Can you believe how big Indi Joon is already? She’s still such a little girl, but I’m already feeling like time is passing too quickly! Soon she’ll be in school like Rumi. I’m taking lots of pictures to document her early life—I know she’ll want to look at them later. I’d love to hear what the other mamas out there do to hold on to their kids’ early years. Scrapbooks? Albums? Please share!
With love and lots of baby pictures!
Josie
We are cuckoo for quinoa! Quinoa cakes, quinoa pudding, quinoa salad, quinoa casserole. Is our obsession excessive? Perhaps. But, this South American super-grain is packed with protein, fiber and vitamins, so at least our fixation is a healthy one (unlike our love of beer, or our “relationship” with caffeine.) Not familiar with the wonders of quinoa? Try our yummy recipe for Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Radishes, and Basil. Make this one at the beginning of the week and you’ll have a delicious lunch that will last ‘til Friday!
Xo,
The Chicological Chicks
Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Radishes, and Basil
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water or vegetable broth
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp chopped rosemary
½ cup cooked chicken breast, chopped
6 large radishes, thinly sliced
¼ basil leaves, chopped
2 tbsp chives, chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Combine quinoa, water, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and rosemary into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Quinoa should be plump and slightly translucent, with no remaining liquid. Cool until quinoa reaches room temperature. In a large bowl, mix cooled quinoa and the remaining ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Note: If you like things a little spicy, add ¼ tsp chili flakes. Yum!
Images via: My Less Serious Life, Fruit Guys, 2Stews
Considering that September is JMC's birthday month, I've been doing some thinking about the birthday party we're having next Sunday. We've already planned the food (taco bar, cake, and ice cream) and the music (tunes selected by yours truly, DJ Jo-Z), but the decor has yet-to-be-decided. Etsy has some great outdoor party finds, including eco-friendly wooden spoons and vibrant floor pillows for casual but comfy seating. Here are a few of my faves. What are your tricks for throwing a shindig?
With love,
Josie
P.S. Don't forget to enter the Chicological birthday giveaway. See here for details!
In case you haven’t heard (and by now, how could you have not!) September marks the month of JMC’s fifth birthday! While we’re busy celebrating with our JMC family here at the office, we want celebrate with our extended Argan family too. In honor of our birthday, I’m giving away a set of everything you see in the image above. Just leave a comment about your favorite birthday ever for a chance to win! I’ll randomly pick a winner next week.
Can’t wait to read your stories!
Josie
CONTEST NOW CLOSED. WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THANK YOU!
Now that we’re all back and settled in L.A. together, I’ve been looking for ways to decorate my daughters’ rooms in a way that will inspire their imaginations. I recently discovered Blik Wall Decals, which seem like a nice way to add some whimsy. They come right on and off the wall, so I can easily switch them out as the girls get older and their tastes change. I’m loving the mix of prints they have—everything from delicate butterflies to goofy giraffes. Plus, the Venice, CA based company gives back to local and national charities like Boys and Girls Club of Venice and Manifest Equality.
Another recent find is Tane Organics. At first, I was drawn to Tane’s cute baby clothes. But they also have some pretty stuffed animals that are wrapped in organic cotton and machine washable—a must have as little ones like Indi Joon start going through their drooling, teething stages.
With love,
Josie
Have you heard? September is JMC’s birthday month! We’re turning five, and celebrating like crazy over here in L.A. But we’re also spreading the birthday love all month long to our Argan beauties. Be sure to check out Facebook, Chicological, and your email inbox for ways to get in on the birthday gifts.
This weekend, our Marketing Coordinator, Annalise, took an expedition to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and snapped some pics of the all the awesome wares. People come from far and wide to Pasadena to visit the Rose Bowl Flea Market in search of a deal on everything from vintage boots to antique chandeliers to hand-woven rugs from Tangier. If you’ve never visited a flea market, you’re missing out on some seriously cool vintage goodies. Here are our tips for amateur flea market-ers.
Haggle, Haggle, Haggle: Don’t be afraid to bargain with the vendors. This is a flea market, not Neiman Marcus! If it’s the end of the day—bonus! Chances are, the vendor would rather give you a good deal on that vintage mirror than pack it back into his truck.
Do a Lap: OK, so you see a vase right at the entrance of the market that you can’t live without. DO A LAP! If you aren’t familiar with the items being sold, you might buy something that really isn’t as unique as you think it is. Once you do a lap of the market, you have a better sense of what is really one-of-a-kind and what is well, everywhere.
Take a Second Look at Ugly Ducklings: Oftentimes at flea markets, you’ll see a whole lot of outdated furniture that makes you cringe. But don’t run away too fast. Try to look beyond the chipping paint or the polyester upholstery. Does it have a good structure and design? You can get “ugly” pieces at amazing prices and turn them into gems with just a coat of paint or a trip to the upholstery guy. Plus, you’re creating something totally unique with a great story.
Here in the office, we’ve been talking A LOT about our nails recently—our Manager of Product Development, Jenn, has been sporting some wacky and wild nail art that has sparked a wave of serious nail envy. Among us chicological gals, all things nail polish and nail art have gotten a pretty bad rap due to all the chemical-laden formulas out there. But—hooray—there are some eco-conscious alternatives that have us striping, polka-dotting, and bedazzling our digits. Here are our fave eco tips for nails.
Be Free: “3 Free” that is. Look for nail polishes that are free of these three no-no ingredients: toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and formaldehyde. Josie’s favorite “3 Free” brand right now is Priti NYC, which was started by fellow mom Kim D’Amato when she was pregnant with her first kid.
In the Buff: Our VP of Sales gave us a great idea yesterday. When she goes to get a manicure, instead of having polish applied, she asks for her nails buffed. And boy do they sparkle! It looks like she has a clear coat on top, but it’s all her natural shine.
Argan Nails: You know we couldn’t talk about nails without giving some props to the ultimate cuticle oil—Argan Oil! It moisturizes those hangnails and dry nail beds like nothing else. You can even put a drop on your freshly painted nails to repel water and dust while it’s still tacky.
Images Via:
Over Labor Day, the entire JMC team took a trip to San Clemente for a beach bonding weekend. We had so much fun—cooking, swimming, and playing charades. We even had the JMC babies with us, ranging from 8 weeks (my Indi Joon) to 8 years old. Check out these pics from our adventure-filled weekend together.
With love and sand between my toes,
Josie
This summer when we were in Pennsylvania, Rumi Joon and I spent a lot of time running through the sprinklers and swimming in our friend's pool. There's nothing like a dunk in cool water to chill out on a hot day—and I also got some great low-impact exercise in the pool. After watching my JMC coworkers boogie boarding and body surfing at the beach this weekend, I'm in the mood to try some fun water sports. What are your favorite ways to splish, splash, and work that body of yours?
With love,
Josie
Images via:
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