the ReFab Diaries

A second post from me in a week? Yes. Because sometimes I find a story right under my nose and I have to share it asap. Especially when it's about a flower company and Valentine's Day is around the corner. 

The cut flower business is bloomin' wasteful. 



 For you I have to risk it all 

'Cause the writing's on the wall 
 Sam Smith


I haven't done a Valentine's post in years. But I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the hate happening all around me right now. So let's make love... out of junk.


Happy Sunday! Here's a quick DIY for you. What you need:


  • Old book pages
  • Mod Podge, scissors and tape
  • Hole punch and material for handles (twine, tape, ribbon)
  • A big hard-back book (or a box from your recycling) for sizing the bag


At the beginning of 2016, I committed to trimming my waste. After years of using this blog to gently reinforce the message that mindless consumerism is a problem, I decided to take off the gloves. Inspired by the zero-waste movement, I joined Be Zero's #makelesstrash2016 challenge and declared my intention for the year: to trim my waste. Because we are literally consuming ourselves. And we need to wake up.



An Invitation to Imagine from Debbie Millman

Imagine that we are on one planet and we are all living right now.
Imagine that we are united around one continuous sun and we are accompanied by one luminous moon. 
Imagine that, as a species, we feel deeply and we are moved by beauty and music, friendship and joy, art and poetry.
Imagine that we feel deeply and we can cry—deep soulful heaving—to share our burdens and be comforted by others.
Imagine that we believe so completely in our values and ideals that sometimes we feel compelled to defend them.
Imagine that we are united by the diversity of these beliefs knowing that a range of ideas are the ingredients to create progress.
Imagine that we are fiercely committed to the freedom to love who we love, to worship in our own way, and to be tolerant of the behaviors and beliefs of others.
Imagine that we are on one planet and we are all living right now.
Imagine that we have love.
Imagine that we feel love.
Imagine that love.
Imagine that love.
Yes, that love.
Imagine That.


 Wishing you all the love you can imagine this holiday. 

 I'll be back next week with a big wrap of "Trimming my waste"!


To say that this refashion was years in the making is no exaggeration. I started it three years ago. Then shelved it because I had an idea of what I wanted to do next, but didn't have the know-how. Last month, my parents came to visit. And I hauled it out and asked my mom for help (pro sewer) - so glad I did! Along with the know-how, this really needed someone else's eye and patience. 

Here's some version of a how-to:

Cartoon credits: Zapiro and Green Humour


Since my last post, the USA elected a climate-denier as the next President. We will soon have the embarrassing honor of being the only major nation on Earth led by someone who rejects climate science (although that hasn't always been the case). If you know anything about me or this blog, I don't have to explain to you why I've felt paralyzed for a while. I wrote and rewrote reactions but never published them. Then I thought of saying nothing because I try to keep this blog light. Then I calmed down.



If you missed the Green Traveler giveaway, it's not too late to back the Kickstarter and get one at a significant discount. 

What is a Green Traveler? It's an eco-friendly container designed with four separate, leak-proof compartments. It can carry a total of 44 ounces of food or beverage and can easily clip to a bag or strap. The creators call it the world's first no-nonsense, convenient, leak-proof and reuseable to-go container. Find out more on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the Green Traveler blog. And become a backer to grab one of your own before the hit the retail market next year

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway - we appreciate your interest and all your help spreading the word across social. Here are the lucky winners - expect email from me very soon:

1. Teresa P.
2.  Rachel
3.  Katy SkipTheBag



Week 41 goals: 
  1.  November 8 is about more than the presidential race
  2.  There are LOTS of ballot measures related to environmental protection
  3.  Do a little research and use your vote to elect representatives who will fight for the air you breath 


I'm 40 weeks into my challenge to trim my waste and I'm so happy to be able to celebrate with an EPIC zero-waste giveaway. Really. Sometimes an idea comes along and it just makes sense. That's what I thought when I first saw My Green Traveler on Instagram. They just launched their Kickstarter and I have THREE of these amazing containers to give away.

Read on to find out more about this fabulous reusable to-go container, their Kickstarter and how to win your own Green Traveler. The giveaway is worldwide!
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