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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Friday, May 28, 2010

VIDEO: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - Good Morning America



In case you haven't heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch... YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!


Monday, May 24, 2010

Stuff We Found Today - 05.24.10

Lace Hill: A Living Green Mountain Building for Armenia

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

Food Stuff

Home Stuff


Tech & Science Stuff

School, College & Student Stuff
  • Green charter schools take off - (Mother Nature Network) "There are currently about 200 green charter schools in the United States, and the number of schools focusing on green education continues to grow."
  • The Great Power Race - "...a clean energy competition between students in China, India and the United States. The aim is to kick-start hundreds of new climate solution projects on campuses and in communities in all three countries and to demonstrate to governments and businesses our generation's leadership in transforming our world towards a green economy." AWESOME!!
  • Recycle Ziploc Bags With TerraCycle And Earn Money For Your School - (Causecast) Terracycle is a great way for schools (and other non-profit groups) to fundraise.

Nature & Environment Stuff


International Stuff

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

Other Random Cool Stuff

Quote of the Week - 05.24.10

"Happiness is something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
~Daniel Webster

"There is always room for Fair Trade chocolate."
~Coco-Zen
Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Planet & People Friendly Tip: Spring Cleaning? Donate Your Unwanted Stuff!


dust panWith spring right around the corner, it's time to clear out the clutter. If you're a "pack rat" like us, you've probably got things laying around or tucked away that you haven't touched in years. Well, instead of throwing them away, consider recycling or donating your items...surely there's someone out there who can get some use out of your stuff!

Here's a list of different ways to donate or recycle just about everything:

Art supplies:
Donate to schools, churches and day cares for use in student art projects.

Packing peanuts: Take them to shipping stores (Mailboxes Etc., UPS), who will gladly take them off your hands.

Books: Donate them to the library for used book sales. Sell or offer them on resale and community sites.
  • Amazon.com
  • Ebay.com
  • Half.com
  • Craigslist.org
  • Freecycle.org

  • Building Materials:
    Check and see if there is a Habitat For Humanity ReStore in your local area, so people like me can buy your excess/used stuff and the money goes to Habitat.

    Cellphones & Ink Cartridges:
    Usable cellphones can usually be donated to women's shelters to be programmed for 911 calls. Ink cartridges and old cellphones can go to some retailers for recycling, or you can put them to even better use by donating them to a program like Cure Recycling, which helps cure childhood cancer.

    Clothing: Along with the usual suspects of Goodwill and the Salvation Army, you might want to consider something like Dress For Success, which assists low-income women looking for employment.

    Computers:
    Schools will oftentimes take used computers, just be sure to call them first. If your local schools don't want yours, try the National Cristina Foundation or Goodwill.

    Food: Canned goods (say you bought too much) can be donated to homeless shelters or food banks as long as the expiration date has not passed.

    Formal Dresses (Prom, Wedding): You'll probably never wear these again. Donate them and let help out a young lady or bride-to-be that maybe can't afford one.
  • Glass Slipper Project
  • Prom Spot
  • Donate My Dress
  • Making Memories

  • Furniture: Try local shelters, disabled veterans associations, The Red Cross, the AARP, or local churches.

    Magazines: Instead of your latest copy getting a single read and heading straight for the recycling bin, see if you can give them to schools, hospitals, senior citizen homes, jails, YMCAs, libraries, or local coffee shops.

    Prescription or Sun Glasses: These can be expensive! Help out someone who maybe cannot afford them by donating.
  • OneSight.org
  • LensCrafters
  • Lion's Club (local chapter)

  • Shoes:
    Approximately 300 million kids around the world don't have shoes, so don't let your slightly used ones go to the dump - donate them!
  • Soles4Souls
  • Shoe4Africa
  • The Shoe Bank

  • Sports Equipment: Your kids stopped playing soccer years ago, so why keep their stuff in the garage getting moldy? Instead, donate your sports equipment to Sports Gift.

    Wire Clothes Hangers: Give to local dry cleaners for reuse.


    Here are even more ways of donating or recycling your unwanted stuff:
    • Excess Access - They link donations of business and household items with the wish-lists of nearby nonprofits that can provide pick-ups or accept drop-offs.
    • Dump & Run - They desire to reduce the amount of waste generated at Colleges and Universities by extending the useful life of items no longer needed by the student community at years end.
    • Recycle.net - Established to promote the trade of scrap & waste materials
    • Throwplace.com - A site where users may list goods they wish to give away to others. Charities, Businesses or Individuals that are registered are able to search the site and make requests for items of interest.

    Giving credit where credit is due... We came across this list on one of our favorite blogs - The Good Human. To read the original article, click on the link - Where To Donate All Your Unwanted Stuff.

    Sunday, May 16, 2010

    Quote of the Week - 05.16.10

    Happiness is something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
    ~Chinese Proverb

    "Chocolate is something to love, something to hope for, and something to make Fair Trade."
    ~Coco-Zen
    Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

    Sunday, May 9, 2010

    VIDEO: Grandpa Elliott singing "Sugar Sweet"



    Grandpa Elliott is one of the street performers featured in Playing For Change's "Stand By Me" video that showcased street performers singing and playing the song all over the world. Listen and you can hear his heart, soul and love as he sings.




    If you haven't seen the amazing "Stand By Me" video from Playing For Change... here it is.

    Quote of the Week - 05.09.10

    Every new day is another chance to change your life."
    ~Unknown

    "Every new day is another chance to have some Fair Trade chocolate."
    ~Coco-Zen
    Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates

    Wednesday, May 5, 2010

    Humor in the middle of a war: US soldiers in Afghanistan re-make a Lady GaGa video

    So, I heard about these guys while listening to NPR on the way to pick up my son from daycare, and I couldn't wait to get back home to look up their video on YouTube... a couple of soldiers and their buddies stationed out in Afghanistan managed to film a re-make of the Lady GaGa "Telephone" video.

    This video is AWESOME!!! I think I replayed it 7 or 8 times in a row and found myself and my 3 1/2 yr old dancing with these soldiers... in the living room swinging our arms and hips, doing the hand motions, and in the end, falling on the couch laughing and clapping. After a while, I realized it wasn't that this video was just some silly spoof, but that this was put together by a bunch of soldiers in the middle of a drawn out war where the casualties keep adding up. It's the fact that in the middle of this, these guys manage to find levity and humor.

    After you watch the video, check out the Facebook page someone made for Aaron Melcher (the main soldier in the video) and their YouTube "channel" where you can read all the amazing reactions these guys have received and even post your own comment.

    Whether you agree or disagree with the war, whether you like or dislike Lady Gaga... this video is just fun to watch... especially when you realize that in the middle of all the violence, these guys manage to hang on to their humanity.

    Telephone - The Afghanistan Re-make

    Sunday, May 2, 2010

    Stuff We Found Today - 05.02.10

    FLOTUS promoting her "Let's Move" campaign

    Food Stuff

    Home Stuff

    Beauty & Fashion Stuff

    Tech & Science Stuff

    • The Nissan Leaf lines up paying customers - (Mother Nature Network) "Nissan is taking reservations for its Leaf battery car starting April 20, two days before Earth Day. Will the 115,000 'hand wavers' sign up, pay $99, and get in line to take delivery?" Cali residents actually get a pretty good deal after all the tax credits/rebates.

    Nature & Environment Stuff

    International Stuff

    Political, Social & Economy Stuff

    Other Random Cool Stuff

    Quote of the Week - 05.02.10

    It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."
    ~Confucious

    "It does not matter how slowly you eat your chocolate as long as it’s Fair Trade."
    ~Coco-Zen
    Coco-Zen Fair Trade chocolates