WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Be Strong

I saw a quote on Pinterest the other day that resonated with me: "Strong is the new skinny." While I was in the modeling industry, spending a lot of time with rail-thin girls, I started to admire women with truly strong bodies. They looked like they could do anything! Strength comes in all shapes in sizes, but it gives you a confidence, grace and awareness in your body that "skinny" will never give you. Plus, a little strength training can help prevent all sorts of ailments including osteoperosis, arthritis, and diabetes. Here are a few of my tips for flexing those muscles. 

Good Things Come in Threes

If you lift weights or do resistance training more than three times a week, you're not giving your muscles enough time to recover. Twice, or once a week is better than nothing, but three will give you the results and boost in body power you're looking for. 

Band Together

I love resistance bands for strength training. It's an easy way to use your own body to provide just the right amount of strain to muscles. You can amp it up or tone it down depending on your strength level. And you can keep your bands at home and do a few bicep curls even when you only have 5 minutes. 

Slow it Down

It might seem counterintuitive, but lifting weights slowly is actually harder than racing through your exercises. Slow it down to really feel the burn! 

With love and strength,

Josie

ECO STYLE JadeTribe

Burned out by the fast pace of the fashion world, Kimberly Hartman took a sojourn to Southeast Asia to rediscover her passions for travel, fashion, and foreign cultures. While in Laos, Kimberly had a revelation: why not start a clothing line that would be good for struggling artisans, and good for customers who love design. This was the genesis of JADEtribe. With a staggering assortment of handmade bags and jewelry, JADEtribe offers "Luxury With A Conscience" in its own way, with a boho aesthetic and socially and environmentally conscious mission.  JADEtribe's textiles are produced by artisans in Southeast Asia, using fair trade practices and sustainable and repurposed fabrics. They're cute, too! As Kimberly puts it, the style is "a little bit beach-y, a little bit bohemian jet set." We’re sold! 

JOSIE PRESENTS Bohemian Waves Argan Hair Mist

So many people ask me how to get easy, breezy boho hair. Enter Bohemian Waves Argan Hair Mist. Take a peek at the video to find out how I achieve my favorite hairstyle with this hydrating salt spray. I promise, it's so simple—just as it should be. 

With love,

Josie

P.S. I'm back on QVC tonight for the first time since Indi Joon was born. Tune in at 9PM PT/ 12AM ET to catch me and my amazing new TSV! So excited! 

GET-THE-LOOK Jenn's Purple Haze

With a shock of purple running through her black hair, and a love of t-shirts with dinosaurs on them that change color in the sunlight, Jenn is one of JMC’s most vibrant characters. (And, as you can imagine, we have no shortage of vibrant types.) As our Manager of Product Development, Jenn's always introducing us to the next big thing in beauty and skincare, leading us toward the latest trends. Here, Jenn schools us in the art of the vibrant eye, featuring her signature shade: purple.

1.     Apply your shade of Argan Tinted Moisturizer to your face to even out your skin tone. (Jenn blends Linen and Desert to make her perfect match.)

2.     Apply Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink to your cheeks and blend toward your temples.

3.     Blend together the two lightest shades in the Argan Beautiful Eyes in Beautiful Purples palette and swipe across each eyelid.  

4.     Using Magic Marker Argan Liquid Liner, line your lower and upper lashlines.

5.    Pack both the light lilac and rich amethyst shades from the Beautiful Purples palette onto your brush.    Apply on top of the liner, smudging out to create a soft effect.

6.     Apply the lightest shade from the Beautiful Purples palette to the inner corner of the eyes to highlight.

7.     Apply two coats of GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara to your top and bottom lashes.

8.     Finish the look by applying a rich coat of Argan High Gloss Lip Quench, and shine on! 

ECO TIPS Shopping

Even though I'm huge on reusing and recycling and going easy on consumption, I'll admit it: every once in a while, I love going shopping with my girlfriends, too. Apparently it's not just me. I just read an interesting article that says the female love of bargain buys comes from caveman/cavewoman days, when women were the family's gatherers and foragers, searching through forests to find the best-looking berries, and climbing into trees to snatch up the plumpest plums. That gives us a great excuse to throw our hands up in the air and say "Shopping's natural! We can't help ourselves!",  but showing love to Mother Earth means being aware of consequences. My solutions? Read on.

1. Buy Used

Instead of heading to the department store when something new strikes your fancy, first try to find it in a more eco-friendly way—from a thrift store, a vintage boutique, or on websites like Craigslist and Ebay. Most of my favorite clothes are vintage or used treasures. Buying that way makes it easier to create a style that's all your own, and keeps you from looking like you just stepped out of a store window. 

2. Sell Used

If you're over that pair of brown clogs or that purse you paid too much for, consider re-selling them to a consignment shop or on Ebay. If selling’s not your style, you can always donate your cast-offs to a worthy charity like Dress for Success, which provides professional attire to women for job interviews. Or have a clothing swap with a bunch of friends. Your rejects might be someone else's fave.

3. Share It

On the rare occasion when I rev up to cook a big meal for my family and friends, I often have the annoying experience of discovering, mid-soufflé or mid-marinade, that I don't have the right tool for the job. I finally figured out that instead of going out and buying something I wouldn't use for another year, I could check with a friend (or my mom, who lives down the street) to see if she has one. When we pool our resources, we usually find we have everything we need. 

4. Cast Your Vote

As I always say, when we buy we vote for what we believe in. So take a through look at who and what you're supporting. Look for companies that use eco-friendly materials and ingredients, and give back to charities. When you shop with your conscience, you're doing good for others by giving yourself a treat.   

With love,

Josie

Images Via: Lovely Clusters Forever Cottage Sadite

BABY LOVE Diapers, Shampoo, & Swaddles

Now that Miss Indi has arrived, everyone's been asking me about my fave mommy must-haves, so I'm going to start blogging here as I discover them. 

In the six years since I was choosing diapers for Rumi Joon, a whole lot of great eco baby-care options have been invented. One of my new favorite businesses is The Honest Company, which was founded by Jessica Alba & Christoper Gavigan. I’ve been using their chlorine-free, biodegradable diapers on Indi.  A bonus? They give you a choice of super-cute diaper prints—gingham, pink stars, ice cream cones—to keep that baby bum eco-adorable.

Honest also makes shampoo. I tried it on Rumi and Indi and we love its yummy vanilla-tangerine scent! It's gentle on Indi’s tender newborn scalp and Rumi’s usually-tangled hair.

 

To keep Indi snug, I swaddle her in Aden + Anais Bamboo Muslin Swaddle Blankets. The fabric's an incredibly soft combo of muslin and bamboo, so even during the humid Pennsylvania nights, Indi stays cool. The blankets come in packs of three coordinating prints. My favorite is the Mela collection—it has a peacock print that Rumi and I both love. We're pretty sure Indi approves, too.

With baby love,

Josie

JOSIE PRESENTS Beauty Doesn't Get Any Purer Than This

If you're an NYC gal, hopping in and out of cabs on a daily (or hourly) basis, you might have seen Josie's Beauty Doesn’t Get Any Purer Than This video on your Taxi TV. But, if you haven't taken a cab ride since the last time you were late to the airport, you can just watch the video here. Enjoy!

JOSIE'S TIPS Argan High Gloss Lip Quench

I'm super-excited about a yummy new lip product we've come up with here at JMC.  Argan High Gloss Lip Quench drenches dry, cracked lips in Argan Oil, while moisturizing, healing and—bonus! — adding a luscious shine. The ultra-luxurious formula is a combo of nature's best moisturizing ingredients: Pure Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, and softening Murumuru Butter. Get the most of our your tube with these tips.

1. Apply a thin coat of Argan High Gloss Lip Quench before bed. The moisturizing ingredients will work overtime while you snooze.

2. Swipe a coat of Lip Quench over dried-out lipstick to revive color and keep it from flaking or cracking. 

3. Want the appearance of fuller, juicier lips? Who doesn't? Apply Lip Quench only to the center of your pout to make your lips look too good not to kiss.

With love,

Josie

Images via: Tumblr Recipes for the Soul Sinussister Pinterest

WHAT WE'RE EATING Midsummer Detox

We've been screaming for ice cream all summer long, and our wonderful coworker Coco, has been bringing us party size boxes of Drumstick ice cream cones, which we've been devouring like the sweets freaks we are. But now that we're making final plans for our end-of-summer company beach trip, we're trying to cut back on the calories. Here are our picks for healthy AND tasty treats that will have us "just saying no" to Coco and her frozen temptations. 

Summer Squash Salad and Red Quinoa Salad with Walnuts

Vegetarian Smashed Cauliflower and Roasted Asparagus Sandwich

Shiro Plum & White Corn Salsa

Vegetable Tian

Roasted Strawberry & Basil Agua Fresca

Stone Fruit Galette

GIVING BACK Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all the Argan Beauties who entered our Giving Back Giveaway. We cherished all of your responses, and found Nancy's story of donating her mother's clothes to battered women's shelters especially touching.  Nancy, we love your realization that anyone could be in a rough situation, and we all rely on the graciousness of others. Giving back is such a beautiful way to show thanks for the blessings we have, and share them. Congratulations, Nancy. Your prize, Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation SPF 20, is on its way to you.