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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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Coco-Zen Chocolate Treats are perfect for chocolate "freaks"...




Check out the cool things Emily the chocoholic over at Groomed L.A. has to say about our Chocolate Body Treats and truffles...

Monday, December 6, 2010

Chocolate Tasting & Screening of "The Dark Side of Chocolate" in Palo Alto - Tue 12/7

If you're in the bay area this Tues evening 12/7, come to the screening of "The Dark Side of Chocolate" in Palo Alto. Coco-Zen will have truffles for tasting! Plus we'll have some of our holiday chocolates for sale as well.



See the invite from Global Exchange below.

Here's the trailer to the movie...



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Don’t miss the event of the season! Please RSVP by Sunday, December 5

The Fair Trade Chocolate Tastings

Coco-Zen: Enjoy samples from the South Bay’s own local Fair Trade truffle-maker, with a wide selection of delicious milk and dark Fair Trade truffle flavors from Dark Chocolate to Orange Blossom (the Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign’s favorite is Chai Spice!) http://www.coco-zen.com

Alter Eco: Savor chocolates from one of the most innovative, highest quality Fair Trade chocolate bar manufacturers, featuring flavors from Chocolate Velvet to the exotic Fair Trade Quinoa, http://www.altereco-usa.com

The Speakers

Adrienne Fitch-Frankel, Fair Trade Campaign Director, Global Exchange: Adrienne Fitch-Frankel will fill in details about forced and child labor in the cocoa industry and how Fair Trade addresses these issues.

Edouard Rollet, Co-Founder/Chief Operations Officer, Alter Eco: Visionary social entrepreneurship leader Edouard Rollet will describe his visits to Fair Trade cocoa cooperatives around the world and discuss the transformative impact on social justice, poverty, and the environment his company and others are making.

The Film: The Dark Side of Chocolate

The 2010 Documentary, The Dark Side of Chocolate reveals shocking evidence that child and forced labor continue in the cocoa fields for millions of children, nearly a decade after the major players in the cocoa industry promised to resolve the problem.

The Hosts

Chocolate Dividends: (http://www.chocolatedividends.org/), supporters of cocoa farmers

World Centric: (http://www.worldcentric.org/), biocompostable serving items

The Details

Date: Tuesday, December 7

Time: 7:00 pm doors open/chocolate tasting; 7:30 pm program begins

Location: World Centric

Address: 2121 Staunton Court; Palo Alto, CA 94306

Tickets (sold at door): $15

RSVP by: December 5

RSVP contact info: Dana Cabico - fairtrade@globalexchange.org/415-575-5557

Nationwide screenings are empowering thousands of people to come together to send one clear message to the chocolate industry: “We will not tolerate abusive child labor and trafficking in the cocoa fields.”

The screenings are organized by Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Campaign and other organizational members of the Raise the Bar Campaign, which is pressing chocolate manufacturers to end exploitative child and forced labor in the cocoa fields. To learn more about Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Campaign and the Raise the Bar Hershey Campaign, please visit www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.

Sincere thanks to Palo Alto screening sponsors Chocolate Dividends, World Centric, Alter Eco, Coco-Zen, and the makes of The Dark Side of Chocolate, Miki Mistrati and Roberto Romano!

VIDEO: Don't Mess With Karma - Skateboarding



*Previously posted on 11.18.08


Quote of the Week - 12.05.10

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
~Anne Frank

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to have some Fair Trade chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Keep her sweet from head to toe!



This week's White Apricot newsletter features an eco-conscious gift guide and includes Coco-Zen's Chocolate Body Gift Set under gifts "for her"...

A chocolate alternative to Chapstick...


The Gloss includes Coco-Zen Chocolate Lip Balm in its round-up of winter lip balm alternatives to Chapstick...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Shop To Stop Slavery...with Coco-Zen Fair Trade Chocolate Body Treats!



From Shop To Stop Slavery:

"I just had the best spa indulgence with fair trade certified and organic chocolate. I used the chocolate sugar body polish, chocolate edible lip scrub, and chocolate lip balm all from Coco-Zen. My body felt smooth and the lip scrub can be licked off! Yummy!."

Read the rest...

Sunday, November 21, 2010

VIDEO: Karma - Bike Riding




*Previously posted on 11.12.08


Just a little green humor...

Quote of the Week - 11.21.10

"Laughter is an instant vacation."
~Milton Berle

"A piece of Fair Trade chocolate is an instant vacation."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Thursday, November 18, 2010

50% Off Green Products from 12 Green Companies!

The Ladies over at Celebrate Green have just published their annual 50% off coupon sheet...just in time for holiday gift giving! With great items from 12 green companies (yes, Coco-Zen is one of them), there's something for everyone.

Click on the image below to download the coupon sheet (PDF file). From there, you can just click and shop from any of the offers on the sheet.

Participating companies...

Coco-Zen: www.Coco-Zen.com

Digs: www.Digs.com

Eco Party Time: www.EcoPartyTime.com

Kids Konserve: www.KidsKonserve.com

Magic Cabin: www.MagicCabin.com

My Mama's Love: www.My-Mamas-Love.com

Overall Beauty: www.OverallBeauty.com

Sweet P's: www.SweetPSkincare.com

Terra Trendz: www.TerraTrendz.com

This is it Creations: www.ThisIsItCreations.com

Wind and Weather: www.WindandWeather.com

World of Green: www.WorldOfGreen.com


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New Chocolates to Wear!

Introducing the newest additions to our Chocolate Body Treats collection...
Sugar Scrub Chocolate Sugar Body Polish
Polish away dry skin cells while moisturizing to reveal soft, supple and sexy skin!


This rich, thick scrub looks, smells and feels like a sugary fudge batter. After cleansing, use your fingers to scoop the polish and gently scrub all over in a circular motion. Then rinse off with warm water and pat dry. Organic almond oil, cocoa butter and aloe vera work to moisturize your skin - no need to apply additional moisturizer. Your skin will feel soft and supple, while faintly smelling of sweet chocolate...sexy!

bath bomb Cocoa Butter Bath Bombs
Soak yourself in chocolatey bliss!

Toss our moisturizing bath bomb into a warm tub for a deliciously decadent spa experience right in your own home. As the bath bomb dissolves and "fizzles" in your bath, the organic/Fair Trade cocoa butter and organic sweet almond oil will moisturize your skin, while the lush chocolate scent carries you off into a blissful state of mind. Sit back, close your eyes, breathe in...enjoy!



Plan ahead for the holidays...
Chocolate Body Treats gift sets are perfect for giving!


Head-To-Toe Lips-To-GoSalt Scrub 3 Jar Set
   Head-To-Toe Gift Set    Lips-To-Go    Salt Scrub 3-Jar Gift Set

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

VIDEO: The Story of Electronics



"The Story of Electronics, releasing Tuesday, NOVEMBER 9, employs the Story of Stuff style to explore the high-tech revolution's collateral damage—25 million tons of e-waste and counting, poisoned workers and a public left holding the bill. Host Annie Leonard takes viewers from the mines and factories where our gadgets begin to the horrific backyard recycling shops in China where many end up. The film concludes with a call for a green 'race to the top' where designers compete to make long-lasting, toxic-free products that are fully and easily recyclable."

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Quote of the Week - 11.14.10

"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.."
~Buddha

"A piece of Fair Trade chocolate that has been eaten and enjoyed is more delicious than a piece sitting in a box."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tips for a greener and less wasteful Thanksgiving...and save a little money, too!

Our friends over at Celebrate Green offer some useful tips and suggestions to help make this Thanksgiving greener and less wasteful. What's even better is that you'll save a little money, too!

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Plan ahead Thanksgiving saves time, money and waste

You may balk, but the best way to save money, save time, save waste and save your sanity if you want to have an eco-friendlier feast this year, is to--say it with me now--plan ahead.

Planning helps zero in on when to buy, how much to buy, how to decorate, how to deal with leftovers and all the other details around hosting a fun, Earth-friendly celebration.

One hour of planning can make the difference between a pleasurable event and a frenzy of expensive over-consumption.

So gather the kids, a pen and pad (or be extra-eco and write on a blackboard), and start by posing and discussing these 10 questions:

1. What foods do we traditionally serve? Are we going overboard? If we usually provide eight side dishes, could we cut that to six?

2. What items should we be sure to buy organic? (Here's the list of fruits and veggies with the most pesticide residues and those with the least.)

3. How are we going to decorate the table? Can we use décor we already have? Borrow? Use items from nature? Do double duty with edible décor?

4. Can we check with friends and neighbors to see if they'd like to join us in buying organic produce in bulk at reduced cost?

5. Can we aim for a no-waste Thanksgiving by avoiding pre-packaged items?

6. Can we find what we need at a local organic farm and save money while having fun by picking veggies and fruits?

7. Can we consider an organic turkey or a heritage variety? (It's complicated and time consuming to wade through all the labels you may find on turkeys, but the USDA organic label offers pretty clear standards. If you're buying from a local farmer, ask about methods used in raising and slaughtering. Their turkeys may not be labeled organic because of the cost involved in doing so, but assuming you trust the farmer, you should be purchasing a healthier alternative to conventionally raised birds.)

8. Do we have enough dishes, flatware and glasses for the crowd? If not, how will we sidestep purchasing new? (We suggest asking guests to bring their own place settings. To add meaning to the greening, ask them also to be ready to share the history of the plates. Were they a wedding gift? Handed down from great grandma? Purchased with your first paycheck?)

9. How much of our meal can we make using in-season items instead of those imported from far away?

10. What will we do with leftovers? Will we provide guests with upcycled glass jars for them to take home what they like? Can we make something delicious from leftovers and take to a food bank? Freeze for later? Will we compost anything we can't use? If we don't compost ourselves and haven't asked, can we call our local trash service and ask if they will compost food scraps?

Whether you go all out in celebrating an eco-Thanksgiving or take one or two steps, be sure to give thanks for the bounty that the Earth provides.

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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.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Quote of the Week - 11.07.10

"The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live."
~Elbert Hubbard

"The best way to enjoy chocolate is to eat Fair Trade."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Stuff We Found Today - 11.02.10

FLOTUS plays flag football to promote childhood fitness

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff


Beauty & Fashion Stuff


Tech & Science Stuff


School, College & Student Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff


Political, Social & Economy Stuff

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

VIDEO: The Empathic Civilization (Animated)




"...bestselling author, political adviser and social and ethical prophet Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and the profound ways that it has shaped our development and our society."

This is an interesting way at seeing how we're all connected...and how we may hopefully evolve into a true global civilization. Just some food for thought.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Quote of the Week - 10.24.10

"Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful."
~Thich Nhat Hanh

"Because of Fair Trade, chocolate is more delicious."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Friday, October 15, 2010

Halloween can be about giving...not just getting

The ladies over at Celebrate Green offer some wonderful ideas and suggestions for showing our kids that Halloween can be about "giving" and not just "getting"...and have fun doing it!

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Trick or treat for good

With one notable exception, Halloween has traditionally been about getting, not giving. That exception began 60 years ago, when a mom in Philadelphia had the idea to turn the getting into something bigger. With nothing more than a desire to see change, Mary Emma Alison spread the word through schools, churches and community groups, encouraging kids to collect pennies that would go toward food, medicine and other needs of poor children around the world through UNICEF (the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).

Her efforts were noticed by UNICEF, which eventually took over the campaign.

President John F. Kennedy recognized the willingness of children to move beyond self-interest:

"UNICEF has caught the imagination of our people-especially our nation's children whose Halloween collections have become a symbol of concern and an expression of tangible aid."

Children still can collect for UNICEF, but in addition, there are a number of other ways in which they can turn Halloween into a good-for-others event.

For instance, kids can collect eye glasses. Organized by OneSight and Lions Clubs, Sight Night is a non-traditional way to go door-to-door for good. Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, children and community groups collect used prescription glasses as well as sunglasses which are then recycled for usage by global clinics. Click here for more information and download materials for Sight Night.

Do your kids have allergies? The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network's Trick or Treat for Food Allergy is an alternative way for kids of all ages to have fun during Halloween. Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, which may contain ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, kids will trick-or-treat for donations to fund FAAN's food allergy education and research programs. This way, they can dress up as their favorite characters while raising awareness to an important cause. Participating kids can even win cool prizes.

Older children may want to raise awareness of Fair Trade Certified chocolate and help end abusive child labor conditions in the cocoa industry. If so, they can try "reverse" trick-or-treating with Global Exchange. Instead of accepting candy (or in addition), they will hand out Fair Trade chocolate and/or informational cards on why supporting Fair Trade practices in the cocoa industry is a year around must.

And finally, with kids bringing home pounds of candy, most parents won't allow them to eat it all. Instead of tossing the loot, check with the Halloween Buy Back program to see if your local dentists are listed. Participating dentists pay children $1 for each pound they bring in. Kids can keep the money or use it to help defray the cost of sending collected candy to troops overseas.

If dentists in your area are not participating, see whether your local food pantry or Meals-on-Wheels might accept the treats.

This Halloween, why not take the focus off collecting as much candy as possible and offer your child the opportunity to be generous. That idea is anything but scary!

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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.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Fair Trade Month Kickoff Party at Temple Nightclub in San Francisco

Last Wed night, Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) held a kickoff party for Fair Trade Month at TempleNightclub in San Francisco. Along with music and a great crowd there was Fair Trade vodka, food and chocolate (of course)! Coco-Zen was there and we were serving up our vegan truffles.

Check out some of the photos (via Fair Trade USA)...

Temple Nightclub
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Joyce & her chocolates
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Environmental lawyer by day, Coco-Zen spokesperson by night...
Thanks Mary!

Paul Rice, CEO of Fair Trade USA hangs out with the Coco-Zen ladies.
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Serving up truffles...everyone was surprised that these were vegan!
Partygoers enjoying the night.
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Quote of the Week - 10.03.10

"Everything you can imagine is real."
~Pablo Picasso

"We imagine Fair Trade chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Last Chance for Reverse Trick-or-Treat and FREE Chocolates!

Coco-Zen is proud to once again donate chocolates to this year's Reverse Trick-Or-Treating campaign. This annual event is headed by Global Exhange, a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world.

See the announcement below, and find out how you and your kids can participate this year...and get your FREE Halloween chocolates!

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October 8
Deadline for individuals and groups to request Reverse Trick-or-Treat kits!



ORGANIZATIONS (congregations, schools, youth groups, etc):
  • Kits for organizations are $24 per box of 150 minis and cards (maximum 2 boxes per organization).
  • When placing your order you must use the coupon code COCOZEN for the discounted wholesale price.
  • Last day for organizations to sign up for Reverse Trick-or-Treating is also October 8th.

INDIVIDUALS (families, students, etc):
  • Kits for individuals are FREE and include 15-20 Fair Trade chocolate minis and informational cards.
  • Last day to order kits is October 8th.

Order your kits TODAY at www.reversetrickortreating.org. We usually run out long before the deadline!

Reverse Trick or TreatWhat is Reverse Trick-or-Treating?
Children (+ high school/college students/adults) on their regular trick-or-treating rounds through their neighborhoods, or at an equivalent community event, give chocolate back to adults at each house they visit on Halloween...Fair Trade chocolate attached to an informational card about the problems in the cocoa industry, (such as child slavery, environmental degradation, and poverty) and how Fair Trade provides a solution.

With your help, we will reach nearly a quarter million households in the US and Canada with this important informational message!



To order trick-or-treating chocolate to distribute from your doorstep, including Global Exchange's fabulous Halloween Fair Trade Action Kit, visit:

Whether or not you order a Reverse Trick-or-Treating kit, please join the Raise the Bar Campaign and circulate flyers on Halloween calling on Hershey's to stop using cocoa grown with child or forced labor and start using Fair Trade certified cocoa. Flyers available at: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/reversetrickortreating/RTTpublicparticipate.html


October is Fair Trade month!
Learn how you can participate at http://www.fairtrademonth.org/

*Thanks to Reverse Trick-or-Treating 2010 Fair Trade chocolate company donors Equal Exchange, Sweet Earth, and Coco-Zen.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

VIDEO: Lost Generation (repost from 2/16/09)



This is a repost from Feb 16, 2009 - thought video was so inspirational that it was worth reposting...

"This video was created for the AARP U@50 video contest and placed second."

Quote of the Week - 09.12.10

"Open minds lead to open doors."
~Unknown

"Let’s upon our minds to Fair Trade chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

2010 Reverse Trick-or-Treat Kits Now Available

Update from Global Exchange:

Halloween 2010: Participate in the Fourth Annual Reverse Trick-or-Treating!

Reverse Trick-or-Treating gives thousands of schoolchildren (& high school/college students, and adults) the opportunity to treat neighbors with Fair Trade chocolate while educating their communities about how they can help end poverty and the human rights, child labor, and environmental abuse that is pervasive in the cocoa industry.

The Fair Trade chocolate is attached to a card with information unmasking social and environmental problems in the cocoa industry, and how buying Fair Trade certified chocolate provides a solution.

See how much fun you'll have by watching the Reverse Trick-or-Treating video or reading our 2009 media.

Reverse Trick-or-Treating kits are distributed FREE to individuals and at a DISCOUNTED WHOLESALE PRICE to organizations,
thanks to the generous donations of Fair Trade chocolate companies Equal Exchange, Sweet Earth, and Coco-Zen. (Participants pay the cost of postage.)

Place your request today…we always run out long before the deadline!

DATES TO REQUEST KITS:


Individuals (one group of Trick-or-Treaters):
Dates to request kits: September 1 - October 8 (unless supplies run out sooner)
Price: FREE + shipping costs (kit includes 15 cards/chocolates)


Organizations (schools, congregations, youth groups, etc organizing multiple groups of Trick-or-Treaters)
Dates to request kits: October 1 -October 8 (unless supplies run out sooner)
Price: $24 per box of 150 cards/chocolates (maximum 2 boxes per organization) + shipping costs.

Organizations: Please note that when you place your order you must use the coupon code 'GLOBALEXCHANGE' for the discounted wholesale price.


Request a kit/more information available at: www.reversetrickortreating.org


This year, make an even bigger difference for cocoa growing communities.
Child and forced labor, poverty, and environmental degradation in the cocoa industry will not end unless EACH ONE OF US takes action!

1. Distribute Reverse Trick-or-Treating flyers on Halloween, whether or not you request a kit. Pdf available at www.reversetrickortreating.org.


2. Help challenge Hershey to Raise the Bar! Distribute flyers/petitions as part of the campaign asking Hershey to go Fair Trade and end child and forced labor in the cocoa industry. Pdf available at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.

3. We are calling on every household to distribute Fair Trade certified chocolate minis to trick-or-treaters who visit your household. To purchase, please visit www.globalexchangestore.org

4. Organize a showing of The Dark Side of Chocolate at your home, school, congregation, etc during Halloween week
. This important new documentary reveals that the nightmare of child labor, trafficking, and slavery is continuing in the cocoa fields. Screening toolkit includes petition for viewers to sign asking Hershey to end child labor/slavery and go Fair Trade. More information available at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.

Reverse Trick-or-Treating is an initiative launched by the human rights organization Global Exchange in cooperation with Fair Trade company Equal Exchange and is a collaborative effort of countless children, youth, and adults supported by institutions including nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, Fair Trade companies, and schools.

Monday, August 30, 2010

VIDEO: The Story of Bottled Water



"The Story of Bottled Water, released on March 22, 2010 (World Water Day) employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over five minutes, the film explores the bottled water industrys attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all."

Quote of the Week - 08.29.10

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
~Darrell Royal

"Good is what happens when chocolate meets Fair Trade."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Stuff We Found Today - 08.26.10


"Living" Dress - Ecouterre

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff


Beauty & Fashion Stuff


Tech & Science Stuff


School, College & Student Stuff

Nature & Environment Stuff


Political, Social & Economy Stuff
  • Fixing a World That Foster Fat - (NYTimes.com) "Fast-food restaurants can charge lower prices for value meals of hamburgers and French fries than for salad because the government subsidizes the corn and soybeans used for animal feed and vegetable oil... We have made it more expensive to eat healthy in a very big way..."
  • Why conservatives are bad on energy - (Mother Nature Network) "...the one-sided logic employed by conservatives to dismiss solar power."

Other Random Cool Stuff
  • Downsizing an XL water footprint outside the home - (Mother Nature Network) "According to a National Geographic Water Footprint Calculator, effectively curbing the amount of H2O you use may not lie in tweaking habits at home but in taking a closer look at how you shop, eat and travel." Definitely something to think about.
  • Suitcase beds for pets - (The GirlieGirl Army) Okay...this is cute - especially if you make it yourself.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

VIDEO: Ocean Acidification... in a nutshell (by Greenpeace)



Great little animated video...

"Our emissions of carbon dioxide threaten to alter the very chemistry of sea water and change life in our oceans within the span of a single human lifetime."

Quote of the Week - 08.15.10

"Happiness never decreases by being shared."
~Buddha

"Share a little happiness…share some Fair Trade Chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Stuff We Found Today - 08.11.10


Awesome kids!

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

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Eco-Friendly Back-To-School Ideas...And Wallet-Friendly!

Our friends over at Celebrate Green have some great ideas for Back-To-School that's not only easy on the planet, but easy on your wallet too!

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Celebrate back-to-school with better-for-the-planet choices that can save money too

The new school year is just around the corner and that means shopping. Kids not only want/need new clothes, but want/need to be re-supplied with everything from backpacks to lunchboxes, paper, pencils and, depending on age, electronics.

And while living an eco-friendlier lifestyle means buying less (and spending less), it also means buying smarter if you're going to purchase. Here are some tips for making better-for-the-Earth choices when it comes to schools supplies.

1. Before setting foot in the store or clicking on your favorite store's website, make a list of every item your kids need/want.

2. Next, have your children go on a hunt through the house for items on the list. (Checking with grandparents, neighbors and friends is encouraged.) If you're like most families, you've already got dozens of pens, highlighters, notebooks and other sundry items that you don't need to buy. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and if you like, reward the family member who comes up with the most usable items.

3. Discuss with children who are old enough, why it's important to use what you have and avoid spending money and creating more waste. Perhaps you can come up with a challenge. Ask your kids to keep track of expenditures. If they can get everything for an amount you set, the family does something they enjoy together as a treat.
4. Set up a swap. This is a great way to save money as well as recycle not only clothing, but all sorts of school necessities. If parents are enthusiastic, most kids will be perfectly happy with new-to-them items!

5. Prior to heading to a store where you'll buy new, stop by one or two local thrift shops. You're likely to find lightly used three-ring binders, pads, scissors, desk lamps, back packs and electronics like calculators and of course clothes and shoes as well. Buying used means no packaging and no "gifts" for the landfill.

6. When buying new, seek out eco-friendlier alternatives. Even big box stores are carrying 100 percent recycled paper, recycled binders and notebooks, but you might need to seek them out. And if your local store doesn't have these goodies, be part of the solution by asking the manager if she would consider ordering some. Have favorite brands you usually buy online? Pass on the names to the manager.

7. Buying online makes choosing eco very easy. Do a search for an eco-friendlier option for any school supply. Here are just a few examples of what you'll find: Ecojot, carries awesome recycled journals and notebooks. ReBinder has 3-ring binders, Recyled Products offers lots of recycled pen and pencil choices, and backpacks made from recycled soda bottles can be found at many sites.

8. Get those coupons! Many people believe that eco=expensive. Sure, that can be true. But the fact is, coupons and deals abound. Google the name of the product or store plus the word "coupon" or "deal." Shopping in a locally-owned store? Contact your friends and get their lists, then ask the manager if you can get a discount for buying in bulk.

9. Buy only what you need. Those 12 for-the-price-of-6 notebooks are not a bargain if your kids never use them.

10. On the other hand, buying in bulk can save on packaging, so if you can buy a bunch for less, then split among friends, you'll not only save money, but help the Earth as well.

11. If purchasing new, according to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, you will want to:
  • Avoid backpacks with shiny plastic designs as they often contain PVC and sometimes, lead. (Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives used to soften or stabilize it. Federal law has banned the use of phthalates one additive in PVC, in children's toys, but not school supplies.)
  • Choose cloth or metal lunchboxes. Many lunchboxes are made of PVC, or coated with it on the inside-and don't forget cloth bags to hold sandwiches, cookies and fruit.
  • Choose cardboard, fabric-covered, or polypropylene binders. Most 3-ring binders are made of PVC.

And when the gathering/swapping and/or buying is done, have some fun. Celebrate this year's eco-friendlier (and money-saving) choices with a family fashion show/demo or an old-fashioned ice cream social.

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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.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Video: Brian Williams Slow Jams The News With Jimmy Fallon - Gulf Oil Spill

from Ecorazzi.com

This was on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" a little while back...freakin' hilarious! Brian Williams slow jams with Jimmy Fallon about the Gulf oil spill and alternative energy.


Quote of the Week - 08.01.10

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
~Oscar Wilde

"To love Fair Trade chocolate is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Stuff We Found Today - 07.25.10

Upcycled Gown Made From 1,000 Newspaper Cranes

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


International Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff