WORKOUT WEDNESDAY with For Two Fitness

Hello mamas-to-be and Argan beauties! This week we kick off a month of fitness with For Two Fitness, a great company that specializes in chic workout clothing for pregnant women. For the next four weeks, I'll be giving you some of my workout tips and on May 30, you'll get a chance to win your own awesome workout outfit from the company (more details soon).

Until then, enjoy! And if you have any great tips of your own, please share. 

YOGA TIPS

Just Breathe
Pay attention to your body and how you're feeling by concentrating on really breathing getting oxygen to your organs and your baby. Not only will it help you relax at the time, but when the birth finally comes, you'll know how to breathe your way through the process.

Practice Calm
This means, use yoga to help reduce your everyday stress levels. It will help you keep your hormones and emotions in check (which are already elevated) thus keeping you and your baby happy and healthy.

Drink Water
You should drink plenty of water when exercising at any time in your life, but especially through pregnancy. It's ok if you're taking sips while in yoga class! You really need it.

Pay Attention
You know your body best. Pay attention to how you are feeling and don't overextend yourself.

ECO TIPS Kitchen

1. Clean Green!
Kitchens get greasy and grimy, but so many kitchen cleaners are full of toxic chemicals and disinfectants that just aren’t good for the earth.  I like to use all natural cleansers that you can easily find at the grocery store. I fill a reusable spray bottle about 3Ž4 full of white vinegar, and fill the bottle the rest of the way with water. I use this blend to clean everything from my countertops to the stove. If you need something a little stronger, halve a lemon and sprinkle baking soda onto the surface. Use the lemon like you would a sponge to rub the baking soda around the stain. Baking soda is naturally abrasive, so it will help remove any caked on grime you might have.

2. Unpackage you life!
I love the convenience of packaged salads and meals just as much as the next working mom. But pre-packaged food requires a whole lot of plastic, and a whole lot of energy. Not to mention, how sure are you exactly what's in your food unless you make it yourself! I know it might take a few extra minutes, but while you're making dinner for the family one night, chop a few extra vegetables to store in a reusable container for a great stirfry. Or, make a little bit of extra salad to take to work the next day so that you don't have to buy one at the market. 

3. Toss the Paper!
Paper towels are very convenient for cleaning messes in a snap, but they are so wasteful! Try switching to cloth or microfiber kitchen towels instead. They are soft, absorbent, and reusable. Just throw them into the wash with your other laundry and use again. Love paper napkins? Try some cheap and cheerful cloth napkins from Etsy! You may feel like they’re not worth the expense, but over time you’ll save money (and the earth) by not buying paper products.

4. Support the bees! 
All over the world, honeybee colonies are collapsing due to insecticides, disease, and harmful chemicals. We need these little guys to pollinate our food! While you may be afraid to start a colony of your own in your backyard, you can do your part by supporting your local beekeepers. Look for vendors selling organic honey at your local farmer's market. A big spoonful of organic honey in your green tea? Delish!

Do you have any tips for greening your kitchen? Do share!  

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE De-Stress

I loved getting to read all of your homemade uses for my 100% Pure Argan Oil, and it inspired me to go out and search for new and interesting ways to green your beauty routine.  Here are a few of my latest discoveries!

1.  Want to de-stress? Take a bath!
Baths get a very bad rap among us greenies. However, sometimes when we’re looking for a stress-reducing bathing experience, a bath is the way to go. Standing under the showerhead for five to ten minutes letting the hot water de-stress you can actually waste far more water than just running a small bath and soaking for a bit.  I recommend putting a few drops of Argan Oil and 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil into the bath for a soothing, aromatherapy experience. Not a bath kind of gal? Try a heat-safe neck pillow. Pop it in a warm oven for a few minutes to melt away tension in your neck and shoulders.

2. Beautify your garden!
Your garden isn’t just a place to grow lettuce and tomatoes; it’s also a great place to grow natural beautifiers. One of my favorite beauty wonders to grow in my garden is Aloe Vera. It has a beautiful, vibrant green color and because it’s a succulent, it’s relatively low maintenance if you live in a dry area. You can even grow it inside. There’s really nothing better if you accidentally get a sunburn. Just pop open an aloe leaf and use the gel-like pulp to soothe the burn. Other great beauty plants to try in your garden? Avocado to hydrate skin and hair, and chamomile to soothe irritated skin!

3.  Get physical!
As summer is quickly approaching (I can’t wait for barbeques and watermelon!), we should all be slathering on the sunscreen to protect ourselves from the harmful rays that can cause sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. A lot of controversial research has recently been released about the safety of some chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone. That’s why we’re going physical! Look for sunscreens that contain physical blockers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Many non-chemical sunscreens will contain both of these ingredients, but if you’re faced with the choice, go for zinc. It blocks UV rays slightly better than titanium dioxide. Sensitive skin? You might find physical sunscreens less irritating than their chemical counterparts. But don’t forget a hat and sunglasses for added protection on super sunny days.

 

DO GOOD World Arbor Day

We've all said it. "Hey, I should volunteer to plant some trees sometime."

Well guess what? This weekend is your chance. In celebration of World Arbor Day, you can find plenty of opportunities to green the world by volunteering to plant in your city. The day was first observed in Nebraska in 1872 when it is estimated that a million trees were planted! And now, it's celebrated globally. How can you help?

DO GOOD

Volunteer with organizations dedicated to tree planting. You can find opportunities here: 

Arbor Day Now is a website dedicated to connecting willing tree planters with opportunities to plant in any corner of the U.S. 

At the very least, if you can't make it out in your community to plant a tree, why not plant one in your backyard? Any greening is good greening! 

JOSIE'S PICKS Spring Picnic

With all the sunny weather we've been having, I can't stop thinking about having a nice spring picnic with my family. What could be better? The strawberries are coming into season, and the wildflowers have bloomed. I'm thinking I'll pack some yummy quinoa salad and vanilla pudding into some mason jars and we'll be off! Here are some of my favorite picnic picks from Etsy, including one of my favorite vintage books for me to read to Rumi Joon as we lay in the grass. 

What are you picnic must-haves? Any delicious recipes to share? 

AM Radio Vintage Woven Picnic Basket

Handmade Therapy Rutic Linen Tea Towel

Crickets Home Turquoise Mint Chocolate Brown Throw

The Art of Jam Strawberry Jam 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Rouilly Vintage Metal Thermos

GET THE LOOK Christian Dior Spring 2012

Sometimes we crave a little bit of drama on the eyes, but we still want to look natural and glowing. Christian Dior pulled this look off perfectly on their Spring 2012 Couture runway. We love how the eyes are both light and dark—the strong sweep of the liquid liner paired with the ethereal, shimmery shadow is right up our alley. Keeping the rest of the face clean and fresh makes this the perfect look for day or night. Here's how to get the look using our favorite products!

1. After cleansing and moisturizing with Argan Cleansing Oil and 100% Pure Argan Oil, apply your shade of Tinted Moisturizer. To sheer out the coverage and give skin a super dewy look, apply Tinted Moisturizer with a damp sponge. Apply your shade of Argan Blend Concealer under eyes and on areas of redness or discoloration. 

2. Sweep the lightest shade from the Argan Beautiful Eyes in Beautiful Nudes all over lid. Using Magic Marker Argan Liquid Eye Liner, tightly line the upper lashline, sweeping up at the edge of the eye to create a cat eye effect. (Hint: draw an imaginary line from the outer corner of your eye to the outer tip of your eyebrow to create the perfect angle for your eye liner swoosh) Finish the look with two coats of GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara on the upper lashes. 

3. Apply Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Cha Cha to cheeks and blend to create a very subtle pink cheek. Follow by blending Argan Illuminizer onto cheekbones, down the bridge of nose, and into the cupid's bow for a luminous glow.

4. Dab Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Cha Cha onto the lips and press together to create a natural look. Follow with a light coat of Argan Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Optimism. 

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE Winner

Thanks to Stacey for giving us a fresh fresh take on a green beauty routine. A simple three ingredient recipe, this is a perfect scrub for spring. Congrats Stacey! We hope you love our 100% Pure Argan Oil. 

WHAT WE'RE EATING Earth Day 2012

Happy Earth Day everyone! We try to be good to Mother Earth all year round, but Earth Day is a great reminder to live in a sustainable, eco-friendly way that ensures the success of our amazing planet. A great way to be good to the Earth is through one of my favorite activities: eating! In honor of Earth Day, try to go to the farmer's market and buy local organic produce. If you don't have time to go, a great alternative is a local CSA box. If you're a meat eater, try to buy organic, hormone-free meats. And, I always try to be nice to the chickens and buy organic, free-range eggs. Delicious and eco! In honor of Earth Day, here are some of the yummy things we're eating in the office this week. What's your favorite Earth Day recipe?

Healthy Green Kitchen Alana's Vanilla Pudding

Deliciously Organic Kale Salad with Currants and Walnuts

Food and Wine Grilled Vegetable Sandwich

The Italian Dish Blog The Collinzano Cocktail

Smitten Kitchen Shaved Asparagus Pizza

Kitchenist Chopped Tusanesque Salad

ECO TIPS Office

1. Pack an Eco Friendly Lunch!

When packing lunches for you and your family, say goodbye to plastic baggies which are super wasteful and can pose a threat to marine wildlife. Instead, pack snacks and sandwiches in these chic, eco-friendly containers by LunchBots. They are made of stainless steel so they are lightweight, durable, and resusable. 

2. Save paper!
The greatest waste of paper we face here at JMC is printing out handouts for meetings. While it's great to make sure everyone is in the loop, many of our printouts end up in the trash. Lately, we've been printing out half as many handouts, and everyone has been sharing. After the meeting, we send out the electronic file in case anyone missed out on getting a copy. Also, print on recycled paper!

3. Get a Plant Friend!
Plants are not only a great way to brighten up your office space, they also absorb indoor pollution, improving the quality of the air that you breathe for the majority of your day. Look for plants that are hardy and won't miss a day or two without watering over the weekend. Lemon Balm is one of my favorites to have in the office. It has a light, fresh scent and it's a very robust plant, so it will grow voraciously without much effort. 

GREEN YOUR ROUTINE Giveaway

Happy Friday! Today I want to give you a few tips about greening your beauty routine. Even though the products you choose are important of course, there is also something to be said for getting a little DIY, too! Since my 100% Pure Argan Oil is, well, pure and just one ingredient, it's easy to incorporate into your favorite home beauty routine. There is also something to be said for what you don't use. Check out my tips. Plus:

I want to know, what are your favorite DIY recipes that incorporate my 100% Pure Argan Oil? The winner will get a free bottle!

Please comment below and include your email address. Only U.S. and Canada residents are eligible to win. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Friday, April 20. 

1. Try a Homemade Brightening Masque
I love beauty products, but sometimes a simple at-home treatment does wonders for the skin. One of my favorites is a yogurt masque. Simply take a quarter cup of your favorite plain, greek yogurt and use a paintbrush to apply it to your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. If it begins to dry out, drape a damp washcloth over your face to keep moisture in. Rinse, being sure to remove all the yogurt. The lactic acid in the yogurt will help dissolve dead skin and impurities, leaving your face looking bright and rejuvenated.  Be sure to moisturize with 100% Pure Argan Oil right after washing your face to nourish the skin. 

2. Get Dirty
If you wash and style your hair every day, you're doing a whole lot of work and putting an unnecessary strain on the environment. Instead, keep your blowout for a few extra days by using a dry shampoo. You can simply sprinkle it on your roots and rub it in to get rid of any excess oil. You'll save water and electricity by not washing your hair or turning on your blow dryer. Over time, your scalp will get used to not being washed every day and will stop producing so much oil. 

3. Say No to Synthetic
One of the most important things to me when I was creating my line was to ensure that my products contain no synthetic fragrance. Many synthetic fragrances contain phthalates which can disrupt the endocrine system and damage the reproductive system. Essential oils are such an amazing alternative. Look for all natural perfumes, or go to the health food store and pick up a few of your favorite essential oils to create your own unique blend!