Growing​ ​up​ ​(and​ ​to​ ​this​ ​day),​ ​my​ ​mother​ ​would​ ​always​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​Dining​ ​Room​ ​Table​ ​decorated.​ ​Cloth​ ​placemats, wine​ ​glasses,​ ​​ ​fancy​ ​dinnerware​ ​procured​ ​from​ ​Germany​ ​(Army​ ​Brat!)​ ​and​ ​its​ ​neighboring​ ​countries,​ ​crystal​ ​vases​ ​in the​ ​center​ ​of​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​and​ ​all​ ​the​ ​plates​ ​were​ ​topped​ ​off​ ​with​ ​linen​ ​napkins​ ​nestled​ ​inside​ ​a​ ​napkin​ ​ring.​ ​​ ​But,​ ​we never​ ​used​ ​the​ ​napkins.​ ​In​ ​fact,the​ ​only​ ​time​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​people​ ​using​ ​linen​ ​napkins​ ​was​ ​on​ ​TV.

As​ ​I​ ​go​ ​through​ ​life​ ​and​ ​do​ ​the​ ​“adulting”​ ​thing,​ ​I​ ​always​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​there’s​ ​more​ ​I​ ​could​ ​do.​ ​Recently​ ​I​ ​decided​ ​I​ ​needed to​ ​add​ ​linen​ ​napkins​ ​to​ ​my​ ​kitchen​ ​arsenal.​ ​Hands​ ​down,​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​is​ ​where​ ​I​ ​spend​ ​most​ ​of​ ​my​ ​time​ ​so​ ​mess​ ​is inevitable.

A​ ​few​ ​reasons​ ​linen​ ​napkins​ ​work​ ​better​ ​for​ ​me:​ ​I​ ​am​ ​terrible​ ​at​ ​remembering​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​up​ ​paper​ ​towels​ ​and​ ​napkins,​ ​I feel​ ​like​ ​they​ ​are​ ​wasteful,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​really​ ​don’t​ ​like​ ​the​ ​aesthetics​ ​of​ ​paper​ ​napkins​ ​and​ ​towels​ ​on​ ​the​ ​counter​ ​and/or table.

Since​ ​one​ ​of​ ​my​ ​main​ ​reasons​ ​for​ ​switching​ ​to​ ​linen​ ​is​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​more​ ​sustainable​ ​lifestyle,​ ​it​ ​only​ ​makes​ ​since​ ​to​ ​be sustainable​ ​in​ ​my​ ​purchasing​ ​so,​ ​I​ ​headed​ ​to​ ​my​ ​local​ ​Goodwill.

Perks​ ​of​ ​buying​ ​small​ ​items​ ​such​ ​as​ ​linen​ ​napkins​ ​at​ ​Goodwill?​ ​They​ ​are​ ​so​ ​inexpensive!​ ​You​ ​can​ ​easily​ ​add​ ​enough to​ ​your​ ​collection​ ​(or​ ​start​ ​one).​ ​I​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​get​ ​around​ ​12​ ​napkins​ ​(of​ ​different​ ​colors)​ ​for​ ​less​ ​than​ ​$5!

And​ ​they​ ​have​ ​been​ ​​used.​ ​​ Whether​ ​I’m​ ​cooking,​ ​wiping​ ​down​ ​the​ ​counters,​ ​or​ ​my​ ​sons​ ​are​ ​eating,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​a​ ​linen napkin​ ​available.​ ​Also​ ​the​ ​guilt​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​of​ ​seeing​ ​my​ ​sons​ ​go​ ​through​ ​several​ ​paper​ ​napkins​ ​or​ ​towels​ ​while​ ​eating​ ​is gone.​ ​Just​ ​a​ ​quick​ ​cycle​ ​in​ ​the​ ​washer​ ​and​ ​dryer​ ​and​ ​they​ ​are​ ​good​ ​to​ ​go​ ​for​ ​next​ ​use. Another​ ​plus​ ​for​ ​linen​ ​napkins?​ ​They​ ​make​ ​great​ ​props​ ​for​ ​my​ ​food​ ​shots.

And​ ​you​ ​can​ ​always​ ​personalize​ ​your​ ​linens​ ​if​ ​you​ ​want​ ​like​ ​I​ ​did​ ​with​ ​these​ ​​tea​ ​towels​.

​What​ ​are​ ​ways​ ​you​ ​reduce​ ​the​ ​need​ ​for​ ​paper​ ​napkins​ ​and​ ​towels?

Side​ ​ note:​ ​I​​ do​​ realize​  there​ are​ more​ ​important​ ​things​ ​that​ ​one​ ​can​ ​do​ ​to​ ​be​ ​more​ ​of​ ​an​ ​adult.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​using​ ​“adulting”​ in jest.