Feeling Zen…The Power of Chocolate~

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Oooh boy!!! All I have to say is that I absolutely love chocolate BUT when it comes to ORGANIC, FAIR TRADE chocolate…move over because I’m in CHOCOLATE ZEN HEAVEN. Yes, that’s right chocolate zen!!! It’s unbelievably mouth watering goodness.

Last week, I received a lovely tin of chocolates to try from CocoZenMama whom I met on Twitter.  Boy, oh boy I say and say again…my tongue and senses fell deeply in love with the Chai Spice and Chocolate Orange Blossom with Almond truffles she sent to my home. Not to mention, a little sampler tin (Truffles To Go) with oh so yummy truffles inside that are to die for. Each and every bite is worth savoring. The flavors are so well mixed and the taste is outstanding. It’s organic, why wouldn’t it be!

If it doesn’t get any better than that- she also sent me a bar of Chocolate Mint soap, lip scrub, and lip balm. All from her store Coco~Zen all products are made with love. Oh my gosh, so it was my first time ever trying chocolate soap- who would’ve thought? It’s so luxurious and silky smooth. Again, I was in chocolate zen heaven. I’m not kidding. It smells so yummy too but of course, is not edible. What is edible is the lip sugar scrub she sent me.

This was a huge hit for me- I’m a lip balm fanatic- lip scrub queen and her lip scrub ROCKS!!! It’s made with brown sugar, organic essential oils and different flavors of chocolate- it’s genius- that’s all I have to say.  It left my lips feeling kissable and not looking flaky and dry like they tend to do living in the desert where it’s dry. Talk about lick your lips!

The lip balm is great too. It’s smooth and silky like the soap. I had to lick my lips and give it a try and I liked it. It doesn’t leave your lips brown either…I was a little hesitant, I must say. It looks like chocolate inside the tin but it goes on like balm no brown color that I could see. I love how all the items are packaged in a recyclable tin. It’s an added bonus. We’re talking gourmet chocolate body treats here people. All around goodness.

If you’re a chocoholic- you have to give Coco~Zen a try.  All of their chocolate treats are certified Fair Trade and are organic. So, while you’re supporting fair trade you’re also supporting a mom owned business. You’ll find different flavored truffles that you can also get in bulk and chocolate body treats that are so worth it! All for your mind, body and sweet tooth! They’re all about saving the planet too! Read about what’s going on with Cocoa Farming. Coco~Zen is doing they’re part to minimize the impact we can have on the planet- even when it comes to chocolate!

Experience Oneness with Chocolate – Experience Coco~Zen.

 

Earth Friendly Halloween Tips= Hallowgreen!

 

With Halloween just a week away.. Try visualizing through the orange and black and incorporate a little green this year!

Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without all the candy…there are a few things you can do to minimize your childs exposure to all the sugar and not to mention HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup).

A lot of parents worry these days about taking food from strangers but it’s really no different than taking candy from a stranger- so, why not make those infamous popcorn balls or freshly baked cookies to hand out. You could get really ambitious and decorate them Halloween themed….AND if you have lots of time you could pipe eco messages onto them! Now wouldn’t that be fun? ; ) You could even do carmel apples…mmm…my fav! Apples are in season and would be a great alternative-especially, if you don’t have time to dip them and stick them. A lot healthier than a piece of candy. Whatever way you celebrate Halloween either by going to a church function or going door to door- you could always have great fun with your family by making your own! Yes, make your own candy kits are available! You can make your own gum, chocolate, and gummies – The gum kit would probably be best for this holiday as it yields up to 50 pieces of gum! The other two kits can be a learning activity for your children on a rainy day as they do not yield enough to pass out.

Opt out on buying the traditional big market candy and purchase organic or Fair Trade. October is actually Fair Trade Month. What better way to celebrate Halloween by supporting Fair Trade. Go with the idea of reverse trick or treating in that your kids pass out Fair Trade candy to educate others about Fair Trade cocoa. Our health food store carries Yummy Earth organic lollipops and I also know that Trader Joe’s has a their own version of organic lollipops. You can usually find Fair Trade chocolates at health food stores as well.  You can buy them online from Global Exchange OR check out Kate’s Caring Gifts (check out the Acai chocolate bites- they sound so yummy!)

Another great stop for organic candy is www.naturalcandystore.com Right now, if you order over $50 or more you get a free Eco-Bag (pictured)!! At Natural Candy Store their motto is “All the FUN without the FUNNY stuff”!

What about the costumes?! Try browsing the thrift stores or local consignment shops for a costume- a lot times costumes are worn only once and you’re bound to find a great bargain! Go back to basics and put something together with the items you have available in your home- use the imagination. For example- you could dress your child up as a ghost using a sheet, Hippy (my favorite), a farmer, or 80’s rocker. Maybe even, a cowboy or cowgirl! You get the idea, get creative. Check out these recycled costumes at the daily green.  This is also a must see- find out what this pregnant mom did using her belly as a costume- now, that’s putting on the eco-thinking cap!

I always wanted a handmade costume growing up and one of these days I’ll find the time to do so for my kids…so don’t forget you can always use a great Halloween costume pattern and sew one up. If you do- consider using organic, fair trade, felted wool (recycled) fabrics! Remember, the idea is to repurpose and use reclaimed items. There so much more pizzazz to a homemade costume than a storebought one- plus all those unnatural fibers and plastic are not good for the planet and can be toxic. 

Instead of using those plastic pumpkins to collects all the treats and goodies- send the kids off with a pillowcase, a bag made from old bedsheets or clothes or eco friendly bag (you know the ones you’re currently using when you grocery shop)  Growing up, my brother, sister and I always had a pillowcase and we weren’t the only ones! Bring back the pillowcase and phase out the plastic!!! Try to steer clear of plastic all together during this holiday.

Think locally when purchasing your pumpkin to carve out and use up the insides to make a pie! When we were kids we couldn’t wait to roast the seeds and eat em’ up! Delicious. Also, I think carving out eco messages, the recycling symbol, the earth, on your pumpkin would be eco-fabulous. How about the candles you’ll use to light up your Jack-O-Latern…go with soy, beeswax or vegetable based. When decorating have your kids help- they’re always imaginative when using items from around the house. A plastic bag could be turned into a ghost- cutting out some cardboard and using them as grave signs or painting (with non-toxic paints, of course!) the cardboard and turning them into pumpkins! It’s all about having fun with it!

Kiwi Mag did a feature post on eco-friendly Halloween crafts-very eco-cool (pictured)!

For the most part, do your best to think green! Every little bit counts in limiting your impact. You can still save the planet and have fun too! Have any eco-tips for Halloween? After it’s all over don’t forget to come back here and tell me what you did!!  Happy Halloween.