IN THE KITCHEN Moroccan Argan Salad

Hi Argan Beauties!

I recently spent some time over at Access Hollywood sharing some of my healthy eating tips and a recipe for a super delicious salad. One of my healthful tricks is to incorporate a little bit of Argan Oil into my diet. As you know, Argan Oil has some amazing benefits when you apply it to your skin, but it’s also so good for you if you eat it! It has a ton of vitamins and essential fatty acids to nourish you from the inside out. One of my favorite ways to serve it is in a Moroccan salad. While my 100% Pure Argan Oil is technically edible, I recommend that you look for food grade Argan Oil to use in your cooking. Keep the super pure stuff to pamper your skin. Here’s my recipe for Moroccan Argan Salad that I shared with Access Hollywood on air.

Moroccan Argan Salad

Ingredients: 

1 large cucumber, chopped 

1/2 red onion, chopped 

2 - 3 large tomatoes, chopped 

1/3 Cup cilantro, finely chopped 

2 TBSP Argan Oil

2 TBSP vinegar (I like apple cider or red wine vinegar)

Juice of 1/2 lemon, fresh squeezed 

Feta Cheese (not Moroccan but yummy!) 

Preparation: 

Chop cucumber, onion, tomatoes and cilantro. Mix all ingredients (except lemon juice and feta cheese) in large bowl. Then squeeze lemon juice over the top of salad and mix. Sprinkle feta cheese to taste. 

Images via: Seven Spoons Flickr, Houry Wordpress

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY For Two Fitness Giveaway

Hello there, beautiful mamas-to-be!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the pregnancy workout tips I've shared with you over the past few weeks. 

Today's the last day of our Workout Wednesday series with maternity activewear company For Two Fitness. To bring an extra happy ending to the series, "For Two" has generously donated one of their great rayon/spandex stretch tops AND a pair of their fab Ultimate Maternity Fitness Pants to be gifted to one lucky Chicological reader. 

I can personally attest to how cute and comfy "For Two" gear is. Check out the pic of me rocking my own outfit. 

Entering the contest is easy. Just share your favorite pregnancy workout tip as a comment to this post—and be sure to do it before midnight on June 5th. We’ll announce the winner on June 6th. 

With love and Lycra,

P.S. Here is some extra info about the outfit from For Two. I know you'll just love it! 

"Celebrate your shape - you're officially one Hot Mama! Add some fun to your workout in this bright, playful tank and Ultimate Maternity Fitness Pants from For Two Fitness. Whether you're sweating it out or just relaxing with that pregnancy glow, you'll stay comfortable and covered in our ultra-comfy, high-performance activewear.   The racerback style tanks features generous long length, our rayon/spandex four-way stretch fabric, and side ruching for a perfectly flattering fit as you grow. Pants are made from the highest quality brushed supplex/lycra blend, and the three-way belly panel lets you customize your fit and support.  This ensemble will become your go-to favorite for your entire pregnancy and beyond. "

A DAY IN THE LIFE memorial day crab feast

Memorial Day is kind of a strange holiday, isn't it? I mean, the purpose of the day is really serious—to commemorate the soldiers who gave their lives for our country. Most of us celebrate the day with BBQs and picnics. I guess it makes sense to want to spend Memorial Day with friends and family. I know I always do. It seems like the best way to honor everything I'm grateful for.

Our family had a great day on the farm in Pennsylvania, where we're staying till our new baby's born. Ali, my mom, some friends from QVC, and a few of our neighbors celebrated with a crab feast at our place. We chowed down on bushels of Old Bay-seasoned crabs and fresh corn on the cob. Rumi Joon and her new friends splashed around in a kiddie pool, and a few of us tried our luck at fishing in the pond. (Plenty of fun, no fish!) 

We did a taste test on two cheesecakes—one that my mom made, and one we got at a roadside stand. As usual, my mom’s won. When the sun started sinking, we took a walk around the farm to work off all that food. Rumi Joon and I finished off the night with a snuggle in the hammock. 

On the more serious side, President Obama spent the day honoring Vietnam War soldiers at Arlington Cemetery. I love this quote from his speech:

“For all of you who carry a special weight on your heart, we can strive to be a nation worthy of your sacrifice. A nation that is fair and equal, peaceful and free."

I'd love to hear about how you spent Memorial Day. I'd also like to know what you think we can do to make our country more fair, equal, peaceful, and free. Share, please!

WHAT WE'RE EATING farmer's market finds

It’s the beginning of the best produce season of the year. Here are the recipes we can’t wait to try with finds from the Farmer’s Market.

Stuffed Squash Blossoms

Sweet Cherry Pie

Rubarb Lemon Balm Margarita

Arugula Salad with Fennel and Pine Nuts

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE skin savers

1. Look for Multi-taskers. There are so many cosmetics to choose from that many of us have cabinets full of stuff we never use. To avoid that kind of wastefulness, look for products that multitask: a lip color that doubles as a cheek color, or a bronzer that makes a great nude eye shadow. The ultimate multi-tasker is my 100% Pure Argan Oil. I put it on my face and body to moisturize, on my hair to tame frizzies, and on my nails to repair rough cuticles.

2. Try a Homemade Toner

Green tea makes a great skin toner. It’s loaded with antioxidants like vitamins C & E and helps counteract irritation caused by dryness. Some people with oily skin swear by Apple Cider Vinegar as a great way to combat shine.

3. Stay hydrated.

Drink lots of water, and you really will see a huge improvement in your skin. If you’re not a fan of water, mix slices of lemon and cucumber into a big pitcher of water. It will lightly flavor the water and give it that all-day-at-the-spa taste.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY with For Two Fitness

Staying active during pregnancy is super-important. You can’t overdo it, but just the right amount of exercise increases your circulation, which then carries more oxygen to your baby. Here are my tips for safely working up a sweat.

Be Classy

The exercises in prenatal classes are modified for pregnancy, and the instructors are trained to make sure you don’t overexert yourself. My faves are water aerobics and yoga, and I also love hanging out with other moms-to-be.

Can We Talk?

While you’re pregnant, you should never be so out of breath that you can’t talk while you’re working out.

Keep Cool

Pregnant women have higher body temperatures, and when we exercise, our body temperate goes up even more, especially around the core. Be careful not to overheat when you’re exercising, and avoid exercising on very hot days. 

PINTERESTING FINDS summer style

With summer coming quickly upon us, we’ve been scouring Pinterest for our favorite summer fashion finds. Check out some of our picks. Beach days, here we come. 

 

JOSIE LOVES the chalkboard mag

I am such a fan of Pressed Juicery’s new blog, The Chalkboard. So I was thrilled when they asked me to be their guest editor for the month of May. From posts on how to create an eco nursery, to healthy recipes and easy workout tips, it seems like The Chalkboard has a piece of helpful advice for every active woman. When The Chalkboard peeps came to our office to shoot my guest editor video, they even brought us a crateful of yummy juices from Pressed. A sure way to win me (and the rest of the JMC crew) over. 

GET THE LOOK the no makeup look

If there’s one look that every woman wants to master, it’s the no-makeup look.  Here’s how you can let your beauty shine using your favorite JMC products.

1.   Prep skin for makeup application by cleansing with Argan Cleansing Oil, focusing on areas of dryness, using a soft washcloth to lightly exfoliate flaking skin.

2.   Using your fingers, apply 100% Pure Argan Oil to your face and give it a few minutes to absorb. For extra moisture and to protect skin from harmful rays, apply Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40.

3.   Even out the skin tone by applying your shade of Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation. The sheer coverage will reduce the appearance of redness and blotchiness without masking the natural texture and luminosity of skin. 

4.   Apply Argan Blend Concealer under eyes to camouflage dark circles, on blemishes, and on any other areas of discoloration including eye lids, around the nose, and at the corners of mouth.

5.   Smoothe a creamy blush like Argan Color Stick in Rosey onto the apples of cheeks, and lightly blend toward the temples.

6.   Brush GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara onto upper eyelashes only.

7.   Complete the look by applying Argan Lip Treatment to moisturize lips.

 

JOSIE'S TIPS bohemian waves

There’s nothing like soft, tousled wavy hair for summer. Some lucky girls were born with natural waves, but most of us need a little extra oomph to make our hair look enticingly undone. Toss your look a lifesaver. Geranium-and-bergamot-scented Argan Bohemian Waves Hair Mist contains Himalayan sea salt—so, just like a dip in the ocean, it encourages locks to form beautiful boho waves. 

For an effortlessly tousled look:

-Spray Argan Bohemian Waves all over hair, focusing on the ends. “Scrunch” up each section after you spray it, holding the scrunch for three seconds.

-If your hair is extra fine, spray it all over with Bohemian Waves, then pin into a high bun. When hair is completely dry, release the bun. Argan Bohemian Waves will help your hair hold the curl.

-For long-haired lassies, braids are a must-have at the beach. Before braiding, spray hair with Bohemian Waves. Later, loosen your locks by pulling the braid apart for a textured, slept-in look.