4 Reasons To Use Cloth Dinner Napkins

Crimson Vine Cloth Napkins by Anna Joyce

According to the EPA, American's produce 4.5 pounds of waste-- daily. This is astounding.

The smallest lifestyle changes can really help to cut down on the waste we produce. We've been using cloth napkins for about a year now and I couldn't be happier that we made the switch. It was an easy change to make and the cloth napkins not only look better, but they are so much more effective.

Consider these four reasons to purchase cloth napkins, it really is worth it!

1. Class it up: Cloth napkins add class to any dinner table.

2. Reduce waste: On average, an American uses approximately 2,200 napkins per year. If each person used one less napkin a day, it would save a billion pounds of waste from landfills each year. 

3. Reduce pollution: Pollution causing machinery is used to produce paper napkins. This includes diesel machinery, trucks, boats, paper mills, planes, trains and automobiles. 

4. Save money: Purchasing paper napkins can cost any where between $300 to $2,600 a year for a family of four. Cloth napkins will cost somewhere around $20 to $100 a year for a family of four + $8 in washing costs.

We already have about 20 cloth napkins on hand for just the two of us-- but after finding these little beauties, I've seriously considered purchasing some more.

Oxford Black, Blue Stripe and Red Cloth Napkins by Suzuya

Organic cotton, Striped Dinner Napkin Set by Shilpa Rathi 

Sky Map Linen Napkins from Anthropologie

Grey Chevron Linen Napkins found at Pottery Barn

Lost & Found Tie-Dye Napkin, no two are the same!

Root Vegetables on Natural Linen and Cotton blend napkins by The High Fiber Co.

A Minute in the Life: Popcorn + Pizza

// Grey Block's Delicious Salad Pizza + Cheese Flavored Popcorn //

My husband just loooves food that's not-so-healthy. I tried to compromise with a salad pizza, which he so nicely went to pick up...and brought home with a bag of extra salty, cheese flavored popcorn. 

I have to admit, it was quite a killer combo.

Try it sometime :)

xo

Maria

To a Healthy New Year!

During 2010 I ate out the most I've ever eaten out in my 30 years of life. Not going to lie, I LOVED it. BUT, it's very expensive, and for the most part, not the healthiest choice. There is something magical about creating and preparing your own food; it's meditative, fun and satisfying. You also are in full control of what you're fueling your body with.

I wanted to share one of my favorite dishes. It's super fast, easy, tasty and healthy. It takes 15 minutes total to prep and make this dish.

To make this dish more substantial, I eat this salad with heated tortillas or pita and hummus. My recommendation is Trader Joe's Sun Dried Tomato and Habanero Hand Made tortillas :)

INGREDIENTS

1/2 Green Bell Pepper

1/2 Red Bell Pepper

1/2 Red Onion

4 Cloves of garlic

2 Handfulls of Trader Joe's Herb Salad Mix

4 Leaves of Green Leaf Lettuce

3-5 Slices of Turkey

Olive Oil

Apple Cider Vinegar

Braggs Liquid Aminos

Sea Salt

Pepper

Serves 2

PREP

-Peel the garlic and slice the green bell pepper, red bell pepper, turkey and red onion. Wash and tear lettuce leafs.

-Mix the Green Leaf Lettuce and 2 handfulls of Trader Joe's Herb Salad Mix in a large bowl.

-Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a splash of the liquid aminos, sea salt and pepper on top of salad and mix to taste.

COOK

-Put about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and cook the onions and garlic until the onions start to become clear.

-Add the bell peppers.

-Once the peppers start to brown on the edges, add the turkey and season with sea salt and pepper. Cook until the turkey starts to brown on the edges.

-Pour the cooked bell peppers, onions, garlic and turkey on top of salad and mix it all together.

I hope you enjoy!