O.K. I was one of them that has fought this suggestion for a year or so, I have 2 friends that have been doing this for a while. I'm so hard headed and stubborn I just knew I couldn't let someone tell or suggest to me what to do in my house every day. Well I finally reluctantly went to the sight and my goodness, she hits the nail on the head right off the bat, she knew me already really well! I panic when someone drives up unannounced because of my house! I subscribed and am going to give it a try, wish me luck everyone and to all of those who like me doesn't think they can do it, come join me, I need all the support I can get. One thing I like is she suggest baby steps, like the shoe thing I kept them on for 1/2 a day, "baby steps" since I'm not used to wearing shoes in the house at all.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), November 26, 2001

Answers

The shoe thing let me know the flylady system wouldn't work for me. Two of my friends are into it. They love it!

-- Jo (mamamia2kids@msn.com), November 26, 2001.

Hi Carol. I went on Flylady for a while. I loved her "shoe" suggestion, if I put my shoes on, I am more ready to really dig in and work. It is easier to accomplish tough tasks if you are fully dressed down to the shoes, first thing in the morning. I get up and get completely dressed down to the shoes first thing. I am just so much more able to really get into the housework. Also the radio blasting helps a lot!!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 26, 2001.

I compromised and wear "aqua socks" - sort of like slippers, but surefooted on the basement stairs and I can run out to the mailbox in them. Well, one baby step at a time...

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), November 26, 2001.

????flylady??????

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), November 26, 2001.

It is an organizational site. She believes in shining your sink, dressing to the shoes, getting rid of 27 things and lots of other neat ideas. I think it is www.flylady.com If you sign on be prepared for lots of e-mail reminders!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 26, 2001.

Sorry, it is: www.flylady.net

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 26, 2001.

I looked at her site once, but her ideas didn't really apply to my life.

However, our local PBS station is having their pledge drive and running various programs, one of which caught my attention. It was by a woman who claimed to be an utter mess and totally disorganized until she figured it out. Her name is Julie Morganstern and her book is "Organizing from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office, and Your Life". What caught my attention was that she emphasizes a system that functions for YOU, not one that meets someone else's standards of neat & tidy or a certain kind of decoration. I've ordered the book from the library. If I like it well enough, I'll probably get a copy of my own, as I'm sure one reading will not be enough to get me organized.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), November 26, 2001.

Hi Joy, I like to take bits and pieces of other people's ideas and use them to fit my life too.

The fly-lady wasn't for me much, as I don't have a lot of clutter to deal with. If I was continually getting rid of 27 things, I wouldn't have anything left very shortly.

I think the key to organization is finding a plan you can live with every day. Once a week usually isn't enough!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 26, 2001.

Who is this "flylady anyhoo? Well anyhow folks---I have an old say'n that I invented. Well, maybe that's not really the truth but--- I DID expound on ita mite tho!!!! "If it ain't broke don't go break it just so's ya'll'll have something to do"! Works for me until Lil Dumplin finds something that needs "broke" or was that "fixed"? old hoot, the fixer of "broke" things, gibson. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 26, 2001.

I will vouch for the radio giving you umph to clean :o) My sister that lives in another state does it too. She says it's time to turn on some music and clean. I guess it makes you feet want to dance. Of course a cup of coffee helps too. :o) I would find it hard to give away my "junk" though, since I usually need the item right after I get rid of it. I would rather think of a use for it. :o) Even if it is in the chicken coop. By the way, it is a unwritten law that you get visitors when your house looks it's worst. ;o) I clean and clean, and my father in law (that lives five hours away) stopped in when my house was a pit. UGH! hee hee.

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), November 27, 2001.

What worked for me was the "Sidetracked Home Executives" plan. I read their first book many years ago, and laughed for days. To me, they are hilarious (I've also seen them on tv several times), but the main thing was their plan really worked, basically because it is tailored to fit you, and allows for some flexibility. It is the only organizational plan I've ever stuck with more than a week. I have continued to use it even though I've moved several times, and in fact this week I'm modifying my card file and cards to fit my "new" house. When my 2 older girls were about 10 or 12, they were having trouble staying organized and keeping their room neat, so I made them a card file with a smaller version of my plan (including the household chores I expected them to do) and they loved it.

We're all different, but I think one of the reasons I started having trouble with housekeeping was because of health problems. In addition to my children, I've always had lots of animals and would much rather spend time outdoors than inside. Prior to my injuries, other than doing dishes daily, I would wait till the house was dirty, then dig in and clean like crazy. I would go non-stop till I was done. After I got hurt, I could no longer do that and had trouble disciplining myself to a routine of doing a little each day. I just didn't know where to start and it seemed like keeping up was an insurmountable task.

When I learned about the "SHE" program, it sounded great. I made up my card file and started doing a few jobs each day. I no longer felt overwhelmed, and when I needed a break I could relax without feeling guilty for not cleaning the entire house, because I knew I would get to all the other jobs in time. You also designate certain days/times off for yourself, which helped too. If a friend called unexpectedly and wanted to get together, I tried to schedule it for my day off, but if that wasn't possible then I would just swap my day off with a work day.

You can find their book in many libraries (as well as some of their others, like "Catch-up in the Kitchen") so you can start without having any expense other than making up a card file.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), November 27, 2001.

Carol-I hope Flylady works out for you. I had never heard of it so I went to that site, sounds interesting, thoug I think I would get irratated with e-mail reminders to dust the living room.

I have to drive my kids to school in the morning, so I HAVE to get up, get dressed, shoes and all and do something with my hair. I go in school with the kids and sometimes help with morning reading, so I have to be that presentable. I agree that getting dressed helps tremendously. However, we have hardwood floors and have spent the last year telling everyone TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU COME IN!!!!! My husband even posted a little note on the frount door, "Please remove your shoes before entering" I bought some cheap felt clogs and slippers for indoor shoe wearing. I hate shoes and wear clogs becuase they are the least Shoelike-I can slip them on and off in seconds.

However-I could use help on the organizational frount... and it does sound like their are some good ideas here-thanks for telling about it.

-- Kelly (happycat@fakemail.com), November 28, 2001.

I like the Sidetracked Home Executives too. I used that method for a while and it worked great, until we moved the first time. Unlike you, I have never used it since. The last two houses we have lived (living) in have been fixer uppers and I just haven't been able to get that system working again. Since we now have the downstairs almost finished, I see hope of using it again. Just won't add upstairs chores - it's hopeless up their (ha, ha) except our youngest son's room that we have all done except for installing the carpet.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 28, 2001.

This is a first for me, I babysit my 4 year old grandaughter 5 days a week and getting things done is sometimes a chore, but I manage the important things like clean clothes and beds and meals (on time) my husband and I are both retired and I do love to iron, that is a must but I let it stack up for month. Not too terrible! Would like to do a little more of the decorative thing, I watch HGTV and get a hankering to do something besides the usual. My little grandaughter loves to help and dust quite frequently. Thanks for your suggestions.

-- ramona j carrow (marbor@csonline.net), February 24, 2002.

I have been using flylady to help me get my home in order. When I read "Are you living in C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)?" I knew I had to read more! I have multiple sclerosis which at times gives me physical restrictions. I can't wear shoes for very long on most days. So I take the liberty of skipping that step. I decided to use what I can, try to do all the suggestions, but skip what I can't do. I have not done one 27 Fling Boogie. I am sure I have many more than 27 things that NEED to be flung, but I can't bring myself to do it. BUT -- for the first time in my 22 years of married life, I no lnoger worry about the house. It still has much more clutter than I want, but if someone knocks on my front door, the living room is presentable and the dishes are done. I am a perfectionist and for years have said I don't have time to do it right, so I don't do it at all. Flylady says "Housework done incorrectly still blesses your family." It does!! Because of my disability, I am on the computer frequently during the day (everytime I have to take a break). I don't mind all the emails. If I don't want to read them, I just delete them. If I don't feel up to a project, I don't do it. BUT I am trying to keep up with the ground I have gained and gain a little more each day, establishing daily routines and keeping up with them. This is a flexible plan I can live with that gives me hope where I had no hope before that I could ever learn to have a presentable house. Most people I know seem to have "perfect" houses and I kept beating myself up over it. No more!!

-- Dolly (dollyeliz@aol.com), March 13, 2002.

okay, here goes...I've got to do something before my stepmom completely gives up on me...she's 72 and outdoes me in everything! Hope I have the will power to stick with this!

-- Pam (jahemi@sssnet.co), June 15, 2002.

PLEASE,PLEASE Unscribe me from the e-mails!! I have done what you said about sending a blank e-mail to the address you gave, but both times it has come back as undeliverable. I can't deal with so much e-mail. Please remove my name from the e-mail list!! Think you do good work.

-- Jane Dzelzitis (jdzelzitis@backroads.net), October 16, 2002.