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!

Well today didn't go as planned. I slipped on the ice walking into town today. Have hurt my foot, possibly torn a ligament, twisted my knee and really buggered my hip up. So I will only doing maintenance over the weekend just to keep the work I have done so far up together.

mrs gok . sounds nasty you need to lierally put your feet up over the weekend and cut down on the flying. hope you are feeling a little less sore soon.

well, it turns out that i was being very unintelligent over the whole internet cable thing because we already have one it's just that i have had to wrestle it away from dh and his beloved xbox 360 to sneak on here for half an hour before eastenders.

all is now quiet in the elliepac household. dinner has been cooked, eaten and cleared away, house is generally tidy. dd in bed, ds in bed watching a dvd and all is right with the world. . time for the vino methinks, i know we are all doing the healthy eating thing but everything in moderation right? .

Count me in Ellie, It is Friday after all!I have a nice bottle of white chilling which I will drink with my carrot stick nibbles (honest). Help yourself or are you a red girl?
MrsGok - poor you! Hope its not as bad as you think! I slid over twice yesterday - I think we've all got out our normal boots again thinking the snow has cleared but of course we've been left with patches of ice we can't see!

I've just managed to do all jobs apart from the mountain of bottles that are spilling out - really need to decant(!)into 2/3 bags and stop pretending there aren't that many.

i am an anything goes kind of girl but generally prefer white so i will partake of a tipple with you om thank you very much. i am obviously drinking mine accompanied with cucumber sticks (don't like raw carrots) nothing goes better with a nice chilled glass of white and not drinking it with the leftover choccies from xmas because that would be naughty .

Would it be the time then Ellie to mention that I fed my DC with Dominos and had a couple of tiny slices myself?

Oooh did I hear a cork popping?

Managed to find stuff DSis hid tidied away for me on Wednesday night
Emptied DW which had been clean since I went away and reloaded and put it on again
Put rubbish in bins (why can no one else in this house do this ?
2nd load of washing in machine (see above for appropriate comment/emoticons)

Not doing much else this evening. Might do a 15 mins burst of ironing and quick tidy round - and a round up later of course

DS bedtime - back later

now is indeed the time and i will then fess up to having fish fingers chips and beans for tea because that was what i fancied all that was in the cupboards.

tomorrow is another day and all that . to the wine we go

must go watch eastenders but dwmummy you sound like you neeeeeed the wine. om's got some lovely chilled white on the go.

back in a bit after i find out who got archie's money.

over and out.

Oh yes Elliepac thank heavens it IS Friday ...any of that wine going? ... flushed with success today (for once)!!

Before work:
morning routine including s&s done
washing on done 4 loads
THEN make bed after it is aired - sorry - hate doing it immediately - in fact changed all beds (usually do it on Sat and I was on a roll)

After work:
mission in hallway (MUST sort coat stand) not done
15 mins master bedroom - yahhooo did 1.5 hrs and can now see the bed and the floor!!!
15 mins home office not done
buy fish! ]done (it was haddock for supper with layered pots, green salad and peas ....)

And yes, agree totally Mummy, why does no-one else do those jobs such as bringing bins back in or, as Swan mentioned, distributing loo rolls throughout house? It's the same here, if I don't do it, it doesn't get done!! How can blokes not notice?? If there is not a bin bag in the bin because I've just emptied, my dh will just pile up rubbish on the kitchen counter until the "house fairy" stretches all of 20cm down to the shelf under the sink and replaces it.

Actually I was thinking about blokes yesterday (in relation to Flying that is!) . I wonder what this thread would look like if we were all men???? Would there be so much attention to detail, so much striving for improvement, so much general loveliness? Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the opposite sex (been married since Jurassic period) but it's SO convenient to be able to just overlook all the details isn't it????

Oh no MrsGok - that sounds nasty - can you elevate your leg and apply an ice pack perhaps (frozen veg wrapped in tea towel)??? You will rest it tomorrow won't you?

Thanks WhereChaos about random generator offer. I'm too tired to think about body clutter tonight [swigs from large glass of plonk] but will get back to you tomorrow when my brain works!!

Well done with your exercising Swan [feeling very guilty now!!] Intend to get back to it once the snow melts ...honest!!

helpwithcleaning here is hotspot info I think we came to the conclusion back in August that, ultimately, the purpose of "puttng out" hotspots is to maintain the decluttering once you have totally decluttered (if that makes sense) otherwise it will just build up again. But even if you haven't totally decluttered yet, you will know which areas are your worst culprits. Eg, I have two baskets in the kitchen full of cookie cutters, half empty bubble mixture bottles and old bits of plastic that have fallen off kitchen appliances. Once they start looking full, it's time to empty them. My other hot spot is the dining room table. If I leave it for a day then it gets totally covered in papers (because my home office is too messy to work in - but that's another story!!). So I tend to clear that for between 5 and 10 mins EVERY day. As usual though, organise hot-spotting to suit yourself and your house.

And as MrsGok says, the house control journal step (coming up) will help you remember all of this!!

Hi 1981

Have a lovely weekend and a lovely day out Pluto xx

Optimistic I'm much relieved to hear I'm not the only one - it's been hit and miss in your house since Christmas too. I can't believe we are half way through the month and I only just feel like I am getting seriously back on track -.

Hope all feeling better in your household Mmango

Right, I'm off for an early night ...

Can't bear to look at the news either - those poor poor people in Port au Prince ...

G'night all. Sleep well.

Optimistic - that should have read, in my house too!! Obviously!!

In the light of SCs post I wanted to say that I didn't mean to sound fippant when I replied to Pluto's post earlier about turning off News 24. It's just that I have learned that all we can do is donate (which I have done of course) and then draw our families closer and thank our lucky stars.
I remember when 911 happened my DS2 was pre-school and I had a School meeting at my house. Ds2 and little friends came in to us in another room and said that Tweenies had gone off . I went in to see that they were watching the Twin Towers falling...
I must admit to feeling really guilty/helpless/depressed about it for a long time afterwards...
Anyway - having children just makes us all really upset at seeing other kids of our own kids' age in desperate circumstances.
I am pleased that my own now teenage DC want to give back a bit too...

fippant? I meant flippant

Thank you all for your kind words.

I didn't get the restful night. My boss who is also a longstanding had a family crisis that put my problems into context. Today I ended up working (unexpectedly) to cover her.

So I am tired tonight, mentally and physically, and chilling now.

Need to get some flying done over the weekend and catch up with you all.

I have no tv and dont listern to radio so am blissfully ignorant about the outside world. By the sounds of things i best go look at the bbc website...

Just checking in quickly though have substituted rice pudding for vino

Been bit of an odd day, no sledge to school as too little snow but no scooter either as too much snow - DS NOT happy walking.
Happier at Mini-nastics thankfully
Morning routine - done
Emptied cupboard under stairs for man to put in new meter
Re-filled cupboard under stairs and got DS to hoover it before put stuff back!
15 mins decluttering in DS's room - done
DD to dancing (though I did have a meltdown trying to get her to to move herself )
Not much else done as have been watching my mum and step-dad go through the Panama Canal - web-cams are wonderful things

Hoping for quiet w/e

Just popping by to say goodnight.

Pluto do have a good weekend (and everyone else too of course)

MrsG put your feet up and hope you are feeling less sore asap.

I've done most of my list but have a busy day ahead tomorrow.

Going to bed to read my book now.

i now understand. i think i might need to add check news to my daily to do list.

Right I'm going to have another go! Sorry feel silly for being so rubbish

It's funny but my disorganisation seems to be linked with eating badly somehow (don't know if anyone else finds this or whether I am just truly odd?) If I am eating healthily, I'm on top of things, house is tidy, DCs' do homework/reading on time - if I've been raiding the biscuits the house is a tip,there's no clean underwear to be found and the DCs' are stuck in front of the TV. Needless to say I've put on nearly a stone since Christmas and am going away now to give myself a good talking to!

Well - load number 3 in WM, DS asleep, not going to do any ironing but will probably sort it so its ready for tomorrow.

SC sterling job with the body clutter/healthy lifestyle-type babysteps: post away!
OM hope you've defused that bomb in yor bedroom
MrsGok poor you! No flying for you tonight or tomorrow at least (although feel free to delegate within your household)
ellie we had ffs & chips for tea too
chaos I'm right there with you on the paperwork front. I've been working (v slowly) on mine since I started doing this and still haven't got there - but I will!
tibni you've had a rough couple of days, try to get some rest over the weekend
swan another great list - Mrs Consistency!
HWC I see everyone has been trying to answer your questions - is there anything you need help with or are you ok for now? Just take things steadily and keep it all manageable
feetheart - rice pudding - bet someone will say you can do that in a slow cooker.... at M & SD going through Panama Canal!
Pluto have a great weekend. Monday will be fine
in1981 list is looking good - hope you managed it
MM shouldn't have to do the trip again until next month. It should take about 3 hours but weather was so bad, trains were cancelled etc. should be better next time
missb its for mornings like today's that the fat fairy tells us to prepare the night before! She is in la la land saying 'told you so' and feeling smug right now
Mmmango HAVE YOU FINISHED THAT APPLICATION FORM YET!
pmpy you are hopefully tucked up in bed by now. Hope you are feeling a bit better
Neenook good to see you - I think everyone on this thread had lapsed from time to time, and I think you have a point about the link between a chaotic house and a chaotic diet. Its all about self control (not much of that in this house)
PA congratulations on finding the bottom of the ironing basket
MrsD how romantic - porridge by candlelight {smile]
wtd sep & Amelia hope you are ok

Washing has finished so I'm off to bed. See you in the morning!

Totally identify with that Neenook - tidy house tidy mind, tidy fridge, meals planned - all fits together

I really am off to bed now!

Evening! mrsg I hope you're feeling better Maybe a nice soak in a hot bath? helpwithcleaning I do think you have to make this work for you - I've found trying to do some missions in addition to the baby steps means I feel like I'm actually getting somewhere!

Though not very far tonight as had long conversation with friend who has just had a bereavement

Also supervised DD2 dying hair black. Dare not look at state of bathroom!

But the sink is clean and clear, I've stuck to my weightwatcher's points and I cleared out the bathroom stool (which has a lid and a hollow inside to store things!)

Here is what I found:
-several sticky shampoo bottles - the little ones you get in hotels.
-a stray tampon
-old raser belonging to DH
-opened pack of lady's rasers
-some manky cotton wool
-7 urine sample bottles from when DD2 had urine infection - date is 2002
-urine sample bottle with my name on and date 1995 - presumably when expecting DD2!
-small bath toys yellowed with age
-two old toothbrushes
-dried up tablet of soap
-box of 12 condoms - 11 still there and dated 1997

You will be pleased to know, fellow flyers, that I got rid of all of it!!!

And now I'm off to bed! Thank goodness tomorrow is the weekend!

Morning all,
optimistic thanks for the tip - will try today with the timer

hwc I started with babystep + declutter 15 mins + mission, but prioritised in that order and doing virtually no other housework (no lists for me yet!) after a week in a zone it seems like you can maintain it without too much extra effort - so far anyway, I'm only talking about the kitchen cos that's as far as I've got.

MrsGok ouch! hope you're feeling better this morning, take it easy this weekend.

tibni no catching up, right? Just carry on.

MissBennet lol at your bathroom stool

DWM Actually I did no work on the application yesterday, but am going to aim for 2x15 mins on it today, a la Optimistic. Do keep shouting, it may be the only way I get it done.

Still sick here, if anyone knows about infant medication I'd appreciate your input on this thread Thanks

Good morning everyone

Babystep only today - no mission as its the weekend - Family Fun Day and we are off to see my folks today. Not seen them since before Christmas as they went away

It's a catch-up babystep today so no excuses! We are in the bedroom next week so last chance to sparkle those bathrooms until next month

Don't know whether this link will appeal to any of you wannabe healthy people. I don;t intend to get involved but if someone else wants to post info from it then that's fine with me

Enjoy your day!

GOod morning everyone. Just wanted to say a bit thanks for all the help you've given me in my first few days here I'm already seeing a small difference in my house. I've done a babystep each day & I've followed the daily missions that FlyLady sends out over email. They're very simple so I've found it doable & actually enjoyable!

Will post my list at the end of the day...

Morning! Damp and drizzly here today - I know the snow makes things more difficult but I don't like this much either!

Right then, today I am going to:
-go to fat club
-washing - 1 load in, 1 load to go
-finish off in bathroom - the DDs and I all have baskets for our various concoctions so today everyone must sort them out and clear the dross
-'home blessing' today or tomorrow
-wash kitchen floor and think about what I would need to do to get the roll of flooring onto it that has been sitting on the stairs for about 7 years!
-hot spot? Though I'm inclined to agree with an earlier post, sorry, can't remember who, my whole house is a hot spot!

And that's it. Did the menu plan and shopping last night so I'm ahead with that. And, minor miracle, DD2 dyed hair black but when I got up to the bathroom it was clean - if damp! I thanked her for leaving it nicely and she said that she thought she should because I am keeping it cleaner! Wow! Think she used the towel she'd used on her hair but actually that's OK!

Off to remove washing from machine, waving to all.......