Nearly 80 percent of Americans say that life is way too hectic, and while everyone agrees that simplicity is a worthy goal, few want to cut back to the extremes that are suggested for a totally balanced lifestyle at home and at work.

The new view of a simpler life doesn't necessarily mean cutting back in an extreme sense. Instead, it means learning to do things easier and smarter with much less fuss.

In 2003, we were seeing grocery stores expand their pre-made food sections, and offer complete menu planning for home parties and complete catering and party planning, all the way down to the flowers and decorations, for special events. The same grocery stores were joined by numerous restaurants advertising full meal preparation for holidays, parties, and special events. And the public was buying . . . big time.

Instead of women slaving over the holiday preparations for weeks between working their full-time jobs and taking care of the house, they simply made a few phone calls, picked up the orders, set them out and then spent time enjoying the events with the rest of the guests.

Simplicity is extending its way into the garden, as well as, the home with low-demand solutions that fit low-maintenance lifestyles.

Here's what's in for the simple life:

• Simple Chic is in. Over the top is out. Pick a color scheme and stick to it, advise the experts. Once you pick a theme, it's easier to visualize, plan and shop.

• An all-white theme is elegant and lights up dark and shady areas. Blue is healing, and pink or yellow color schemes are cheery. Working with similar colors, such as pink, lavender and purple, creates harmony and establishes a sense of peace and unity. Harmony is in. A riot of color is out. A mind-calming Japanese garden works for simplicity, a busy English cottage garden doesn't. Mono-impact containers are in. Mixed containers are out. Stay in one color family per container for a peaceful and classic look.

• Running water is in. Still water is out. Water features continue to be the rage. Look for fountains with Zen-like feelings.

• Green revolutions are in. Chemical attacks are out. We're spending more than $30 billion on organic produce and cosmetics. We're also trying to garden the natural way, looking for alternatives to toxic weed controls and fertilizers.

• Decorating is in. Misplaced elements are out, even in the yard. The yard is now considered an outdoor room extension of your home. It's not just a place to put a few shrubs around the foundation of your house.

• Bringing nature inside to bridge areas of living is in. Separating space is out. "Outside-in" is becoming standard in home design. Outdoor furniture is being used in family rooms, dining and kitchenettes, and living rooms. Cast-stone containers serve to hold magazines and plants indoors.

Experiencing the Story Behind

We've known that the experience economy has grown because people love to be part of the story and feel connected to people and a community, the experience extends all the way to the depth of the deep with none other than . . . lobsters.

Every lobster has a story, and now lobster-eaters with a special rubber band on the claws of their lobsters can log onto the Internet and find out what it is. LobsterTales.org is an educational project developed by the Maine Island Institute in cooperation with students, teachers and fishermen in Maine's island and coastal communities. Through participation in this Website, consumers who purchase lobsters with a LobsterTales.org band will have a chance to "meet" the lobsterman who actually pulled the lobster from Maine waters, learn about their community and provide students with data useful in many projects and learning opportunities.

LobsterTales.org was designed to help people around the world learn about the importance of Maine's small fishing communities in the global marketplace. The information visitors to the site share is made available to teachers in participating schools who will teach their students to analyze these data and use what they learn in a variety of subject areas including geography, technology, economics and marine science.

Penobscot Bay lobsters-claw bands carry the message: "Who Caught Me?" along with this website address: http://www.lobstertales.org and "a four-digit number identifying the individual lobsterman" who caught the crustacean.

So far, over a thousand consumers have logged on to certify their lobster's ultimate destination. Some have commented: "I never gave a thought to the fact that there was a person on the other end until I was able to visit a website and see him...this added a personal touch and made it a little more interesting." The students in Maine are excited too: "Learning about this has kind of taught me how lobstering relates to other things and other places."