It’s June - come and join the Fledgling Flyladies

[ElegantlyDecluttering]

Welcome to the latest in the long running Fledgling Flylady threads, for those new to the system, Flylady is a US based website / app system based on a monthly rotation around the rooms of the house. It’s well established, these threads have been going for many many years, but all are welcome, we love having new Fledglings on board.

Well, May ended with a heatwave for many of us, I know my housework took a bit of a dip last week. But back to normal now as we head into June. A big thank you to Hazel for leading us through May

A few pointers: Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - I took one for the team and signed up when the website was down last year, you get about 4 a day - you have been warned! 😂

There are Baby Steps for starting out, add one thing at a time to start good habits and routines. Try not to do too much at once, you don't want to get overwhelmed.

There are 5 zones that we will rotate through each month, 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. I will explain these further as we come across them.
Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh)
Tuesday: plan & play
Wednesday: anti-procrastination
Thursday: errand day
Friday: clean car & purse (handbag) out. It's also date night (with your significant other, or friends, or yourself!)
Saturday: family fun day - no missions
Sunday: renew your spirit - no missions

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.

Daily missions: for the zone we are in.https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission

Baby steps: it's not technically flylady, but they're still working on the new site. https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/

Oh no @CherryogDogwhat a palaver for you!

hopefully everything is lovely and clean now though!

Hello everyone. Thanks to @ElegantlyDecluttering for pointing me in this much needed direction. Due to the rain, today, I intend to Make A Start. On what, I am not sure. Been promising myself to clean the car for two years..

I am a single parent with Autism and ADHD. DD and I are collectors of many things / hoarders, and I have a long term chronic health condition. I have, however, spent this year so far building up my strength and stamina by walking on the beach each day and am feeling fitter than I have in a long time.

So I am going to read the links and make a start. The most difficult thing for me is going to be sticking to a zone. I have the usual ADHD problem of wandering about starting 5 different jobs and finishing none of them!

I did a lot of errands yesterday and I think it's set to rain all day so it definitely needs to be an indoors focused sort of dsy.

Welcome @RainbowZebraWarrior many on these threads face challenges with organisation, concentration etc.

Sorry I’m late today, have had a much needed mini lie-in.

We are still in Zone 2, the kitchen and our mission is to declutter the drawers with plastic bags and foil etc in https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission

Babystep 11 is to write down some inspirational quotes https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/11/

It’s easy to not bother with babysteps like this and stick to the practical ones, but actually the psychological ones are what keep you moving and Flylady does have some good ones, see the link. I personally like “you are never behind”.

Also, routines, the babystep pages show how we should be building our daily routines, morning, afternoon and evening

Thursday is Errand Day, it is forecast to rain all day here too but I might pop into town later for a few bits and I need to order a repeat prescription.

I like that. "You are never behind"

I read the daily link early this AM and felt the need to strike while the iron was hot. I'd had the kitchen spray next to the hob for two days. I had even sprayed it on the hob twice (but still not cleaned it) so I got up and made a cuppa, took the pan stands off and the gas cover thingies, they all went in the dishwasher (it's a range, so 8 burners) and I thought Sod it, and emptied the big heavy untensil holder. That all went in the DW too. Cleaned the actual hob while the DW was at work, and everything was all clean and back on by 7.30am. I have since done the oven, toaster, benches and Pippidy Pong.

I have to add, that early AM is my time of day. It's when I am at my best. So if owt is ever going to get done, this is my time. If nowt else gets done for the rest of the week, then I will still be pleased.

Well done @RainbowZebraWarrior that’s a great start. I had a slow start yesterday then my plans got derailed by DD needing a lift somewhere (2.5 hour round trip!) but it was nice having the time in the car talking to her.

I did manage my plastic bag etc drawer, I collected up all the used foil dishes etc and they will be going to the tip today along with a lot of other bits and bobs.

Friday is clean out your car and bag day. My car has stayed clean - since DS took over my old one and I got another one I have been parking down the road instead of on the drive where I can pop in and out eaily with things so I have implemented a car bag system - it’s a hessian shopper which stands in the hall and I put anything I need to take to the car in it and take it with me, then put everything I need to bring back to the house to come back, it is working well. I accidentally decluttered my handbag by dropping it yesterday and everything fell out.

Friday then is also Date Night in Flylady land, that could be with a partner or other family member or just by yourself, but it means take a bit of time out and relax, Friday night isn’t the time for chores.

Our mission is to sort out under the sink, do we need to restock anything, are there empties to throw away - I already know mine is a mess from earlier in the week

https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission

Babystep 12 is tackling digital clutter - emails, photos, tidying up files, spend 15 minutes on this, it can make a big difference. I tend to keep an eye on emails through the week then declutter once a week and catch any I missed or that weren’t urgent and add them to my to do list if necessary. Photos OTOH are well out of control.

https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/12/

Cherry your story sounds like a nightmare! Rotten fish smell 🤮
I bet everything sparkles now!

Welcome @RainbowZebraWarrior 👋
You had a great start already! Knowing when you can get the most work done is half the battle won!

ED the car bag idea is genius!

Morning all.

I inadvertently managed to clear some of the car yesterday as I had to sort the back seat due to taking my Dad to an appointment at the same time as school run.

For various reasons, I was irritated yesterday. I therefore, in a fit of frustration, just tipped my handbag - a crap collecting tote - onto the kitchen floor. Got the job done, anyway. (Three separate tubs of 'snack' mix, anyone?) I also chucked out my many trolley tokens. I don't use them and they don't seem to work when I occasionally try anyway.

I've just read about your fish dumping incident @CherryogDog That's crazy. Of all the things for a dog to hide, smelly, slowly defrosting fish is the worst. Hope the smell has gone after washing the beds.

Morning, both kids decided to go with my husband grosery shopping. He often offers and they don't want to go...I should use this time, I've just doom scrolled so far. I will:
Get myself ready for the day
Hoover
Sweep kitchen floor
Put away laundry
Swish and swipe.

My cars pretty gross, but I'll leave that for now...

Happy weekend everyone 🩷

I am super tired and achey this weekend! DC are tired too so we have skipped Saturday AM activities. Youngest DC is still wearing pyjamas and I'm not arguing.

Ta da
🩷 cat fed & watered
❤️ dc fed & watered
🩷 bin out
❤️ bin cleaned
🩷 cat litter changed
❤️ some big recycling boxes shredded and in bin
🩷 pots washed
❤️ work tops tidy and wiped down
🩷 dry laundry sorted and to correct room
❤️ washer & dryer on
🩷 shoe cupboard tidied
❤️ coats and bags all away
🩷 clutter from hall removed

Great list @THATsummergirlera pretty hearts ❤️

@Alwaysgrowing it was always tempting to do online supermarket shopping when my DCs were little but it is really good for them to actually go themselves. I remember how proud I was the first time I gave my two a list and a trolley and told them to come and find me in the cafe when it was time to pay. Of course they had picked all the premium brand things 🤦‍♀️.

@CherryogDog sorry, I meant to comment on Fishgate too, just awful, what do these couriers think they are playing at when they do things like that? I guess there is no comeback on them,

@RainbowZebraWarrior having accidentally decluttered my bag onto the floor yesterday I just shoved everything back in, but decided last night to do the job properly as it is a small bag and gets overcrowded, much better now.

Saturday is Family Fun Day. We don’t tend to do things together on a Saturday, DS works, DD volunteers when she’s here, I do Parkrun and DH does archery, then we all kind of do our own things for the afternoon too. I’ve been food shopping and am just trying to get it all into the fridge but I really want to go and chill in the garden. We are piling through the laundry while the sun shines (bedding, towels and all DD’s uni stuff).

Rainbow well done for tackling both your car and bag yesterday! Even if they were done through irritation - they are done now!
I still need to do both car and bag..

Always did you manage to get the things done you wanted to while you had the house to yourself?

THAT for being tired and achy you have got a lot done today!

Ta das:
☕️ dogs fed (well, Coco. Dobby didn't want to eat, but he's weird like that - doesn't always want to eat)
☕️ Coco's meds done
☕️ morning skincare done
☕️ makeup on
☕️ dressed (kind of, lounging clothes for now)
☕️ airing the house out upstairs (DS is still sleeping so basement is still closed up, for now)

To dos:
📌 2nd cup of coffee (very important! 😂)
📌 Coco to vet for her monthly injection (joint meds, have worn off already so she's favouring her bad leg)
📌 bathe dogs (they're stinky!)
📌 wash dog beds & blankets (they're spoiled and have multiple)
📌 Hopefully get to wash DSs sheets also

⚠️ TMI and grossness alert ⚠️ read ahead at your own risk..

I'm dreading walking into DSs room in the morning when I'm leaving for work (I always pop in and say goodbye, with a kiss on the head). He's a teenage boy, doing teenage boy things, but seems to be depositing the evidence into the dogs blanket on his bed 🤮
The smell hits me when I open his door.. I just about gagged yesterday morning when walking in, so bad.
I told DH last night that he needs to have a word.. I don't think he wants to 😂
DH said he smelled it too, but didn't know what it was, thought it was morning breath.. 🙄
He told me he didn't know what to say to him. I told him to give him a roll of paper towels or something, throw it away, as mum doesn't want to smell it, or come across it when washing the dogs blankets.
If it came directly from me, DS will be absolutely mortified! But I just can't handle it anymore!

Anyway, the joys of having a teenage boy I guess?!

Oh bloody hell Hazel that is grim! How old is DS? This isn't something I've experienced with my oldest two (17 & 18)

Adding to the list -

🩷 hoovered landing
❤️ swept stairs and hall
🩷 more laundry - washed / dried / sorted

I did all that list. 🎆Had a half hour rest then we went out to a church fete. But DH had lots of garden jobs so it was just me and It was ok, but stressful as I was following kids about DS was overtired. He didn't nap. I got home shouted at people as I really needed to pee. Then put a film on and lay down to nap. Ds didn't nap on me so when DH popped in he went out and I fell straight to sleep for an hour so. But I've not drunk enough and my headaches back so I've moved to bed with a bottle of water.

@ElegantlyDecluttering that's sweet. My eldest got so much out of grocery shopping but my youngest was a nightmare for me. He was little and a crawler rather than a sitter so always was too small really for the trolley seats. Also a nightmare getting out of and strap in summer clothes because he was small so the lap belts just pointless. One time actually got his leg stuck in a trolley because he turned around to climb onto the tills which I was doing the self checkout. My husband does the shopping, if it was me I'd do online.

Oh golly @BloomingHazel that's definitely a blue job! Get him a penis beaker. I guess that isn't on Flylady's detailed cleaning list. I must admit I rarely go in my DS's room, it is a pit.

@Alwaysgrowing I used to take DS to the supermarket as an infant but once DD came along (23 month gap) it all got too hard and we stopped again till they were old enough to walk round sensibly. It was a lot of effort. I remember the time I thought it might be fun to get a scanner and let them scan the barcodes as we went round. I DO NOT recommend this, we ended up having to have an entire trolley re-scan, I was traumatised for a long time after that. Hope the headache shifts soon.

I ended up having a total declutter of the fridge. There were a rather large number of virtually empty jars, duplicates etc. So it was easy to get all the shopping in after that.

Oh Lordy @BloomingHazel No advice here, as I only have a teen girl, but sending hugs and hoping your DH is able to have a word.

Lol at Penis Beaker @ElegantlyDecluttering

We have had a relatively calm day. Me and DD went to town and got the bits she needed. Watched a film, then have had nice dinners (separate as she is veggie, and I live mostly on chicken)

I live near Newcastle city centre though, and it was swarming with crazy loud hen and stag parties. The perils of having a reputation as a party city.

Have managed to keep on top of the kitchen, feed the cat (and remember to clean his bowl)

We are watching old Taskmaster episodes again tonight. Something DD has just gotten into recently. I will take that for a gentle Saturday night. I must put my 'To Do' things in my phone diary though. Everything goes to pot if I don't

THAT he's 16, almost 17. You're lucky!
ED it's bad enough that I have been considering not saying goodbye to him when I leave, but then I feel guilty. However, I usually have to get Dobby from his room, as DH wants him back in bed with him for the few minutes I'm gone, before he gets up. He loves that dog!

Always it sounds like you need to practise the baby step of drinking water! I actually try to drink a full glass every hour, on the hour, on my days off (I'm better about drinking my water at work). Although by about 1-2pm I'm not feeling as thirsty. I feel like it helps me.

Ta das:
🐶 stripped DSs bed (washed in a hot wash!)
🐶 aired out the basement
🐶 LOLs x5
🐶 Coco to vet
🐶 emptied bins
🐶 vacuumed hard floors
🐶 S&S in main bathroom
🐶 switched handbags
🐶 checked the balance on all gift cards I have

We just arrived at the next big town to do some shopping, nothing too exciting though. DH was driving so that's when I switched my bags over!

Just joined 👋 Hi everyone 😊

Just reading all the posts and trying to catch up. I did Flylady about 10 years ago but have let things slip. House isn’t too bad, but I like the routine element and would love to have a system that I can keep on top of.

Hi @LittleBlackDress the website may have changed but the system hasn't so hopefully you can jump back in.

Welcome @LittleBlackDress 👋

ED I didn't even think of a penis breaker! 😂

Oh, I wanted to say sorry to @LittleBlackDress for joining the thread at this time. I may have brought it down a few notches just before you joined!

Lol! Might need one for my DS in due course 🤣😂

For your sake, I really hope not! 😂

More ta das from yesterday:
🐶 used up gift card balances
🐶 washed dog beds & blankets
🐶 got some caramels packaged and given to FIL
🐶 painted my nails
🐶 handwashed dishes
🐶 rotated DW

Ta das so far today:
🦋 1st LoL in washer
🦋 emptied package that arrived yesterday
🦋 1st cup of coffee drank

To dos:
☕️ 2nd cup of coffee (v. Important! )
☕️ make more caramels
☕️ meal planning
☕️ grocery shopping
☕️ more laundry (including stuff from the camper)
☕️ hard boil eggs
☕️ maybe finish planting my flowers (yes, there are still some I haven't planted yet!)

I should be able to add some ta das later today!

Todays list

🩷 2 x LOL
❤️ top up shop
🩷 Ordered tesco for tomorrow
❤️ started writing party invites
🩷 swept & mopped hall
❤️ started washing outdoor cushions
🩷 washing on / off line
❤️ Got rid of smallest dcs recycling hoarding (anyone else's kid bring 6 yogurt pots home from school in a week and insist they are SOOO important)
🩷 living room window sill clear and clean
❤️ all living room toys sorted back to right places
🩷 sofas pulled out and cleaned under
❤️ Living room swept and mopped
🩷 all the random socks chucked for wash
❤️ looked at school hols childcare

Lovely lists! I have been doing stuff but my mind has gone blank <sends self to the naughty corner> I think I did most of the kitchen missions last week and we have laundered absolutely everything to take advantage of the weather, including all DD’s uni bedding etc.

Tomorrow we weill be moving into Zone 3 the main bathroom and one other room. We only have one bathroom and DH has made a good start by replacing the toilet fill valve yesterday, it was flushing OK but taking 15 mins to refill again which isn’t ideal. I decluttered it completely a few months ago which has made a big difference but the shelves are starting to look crowded again.