Here at University Square Apartments, we’re proud to be part of the Flagstaff community. For us, this means giving back when and where we can! One of our favorite local organizations to support is Hope Cottage!

Hope Cottage provides an invaluable resource for some of the most vulnerable members of the Flagstaff community. The beautiful and welcoming facility provides shelter, meals, clothing, and more for women and children who come to them for help. We love their goal of providing “assistance to heal from the inside out.”

Hope Cottage offers a number of volunteer opportunities to the Flagstaff community. Just a few ways you can help out include: helping to support a food drive, preparing meals, helping to maintain the facilities, serving as a mentor or teacher, distributing food boxes, and more! We look forward to having the opportunity to join with Hope Cottage in serving the people of Flagstaff!

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Hope Cottage, visit their Volunteer Page! Join us in showing our Flagstaff neighbors that we do more than love to live here … we live to love here!

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It’s springtime, which means it’s officially time for spring cleaning. Before you run screaming for the hills (We’re at 7,000 feet, guys, is running uphill really a better plan than cleaning?), we invite you to consider a new way of cleaning and decluttering your home: The KonMari Method. The KonMari Method is focused on helping you get rid of clutter forever. Here are five tips to help you tidy up your apartment and keep it that way!

Find What “Sparks Joy”

The idea of throwing things away is probably one of the most miserable thoughts we deal with when cleaning. Instead of thinking about what you’re losing, focus on cherishing items you love. As you declutter, hold each item and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” If the answer is no, it’s time to go. Part of this process is physically touching every. single. thing. in your home and asking this question. It’s about getting more emotionally in tune with what compels you to keep things, and more realistic about what actually brings joy to your home.

Clean By Category

The key to effective tidying, according to the KonMari Method, is tidying the right categories in the right order. Use this order to start tidying your home: clothes, books, papers, and miscellaneous. You can break down each category into subcategories, but the key is keeping them in this order. Did you notice how the order works from least emotional attachment to greatest emotional attachment? Consider, for instance, which is harder: tossing a sweater you never wear and don’t love, versus throwing away a letter from a friend. We love this method because it gives you time to build up to the hard stuff.

Tidy All At Once

This method takes some time, and depending on how much stuff you have can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Don’t rush the process, but also don’t let it get too drawn out. Resist the urge to read every piece of paper you come across. Resist taking extended breaks. Resist bulk tossing.

Stop Decluttering By Room

Many of us grew up using the “clean each room” method of decluttering and tidying. But think about what you risk when you clean this way. Think of how many times you might move an item from one room to another to avoid dealing with it. Instead, use the categories above, and gather all items from that category in one place at one time to declutter. That means when you start with clothing, open every drawer, and pull every item of clothing from socks to scarves to Halloween wigs, and have at it all at once.

Picture Where You Want to Be

This might be one of the most important steps of the KonMari Method. The method asks you to clearly define where you want to be and how you want to live after you’ve finished decluttering. It’s not as simple as saying, “I want to live clutter free.” It needs to be more specific than that. Think about how you envision living, and ask yourself why you want to live that way. This helps you really take hold of the decluttering mission you’re about to undertake, and creates a stronger commitment to the task at hand! Why do you want to be tidy? What difference will it make in your life? Consider this long and hard, and then get started.

Part of what the KonMari Method teaches is to have a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. The first part of discovering this place is to get rid of everything that doesn’t belong. It may be hard, but during this spring cleaning season we invite you to give it a try and see what a difference the KonMari Method can make in your home! Want to learn more about the method? Check out “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo, the founder of the KonMari Method!

The post Spark Joy: How to Declutter Using the KonMari Method appeared first on University Square Apartments Blog.

February is a month of love, so we’re celebrating with a focus on things we love, from home décor to fun holidays and more!

The City of Seven Wonders. The Dark Sky City. The apple of our eye. Whatever name we give it, we love our hometown. Flagstaff is a city near and dear to our hearts (and we’re not just saying that because we live here) … here are ten reasons it should be near and dear to yours, too!

A “Haunting” City

Flagstaff has a haunting personality … literally. Head to the Weatherford, Monte Vista Hotel, North Morton Hall at NAU, and the Museum Club are just some of the local spots where you can witness (or at least hear plenty of stories about) some freaky paranormal activity. Whether you’re a skeptic or a full-blown believer, we recommend taking a Haunted Flagstaff tour at least once while you’re here!

Hanging with the Stars

Okay, so maybe we’re not talking about hanging out with the likes of Brad Pitt or Taylor Swift … But you can get an up-close and personal look at one of the best views of the cosmos right here in town at the Lowell Observatory. Pluto is still a planet in our hearts (yep, it was discovered at Lowell in 1930), and NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is on the cusp of reaching it in July! So be sure to celebrate the “Year of Pluto” throughout 2015 at the observatory!

Feet on FUTS

Head out into the great green landscape of Flagstaff and enjoy the Flagstaff Urban Trails System, or FUTS. Flagstaff has a reputation as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, and the more than 50 miles of trails on the FUTS tells you all you need to know about why! You can enjoy other outdoor rec at Thorpe, Buffalo, and Wheeler Park, and other nearby parks, trails, and expedition hubs.

Go “Extreme”

One of Flagstaff’s most “tree-rific” spots in Flagstaff Extreme. Enjoy the zip line and both kids’ and adult adventure courses that take you out of your comfort zone and into the pines!

Pedal to the Metal

Flagstaff is already a great city to roam the streets in … but the Alpine Pedaler takes your journey to a whole new level. Reserve your own seat or enjoy a private group ride with up to 14 pals as you pedal your way along a two hour pub crawl with VIP discounts at all stops!

The Dark Night Rises

If you haven’t yet, make sure you take at least one night to head outside and stare up at the beautiful starry sky over Flagstaff! As the world’s first International Dark Sky City, Flagstaff’s commitment to dark sky preservation means good things for the earth and great things for star gazers. While we love Lowell Observatory, we love even more the fact that you don’t need a telescope to scope out millions of stars on a nightly basis. Still, if you’re looking for a great spot for your stargazing, we recommend heading up to Mars Hill right below the Observatory where you’ll get a great view of the city and the sky!

Macy’s Greys

Not part of the Starbucks crowd? Flagstaff is a coffee lover’s dream with many small coffee shops and cafes, and one of our favorites is Macy’s! Stop in for a delicious cappuccino, hot cup of tea (we’re going Star Trekking with a cup of Earl Grey, hot), or a one of a kind breakfast, lunch, or dinner platter. Macy’s represents Flagstaff’s passion for supporting both the local and global community. For an old fashioned, made from scratch treat, don’t miss Macy’s!

How About a Rendezvous

You’ll find the most dapper baristas in town at Rendezvous, a classy Flagstaff hot spot connected to the Hotel Monte Vista. A coffee house by day, Rendezvous will also tantalize your taste buds as a martini bar by night. Grab a board game and relax in the intimate atmosphere at Rendezvous, and don’t be surprised when the hours fly by and you find yourself unable to leave. Not only are you super close to all the action downtown (Heritage Square is right up the street), but your taste buds will thank you as you enjoy unique coffee blends, ridiculous martinis (you’ll be saying “Holy Moly!” the first time you try their Holy Mole), and yummy pastries.

Me, You, and Hullabaloo

Celebrate all things Flagstaff at the Hullabaloo. Celebrated annually at Wheeler Park, this wild and wacky festival has been voted the Best Annual Event or Festival by the Arizona Daily Sun readers since 2010, and there’s no sign of that changing. There’s a crazy costume contest, micro-brews, bounce houses, music, raffles, food, puppets, and more! The only thing we’re not crazy about are the clowns … but we’re more than happy to forgive their presence for the sheet quantity of awesome at this event!

First Things First (Fridays)

Flagstaff’s First Friday ArtWalk is an awesome way to explore all of Downtown, see great art, enjoy live music, and more. Take in Flagstaff’s monthly street party … you never know what you’ll see! Hundreds of local artists are featured every month, and you never know what fun surprises will pop up around every corner!

Want a full day of fun in Flagstaff? Check out the “Things to Do in Flagstaff, Arizona” Facebook page!

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