Have an old leather jacket that you've outgrown or that feels a little out of date? Don't let it gather dust in the closet; have it upcycled into a cool new bag instead. Designer and recycler Shannon South takes vintage, unwanted and ill-fitting leather jackets and transforms them into chic, custom handbags. All you do is send her the jacket, and the customization service is as simple as choosing a style of bag you want made, sending in a picture of your jacket (to make sure it's possible), and mailing in the jacket. In a few weeks, you have a brand-new bag that's uniquely yours. Learn more about how it all works at remadeusa.shannonsouth.com.

Did you know you waste about a gallon of water every time you take a shower? It happens when you wait for the hot water to start running in the shower, and all that perfectly clean cold water goes straight down the drain. The next time you shower, consider bringing a watering can or bucket into the bathroom with you. Fill it with the cold water and set it aside. Then use the clean water to water plants, or add an all-natural soap to use it to mop and clean the floors. With some states facing the worst drought in history, this one thing really does help.

If you have a professional housekeeping service clean your home, you may want to find out about its vacuuming habits. Many companies use their own equipment, bringing it from house to house. The problem? Cross contamination between houses -- things like pet dander, mold and mildew can transfer from another house to yours. The simple solution is to insist the cleaning company use your own vacuum inside your home. While you're at it, you can insist it uses eco-friendly cleaners that you provide, too. Some franchises prohibit the use of unapproved cleaning products, so you may be better suited working with a local service company.