the ReFab Diaries

Apparently organ transplant in Japan is an issue that doesn’t get a lot of press, but the current situation is dire. Each year, about 300 people out of a total of 14,000 on waiting lists actually get the replacement organs they need; a percentage far lower than the rest of the world.

• Declutter
• Turn unwanted stuff into money
• Get creative with how to rid myself of the stuff

• Boycott products containing microbeads
• Reduce my dependance on big-brand skin care products
• Make more, buy less

• Gradually replace store-bought products with homemade ones
• Reduce packaging waste
• Simplify

Stretch goal: use only homemade cleaning products

• When buying packaged goods, carefully consider the packaging
• Boycott any manufacturer using #6 grade plastic
• Support cradle-to-cradle companies when possible

What do tennis balls, pantyhose and broken crayons have in common? They're actually recyclable. Not through your city's recycling service, but in other cool ways!

So in honor of Earth Day, here are 20 things you might be surprised to discover can actually be returned for repurposing, recycling or upcycling. Here's to keeping more stuff out of landfills.

• Reduce my reliance on single/limited-use plastic items
• Slowly replace things with non-plastic alternatives
• Stop bringing plastic into my home - especially single-use crap!

Stretch goal: no single-use plastic in my life

New York-based visual artist and musician Rachael Sage has been creating mixed-media artwork, drawing and painting since grade school. Working primarily with acrylics, ink and - of course - glitter, Rachael deems her hometown NYC to be her greatest inspiration.

She's also a singer-songwriter and producer who runs her own record label, MPress Records. A soulful vocalist and innovative multi-instrumentalist, Rachael has shared stages with Sarah McLachlan, A Great Big World, Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, Jamie Cullum, The Animals and Ani DiFranco.

Goals - Week 13:

• See the potential in waste
• Reduce recycling
• Remain hyper aware of how much packaging I generate

Stretch goal: keep upcycling! 
Read on for links to 40+ tutorials for upcycling common packaging items.

Goals - Week 12:

1. Reduce my reliance on plastic in the kitchen
2. Slowly replace things with non-plastic alternatives