Until recently, I had been holding onto summer with white knuckles, but I have to say, this week, I am finally starting to feel excited about things like hot apple cider, pumpkin creamer in my coffee, colorful mums on front porches, and all of the other seasonal musings that come with Autumn. So in celebration of fall, I want to share this recipe. My kids have been asking me to make this pumpkin bread that I make every year. Because we like to eat it for breakfast, I have adapted significantly it from the traditional recipe I had, to make it more healthy. Other than the fact that it still has a not so healthy portion of sugar, it is packed with fiber, potassium, beta-carotene and protein. It is so moist and delicious, your kids will not even be able to tell that it is reasonably healthy! 

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.  Spray a generous coat of cooking spray onto the bottom and sides of two 9X5 loaf pans. Cream sugar and oil, add remaining wet ingredients and mix well. Sift dry ingredients together, add to wet ingredients and mix well. Pour evenly into both pans. Bake for 45-55 minutes.

​​The key to getting and keeping your college dorm room organized, is to ensure that you have everything you need, and nothing that you don't...
​With my daughter going off to college in a few weeks, dorm rooms have been on my mind, along with the shock of how fast these last few months with her have passed.   I sent my oldest daughter off to college 3 years ago and so we have been through it all before.  With exception to enduring a day full of emotions and tears, these tips will ensure that all goes as smoothly as possible on move-in day.
 

DO:  PLAN AHEAD FOR FURNITURE AND DECOR
If you know ahead of time who you are going to be rooming with, talk with your future roommate in advance to avoid duplication of larger items such as a dorm refrigerator, microwave, TV, coffee pot, etc.  This is also a good time to discuss decorating, and come up with a style or theme together so that your choice of decor style and color doesn’t clash with your roommate’s.

DO: SPACE PLAN
If possible, measure the spaces in your dorm room a head of time and take photos of closets and bathroom spaces to ensure that larger items like futons, dorm refrigerators, and other items will fit into the spaces available.  Use your creativity to rearrange the existing furniture to create more space.  If you are short on space try stacking the beds or moving a dresser to your closet.  

DON’T:  PURCHASES ITEMS WITHOUT MAKING SURE YOU NEED THEM
Be sure to use a college supply checklist to ensure that you don’t forget anything.  Knowing what to bring will not only prevent essential items from getting left behind, but will help you to avoid bringing items that you don’t need, that ultimately end up cluttering up your small space.  Check with the school to see exactly what they provide, that way you don’t buy a trash can just to find out that there is already one provided.  Take advantage of local stores on move-in day.  When my older daughter moved in to her dorm room, we held off on buying several questionable items until move in day because we knew we could stop at the store down the street.  By the time we had her situated, we were able to buy only what she actually needed and found that we needed less than expected. 
 
DO: ESTABLISH ZONES WITHIN YOUR COLLEGE DORM ROOM
If possible, create small areas for different activities such as studying, sleeping, entertainment and eating. Store everything that you need for each activity in those zones. For example, for studying, create a place to store pens, pencils, highlighters, a comfy pillow, portable light, glasses, etc. so that you will have everything you need at your fingertips when it is time to study. 


DON’T:  BRING OUT OF SEASON CLOTHING IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO
If you live within reasonable driving distance from your college, leave your winter clothing at home until colder weather arrives.  Swap your summer and fall clothes for your winter clothing as the weather changes. You will free up much needed space in your dorm room closet if you only store the clothing and accessories you actually wear.  
  
DO: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY INCH OF DORM ROOM SPACE
Bed risers and under the bed storage bins are a great way to utilize the space underneath your bed for extra storage space. Add storage cubicles to the bottom of your closet if you are short on shelf storage. Consider bringing a small night stand with open shelves so that it can double as a small book case. Stackable storage cubes also work well.  Over the door pocket organizers are great for extra closet and bathroom storage.  Utilize wall space by adding removable damage free hooks on doors to hang things like purses, coats, robes, towels or your backpack. 

​Taking these steps will ensure that you have everything you need in your college dorm room and nothing stealing space that you won't use.

​As a 3 part blog series we have touched on the 3 things that we tend to do better when we are on vacation that we somehow forget when we go back to living our regular lives. If we could just carry some of these things back with us into our daily routines, we would all benefit in a big way.  First, we slow our lives down to a more enjoyable pace by LIVING IN VACATION MODE, second, we live more simply while we are away by PACKING ONLY THE NECESSITIES. The third thing we get right while we are on vacation is that we live more in the present by doing a better job of PAYING ATTENTION.
 
Think about the last time you went on vacation, likely, you can remember much of what you did each day that you were away. That's because we tune in to whats going on around us when we are on vacation.  Our senses wake up as we slow down a take in new sights, smells, and even tastes, as we try new foods.  We make our best memories on vacation and focus on savoring each moment. We forget about our to-do lists and what needs to be done tomorrow and just live for right now.  Whether we are sharing special moments with our family or friends, enjoying a meal, sightseeing or just taking a walk, we are going all of these things in a more awake state than usual and we are enjoying the process.
 
If we do a better job of living in the present when we are on vacation, what would it be like if we could consciously bring some of this presence back with us into our regular schedules? 

I have to repeatedly remind myself to stay present when I spend time with my 3 daughters.  I am all too aware that their childhood is quickly vanishing.  Already, those little girls I had running around the house have been replaced by big teenage girls that aren't home as often.  I know I don't have much time left to make memories. Also, I want those memories to be vivid and rich, I don't want vague ones where I was only half engaged because my mind was mostly on my to-do list and on getting things done.  I also do not want my best memories to be limited to the few times a year when we were on vacation.
 
But lets face it, staying present is not easy, it takes practice and effort, and the busier we are, the harder it is to do it.  But it is well worth the effort because when we are present, we not only are more engaged and more patient with the people we are with, but we are better listeners too. While we are naturally more apt to wake up to the new sights and experiences that we encounter while on vacation, it is easy to dismiss the present moment on ordinary days when nothing new or unusual is taking place.  But with practice and intention, we can get better at paying attention to what is going on right now, even on uneventful, ordinary days. ​
 
Just the other night, my 19-year-old came home from work, she was excited about the storm that she noticed brewing in the sky while on her drive home.  She took a seat on the front porch and invited me to join her. I put down the task I was working on and sat down next to her.  We just sat there watching the lightning show in the sky for a while, taking in all that we were seeing and hearing.  Eventually the wind turned angry and the rain became a down pour, and we were forced to go in to avoid getting soaked.  But for a short time, we were absorbed in the now, not doing anything other than living and sharing in the moment. At some point, I realized that this was the first time all day that I had stopped being productive.  In my mind, I thought - I need more moments like these in my life.  My guess is that many of us need more moments like this in our lives. I was so grateful to my daughter for nudging me be present for a little while. 
 
See if you can look for opportunities to savor the present moment more often.  Even simple tasks like walking the dog can be done better.  As we walk, we can intentionally stop thinking about what needs to get gone when we get home or what problem needs to be solved, and focus instead on the walk itself. We can walk more consciously, and pay attention to all the sights and sounds of nature.  We can intentionally listen to the birds singing, and the planes flying overhead. Our brains will appreciate the momentary break from constantly problem solving.  Even our pooch will appreciate the extra attention.

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There are three things that we get right when we are on vacation that we somehow forget when we go back to living our regular lives. If we could just carry some of these things back with us into our daily routines, we would all benefit in a big way.  This is a 3-part blog series focusing in detail on each of these.  

We Live Lighter on Vacation 
My last article; living in VACATION MODE discussed how slowing down and enjoying life at a more restful pace should not be reserved just for vacationers. The second thing we get right when we're on vacation is that we pack just the necessities.  There is something freeing about having only the personal items that we really need with us on vacation. While some of us might pack more lightly than others, we all essentially bring only what we think we will need and use during our stay. I tend to pack as little as possible, because it means less hauling, loading and unloading and I am comfortable with doing without anything that is not an absolute necessity for the short time that I am away.  Others may take more time to pack and bring more, to ensure that all the comforts of home are available to them if needed.  Either way, whether we pack light, or pack to be ready for anything, we leave all the stuff we definitely won’t be using, at home.

The Bare Bones
Imagine if we were to apply this logic to our homes when we are not on vacation, and keep only the things that we really use and love. How much space would open up in our homes if every unused thing would simply disappear?  How much lighter would we all feel?  Our 5-person family rents a tiny 12' by 18' one room cabin each summer.  We live in that small space for 4 days with only the things we will be using on the trip.  It is eye-opening to experience how comfortably we can all operate with only the bare bones of space and stuff around us and nothing more. It always makes me feel a little like the Laura Ingalls family of Little House on the Prairie and we honestly are content there. For me, it is a reminder of how much we live in excess of the things we really need in order to be happy.  It is minimalism and simplicity at its best in that tiny cabin by the lake.
 
Is There a Move in Your Future?
A move to a new home is another way that our eyes can be opened to seeing what we really use and what we don’t.  We quickly unpack the boxes holding our necessities so that we can use the things inside, then the boxes full of the stuff we don’t use gets set aside to be unpacked later…sometimes much later. It’s the things inside these boxes that we need to take critical eye to.  If they can sit in a box for a year and not be missed, we likely will also not miss them if they are gone.
 
The Ultimate Minimalist Test 
For those who have lived in the same home for many years, it is easy to become blind to all the things that have slowly accumulated over the years, this is especially true if there is a lot of space in the home.  Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists https://www.theminimalists.com/ packed up every single thing he owned, not because he was moving, but because he wanted to see what he actually used.  He removed items from of the boxes as he used them and made a pack with himself that after 6 months, anything left in those boxes, would go.  This might sound a little extreme for most of us, but it was definitely effective in Joshua's case. What do you have in your home that you have not used in ages?  Perhaps it's time to lighten your load and start living a a bit more like you are on vacation.
 
Watch for my final post in this series: Vacation State of Mind: We Pay Attention - and Live in the Present On Vacation.
 

My daughter recently read the book “The Little Book of Hygge," Danish Secrets to Happy Living, written by Meik Wiking. She read it cover to cover and was deeply inspired to put it into practice.  Hygge, pronounced "hyooguh", is defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being”. Originated in Denmark, Hygge is regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture. 

On a cold winter’s night, my daughter loves nothing more than to wrap herself in a cozy warm housecoat, light a candle, make herself a cup of hot cocoa topped with a swirl of whipped cream. Then she sits by the fire, just sipping and savoring.  She does this intentionally, delighting in her careful routine of enjoying the present moment. Hygge is not necessarily done as a self indulgence per se, but with appreciation for each step of a self-nurturing activity. It is taking the time for appreciating, slowing down and paying attention to the simple pleasure of doing something for no other reason, than to enjoy it.  Hygge, essentially then, is living in the moment and recognizing that there is abundant comfort and joy being offered to us by simply being at home.

With all that is going in the world today, it occurred to me that my daughter is really on to something here. We are all spending a lot more time at home, and while we are here, we may as well take advantage of it.  Until recently, many of us were so busy on any given day, that the idea of slowing down and engaging in a bit of Hygge, was unrealistic and out of reach.  There were dishes to be washed, kid’s basketball games to attend, and laundry piled to the ceiling because we hadn't been at home a single night that week - remember those days? For many of us, our worlds had been spinning so fast for so long, that we didn’t even know how to slow down, let alone relish the simple comforts of home life.

With the onset of Covid-19, we have not only unexpectedly found ourselves at home, but with more time on our hands than usual.  Additionally, many of us are fraught with worries about our family’s health and financial stability. That said, why not make the best of the situation by recognizing and embracing all the comforts that slowing down and being at home has to offer?  Perhaps a little self-nurturing is just what many of us need right now, and we finally have the time to engage in it, guilt free. 

In practicing the concept of Hygge, we are practicing living thoughtfully and in the moment rather than missing out on what is going on right now. 

This is a good thing.

If you like to cook, make a pot of your favorite homemade soup and bake a loaf of bread to go with it – give yourself and your family a little comfort food.  As you chop the vegetables, do it mindfully, and enjoy each step of the process.  Don’t let your mind wander elsewhere to anxieties about tomorrow or ruminations about yesterday, stay present, don’t hurry, and don't worry. Appreciate each step. Let the aroma of the soup permeate your home and savor its delicious fragrance.  

Keep in mind that the experience of Hygge can be enhanced by taking steps to ensure that the space in which you are performing your activity in, supports you.  A clean and orderly kitchen or an organized and functional garden shed offers a more pleasurable Hygge experience than a cluttered area will. Not only will you have an inviting space to perform your activity in, but you will have ample space to work on or in. You will also have everything you need at your fingertips without having to search for anything.

​Coincidentally, since your stuck at home, you may find that you finally have the time to complete some of those home organizing  and cleaning projects that you have been putting off for so long. When you are done, engaging in a little Hygge, in your freshly cleaned and organized space is actually a perfect way to reward yourself and celebrate a job well done.

Other examples of Hygge might be; relishing in a long, hot bath, or perhaps doing some gardening. It can be as simple as making a pot of your favorite herbal tea and reading a good book or savoring a cup of coffee on the front porch, or it can be as engaging as crafting your own beer or creating a scrap book. It's whatever delights you. The key, is to perform these activities with a new perspective and appreciation for the simple enjoyment of doing them.

By being intentional, and savoring each step of an activity instead of performing these things blindly, we engage in the spirit of Hygge.  As we infuse gratitude and presence into the everyday activities we do at home, we reap the benefits of enjoying all the simple pleasures that being at home has to offer. 

As I tap away at my keyboard, I can hear the rain outside, gently falling.  It is still pitch dark outside, the clouds covering any sign of sunrise. Yet, I am up already, having slept restlessly with the Coronavirus on my mind. My girls are still sleeping, home from school for the day, for the week, maybe for the month, who knows? We hang suspended in uncertainty. Our pantry and freezer are filled to the brim and I have grown tired of shopping. 

We are just waiting now, with angst, and while we are waiting for life to get back to normal, I notice that there is something else that is subtly taking shape here, a quiet whisper of a shift in attitude.  People are stocking up on necessities, and toilet paper has become the most popular product on the shelf. Amazon has just issued a notice that if you are trying to purchase anything non-essential online,  you best be patient because you may not get it for awhile.  What I am feeling outside of the trepidation, is a renewed gratitude for all that I have.  I find myself pondering and appreciating the things that I normally take for granted: my family, our home, a paycheck each month, our health, the comfort of having plenty of food in our pantry.

For years, I used to save the heels of our bread to make bread crumbs, but a while back, I started tossing them in the trash because who has the time to mess with making bread crumbs?  But today, I can’t bring myself to waste any food, so I keep the heels today.  Then I wonder how we have become so spoiled that we can’t eat the heels on a loaf of bread in the first place?  What was evidently no problem yesterday, is wasteful today… there it is, a shift in perspective has taken place, yes, inside of me, but not just in me, in all of us.  Can you feel it?  The threat of the virus has forced us to take a step back, and while the virus is obviously not a good thing, it appears to be teaching us something.

We are becoming more appreciative of all that we have. This virus threatens our economy and our health, and we are no longer taking either of these for granted. We are also taking the time to think about how important the people in our lives are to us, and we are picking up the phone and calling those we love. We are becoming more cognoscente of the difference between our necessities and our luxuries, and we are noticing that we only really need the essentials and each other to be happy. 

​We have all been forced to slow down and do a little less, and I have to say, its refreshing. We are all in need of rest and of reconnecting with our families and I am grateful for this time together. We are staying home, we are being still, and we are being offered time that we normally do not have.  We are appreciating the simple things, like hot soup in the crock-pot and a game of chess with our kids.  We have time to think about things and to truly take inventory of our blessings.

​Attitudes are shifting, we are thinking about conserving our resources and not wasting what has been given to us.  We are saving the heels of our bread instead of throwing them into the trash and this is a good thing.  I have faith that we will come out of this situation more conscientious, appreciative and stronger than we were before. 

Written By Laura Coufal 
Clean & Clutter Free Professional Organizing Services

There are three things that we get right when we are on vacation that we somehow forget when we go back to living our regular lives. If we could just carry some of these things back with us into our daily routines, we would all benefit in a big way.  This is a three part blog series focusing in detail on each of these.  The first thing we get right when we are on vacation is that we go into VACATION MODE and slow down.

Do you want your life to be simpler? Practice living in VACATION MODE even when you are not on vacation...
Have you ever noticed that we move at a different pace when we are on vacation? We move slower, we stop watching the clock and most importantly, we do it guilt free.  When we are not on vacation, many of us are so used to hurrying all of the time that we aren't even aware that we are doing it. We are stressed out and exhausted on a regular basis but this is the pace at which we have been running for so long, that it has become the new normal, the new faster speed of life. Most Americans today are so over committed that at the end of each busy day, we are not even sure what we did all day.  Most of us would agree that our vacations come to an end all too soon, and we dread going back to our normal schedules. I believe that part of the reason we all yearn for more vacation time, is because we spend the rest of our busy lives trying to do too much.  One week a year of not hurrying just isn't enough to rejuvenate us when the rest of our lives are so hectic. 

What if we could hold onto a fraction of this "vacation mode" when we are not on vacation?  What if we could at least change our focus from, "How much can I possibly get done today?" to "What can I get done at a comfortable pace today?" and "What can I leave for tomorrow?"  What if we could let go of that incessant need to try and squeeze one more thing into each day? Imagine how different things would be if we all functioned somewhere between our normal crazy lives and vacation mode? Still getting things done, but working at a reasonable pace. When we are on vacation, we purposely don’t over schedule our days, because we want to avoid the rigid schedule we have when we are at home.  We intentionally schedule down time, because on vacation, rest is a priority for us.  We may even do nothing other than read a book or take a nap for an afternoon.  But our bodies also need rest when we are not on vacation and we should not feel guilty about taking time for ourselves to refuel on a regular basis.

Americans have become so progress oriented, that our society as a whole is over stressed and sleep deprived.  I know there are many justifications for why we overextend ourselves; working those extra hours pays for the new car, and our kids are eager to participate in a new activity, even though they are already too busy, but that’s where we get snagged.  Practicing moderation in what we purchase and in what we commit ourselves to is key. But saying no to more of something is challenging when everyone around us is spinning out of control. Scaling back has to be a conscious endeavor, because very likely, if you are living in a world like mine, everyone around you has their minds set on having and doing it all.  

There is comfortable place somewhere between our pace while on vacation and our regular life, that offers peace and contentment. Figuring out where that place is, and fighting to stay there is well worth the effort. For starters, just making sure that we have some unscheduled personal and family time each day, will move us closer to this goal. Regular life is so much more enjoyable and less exhausting when we mindfully move at a slower pace. Stopping to smell the roses should not be restricted solely to those who are on vacation.

Written By Laura Coufal
Owner, Clean & Clutter Free
Professional Organizing Services