If there's one product we can all cut back on, it's paper. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, using recycled paper products - napkins, tissues, or toilet paper - can save over a million of trees a year.  We try to buy recycled products as much as we can, but I know we can do better.   

One way to go a greener route would be to use cloth napkins. We actually have plenty of cloth napkins, but I've always been reluctant to use them (unless it's a holiday dinner) because they are white and tough to keep clean. Please tell me I'm not the only impractical bride who registered for white napkins. Anyway, those napkins need to get used!

I also found an easy to follow tutorial on making cloth napkins. My sewing skills aren't the greatest, but I can sew in a straight line, and thankfully that's really all it takes to make napkins. It's also a great way to use up any extra cotton or linen fabric. Your napkins don't even need to match since it's just for everyday use. If you are really willing drastic measures to help the planet, you can assign a napkin to each person in your household and have everyone reuse their napkin until laundry day. If you use similar napkins, you can get each person their own napkin ring to keep track of individual napkins as you reuse them. I may have to see how our napkins look at the end of the day before I try to go a week without washing, but I applaud anyone who can hold out that long.