Meet ‘the Suzannes’ the mom-duo behind the genius-ly green Green Planet Parties. Suzanne B, mom of four, and Suzanne C, mom of two {all under the age of 7!!} came up with this brilliant concept after not being able to stomach the waste associated with hosting and attending birthday parties for their children. These moms are passing on sustainable secrets to other moms and reducing the collective mommy-guilt about what footprint we are leaving on mama earth.
Learn more about these two hard-working moms and how they live and ‘work’ what they believe. And, be sure to enter Green Planet Parties’ GIVEAWAY for a party in a {reusable} bag!
We hope you find them as creatively cool as we do!
Our interview with Suzanne C:
1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
I’m a mom of 2 little girls aged almost 5 and almost 7. My husband and I moved to Port Moody 9 years ago now and love the area and our family life here. My husband started a green business about 3 years ago and we’ve always tried to live what we believe. Green Planet Parties was really a natural evolution for me as a mom trying to do my best to involve and educate my children in looking after Mother Nature.
2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
Helping families in their desire to lead more sustainable lives through the everyday choices we make and the education we provide our children about nature and our part in it.
3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?
After hosting and attending more children’s birthday parties than I’d ever imagined possible (before having children!) I began to have such a sick feeling in watching and participating in the waste and excess that most birthday parties seem bring out these days. The site of the virgin fibre plates and napkins covered in licensed characters with inks, plastic forks, cups and tablecloths being swept into a big green garbage bag along with the left-over cake was becoming too much to bear. And this was usually followed by mountains of presents for children who usually had more than enough toys already, all packaged in plastic and cardboard, wrapping paper, and bows. All to be completed of course with plastic goodie bags filled to the brim with dollar store items sure to break within the hour. I thought – there has to be a better way. And when I tried to do something greener, I found it was not nearly as easy as it was to do than it was to do a ‘typical’ birthday party. And so the idea was born – a place to help moms looking to throw a greener birthday party without all the trouble it took me the first time.
4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
Being a Mom is a very humbling experience – seeing and learning new and better ways of doing things and handling situations everyday – really it’s the most challenging job I’ve ever had. Being a mom-preneur allows me to spend the most time I can with my children and making my work fit around that schedule. Green Planet Parties also allows me to be part of something I believe in and my children can be proud of.
5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
For me having a partner in the business has been very important and valuable. When you’re a busy mom you never know what’s going to come your way – and having two of you manage the business knowing that at any moment someone is going to have a sick child that needs you, is really very practical ☺.
6. What keeps you motivated?
Time – I’m not getting any younger.
7. What is your next big goal?
Getting the kids to school on time again tomorrow ☺.
8. What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate after the kids are in bed.
9. Name a product that you can’t live without, for you or your baby?
Chocolate after the kids are in bed. Kidding … I love our Earthen Palm Leaf plates and bowls. I always have some in my cupboard for those impromptu gatherings and neighborly get-togethers – for when your guests out-number your clean dishes. Also stainless steel water bottles for everyone in the family – for years now.
10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}?
Children change the way you look at our world. Seeing the world through the eyes of child is truly a humbling and enlightening experience.
Our interview with Suzanne B:
1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
My name is Suzanne Bertani and I have 4 kids under the age of 6. My foundation was rocked by the BPA reports over a year ago. I used to believe what companies told me were safe products for kids and babies… I now need to discover this for myself before using anything. I have a passion to source and share sustainable, eco-friendly, all-natural products with my website www.mommyfootprint.com and Green Planet Parties. It started with Mommy Footprint and evolved with Green Planet Parties after Suzanne C and I noticed this area of party supplies of the eco-friendly movement was lacking options.
2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
Fun, well-priced, uniquely sourced products, working to keep costs affordable and green for parents.
3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?
Having a business that my own children would want providing the tableware, decorations, gifts, and give-aways at their own parties. Sourcing green products that my children would gasp when receiving as a give-away or notice as ’super cool’ at a party, whether it be a decoration, gift or party give-away.
4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
Most rewarding thing about being a mom is I look at the world completely different ~ the trees are greener and I want to discover everything nature has to offer. Being a mom-prenuer has connected me with other mom-preneurs that are all like-minded, who I’m happy to call friends. I also love the freedom and flexibility that being a mom-prenuer allows ~ like researching, sourcing, or website updates at 3am ~ that just couldn’t happen in the corporate world.
5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
The phrase ‘working from home’ is quite funny, because after a year, I still haven’t figured out how to balance working from home with having 3-4 kids at home constantly. Your free-time will always be spoken for, although the good news is you’ll spend lots of time twittering or on Facebook and you can tell your husband “I’m working!”.
6. What keeps you motivated?
Having a strong business objective, customers that give us such amazing feedback, and watching how mom’s just ‘get it’ when we start talking about Green Planet Parties. I also love sourcing a product that my kids go crazy for ~ very rewarding and motivates me to find more.
7. What is your next big goal?
Work to reduce the amount of traditional petroleum products that seem to be everywhere at ‘outside the home’ party locations.
8. What is your guilty pleasure?
Surfing Etsy with a big glass of wine.
9. Name a product that you can’t live without, for you or your baby?
For my kids ~ all natural shampoo, soap, sunscreen, and stainless steel bowls. For the entire family ~ stainless steel water bottles.
10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}?
Never judge. You’ll never know if that bad driver ahead of you only got 2 hours sleep because of a sick child, colicky baby, or life problem. I’ve stopped honking my horn and thank my kids for teaching me more tolerance.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
anne loeffelholz 03.01.09 at 8:19 pm
What a fantastic idea !
Stacy 03.02.09 at 10:53 am
What a cool concept - and it seems so simple to throw a greener birthday party. I’m now motiviated to do this for my kid’s next parties! Thanks for sharing this site!