Elisa's Green Scene

What's in a name?

So, there are some changes brewing here, and I thought I'd turn to my readers here and open up the floor.

Bottom line: I'm looking for a new name for this blog. And I'm a bit stumped.

At the end of the month we'll be announcing a new blog for hip & zen, one that hip & zen's owner, Karen, will be writing herself, and will be more about the vendors she's working with to bring cool products to her customers.

I'm going to keep this blog, and its almost 3 years of archives. I'm going to keep writing about the subjects I've been writing about. But I won't be calling it "the hip & zen pen" anymore.

Next week I'll be able to tell you more about Karen's blog, and point you to it, and I'll be changing the masthead here...and the name. But what name?

I'm totally open to suggestions.

My hip & zen gift guide

Every month I get a package from hip & zen, but I only write about our products very occasionally. But considering I've been posting holiday gift guides from other places, I figure I really should tell you my top ten favorite items that I have personally received from hip & zen, and why.

I'll start with some items that are currently on sale:

1. This adorable beaded bag is only $20 right now!!! And I have bought three of these over time...because I gave a couple as gifts, and wanted one for myself too. I've given this to two young girls I know, it's such a playful and petite style that it's definitely appropriate for any little girl who already appreciates a fine handbag.

2. I love, love, love these leggings...and currently own two pairs, one of which I easily wear every single week. Now I'll admit that on me these aren't so cropped, but whether you're short or tall, you must have need of a soft, comfy pair of black leggings, no? Yes!

3. I just gave this baby doll top to my sister for her birthday. It's a little sexy, but not tawdry, and it's definitely not something you'll see someone pass you by at the mall wearing.

4. OK, I'm not superstitious or anything, but hey, wearing a Prosperity Necklace couldn't hurt, right? So yeah...I got this necklace while BlogHer was going through the process of finding some minority investment, and I wore it. And we were successful! Cause & Effect, Cause & Effect :)

5. This cute little tee is brown and pink...not a combo I regularly wear, but I wear this tee all the time. I know "cute" may not always be appropriate, but for when you do want to feel cute? This tee will deliver.

6. I loves me a buckwheat pillow. I loves it when I heat it up. I loves it when I refrigerate it. I loves it while I'm working, and I loves it before I go to bed. You will too.

7. OK, I confess...I don't have this little baby cap, but I had to include it in this list because it may just be my favorite picture on hip & zen, mostly because the model looks like my nephew :)

8. You'll quickly discover that I'm a purse freak. I also just gave this to my sister for her birthday, so I'll be getting another one for myself soon. Who can resist love birds?

9. and 10. I've blogged before that my aluminum pop tab bags are the best word-of-mouth generators I've ever seen. It never fails that I get asked about them when I wear them. People want to touch them, hold them and know all about them. I've got the messenger bag and cell phone bag myself, and I've also given them as gifts. Can't be beat, truly.

So, there you go: the hip & zen gift guide, from my (mostly) totally personal experience. Enjoy :)

See that cute dress? I'm wearing that cute dress.

See that cute dress in the right-hand side bar. (For those of you reading this post far in the future, the dress can be found here.

Today I am wearing that cute dress, and I feel really, really cute.

I have a very similar dress by the same maker, but in a different color scheme, that I bought last year. And the first time I wore it I got called a beautiful goddess. So I may be just a little biased towards this style, maker and cut. (I told the beautiful goddess story here. Turned out the guy who called me that was probably a derelict, but I still think he was sincere, so I'll take it!)

Like the other dress, I've been wearing this with black leggings and a little black jacket. And again, did I say I feel cute?

Sometimes I want to feel hot or sexy or powerful or elegant.

But sometimes it's OK to enjoy feeling cute. Even if I am a 43-year-old woman.

No?

So, what makes you feel adorable?

hip & zen in People magazine!!!

Smell us! hip & zen was identified as among the "Best Eco-Friendly Sites" in the April 2007 issue of People magazine. The particular product that was highlighted was one the organic buckwheat pillows designed by Mette Vangso that we carry. I have two of these, actually, one by my desk and one by my bed.

I guess green is the new black if a mainstream magazine like People is touting eco-friendly sites. I'm pretty stoked that hip & zen is a part of it!

I gots me a new, cute jacket

I got some stuff from hip & zen yesterday, and amongst the items was my new favorite hip & zen thing: this brown organic cotton jacket/hoodie. It is really cute. Now, granted it doesn't look quite the same on me as it does on this model because I have a bit more substantial of a top shelf, but that just means that is has a slightly different, but equally cute line to it.

I got some other cool stuff too, but this jacket was the one that made me go oooh, ahhh, and rush to blog.

hip & zen new products in, and new items on sale

Yes, in honor of the kick-off of the holiday shopping season it's self-promotion week here at the hip and zen pen, starting with our Today Show score, and continuing with this post.

First of all there is a whole bunch of new stuff on the site, starting with the Stewart & Brown line. It's a line of comfortable and cozy cotton and cashmere separates. I ordered myself some of the cotton pieces last month, including this top at left. It is oh, so soft. And lately I have been into the long, long sleeves...something about pulling them over my hands when I'm cold :)

And I'm sure you've seen the adorable organic baby and toddler wear? Does it make me less grown-up to say I wish I had a cozy sleeper like this one? Actually I do have a pair of fleecy footed pajamas that I wear in the winter. Does anyone else notice that these totally ride up when you're in bed, or am I just a particularly active sleeper?

Finally, there is a pre-holiday sale going on, including lots of new items on sale in all areas. Did I tell you about the time I was called a beautiful goddess wearing this tie-dye dress? Sure I did. And now you can be a beautiful goddess for 30% off! Check that and many other deals out.

OK, so considering yesterday was apparently CyberMonday, and I didn't post this sale information, I'm actually a day behind on our big hip & zen promotional post!

PS-don't forget to use the promotional code BLOG to get an additional 5% off your entire order!

OK, I'm done, I swear.

hip & zen on the Today Show tomorrow!

Just found out that my very own pulltab bag, the one I call a little word-of-mouth-machine, is supposed to be featured on The Today Show tomorrow morning. It will be featured as a part of Lloyd Boston's Eco-Friendly Gifts segment.

I'm setting my TiVo now.

What do Charlize Theron and hip & zen have in common?

They both support the work of the Topsy Foundation.

Karen issued a very rare press release to introduce a new line of what she calls South African chic. A portion of the proceeds from every item in the collection will benefit the Topsy Foundation’s sanctuary near Johannesburg. Karen's talks about why in the release:

On choosing the Topsy Foundation, Clothier says, “I wanted to do something to help heal the tragedy that has befallen the women and children of South Africa. This organization appealed to me because of its multi-faceted approach. They provide home-based care where appropriate, in-house care at their facility as a last resort, skills development, community outreach and poverty alleviation. Their assistance is aimed at helping people to become self-sufficient and remain with their family unit when possible, which I feel is a very holistic and humane answer to the crisis."

The release also introduces the blog to the world, since we never formally did any PR about it in the past:

HIP & ZEN presents an unusual excursion to the crossroads of beautiful design and enlightened commentary (via the egalitarian HIP & ZEN blog.)

Egalitarian! Awesome :)

Exclusive 10% off Tuesday offer

We are offering our newsletter subscribers and blog readers an exclusive offer Tuesday July 11 only - you can get 10% off ALL merchandise in the store!  Even on sale prices! 

Enter Coupon Code tenpt at www.hipandzen.com when checking out to receive your discount.

Call for submissions: The Carnival of the Green

Hi hip & zen folks: I'm hosting the aforementioned Carnival of the Green next Monday and could use some fabulous submissions of posts about eco-consciousness, sustainability, recycling, environmental policy, fair trade, organic farming...hell, I'd even like to point to posts that celebrate this earth that the Green Movement cares so much about!

Use the Carnival of the Green email address to send me your submissions. And yes, you can submit your own or other people's posts.

And come on back next Monday for the Carnival of the Green.