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!

Just checking in, bad start today. More snow, co school and planned activities with DD cancelled. Just to add to all that, power cut since before getting up till midday, luckily we cook with gas so been able to get by and got the woodburner going.

Two children, no school and no telly is not a recipe for a good morning Chez Dinky.

Anyway it's back now so I can go and catch up with washing, DW etc.

We've shied away from the Wii so far, thinking we don't want any games consoles till the kids are older, plus it will add to the already crowded TV area in the front room. Main concern really was that it would get used a lot for about a week and then gather dust. How long have you all been using yours for?

optimisticmumma - I couldn't stand the 'home blessing' term either so last time I tried FLYing I changed it to 'overhaul' which sounds much more industrial and therefore relevant to the state of my house. 'Home blessing' just sounds like pouncing about wafting a duster to me!

LOL at going to Tescos to avoid teenage wrath

Hi Everyone

Sounds like a lot of you have got stuck in snow or are snowed in. We have more snow here too. DS and I usually go to baby gym and swimming today but both cancelled and I accidentally left his snow suit with the childminder so looks like it will be mainly indoor activities today. DH returned home after a brief attempt to get into work.

So, to do today:
washing on - done
washing out (on indoor airer)
clear up breakfast and lunch things - done
sweep floor (kitchen/dining area) - done
make dinner and a soup for the freezer - next job
shine sink before bed
mission
declutter - I'm going off-zone and staying in the kitchen as I didn't get much done last week.

• go to bed by 11
• put any dry washing away (or start an ironing pile)

Have a good day, back later

Hi everyone, can I just jump in? (Or should I have joined at the beginning of the month). I'm not so sure how this works, I'm a regular on MN but have name-changed for my participation here because I'm slightly embarrassed by the state of my house which I guess I'll be revealing here . I do need help with following FLyLady, I'm notoriously bad at housekeeping but need to make some changes because a) I have a toddler (one and a half) and need to keep the house clean & tidy b) I have a bit problem with clutter. So: new year, new resolution, to finally make my pace cleaner & tidier.

I joined FlyLady (is that the first step?) & I did the sink shining which looks really nice today

Tomorrow the next baby step is getting dressed in the morning (good tip actually) although I'm a bit about putting on shoes in the house!

Anyway, this was just to say hello to everyone, hoping I can join in & that you guys have some good tips for an absolute beginner like me.

(I meant that my toddler is 1 and a half years, not that I have 1 and a half toddlers )...

And since I'm jumping in, I might as well ask: what are the basic maintainance steps for the sink to stay clean & shiny?

Hi HWC and welcome!!
Careful if you've signed up to Flylady as you may be inundated with emails.
What happens here is that Droitwichmum posts the relevent links each morning and we try to do it!
A healthy bit of GB cynacism is needed with all the fat fairies naff phrases.
We usually post lists and have a general natter! All very friendly and lovely!
Goback to a link to the flylady site and click on the left for the babysteps. You should be able to find details of the 'proper'sink clean.
The main thing to remember is not to overdo it. All you've got to do atm is shine your sink and get dressed! The shoes bit is psychological - properly dressed you 'get on'iyswim.
Hope this helps....!

Hello, lovely Flyers, just catching up with thread during lunch and distracting myself from eating pizza

Yet more snow today ...

On the subject of weight-loss - yes that's a great idea - let's gather together 31 of our own weight-loss tips/baby-steps for the rest of this month (I will note down) and then we can re-post them in subsequent months ... does that sound OK with everyrone??

Neenook - all moans allowed!! Don't worry - the snow does make everything a bit more hard-going!!

As for length of lists (for AmeliaJane and others) as others have said - don't let it worry you!! (If you saw my master bedroom/home office/basement now you would die laughing frankly!!!) And Flying with a baby is hard.

This is a process, some of us are further along, some of us are permanently struggling (ie me!!) and some of us are stopping and starting. We all have good and bad days. No perfectionism or 'all or nothing thinking' allowed. But if you just do 15 mins activity a day, consistently if you can, you are further along than if you hadn't (ifyswim)!! We are only in competition with ourselves ....time-limited, realistic, focused, consistent spurts of effort every day are the way to go!!

Sounds very domestic-goddess-like in your respective houses Optimistic and MrsGok ... mmm.. lovely baking smells (loved your description of dc3 falling asleep in to his supper btw!!)

How great to have lovely neighbours Optimistic, hope the Tesco expedition goes OK ....

Pluto - so many of you are recommending Wii that I'm beginning to come around to the idea. Will add fitness ring-fenced DVD or Wii activity to our weight loss tip list. No talk of failure allowed btw... if you are doing the basic baby-steps .. you are doing OK.

Flaps wings at MissBennett - great idea about your dd cooking once a week - should be mandatory methinks - do they still teach home economics in schools in the UK anymore btw? Well done re Monsoon bargains and that your friend noticed difference in your house!!

Good luck at the dentist Feetheart and hope your ds enjoys the pool ...

Good luck with the train journey MummyD and we will try and behave !!

Respect to all teachers WhereChaos - SERIOUSLY ....and don't worry, Fat Fairy herself said it took her 9 months to establish routines properly ...

Sep1712 - hope you managed to plough your way though the paperwork for your business ..; sorry no advice to offer ...bureaucracy even worse here!!

MrsDinky - yes it was me who posted about power walking - pathetically, I have only gone once since 1 Jan but snow has not made it easy. Like you, I loathe any form of exercise but power walking good if you have pedometer and some sort of ipod or radio on your mobile. (Stephen Fry lost all of his weight through walking while listening to audio books.) Mind over matter and all that ... will add to list!! Failing that, we could always power fold our knickers!!

Mmmango (sorry if someone has already answered this - can't keep up!!) yes, once you have decluttered the bathroom it is time to take a peak at Fat Fairy's detailed cleaning list for that area. They are normally broken down in to manageable chunks. It's important you adapt the system to suit yourself - that's why it is vague and prescriptive at the same time iyswim - and that it fits your house and your lifestyle. You can just be guided by the missions for that particularly day though (it will all come around again soon so you don't have to finish it all time). Does that make sense?

Sorry you are leaving Annabel - but glad it has been useful for you - come back when and if etc!!! And thanks for wine

Hello to Ellie Swan PA tibni Sparrow Whyme MrsGrumpy Pushmepullyou WalktheD 1981 and the people I'm sure I've missed ...

Can scroll no more

x posts again!! Thread moving so fast!!

A warm welcome to HelpwithCleaning - good luck - we are all very wierd and obsess about folding fitted sheets here friendly here !!

As Optimistic says ...it is possible to follow system here without subscribing to e-Fat Fairy mails of which there are far too many ...!!

Just follow the baby steps posted here every morning by our esteemed leader DroitwichMummy and all will be well! (I am posting step tomorrow while she is away overnight.)

Shiny sink link here: flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Shine.asp

Some good new terminology appearing here!! I really like the concept of going off zone - Mini M!!

And home overhaul much better alternative to the barftastic 'home blessing hour' Feetheart!!! MMMMangggoo sorry - that last sentence didn't actually make sense at all did it? What I meant to type was 'don't worry if you don't get it all done this time' - it will come around again ...

Hi Helpwithcleaning and welcome.

Just jump in a start with the babysteps.

When I shine my sink (just daily maintenance not proper clean) I just give it, taps and surrounding area a quick spray with some dettol or similar, clean around with a sponge, rinse and then dry with a teatowel. As DTG once said, it is the drying bit that makes a big difference.

I'm sure everyone has slightly different methods though.

Oh dear .. sorry ... rushing!! Emboldened instead of strike through!!!

OK last post until tomorrow morning ...

round up of weight loss and fitness tips so far:

drink a litre and a half of water a day (will include sassy water recipe)

ring fence dvd or Wii time per week - we can refine this to specific times or days

buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day

Must go!!

OM No! I wish I meant out of the machine and on to the airers. It hasn't stopped snowing yet and we have about 3 to 4 inches in the garden.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome I'll jump in & will try to gradually keep up with things...

I also agree about the weight loss goals. But how would it work? Trying to establish all those habits at once would be a big problem. Maybe one at a time?

I am guessing we will do it like FLYing and slowly establishing routines

My tupperware cupboard looks wonderful and I am well chuffed with it. I matched all the containers to the lids For some reason I had more lids than lids than containers and about 10 containers with no lids, go figure!

But it does look luffley

So (given that my next babystep tomorrow is to get dressed ) do people really wear shoes in the house? Am I allowed to wear slippers?

Welcome hwc, and you've touched on a big fat fairy controversy. Some people on the thread do it (although I don't think anyone goes as far as 'lace-up shoes'). I'm barefoot, there are slipper-wearers... I think the point is to feel up and ready to go - so you wouldn't be embarrassed to open the door to unexpected visitors.

Amelia, my dd2 was born on Nov 2, so just a few weeks older than yours.

Unfortunately I'm not going to be very inspirational today, have had 2 lots of visitors, a pita sick and clingy child, a headache and no flying at all. Still, tomorrow is another day, right? Will do 5 minute room rescue before bed and the sink's shiny

Hello all,

Not a very productive day here!

Got a call from a teacher friend to let me know dd school closed because of snow.

ds (severe ASD) went off in his taxi that then got stuck! . In the meantime we got a call from special school to say it had closed. Couldn't get in contact with escort or taxi firm! dh stayed in while I took dog for a walk to the castle with dd. ds eventually got back and has coped quite well considering.

Took dd sledging this am and then had a houseful for lunch - they have all only just gone back to hill. dh has gone with dd and I am staying with ds to try and get house sorted (mumsnet).

I did blitz dining room last night and the bathroom.

I am booked to work tomorrow (gcse exams) but I have a difficult journey to work through a forest and the snow is still falling here. I am torn as this is childrens exams so important but its a big risk for 2 hours work. I have talked to my manager and we will both review in the morning - we live close to each other but the school is 13 miles away.

Off to clean cloakroom and do a quick tidy of sitting room.

Welcome to HWC. MrsGok - a tidy tupperware cupboard! I am impressed, well done. It's a bit like the socks though, isn't it, you always have odd ones and I laways with lids and bottoms that don't match too.

DH had to drive to a meeting in Kent today. Left for first boat this morning and spoke to him at 10.45 (meeting was supposed to start at 9!) His last words were - "Can't seem to go anywhere. Too much snow and no signal on the phone........" SO... is he stuck? Is he driving home? Or did he get to Kent and therefore can't speak to me as he is in meeting? Not too sure whether to begin to panic or not yet. Is anyone living around that way?What are the roads like?

Had a bit of a "lightbulb" moment this morning with all the babysteps. I had been thinking that I was doing really badly and not geting anything done and being a bit pathetic really.....but suddenly realised that actually after 5 and a half months these babysteps are so ingrained now that I don't even consciously think about doing them. For example in the morning I now go to one bathroom for the toilet, s & S while in there, then go into shower room, S & S while in there and do teeth in third bathroom so that I can S & S in there. All done! Yes, the DCs think I am a little strange to use all bathrooms, but hey, it works!
I also realised that when anyone comes to the house I have not had to apologise for the state of anywhere for months now. The only thing I have to apologise for is that they need to mind the bike carefully positioned in the hallway now after I got fed up of waking up to find DH staring lovingly at his bike in our bedroom!!!

Love the idea of weightloss baby steps. My tip would be to always have a low fat/low calorie snack in your handbag. This stops me thinking I need to grab something really unhealthy when I leave work or on my way somewhere as I have that instead.

Right off to drink more water. I am beginning to feel like a goldfish!!

OM - Is your DS doing exams this week. We have AS level psychology next week and DS doing science GCSE module tomorrow. Stress levels are rising along with the hormones creating a not-so- positive attitude!!!!!

I'm back. . I am sure you all missed terribly my wonderful wit and inspiring cleaning or alternatively having a good laugh at my pathetic attempts to keep my bedroom clean after drinking copious amounts of wine.

Sorry have been away so long, I feel a little bit like my arm has been cut off without list posting and general musing on meal planning and clutter . To cut a long story short, have no wireless access to laptop and no ethernet cable long enough to go on internet without sitting in my hallway. Now i love you girls but that i decided was a bit ridiculous. Am currently catching up from work before I go home. Am going to attempt to purchase an ethernet cable today on way home but weather is grotty so may not manage it so dwm can't promise i will be able to post for you tomorrow (am might impressed that I remembered though..it is tomorrow isn't it?)

Have managed to keep on top of things in the house but have a lot of washing to do. I haven't got time for a full catch up because have got to go and pick DC's up but just wanted to say I miss you lovely ladies and will be back to normal soon.

PA - I am in West Kent and it was truly horrendous this morning but I can report that the roads are much better this afternoon and have been gritted. I think A21 is Ok as is A25 and M25. Can actually see road surface here on main roads now! Hope you've managed to get in contact with DH now. If you need me to do a more local check just post again. I believe East Kent isn't as bad as last week...
No DS not doing any ASs this time - his school do them in one hit in June - eek! My stress levels will be rising then!Also DD doing 2 GCSEs in summer - practising for the doublewhammy that will be A2s nd GCSEs in 2011!!

Can we have one weight loss step per week?? Otherwise we'll all be back to square one. I think SC wanted to collate everyone's ideas and then organise it for us -no?
I have a couple: eat 5 portions of fruit and veg! i do try...
Make a vat of low fat soup and eat it rather than chuck it!!
Don't eat any

I am down to 1/2l of water to go but will have to sign off to go to the loo....

Lovely to see you ellie!

Todays list:
Primary observations done
Teach year 5 a lesson done
Ds bathed before school done
Ds' bedding washedDone -my very lovely mum
Paperwork mountain of dome

I need to find a bit of paper put very safely in my pile of paperwork so i expect it will be another late night. Need to get
this paperwork filed and sorted.

Tomorrows plan - uni (weather permitting), early night. I havent done a baby step for days weeks and will need to go back and start again. but thankfully have a few days off coming up which are boy free (assuming not snow days) so should dhift a fair bit.

Ellie - good to see you back! I've definitely missed your witty banter, it hasn't been the same without you!

Welcome back Ellie.

Thanks for the info OM> Just heard from him. He is trying to get back to get on a boat. Not sure that he actually made the meeting at all. I think he has been stuck in the car all day! One grumpy DH tonight I suspect!! What sport is on Tv? always cheers him up. Must go and look! .......

I have a weight loss babystep to offer - eat fruit mid morning instead of toast or biscuit.

I folded a fitted cot sheet last night, it ended up smaller than a pillowcase.

A bit behind today, so signing off now, will try and get back later. Welcome to Helpwithcleaning.

To the list of 'baby steps' for weight loss I'd like to possibly add the rules of the NoS diet. Essentially they are:

-no seconds (that is, literally, no second plate of food at each meal, no starter, no second helping, no soup, no extra salad, just what's on one physical plate)

-no snacks

-no sugar

-...unless on Special Days

(you can google it for more details, its a very sensible way to eat).