22643_102364559791202_100000529742412_60580_4993956_n.jpgHere at GladRags we are always trying to find new way to conserve and save.  Inspired by Simple Organic's Green Goal Setting, we have decided to present you, our faithful readers, with a new Green Goal every week!  We will specifically be targeting goals that are within reach in a small time frame and a small budget.  Tracy (left) and I (right) are going to try them out right along with you and share our experiences in the comments.  We hope you will join us in our quest to reduce our footprint, one small step at a time!

First stop on the GladRags' Green Goals train: cloth napkins and handkerchiefs!

Personally, I grew up in a household that used cloth napkins for all meals.  I was always weirded out going to friend's houses whose families only used paper napkins or paperhappy-face-napkin18.jpg towels.  Cloth napkins feel so practical and comfortable to me!  They are softer and don't fall apart in your hands like many paper napkins do after some use.  There may be a slightly higher upfront cost, but as you reuse the cloth napkins they will save you money and you'll never run out!  Most of the napkins I have came as hand-me-downs from my parents or grandparents, but thrift stores are also a great place to pick some up.  Sewing cloth napkins is also a great way to go -- even if you are a novice sewer (myself included), this project should be fairly simple.  For a great tutorial on making your own napkins check out Chez Beeper Bebe's blog post (happy face napkins pictured are from her site).

Handkerchiefs are a whole different story.  Growing up, we always had a box of tissues.  Having had allergies and frequent colds, they have always been useful to me.  The tissues with lots of lotion in them were the best as they did not make my nose raw after many uses.  In college, I started to feel guilty for wasting all this paper and energy.  I started using toilet paper to save money and waste as the cheap toilet paper I use is thin and does not include lotion.  Lately, I have been trying to use handkerchiefs more often.  Handkerchiefs are also easy to make or cheap to buy at vintage stores.  GladRags offers some very soft organic handkerchiefs, too!

Some people have been using cloth napkins and handkerchiefs for years, so this goal is already second nature for them.  We challenge you to reduce your paper towel use even more by declining paper napkins with take-out food or carrying your own cloth for hand drying in public restrooms!

Tracy and I hope you will join us in finding fun, simple ways to make our lives even greener.  Leave a comment to let us know what you're doing to conserve or share your own tips with us!