Fledgling flyers October 2009

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Everyone welcome!

Here you can, for one month:

• repeat or start baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering

As we are coverning more ground, to avoid confusion, I'll be posting links early in the morning on the relevant day.

Good luck!

Walkthedinosaur I meal plan for Monday thru Friday on a Sunday night and do the foodshop on a Monday morning. For Saturday and Sunday DH and I chat about it on a Friday eve and then go to nice butchers on Saturday morning. This works well but doesn't happen every week. When I do it I think my food bills are cheaper and my fridge is more organise.

Our fave weekday meals:

Chicken or sausage risotto
Sausage casserole
Pork chops in piri piri spices
Lasagne
shepherds pie
beef casserole
chilli
baked potatoes
fish pie

I'm thinking about starting a routine of having a roast on Friday evening when we all have time to sit down together and the cleaning up might be more manageable. Might be more time to go out and do other family things on a Sunday then.

I nearly always make everything from scratch - don't really buy ready meals and I'm currently weaning the baby so I try to cook things that I know he'll be able to swallow (8 months and no teeth!)

I'll be well into a bottle of red by 9pm!

OM I'm taking off my wonderwoman cape and getting an early night

Did well this morning but run out of steam now so just going to do dishwasher and sink and put off the rest until tomorrow when I've got lots more time and some more energy!

Been to the virtual off-licence and got red, white and rose so something for everyone. Corks will pop at 9 so get those glasses ready!

So so busy on here...again. Wish I had a speech computer so I could just do my post as I read all yours.

Am going to try and do some of this by memory so will probably get some of you muddled!

Feel like I've got on top of things a bit today. Actually did ALL the 'kitchen zone' Yey.

I did skive a bit when DS was asleep this afternoon as we were in the city getting Sunday's meat from the market so I went for a coffee

School shoes for a 14 year old - scary!! Did you both survive!

PA pmsl at cat with mouse and your DD's on chairs. Also every time you say 7x sandwiches I go - phew.

Someone did a really good explanation of room rescue and decluttering last month for those of you who were asking - descriptions of piano music and a pile of cables in the corner (just to jog the memory of the person who did it) It made it totally clear to me.

I do meals from Weds to Tues as shop on Weds morning. Tend to have a roast on Sundays and then eek it out on Monday and Tues (cold with jackets or chicken in cream and mustard or chicken curry) Also big fan of chillis and pasta sauce and do a big one and freeze. Big midweek favourite is smoked haddock either poached in milk or done in oven.
Have done a meal list for years so it is one part of flylady that comes naturally - couldn't shop without one.
When I feel motivated (like now) I hit my recipe books and try and do one new meal a week to see if I can find any favourites.

Pushmepullyou Sympathise on the sleepless night - and yes PA why don't babies 'get' duvet days - they need it as much as we do. Also glad to see I'm not the only one who goes to 2 supermarkets to do shop.

om Love that we put things like 'coffee with friend' (you) or 'baby yoga' (me) on list as if they are a chore to be crossed off. 'Scraping the barrel' No?

More food news - First time I've made homemade breaded chicken strips for us tonight and DS seemed to approve.

Oh jees - i can run on.

HAG poached haddock in milk - that brings back so many memories of tea at my grandma's when I was little. She made us eat it with bread and butter and it was called "finny haddock" have to say though, I hated it. Hadn't thought of it in years until I read it in your post. She also made us eat tripe and onions and prunes and custard and tapioca - I can't eat any of them now (and to be honest I used to gag on them in those days).

OK I'm not the most adventurous of cooks and tend to stay with old faithfuls like mince, mince and more mince so I need some recipes of you lot OM sticky ribs and risotto with tomato and bacon, tell me how to do it, nad frazzled74 how do you do your lemon buttery sauce.

Any more cheap simple family recipes gratefully received, we generally eat the same things so a little bit of variety won't go amiss. Nothing with sausages though, French sausages are mank I can't even eat them in a caserole.

I've done my menu for next week, is it wrong of me to serve the same thing two days in a row? The DC's like them and because I make large portions they've come to expect that they're going to have hot chicken pie one day, but the next day will be cold chicken pie, in fact DS2 stops anybody having seconds on day one because he wants it cold on day 2. He's a strange kind of boy.

They're in bed now so I might hit that wine a bit earlier. Happy weekend all!

DWM - I'll be there at 9!! Munchies in hand, too!

HAGiraffe - You can't be called HAG, its wrong!! (unless you are one of course )I think you and OM put those things on your list to make your list look longer than everyone elses. As long as you don't start putting - must go to the toiet, will brush my hair, will do my teeth and must not forget to apply deodorant.
And yes, every morning I go "PHEW" afer doing all the sandwiches! I did go through a phase of trying to do them on a sunday evening and freezing them for the week, but firstly the freezer was full of them and nothing else could fit in and secondly 35 lots of sandwiches at a time seriously had me questioning a calling into mass catering and definitely questioning my sanity by the end of the evening! Oh, and they go soggy and DCs refused to eat them anyway!

I was discussing the favourite meals over the meal tonight and DS wants everyone to know that he has another favourite of Chicken Biriani (??spelling). This is just a fancy name for left over chicken, rice, curry powder, left over veg - normally done the day afer a roast.

Hi CTGH how are you doing? Up to your eyeballs in disorganised chaos??

Have a good evening all and a good weekend for those who abandon flying for the weekend.

WTD I'm opening the wine now! I can't wait any longer either.

DS asleep, DW empty, washing finished and drying, sink shiny, off to bed.

Please nag me tomorrow to catch up. DS has said he will help find things to send to the jumble (MIL is always collecting so we will take some over every Sunday until we run out)

One cat (the one who wanted to go out at 5am) has gone to bed so I'm going before she takes over the bed.

I need wine...mines a nice chilled glass of white please. Don't worry OM no work tomorrow

Am pooped but had a productive day. Downstairs is all clean and tidy, have done the kitchen missions but not hotspots or decluttering. I hate those (maybe that's why i never do them or maybe its because i can't face it). Bathroom was gleaming until DH came home from work . He even said how clean the bathroom was, then proceeded to trash it.

I meal plan on a friday for a shop on a saturday. WTD i am also a dabhand with mince and am jealous of those who serve up far more exotic fare.

Completely randomly was lurking on other threads and found a link to statistics about mn and we made the top 10 most active threads this week....how much cleaning must we all be doing . Go us!

Back to the wine.....

And the Pinot Grigio is open with a large glass in my hand. Cheers all, well done on a productive weeks cleaning.

Onwards and upwards.

Any wine left? If I'm being honest I've already had a couple of glasses

Yey for being one of the 10 most active threads. is it that we're doing masses of cleaning or masses of mning in the name of cleaning and therefore guilt free

PA I actually forgot to put on deodorant yesterday, so maybe it should be on my list!

HAGiraffe surely that's a perfectly sensible way to do it ? Morrison's is very much cheaper but most of the food is shite! The fact that I have to drive nearly 10 miles between the 2 does not in anyway mean that I spend more on petrol than I save on the shopping!

Got quite a bit done today given that DD decided that afternoon naps are for wimps and was awake from 11:30 am until 8:30 this evening . The kitchen is mostly glorious and I am soo looking forward to a change of zone next week!

Goodness me I am emoticon mad this evening . It's amazing what a glass of wine will do

G

Random G - not sure what that's about!

lemon buttery sauce, big dollop of butter and squeeze 2 lemons, in the pan with the salmon.(I either cook on hob or in oven).I dont do complicated.

Crikey you lot...I go out for a race night fundraiser and find you are all drinking wine without me [angry}!

Will post recipes for sticky ribs and risotto tomorrow WTD PAO I only put coffee with friend on my list to make sure you realise I have a life beyond cleaning. Promise I won't put on cleaning my teeth etc etc...

I also fancied your salmon recipe frazzled so thanks for posting.

Am pleased to see no mention of flylady's 'date night' (excuse me while I vomit). Can you imagine if we all started posting about that! I am not having some fat fairy telling me when to get it on with my DH! No way Jose!!

See you all over the weekend. Gotta lot of cooking to do tomorrow!

Evenin 'all, how was your day?

Yawn .. I am already well ahead on the red wine ...pours everyone a glass ...

Bit of a miserable day to be honest - frustrating and complicated technology breakdown at work - depressing hospital appt - dd in "explosive mood" after school having had a bad day herself (think the neighbours will call the social services - she has a huge pair of lungs ) - stupid spat with dh this evening - supper dishes still in sink - & so much for my new regimen of washing gym/swimming kit and school uniform etc on a Friday night - they are still supperating in their bags in the hall ...

Heigh ho, tomorrow is another day and all that and it is nice to be able to whinge to you lovely lot (feels better immediately)

Takes another slug of wine ...

Reads down thread ....

Yay pushmepullyou on your "glorious" kitchen - now that's an adjective and a half - how brilliant and well done !!! Hope you get more sleep tonight

Waves to Frazzled (salmon sounds yum) and PA("speak tomorrow" - hope your cat has recovered!!)

Hello to Dreamteam and Stepaway - how are you both? (Like the Henry Ford quote DT) Minimarmite - hope the all day sickness is subsiding a bit - that's miserable for you

Paranoid - are you OK on room rescue now (must check back - think I missed that this morning - I haven't done it anyway - must catch up this w/e )

WalktheD - must be hard without your dh this weekend having had him there all last ... hope you manage to get a bit of r&r for yourself ...

Top ten most active thread eh Elliepac? - which just goes to show what a wierd obsessive microfibre cloth loving denim apron and lace up shoe wearing loony vital, committed and house proud lot we are!! Remember just to do 2 mins on each of your hot-spots and only 15 mins on decluttering and NO MORE. (I find if you "frame" or "contain" your hotspot somehow ie in wicker basket or on tray or shallow box or somesuch, it makes it easier to isolate and tackle if that makes any sense at all. Another tip is to where an i-pod while you are doing it and concentrate on your favourite music which makes the whole process a bit more bearable.)

Droitwich - you and I both have to catch up tomorrow - will you nag me please??

HavingaG - well done on your kitchen and stealing 5 mins for a coffee is GOOD (best part of my day was 10 mins in a local café with a cup of tea) - 'tis NOT skiving - 'tis NECESSARY

tibni - great news about your interview - fingers and toes crossed here for your

Brilliant idea Fruitstick and Optimistic to post menu - partic useful for me at the moment as am trying to menu plan (will be back later with some ideas) Hope Sunday goes OK Optimistic

Hope you feel better soon Fruitstick and good luck for Monday!!

Yay Snorkie am of your allotment

So glad all OK Snitch but you will take it steady won't you?

Hello to ShoppingVeggie - how are things?

Bigboots - so am I!! (all or nothing person) - this system is perfect for us!!

Hello and a big slug of red wine to anyone I have missed .... sorry ... all scrolled-out!!!

Lordy - sorry Elliepac - wear an Ipod (obviously) - tis the red wine speaking ...

OK - didn't plan to post this so late but we've just been rung up because office fire alarm has gone off and dh has had to dash out ...

So, while I am waiting for his return,

Rough weekly meal plan:

Sunday(nearly always roast or braised dish of some description with all trimmings)

Monday therefore nearly always cold cuts + fried or new pots + either salad or green veg (usually broccoli or frozen peas)

Tuesday = "start again day" (usually supermarket shop Tues & Fri) some sort of dish with large veggie component either pasta with good home-made sauce (lots of veg in disguise) or veg lasagne (prepped before and frozen) or thick lentil and bacon soup or Nigella's sweetcorn fritters (to which I add ham or bacon lardons) or fishcakes, also prepped in advance (usually tuna or salmon) or cous-cous with chicken or baked beans on toast or home-made pizzas (make dough in advance and freeze)

Wednesday is usually a "quick" meat day such as sausages or home-made chicken dips or ribs with corn on cob/baked spuds or minced lamb and apple burgers(prepped and frozen in advance) or mini cottage pies (prepped before and frozen)

Thursday is TOTALLY VEGGIE day. This can range from penne or parpadelle with broccoli, mange tout, peas, and tom sauce + parmesan or veggie noodles or home-made minestrone (made in advance) or roasted butternut squash and carrot soup or pasta twirls with tomato, butternut squash and carrot sauce or veggie burgers or home-made pizzas or roasted root veg and chick pea type casserole thing.

Friday is always fish night - so either salmon, new pots, peas, or some sort of white fish and parsley sauce and pots & peas, or mini fish pies or tuna or salmon fish cakes (both prepped in advance) or honey & soy salmon kebabs or fish fingers or even sardines on toast if I'm rushed

Saturday supper is either take-out or ready meal or boiled eggs and soldiers or egg and chips or tortilla courtesy of dh!! Sat lunch is usually snack on the hoof or whatever anyone can scavenge from fridge ...

Do cooking in advance on Sats/Suns/weds.

Several recipes above are courtesy of Annabel Karmel

I don't really "do" puddings. We either have "fruit from the bowl" or a yoghurt or ice cream from the freezer and if we have guests we buy a tart or cake (wonderful patisseries over here).

Do make home made apple or pear compote for when dd gets back from school though which she has with a crepe (good ones bought here vacuum packed from supermarket which you can bung in microwave) or an oat-type biscuit. She also has that for breakfast sometimes.

I'm VERY lucky with all the above in that dh loves cooking, he cooks nearly all the weekend dishes and at least twice a week in the evening when he is not travelling and he also makes a veg soup once or twice a week that he and I take to eat in office. This is also why I am currently the size of a house ....

Also, do try and put effort in to evening meal because dd has no canteen at her school and eats very boring sandwiches for lunch throughout the week (prepared by her grumpy mother in the mornings).

And finally, have busy weekend ahead so here are the baby-steps in advance:

baby-step for Saturday 10th October - yes, it's PA's favourite with the magazine!!

baby-step for Sunday 11th October - no more Camus I promise!!

Both are good steps with which to "consolidate" what we have done so far ... worth having a look even in you are not officially flying at weekends

Bye for now fledglings and sorry for the essay-like consecutive posts!!

Have a good w/e everyone!

Hello everyone! Hope you didn't have too much wine when I went to bed last night!
CTGH I hope they left some for you. I've got the coffee on if you want one.

OK need to catch up for yesterday but only thing I need to do today is take DS swimming and have a walk if it is not raining (I'm trying to get out on Saturday's and Sunday's with DS). Could do with doing a small shop as well.

Today's list:
Dress to shoes
Breakfast
Ironing
Life book
DS homework
Hot spot x 2
Declutter 15 mins x 2
Rest x 2
Room rescue 5 mins
Kitchen floor
Shine sink

I'm of all your meals from scratch! DH does virtually all the cooking in this household and when I DO cook he comes and interferes!

CTGH I'll be checking on you later!

Morning, lordy that was wine was good . Hope we are not all suffering this morning. Have quite a busy day (ellie daydreams back to the days before having DC's when weekends were about doing nothing).

Tis my DMum's 60th in a couple of weeks and we decided to have photo's done of the grandchildren for her (my DC's and Dsis's DSD). Had them done a couple of weeks ago. Lots of good ones of the older two but would DD sit still or give a smile? Of course not, that would be far too easy. SO this morning we are going for a viewing of said photos and a second attempt with DD. Wish me luck. Other than that my list looks like this:-

Dishwasher unloaded/reloaded
Washing x lots
Hotspot (top of fridgefreezer)
Declutter (our bedroom)
5 min room rescue (our bedroom)
DC's bedrooms really need a clean
Tesco shop
SOrt through piles of clean washing and iron/putaway
Mop kitchen floor

DD a bit better again this morning. Still a bit grumpy but on the up so to speak.

ctgh thanks for the i-pod tip, will try that this afternoon. Can I come round to your house for tea, your menus sould delicious .

Must dash . See you later.

whoops, it's early...your menus sound delicious.

Morning!

coffee is lovely and strong thanks Droitwich, think I'll need another later , good luck at the photographers Elliepac

-actually, that's a good tip (culled from one of Trinny and Tranny's books) around about end Oct and/or beginning November - get some good shots of dc to put in Christmas cards and start buying or adapt/put together one Christmas or going-out (formal-ish) outfit for everyone (including accessories for you) to see you through winter season

Good luck with your lists today

I failed to do all routines yesterday/last night so catch up day today:

clean and shine sink and tidy kitchen (I did clean it on Thursday including floor)
sort laundry
do laundry (at least 4 loads)
tidy master bedroom
food shop
buy some winter trousers
sort out linen cupboard

See you all later fledglings!!

BTW - earlier down the thread -

that was meant to be minced pork and apple burgers (not lamb! - yuck)

CTGH your menus are amazing. I am totally of your DH!!!
Just wanted to add that Jamie's Ministry of Food has been a great buy for me - fantastic fish pie in there. My DC are also beginning to cook and so use that book too!

Busy day here:
DH birthday!
DS2 rugby match - morning
DS1 rugby match- afternoon
DD tap class and town
Have to cook in between birthday celebrations and matches!!!!

Don't think I'm going to get any other flying done today but at least I don't feel overwhelmed by the state of the house!

Off to braise the stewing steak - wish me luck all!

Hi all,

I got the information for the interview through and I am officially terrified! Tour, Interview by Student Council, 2 Tests - (no information on what type of tests), Formal Interview! I have a lot of swotting up to do before Wednesday!

This evening we have been invited around to friends so I said I would make desert - i'm doing Lemon Meringue Pie and some sort of Chocolate and cream cake.

I do menu plan but its not an exact science! I know this week we will have roast chicken, pizza, veggie lasagne, quiche & Jackets and that I will use the left over chicken in a pie or curry or pasta dish. I'm intending to bulk cook (lasagne, quiche and curry) and freeze. I'm veggie so its only dh and 2 dc's for chicken so I can get a lot of meals out of a chicken from the butcher.

Oh and if anyone is putting coffee on I like it strong and black - or I can make as I have some rather nice coffee in.

Have a good weekend all