September Flylady: Fledglings inspired to make a fresh start at the beginning of a brand new term!

[mixedpeel]

Whether you're starting to build a new routine, stuck in a rut, or been around for years, join us on the monthly Flylady thread! Flylady has created a series of daily and weekly prompts to help anyone who finds it tricky to get or keep their house clean and tidy. She totally gets it if you feel overwhelmed or don't even know where to start - as do we! The best thing about Flylady is that you are never behind - just jump in at whatever point you are at, and do what you can.

This is a long running thread, but as a newbie myself I can confirm everyone is very friendly and all are welcome to join in. We spur each other on, but also commiserate when life gets in the way and we don't get as much done as we might have wanted to.

There are 5 zones that we will rotate through:
☀️Entryway, porch and dining room
☀️Bathroom & one other room
☀️Kitchen
☀️Master bedroom & master bathroom
☀️Living room
We usually link to the daily missions (jobs to do in whichever zone we're in) every day, but the new website doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I will keep trying, but they should update every day so you can click the link yourself to check. We will post the missions in the thread too so don't worry about missing anything. Most importantly, don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism!

Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - it's an excessive amount sent every day. I have taken one for the team but use a junk email address. I will check them periodically and report anything interesting / useful

Flylady also tries to help us get into habits so that eventually we do things without even having to think about them. She has 31 baby steps to gradually pick up (on the previous website, since the link isn't working on the new site yet): https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/

Daily focus: each day of the week has a different focus. It's not all jobs jobs jobs by the way.
Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh)
Tuesday: plan & play
Wednesday: anti-procrastination
Thursday: errand day
Friday: clean car & purse out day. It's also date night (with your significant other, or friends, or yourself!)
Saturday: family fun day
Sunday: renew your spirit

If you can, it's worth downloading the app (link on the flylady website), you can even have it send you notifications. You can also modify the tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle. There is a paid version and a free version, though the missions haven't been updating on the free app.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have, some posters here have been doing Flylady for a very long time, and others are just starting out. We may have other things to add that we have found works for us that could help you too!

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 😆
S&S: Swish & Swipe (wipe the bathroom sink & toilet)
LMS: lose/lost my shit
DNLMS: did not lose my shit
There are probably more, feel free to ask us to explain something!

@TidyHome well your username gives hope for us all! It’s good to know that you can indeed get into routines that keep things pretty much ticking over.

What have I done today? Mostly out at work, but I did tick off a job that’s been lurking on my mental list for weeks now: a proper wash of the downstairs loo floor, skirting boards and the loo itself. The room attracts those long skinny spiders so there were also more cobwebs than I realised. There is also a leak behind the toilet that DH says he’s been meaning to investigate, so all in all not really the best impression of our hospitality in what is the most likely toilet that visitors will use.

We had what accidentally turned into a slightly tetchy conversation about whether we should actually replace the whole toilet (it’s from when the previous owners did an extension in 1978…) because the leak is the latest in a long line of things that have gone wrong with it and if nothing else we definitely need a new seat and cistern. Anyway, I don’t recommend Friday evening at the end of a long working day for talking toilets. But at least the the floor is clean, eh?!

@mixedpeel I packed and posted that doll as I could tell a similar special story about all almost my kids toys and clothes. I found it discarded behind the chair in DS room. I just hope he doesn't ask for it.

My DD is very sweet about the adoption and was trying to give a few of her things to my sister for her new cousins but they were stopping by on the way to holiday so couldn't take anything. She's 8 and will love packing things up. Not sure if it's going to be a welcome to the family or Christmas box I'll send them. They don't live local. They're also not babies that they are adopting and the oldest one my sister says is very switched on. The main thing is not to overwhelm and they will come with their own things.

Flylady wise I've not done much. Cleaned the kitchen sink and will put on a lol to be ready for the morning.

So for Saturday 5th we have:

Babystep 5: banish negative thoughts https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/5/. So when a self-critical thought about yourself pops into your head (“oh I didn’t do x, y or z today), practice actively finding something positive (“but I did do a, b, c - oh, and d and e too!”) This is why the Ta Da lists can be really valuable to show yourself how much you’ve done. This step isn’t just about tasks though, Flylady is trying to help those of us who tend to be self-critical almost as a default to find some positive affirmations to shift our mindset. This won’t necessarily happen overnight as they can be very entrenched, but I can really see why she encourages it.

Saturday is Family Fun Day: no missions, no zones, do lovely things!

My first week back at work has been a struggle but I have managed to keep some things going. I did daily washing anyway but have been making an effort to put it away so I'm not left with about 5 loads of clean washing to sort at once, have been doing the swish and swipe and also been trying to be better at putting clothes out the night before which has helped. I have also cleared a couple of surfaces in my dining room and kept the hallway and kitchen clear.

I have slipped this week on the daily tasks. Whilst they are not quite right I need to choose a day for my lists and do a shopping list and book a click and collect or delivery and meal plan. I also need to write a to do list of things I am procrastinating about including listing things on marketplace and vinted. Overall though I'm feeling slightly more in control.

@Frumpyunicorn it sounds like you've been achieving a lot, especially for a first week back at work. Putting away the clean washing is where we fall down in our household. It's just so faffy.

I again woke up a lot in the night and I think I am coming down with a cold. I blame the return of all the students to work. All those extra germs flying about.

Got some bits I need to do today:
⭕️ food shop
⭕️ drop off at charity shop
⭕️ tip run
⭕️ clothes wash
⭕️ clean cat bowls
⭕️ cook roast
⭕️ message a decorator

I'm also hoping for some chill out time to read my book, do a little bit of cross-stitch, eat soup, maybe watch Practical Magic on Netflix tonight

Happy weekend!

I’ve had two busy days at work but have managed to keep on top of the laundry, sink, s&s and general tidiness. I’m really seeing a difference just with a week of getting back into flylady, and it was to lovely to go downstairs this morning and feel tidy. If someone turned up unannounced I wouldn’t be too embarrassed (apart from being in my dressing gown)

This morning I’ve set another LoL off, emptied the DW, wiped the kitchen benches, swept the kitchen floor and put the living room cushion covers back on after washing them yesterday. About to have a shower and DH is going to take the girls for a walk so I can do the downstairs home bleurgh. We have a family party this afternoon (not at ours!)

Hedgehog I completely relate to wanting to do it all at once. I used to start a general basic clean and the next thing I knew I was an hour into scrubbing the oven with the rest of the place looking worse than before I started! With flylady I follow the instructions so don’t get distracted, and know the chance to do the other jobs I spot will come round. Sometimes when I’m doing the home bleurgh if I spot something that’s annoying me and feel the urge to sort it (assuming it’ll take more than a minute) I add it to a list on my phone. The action of doing that seems to satisfy my easily distracted mind and I get back on with what I’m supposed to be doing without guilt.

Yesterday's tada was to take all the bagged up clothes to the Sally Army bin.

I've got three loads of clean laundry to put away, much as I love line drying in the sun, it doesn't accumulate as much when it's on the rack in my bedroom because I just wear it straight off there, bypassing the putting away stage.

@HedgehogNotes Cross stitcher here too, hi!

@CherryogDog Next to making the bed from scratch (I could never own a B&B) I think putting the washing away is the next biggest pain in the arris. Especially pairing socks. Gah! This is where I'm a bit conflicted with Flylady; I find it's much easier to put a way a smaller wash load, but I also think doing a less than full load is using the machine more, wearing it out faster, and a bit of a waste of detergent and water.

@Upsadiddles isn't it brilliant going down to a clean house!

This morning I had a moment of madness and decided to put the sewing machine away (it's in a drop in table) and get the knitting machine out. Cripes, the muck under the bed! Larry Grayson would have fainted. I haven't been able to get to it because of all the machine stuff bunged under there; dust bunnies wasn't in it, it was thick with layer upon layer of horrible choking dirt. Had another shower afterwards as I felt so filthy. I'm definitely going to go through the stuff and find a better way to store it all once I've got rid of Mount Yarnmore.

Pair of socks first, I think. Onwards!

Re: folding washing and putting away, I sort mine into people and category (e.g. DD, tshirts) and fold it neatly back into the washing basket while I'm watching TV in the evening, then it takes just a minute to pop it in each person's drawers the next morning.

I'm up to date, more or less. Ish. House isn't tidy on the surface but its not too bad underneath.

I sort laundry on our bed, 4 piles for 4 people plus one for things like flannels and microfibre cloths that I put in a basket to take back to kitchen and bathroom. It's one of those gardening wooden trug ones and sits at the top of the stairs in the evening to be filled with things that need to go down and downstairs during the day for things that need to come up. Then because it is 4 adults everyone just gets given their own pile to sort and put away (all three are prone to just leaving it all on the floor) and I sort, fold and put away my pile. We do at least a load every day.

Here is Flylady’s morning musing: https://flylady.net/morning-musing/actions-speak-louder-than-words

@PamelaColmansMustard @HedgehogNotes another cross stitcher / knitter / dressmaker / crafter here too! I have so much stuff that I am trying not to think about, some inherited from my grandmother; and I will inherit half my Mum's stash eventually too. I know it all needs dealing with / paring down at some point but I'm not ready to deal with it yet. It still all fits in one box (if you assume the house is a box 😬).

I have discovered this week just how out of practice I am at my morning and evening routines - bits of them work, but they are not nailed on yet. The one thing that is working really well is a 10pm reminder on my phone asking if the DW is on. DH always intends to put it on, but is not a natural completer/ finisher!

I have Achieved Things and am proud of my Ta Da list.
✅ Most of the morning routine
✅ Walked the dog with DH and took recycling into town at the same time
✅ Bought a new thread box (because my old thread box is now my ribbon box and my old ribbon box is now my washi tape box...)
✅ Seized the moment and did a proper hoover and carpet clean of my study (the dining room). It feels so much better.
✅ Caught up with the outdoor entrance jobs - swept the porch, shook out the door mat, wiped the front door, put an old fake tree in the front door pot because the actual tree there previously bit the dust in the heatwave. Only took 15 minutes!
✅ Sorted out the back door entrance too - swept up the sycamore twirlies that the council trees drop all over the hard standing, and cut back the lavender so we can actually use the path!
✅ Remembered to take the non-iron school shirts promptly out of the tumble dryer!

Now I am having a sit down and cup of tea before I rehang the hall curtains and wipe the handprints off the bannisters, then I am considering the Zone complete!

@GreenWillowAndSnowdrops you've had a busy one! I'm on a mish to get this stash - actually it's more like SABLE than stash - down to a manageable level. I have the cupbooard under the stairs, bit like Harry Potter, but it's for my sewing fabrics and other odds and ends and I really do need to either use it, or get rid. It's a hard choice. I had to smile at your comment about the house being a box because my husband said something very similar earlier, when I mentioned getting rid of the knitters due to lack of space and he said, "but that's what a house IS, it's somewhere to shove your stuff!" Knitters are staying. For now.

One sock done. It might only be a few ounces of yarn but it's one step towards tidy and declutter.

Just crocheting here, with a large yarn stash under my bed in plastic crates, i do have a sewing machine and small sewing stash but can’t remember when I last used any of it other than sew on the odd button (I remember making fabric masks early in the covid pandemic).

Morning routines done here plus a few “do it nows” involving kitchen spray and microfibre cloth - the low sun highlights every mucky fingerprint and coffee splash in our kitchen.

2 x LOL to come off the line shortly, it has been the perfect day for line drying.

DH managed to vacuum clean with one hand (Dyson stick vac) but couldn’t empty the cylinder

Family fun - well, DS has been at work, the rest of us just hanging out. I didn’t for my usual diary / coffee catch-up yesterday because DH was so late getting up for work that it was nearly 10 by the time I got home and I had a meeting at 11, went into town for lunch with DD at 1, haircut at 3 etc etc. So I took my diary and re-usable cup to Waitrose today, did a few bits of shopping and then sat at the picnic benches outside with their free coffee, phone, diary in the sunshine and that was rather nice.

Fab to have so many talented crafty people on the thread. @GreenWillowAndSnowdrops from something you said a couple of days ago do you also sew professionally? I am hopeless at sewing, watch the Sewing Bee in awe and envy! I have cross-stitched occasionally over the years, and have a cross stitch card I need to start. It’s for a friend’s 50th, and I got my maths wrong and bought it this time last year. Before I started it I realised it’s not until this year. So it was put to one side and now her actual 50th is mere weeks away so I ought to get cracking. I didn’t need glasses the last time I cross-stitched, and now have varifocals so I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to sensibly do at a time.

This ties in with Flylady as it features in one of my Ta Das today:

Dental hygienist appointment survived
Semi duty meet with friend for coffee
Shopping on way home ready for sis-in-law visit (arrives this evening)
Made vegan shortbread ditto
Hoovering of the bottom end of house where she will sleep
Which led to thorough hoovering of entire downstairs
Which in turn led to me finally clearing and dusting the entrance hall from zone 1, which I’d thought might have been parked until next time the zone rolled out
And lo! There I found the cross stitch card in a pile of Stuff! With instructions and all threads still in situ

Forgot another Ta Da

Cleaned out rabbit.

(Wish we still had the thread Kitchen Hamster, courtesy of @PeonyBulb )

I’ve been out all day and am still out actually for the evening too so just having a lovely time with family for a special occasion being celebrated all weekend. No tidying today whatsoever but will be mopping and hoovering early next week when visitors have left on Monday and reorganising my house.

Alas no more hamster but it is handy having the kitchen table back to use properly. I do miss her though she was very sweet.

Really like hearing about everyone's craft hobbies. I tried years ago to get into sewing but I'm not very precise or good with spacial awareness so struggled a bit. I now just do cross-stitch bookmark kits because I don't have to think very much about it and have a good chance of actually finishing the project because they are only small.

Today's ta das

✅️ food shop
✅️ dropped stuff at charity shop
✅️ got rid of a bunch of stuff at the tip
✅️ washed cat bowls
✅️ cooked roast
✅️ washed dishes
✅️ ran bath for DD

Bit annoyed with myself about the tip run. Point of going to the tip was to get rid of old duvet and mattress topper. DH and I got distracted with other things to purge. We filled the car to the brim and I only realised when we were half way there that I'd forgotten the stupid duvet and mattress topper! Will have to go back to the tip next week.

Feeling absolutely rotten now with a cold. Going to have a long hot bath and then get to bed. DH has promised to make me a hot toddy afterwards for medicinal purposes

Welcome to Sunday!

Babystep 6: tackle a hotspot https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/6/ A hotspot being any area in the house where Random Stuff seems to accumulate and breed all on its own. You’ll know where it is in your house. It might be on a worktop, the dining room table, one end of the sofa, literally any flat surface to be honest… pick one hotspot and tackle it just for 2 minutes. You’ll likely be amazed how much gets sorted in that short a time. This is another tool in your daily arsenal against household clutter and build-up - tackle hotspots 2 minutes at a time and gradually things will tip towards You in the You vs Clutter long game.

And still no zones or missions - Sunday is renew your spirit day. Do something for yourself, something you really get enjoyment and relaxation or stimulation from. Simple pleasures like a coffee in the garden, doing something creative or maybe you’re into more strenuous exercise but don’t get enough time in the week. This is your opportunity to feed your soul ready for the week ahead.

@HedgehogNotes argh the unwritten rules of the tip run. Much like when you nip in the shop for some milk and come out with everything but.

Phew, this thread is busy this month! I just got caught up, but it's late now, so I'm not going to be able to add to anything, except I wish I could sew or knit. I know my mum has tried to teach me how to knit, but to no avail. One of these days I'll actually give it a go!

Today (well yesterday for you lot), was DSs birthday. He's now 17! We had a BBQ for him, per his request, and everyone came who was invited, except for one of his friends.
I have managed to get all of the dishes either washed or in the DW, leaving nothing to be cleaned tomorrow. That's unheard of for me (after a BBQ anyway).
I also ran the stick vacuum around and mopped, once everyone had left.

Well, it's definitely bedtime as I'm falling asleep! I might be able to add more ta das from today, tomorrow.

Happy birthday to your DS, @HazelNotHungryLC ! I can't believe he's 17 now, where has the time gone? Well done on getting all the clearing up done on the day, that's the worst part of celebrating IMO. DH and I often refer back to the film Apollo 13 at these points - "I can't deal with cleaning up, let's sell the house"! 🤣🤣.

@mixedpeel I'm so glad you found you found your cross stitch! I can now imagine you stitching like the clappers, with a thin plume of smoke emerging from your needle as it flies in and out of the aida...

I sew sort of semi-professionally. When my DC were small, I had a small business for a period doing alterations for people, as it turns out my Mum was right, and no-one learns boring, technical, sewing anymore. I still do that sort of thing, for money, for people I know well, or for free for close family. I don't design, or pull ideas out of my head, for anyone except me and my immediate household, though!

I'm not Capital-C-Creative like many people on Sewing Bee, or that you see online these days; but I do have a good grasp of the geometry involved in making 2D bolts of fabric fit 3D people, and good baseline dressmaking skills. This is a curse in itself, because it makes me a really tedious clothes-shopper - I put so many things back because "those buttonholes are unravelling / that seam is twisting / it's just what I want as long as I reset the sleeves, take up the shoulders, lift the waist and shorten it six inches!" 🤣. DH and the DC refer to it as my "I could make it at home, with a small aubergine" tendency (now that dates me!).

@HedgehogNotes sorry you forgot the principal thing to get to the tip, and are feeling ill. Hope you are better today.

Today is the first proper Sunday-before-school-on-Monday for a very long time in this house. I am hoping routines will carry me through the process. I shall also be renewing my spirit while the boys watch the F1, by drumming. I decided a year ago that if I didn't learn now, I never would (two of my DSs learned to drum, and one still does) and I love it.

Hope everyone has a peaceful and renewing day!

Here is Flylady’s morning musing: https://flylady.net/morning-musing/we-all-love-presents

@GreenWillowAndSnowdrops I'd love to learn to drum! I'm easing myself in on a cajon.
I met a man last week who had air drums and I'm tempted to treat myself.

I've had two nights of really good sleep, touch wood I think I'm over whatever was making me feel so grotty. Going out to a little country fair today and hopefully back on the steps tomorrow.

I'm in awe of drumers! Doing one thing with one hand, a separate thing with other hand, then your foot is doing stiff too. I don't get how people do it at all! I can't even clap in time.

I've done church this morning and a nice lunch out with my parents. Just got home and have about an hour before I need to take DD to a birthday party.

After that I am planning on doing as little as possible. Still got this cold and slept badly again last night. Am hoping I can just lie on the sofa, under a blsnket with the cat all evening. Thanks to this group and flylady the house is actually not in too bad a shape so don't feel bad about taking today completely off