Shine your Sink Fly Babies!

I wanted to re post this email I got today. Everyday the Fly Lady emails me. About 10 times a day. With testimonies from other Fly Babies like myself, or notes of encouragement, or just my daily reminders (when to go to bed, to start the day with my morning routine) I love all the emails. And even though it fills up my mailbox fast, all I have to do is hit delete if I get behind.

Fly Lady is also on Twitter, so I have added her so even when I try to procrastinate I can't! It's a free site, and I recommend it to everyone. She is always reminding you that just go start now, and she is proud of you. Seems funny coming from a complete stranger, but it really means alot to me.

I must tell you, I laughed my ass off about the "shine your sink" idea. But it really worked. After my sink is shiny I want my counter to follow suit. Eventually it takes over and my whole kitchen is shiny. This was a great message I got today, on how each room has it's own "shiny sink"

Well I have to put my shoes back on, my lunch break is just about over. Read the below email and FLY!


Dear Friends,

When you got your welcome letter from us, your very first assignment, was to Go Shine Your Sink. Do you remember how good it felt to see it gleam. Then after is was shining, it was more difficult to put dirty dishes in it. As a result you kept the Dishwasher empty so you could dispose of your plates and glasses.The Clean and Shiny Sink was contagious.

I have another God Breeze for you from a member's subject line! Did you know that every room in your home has a Shiny Sink!Let's think about this for a little while.

Master Bedroom: For me it is seeing my bed made with my decorative pillows on it and my one crowning pillow that my SHE sisters gave me! It says, "I'm Not Bossy, I just have better ideas!"

Children's Rooms: Having the toys put away and the floor clear, is usually a good sign.

Bathrooms: Having the sink shining! That is an obvious, but the mirror clear of tooth paste splatters and dental floss home runs is another thing that makes my bathroom look nice. Also having toiletries put away and not sitting out on the counter.

Office: This is a tough one, Keep your desk clear, with an uncluttered work surface.

Dining Room: Having the dining table empty and a pretty center piece on it. Maybe even a table cloth and napkins.

Living Room: This is a hard one for me. Keeping my end tables and huge coffee table clear of papers.

What this all boils down to, is Hot Spot Prevention. We all have these areas in our home, that if we will be vigilant, they will not become cluttered with our daily stuff. So twice a day, I send out a Hot Spot Reminder. If we will stay on top of this, they will not become a raging clutter inferno.

There is one other Shiny Sink, that I'll bet, you have not thought of.

Yourself: What are the final touches that make you feel special when you are getting dressed. It could be, putting on your makeup, fixing your hair, donning a pair of earrings, placing that string of pearls around your neck. It could also be a spritz of your favorite fragrance, the perfect color of lipstick, or using a sweet smelling bar of soap in your bath.

One other more intriguing possibility could be the foundation garments that you put on that give you that special feeling all day long. Something lacy and pretty underneath jeans and a t-shirt can make a huge difference in your own attitude. Something special just for you!

What can you do each morning to make yourself feel special?
Each and every one of your are special to me!
My goal is that you will feel this worth for yourself.
If you outsides look good, your insides feel good.
If your insides feel good, you can do anything!
The Sky is the limit!
I want you to Shine too!
Are you ready FLY along with me!

FlyLady
You are not behind!
I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?
Do it now! Don't wait! Get things done in 2008!

The above email was taken directly from the FlyLady herself. Even though I did copy it with out permission, she also has stated that if I post a link back to her, and tell exactly where I got it from that would be ok too. I can't tell you enough times to go check out Fly Lady, even if you are the busiest person, they have schedules for working people too! You won't be sorry!

I heart FLY Lady!!

No coffee and I am still good to go!

Get out the dumpster. Get out the shredder. Move the children to a safe spot. And give me some damn coffee. I feel good. Let's declutter this bitch.

(yes I will hopefully post later, to see if that momentum continues...)

Cleaning, not decluttering. It's a start

I have been meaning to post here. This is what is new.

I have a Control Journal. I do read it. Daily. I have shined my sink, I did it for 3 days in a row.

Spaghetti and I spent time Monday cleaning our asses off. Not decluttering, but it took us 4 hours, to really clean Spikes and Bagels rooms. Spikes included the attic space. His closet, but not hers.

The main bathroom upstairs is clean too. Needs to be organized too though. The big desk in the loft needs to just be tamed. Then the big paper purge needs to happen.

It will take time, but I am trying. I give us and e for effort on that one.

On the same page.

So this morning I was writing in my Control Journal (from Fly Lady, I am choosing to write mine out. Sticks better) as I am writing I look over at Ed, who is writing his football pool choices for this week.

He doesn't know what I am doing, but he rolls his eyes, probably thinking it's another procrastinating tool I have found, to put off house work.

So over screaming children quality family time, he asks me if this house drives me nuts. He means with all the clutter and just shit everywhere. I mean everywhere.

I agree, and we both say there is no where to go for peace, and just to relax with out seeing a pile of something or another in that room. Agreed.

He asks me if we had a whole day of just us (Queen and Carrots would have to entertain the kids) could we organize the whole house... realistically I straight out said no way. It's not possible.

But you know us, we like a good challenge. So on Monday we are taking Spike in for his 6 month stabbing vaccines, my parents will come to town and take the kids from us. We will start the day off with our 6 month dental cleaning. Then straight home for some physcho cleaning and decluttering.

My oh my, this is not in the books, not what Peter Walsh or Fly Lady would recommend. Probably not the nice lady, Laura, over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

But we will see where this takes us... until then I need to get some of the things organized... I am not looking for a miracle on Monday, well maybe, sorta, but I am looking for Spaghetti and myself to get a good start on getting this house how we want it.

I was elated that we talked for over an hour today on our goals for this house. I am not alone, nor should I be in this!

Morning Routine

1. Get out of bed, and hit the ground FLYing!


2. Make the bed


3. Get dressed to shoes! Shower, hair, face, brush teeth, deodorant


4. Read 2 minute FLY lady reminders.


5. Gather laundry from all bedrooms. Take it down with you when you go.


6. Swish toilet, wipe counter, put away things.


7. Get Bagel up, changed, dressed, make bed.


8. Feed Cats.

Go downstairs with Mia and laundry.

1. Get Bagel set in front room.
2. Get coffee, Sippy and bottle ready (prep for breakfast, place mats, bibs...)
3. Take the laundry down, throw a load in, let the dogs out
4. Feed the dogs change out water
5. Empty dishwasher
6. Check calendar for appointments
7. What's for diner? Take food out
8. Put out your Hot Spot (pick a room) 2 minutes
9. 5 minute room rescue (pick any room)
10. Declutter for 1 hour, 30,15 or 10 minutes.

What a way to start your day! I am so proud of you!!

Reminder: Please go to bed

Geez I hope this goes better then my diet blog. Yes that one no longer exists. The reason is I am on a quest to make myself better. But I have realized that with my house being the chaotic mess that it is. I can not focus very well on getting any one thing done right.

I try, really I do. I mean I try to have control over the dishes, and laundry, and bills. But it's always a mess. I want so bad to have a cute nice clean home for people to visit. So I am starting my online control Journal.

Flylady.com is my source of all my organized skill (or at least 99% of them) I am not sure where to go from here, right now. I do know that I was supposed to take 30 days and take FLY baby steps, but instead I read them all, and I will do them for 30 days (It was way to much baby steps right there) I will do my check lists.

The morning, afternoon, and before bedtime routines. I will clear my Hot Spots, put on my shoes, Swish and Swipe... yeah, I'm lost. Must be why I was supposed to take baby steps.

You know this site means business when I just got this email...

Reminder from:
FlyLadyMentors Yahoo! Group

Title:
PLEASE GO TO BED: YOUR BODY NEEDS SLEEP!

Date:
Tuesday October 21, 2008

Time:
10:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Repeats:
This event repeats every day.

Notes:
REMINDER: PLEASE GO TO BED: YOUR BODY NEEDS SLEEP!It's getting late on the east coast of the USA. If you live somewhere else in the world set your bedtime now. I really want you to go to bed. Getting up is much easier when you get plenty of sleep.Getting enough sleep is the key to many of our health issues. Please don't deprive your body of the rest you need. When I started getting restful sleep; my body clutter started going away.Consider yourself tucked in!

Get reminders on your mobile, Yahoo! Messenger, and email.Edit reminder options

And on a very serious note, I am to the point where I need someone like this (for free at that) to tell me to put on my shoes, make my bed, brush my teeth... every step... baby steps...

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