Well in a small twist of fate, Schlumpy could quite possibly have been the cleanest participant at this year’s ACL festival. As Zilker park turned into literal mud bath, Schlumpy braved the weather and won the hearts of hundreds.  While the precise calculation is still being processed, it looks like Schlumpy hit an important milestone - 1 million bags pledged to keep off the street!

We are grateful to C3 Presents (of which Schlumpy has a HUGE crush) for including Schlumpy in the festivities and for keeping our planet millions of pounds lighter. Thanks to the amazing TKO team for their support and enthusiasm in helping Schlumpy achieve his rockstar status!

Stay tuned for pictures on our Facebook. In the meantime, check us out on the ACL Festival Blog. Rock on!

It is back to school week here in Texas, and for us, that means the opportunity to start anew! Missy started exercising for the first time in 3 years, Amy took a much well deserved couple of days off in honor of her birthday:-), and I have managed to find a bit of time to tap into some vintage inspiration.

But more importantly, as we prepare for our one year anniversary (and the launch of our new winter/spring line which we think you wil luv!!), we are reminded of the core values and our vision in creating BlueAvocado.  One of the key components of that vision is to create an impact  - “where the act of one effect the lives of many.”

And so, as a reminder to ourselves, we wanted to mark a day to consciously start “paying it forward.” Clearly pay it forward is nothing new.   Movies have been made. Studies have been conducted proving that kindness strengthens our immune system. Our favorite talk show hosts (ie. Ellen Degeneres) and self help gurus have conducted social experiments. And now, even iPhone apps are available.

So we are taking it down to basics with our first “Pay It Forward Friday.”  This is simply a step we can take together to collectively set the intention to do good!

We also want to support you in your effort to “Pay It Forward.”  For every 5th person who shares how they get the good on via Facebook and every 20th person who RT our  ”Pay It Forward Friday” message on Twitter, we will provide a free bag for yourself or to pass on to a friend in need of some plastic bag detox.

There are no rules as to how you pay it forward - it could be a donation to your favorite charity, reaching out to a long lost friend or loved one, giving a bigger tip at your favorite eatery, helping a homeless person, letting someone in fron of you in traffic, or flashing a spectacular smile at a stranger. The possibilities are endless and we can’t wait for the sharing to begin!

Look for our reminder Friday on Facebook and Twitter. Here is to ripples that make waves.  As always, thanks for joining the journey!

One of the things that we are most proud of at BlueAvocado is our 1% partnership with Kiva.org.  Even before BlueAvocado was a mere pit, our inspiration and love for Kiva was as profound as it was impactful.

When we first started dreaming up the concept of BlueAvocado and talking to experts, advisers and future customers, we used Kiva as our personal thank you note and making loans on their behalf.  It was a way to help keep us focused on a bigger vision that lies at the core of one of our key values - empowering women entrepreneurs around the globe.  To date - we have personally and collectively provided over 30 loans to women all around the world - Nicaragua, Honduras, Samoa, Senegal.

Whether good times or challenging times, it is through our re-investment of these women around the globe that help keep us grounded on a common purpose and faithful of a larger collective impact.  And at the end of the day, we believe that every journey begins with a single step. Understanding that one small ripple can inspire many more, ultimately, we hope to turn these ripples into waves.

So sure, we may get caught up in the glitz and glamor as our gro-pak blossoms into the world of retail and into the hands of our beloved customers, but let’s be clear, this bag holds ALOT of dreams! Join the journey and jump on the Kiva bandwagon with us! And if it’s not obvious - We Heart Kiva!!

We have a new SERIOUS crush over here at BA HQ.  We discovered the genius of white hot truth and Danielle LaPorte through one of our most devoted BA customers and friends (thanks Melissa!).   The “white hot truth” came into our lives at the perfect time. With a tag line of “because self realization rocks” we knew we had discovered an oasis for fresh new insight and inspiration.  While there are numerous posts that caught our attention, the following created an explosion of nostalgia, gratitude and relief. So as you bask in the following post of “notes to my 20 year old self” take a moment of reflection of your own journey. While we are all clearly time starved and overwhelmed, there is no denying the infinite moments of growth and transformation that have taken place over the years. One of our greatest challenges at BlueAvocado that we try and do everyday, is CELEBRATE those moments and Danielle helped to remind us of that. So join us in the celebration! Oh and be sure to follow Danielle on twitter and white hot truth. Trust us - you will be glad you did!

Notes to my 20 year old self

Class of 88. Honours in eye shadow.

I’m turning 40 in a few weeks. Bizarre. Surreal. Cannot believe it. Just yesterday I was at ecstatically getting the hell out of high school, wearing shoulder pads and stilettos underneath my graduation gown; knowing full well that the world was my oyster and that extra-hold hair mousse would get me through almost any encounter. I can hardly believe that I can say, “twenty years ago…” about anything.

Dear Danielle at 20:

1. Algebra really is useless.
2. Credit cards are mostly evil.
3. Talk is cheap.
4. If he doesn’t stay until morning, he’s probably married or deeply insecure.
5. There is no soul mate. I know, this is particularly hard news to take because you are longing for The One 24-7. But, guess what, The One is The One because you say he/she is. And that’s way more liberating and empowering than anything preordained or supposedly destined.
6. And while we’re ‘dising cosmic romanticism - there’s no such thing as destiny. Life really is what you make it.
7. Tragedy happens. Yes, everything happens for a reason, but life can be cruel and wrenching and while it all comes out in the cosmic wash, some souls collide and mistakes do happen.
8. Louise Hay is a magnificent woman, but there is more to the machinations of life, illness, and cosmology than the simple explanations offered by You Can Heal Your Life. Cancer is not necessarily a result of repressed guilt, and you may not necessarily choose to heal your life this time around - that’s okay. Illness doesn’t make you a New Age Loser.
9. Diplomacy is overrated.
10. If your boss tries to french kiss you, it’s out of bounds.
11. Only lend books if you don’t want them back.
12. Go to more concerts.
13. If you don’t kiss girls in your twenties, you’ll probably never get around to trying it out. You should try it out.
14. You’re right - kindness is one of the most powerful natural resources there is…infinitely renewable.
15. Your feelings are exceedingly more useful than your ability to rationalize your fears or other people’s poor behaviour.
16. Your heart…your heart…your heart is where it’s at.
17. When you turn 40, you shall be rocking like never before, grateful for absolutely everything, and you will finally, finally feel like earth is home…for the most part.

We will be the first to admit that we can get a bit overboard with the women empowerment thing here at BA HQ.  So if there is ever a time to quiet our inner goddesses and embrace all the men in our lives, Father’s Day is the time.

If we don’t say it enough, we are beyond grateful for the support, love, and feedback (whether solicited or not:-) that we receive from the special men in our lives.  And what is better than beginning to see BlueAvocado sightings of men sporting their gro-paks around town. While many are wearing the solid line pride, we have to give a big shout out to those men who can where our bright signature avocados (especially the raspberry) with as much pride.  And lets be clear - there are alot:-)

But it is with a heavy heart, that this day also reminds us of the men that are no longer with us. Whether a father, an uncle, a brother, a grandfather, boyfriend, or friend, we hold your memories deep in our hearts.  We remember you in the smallest ways be it a childhood trip to the coffee shop for donuts, or teaching us to dive for the first time, or inspiring an entrepreneurial spirit and drive for success that we may not have realized at the time you were here.  You are in our hearts and we believe you would be so proud.

So on this Father’s Day 2009, lets celebrate ALL the men in our lives. To all of you - We Heart You!!

ps. thanks to Alan, father of 4 for sharing his BlueAvocado luv in the above picture:-) Lookin’ good Alan!

When we were presented the opportunity to gift some of Hollywood’s hottest moms we jumped on the opportunity.  With the help of Style Cafe Moms, Kate Winslet, Michelle Williams, Jenna Elfman and Maggie Gyllenhaal (congrats on the marriage Maggie BTW!)  are now the proud owners of our beloved little gro-pak.

Just being able to say we gifted these amazing women is reward enough, but today we received a good ole’ Thank You note from Jenna Elfman! Just in case you can’t see it in the pic above, it says:

Dear Paige,

Thank you so much for the super efficient and fun grocery bags! We will definitely be using them. You guys did a great job on these products! Congratulations and thanks for thinking of me:-) (note: yes an actual smiley face)

Much love, Jenna Elfman (signature)

We are beyond humbled and grateful that Jenna took time out of her busy lifestyle to share some BlueAvocado luv.

And on a personal note, this is completely full circle. When I moved to Austin from San Francisco several years ago, I was going through a bit of a homesick period for San Francisco. Dharma and Greg was officially in syndication and in the spare time I had from getting certified as a Pilates instructor and opening a Pilates studio, I was obsessed with the show. I felt like Dharma was a bit of an alter ego and ironically how I saw myself. As the years have passed, I still thrive on that inner free spirit, but have realized perhaps I am more like Greg:-)

Regardless, big luv Jenna. Thanks for helping me and all of our BlueAvocado family to bring out our inner Dharmas!  Ohhhmmmm.

In the early stages of dreaming up BlueAvocado, before our mission of “Do Good. Get It Done” became our battlecry, we came together as 3 women with completely different styles and sensibilities.  We have grown and learned about one another in ways we could have never imagined. And just when we thought we knew each other the best, we were faced with our first gift show.

Below are a few highlights. Now let me preface that the following portrayal is from my (paige) perspective.  And let me just put it out there that as a Jew at a trade show (with a little bit of princess in her), I was so far outside of my comfort zone that the anxiousness building up to this show was almost unbearable.  But I embraced the adventure and recognized that Mercury was in retrograde and headed in, faith first!

While the initial departure was a little shaky beginning with me crashing my passenger side mirror exiting my garage, we experienced some immediate big moments. Missy specifically conquered her fear of I35 corridors as she drove the UHaul the entire way from Austin to Dallas. Granted she was white knuckling it and in cold sweat the entire time, but SHE DID IT!

While we did in fact re-design our booth at least 3 times (thanks to some helpful feedback from our neighbors), it was clear Missy and I needed some support in reeling in customers.  For whatever reason, the smell of fresh baked cookies via Tiff’s Treats didn’t close the deals on their own.  Lucky for us, Amy arrived soon after and in no time we were all closing deals and literally getting it done! Then the rest of the team came swooping in, and it was clear – BlueAvocado had made its mark on Dallas Market ’09!

As the show comes to a close, we are humbled by the moments of sheer delirium coupled with unexpected successes that created a roller coaster ride we will all remember.   There were many lessons learned and amazing connections made.  Having achieved the goals and metrics we set forth, we step back in a moment of gratitude for an amazing team and spirited customers that helped to make our first gift show a success. The Dallas Gift Show has fueled a new BlueAvocado spirit that will propel us onward to future trade show success. Expo West – here we GRO!!!

A new year, a new blog, and no doubt new year’s resolutions running rampant for so many. As we launch our first blog post here at BlueAvocado HQ, we thought this an opportune time to celebrate that thanks to our BlueAvocado family of customers, friends, and supporters we have a leg up on that age old resolution of dropping some serious Lbs. In fact, we have lost a collective 228,000 pounds.

Ok, granted it is CO2, and it is more of a prevented approach of plastic bags that will be avoided this year (3.4 MM), but still metaphorical nonetheless.  And we have to believe that a more svelte mother earth can’t be such a bad thing?

Regardless, the New Year is all about some good ole’ reflection and cleansing. For us, “The Pit Stop” truly is that perfect metaphor for taking that important moment of pause and refueling on the inspiration of taking that first step on the green journey that truly is the foundation of BlueAvocado.

We hope the Pit Stop can also inspire our friends and BlueAvocado believers to gather some relevant green goodies ranging from greening up your lifestyle to venting about your green guilt. Regardless, this forum is about celebrating the daily accomplishments (green or not) that can so easily get lost for some well deserved recognition.  Whether getting the kids to school on time or having a full body giggle (yes that is considered an accomplishment for some of us:-) - it is these rare moments that deserve some gratitude and reflection as tools to eek out the joy we all deserve on a daily basis.

And so if you are looking for a few tips to kick your new year off to a “feel good place”  - we can offer a few.

1. Clear the clutter in the house- big big advocates of Feng Shui here at BlueAvocado. A good book to get started is Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui. Once you have ridded yourself of the old, be sure and check out Earth911 for maximizing your recycling efforts.
2. Set some good ole intention - 2009 is so the year of attraction:-) Check out some good guided meditations ranging from losing weight to deep sleep here.
3. Buddy up with Gwyneth and cleanse your body right (granted you might be irritable and hungry - but you will look great!) Check it out here.

Welcome to the BlueAvocado family, thank you for your early support and here is to a spectacular 2009 of DOING GOOD and GETTING IT DONE!  Oh, and if anyone has a hook up to Gwyneth, tell here we can help her lose some SERIOUS Lbs. Big luv!!