What is Coco-Zen?

Coco-Zen is a state of nirvana achieved by surrendering to the taste and aroma
of luscious, rich chocolate.

It's knowing that you are helping our planet and its people,
because all of our treats are handmade from organic and Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate.

A state of ecstasy, peace and harmony, Coco-Zen is oneness with chocolate.

**************************

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 11.30.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff
  • Chernobyl Salad - (post from GreenMuze) Good or bad? Better just to stick with organic.

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

School, College & Student Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

Free Chico Bags from Coco-Zen (in chocolate brown, of course!)

The holiday shopping season has begun, and a gazillion shopping bags will be given out and thrown away in the next couple of months (don't forget about all the post-holiday shopping that goes into January).

Well, to help get more people to remember to bring their own bag when out shopping, we're giving away a FREE ChicoBag (in chocolate brown, of course) with any purchase at www.Coco-Zen.com during the month of December - no coupon code needed.

The ChicoBag is by far our favorite reusable shopping bag out there.

Here's why...
  • Ultra-lightweight
  • Folds into an integrated pouch
  • Easily fits in your pocket, purse or glove box
  • Hook it onto your key chain, belt loop or backpack
  • Made of strong and washable nylon - really holds a lot!

Dimensions:
Expanded: 18" W x 14.5" H (approx.)
Pouch Size: 3" x 4"

What Makes This Product Sustainable:
ChicoBags are another tool to help you cut down on disposable plastic & paper bags. Made to last and designed to be reused over and over, using them can help eliminate thousands of throwaway bags over the course of their lifetime. Plus, these innovative bags compress down to a tiny size for easy storage and portability so it's easy to always have them handy. After all, a reusable shopping bag is not very sustainable if you don't bring it with you!

Cool Facts:
  • Using ChicoBags can save the average American 300 to 700 plastic shopping bags per year, which will save 3 to 7 gallons of crude oil.
  • That really adds up! A population of 100,000 people can save up to 14,000 barrels of oil per year using reusable bags.

Quote of the Week - 11.30.08

"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves."
~Thomas Edison
******

"If we all bought Fair Trade chocolate, we would astound everyone."
~Coco-Zen

Friday, November 28, 2008

Stuff We Found Today - 11.28.08

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff
  • Green With Glamour - (post from showtheLOVE) Los Angeles shopping event featuring eco-luxury designers at 20% off.

Tech & Science Stuff


Work & Business Stuff

School, College & Student Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Website Stuff
  • Greenwala - New social networking site for greenies "where you can learn and brag about being green, read articles, write blogs, post classifieds, enter, vote and participate in campaigns, and more."
  • DoSomething.org - Targeted towards youth, this site provides the information and tools teens need to take action on the causes that matter to them. By leveraging communications technologies and on the ground resources, DoSomething.org enable teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action.
  • Huddler - An online community that helps you sort out what's really green from greenwashing. Eco-friendly consumers "come together, learn from one another, and share their knowledge with the world." Learn more about Huddler.

Political & Social Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

VIDEO: Nuclear Neighborhoods - ZapRoot

Lastest from ZapRoot...

VIDEO: Ep.4 - Vast Food Nation: Now For a Beef Intermission

*NOT FOR KIDS - adult humor.



Stay tuned for the next episode of this thrilling drama...

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Stuff We Found Today - 11.26.08


Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! We're taking the day off tomorrow and will post again on Friday.



Beauty & Fashion Stuff
  • Sassy Shampoo - A line of "natural beauty products created to help tweens feel beautiful inside and out." In addition to using organic ingredients, "Sassy shares Beatuy Power Tips on every bottle and online to help create a positive and healthy life."
  • Step Lightly with Eco-Friendly Footwear - (post from Green Living Ideas)
  • Of the Earth: Trouser Jeans - (post from Sprig) Designer jeans that are Fair Trade, organic cotton, company donates 10% of profits to humanitarian and environmental causes...and they're under $100 - cool!
  • Artevist - Submit, review, and vote on T-shirt designs with activist messages, bringing together designers and fashionistas who want to use the T-shirt as a platform to spur people to action.

Tech & Science Stuff


Work & Business Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff

Website Stuff
  • Green Youth Movement (GYM) - Started by a high school junior in Los Angeles, GYM is dedicated to raising awareness among teens about what they can do to combat global warming.

Political & Social Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff
  • Bumble Ink - If your still sending paper cards this holiday season, check these out. They're filled with cheeky humor and printed on recycled paper (newer designs are printed on 100% post consumer waste cardstock) Get 25% off the entire site by entering code DCDEALHOL2008 at checkout.
  • Paperless Post - Planning a holiday get together? Tryout this new online invitation service that similar to Evite, but with a more classic, upscale look of engraved stationary.
  • GreenGiftGuide.com - Launced by the California Department of Conservation (DOC), the site features a catalog of green website to find eco-friendly gifts, offers green holiday tips, and includes a blog offering additional ideas.
  • Handmade Gift: Vegan Cookie Mix - (post from Crafting Green World) What a great holiday gift idea. Use this recipe, or just jar the dry ingredients to your favorite cookie recipe.
  • The Gift Card that (Literally) Keeps on Giving: TisBest - (post from Sustainablog) Perfect for the person who already has everything - or, even better, a great way to introduce your kids to the act of giving.

Other Random Cool Stuff

VIDEO: Don't Mess With Karma - Punch Bowl

Thought this would be appropriate as we head into the start of holiday festivities.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Stuff We Found Today - 11.25.08

Food Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff
  • DIY Recipes for Natural Beauty Products - (post from TheDailyGreen) For those of you who want to cook up your own natural beauty products - a sure way to stay clear of all those nasty chemicals.
  • 11 Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients You Must Avoid - (post form EcoSalon)
  • My Little Pakora - (post from ecofabulous) More than just cute eco-friendly fashions for kids, "My Little Pakora features helpful educational material on how to live more healthfully, incorporating local and organic nutrition, yoga, and natural remedies into your routine as part of pregnancy and parenting."

Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Political & Social Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff
  • BOBO: Wrapping Scarves - (post from Sprig) We've seen other reusable fabric gift wraps before (and think they're a great idea), but these go a green step further by being made from already existing fabric.

Other Random Cool Stuff

VIDEO: Ep.3 - Vast Food Nation: Kidnapatorious

*NOT FOR KIDS - adult humor.




Stay tuned for the next episode of this thrilling drama...

Monday, November 24, 2008

Stuff We Found Today - 11.24.08

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


School, College & Student Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff


Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Website Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Sunday, November 23, 2008

VIDEO: Don't Mess With Karma - Bus Stop

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 11.23.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff
  • Dual System Toilet - (post from EcoGeek) Here's great way to also save space in a super small bathroom.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


School, College & Student Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Website Stuff
  • Compost This - Ever wonder whether or not something is okay to throw into the compost bin? Here's a website that can help you out - from food items, to household waste, to kitchen waste.

Political & Social Stuff
  • 'Inconvenient Youth' Organize to Tackle Global Warming - (post from TheDailyGreen) We so admire this generation of youth that are organizing and acting to solve today's and tomorrow problems. The Inconvenient Youth website is currently under reconstruction and will open again in Jan 2009.
  • The Future of the Republican Party - (post from TheDailyGreen) We look forward to a new generation of Republicans who understand that environmenta stewardship is not a liberal platform, but a human platform that we all need to get onboard with.

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff
  • Start Scouting for a Natural Christmas Tree - (post from Lighter Footstep) Tips for finding a local tree.
  • Greencard Designs - If your planning on sending paper cards this season, check these guys out. Not only are the cards fashioned from earth-friendly materials, they're handmade and come in quite a few cheeky designs (just up our alley).

Other Random Cool Stuff

Quote of the Week - 11.23.08

"The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook."
~William James
******

"The art of being wise is knowing
which non-Fair Trade chocolate to overlook."
~Coco-Zen

Friday, November 21, 2008

VIDEO: Tom Hanks on Letterman - Electric Car

This Letterman segment is from a couple of years ago, but with the recent announcement of California's huge investment into an electric vehicle infrastructure, we thought this relevant.

Plus, we love Tom's lighthearted, yet snarky, humor...

Stuff We Found Today - 11.21.08

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Work & Business Stuff

School, College & Student Stuff


Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Website Stuff
  • HEMA - Okay, this Dutch department store has to be THE COOLEST online site we have ever seen. You have to check them out, but don't click on any of the products pictured - just wait and see what happens...and have your sound turned up.

Political & Social Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

Thursday, November 20, 2008

VIDEO: Ep.2 - Vast Food Nation: The "Fun" in Funeral

Here's the second episode. Stay tuned for the next installment...

Stuff We Found Today - 11.20.08

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Website Stuff
  • Databases Track Renewable Energy Incentives - (post from EcoGeek) "Now, no matter where you live, you can find out exactly what kind of incentive you're entitled to if you're using renewable energy or planning on doing so in the future."
  • Zite Fight - (post from Eco-chick) "...a website that lets people like you and me go head-to-head by submitting photos and letting the rest of the world decide which is better. There have been many zite fight contests, but this week they are launching an ECO FASHION FIGHT!
  • White Apricot: Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle for the Eco & Socially Conscious - Not only do they have great tips, finds and articles, they've always got tons of discounts and exclusive offers. Sign up for their newsletter!

Political & Social Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

VIDEO: Prescott Oil Loves the Earth

Stephen Colbert goes after oil company greenwashing...remind you of any ads you've recently seen??

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

VIDEO: Don't Mess With Karma - Orange Juice

VIDEO: ZapRoot - Vampires Suck

Here's the latest...

Stuff We Found Today - 11.19.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Website Stuff
  • Plus 3 Network - "...a mobile, GPS-enhanced social network that connects people with corporate sponsors and worthwhile causes on a lasting journey of personal fitness and charitable giving." Have a cause you want to raise money for? Check this site out!
  • Woogi World - Kids watching too much TV or spending too much time online? This ingenious site teaches kids to become "responsible Internet users and goodwill ambassadors, learning and implementing the character traits that are helping them be good influences in their homes, schools, and communities..." Read more about Woogi World.

Political & Social Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Stuff We Found Today - 11.18.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

VIDEO: A New Chapter on Climate Change

President-elect Obama recorded a message for the Global Climate Summit, promising "a new chapter of American leadership on climate change."

VIDEO: Ep.1 - Vast Food Nation: The Green Death

Love the this spoof of recognizable food icons. Stay tuned as we post follow-up episodes of "Vast Food Nation"...

Monday, November 17, 2008

Stuff We Found Today - 11.17.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


School, College & Student Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Green Political Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

From Joyce's Desk: Fun at SF Green Festival

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to exhibit Coco-Zen at this year's Green Festival in San Francisco, but I did get to spend a couple hours Friday afternoon checking it out with Max and saying hi to a few new friends. Here's a little photo recap of our visit (some of the pics were taken on my Blackberry, so not the greatest quality - sorry!).

With my little guy in tow, I donned my vegan shoes from Bamboo and my ReBagz sling bag and headed out to the SF Concourse over by the Gift Mart.



Once we got there, we stopped by the Coop America (soon to be Green America) member booth and got our pass for the day. Into the main hall we were immediately distracted by ALL the Clif Bar samples for the tasting. I didn't know they had sooooo many flavors! I discovered "Carrot Cake" (yummy!), while Max seemed to enjoy the "Peanut Butter & Jelly". Next we walked by the Manitoba Harvest booth selling hemp seed nuts. I figured I had to try them - tasted kind of like raw walnuts (interesting).



As we headed deeper into the halls, there was an amazing number of people (got a little too hard to take pictures while maneuvering Max in his stroller). I have to say, it was interesting to see that the Green Festival has become quite "main stream" as the number of folks in t-shirts, jeans and baseball hats far outnumbered those in dreadlocks and hemp clothing.

We took a little break from the crowds and headed into the "dining" area, where a cool band was playing. Max decided he needed to get up and do a little dance - I think he was trying to impress that cute little girl in the pink dress.



As we strolled around the food court, I quickly spotted the Organic Beer & Wine Garden...yes!! Max, however, happily settled for some refreshing organic lemonade.



There was also lots of yummy food to be had. I was especially amazed at how gorgeous the raw foods looked...and NOT just salads! Too bad we already had lunch - so many things I wanted to try. Of course, there's always room for a little Fair Trade chocolate tasting.



Before leaving, we wanted to make sure we said hi to a few new friends. Over at WorldOfGood.com, Alan posed for some pictures with Max. I ended up doing a quick little video interview as one of their sellers (scary...wondering if they will really post it on their blog), while Max scored some chocolate bars. In the booth next door was TransfairUSA (yeah Fair Trade!!!) We stopped to say hi and drop off a few Coco-Zen brochures.



Finally, it was time to head back home. On the way out, we stopped by Pangea Organics and picked up a couple of soap samples (the cinnamon with cloves is scrumptious smelling, and I love their packaging). Outside, the Drink No Evil bus eerily sat in the moonlight - almost like a last minute warning as you leave the festival.