You are probably used to your dorm or apartment feeling like a cubicle in which you only spend enough time to sleep and eat. It isn’t exactly grandma’s cottage with a wood stove and an apple pie sitting on the kitchen window sill. Even though a college student's housing may not be the most comfortable place on earth, it is actually pretty easy to turn your small (and probably cluttered with textbooks and red plastic cups) area into a replica of the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens.
We all live on ramen noodles and fruit we steal from dining halls, so I think it’s safe to say we don’t necessarily have Ethan Allen and Crate & Barrel in our budget. But if we can find a way to spend $5 on a caramel macchiato every morning, we can find a way to spruce up our living area.
Start off simple by making it smell like Thanksgiving. To my extreme dismay, I have never come across a turkey and mashed potato scented candle. However, Bath & Body Works is the master of all things that smell good. They have all the holiday scents you can think of, from “Winter Candy Apple” to “Fireside.”
You’ll be surprised how much an apple pie candle smells like your grandmother’s kitchen.
If it smells like Thanksgiving, it’s got to look like Thanksgiving, right? Maybe having a giant cornucopia or piles of colorful corn on your desk is a little too far, but a festive wreath on the outside of your door will make you feel at home before you even walk inside.
Also, don’t be afraid to hang up some Christmas lights. It could be that I’m too eager for December, but it seems that white lights have always made me think of both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
You will probably have a few friends in the same boat as you, so have a small Thanksgiving dinner at your place. Even if you’re in a dorm, chances are you’ll have the community kitchen to yourself anyway.
If you’re the type of person that can burn a bowl of cereal, try asking your friends to each bring a dish (even if it’s store-bought) and, next thing you know, you’ll have a big potluck dinner.
If for some reason every single one of your friends is gone for the break, volunteer at a soup kitchen. After all, the holiday is about being grateful and gracious, and giving to those in need completely embodies the Thanksgiving spirit. If nothing else, you can feel good about yourself at the end of the night.
Reach the reporter at knphill3@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @KayLa_Soul
