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.

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Monday, November 30, 2009

Quote of the Week - 11.29.09

"Make finding the good in others a priority."
~Zig Ziglar

"...and in mMake finding the Fair Trade in chocolate a priority."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

From Joyce's Desk: Giving Thanks...

We're already into the craziness known as "the holiday season", but I want to take a moment to say thank you...

To family, friends, fans and followers, I just want to say how much I truly appreciate all the support and encouragement you have offered over the past year and half. This wild journey into chocolate has truly taken a life of its own, and I am grateful for the help from both old friends and new connections. Coco-Zen is growing... and I am thankful to all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Peace, Love & Chocolate,
Joyce

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Video: Captain Planet - Smog Hog



Episode recap:
In Smog Hog, Hoggish Greedly steals a car factory and takes the owner hostage. The Planeteers must save her and get Greedly to stop producing his smog by creating road hogs before the town can no longer breathe.

Quote of the Week - 11.22.09

"In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock."
~Thomas Jefferson

"...and in matters of chocolate, choose Fair Trade."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Friday, November 20, 2009

Video: Captain Planet - Whoo Gives a Hoot?



Episode recap:
In Whoo Gives a Hoot?, the Planeteers must prove that endangered species live in a forest to stop Looten Plunder from clear-cutting their home. However, time is of the essence. Can the Planeteers make their case to the judge before it's too late?

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Stuff We Found Today - 11.19.09

Treehouse prep school in UK

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff
  • Eco-Movies: Movies & Shakers - (Ideal Bite) Some great eco-themed movies to check out... and not just little indie films, but some big budget Hollywood ones, too. Personally, we can't wait to see Avatar! (Yeah, we're sci-fi geeks.)
  • Jimmy Fallon's eco-jam session - (Mother Nature Network) "Jimmy Fallon turns pop songs into eco-anthems. Will they inspire Justin Timberlake to start 'bringing bottles back'?" (video in post)

International Stuff

Political, Social & Economy Stuff
  • Everything is OK - (EcoTube) Hiliarious video of protest in the UK... "Thinking is boring! ...sheeple, not people..."
  • Cash for caulking? - (Mother Nature Network) "Bill Clinton is behind a home weatherization variation of the cash for clunkers program that he hopes will give the sagging economy -- and the environment -- a boost."

Other Random Cool Stuff

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" has some smart things to say about energy independence & climate change...



Bill Nye "The Science Guy" lends his voice to the Repower America Wall. Take a look at his video post... the guy makes some pretty smart and sensible comments on energy independence, climate change and the need for the US to take a lead in alternative energy development.

PS - Have you added your voice to the Repower America Wall yet??

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" has some smart things to say about energy independence & climate change...



Bill Nye "The Science Guy" lends his voice to the Repower America Wall. Take a look at his video post... the guy makes some pretty smart and sensible comments on energy independence, climate change and the need for the US to take a lead in alternative energy development.

PS - Have you added your voice to the Repower America Wall yet??

Monday, November 16, 2009

Stuff We Found Today - 11.16.09

Real Tree houses - literally!

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

International Stuff

Political, Social & Economy Stuff


Other Random Cool Stuff

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Quote of the Week - 11.15.09

"One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure."
~William Feather

"...an adventure in Fair Trade chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Friday, November 13, 2009

Celebrating a Green Thanksgiving

With Halloween over, it's on to the next holiday of the fall/winter season...Thanksgiving! Of course our friends over at Celebrate Green have easy and wonderful tips to help us all green-up turkey day (or Tofurkey day for some of you!).

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Put the meaning in the greening this Thanksgiving

Making every celebration more about people and less about things is a key to celebrating green. When we focus on relationships, we tend to spend less, eat less, have less left over and end up putting less into landfills.

So this Thanksgiving, take a look at your rituals and seek out ways to enhance their meaning. Here are some suggestions.
  • In the weeks before Thanksgiving, gather the family and talk about your traditions. Ask for input about what kinds of things you might do together to increase the joy everyone will take from the celebration. Brainstorm ideas, then choose a few to implement this year. (See below for suggestions, but start by asking your family as they are likely to come up with ideas that fit your group perfectly.)
  • Also prior to the holiday, invite your family on an outdoor decor hunt. Go for a walk whether you live on the plains, near a river, or by the ocean. Gather (legally) items, return home and set them up on a table. They might make a gorgeous centerpiece on their own. Or fill a bowl or clear vase with them. Place a couple of beeswax candles in their midst and you've got natural table decor that cost next to nothing.
  • Encourage your kids to come up with games that the whole family can enjoy following the feast. Seach online or check out library books on non-competitive games that are fun for everyone.
  • Involve the family in crafting decor, place cards, and small takeaway gifts that are either made from recycled materials or edible. As you are working with them, explain why it's important to avoid using virgin trees (i.e. paper), and other unsustainable materials, especially for a holiday that is so tied to the Earth.
  • To add more meaning to your meal, shop locally. If possible, visit a local farm. Talk to the farmer about what is in season and how to best prepare the food for your guests. Be sure to acknowledge the farmer and the work he/she did to ensure you had a flavorful meal when you are giving thanks at the table.
  • Ask each guest to bring a small item representative of something for which they are grateful. Place each item either at the place of each guest or in a bowl that can decorate the table. During the meal go around and ask each person to explain the meaning of the item.
  • If you host a large gathering for which it's difficult to supply enough china, here's a twist on the idea above. Ask each guest to bring their own place setting along with a story about the plates. At the table, ask guests to explain what is special about the setting. Did the china belong to a great grandmother who brought it when she immigrated? Was this place setting a gift from a beloved friend? Are you especially proud that you bought it for pennies? The stories don't matter. Sharing them does.
  • And speaking of sharing, how about asking each guest to bring a contribution to your local food bank?
  • Aim to make a tradition of a no-waste Thanksgiving. This involves a little more planning than usual, for example, offering fewer choices (do we really need mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and rice?), and ensuring that leftovers go to people who will use them. Decorating glass jars that everyone can fill and take home is a great way to share the leftover bounty. If you compost yourself or do it through your community, be sure that leftover food is deposited in a properly marked container.
  • If a member of your family or a close friend has passed away during the year, remember them sometime on Thanksgiving day. You might light a beeswax candle in their memory, relive some memories or offer a prayer.

Whatever you do this Thanksgiving, focus on those you care about and you will make priceless memories. What is more eco-friendly than that?


Top tips for a greener Thanksgiving
  1. Buy less so there is less cost and less waste. Try cutting out one or two dishes (not the absolute favorites) or cutting down on the amount of each you make.
  2. Use the freshest (organic if possible), locally grown, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. To save money, buy in bulk (go in with friends) from your local farmer, use coupons for organic items and start saving for next year's organic turkey (they really do taste better), the day after this year's celebration.
  3. Avoid purchasing anything that cannot be reused, recycled, composted or consumed.

Top picks for a greener Thanksgiving
  1. 100% beeswax candles in holiday shapes as well as tapers etc. from Big Dipper Wax Works
  2. Handmade, hand dyed, organic cotton table cloths and napkins from Fiberactive Organics
  3. If you are grateful for your guests, why not plant a tree in their names in a national forest that has been decimated by wildfire through Trees for a Change.
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Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net.


Thursday, November 12, 2009

Stuff We Found Today - 11.12.09

Recycled Billboard Housing

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

Tech & Science Stuff


Work & Business Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Uber Apparatus tells guys to give their girls Coco-Zen this holiday...


Men's blog site Uber Apparatus tells guys how to "score points this holiday season"...by giving their gals Coco-Zen Chocolate Body Treats... score!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

VIDEO: Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification



"This groundbreaking NRDC documentary explores the startling phenomenon of ocean acidification, which may soon challenge marine life on a scale not seen for tens of millions of years. The film, featuring Sigourney Weaver, originally aired on Discovery Planet Green."



Quote of the Week - 11.08.09

"He is able who thinks he is able"
~Buddha

"He can have Fair Trade chocolate who thinks he can have Fair Trade chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Saturday, November 7, 2009

VIDEO: Green Day + NRDC: Be Part of the Solution



"Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre of Green Day talk about how they got interested in protecting the environment. Join them in taking action by going to GreenDayNRDC.com"

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Stuff We Found Today - 11.05.09

1st Lady Michelle Obama in the White House garden

Family, Kids & Health Stuff
  • MomMaps: Kid spots on the go - iPhone app that helps you find kid friendly locations - parks, playgrounds, restaurants, museums, etc.
  • Wearable Teething Jewelry - (Ideal Bite) Made from non-toxic materials... Moms of babies, what do you think...cool or just more greenwashed junk???

Food Stuff

Beauty & Fashion Stuff
Tech & Science Stuff


Nature & Environment Stuff

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

International Stuff

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff
  • Fun Theory - (YouTube) Getting people to recycle more by making it "fun"...neat idea. Check out this video.
  • What's Beck's Beef? Vegetarians, This Time - (TreeHugger.com) OMG...Glen Beck is a paranoid freakazoid!! Do thinking people really listen to this guy??
  • The Living Christmas Company - If you live in the Los Angeles area, check these guys out...they rent potted Christmas trees! They'll deliver to you, and then pick up on Dec 31st...awesome!!!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

VIDEO: To world leaders regarding climate control..."Cut the bull$#@*!"



What would you say to your world leader?

"Ula from the Pacific tells world leaders exactly what she expects of them at the climate summit in Copenhagen this December."

Sunday, November 1, 2009

VIDEO: Captain Planet - The Big Clam Up



This week's episode recap:
In The Big Clam Up, the Planeteers need to solve a toxic mystery. People in San Francisco are somehow being poisoned by pollution. The Planeteers put their detective skills to the test, but what happens when their sleuthing puts their lives at stake?


Quote of the Week - 11.01.09

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
~Martin Luther King

"…and sometimes sharing a little Fair Trade chocolate can help too."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates