Fledgling Flyers - Mad as March Hares

[MiniMarmite]

Welcome to the spring(ish) edition of the fledgling flyers.

Some of us will be flapping falteringly and others flying faultlessly towards making our homes look perennially spring cleaned!

Here you can do any of the following:

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

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

or

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

This is what it's all about - Babysteps each day to try to get some order back into our home with LOADS of support from our regulars.

So join in! We start this thread on March 1st, but you are welcome to dive in at any point in the month.

Hop along to reserve your place...

I am really liking this. I've only been FLYing for a few days but my house feels nicer already. Today I have:

-Got DS to pre-school, in his uniform (miracles happen), and on time

-Been to bank to pay MANY bills

-Done all breakfast dishes and put Cottage pie together for tea

-Hung up washing and put new load on

-Visited MIL for a quick chat and to have a look at fabric that arrived for my wedding dress!!!!

-Got first half of assignment done for uni

Still to do:

• Pick up DS and feed him

• visit from SureStart Family Support Worker to sort out DS's behaviour, little git.

• Transform house into wonderful play area

• Pick up Mindee from Pre-school

• work til 6

• Tidy up, do dishes etc, Shine Sink.

• DS to bed!!!!!

• More coursework

• sit and wait nervously for DP to come home because he is going out, and he never goes out at night, I'm not used to being here alone.

Hi ladies
Forgot we were on to a new thread
Oh well,
Today hasn't started off too well, my new plan for changing my life includes getting up before ds to get a headstart on the day. Unfortunately, DP brought DS through to me about a minute after my eyes opened. SCuppered my morning. DS now having a nap, so I can get started.

Up and dressed to shoes done
Washing up
clean kitchen counters
clean cooker
15 minutes in dining room
1 load laundry
hoover living room and hallway.
get some exercise

Welcome, welcome to our new ladies. Second what the others have said. take it slow one step at a time and you make progress.
Happy flying everyone.

Morning (just!)

I'm a seriously lapsed FLYer....but need to get myself back into a decent routine, and seriously need help to get motivated.

I've got my old routine list still on the wall, but have just noticed it says clean the highchair, and we got rid of ds' highchair a year ago!

I will get the kitchen under control and come back.....

Morning (or is it afternoon?) ladies

At work today but so far have

Taken and collected DD from settling in session at nursery
Dishasher
washing

To do when I get home...

make tea
dishwasher (always!)
more washing
put away clean clothes
S & S ( a bit lapsed at the moment)

DONE
homebless yes not ncluding sheets, but hooverng yes, and ashes in grate
brief zone clean including dust at high level
routine done (except for swishing)

diary dates - done and perusal of diary
menu plan and supper NO
music practice - done
bookclub book ordered - done
and a few more books - done
planted up primulas in large pot - done

Right:

washing up done
clean counters done
Clean cooker done
hover living room and hallway done

Still to do:
15 minutes in dining room
1 load laundry
shine sink.

Hello everyone

Just marking my place on this lovely new spring thread and wanted to:

1. add my HUGE thanks to DroitwichMummy for leading us so brilliantly and reliably and good-humour-edly through the previous Fledgling threads and for leading by example!! StillCounting abode looking immeasurably better thanks to you and the support from all fellow fledglings on here

1. add another HUGE thank you to MiniM for taking on this month's thread - happy to help out in any way I can. I'm travelling for half of April but happy to take on May thread if you want a change by then.

1. A warm welcome to Peachy Muminbeds JoCoolBeans and LittlePurplePrincess and welcome back to QueenofDreams AND helloooo to Jas ( I know you from previous flying thread don't I??? I also fell off that one!!!)

1. Thank you to everyone for your kind words last week when I returned (briefly) after absence. Just girding my loins so to speak to get everything back on track this month and going back to first principles/baby-steps/15 mins a day. Good news is that although I've fallen off wagon in rather spectacular style, things are still looking MUCH improved from when I fell off wagon last time !!! And, owing to some life changes, I've decided to take some time out from p/t job so I am a free woman between now and 1st September, so no excuses now for getting on top of things!!

1. Back in a mo to post this week's body-clutter hint (thought best to start here rather than on yesterday's thread in case confusing)

Waves to MummyD MiniM Optimistic Swanriver Elliepac MissBennett PA TeamCullen Feetheart¨MrsDinky PushmePullyou and anyone I've missed ...

I've missed you all loads and sorry not to have caught up with all your individual posts/news yet!!

Today have:
Cleaned sink and kitchen surfaces (but still very cluttery)
Hoovered and dusted sitting room (ditto)
Done 2 hrs French study
Done supermarket shop

To do:
Pick towels, slippers and clothes dropped by dd and dh on bathroom floor and s & s
Herd laundry in to one corner and beat in to submission
Start washing

Happy March Flying everyone!!

um .. sunshine here making everything look worryingly battered and ancient ... I think some power dusting is in order ...

Stillcounting
good luck with new job

today Ihave reached zen like calm, such is effect of homebless
abandoned menuplanning/shop - as usual there is far too much food in this house and a pumpkin that has been in the fridge since before Xmas - (should do several meals)

Also Dones
Grocery shop for boring things
Music lesson
bit of gardening
dcs are playing after school sports, and I have just one child here, it is BLISS.
I have given him nutella to show my appreciation

so just need to make supper (rouladen & mash)
supervise bit of homework/violin after pickup
swish bathroom
clean out horrors from car
collect 4 kids from Cubs at 8.00 and deliver

and I'm trying out some yeast cinnamon rolls - made dough yest, they are proving feel v excited novice baker emoticon

swanriver - rolls sound yummy, recipe please.
My New Year's Resolution was to try more yeast cookery to add to my pizza dough and bagels repertoire, need to dig out Nigella again and drool

Hello everyone, can I join you? I've tried FLYing a few times before (before discovering this/previous threads - in fact, before I discovered MN I think) and it's usually gone quite well for a while until I end up falling by the wayside. The house is in chaos and I desperately need to get back on track, so it's back to babysteps for me I think - off to shine my sink now!

BODY CLUTTER STEP FOR WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY 1st March:

(Please ignore if you are not watching your weight or CBA!!)

Make low fat soup and eat it rather than chuck it (Optimistic)

This is a good one!!

And try and maintain previous week's tips:

• number 1, drink between 1 and 2 litres of water a day

• number 2, eat five portions of fruit and veg a day

• number 3, write down what you eat, how much and how often

• number 4, walk as much as you can during the day (10,000 steps is a good target to aim for) and remember to lay out your walking clothes the night before!

• number 5, eat only at defined meal and snack times (3 meals and 2 healthy snacks ideal) and don't pick in between. Remember "Kitchen pickers wear big knickers"!!

• number 6, cut out alcohol completely or restrict to x nights per week

• number 7, keep a low calorie/low fat snack in your handbag

A warm welcome to Aberita!!

Hello MiniMarmite droitwichmummy JoCoolBeans swanriver MrsDinky PositiveAttitude feetheart missbennett elliepac Littlepurpleprincess QueenofDreams Jas pushmepullyou StillCounting aberita and anyone else I might have accidentally missed - It sounds like we're all having a determined start to the month, long may it continue.

cnnamon rolls - big mistake, have just eaten three despite my no snacking rule

Feetheart recipe is
from Katie Stewart

Ib strong flour
I level tablespoon dried yeast
half pint mixed warm milk and water
2 teaspoons level of salt
I oz of sugar and a tsp over

make dough as per usual, knead thoroughly
set to rise in polythene bag over bowl warm place till doubled

then knead, and roll out to rectangle 12 x 9 inches, or 30 x 23 cm, sprinkle with tsp of cinnamon and 2 oz of soft brown sugar ( I used light brown)

roll up from long side, then cut into 12-15 slices an inch thick,

leave on baking tray to prove till risen and puffy (30 mins?)
bake in hot oven for 25 mins
glaze with icing made of 2 oz icing sugar and water to mix

serve cold, glaze whilst warm

but only enjoyed by people who like cinnamon!

Ahhh (nostalgia emoticon)

Have my ma's old Katie Stewart recipe bk from the 1950s - I coloured in all her teeth with blue biro when I was about 9 so the cover is a bit unnerving - but recipes are brill!!

Good afternoon all, aberita jas and all the other newbees.

Just realised that this morning I said its D Day for DS1, and didnt say why. He is waiting to see what secondary school he gets into, but Mr. Postie didnt bring the letter, so another day of waiting for me tommorrow.

This evening Im going to;

Put washing away
Do the tea
15 mins declutter ( go through the shoe box and throw away any old/small shoes
DCs bedtime routine
bedtime routine
Pray hard that DS1 has his first choice school

Bed early

Hello everyone - loads of new people

Doing well today - managed NOT to MN until now so should have had loads of time this morning but didn't (first day of the month so school dinner money, out of school club fees, notes for school/afterschool to tell them when I will be picking up this week etc)

My list for this evening
unload/reload airer
S & S while DS is in the shower
15 mins ironing
5 mins rescue of dining table
reload WM
unload/reload DW
hem DS trousers and sew buttons on DH jacket in front of tv
5 mins rescue living room
shine sink
15 mins knitting in front of tv
bed on time

teamcullen I've got everything crossed for DS1
SC I'm glad you've sorted rl out and have got some time out - make sure you keep some of it for yourself!

Evening all

SC good for you. I never had any intention of being a SAHM, but fate intervened when I got made redundant last year and I am more relaxed (and tidy!) than in a long time. Am planning to try and go back to work around the end of this year.

TC - thought that might be what you meant, fingers crossed.

SR - buns sound fabulous. When the West Quay Shopping Centre opened in Southampton there was a Cinnamon bun outlet, the whole place smelled gorgeous, it didn't last long though . I tried making pikelets a few weeks ago, they turned out quite well for a first attempt.

Well, today has been busy.

DW - emptied, brekkie stuff in
Washing - done and in dryer - now folded
Swish and swipe, clean bath and basin - done
Pick up random odds and sods from floors downstairs - about 2/3 done - all done, more out again
Hoover downstairs - done
Sweep kitchen floor - done
Fill in some forms - half done
Put some toys in the loft - no
Go to gym - done
Do weekly food shop - done, but couldn't get quite a few bits
Spend time trying to fit all the food into the fridge/cupboard - mostly done
Pick DD up from pre-school and change her for ballet - done
Pick DS up from school - done
Take DD to ballet and DS to soft play - done
Come home and feed DCs - done
Take DS to Beavers - done
Pick him up again - done
Make dinner for me and DH, also packed lunches for Tues - done
Collapse with large glass of wine and watch 5 Days on telly - here I come!

The lovely sunny weather seems to have had a very calming relaxing effect here, the after school horror run that is Mondays was very calm and smooth compared to last week. Long may it continue! See you tomorrow.

Evening all

First of all thank you MiniM for taking over the thread this month and well done and thankyou again to DWM for a fantastically organised couple of months!

Welcome to all the new ladies including MIB, jas, aberita, peachy and LPP. We're a pretty easy going thread and as much about the chatting as the cleaning sometimes , but those of us that have been here a few months have found that our houses are very much nicer now

Slighy guilty hellos to all the 'old' faces as I have been a bit awol of late due to lots of horrible work stress!

MrsD that is a truly spectacular level of achievement for one day! Am properly impressed . Swanriver my mouth is watering at the thought of cinnamon buns, but I still have another stone to lose to get back to my ideal weigth, so had better pass on them for now. Have had a rubbish day of diet today, it always goes wrong when I'm making tea as I am so hungry by then that I end up eating random rubbish when I'm cooking! Oh well, tomorrow is another day and all that!

SC I know what you mean about every time you fall off the wagon ending up with a slightly tidier house than last time. Happens a lot here as well, but I find if I can keep on top of the washing and washing up then it can never go too badly wrong.

Good luck to your DS for tomorrow tc. DD had her first settling in session at nursery today so school worried seem a long way in the future for me, but I bet they're here before I know it!

Done everything on my list today except the S & S, which is looking a bit doubtful now if I'm being honest!

Hello to PA, OM, feetheart and everyone else I've missed

Hello Everyone and well done on a productive first day!

Welcome JoCB I'm sorry things aren't so good in your life at the moment but really glad you are feeling positive about your new start. It isn't just about the housework here, everyone is really supportive so I hope we can help to bring some cheer into your life.

Jas and aberita welcome back to flying, I hope you enjoy our mad group.

DWM - lots of knitting and sewing going on there - things I am not good at and avoid as far as possible unfortunately!

MrsD I was a bit at your list this morning - easy does it!

Glad you are feeling better feetheart and hope you had a lovely lunch with your friend and her daughter, how exciting.

PA great going as usual - can't get over how much you managed to achieve before I had even had even finished getting dressed this morning!

Well done on encouraging your DD to help MissB. Always wondering about making risotto the day before - do you cook it to completely ready and then reheat or something else? I find it too difficult to make with DS running around my ankles so need to be able to do it when he is out or asleep!

I have my fingers crossed for DS's school place TC

Great start MIB and I love the fact that you have it on your list to cuddle the guinea pigs. I should put my cat on the list too as he always gets left out in all the chaos (I just about remember to feed him)!

Well done on the singing practice SR - I have just restarted my singing lessons and I'm finding it really difficult to get back into the habit of practising. Do you mind me asking what you are singing at the moment? I am a yeast bakery fan too! The rolls sound lovely.

Ellie glad your CM is back, I hope she is ok as she can be.

LPP that's a long list! I'm sure a few of us will be around to chat on and off tonight while DP is out

Don't be too hard on yourself QoD - sometimes just good to get whatever sleep you can with little ones

PMPY hope you had a good day at work and that DD's settling in session went well.

SC so happy to have you back, glad you are taking some time out from work and hope you are ok. Thanks for leading the Body Clutter section - I for one need some help in that area! LOL about the blue teeth on the cookery book!

Wow, that's a lot of people! Bubbly all round I think!

Tuesday's babysteps and mission:

Our baby step for Tuesday is to get dressed to shoes. How you interpret or do this is up to you. I see it as getting ready for the day but I don't put my shoes on before the point of leaving the house.

Decluttering and mission: we're in Zone 1 this week - The Entrance, Front Porch, and Dining Room.

This isTuesday's mission

and here are Flylady's decluttering tips for those of us who are new to this or would like a reminder.

Happy FLYing everyone.

Evening ladies

Loads going on today by the look of things. MrsD - That is one mammoth list there, you will be flying rockets to the moon if you keep that up!

TC - Hope the letter arrives tomorrow. Could you find out via internet if there is a hold-up with the letter? I am sure i did it that way a few years ago.

Ellie - Glad your DD was happy to be abck at the CM.

Waves to everyone else.sorry for general wave, I am sat with a rather large glass of red "orange juice" and brain has already turned off!

My morning list was successfully completed followed by a manic day at work and nothing accomplished since!

Just had an evening of Wii with DH,DD4 &DS, while two poorly's stared inanely at the TV. I swear DH was playing "who can be the most competitive" - Loved it when I won the frisbee golf with a hole in one!!!

I had a rush of blood to the head earlier and I bought a Kenwood chef with a bit of money my parents gave me at Christmas. I am now feeling incredibly guilty for spending so much ...... but cant wait for it to arrive! I will be baking all day to try it out.

Another long day at work tomorrow, so morning routines, but not a lot else will get done.

have a good evening all.

Welcome to all the old and new people, hope you had a good Flying day.

Well done on the round-up MM missbennett - (whispers very quietly) whereabouts in Beds? Think there might be a MN Flying cell/nest/coven/??? in operation

LPP - fabric for wedding dress, that does sound exciting. Are we going to have a Flying wedding? I do like a DO

swanriver - thanks for recipe, definitely going to try that soon, possibly later in the week. Enjoy yours

sc - at scary coloured-in teeth cookbook. Wonder how Delia would look? Must NOT mention it to DS

teamcullen - fingers-crossed for right result for DS.
We got DS's letter re primary school today - no surprises but can't believe my baby starts big school in September

Right, today:
Morning routine - done
Sneak borrowed stuff back into school after Pamper Night on Friday - done
Look after friend's 2 yr old all day - done, she was a star
2 mins hotspot - done
Hoover downstairs - no
Find 2 red sweatshirts to turn DD and her best friend into Thing 1 and Thing 2 for World Book Day on Friday - done Hurrah, good old Sainsburys, just need to paint them now
Lunch with a friend and her newly adopted daughter - done and it was lovely
Afternoon routine - done
Evening routine - need to finish washing up and get to bed