Restore Stamford Lighthouse Fundraiser

 Ocean Friends!

I would like to offer you a selection of my “90’s retro” Lighthouse and Sailing paintings and more recent Organic “apparel “Lighthouse emoji” Designs, all with a percent going towards the restoration of the Stamford Lighthouse. These family favorites, my original oil paintings, have never before been offered as prints or art gifts!



🖼️ Red Lighthouse Painting

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/red-lighthouse-in-maine-portland-headlight-colleen-proppe.html


🖼️ Blue Lighthouse Sunset

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/bass-harbor-lighthouse-sunset-colleen-proppe.html?product=framed-print


👕Kids’ Organic Lighthouse Hoodie 

https://cproppe.com/shop/kids-eco-hoodie


🧢Organic Lighthouse Baseball Cap 

https://cproppe.com/shop/organic-lighthouse-baseball-cap


⛵️Lake Tahoe King’s Beach Sailboats 

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/lake-tahoe-sailboats-colleen-proppe.html


🎨CProppé Paintings

https://cproppe.com/paintings


You may also purchase or commission a new painting with a percentage going back to the lighthouse. I started painting a lighthouse sunrise scene of the Stamford Lighthouse from my hometown beach this month. Here are a couple photos from painting day one, where I was just starting to lay out large areas of color.






Thank you for your support!


Learn more about the Stamford Lighthouse Project at StamfordLighthouse.org


I Solo Cycled 1,554 Miles - Florida to NYC - for TheOceanCleanup.com

My fundraising link for TheOceanCleanup.com:

https://fund.theoceancleanup.com/fundraisers/colleenproppe/community-usd 



Hello, all!

I am happy to say I have recently completed my first, long-distance, solo endurance cycling ride and fundraiser for TheOceanCleanup.com If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, you may do so here.

I left Hobe Sound, Florida on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024 carrying 50lbs. of gear and a new, Martin Backpacker Guitar with my fundraising sign and scan code attached to it, and began my journey, North. I did not plan my route, but I knew I wanted to cycle as close to the coast as possible, as I was raising funds to help clean our world’s most polluted rivers and oceans. I successfully completed the tour in NYC/CT on May 23, 2024. It was incredible to see so many coastal towns along the East Coast I had never seen before.

However, it was not an easy tour— the infrastructure I want for our most direct roads, like I-17, I-13 and I-9, are not perfect for cyclists and there are many dangerous spots. I learned that the more scenic roads can take longer and, though beautiful, may also be treacherous and full of logging trucks and commuters too. There was no “perfect route”, but there was “the best route for me on any given day or moment”— this means that depending on the time of day, conditions and traffic on the road, the weather, and my energy levels, I chose the best route out of the paths available to me. There really was no way to plan this out in advance, because I did not know what my body was capable of each day. My first day had wind from the North, pushing directly into me, and I made it 50+ miles from Hobe Sound to Northeast, Vero Beach. I didn’t know if I would finish the trip after that first, long day with wind, but on my last, long day of the trip, I biked 107 miles, from Marmora, New Jersey, to The Highlands. One of three century days, I definitely pushed myself and surprised myself many times. There were incredible roads, full of wild blackberries and bakeries, and there were equally difficult spots, with bad infrastructure, poverty and things no one would want to see.

I used visualization techniques from my training rides in Florida, from earlier in the year, to help me finish long days that required me to push through to the next town, 10-21 miles further when I was already tired. I have raised close to $800. for the OceanCleanup.com, the nonprofit on target to remove 90% of floating trash and ocean plastics from our world’s rivers and oceans by 2040. With your donations, they can scale up operations to remove the plastics in less than 16 years, saving whales, turtles, birds and fish from ingesting plastics.

You can follow my month long journey on my Instagram at @cproppe where I have been posting photos and videos along the way. If you would like to donate to theOceanCleanup.com via my fundraising link, please click here to donate. Thank you! 🙏

Homemade “Iced Lemon” Zbars Snack Bars

I raised my twin boys in the SF Bay Area, where we were huge fans of the local organic farms and organic food companies. A Clif Bar Ambassador and tent was always at our kids’ school Lapathon’s and “Bike to School” days. How lucky the kids were to have those free, donated healthy snacks.


As a Mom, I always loved the Zbars too. They were smaller, less calories and less sweet than other bars, easy to throw in my bag or pocket for a hike, and I loved the Iced Lemon Cookie flavor more than any health bar. The Luna Lemon bar was not the same at all, and I truly loved the softer, chewy texture and lemon flavoring in the Zbar. It was more like a soft, melt in your mouth, cookie vs a crunchy, hard bar.

When Clif Bar discontinued this flavor, I was crushed! I couldn’t believe it at all. How could they discontinue MY FAVORITE FLAVOR?!!! NoooooO! 😢🥺😔

So, I literally would stop at every healthy grocery store up and down the California coast, purchasing any remaining lemon Zbars they had left for at least a year or so after they stopped making them. It became like a treasure hunt, and every time I found some, I was overjoyed. Yes, I took pictures because I was so delighted.

I wrote to Clif Bar and called them directly, and asked why they discontinued them, and if they would ever bring them back for a special occasion, and I never got an answer. This was right around the time that the Clif Family was selling their company to a larger brand group. I knew things were changing, and even my sons were getting older and changing too. As young adults, they suddenly wanted to go to Subway and buy their own sandwiches and Clif bars were not packed in their lunches by Mom anymore, though I still send them boxes of the Kid’s Clif Protein Bars— “Cool Mint” still being one of their favs. 

One of my boys began working part-time at the local organic grocery store, where he could buy his own food, and the other twin started working at a local restaurant. I remember when I worked at Annie’s in Berkeley and the Marketing Director told me I was no longer their target customer—that I had “aged out”… my sons were too old for cute, bunny-shaped foods. Well, that’s their opinion, but lots of adults still love cute designs, organic crackers and mac & cheese. I still loved the kids’ Lemon Zbars!

Anyway, my fraternal twin boys’ birthday is coming up next month, and I thought I would attempt to make these myself and send them some. Result? These turned out *amazing*, much different than the actual Clif Bar product, but just as delicious. I think that if you grind the oats in a food processor before baking, it might give you a smoother texture that is similar to the Clif kids bar. I did not do that, so my first batch had a little bit more texture and crunch, but I kind of liked that myself.




Here are the ingredients, if you want to try too:

Iced Lemon 🍋Cookie

Homemade “Clif Kid’s Z bar”


INGREDIENTS: 

  1. 1 cup Organic Rolled Oats 
    (Bob’s Red Mill Brand is one option)
  2. 1 cup Organic Oat Flour
  3. 1/2 cup Organic Milled Flaxseed
  4. 1/4-1/2 cup Organic Tapioca Syrup (or Brown Rice Syrup)
  5. 1 bag Organic White Chunks* 
    (order online from Tierra Farms) 
    Use 1/2 chopped for inside the bars, and the other 1/2 will be melted and mixed with lemon extract for icing.
  6. 1/4 cup Organic Fig Paste
  7. 6 Tbs. Organic Soy Butter (or Organic Earth Balance Spread)
  8. 2 Tbs. Organic Sunflower Oil
  9. 2 Tbs. 🍋Lemon Extract
  10. 1 tsp Baking Soda
  11. 1/4 tsp Sea Salt

*12 oz or larger bag Organic white chunks:

Organic White Chocolate Chunks | Tierra Farm Certified Organic (you may want to order a larger bag to make sure you have enough left for the icing. I ran out, and improvised with one of my other two icings using Earth Balance and honey)


Combine all above ingredients and mix well.

Press into silicone molds about 1/2 full, depending on thickness of desired bar. I put the silicone molds on a baking sheet, so it’s easier to put them into the oven.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Let cool at least 5-10 min. 

Place another baking sheet over top of molds and flip entire thing over. Peel back the molds to reveal your bars. Ice with desired icing/glaze.


Glaze (3 different recipes):

  1. Melt 1/2 bag of Tierra Farm White Chunks and add organic lemon extract. Pipe through pastry bag onto cooled bars or use Wax paper rolled into a cone with the tip cut off.
    (personally, I like this one the best because it hardens quickly and retains it’s shape best)
    ——
  2. Organic Earth Balance Spread, Organic Lemon Zest or Lemon Extract, Honey
  3. Organic “Date Sugar”(it’s a powder), Organic Lemon Zest or Lemon Extract, some form of “butter” either soy or fig? (optional: vanilla & honey)


I have almost all the ingredients! I’m waiting on the Organic White Chunks from TierraFarm.com


For the icing, there is no perfect solution here, because of allergy and health preferences. Some people like to make their own lemon zest, and others, like to only use bottled extract. Date sugar is a type of powdered, dry ingredient, but it has a very different taste than honey as a sweetener. The honey is a moist ingredient so you would have to add more of a solid, buttery or paste ingredient to mix that with. So, I’m not going to give the exact ingredients here for your icing, but I will say it’s possible to experiment and come up with different icings that are organic and don’t use any refined sugar, only fruit, maple syrup, or honey-based sweeteners. Choose what you or your kids like best.




Hope you have fun making your own bars too!


Clif Family Winery in St. Helena, Napa Valley is still one of my favorite places on earth! They have just introduced a subscription box, food and wine service called “Mangia!!!”. Learn more at ClifFamily.com


Follow ClifFamily Winery & Artisan Foods

on Instagram @ClifFamily (Clif has only 1 F!)

https://www.instagram.com/cliffamily/


@Mangiabycf

https://www.instagram.com/mangiabycf/


Mangia Subcription Food & Wine Box by Clif Family





C.Proppé Paintings 🖼️ available in 2024 with 25% going back to Kid's Bike Non-profit

 Hello Bay Area families, friends and Trips for Kids supporters!


I am a Marin parent and former volunteer with Trips for Kids. I spent many days on the trails helping kids learn to climb up hills they never imagined they could climb. It was a privilege and a joy, and I was grateful for TFK founder, Marilyn Price’s passion and vision to teach underprivileged kids how to mountain bike. I saw her huge smile and absolute joy riding with kids first hand. I donated my paintings and prints to TFK fundraisers each year when Marilyn was running the nonprofit. I’ve purchased amazing recycled bike clothing and gear at “The Recyclery” and even joined fundraising climate rides with TFK National staff riders. Trips for Kids is an amazing, women founded business that has grown exponentially since my kids were small. 


6 of my paintings are currently on display in the executive offices at TFK San Rafael and currently for sale with 25% going back to “kids and bikes“ 🚲 at Trips for Kids. Please share with your cycling, art and nature loving friends! Bike well and happy trails to all.


These are the 6 paintings available: 


(You may also view them on my website at CProppe.com/paintings )

To purchase prints of the images, click here.









Please vist the paintings and ask about the prices upstairs in the Executive Offices at:

Trips For Kids, San Rafael, CA 

610 4th St, San Rafael (the house with bikes to the right, just under the freeway)

(415)458-2986


All prices are reduced for this fundraising sale. If you have any questions about the paintings on sale at all, please email me or call me directly at (415) 205-3490. 

Purchase PRINTS of the paintings here.

Thank you! 


Happy New Year and Safe Biking to all.- Colleen



Paintings on View in Marin County


Grateful to Trips for Kids, Marin for displaying my most recent cycling paintings, and a few of my best Marin landscapes in their executive offices. These paintings are on display with 50% going back to the Trips for Kids nonprofit. Visit tripsforkidsbayarea.org for location information and hours, or contact Executive Director, Dr. Louise Malandra for current details on this fundraising opportunity at louise@tripsforkidsmarin.org


Purchase PRINTS here



Also in Marin this Summer, 7 of my earlier works, oil paintings depicting both California nature and cycling are also on display at SF Pediatrics in Mill Valley, California. Visit sfbaypeds.com for location information.



“Green C” - Debut Album 💿 (Earth-Friendly Music)

I have been working on my songwriting for over 7 years! I recently realized that many of my songs have the word “green” in them… There are quite a few about bikes, farms, barns and horses too. As a life-long, environmental activist and environmental artist, organic gardener, mom… It is no surprise I write about what I love and what makes me feel good. 

Although many of my songs are not necessarily about the environment and nature, I have enough "green" songs now to make an album. “Green C” is a good title and artist name. I have always been “C” as in C.Proppé.com, but C is also like sea 🌊, the green seas of Maui… the Florida Keys, etc… My love of oceans, nature, cycling, farming, California, Tennessee and Maui all come together in these songs.

My wackier songs can go on a different album. I have a lot of those too! Grateful for HenHouseStudios Los Angeles and Harlan Steinberger for agreeing to help me succeed! 💚 Music saves lives. Music can help save the environment too.

-C.Proppé April, 2023




Sustainable Packaging and Co-brand Concepts: How 3 Brands Could Reduce Emissions with ChicoBags


Image of Co-Branded ChicoBag that looks like the Ukrainian flag and has printed on it "World Central Kitchen".

June 23, 2022

As a sustainable packaging production designer since 2014, I am always on the look out for new ways of saving the environment and being green. I once had a green blog called "The Green Pitcher". This week, I have been researching sustainable packaging solutions and packable, reuseable bags. 

I have owned a single, orange "ChicoBag" branded with Whole Foods printed on it for the past few years. This bag, complete with it's own carrying pouch and carabiner, is always inside my purse or backpack. Even if I forget my grocery store cloth bags, I have this backup bag with me. I have used it for everything from groceries, to picking up beach trash and stashing away dirty clothes after a bike ride. ChicoBags are the best, IMHO because they have the carabiner on them to attach to a backpack, a bike pannier and the tiny pouch can be taken anywhere. These are great for traveling!

Here are my suggestions for ChicoBag co-branding with 3 different companies:


  1. World Central Kitchen ChicoBag for Ukraine


    This cobranded bag made by ChicoBag (see image above, designed by me with the Ukrainian Flag colors) could be used and sold in several ways. First, it could be used in Ukraine when handing out food to those in need. Second, it could be sold at ALL restaurants when ordering take-out food online. This bag would be an item available to purchase and your food would be delivered in this bag instead of paper or plastic. A discount or donation could be offered if you pick up your food in this bag.


  2. Salesforce Net Zero Cloud

    This bag would be used at Dreamforce and other major events and given out to those who attend the events. It encourages reuse and sustainable behaviors for all attendees and also markets Net Zero Cloud, a product that assists businesses in achieving net zero emissions faster. This solid blue bag could perhaps be made with ocean plastic from The Ocean Cleanup.



  3. The Apple Store

  4. A co-branded ChicoBag for the Apple Store would be handed out when customers purchase a product. It would act as both the bag to carry the purchased items and also, as a method to promote reuse and sustainable behaviors. If a customer brings this bag to the store when they purchase a product, a donation could be made to an ecofriendly non-profit.


Summer 2022 Update: Monarch Educational Art and Ocean Art Photography Designs

 June 23, 2022

Hello Friends and Visitors!

Happy Summer Solstice. Last week, after spending time photographing and taking video at the local Butterfly Garden, I created a couple of new designs based on the Monarch Lifecycle. 

These are available to purchase online as prints, t-shirts, notebooks, beach towels and more.




_____

I have also been organizing my outdoor beach photos to begin painting, and I made a couple of fun,  colorful patterns using images I have taken over the past few years.








Maui Move: Cycling & Ocean Therapy



Hello from Maui’s North-shore, one of the windsurfing meccas of the world and home of Jaws or “Pe’ahi”.

I moved here on November 8th with just my bike, a couple bags and my guitar, to heal from an unexpected total hip replacement, attend the Sustainability program at Maui College, learn about Hawaiian music, and continue guitar lessons. It has been an epic journey and my love of the natural world has increased tenfold. Swimming in clear teal water beside sea turtles, rainbows almost daily, foraging fruit and finding bananas, oranges, pomelos, mangoes, guava and more on my bike rides, these fallen snacks from the Gods have sustained me many days as I have been unemployed and waiting for jobs and unemployment checks to pay my bills.

I have so much more to share, and have two writing pieces planned (to publish on Medium) on restaurants, businesses and sustainable transportation, but for now, I wanted to share a mini acrylic painting I did this past week.

This is a view of the West Maui Mountains from the Northshore. You can watch the airplanes take off 6 miles away from Kahalui airport here as they rise up over the mountains and into the clouds. There is red lava rock and soft clay that sticks to your shoes and colors your feet red. Fisherman occasionally net fishing, traditional Hawaiian style. Sea turtles resting on the beach. Athletes swimming laps with fins and running up the dunes as the waves break over a natural coral reef.

I quickly fell in love with this beach and the turtles, and I am feeling stronger than when I arrived. Not perfect yet, but cycling, walking and swimming are improving my hip and I have less pain than when I arrived.

If you would like to purchase this mini painting as a print, please click here:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/maui-where-the-mountains-dance-with-the-sea-colleen-proppe.html

More stories, music and art to come... 

Thank you!