Creative, handmade and well thought out gifts for Valentine’s Day always seem to be the most memorable.  I still have Riley’s first home made Valentine’s card and the pencil holder with little hearts drawn all over it that says “I love you”. 

This year, if you’re searching for the perfect Valentine’s gift, think thoughtfully and responsibly about the gift and who it’s going to.  If you have a chocolate lover on your hands for instance, give Fair Trade chocolates.  Equal Exchange (www.equalexchange.coop) offers organic fairly-traded gourmet chocolate bars that are out of this world.  The chocolate is a rich and delicious treat that supports small-scale farmers and their families. The bars combine famous Swiss standards in chocolate making with cocoa from the farmer co-operatives CONACADO, in the Dominican Republic, COCABO, in Panama, and CACVRA, in Peru; fairly traded organic sugar from co-operatives in Paraguay and Costa Rica; and fairly traded vanilla from Madagascar.  You can even learn about pairing chocolate with organic coffees and how to “taste” chocolate.  The perfect romantic evening I say.

And we can’t mention enough, give a reusable gift.  This month CynerGreen is offering two of it’s Red Stainless water bottles for only $16.00 – WOW, 2 for $16!  You can’t beat it.  Just type in the code LuvMyBottle when you check out.  This is a hidden gem and won’t be advertised except in our blog and on Twitter so enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day from the folks at CynerGreen! 

We’re proud of our own Riley Hoffer!  Named 20 to Watch by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on January 31, 2010.  Read more about it on Riley’s blog at www.cgkidz.wordpress.com

ALSO NEW…

• CG Kidz on twitter @cgkidz
• CynerGreen on Facebook!  Help us get to 1000 Friends by Earth Day and we’ll donate an additional 100 reusable water bottles to the Planet Pals effort to green classrooms!
• Get your February Green Team Gazette www.cgkidz.wordpress.com

Own a business?  Looking for a way to voice your opinions to the President?   Sign  your business up and support the American Business for Clean Energy movement.  There’s no cost to do so and it just takes a minute to show your concern and have a voice.

www.americanbusinessforcleanenergy.org

CynerGreen opens a first store and one of a kind “Green Boutique”

Recently, CynerGreen held a ribbon cutting and opened its first “green boutique” located just outside of Little Rock, in Cabot.  The store features the entire CynerGreen line of reusable stainless steel water bottles as well as green lifestyle products including Healthy Tap portable water filters, reusable shopping bags and Fair Trade products.  The store is the flagship boutique and first of its kind in the city of Cabot, state of Arkansas and surrounding states.  “It’s a place where consumers can easily find everyday, affordable options to living a greener, cleaner lifestyle” Danelle Hoffer, President and CEO of CynerGreen stated.  She continued to reinforce a message of eco-conscious living by stating, “Our goal with these easy to navigate stores, is to educate first about environment then offer products that help people to truly live and breathe greener lives.”  Outside the store, consumers can drop off their used cell phones and batteries to be recycled, and in return, receive a gift card to shop in the store. 

A unique feature of the first store is the construction methods used.  Everything used to build the store, warehouse and offices was recycled including materials, furniture and fixtures.  “Down to the shelving in the warhouse and the low flow toilet, we took all aspects into consideration” said Joe Hoffer, CFO of CynerGreen.  “The intention was to create the least impact on the environment and our surroundings.” It’s easily noticable from the moment you enter the store.  From stained concrete floors to open ceilings and the innovative use of natural light flowing into the office areas, all details were considered in this simple but trendy green concept store.

A special shopping experience awaits and includes a bit of environmental education, especially where kids are concerned.  In the CG Kidz section you’ll find the reusable water bottle designed by Riley Hoffer, the owners daughter and USGBC Youth Leader.  Posters stating facts and information on how to make a difference in your community can also be found.  Riley is on hand some afternoons to share about the message of environmental stewardship and facts about plastic water bottles. 

 See photos of the store here http://tinyurl.com/yjrupxo and watch for future additions, products and more to appear in the coming months. 

Interested in an exciting, first of its kind ”green boutique” franchise ?  Call us at 501.605.0197 for information.

Thursday To-Do:

U.S. Green Building Council – Central Branch Monthly Meeting
Featured Speakers: Danelle Hoffer of CynerGreen and Riley Hoffer of CG Kidz

They’ll share how they’re saving the world, one bottle at a time.

The U.S. Green Building Council – Central Branch will hold its monthly meeting, at 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Next Level Event (1400 W. Markham) in Little Rock. This month’s topic is historic preservation. Cliff McKinney, an attorney and USGBC-AR member will discuss:

■National programs & tax credits
■Historic structures in a green environment
■Restrictions for registered buildings

Members $18, Guests $20. For more information, contact Linda Smith at usgbcar@yahoo.com.