My grandfather never, ever used a tissue to blow his nose.  He didn’t need to; he had a handkerchief.  Have you ever had a handkerchief in your pocket?

No?  You haven’t?!

…me neither.

I had ever intention of making our home become tissue free a few years ago.

Martin and I tried at home.  I bought some fuzzy flannel fabric, cut it in squares, and sewed the edges.  They didn’t take any space in our washing machine.  But for whatever reason, the concept of reusable nose-blowing supplies just didn’t last.

Sometimes our best efforts fail.  Maybe we can try again.

Imagine having a cute little basket of various fabric handkerchiefs in the living room.  It might not get the guys, but maybe the women in the family would be reaching for fabric.  Every bit adds up.

One of these tutorials might offer some good tips for DIY handkerchiefs.  Or this handkerchief (pictured above) from etsy could be fun.

And because every bit adds up, we’re committed to buying 100% recycled tissues from a little local grocery store in town.  This particular box cost $2.25.

It proudly announces on the back side of the package:

If every household in the US replaced just one box of 100 sheet virgin fiber facial tissue with recycled ones, we could save:

• 332,000 trees
• 859,000 cubic feet of landfill space, equal to 1,200 full garbage trucks
• 120 million gallons of water, a year’s supply for 900 families of four
• and avoid 20,000 pounds of chlorinated pollution

Not bad for a little more than two bucks, huh?!

Have you gone paperless in the tissue department?  Do handkerchiefs or recycled tissues get a thumbs up or thumbs down in your house?

And as always, if you have any tips on bettering our tissue choices, you know we’d love to hear!

Craving more paper-free plans?  Here’s how we succeed in a paper-less kitchen.

(images from sources referenced)

I started a new journal project last night.  I was watching Martin laugh and laugh on the telephone as he spoke to our neighbor, and somehow his small gesture completely overwhelmed me.  The new journal I want to keep will be using the {Love Letter} from my shop.  (I chose the blue and white diamond Italian paper.)

This journal is for him.

I’m going to write one page every month and include a photograph taken some time during the same month.  This project feels very doable, which of course translates into:  Katie squirming in her seat wondering when, oh when October will get here because she’s ready.

I am just beyond anxious to turn the page and write another note!  Tick tock, tick tock.

Okay.  Exit the over-enthusiasm.  You know – it just feels so good to have a year-long project especially for somebody else. Here is entry one, page one:

This love letter journal includes 11 pages of blank lines beside the poem that weaves through bits of love and admiration.  If I do one each month, I’ll have a sweet little gift for our wedding anniversary next August.

As many of you know, a huge inspiration in creating a journal shop for celebrating our stories was my time with my grandma.  I was so moved by her stories when I got the rare treat to interview her for NPR (you can check out the whole experience right here).  The hardest part was feeling how much she couldn’t remember.

I’m not a scrapbooker.  I’m get so overwhelmed by embellishments and this desire to make the perfect page.  That’s why I love this beautiful documentation by Phillip Toledano.

He tells his father’s story of memory loss and confusion with photographs and words.  It’s a documentation and a beautiful celebration of life all in one.  It’s an inspiring reminder that stories are important.  Many times, they’re the most important part.

Enjoy Phillip Toledano’s story, Days With My Father.

Do you have a moment of celebration for your father or a grandfather?

(Image from Toledano’s book)

One of the things I’ve decided to do during the rest of 2010 is finish things.

My plan is to take care of all those half-finished sewing projects I mentioned.  There was a time when I was not so good at finishing what I started.  A stuffed bin of half-sewn projects proves it!

Here are three simple actions I am taking in an effort to be done this year and invite you to do the same if you struggle with the unfinished:

• Write down all of the half-finished projects in a given category. It’ll be a to-do list of sorts.  And each time you think of starting something new, I want you to see this list.  Mine is going in the pocket of my sewing machine cover with the foot pedal.  Another one is going in my journal.
• Decide which projects matter. Some of them don’t.  There’s no sense in hanging onto those.
• Celebrate each accomplishment. We’re big on high-fives at our house.  A new quilt is the first pick for snuggling with for a movie or a bag makes its debut on my walk to the mailbox.  How could you celebrate?  How could an accomplishment be integrated into your life?

Here’s hoping for fewer to-dos… and fun in finishing them!

I think that one of the best gifts we can give ourselves is the brief celebration of something good.

Sometimes you read about these sorts of ideas – but they’re often associated to buying something like a latte, a manicure, or lunch out.  You know what the best celebrations are in my eyes?

The free ones.

It’s hugging or shaking hands with someone you don’t see every day.  It’s giving high fives for a new sale in your handmade shop or a credit card paid off.  It’s getting a “woohoo!”

Sometimes life doesn’t have enough celebration of the little things that one another is doing and becoming.  So this weekend, I am doling out as many hugs, handshakes, high fives and woohoos as I can.  How about you?

The more you give in life, the more you have.

Last night I felt it.  I was writing it my {The Little Things} journal (which is on sale at Gadanke until Friday), and I couldn’t believe the joy I felt.  I went from feeling grumpy and glum to hope and joy, and I couldn’t help it.  The thank yous just filled my heart – to my grandma for handing me a straw for our Cokes while we chatted in June, the frosted cookies my sister made that we dropped in the lake on accident in July, the cowboy hat Martin gave me…

The little moments, the simple beauties in life – gosh this world is incredible, isn’t it?  What is your paper straw for?