We don’t use paper napkins.  We don’t wipe our hands on our pants.  (At least I don’t think anyone at our house does that!)  We reach for cloth.  Skipping the paper towels and napkins is an awesome way to use fewer resources, create less trash, and save money.  What’s there not to love?

Going paper free in the kitchen hasn’t been a huge challenge, probably because both our parents were quick to grab dish cloths to wipe counters or clean up spills instead of paper towels.  You know how it is.  The things we learn as kids certainly become huge habits as we get older.  So when a few comments came up on the topic of paper in the kitchen last week, I just knew it was time to show what we know.

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I love the idea of creating a handmade home.  So when it was time to celebrate Martin’s birthday while we were in Germany, I knew I had to incorporate some sort of handmade decor into our celebration.  I guess I feel like handmade is also heart-made, and you all know what a sucker I am for following your heart!

Last year, I made bunting from old newspapers and paint.  (Here’s a recycled newspaper bunting tutorial.)

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It probably comes to you as no surprise that Martin and I are crazy about handmade.  It’s getting harder and harder for us to comfortably shop at places using a lot of unnecessary natural resources or using cheap, unhealthy labor forces to save money.  So when Lisa and I started exchanging emails, I was beyond compelled to learn more about what she’s doing and why.

I think you might really like some of her ideas.  She has some great thoughts on using the stuff we have (which is perfect for The Declutter Project!).  Make sure you check out the free gift she’s offering right from her Etsy shop at the end of this interview.  So – welcome Lisa!

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Is it true?  Are we about to hit the one year mark with the No New Clothes Challenge?  Have Martin and I really, truly quit buying clothing that we didn’t absolutely need?

My gosh.  My wallet loves us!

As you know, I’ve been steering more toward the idea of:

1. repurposing the clothes we have

2.  shopping handmade

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Whoever invented some of the oven mitts out there clearly was not thinking of the average hand – especially the average cook’s hand, which I suspect is quite often female.  Considering that I am beyond a head taller than just about everyone in my German class, my hands are also longer.  Still.  My mitts are waaay too large.

My hands flop around in my oven mitts like fish.  And these little fish are getting burned all the time.  I can never manage.  So you know what that means…

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Over the weekend, an old high school friend and I wandered through Berlin.  I hadn’t really been in department stores since Christmas.  Stores in Germany are significantly more crowded than in the United States due to a lack of space and higher costs.  Throw in Christmas shoppers, added inventory, and thousands of Christmas market tourists, and well, let’s just say I have been totally fine with not venturing on shopping and browsing trips for the last three months.

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