"Coco-Zen...Beauty and Chocolate have come together!"

The supercool mommy blogger at Keeper of the Cheerios recently posted an amazing review of our Chocolate Body Treats. After trying our Chocolate Lip Balm, she said she was "in 7th Heaven smelling that chocolate all day."

Wanna win a $25 Coco-Zen gift certificate? Check out the review to enter! (click on the link below)

Coco-Zen...Beauty and Chocolate have come together!

Global Exchange in Berkeley Now Carries Coco-Zen

The Global Exchange Store is the retail venue for Global Exhange, an amazing organization that for almost two decades was been promoting a global economy based not just on profit, but on people, community and planet (read more about Global Exhange). Their physical and online stores carry only Fair Trade items from around the world.

We were so excited when this giant of the Fair Trade movement contacted us and told us that they wanted to carry our Truffles-To-Go. We're honored to be represented in their Berkeley, CA location.

Global Exchange Fair Trade Store - Berkeley, CA

2840 College Avenue (at Russell)

Berkeley, CA 94705

(510) 548-0370
storemaster@globalexchange.org

http://store.gxonlinestore.org/contactus.html

VIDEO: People & Power - Hot Chocolate

As if economic imbalance and child labor aren't bad enough in the cocoa industry, this report by Al Jazeera shows how cocoa also play a large role in the violent conflicts of the Ivory Coast. Like conflict diamonds, there is conflict cocoa.

Part 1


Part 2

CouponDivas' Main Diva Says She'd Bathe in Chocolate

So would we!

CouponDivas recently reviewed some of our Chocolate Body Treats and gave them the thumbs up, calling the collection the "perfect gift for the chocoholic in your life. Spoil your loved one from head to toe in chocolate." There's even a little contest where you can win a $25 gift certificate for Coco-Zen...but you have to read the review to enter! (click on the link below)


Coco-Zen Body Treats Review and Giveaway

The owner and writer of this great website, Kitty, is a fellow mom entrepreneur. She posts all sorts of great deals and discounts that cover a whole variety of categories - we love her Kids Eat Free List. It's definitely a site worth checking out!

Kitty also has a couple of other website where she lists all sort of giveaways and contests (we're listed on those too):

• Mom Giveaways
• Online Sweepstakes
• Contests for Moms
• Deal Seeking Moms

Stuff We Found Today - 01.29.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Everyone is Getting Sacked - (ecofabulous) We LOVE the SwaddleMe sack by Kiddopotamus...now that there's an organic cotton version, even better!
• New study and new dangers of the old texic Teflon chemical - (Enviroblog) Women of child bearing age - read this!
• Eco Book: LU and the Earth Bug Crew! - (Recycle Your Day) Kids book review.
  

Food Stuff

• Book review: Food Fray - Everything you wanted to know about GM food - (green LA girl) Definitely worth taking a look. The general public needs to understand what's going on here.
• Peanut Butter Recall Hits More Natural Foods: Uncle Eddie's Vegan PB Cookies - (Eco Child's Play)
• Feds Find roaches and Mold in Peanut butter Recall Plant - (Eco Child's Play) Because salmonella wasn't enough.
  

Home Stuff

• Green Castle: Live Like a King (in 1,500 Sq Ft) - (EcoGeek) Sometimes smaller is better.
• Fresh Wave, Natural Odor Elimination - (Focus Organic) All natural odor eliminators...got good reviews here. Anyone else try these??
• Bird Island: Zero Energy Home in Kuala Lumpur - (Inhabitat) How'd you like to live in this house?! (we would)
• BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free Dog Toy Buying Guide - (The Soft Landing Blog) For our canine loving friends.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Louella Bloom Organic Cotton Panties - (EcoStiletto) Cute, simple and affordable. Read post for a discount, plus a tip for men's organic undies.
• Recycled Aluminum Earrings - (Great Green Goods) These are kinda cute, especially the Multi-discs one.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Western Digital Releases Energy-Efficient 2TB Hard Drive - (CleanTechnica)
• New $3 LED Bulb Lasts 60 Years - (CleanTechnica)
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Green Chamber of Commerce - "The Green Chamber of Commerce is a national, membership-based organization that is dedicated to fostering the success of businesses large and small that are committed to environmental and social responsibility." Wonder how this compares to Coop America/Green America (of which Coco-Zen is a member)??
• Gig List - Jan. 29, 2009 - (Green Gigs) Here's today's list of green job postings.
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Teen Climate Champ Warms Schools to Solar Power - (Treehugger) We LOVE teens doing green things!
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• The Bizarre Phenomenon of Ball Lightening - (EarthFirst)
• The Smallest Monkeys in the World - (Enivornmental Graffiti) Because we're suckers for cute furry critters.
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Summer Rayne Oaks: A Model of Sustainability - (EcoStiletto) She's an enviroscientist, author, eco-designer and jet-setting model - sheesh! We're waiting to see what her Payless line of eco-friendly shoes are going to look like.
• Top 10 Celebrity Homes That Should Go Solar - (Green Building Elements) Some fun light reading.
  

International Stuff

• Cote d'Ivoire & Conflict Cocoa - (Change.org: Fair Trade) "Reports of economic imbalance and child labor are unfortunate facts surrounding the cocoa industry, leaving many cocoa farmers in poverty. Now, a recent program by Al Jazeera network has pointed out the cocoa trade's role in the violent conflict occurring in the Ivory Coast, one of the top cocoa producing countries in the world."
• Mexico turns toward alternative energy - (Associated Press)
• Shanghai: Where Bomb Shelters Become Bars - (Environmental Graffiti) Hey, at least they're reusing!
• 80% of Amazon Deforestation Stems from Cattle Ranching - (Planetsave) That's cattle ranching for human consumption. Maybe we could all do with a little less meat on our plate??
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Polish Your Shoes With A Banan Peel (VIDEO) - (The Huffington Post) Wow, wonder if this really works. Guess you could call this all natural and organic (if you use an organic banana) shoe polish!
• Join Oprah and Be Our (Green) Valentine - (Global Exchange Fair Trade Store) Coco-Zen is now in Global Exchange's Berkeley store!!
• Global Exchange's 2nd National Valentine's Day of Action: Win Prizes for Participating - (Eco Child's Play) Educators, take part in the Fair Trade Curriculum...read about it here.
• Another Transition: Wal-Mart's Incoming CEO Declares "Sustainability is not Optional" - (Sustainablog) He's even quoted as saying, "...the leaders that get ahead in Wal-Mart will be the ones who demonstrate their commitment to sustainability." We'll be interested to see how Wal-Mart lives up to this.
• The Waterpod: a Floating Eco-Habitat - (Inhabitat) In May, this will be floating down the East River to New York Harbor. If you're there, keep an out out for this.
  

Stuff We Found Today - 01.28.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Toxic Retainers? - (showtheLOVE) "...the retainer that my child wears is made from acrylic plastic like the kind thats smells so bad at the nail salons (no joke)."

Food Stuff

• The World According to Monsanto - (EarthFirst) Check out the trailer to this French documentary about the food giant and genetically modified food (don't worry, it in English and has subtitles).
• FDA expands recall list, adds more pet-food products - (DVM360.com)
• Hershey's chocolate syrup's laced with mercury - (green LA girl) That's because is contains a ton of high fructose corn syrup. Instead, go for Fair trade, organic chocolate syrup - free of high fructose corn syrup!
• Black Bean Brownies Recipe - (Eco Child's Play) Interesting...might have to give this one a try.
  

Home Stuff

• BabyGap: Organic polka-dot fitted crib sheet - Great prices on organic cotton crib sheets from $12.99 - 19.50. How great would it be if Gap could stand for "casual American ORGANIC style"?! Yo, Gap - still trying to figure out your brand identity??
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Urban Fox Lingerie: Sexy and Sustainable Lingerie Made in the USA - (Feelgood Style)
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Uncensoring NASA's Mission Statement - (EcoGeek) Wow, did George Bush really change NASA's mission statement and take out "To understand and protect our home planet..."???
• True or False? 'Clean Coal' Is Possible - (TheDailyGreen) This is a long article, but helps to shed some light on this debate...worth reading.
  

Work & Business Stuff

• 10 Must-Read Articles for Green Job Hunters - (EarthFirst) With so many layoffs happening, ya might just wanna read this!
• Green Bid Madness - Jan. 28, 2009 - (Green Gigs) This week's roundup of green projects/jobs to bid on.
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Animal Locomotion: 10 Marvelous Means of Movement - (WebEcoist)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• 7 Unique Airport Hotels - (Environmental Graffiti) Not really a green post, but thought this was kind of interesting and fun to look at.
• Earth Cinema Circle - "The only DVD club dedicated to increasing social & environmental awareness through entertaining films." Think of it as an eco-Netflicks, except that you get to keep the DVDs and the packaging is made from 100% recycled paper pulp that's biodegradable.
  

International Stuff

• Japanese Group Uses 'Toilet Poems' to Save Paper - (EarthFirst) Really...poems! Oh, those kooky Japanese.
• Bear Bile Farming - (GreenMuze) WARNING - this post is horrific!
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Repower America: Support a recovery plan that Repowers America - Join Al Gore and help send "a message to Congress today to ensure that the economic recovery package focuses on new jobs and clean energy sources that will Repower America." Click on THE PLAN to learn more.
• Bring Back the White House Solar Panels! - (EarthFirst)
• First it Killed the Electric Car; Now CARB Goes After Plug-in Hybrids - (Gas 2.0)
• Al Gore Tells Senate Committee That We Have Arrived at a Moment of Decision Regarding Climate Change - (Treehugger) "...Al Gore testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on, you guessed it, the intersection of climate change and the energy crisis."
• The Largest Energy Savings Project in History - (TheDailyGreen) "When the Department of Energy revises energy efficiency standars for lamps, it has the chance to dramatically reduce electricity demand."
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 7 Green Ways to Lose Friends and Alienate People - (EarthFirst) Okay...this is funny. Hey, we're trying not to take ourselves too seriously over here.
• Ashton Kutcher's Blah Girls Go Green - (Ecorazzi) We posted this video a few months back, but looks like it's making the rounds again.. enjoy!
• U.S. Prisons Going Green. Applause? - (EcoSalon) We think it's a good step when anything goes green. What do you think?

VIDEO: Kate Winslet Tricked into Fur - ZapRoot

"Kate Winslets Vanity Fair photos cause a stir over fur. Is faux fur really faux? Ocean Acidification is becoming a problem for the survival of oceanic life. And, check out new Totally Useless Crap."

Coco-Zen Truffles Hit the Shelves of Fair & Green in Truckee, CA

In downtown Truckee, CA you'll find a wonderful little shop called Fair & Green. Like it's name indicates, their "goal is to be a center for responsible consumerism" by featuring Fair Trade, organic and sustainable products from around the world. In addition, Fair & Green also hosts several events each month in their courtyard to both entertain and educate consumers. We're thrilled to have Coco-Zen's Truffles-To-Go in a retail store that shares our same commitment and passion for planet & people.

Fair & Green - Affordable Gifts with Conscience

10382 Donner Pass Road, Suite 1

Truckee, CA

(530) 582-0908

www.fair-and-green.com

Stuff We Found Today (and yesterday) - 01.27.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Upscale Baby Blog: Reviews of Stylish Baby Gear and Inexpensive Alternatives by Real Moms - There's a whole Eco-Friendly section, too! Good resource to check out.
• FreshEco: Health and Wellness - (Blog.HowYouEco)
  

Food Stuff

• Navan Foods: The Allergy Free Food Shop - Here's a great resource for those with food allergies...and especially if your kids have them. We love that they're a mom-owned business!
• Chocolate Cake Day: Jan27 - (Foodimentary ~ Facts & Fun) Who knew there was a chocolate cake day?! Celebrate w/ this totally-worth-all-the-calories recipe - Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake. Don' forget to use Fair Trade chocolate & cocoa powder!
• Mercury Found in High Fructose Corn Syrup - (Eco Child's Play) "High fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods, the obvious being soft drinks, candies, and other sweets. Also, beware of it in things you wouldn’t expect such as breads, cereals, yogurts, ketchup, and even some granola bars." Read the labels!!
• Cocoa prices surge on tighter supplies - (Confectionary News) Oh noooo!
  

Home Stuff

• BIOWALLS: Living Walls Filter Out Toxins Indoors (VIDEO) - (The Huffington Post) How cool would it be work and/or live in a room where the walls are covered in plants!
• Not All CFLs are Crated Equal - (EcoGeek) Check out this post for guides to the best CFLs to go with.
• Solar-Powered I-Shovel Automatically Removes Snow - (CleanTechnica) Check out the video.
• How does you energy use measure up? - (Ideal Bite) Here are some gadgets to help you determine how much energy you're using.
• Green Steals of the Week: Netto Cub Crib & Changing Station - (Green Your Decor) Normally $625 each, these an amazing deal at $179.99 and $129.99.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• H&M Gets Recycled - (EcoSalon) '...announced its plans to not only incorporate more organic cotton in their spring collection, but also recycled cotton, wool, polyester and PET bottles from fabric remnants in production." Woohoo! If more big companies start offering organic/sustainable clothing, the prices should start to come down.
• Bubble and Bee Organic Deodorant Keeps You Fresh and Dry - (Feelgood Style) Anyone try this yet?? Wonder if it really keeps you dry.
• Unwired organic cotton bra: Great to wear with organic T-shirts - (green LA girl) One of the few "functional" everyday (read as no bows and frills) eco-friendly bras we've seen. Check out the post for more "green" bras.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Aptera Rolls Out First 2e Pre-Production Model - (Inhabitat) Can't wait to see these out on the road!
• Hot Air Balloons could Power Your House - (Inhabitat)
• Top 15 Most Eccentric & Innovative Electric Vehicles - (WebEcoist)
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Fair Trade Internship Opportunity - (Change.org: Fair Trade) "...looking for a college student or recent graduate with an interest in expanding the market for Fair Trade products. The Fair Trade program is focused on expanding availability and sales of Fair Trade products in retail stores."
• Gig List - Jan. 26, 2009 - (Green Gigs) Yesterday's list of green jobs.
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Green College Spotlight: Georgia Institute of Technology - (EarthFirst)
• ClassWish.org Solves School Problems with a Click - (Eco Child's Play) A great way to help our schools get the supplies they need...please check the site out and see what your child's school needs!
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• The View form the Seven Hightest Peaks on Earth - (Environmental Graffiti) Awesome!!
• Valhalla's Gateway: Iceland's Picturesque Infernos - (Environmental Graffiti) Ever see a geothermal lagoon (or "bubbling mud pool")? Take a look at these amazing pics.
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Sundance Pulls Stars Down to Earth - (Do Somthing.org: Celebs Gone Good)
• Patrick Dougherty's Incredible Nest Houses - (Environmental Graffiti) Crazy, but kinda cool.
  

Website Stuff

• Ever Green: GreenPartyGood Ecofriendly Party Gear - (Daily Candy) Great source for finding party supplies that are kind to the planet.
  

International Stuff

• Polar Bears Float Past Houses of Parliament in London - (EarthFirst)
• Scotland Makes Fuel from Whiskey - (EarthFirst)
• Europe's Grass-Lined Green Railways = Good Urban Design - (Inhabitat) Super cool looking, but wonder how much water is used in keeping the lawn grass green? Would be better if some other type of vegetation was used.
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Obama Directs EPA to Reconsider Bush Era Denial of Auto Emission Waiver - (Global Warming Is Real)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• The Smallest Tesla Vehicle Ever - (Inhabitat) Haha - it's a Hot Wheels car.
• Bloggy Giveaways ~ Mama Goes Green: Earthlust Bottle - (Recycle Your Day)
  

VIDEO: Evolution of Dance

Don't know who this guy is, but this is hilarious! Took us down memory lane of all those funny, yet iconic, dance moves in pop culture...and yeah, we admit to bustin' a couple of these moves back in the day.


Evolution of Dance 1



Evolution of Dance 2



Evolution of Dance For the Rest of Us (parody)

Quote of the Week - 01.25.09

"A superior man is modest in his speech,
but exceeds in his actions."

~Confucious

******

"A superior chocolate is bold in its taste,
and is Fair Trade in its actions."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: We Need a New Engine - Repower America

Love these new ads..

VIDEO: Song Around the World "Let's Don't Worry" - Playing For Change

"Playing For Change is a movement to connect the world through music..."

Here's the 2nd song to be released (follow up to "Stand By Me")

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 01.25.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• ToothHugger - Did you know there's a "green" dental website? "ToothHugger™ offers advice, answers, guides, giveaways and the cleanest, greenest oral care info on the Internet."
• The Toxic Sandbox: The Truth About Environmental Toxins and Our Children's Health - (Book) "From pesticides to PCBs-what's a threat, what's not, and what to do about it." Here's a book every parent should read.
• Cleaner Air Has Added 5 Month to US Life Span - (EarthFirst)
• Mouthwash Increases Risk of Cancer - (EcoSalon) If this is true, scary! Anyone know of more alcohol-free mouthwash options out there??
  

Food Stuff

• Peanut Butter Recall Includes Organic, Natural Clif and Luna Bars - (Eco Child's Play) YIKES!!
• RECIPE: Meyer Lemon Curd - (EcoSalon) Mmmmm...bet this would be delish on top of french toast or, even better, cheeze blintzes!
  

Home Stuff

• Are Your Walls Wearing Blue Jeans? Insulate Your Home with Comfy Cotton - (EcoLocalizer) Wall insulation made from recycled blue jeans and denim scraps...how cool is that?!!
• 5 Reasons to Switch From Plastic Straws to Glass Straws - (Eco Child's Play) There are also cool stainless steel straws that we like.
• 17 Living Roofs: the High Tech Green Future of Architecture - (EcoSalon) Now these roofs are something to behold!
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Need an attractive escort for your next party? - (Ideal Bite) "Hook your arm around a lux eco-handbag. Whether organic, recycled, or vintage, bag one for yourself." Hey, and eco-girl can dream, can't she?
• Top 10 Eco Lingerie for a Very Green Valentines Day - (Green Behavior) We're lovin' the O Girl Babydoll...sweet and sexy!
• Top 5 Fave Natural Beauty Products for Winter - (Eco-chick) We always love the Ec-Chicks picks.
• VEJA Eco Sneakers 50% off in the Inhabitat Shop! - (Inhabitat) Cute sneaks on sale!
• Teva: Men's Keagan Shoe - (Sprig) "...made of 30-40 percent post-consumer recycled materials — i.e., the outsole comes from car tires and factory scraps, the linings from plastic bottles, and the shoebox itself from recycled cardboard." Plus, they're on sale for $18.90!!!
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Electric All-Terrain Vehicle Set to Hit Production Next Month - (Gas 2.0) Originally designed for farmers, this might be of interest to all you ATV fans.
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Gig List - Jan. 23, 2009 - (Green Gigs) Here's Friday's list of green job postings.
• Great Green Job of the Week: Manager, LEED for Homes Affordable Housing Program - (EarthFirst)
• The 25 Most Promising Green Businesses - (EarthFirst) Well, we'd like to think we'd be on that list too ;-)
• Buying Into a Green Business: WiseGrasshopper.com and Others For Sale - (Ecopreneurist)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• New Kindergarten Teacher: Chris Brown - (DoSomething.org) Wow, this is definitely not the same Sesame Street song & dance we grew up with...very cool!
  

Website Stuff

• Everywun...it costs nothing to make a better world! - Check out this site, grab a badge, put it on Facebook, your blog, your website, or wherever, and help support your favorite cause for FREE!! - REALLY!
  

International Stuff

• Shanghai Introduces Talking Solar-Powered Trash Cans - (CleanTechnica) The talking trash cans direct people to the nearest toilets...huh?
• German Government Advisory: Eat Meat Only on Special Occasions - (Planetsave) Can you imagine if we tried to issue such an advisory here in the US?? Although, it would go a long way in helping curb greenhouse gases.
• Caterpillars Devour 45 Towns in Liberia: Climate Change Possibly to Blame - (EcoLocalizer)
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Obama Action Figur Will Stop Climate Change With The Force, Rock Karaoke - (Ecorazzi) Yes...there IS an Obama action figure doll!
• California Gets the Green LIght to Regulate New Car Mileage - (Gas 2.0)
• What President Obama's First Video Address Means For The Environment - (Red, Green and Blue)
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Blue Avocado Gro-Paks - If you're still looking for a reusable shopping bag, check these out. Gro-pads are a reusable grocery bag system "that includes everything from large multi-use bags to stylish totes to ventilated produce bags."
• Post It Green - (EcoSalon) Who knew the US Postal Service was so green?
• Google Grabs One Of Jimmy Careter's Legendary Solar Panels - (Ecorazzi) In case you didn't know, Carter installed solar panels on the White House roof.
• Try Out the 5 Best Kinds of Tree-Free Paper - (Planet Green)
• 7 Ancient Wonders of Green Design & Technology - (WebEcoist)
  

VIDEO: X Games Go Green - ZapRoot

Winter X Games go green with the Trashed Recycling Store. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will soon come into effect. Find out what it means for new and old products. Check out new Alternative Autos.

Stuff We Found Today - 01.22.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Ziggity Zoom - Here's a fun website for kids and parents to explore. There are games, pictures to color, stories to read and listen to and many other activities - all to encourage reading, creativity and imagination.
• Can antibacterial cleansers actually make bacteria stronger? - (Ideal Bite) "Scientists say it's no more effective than regular soap and can make germs more resistant, so go for hand cleansers that do the job without questionable chems." Our personal fave natural sanitizer is CleanWell.
• It's Hip Hop Baby - Super cool children's DVD for ages 2 to 6 "that educates toddlers and preschoolers with fun child-friendly hip hop music."

Food Stuff

• Plum Organics Kids Meals - (EcoStiletto) No time to make the kiddies' organic dinner?? Here's a line of frozen ones that also come in a biodegradable/compostable tray and box made of 100% recycled materials.
• Fair Trade Morning Per: Underdog to Top Banana - (Change.org: Fair Trade) "Banana companies have been accused of horrible abuses for almost a century. Oké USA is a new kind of company, one that brings good, healthy food to people here and enhances the lives and communities where bananas are grown."
• How Green Is My Orange? - (NYTimes.com) "How much does your morning glass of orange juice contribute to global warming? PepsiCo, which owns the Tropicana brand, decided to try to answer that question."
• Miso Happy - (Eat. Drink. Better.) "Miso is a traditional fermented Japanese food with amazing health benefits."

Home Stuff

• Top Three New Eco-Friendly, No VOC Paints - (EcoStiletto) There's a special discount for readers of this post.
• The OrganiCube - (GreenMuze) "Designed to be compact and income-appropriate, the self-contained living unit measures a mere 3×3x3m." Cool, but think we'd get a little claustrophobic.
• Adam Kalkin Maine Container House - (Jetson Green) Look at what a dozen shipping containers can make.
• Smellfree Compost Bin - (GreenMuze) Wonder if this really works...anyone tried it??
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• La Bella Donna Pure, Natural Mineral Foundation - (EcoStiletto) Love a mineral foundation in pressed compact form...no more mess! There's even a tip on how to tell whether your mineral makeup is really pure.
• Consumer Alert: Acetone-Free is Not Always Hazard-Free - (Good Housekeeping) Think nail polish remover.
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Antarctic Ice Shelf About to Collapse Due to Global Warming - (EarthFirst)
• Death Rate of Forests Doubles, Scientists Find - (EcoSalon)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Jenny Garth Green Cleans Up - (EcoStiletto) Like many of us, motherhood brought out the green in this celeb.
• Neil Young's New Album To Be All About Eco Cars - (Ecorazzi) "We know Neil Young is absolutely head-over-heels in love with his project to convert a classic ‘59 Lincoln Continental into an all-electric vehicle — but did anyone ever think he’d take that enthusiasm and turn it into a new album dedicated to the topic?"
• Harrison Ford, Prince Charles, Cate Blanchett To Star In New Rainforest Film - (Ecorazzi) "In a first for the British royal family, Prince Charles is set to join celebrities Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett in a new ad campaign to stop deforestation."

Website Stuff

• MyInauguralPhoto.com - Bummed out that you didn't get to go to DC and attend the inauguration? Well, this site will let you insert your photo into the front row at Obama's swearing in. It's just like you were there!
• EcoGoodies: the best eco webshops - Here's a site that rounds up the best in eco webshops and lets you review and share your shopping experience.
• It's My Party, and I'll Give if I Want To - (ecofabulous) Planning a child's birthday? Here's a site that let's "guests give a secure online gift of money to the charity your child selects."
• Huge Savings at Inhabitat Winter Sale! - (Inhabitat)
  

International Stuff

• The Charcoal Children of Manilla - (Environmental Graffiti) This is just heartbreaking.
  

Political & Social Stuff

• BREAKING: Obama Tax Breaks for Solar and Wind Approved - (Red, Green and Blue)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Coca-Cola Opens Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Center - (Earthfirst)
• Go Green Expo Set To Rock Los Angeles This Weekend - (Ecorazzi) January 23-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
• The real problem with fake grass - (Enviroblog) There's lead in it.
• Greywater Guerillas Make Rainwater Harvesting Easy - (EcoLocalizer)
• Governors Island Envisioned as Incredible Eco-Park - (Inhabitat) Check out this amazing proposal for Governors Island in New York.
  

Valentine Discounts from MOM Entrepreneur Co-op Shop

Need a Valentine's Day gift??

Check out these great discounts and deals at the MOM Entrepreneur Co-op Shop. Not only can you choose from a whole host of gift ideas, you'll be supporting a mom-owned business (something we're a little partial to). There's even a special Valentine's Day discount from us...but you'll have to visit the shop to find out about it!!

Stuff We Found Today - 01.21.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Save 15% on gDiapers Through Jan 23rd - We just got notice of this gDiapers sale and though we'd pass it along.
• Wanna accelerate your kid's interest in nature? - (Ideal Bite) Recommended list of kids books that focus on the environment...and there not you're typical "environmental" books - list includes The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.
• Foreign operatives hatching a plan to takeover your kid's crown? - (Ideal Bite) "Protect your kid from rogue head lice or treat the buggers with safe, natural agents. They’re effective, chem-free, and won’t plot against your kiddo’s skin."
• A Better Baby Bottle - (Eco Child's Play) Here's a glass bottle that comes in a protective silicone sleeve..."the bottle was dropped from five feet in the air onto a hard surface, bounced once, and didn’t break."

Food Stuff

• The New Hunter Gatherers: Urban Foragers - (EcoSalon) If only we could get someone to come pick all the apples from our backyard trees each year.
• RECIPE: Super healthy & savory snack food - tasted organic garbanzos! - (living gwg)
  

Home Stuff

• Green Home Prefab Cottage Day - (Jetson Green) We LOVE prefabs...maybe someday we can build one of these for an office...someday (sigh).
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Oceans of Change: Chic Fair Trade Accessories - Recently came across this website through Green America's business network. We're diggin' their Farm Print Bowling Bag and their collection of on trend scarves.
• Nurture My Body - Organic hair and body care products from another Green America Business member. There are products for women, men and babies, and we love that they list the EWG Skin Deep score on all their items (most of which score a "0"). Plus they've got a 50% off web specials going on!
• Beauty Alert: Popular Moisturizers Linked To Skin Cancer? - (Feelgood Style)
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Green Bid Madness - Jan. 20, 2009 - (Green Gigs) This week's writing jobs to bid on.
• Green Gig - Jan. 21, 2009 - (Green Gigs) Today's green job postings.
• What Can You Do To Green The Country? - (Ecopreneurist) Things we can do as a green business.
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Does You Child Go to America's Greenest School? - (Eco Child's Play) "At www.AmericasGreenestSchool.com, students can nominate their school in a 500 word essay describing how their school is green."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Clock's Ticking: 10 Most Beautiful Places Threatened by Global Warming - (Sprig)
• The 9 Most Extreme Places on the Planet - (WebEcoist)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Jamie Foxx Fakes Bling To Protest Blood Diamonds - (Ecorazzi)
• Val Kilmer's Eco-Horror Flick 'The Thaw' Gets A Trailer - (Ecorazzi) Yup, it's filled with gore and creepy-crawlies, all with an eco slant. Check it out.
• Environmentalism Flows Through the Lineup at the Sundance Film Festival - (EarthFirst) Here are the 8 environmental films that were accepted.
• "The Gleaners" Make Art Out of Trast - (EarthFirst) "...KQED explores San Francisco Dump’s Artist-In-Residence program..."

Website Stuff

• Green America's Responsible Shopper - "...provides you with the real story about abuses by well-known companies,gives you actions to promote corporate responsibility, and helps you green your life and world."

International Stuff

• Kenya to Get 30% of Power from One Wind Farm! - (EcoGeek) "...it's possible that African countries will be able to grow as clean-energy nations. Just like China and India have grown as cell-phone nations, it might just be possible that Africa will leap-frog fossil fuels."
• China's Miyi Tower Project Purifies Polluted Rivers - (Inhabitat)
  

Political & Social Stuff

• 7 Fixes from the Green Economy - (Green America: Real Green) Some ideas on how to fix the economy by the folks at Green America.
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Human-Powered River Gym - (GreenMuze) You gotta check this one out - too hard to explain.
  

Coupon Divas is Diggin' on Coco-Zen

Check out a recent review of our truffles on CouponDivas. There's even a little contest where you can win a $25 gift certificate for Coco-Zen...but you have to read the review to enter!

The owner and writer of this great website, Kitty, is a fellow mom entrepreneur. She posts all sorts of great deals and discounts that cover a whole variety of categories - we love her Kids Eat Free List. It's definitely a site worth checking out!

Kitty also has a couple of other website where she lists all sort of giveaways and contests (we're listed on those too):

• Mom Giveaways
• Online Sweepstakes
• Contests for Moms
• Deal Seeking Moms

Stuff We Found Today - 01.20.09

Congratulations to our new President, Barack Obama...and congratulations to us as a society for electing him.

Happy Inauguration Day!


Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• One Hospital Offers Green Class To All New Moms - (TheDailyGreen) "Why can't all hospitals do this?" We couldn't agree more with this writer.
  

Food Stuff

• Yummy Spoonfuls - 100% organic frozen baby food created by a fellow mom entrepreneur, because you don't always have time to mash it up yourself. Cookie Magazine rated it as their favorite brand in a recent taste testing.
• Eco-Cookie Monster - (Focus Organic.com) "...get eco-friendly cookies in eco-friendly boxes delivered right to your door!"

Home Stuff

• Discover Your Home Energy Use, Minute by Minute - (EcoSalon) "The Greenbox system will be able to tell you exactly how much electricity is being used, per component, per minute, and at what cost."
• Conceptual Menir House Features Innovative Green Elements - (Jetson Green) How'd you like to live in this, um, house?
• Remodeling Fun: Olympic Paint Review by EcoInsomniac - (Recycle Your Day) Here's an affordable zero VOC paint for those of us on a budget.
• Winterize You Home: Program Your Thermostat - (Sierra Club's The Green Life) We've posted about this before, but this is a good reminder for us all.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Organics That Rock - (Eco Child's Play) Love Bug Clothing company carries "trendy organic children’s clothing and recycled vintage rock wear for girls and boys." check out this post for a 40% discount code.
• Best Natural and Organic Soaps (and Why They're Better Than Body Wash) - (Sprig) This is a great lineup of organic soaps, including some of our favorites...but don't forget Coco-Zen's Chocolate Soap!
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• New Fisker Electric Sports Car To Offer Animal-Free EcoChic Model - (Ecorazzi) This car's not just green under the hood, but it will cost you a lot of green to own (sorry, couldn't resist!).
• Dumpster-Sized Generator Turns Trash into Power - (EcoGeek)
• Fiat Gets 35% of Chrysler in Exchange for Small Cars - (EcoGeek)
• Fake Plastic Trees that Eat CO2 - (EcoLocalizer)
• GREEN APPLE: An Eco Vehicle That Cleans the Air - (Inhabitat) It's just a concept car, now, but how cool will this be when it's a reality.
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Experts Predict 10 Million Jobs in Wind Power by 2010 - (CleanTechnica)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• The Best Places to See Meteor Showers in 2009 - (EcoSalon)
• Antarctic Ice Shelf About to Collapse - (Green Daily)
• How The Most Polluted Mammal On Earth Gets So Toxic - (TheDailyGreen) They're talking about killer whales in the Pacific Northwest that eat Chinook salmon...but we (people) eat it too!!
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Demi Moore Directs "Pledge" Video For Inauguration - (Ecorazzi).
• 10 Masterpieces of Lego Sculpture - (Environmental Graffiti) Okay, not really a green post, but these sculptures are pretty cool to look at.
• Have Baby Will Travel - Here's a great travel resource website if you have kids. There's info, tips and recommended destinations...and, it's run by a fellow mom entrepreneur.
  

Political & Social Stuff

• President Obama's Energy and Environment Team - A New Day in Washington - (Global Warming Is Real)
• Bush's 11th Hour Regulations Put On Hiatus by Obama - (Planetsave)
• Energy and environment front and center on White House website - (Grist) Great to see the environment being taken seriously by our administration (finally!).
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 12 things you thought you couldn't recycle - (baltimoresun.com).
• Best Laptop Pillow Intelligent Design's Button Pillow - (Sustainable is Good) If you've ever cooked the top of your thighs with your laptop (uh, we have), you know that this is a great product.
  

VIDEO: The Cove Trailer

The Cove (2009 Sundance Film Selection) exposes a yearly dolphin slaughter in Japan committed without knowledge of the general Japanese public. This highly-toxic mercury-laden dolphin meat is then disguised as fish and sold to schools and local supermarkets.

Stuff We Found Today - 01.19.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• New studies show heightened toxic risks in newborns - (Enviroblog)
• Itsabelly's guide to going green with baby - (Recycle Your Day) Video review of the book.
  

Food Stuff

• Fair Trade Morning Perk: Coffee Tidbits - (Change.org: Fair Trade)
• Lower on the Food Chain, Lighter on the Wallet: 18 Easy Elements of a Sustainable Diet - (EcoSalon)
• Sprouting 101 - (Green & Clean MOM) "Sprouting is a low-cost, healthy habit that can add homegrown greens to your meals with just a small time commitment every day. It’s almost idiot-proof..." It's that last part that got our attention!
• Little Debbie Adds Snack Food to Salmeonela Reanut Butter Recall - (Eco Child's Play) "...voluntary recall of cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods with peanut butter."
• Ethnic Cookbooks for Kids: Traveling the World, One Recipe at a Time - (Eco Child's Play) What a great way to get kids involved in cooking and trying new cuisines.
• Recipe: Pumpkin Pasta & Wild Mushroom - (Recycle Your Day) So don't hate us, this IS a Rachel Ray recipe (sorry), but a fellow green mom posted this on her blog and it sounded so delish and EASY, we had to post it too.
• Recipe: Pan-Seared Snapper fillet Over White-Water Clams and Chorizo Stew - (Viv Magazine) This is a bit more involved, but just reading it makes your mouth water...gonna have to give this one a try.
  

Home Stuff

• Clutching at straws: Tools for eco-friendly sipping - (green LA girl) We think the stainless steel straw is pretty darn cool - especially if you have kids that like to drink from straws.
• $5,000 Paper House Renovates Shanty Town, Refugee Living - (Ecoscraps)
• Living Moss Carpet Adds a Touch of Green to Your Bathroom - (Inhabitat) Now this is what I call a green carpet. Would you put this in your bathroom??
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Pretty panties sans pesticides - (green LA girl) Funny, we often forget about making our undies organic as well too. Post include video (a little racy - NOT for kids).
• crocs, Rock - (Recycle Your Day) We're not exactly fans of Croc over here at Coco-Zen, but good to know that they're recyclable...especially since we see sooooo many of these shoes everywhere.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• California Considers Killing Plug-In Hybrid Start-Ups - (EcoGeek) Not good.
• Solar Energy Breakthrough Could Cut Costs By More Than 50% - (CleanTechnica)
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Green College Spotlight: Ohio State University - (EarthFirst)
• A Truly Green School - (EcoSalon)
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• 10 Most Bizarre Meteorological Phenomena - ( Environmental Graffiti) These are crazy...turns out fish falling from the sky actually does occur!
• The Dachstein Ice Portal - (Environmental Graffiti) Look inside an actual glacier.
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Actress Portia de Rossi Reveals Plans For Vegan Shoe Line - (Ecorazzi) Hope hers fares better (and longer) than Natalie Portman's line.
• 15 Amazing Statues Come Alive - (Environmental Graffiti) These are WAYYY better than those street performers covered in silver paint.
• The Cove: Sundance Film Exposes Japanese Dolphin Slaughter in Grisly Footage - (Planetsave) Take a look at this - it's crazy (don't worry, nothing gruesome shown in the video clip...but, very eye opening)!
  

International Stuff

• Use a Plastic Bag, Get 5 Years in Jail - (Eco Child's Play) That's the law in Delhi, India.
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Martin Luther King on Socially Responsible Investing - (The Inspired Economist) This is why we believe that Fair Trade can work in a "free trade" market. They do not need to be at odds. Companies will go where consumers (and their dollars) go.
• Obama Could Be Just the Third President in History to Mention the Environment at an Inauguration - (Red, Green and Blue) 'Cause you know that last one certainly didn't!
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 10,000 thundering jet engines - (Do The Green Thing) Pretty eye opening video - take a look.
• Where To Donate All Your Unwanted Stuff - (The Good Human) Here's a great list covering all sorts of items you might want to get rid of. If you're thinking of spring cleaning soon, read this!
  

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 01.18.09

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Eco-Friendly Wooden Dollhouse - (Inhabitat) Your little one been asking you for a dollhouse. Check this one out from SmartGear - "comes complete with wind turbines, solar panels, bicycles, water catchment cisterns, recycling bins, and a cute family of eco-conscious dollies."
• Green Toys Inc - Recycled Toys Made in the USA - (Eco Child's Play)
• Solar Powered Toys - (GreenMuze)
  

Food Stuff

• Mom Made Foods - (FoodieTots) Line of organic frozen baby and toddler foods that are now available at Whole Foods and...SuperTarget (yes!).
• 10 Most Dangerous Foods - (Sprig) Some pretty interesting info here.
• Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims and Deceptive Labeling of VitaminWater - (Eco Child's Play)
• Choice Cuts: Get a Guide to Sustainable Meat Buying - (Eat. Drink. Better) Let's face it, many of us trying to be green still like a little meat every once in a while.
• Fish and mercury: Jeremy Piven does the FDA's public education work - (green LA girl)
• Peace Coffee in Action - (Global Exchange Fair Trade) Video included in post.
• HAPPYFAMILY Giveaway - Organic Food for Kids and Babies - $50 Value - (FocusOrganic.com)
• Something fishy about the fish...oh, wait, it's mercury - (Enviroblog)
• From Cavity Care to Cold, Hard Case: 15 Things You Didn't Know About Chocolate - (EcoSalon)
  

Home Stuff

• Greenest Cleaning Products - (Eco Child's Play) There's even easy "recipes" to make your own green cleaning products.
• BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free Food Storage Containers - (The Soft Landing)
• The Helpful and Cool Clean Green Garmento: Be Fantastic ~ Use Less Plastic - (Feelgood Style) We think this is a great item for anyone who does a lot of drycleaning.
• Toss Those Harmful Dryer Sheets in the Trash - (Eco Child's Play)
• How To Choose Non-Toxic Paint and Wallpaper - (Eco Child's Play)
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Eco-friendly Inaugual - Ball Gowns from Garbage - (Great Green Goods) Just for fun...no we don't expect Michelle Obama to be sporting one of these.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Los Angeles, New York City to Get 500 MINI Es - (Gas 2.0) "The cars will be loaned to both customers and the cities for a full year."
• Toyota's Green Showing at the Detroit Auto Show - (EcoGeek) Part 2 of EcoGeek's video coverage.
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Gig List - Jan. 19 2009 - (Green Gigs) This weekend's list of job opportunities.
• Great Green Job of the Week: Paid Traing for Green Collar Jobs - (EarthFirst)
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Hot Green Gear: The Naked Binder - (EarthFirst) Looking for some eco-friendly binders for the new semester?
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• 7 Phenomenal Wonders of the Natural World - (WebEcoist) Some really cool pics of nature.
• Which Parts of the U.S. Will Be Hardest Hit by Global Warming? - (TheDailyGreen)
• Scientists Say 'Paint Roofs White to Tackel Global Warming' - (Planetsave)
• Global WArming LInked to Viral Epidemic in Europe - (EarthFirst)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Wax On... - (showtheLOVE) There's now an Obama stature in Maddam Tussaud's Wax Museum...and it's a pretty darn good likeness!
• A Video Game That Plants Seeds Instead of Bombs - (Eco Child's Play) Not that we're advocating kids spend hours playing video games, but at least with this game they'll be learning about the environment while having a little fun.
• Jimmy Fallon Taking "Late Night" In A Green Direction - (Ecorazzi)
• The Making of a Green Mom - Brook Shields - (Healthy Child Healthy World)
  

Website Stuff

• Celeb Storytellers - (Eco Child's Play) A website where celebrities narrarate children's stories.
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Stephen Chu On Global Warming In His Own Words: Tipping POints, Adaptation, Feedback Loops and Other Candor - (TheDailyGreen) "Obama's Energy Secretary pick explains in a video message the science behind global warming."
• Study: Alcohol Sin Taxes Work - (TheDailyGreen) "Should we have more eco-sin taxes?"
• Hansen's Grim Warning to Obama: You Have Only 4 Years Left to Save the Earth - (Red, Green and Blue)
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• You Shall Have Bike Lanes Wherever You Go - (TreeHugger) Some pretty nifty gadgets for bike safety.