IN THE KITCHEN Meyer Lemon Sorbet

After binging on junk food on the Fourth of July, we're craving something fresh and yummy. This divine-looking recipe for Meyer Lemon Sorbet has us drooling. It looks amazing on its own, but if you're still in indulgence mode, mix yourself a treat by pouring some raspberry Italian soda over the sorbet for a fresh take on a float. 

xo, The Chicological Chicks

Recipe via: This Homemade Life

Images via: This Homemade Life, Healthy Green Kitchen

BABY WISHES GIVEAWAY Winner

Hi Argan Beauties! I so enjoyed reading all of your messages of congratulations and wishes for my little Indi. She is already so full of life and spirit. While I loved each and every comment, Charlotte’s post really touched my heart in special way. Congratulations Charlotte, a bottle of my Argan Oil is on its way. Thank you again to everyone for your continued support. I am so grateful that my little jelly bean is surrounded by so much love each and every day.

With much love and joy,

Josie

P.S. That’s little Indi Joon in a bed of rose petals! 

WELCOME Indi Joon Maran Alborzi

Introducing: Indi Joon Maran Alborzi. We're sure that just like her mama, Miss Indi will be a trailblazer, a peace lover, and a free spirit. 

IT'S A GIRL Welcome Baby Maran-Alborzi

We're thrilled to announce that Josie, our truly fearless leader, delivered a healthy and happy baby girl yesterday. Weighing in at 7.5 lbs and 20'' long, this little Argan Beauty is already the new love of our lives. Josie delivered her angel all naturally in the great outdoors with midwives standing by. It doesn't surprise us to hear from Ali--our COO and her husband and labor coach--that Josie was in labor exactly as she is in life: determined, confident, and most of all, full of love. We love you, Josie! 

In honor of our newest addition to the JMC family, leave your hopes and wishes for baby in the comments section for a chance to win Josie's signature ingredient: a bottle of 100% Pure Argan Oil. Josie will pick her favorite wish and we'll announce the winner on Friday.

Tomorrow, be sure to visit our Facebook page for the inside scoop on a celebratory, one-day sale event.

With so much love for our new addition,

The Chicological Chicks

JOSIE'S TIPS Argan Brightening Bronzer Sun Spot Corrector

Nothing says beach goddess like a nice summer tan—but sadly, my beauties, the sun is not a friend to our delicate skin. Its rays feel great, but as they warm you they also cause premature aging, sun spots, and possibly even skin cancer. So enjoy the great outdoors, but protect yourself with hats and sunscreen—lots and lots of sunscreen. (Natural is best. Feel free to try mine!) If paleface is your problem, you can faux your glow with bronzer. My Argan Brightening Bronzer Sun Spot Corrector actually reverses and reduces the appearance of existing damage and sun spots while imparting a sexy sunkiss to face. Not sure how to use this healthier option? Read on. 

- For the most natural, diffused effect, use a big, fluffy brush, applying bronzer in swirling motions. 

- Apply bronzer in natural light so you can see where the sunlight naturally hits your face: the forehead, bridge of nose, apples of the cheeks, and around the chin and jawline. 

- If you're showing a bit of décolletage, dust some bronzer on your collarbones.

- If you're fair-complected, apply only one soft wash of bronzer. For darker skin, try building the bronzer with two layers for a richer, deeper faux glow.

With sunny kisses,

Josie

Images via:

Beautiful Places to Visit

Missoni

Taste Those Sweet Dreams

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Loving Your Body

As many of you know, Wednesdays at JMC are our workout days. We run around the block, do dozens of squats, and crunch to our heart’s not-so-content. We’re a diverse group, ranging from 21 years old to 60, and we’re all at different fitness levels. Some of us can barely touch our toes; others are pro-style yogis. Although we sometimes slip up, we try not to compare ourselves to one another—after all, working out is all about showing your body some love, not bringing it down with negative self-talk. We leave our workouts feeling stronger, healthier, and a whole lot more beautiful (despite the frizzy post-workout hair). What makes YOU feel good about your body? What do you do to show your temple some love?

xo, The Chicological Chicks 

Image via Glamour

P.S. That's not us, we just really loved all the beautiful sizes in this picture. 

ECO STYLE: Foraging for Vintage Goodies

My house and my closets are full of treasures I've discovered while scouring vintage shops. The magic ingredient in my favorite clothes, jewelry, and furniture is history. When I buy a vintage piece, I always dream about its story—it's like a little mystery hanging in my closet or tucked into a corner of a room. Another plus of vintage shopping, of course, is that it's so eco-friendly. Instead of supporting the manufacturing of new goods (which has a huge carbon footprint), I love reusing stuff that already exists. Get the vintage vibe! Here are some of my beloved vintage things, and some tips for maximizing your next vintage adventure.  

Trust your instincts. Even if a shop or a yard sale is low on curb appeal, if you have a feeling that there might be gems awaiting you inside, go for it! Let your shopping instincts be your guide. 

Shop the snazzy side of town: Affluent neighborhoods are full of world travelers who buy exotic local goods as they go. Make the most of their good taste by making it your own.

Go over to the dark side: Is there a corner of the store where no one else is shopping? Go take a look! You might find something others have overlooked
tucked away in some dark corner. 

Be open: Are you sure that prairie dress isn't for you? What if you got the hem mended and the neckline loosened? What if you added a belt and a funky necklace? It could be your new favorite outfit. Be open to altering unique pieces and think about what you can pair them with to bring them up to date.

If you're willing to share your trade secrets, send us your vintage-hunting stories, and don't skimp on the pics!

With love and leftovers,

Josie

PINTERESTING FINDS Beauty Cravings

Right now we're loving pops of punchy color on the lips, boho braided hair-dos, and sassy nail polish shades. Where are we getting all of our inspiration? Pinterest, of course. We're so addicted to some of the great beauty tutorials that we will be debuting our own version here on Chicological in the coming months—stay tuned! Here are some of the beauty looks we're craving (and where you can see them for yourself.) Take a peek at Josie's Pinterest account for more boho inspiration.

 What are your favorite things to pin? 

Xo,

The Chicological Chicks

1. Bright yellow nails and a killer bangle via Keep It Classy

2. Bronze makeup perfection via Keiko Lynn

3. Perhaps a summertime turban? Via Natural Belle

4. Freckles and orange lips via A Cup of Jo

5. Streaks of fluorescent hair via The Beauty Department

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE Hair Heaven

I’ve been keeping a hair diary for a super-exciting project I've got in the works (stay tuned, details to come), which has me thinking about how to green-ify my hair routine. I’m a pretty low maintenance, wash-and-air-dry type of girl, but recently I've had a chance to try some new styles. Here are some tricks I’ve learned from doing my hair diary and playing around with a few of my favorite products.

(Still) Say no to Aerosol

You might remember the controversy about aerosol hair products that came up in the '80s. It turned out the propellant used to force the product out of the can was depleting the ozone layer. These chemical propellants, called CFCs, are now banned in the US. But according to Scientific American, CFC-free aerosols still contain compressed gasses, which contribute to global warming. They also emit volatile organic compounds, which increase air pollution and smog. So if you can’t get enough of your hair spray, look for one in a spray bottle instead of a aerosol can. Mama Earth will thank you (and so will Mama Josie).

Masque it Up

Chances are, you have something in your house right now that will make a great hair masque. I like to use one at least once a month to give my hair a boost of softness and moisture. Lately, I’ve been using my Argan Balm as a masque—it really clings to the hair. I got the idea from my husband, Ali, who uses Argan Balm as a pomade. His hair is always so soft! I just slather some Argan Balm on my hair, wait 1-2 hours, then rinse. Virgin coconut oil and mashed avocado also make great masques. I even have friends who swear by putting mayonnaise on their hair!

Reuse your Accessories

I’ve been trying a lot of new things with my hair lately, including putting  different ornaments in it. I looked at my box of vintage jewelry in a whole new light after realizing that an old brooch makes a great accent piece for a messy bun. I used a beaded necklace as a headband, and a stretchy bracelet as a scrunchie. Because so many flowers are blooming all around our property, I even wove a few blooms into my bun. So many fun looks for summer! 

With love,

Josie

Images Via: Killete Tumblr The Girl Who Keeps Dreaming

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Power Boost your Workout

Last week was party time, big-time, here at JMC. On Tuesday, we gorged on burgers and cupcakes to celebrate our coworkers with June birthdays. On Thursday we had a going-away party for Ali—he's headed to Pennsylvania to spend the summer with Josie, Rumi, and their very-soon-to-appear new baby: a celebration as cross-cultural as we are! We splurged on a Persian feast followed by a piñata party, followed by the inevitable mad dash for the candy. We finished off the week with a Friday shindig for Rebekah, our VP of Product Development, who's going on maternity leave. (Who knew pregnancy was contagious? Rebekah’s due date is the same as Josie's!)

Our beloved and brutal trainer, Michelle, noticed we were all kind of sluggish today after all that eating. Which left us wondering whether certain foods make working out harder, and others make it easier. We found some tips about foods that can boost the effectiveness of your workout.

Spice it Up 

We love spicy food—we have a giant bottle of Red Rooster hot sauce in every JMC refrigerator. So we were glad to learn that adding a little spice to your food will help you make the most of your workout. Capsaicin, the chemical that makes that jalapeno burn, also causes your body to release a burst of stress hormones, which speeds up your metabolism. A faster metabolism means you'll burn more calories whether you're working out or sitting at your desk. Other metabolism boosters? Green tea, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy products. 

Drink Up

H2O, that is. Drinking water steadily throughout the day will help you feel more energized and less sluggish during your workouts. It takes  a few hours for your body to absorb all that water, so be sure to sip throughout the day and not just right before you hit the gym. 

Shake it Up

Our Senior Manager of Marketing, Cristina, is one of our strongest and most toned coworkers. Before and after every workout, Cristina has a chocolate-y protein shake. Turns out, the shake increases the flow of amino acids to your muscles during your workout. Afterwards, it helps stimulate the muscle growth and tone that we're all looking for. Whey or soy protein shakes are our favorite. Here's to mastering at least one "real" pushup…

What do you do to get the most out of your workout?

xo,

The Chicological Chicks

Images via:Foundhealth OregonEast Tumblr