Does anyone out there like to challenge themselves as the years go by? Take oneself to a new level? I feel that now that I am a parent, I am tending to do this more and more.
I think it's healthy and makes life more enjoyable when you don't always know what will come next. Blogging for instance has been my recent challenge to myself. I have enjoyed writing and editing for so long, but I have been fearful to follow through. Now with the popularity of blogging, I feel that it's not as scary to me any longer. I need to flex my writing muscles, AKA my poorly manicured fingernails, and just write down whatever pours out of me. No, it won't always be in absolutely perfect grammar, or be a subject that everyone and their dog care about, but it's something I need and want to do.
NEXT CHALLENGE! My husband and I have used paper towels for years. Who hasn’t, right? Just recently we ran out of them, and my only choice was to use a microfiber towel that I had sitting in a drawer. Oh, my word, you guys, I cannot tell you how much I now love microfiber towels! I should have known they would be the best thing for cleaning, since the inside of my son’s diaper is made up of this amazing material. It soaks up an exorbitant amount of liquid, and it is a master scrubber. I don't know if it's the tiny fibers all working together in magical harmony, but they're amazing. My husband and I have now challenged ourselves to go paper towel-free for one month and see if we can survive. When we originally ran out we noticed that we weren't freaking out and acting like the world was going to end. This really did surprise me, I have to say. Especially with an infant, I always wanted them on hand. But now I see that I really don't have to have them. I know for a fact my grandparents didn't have paper towels to use, and they seemed to get along just fine.
Another plus to microfiber towels is that they are very affordable. I recently went to Home Goods and purchased four 16” x 24” towels for $5.00. I am going to be able to make four smaller towels/rags out of each one. Score! So, imagine paying around $10.00 for 40 microfiber towels that you can use for a very long time, versus the $15.00 or more you pay over and over again when you purchase the large packs of paper towels. Here is a list of all the other perks of microfiber:
- Traps More Dirt and Dust
- Used Wet or Dry
- Absorbs up to Seven Times Its Weight
- Non-Abrasive
- Lint Free (I HATE the lint paper towels leave behind!)
- Light Weight
- Perfect for Any Surface
- Hypoallergenic
- Non-Electrostatic
- Easy Maintenance
- Cleans without the use of Chemicals
- Environmentally Friendly
I mean, how can you go wrong?! I also mop with a different set of microfiber towels. They really seem to get the grit up so much better than those nasty sponge mops. All you need is water, white vinegar, and a microfiber towel. And I can toss the towel in the washer and use it over and over. I hope if anything, this gives you a little more info about other options for your household. It's so easy to just do what everyone else is doing—do something different, something new, challenge yourselves! 🙂