IN THE KITCHEN Spring Pea Salad

Spring is finally here and lately all I've wanted to eat are fresh, flavorful foods that remind me of my favorite season. I found this yummy recipe while browsing for uses for the fresh peas I found at the market. The mixture of the herby perfume of the dill, the fresh sweetness of the peas, and the smoky spice of the cumin makes for the perfect dish. I made it as a side for dinner and it was just as good for lunch the next day! Do you have any farmer's market salads you want to share? I'm always looking for fresh new recipes. 

Bon Appetit Pea Salad with Radishes and Feta

ECO STYLE Lara Miller

Lately I've been searching for fun, vibrant clothes to wear this summer after I give birth to my second child. Lara Miller's eponymous line of easy-to-wear, beautiful clothing has caught my eye. Her fluid, architectural pieces are manufactured in Chicago and created with eco materials like organic cotton, hemp and vegan ahimsa peace silk. For Spring/Summer 12, the collection is a blend of wearable skirts, dresses and rompers in vibrant colors that have me ready to jump in a cool pond on a hot summer day. 

What are your favorite summer must-have clothing pieces? 

ECO TIPS Travel

Since Earth Day is coming up, I thought it was a great idea to kick off my new feature, Eco Tips! I'll be giving you some of my favorite tips on how to stay green. 

With the launch of Model Citizen, I've been in planes, trains and automobiles this week. So what better topic than travel, right? Here are my three tips for making your excursions easy and eco.

1. Pack Lightly! 
When I am traveling around the world, I try to pack as lightly as possible. The heavier the airplane, the more fuel it takes to get airborne. Plus, I am happier and more energetic when I'm not weighed down by my bags. To cut down on the bulk, I try to pack lightweight clothes like maxi dresses and cardigans that are in the same color family to make mixing and matching easy. I also try to limit the pairs of shoes I bring to three: one comfortable pair for walking and wearing on the plane, one elegant pair for fancy dinners, and a third pair I just know I can't resist bringing. If you're worried about running out of clothes, bring a travel size bottle of laundry detergent. You can wash your clothes in the sink and hang them to dry in the shower during the day!

2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! 
Air travel can really  dehydrate your body. To make sure that I'm drinking enough water, I bring my favorite refillable water bottle in my carry-on.  It needs to be empty to get through TSA, but as soon as I pass through security I go to an airport restaurant and ask them to fill it. Then when I'm on the plane I ask my flight attendant to fill it for me again. It's a great way to keep track of how much water you're drinking. When you reach your destination, you'll be less fatigued and jet lagged.  

3. Think local!
One of the best things about traveling is getting the opportunity to experience new environments and cultures. Get out of the hotel and check out the natural wonders around you. Go to the beach, the forest, or the hills. Check out life beyond the city center. It will give you a new understanding of your destination. You should also try to eat locally when you're travelling to get the most out of your trip. If you're in a city with a food specialty, go check it out! If you're experiencing a new country, swap out familiar imported foods for local fruits and vegetables. And visit restaurants run by locals! You'll have an entirely new set of sensory memories to bring home with you, and you'll support the local infrastructure of your vacation spot.  

Photos from Simply Bloom, Klean Kanteen, and  Ika Bags

MODEL CITIZEN Launch at Sephora 5th Ave.

 

The day has finally come! We launched Model Citizen at Sephora 5th Avenue and it was amazing. Along with fellow model citizen, Petra Nemcova, I got a chance to share this collection with a cause with our friends, fans and beauty experts who were so supportive and warm. Thank you so much for all those who came tonight and for everyone who captured the evening through photos!

If you want to be part of Model Citizen, it will be available in Sephora and QVC. You can find the story behind the campaign along with our handpicked beauty bonuses at josiemaran.com. 

A big thanks to Artists & Fleas where I found this chicological (vintage) dress. They sure know how to make a pregnant gal feel beautiful. Keep checking back here for more news about Model Citizen. Along with Earth Day, it's going to be a huge month! 

From the city that never sleeps,

Photos by Janelle Okwodu and Modelinia

MODEL CITIZEN

When I started JMC, it was with the purpose of creating products that are good for you, safe for the planet and that give back in some way. I mean, what's an eponymous company if it doesn't operate under the same ethos as the founder? For me, the balance and purpose in a well-spent life is in having quality that also has heart. You know, Luxury with a Conscience. From the foundation of my line, 100% Pure Argan Oil, which gives back to Morocco and Marocavie, to my GOGO mascara (City of Hope) and Bear Naked Wipes (NRDC), my collection is meant to both beautify, help and inspire. Hopefully, it's done this for you.

So today, I am so proud to take it to a new place with my Model Citizen campaign. Along with my supermodel friends who also happen to have huge hearts, Petra Nemcova and Angela Lindvall, we joined together to each design limited edition bottles of 100% Pure Argan Oil with proceeds going to three causes: 

My cause is Women for Women International which helps female survivors of war heal and become self-sufficient. Petra chose the Happy Hearts Fund, her non-profit foundation that rebuilds schools and restores hope and opportunity in the lives of children after natural disasters. And Angela is giving back to Healthy Child Healthy World which empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals.

Join me through April on Chicological as we dedicate the entire month to being a Model Citizen—whether it's in buying the Limited Edition 100% Pure Argan Oil on Earth Day, doing good in your own community or in celebrating the work of others. 

Together, let's show that DOING GOOD IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

DO GOOD World Forestry Day

Woods

I part the out thrusting branches
and come in beneath
the blessed and the blessing trees.
Though I am silent
there is singing around me.
Though I am dark
there is vision around me.
Though I am heavy
there is flight around me.

-Wendell Barry

It's a big week in the world of environmental causes. Today is World Forestry Day and tomorrow is World Water Day. No matter who you are, trees and water affect your life. 

World Forestry Day took root in 1971 at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture. Gaining traction, it became recognized as a day to spread the awareness of the importance of the Earth's forests, the need for sustainable solutions and to advocate on behalf of preservation. 

DO GOOD
Volunteer or donate to organizations dedicated to protecting forests. I suggest:

American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States that advocates for the protection and expansion of forests.

Plant A Billion Trees, an organization that helps protect the Amazonian rainforest. 

Tree People, a nonprofit working to make Los Angeles greener one tree at a time.

Million Trees NYC, a citywide initiative that greens New York by planting trees. 

If you have a chance this weekend, take a hike and sit among the trees! Not only will it remind you of the beauty of the world, but it will remind you how fragile the planet is and how we must do our part. 

BEHIND THE SCENES JMC Ad Campaign

Happy first day of spring! Jacaranda trees are dotting Los Angeles and it's sunny and mild outside which seems funny after our chilly team escape to Mammoth Lakes for the weekend. I guess we got our dose of winter in one weekend as we kept cozy together in a cabin by making veggie stew and playing charades. A few people braved the snow, but the rest of us were too cold!

In the spirit of the season, I thought I'd share with you a few snaps from our first ever JMC ad shoot! Yes, Rumi Joon makes a cameo which is so great. We'll get to look back on these photos together and remember how cool it was that she participated in launching Josie Maran Cosmetics into print. Since she was the inspiration for the line, it's only fitting to have her in it and you know what? I'm pretty certain she upstaged me with her gorgeous little face and charm. 

JOSIE'S TIPS Argan Oil Hair Serum

Tomorrow the JMC team and I head out on a weekend snow trip to have bonding time, snowball fights and watch each other attempt to get down the mountain. (I'll be sitting inside with hot cocoa, of course).It's going to be a fun weekend! Packing essentials? Argan Balm to soothe chapped skin, my Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+ to protect from the rays that reflect off the powder and Argan Oil Hair Serum to moisturize our locks. But how else can you use this wonder?

Let me tell you!

-After rinsing with cool water in the shower and towel drying your hair carefully, apply a quarter size amount of Argan Oil Hair Serum to your strands, paying attention to your ends. Then, let your hair dry completely in the hair without combing or touching. You'll end up with soft tresses.

-Before going outside, apply to your hair whether down or up to protect it from the elements. You'll smooth flyaways and nourish it at the same time. 

-For a night treatment, apply to hair and ends and then pin in a loose bun.

-For instant shine to an up-do, smooth over hair focusing on the crown and sides.

JOSIE PICKS Growing Your Garden

Don't you love the longer days? I feel like spring has officially arrived when I can dig around in the garden until the early evening. The interesting thing about my yard is that it's tiered up a hill so it feels like there are always nooks to discover and patches to help grow and change. It's great to watch Rumi get her little hands dirty and when this baby comes along, hopefully he or she will enjoy sitting outside, too. I imagine the whole family sitting in the spring breeze, enjoying the sunshine all together. How exciting!

Do you have a garden? What do you grow?

Lillys Cottage Vintage Gardening Books

Cushion Chicago Vintage Green Wood Tool Caddy

Every Eskimo Vintage Watering Can

Cubits Organic Seeds

Small batch production Organic Apron No. 1

Callooh Callay Vintage Gardening Tools

A DAY IN THE LIFE Making Terrariums

Sending you love from Pennsylvania (my home away from home) again! What I love about coming out here, besides visiting QVC, of course, is how green it can be. Los Angeles is sunny and warm, but the trees? Well, we could use a few more. So when I'm here, I enjoy getting out and hiking around, visiting farms and being in nature. Now that March is here, I can bundle up in a sweater and be outside all day.

While I wasn't glammed up for the Q, I was busy getting my hands dirty by making my own terrariums. I know, I know...they're everywhere, but how fun are they to make? And playing in the dirt never goes out of style, right? So here are a few snaps of my indoor gardening adventure.

How was your weekend? Any green thumbs out there?