bonfire parties at the weekend and a houseguest! I'm going to achieve a lot - tomorrow.

I have an allotment too but the slugs appear here even when I haven't been up to the plot all week, like now. I think they come under the back door, it is wooden and the threshold is also wood and a bit damp. I did stick some copper tape along it but it doesn’t stay put very well. Unfortunately the cat bowls have to go just inside the door and I think that probably attracts them in.

My fridge needs a clean too, and a good tidy up, With DS living at home again after uni and wanting to do at least some of his own shopping and cooking it gets very full, DD is back this week too and doing the same. I didn’t do the counters yet either, maybe tomorrow. I have shined the sink though.

Tada!
Shined sink ✅
Sorted clean laundry and put all mine away✅
De-pooped litter trays✅
Swish and swipe bathroom✅
Work 💻
Picked up both DCs from different places✅
Top up food shop - mainly fruit✅
Dinner - ready made quiche and salad✅
Went to pub with friend 🍷

Oops, I missed a day of the Christmas missions 🤦‍♀️
Here's Wednesday & Thursday missions:
🎄 place any online or catalogue (does anyone actually make them anymore?!) orders that you have been looking at. Don't put it off and wait till the last minute. I'm actually ignoring this one, I'm waiting for the black Friday sales! 🤫
🎄 check all of your supplies as well as menus etc. Add anything to a shopping list and start working on buying them. Get them now before things run out, especially if they're seasonal.

I went to work today. I probably should have stayed at home, but I've been gradually feeling more alive the past few hours. No flying for me.

Thankfully, we don't have any issues with slugs in the house here, just with the vegetables in the garden 🤬
I do not envy any of you having that problem.

No slugs this morning, phew.

Thursday is Errand Day, I tend to leave mine till Friday which is my day off. I am going to start checking the Christmas kitchen supplies, I want to make a cake and pudding and we have got quite a lot of the ingredients I want to make sure nothing is missed. Also I am planning to make some pumpkins spice mix and my stocks of some of the spices are low. I also want to buy Christmas cards this week, I don’t send as many as I used to but it is creeping up and I’ll be behind before I know it.

Babystep 6 is Hot Spots. IMO this is one of best babysteps, if you aren’t familiar it is those places where clutter gets dumped but can be cleared easily if you can spare a minute or two, it makes a big difference to the appearance of a room. I am fighting a losing battle with them at the moment though.

https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-6/?

Mission - haven’t found it yet but I’ve left my phone upstairs, I will check the app and see what I can find. If I can’t find anything I’d suggest the fridge clear out. Doesn’t have to be the entire thing emptied and cleaned, just chuck out any expired stuff or empty packets <gives her family the side-eye> and tidy it up.

Morning, this thread just popped up and I think it's just what I need.
I've been very ill for over a year. My DH and adult DD have kept up with basics but as I'm recovering and able to do more in noticing more that needs doing, like a proper deep clean but I don't have it in me for that yet.

Some sort of cleaning and sorting routine would be good though to ease me into it.

(The house isn't filthy or unhygienic, it's just pretty dusty and cluttered.)

Ok, so having checked the app it turns out that yesterday was clear the fridge (couldn’t see the comment yesterday) and today is clear out the drawer where you keep cling film, foil etc

@Noshadelamp welcome, yes this system is designed to do exactly that. Just a warning, the Flylady website is somewhat broken, as is the app, do not be tempted to sign up for anything paid for. We are managing here thanks to someone on the app comments who posts daily updates, also because a lot of the same things repeat every month and those pages are still OK on the website. There are lots of posters here who have caring responsibilities, health issues, neurodivergency in the family etc and just find it all a bit much without support.

@Noshadelamp hope you're on the mend. I'm in a similar position having been ill for ages, so I know how it feels!

I had a rubbish day yesterday, trying to trace my missing meds. Waiting for someone to answer the phone, I went to the loo, brushed my teeth, trimmed my hair, got dressed and put a LOL on. No exaggeration.
Then 11 phone calls speaking to different BT guides trying to sort my tv box out, as the engineer on Monday hadn't been able to fix it. It's still not sorted.
Then when I sat down to watch on catch up the Internet crashed.
TaDas 3 lols. Washed the big pots.
Hopefully I'll clean the fridge today!

Morning, well I got my foil etc drawer done yesterday bit it is a small drawer and no room for anything except the various rolls so not much clutter. Fridge is still on my list though.

Today's mission is to check under the sink, get rid of anything you never use, is there anything you need to add to
your shopping list.

Friday is date night (no plans here) also the day for cleaning out your bag and car.

Babystep 7 - as part of your bedtime routines, put out your clothes for the next day. I don't always do this but do try to on weeknights, one less thing to think about in the morning, especially if I have to dress smarter than usual.
https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-7/

I made my Christmas cake today woo hoo!🎉

I had a quick tidy of a drawer yesterday and have checked the foil sitch!

F

Oops! Posted by accident.

Fell hard off the wagon with a lot of things breaking down. There’s still much to do, and this weekend will
be catch up in the kitchen and utility. Fridge and drawers are top of the list, also school uniforms.

Welcome back @Scourgify

Well done on the cake @Doyathinkhesaurus I hot my cake and pudding recipes out today and checked what ingredients I need, will hopefully get to the shop for them tomorrow.

Tada!
Fridge, finally, a proper clear out and clean✅
Cupboard where we keep things in tall bottles decluttered (was checking for brandy for aforementioned cake) and found various bottles of cordial and booze with just dregs in✅
All kitchen counters wiped including moving everything✅
Another LOL done, dried and out away✅

Today's TaDas so far.
Took the 4 bags of clothes that have been in my hallway for months over to the Sally Army bin across the road.
However, it was full and my bag jammed in the hopper thing. I tried to get it back out but the bag tore, and I had to phone up DP to help me as he's tall enough to reach into the bin.
So not really a TaDa 😅
Advertised some stuff on a freebie Facebook site.
Almost cleared my dining room table hotspot.
Had a wardrobe cull, so another 2 1|2 bags for charity.
Finally got space in my wardrobe for all my non horsey/doggy coats.
Run out of steam so having a break.
DP is looking after the animals all day so I can stay in and get stuff done.

Christmas missions:
Friday:
🎄check your budget. Again. Really??
Saturday:
🎄 yep, truly broken. It is still stuck on the same budget mission.

What I'm doing right now is planning on the Christmas party we always host. I'm saving recipes on Pinterest, thinking about the games etc. I haven't actually done anything for it yet, I'm just planning ahead in my mind.

The other thing I need to do this weekend is create a post on fb for my truffles and caramels. I plan on selling some for Thanksgiving (host/ hostess/ thank you gifts). I also need to start making some and freezing them so I'm ahead! I am currently on a 4 day weekend though, so I have more time than normal.

Before that, we have some chairs/ couches to move around for ILs.
I really need to get dressed and get moving!

Tadas!
Half the stuff I put on the Facebook free site has gone.
Dining room clear except for remaining charity stuff.
Freezer sorted.

Todos
Tidy/clean fridge.
Further wardrobe cull.
Organise my study/music room, as everything that was scattered round the house that belongs there has been dumped in there in boxes.
Tidy my indoor horse cupboard.
AND THAT WILL BE MY DECLUTTERING FINISHED 💥💪🎂🎉

Hi all, DS birthday today it's been nice. I've not read any comments...Ive been not quite feeling myself and very forgetful so I'll take a break until Wednesday but if I'm feeling up to it could continue the month from there....

Hope you're OK @Alwayslearning25

Ta das:
🍁 moved chairs for ILs
🍁 swept leaves from carport, DH used the leaf vacuum to pick them up
🍁 walked down the street to buy some raffle tickets
🍁 took Jack down, the last of the Halloween decorations
🍁 cooked roast beef, yorkshire puddings and roast veg for dinner (ILs came for dinner)
🍁 discussed Thanksgiving with ILs - wrote a list of food I'm making
🍁 rotated DW
🍁 handwashed dishes x2
🍁 wiped countertops down multiple times
🍁 mopped floor in kitchen & dining room