January Fledgling Flyers - The 15 minute mess removal squad

[droitwichmum]

Happy New Year!

This is the place for you if you have made a New Year's Resolution to get on top of the chaos in your home

Here you can do any of the following:

• 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

Here you can find out what it is all about. Try to ignore the cutesy stuff - cute the regulars on here are not! We also take some of the suggestions with a HUGE dose of salt (look out for wearing tie up shoes in the house)

If you decide to register for the e-mail updates from flylady be warned: unless you choose the daily digest only option you will be innundated with e-mails throughout the day. I will post the links you need each day so you don't need to register on the site to join in.

Dive in and mark your place - we start on January 1st!

Hi to all you lovely ladies.

Thanks for calling me back on here SC. I hope everyone else hasn?t forgotten me!

This thread had gone crazy. Welcome to all the newbies. Sounds as if you have all hit the new year running already!
Hello to all you lovely ?oldies?

Lovely relaxing time over Christmas, and it has been hard work to get going again.

All the Christmas decorations are now gone for another year.

So far 2010 has had an expensive start.Car was mended yesterday after refusing to go anywhere in the cold for 4 days!! TV in the family back lounge blew up ? literally!! , it was quite spectacular, although I would not recommend trying it!
This morning I was determined to get going early and be organised. Came downstairs to a flooded kitchen from the dishwasher pipes having frozen. GGrrr!! Loads of grimey, greasy washing up to do and a floor to mop and sort out. Not a good start to the day!

So no lists from me so far, other than:

Survive - done just!

Just wanted to mark my spot on here, so hopefully will log on later to catch up a bit more.

I've been out all day and my brain can't take in anything anyone's said

Off to read babysteps and mission

[Opens bottle and pours (much needed on my part anyway) glasses of Burgundy all round.
Don't usually drink at beginning of week - honest!!]

Hope you have all had a productive day.

Thank you MrsGok - have written off today but used this afternoon to get a (hopefully) better start tomorrow ...hope you enjoyed the snow ...

I'm brain dead too Flamesparrow - fancy a glass of red?

Yay- welcome back Positively - we missed you!! [pours more wine] Sorry about your flood/rotten day though and that your appliances are "rebelling" - I suppose it's a good thing that you were around when the TV blew up and not in bed unaware of a fire... (trying to sound encouraging emoticon) but V. tough on your wallet...I always think these sorts of things happen in threes so you are hopefully over the worst!! Sometimes just 'surviving' takes humungous efforts so pat yourself on the back ...

PLuto so glad that your return to work is not quite so horrible as anticipated .. good luck with it

Waves to Mango and everyone else ..

Off to eat one last mince pie of the year and veg on the sofa do my evening routine ...

G'night all, see you tomorrow ...

evening all

I have my own glass of wine here now

I have done the mission with the doors, and keeping up with the steps (dinner dishes drying now - will put away and shine before bed).

Can't face the hotspot thing or the other one today. If the DC end up being home tomorrow then I might attack a bit more.

Evening all!
What a lot of posting you've all done!
After my day with Y3/4 I had to go to Tesco (you 'oldies' know how I relish this particular chore - not!)
Well...was there any bread to be had? - no! Was there any milk to be had? - no!
Were there any to be had? - No!
Can you spot the theme??
Was I trying to bulk buy? No!
Do my cupboards look like Mother Hubbards? Yes!
The upshot of all this is that we have been reduced to fish fingers and chips for tea! My teenagers were in 7th heaven as they relived their 'youth'
I have given up and lit a fire!
Tomorrow will be the massive list day for me!

Thanks for the wine SSC Hope the house is fully mopped up now PF. LOL at the mock exam scripts ellie. My DS hoping for snow day to avoid economics AS mock tomorrow!
Big wave to flame, Pluto mrs Gok mango and the other hoardes i've missed!
Thanks for all your linksDWM although I did prefer calling you mummy!! The fat fairy videos are slightly worrying though aren't they. Will we all turn into clones do you think? Why isn't she wearing her denim tabard????

See you all later....

Evening all,
No snow at 5pm. 6 inches now. Luckily I went to Sainsburys ta lunchtime, it was heaving.

Didn't have a list today, but have managed a few odd jobs, decluttering, taking down Christmas decs etc. Also went to tip with a car boot full of stuff.

Positive was wondering where you were. It's true about appliances all going at once I think, we had to replace telephone, kettle and washing machine all at once a couple of months ago, then the portable telly died last week. Hope you don't get any more mishaps. Got me thinking, my oldest appliance (by far) is my microwave, 15 years and counting, nothing else has lasted anything like that long, most things have been replaced at least twice in that period .

Going to go, as my tea is nearly ready. Anticipating no school or activities tomorrow so want to crack on a bit with the chores tonight.

Hi everyone, i hope you all had a productive happy day, will read through the four pages and see after i'v posted.

1 school uniform found by dh hanging in my wardrobe!!! Who put it there?? Sure i checked there 3 times before he did!!

Mission done.

Sink sparklin ( i knew i'd regret getting the worlds biggest stainless steel sink!!!)

Not sure about baby steps???

I have been sooo good today,

All the bedroom carpets have been found!! forgot they were cream, its been so long since i last saw them!! 4, yes 4 loads of washing just out of the boys room!! and 1 bag of rubbish and 1 big box of recycling!!

Unfortantly the washing machince is frosten in the out side store so in steps the best mother in the world!! I love her.

1 large basket of ironing done.
(promise to put it away tom)

Sarnines done for everyone.
(think they make need toasting if the weather continues we wont be able to get the landy up the track!)

30min yoga on wii done.

Cleared a few smarties away.
(best job ever)

Even dh has joined in, he's doin a great job at bein a sahd.

Wonders if we'll have work or sledging tom??
I must be gettin old...i nearlly moaned to the kids earlier about not being about to work in the snow, stopped myself in time!

Time to catch up with what everyones been upto.

Night everyone

Right the fat fairy and her rules are being ignore until the end of the end. Panic mode has set in with the essay so am hitting the books.
Happy flying and will catch up with you at some point.

sc isnt that always the way? hope your day wasnt too much of a write off.

anyway here's my list,
breakfast dishes washed and dried done
load of washing done
15min declutter done
todays mission done
put washing on airer done
quick tidy in kids room (forgot to do iot this morning-oops)done
hoover hall&living room- eh, forgot?!
ironing done
shine sink done

not really done todays baby step as i dont have any bad thoughts at the moment, once the hard stuff gets going i guess i may get burn out!

Hi everyone - we have lots of snow here (first of the winter)! DS's school closed at lunchtime so DH picked him up rather than going to work. Definitely the right decision as DH has been throwing up for the last 4 hours! I came home early officially because of snow but in reality with migraine. Ok now after migraleve and couple of hours sleep although tired. No flying in this house this evening!

in1981 well done on your list! I think we can let you off this babystep. Its a good one to remember if you are having a really bad day though
chaos no flying for you until the essay is finished! Have some wine to keep yourself going
sep well done you and well done DH! How old are your DS? Could you get them helping - turn tidying their room into a competition or something?
MrsD congrats on the snow I've just found out we only have 2 slices of bread left! Thankfully we have a Tesco express within walking distance if we are all stuck at home tomorrow
OM I can never go to tescos without thinking about you! The tabard was being washed as it is every day
Sparrow are you Flame in disguise?
ellie I am in awe of your magic & well done on your list!
SC thanks for opening the wine - think I'd better give it a miss though but will have a mince pie. Lol at DH's James Bond-type activities
PA welcome back! I think you have done well just to survive the day
Mmmango I'm really bad about filling application forms too, even for things I really want to do!
Pluto going back will be fine I promise. Worst part of the day for me is getting everyone out of the door in the morning but I've worked out that the problems were down to me and not anyone else Getting dressed as soon as I get out of bed is the key for me. Can I make a confession? whispers I go to work for a rest!
MrsGok you are doing so well with this! Well done at venturing into the salad drawers - v scary place
matumble good to see you today. Just keep going with those little steps and you will get there. Try setting a timer for 15 mins at a time and you will be surprised at how much you can do - also useful for getting DCs to leave you to get on "when the beep goes mummy will have finished and we can do x" works quite well here
BYR you did great this morning. Getting that morning routine sorted makes the day so much easier and shpooing while LOs are at nursery/school/CM/wherever makes loads of sense - and is cheaper!
cat OMG! Somehow we have not had this one but SOOOOOOO worrying for you expecially on top of vomiting. Hope she is ok now
gruffalo there is a section on the flylady site about exercise and her regime. Not looked at it but it MUST say that using a WiiFit counts double
swan I'm of slow cooker and in awe of your cooking
MM well done to your DH. Hope you get home ok tonight
tigga wondered where you had gone Dressers are fab - I hide the wine in mine
missb you managed to hang washing out? DS has school dinners - couldn't manage otherwise. At least he doesn't need a big meal when I eventually get home which is too late for him to be eating anyway
DTG are you there? Hope you had a good day

Hope that's everyone. DH has fallen asleep on the sofa so hopefully that will sort him out (gave him a couple of migraleve as he had blinding headache as well as vomiting)

See you all tomorrow - wonder if school will be open

Hi all

Thanks for asking DWM & SC
Today went really well. I got DS to school on time- actually I was EARLY! So proud of myself

I had everything laid out last night, down to bowls and cerea out on table and milk in jug and apple juice in cup in fridge and my cup beside kettle with tea bag already in it

The only things I forgot were DS' shoes and my keys which I struggled to find so I need to remember to put them on the list. Actually i might type it up, print (and laminate) it. It seems to work for

So chuffed to hear people finding their lives better already. its amazing the difference it makes isnt it? well done all!!!

Thanks dwm, kids are 3 6 and 10 so now i'm on the ball they will hopefully get back on track aswell!!!

How did you manage to recap tonight when you feel so ill, hope everyones better to enjoy the snow.

Just went for a little drive and it's too snowy for work tomorrow. So i built my first snow man of the year! Is it really awful to get caught by your ds 10yrs "using all the snow" at 10.30pm?

So tomorrows plan of action,

Chuck the dc and dh hubby out to play, make bread and soup.
Dry everyone and provide hot choccy.
Go and play on the hills.
Eat bread and soup.
Nice dvd and finish xmas choc off.

Of course fittin the flying in inbetween!

Just off the put hot water bottles in with chickens.

Night all, have a great day tomorrow.

Five days in and I am managing to shine my sink ecah day and do the daily email missions. May not seem very substantial but it might be a fly-record for me.
Today was DDs first day in reception so I did shampoo the carpets and write half an essay to take my mind off things. Back to university full days next week so hopefully things won't start to slide (I am embracing slow cooking - any fly-tips?)

Well what a day it turned out. Had just come down stairs to put dinner on, had been in DC1's room with him starting the sorting out, we found a box with dressing up stuff that was to young for him so I gave them to the littlies to play with to much delight from them. I left them to it and came downstairs and put the meat on and started to sort the veg out. DH rang and I was chatting to him when there was screaming and then silence and then DC3 came trotting up to me with blood pouring out of his headn crying. Screamed to DH to get his ass home pronto, grabbed a clean towel and pressed it on his head, supervised the boys to get socks, boots and coats on and to get the same for me and DC3, raced out the door as DH pulled up and bunged them all in the car, off to A&E. They sent us to the A&E 20 miles away as they are only nurse led and didn't have X-ray if needed. Was speeding along the motorway as fast as we dared in the conditions, DC3 fell asleep and I couldn't rouse him. Rang NHS Direct and they kept us sane until we got there.Rushed in with him and he perked up. Two hour wait in A&E and then back home again, decided to get takeaway for tea.

SCC I thought of you as I was sat there and even said to DH, he was like what? are you mad woman? lol!

So today I have done
Washing up
Shiney Sink
Washing 3 lots and 1 lot in the machine ready to press the button in the morning
todays mission
3x15 minute hotspots in kitchen
started on DC1's room.

Not sure at the moment wheter we will get snowed in tonight and if DH and DC's will have to go to school and nursery.

Sleep tight all and see you tomorrow.

Good morning! Waiting to see if school is open so will post links while I wait (shall I get dressed/shall I not etc etc)

We're on a real proper babystep today - Hotspots! Love these. You know we say you can do anything for 15 mins? Well these are 2 minutes blitzes so you can do them while the kettle is boiling, or while the bath is running.

The mission is clearing out the fridge - great start MrsGok! How did you know?

Ok - links for flying with DC:
This is for school age DC
This is teenagers
Any Home educators out there? I think there are a couple
I know there are some big families
Single parents - also useful for those of us with DH who are often away
If you have a baby you need this link
Preschoolers are here
and if you are pregnant this is the link you you

Off to check on whether Stellamel's baby has arrived yet on another thread - back later

I'm sitting waiting for news on possible school closure too. Airport is closed and we are 5 mins away but DD's school not on the list yet. Ds's pre-school will be open as they ALWAYS are, DS will NOT be impressed as he must be the only 4 yr old boy who doesn't like the snow!

Bit 1 step forward, 2 steps backwards yesterday but I did end up with 4 extra children (1 came to play with DS and 3 were a friend's emergency!)
However managed to:
Ignore negative thoughts - no opportunity to have them
Swish and swipe
15mins in DD's pigsty bedroom (I can see sections of carpet now)
Take down Christmas stuff
Sink still shiny

Today will depend a bit on how many times I have to go out with sledge to drop off/pick up children (tramping about in snow emoticon needed)

Morning feetheart. Have you checked your local BBC radio station website? Mine had info that the council website didn't - like DS'c school being closed!

Morning, morning!

I am also sat here waiting to find out if schools are shut or not. If they are closed I want the kids to lie in, so if they end up open they will be late anyway, as I don't intend to wake them until I know!!!

DWM - Just had a peep at a few of the flylady pages. LOL at the teenager page. One mum enjoys "howling at the moon" with her teenage daughter?????? I think I will give that one a miss!
Also looked on the "big family" page. All American "Waltonesque". My family would die laughing if I tried to do some of that!

Snow has arrived here, but not as much as most places. Last evening DH was telling the DCs about his escapades in the snow 29 years ago, but "forgot" to tell them that his best mate ended up with a broken neck and had to live with a neck brace for a year after their "fun". Next thing I know the kids are all outside on trays whizzing down the hill. One dislocated finger (ex-casualty nurse training came in very helpful to click it back!) and three broken trays later I felt we got off quite lightly.

DH left home at 5.30 this morning to walk the 7 miles to work!! Madness!! I am going no-where. Maybe I can use today to catch up on some of the last months abandoned housework! - I said maybe, don't hold me to it!

Have fun in the snow everyone.

No more head injuries, please! Hope all recovering well.

Morning everyone

Droitwich I hope you and your dh are feeling better this morning. Well done for such a thorough round-up while suffering with a migraine!! Hope you have a better day today. I caught got lurking on Stellamel's thread last night and went to bed far later than I should. I can never resist a live birth thread!!! Mini-Marmite

MrsGok Oh no!! It seems to be the week for head injuries ...hope your dc3 is OK now and you had a reasonable night's sleep.

Hope the morning goes OK for you PA and Feetheart and anyone else who is being forced to snow-dither

Well done Clemette it is amazing how just small changes can make such a huge difference. Glad it is working for you ...

Sep1712 good you managed to avoid A & E yesterday!! And well done with yesterday's list

Bravo Dreamteam - (tea-bag in cup partic. impressive!!) HOpe it goes well for you again this morning.

Well done with your impressive list 1981 yesterday

Good luck with your essay WhereChaos Optimistic I liked calling Droitwich "Mummy" as well .... should we be worried ?

Run out of scrolling time but hope everyone has a good day ...

Do do before work:

Finish morning routine
S & S
General tidy up in sitting room
Kitchen quick clean dw etc
Laundry on
Hotspots

After work:
15 mins decluttering office
15 mins decluttering master bedroom
on-line grocery order
dd's thank you letters
5 organisational e-mails
3 phone calls

See you later! No accidents today please everyone, take care ...

Ha! Stellamel thread reported in Guardian

Elliepac - forgot to say, am with you on trying to do baby-steps "properly this month and not half-*rsed attempt!!!" And judging from all the marking and admin you teachers have to do of an evening, surely lack of time is more of a factor with house-work issue. I don't know how you manage it ...

OM and SC - do you feel better now?

School closed so snowman making day today yay!

Just received texts from the schools to say they are closed for DD2, DS & DD4. DD3 wont be going in as she just does 1 hour 10 mins today, so not worth the risk of driving her.

DH has just phoned to say he has arrived safely at work. He got a lift from the second car to pass him, just about 2 miles from work. He says he feels like he has done a days work already. Who on this planet is going to go to his garden centre today? I bet he has absolutely no staff and no customers so why all the hassle???

My plan was to do a bit Wii fit then go back to bed as soon I found out that the school was closed. BUT, apparently the DCs thought there was an elephant jumping in the lounge as I was jogging on Wii fit, so they are now all awake (apart from DD3, who will sleep til 11) . So plan B is to be productive! Here is my "snowy day off work" list:

Hot cooked breakfast
Hoover marathon
Clean kitchen - floor done yesterday due to flood, but rest now awful.
Washing
Ironing
Declutter hallway
Cooking with DS Favourite on the list! His wishlist so far is bread, steak pie, chocolate cake and fizzy biscuits.
Have fun in the snow
Clean up from having fun in the snow!

Right, have a good day everyone!

No snow here.

Freak that I am, I'm sat here in tears. I think I need more sleep. DD2 has been ill for ages now (bad cold) - she has blood flecked snot from her nose being so sore with it (she's 11 weeks old ). I desperately wanted to go see my friend today but I can't risk the distance because snow is still forecast even though it never appears. Plus I had nightmares so not much sleep between feeds.

I need to get the decorations down, but just feel so overwhelmed by life atm.

DD2 found me doing wii fit highly amusing the other night

Off to read and do so I can collapse.