MONDAY INSPIRATION

Shake it up, beauties!

With love above all things,

Josie

ECO STYLE Amour Vert

Here at the office, we throw around the word LWAC (pronounced el-whack!) a lot. “Is this packaging LWAC?” “Oooooh your bag is so LWAC!”  So what’s LWAC? Luxury with a Conscience, our tagline! LWAC is all about having it all—luxurious, high-performing products that are also compassionate to the planet and its creatures.

So when we discovered eco fashion line, Amour Vert, and their belief that “women shouldn’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability,” we screamed “Yay LWAC!” The company strives to bring together Paris-chic and Cali-cool in their zero-waste design philosophy. Using low impact dyes and sustainable fabrics like recycled polyester, silk, and organic cotton, Amour Vert makes clothes that even the most discerning fashionistas are proud to wear.

JOSIE'S TIPS Argan Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick

Hi Beauties!

Have you tried my new Argan Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick yet? This new product is quickly becoming a purse must-have for me. I absolutely love lipstick, but I don’t love formulas that leave my lips dry, chapped, and coated in not-so-good-for-you ingredients. So I made my own—a three-in-one stick that offers the moisture of a balm, the pigment of a lipstick, and the pretty shine of a gloss. Here are a few tips for making the most of this lip lifesaver!

Apply just the shine: The colors of this lipstick are simply amazing. But thanks to the clear outer layer, this lipstick doubles as a natural-looking lip balm. Just apply the clear backside of the lipstick bullet to lips. The outer layer—what I like to call the lipstick’s “Argan Oil jacket”—will hydrate and add some shine to your lips without any color.

Get a Dewy Look on Cheeks: One of my favorite things when I was little was stealing my mom’s lipstick and putting it on my cheeks as blush. And I haven’t grown out of this practice! Because this lipstick is so glossy, it gives cheeks a really pretty dewy effect. Just apply a little to cheeks and blend with your fingertips!

Use a brush for a precise color-only look: What I love so much about this formula is that you don’t need a mirror to apply it. The outer Argan Oil layer works to make the formula hydrating, blendable, and a little glossy, so it’s super forgiving of any slip-ups. But if you’re craving a super defined lip, use a lip brush to pick up some of the color-core; then apply it straight to your lips. The look is less glossy and dewy, but the color is just as gorgeous.

Love and lipstick,

Josie 

BEHIND THE SCENES JMC at the Downtown Women’s Center

Helping other women achieve their dreams is something that’s very close to my heart. I’ve actually been participating in empowerment workshops for the last few months to learn how to empower the women around me. As part of this effort, I visited the Downtown Women’s Center on Skid Row in downtown L.A. along with some of my wonderful JMC coworkers. We helped in the donation center, did makeovers at the mammogram clinic, and made a meal for 150 women! It was such a rewarding day—we had the opportunity to meet so many women with truly remarkable stories of hardship, growth, and triumph.

Have you ever volunteered at a women’s shelter in your area? Share your stories!

With love and empowerment,

Josie

TODAY IS YOURS

Hi Beauties!

I've always been a big believer in living your dreams, and working hard to make them come true. Today, I want to send you this nice message: "Today is wild and it is yours!" Now go make the most of your wild day--I believe in you!

To love and reaching for our dreams,

Josie

DAD'S DAY THANK YOU!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to all of those who shared the wonderful pictures and memories of your dads! I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed learning about your wonderful fathers. Here are some of the comments that I especially enjoyed.

"He was my biggest supporter and thought that I could and should conquer the world. He taught me that there is nothing I couldn't do if I set my mind to it. I miss him every single day but treasure all the memories we made together. I am who I am today; wife, mother, grandmother and friend because of him." -Gayle Chilson Bernicchi 

"My Dad on the left, taught me how to do many things because he did not believe women should be limited by their gender. He was born in 1903 and way ahead of his time." - Kerry Kirkpatrick Hollis

"I learned many things from him during our short time together including: wealth comes from family and love; a person who is only 5'2" can be immeasurably stronger than one who is 7'; laughter can be found in anything; and being a parent requires great sacrifice" - Jenifer Stowers Kemmerer

"My dad was a nature lover, philanthropist, corny joke teller, and biology teacher. He inspired my sisters and me to love learning about and being outdoors. He started a school wide recycling program in the 70's and loved to work in his organic garden. When he passed away last month, I was honored to speak about how I will teach my two children about his passions.I miss him but know that his legacy is a great one." - Claudette Kramer Colestock

Ladies, thank you so much for your thoughtful words. Please message me on facebook--I'd like to send each of you a tub of our Argan Balm. xo, Josie

IN THE KITCHEN Japanese Vegetable Pancakes

Lucky for me, my Rumi Joon loves her vegetables. I often find her munching on carrots or cucumbers like they’re the most delicious snacks in the world. But I know for a lot of moms, getting vegetables into their kids’ diets can be a real struggle. I recently discovered this awesome recipe for Japanese vegetable pancakes from Smitten Kitchen (one of my all-time fave food blogs). They’re crispy, savory, and oh-so-delicious with a dollop of hot chili sauce. Yum!

Japanese Vegetable Pancakes, via Smitten Kitchen

Pancakes
1/2 small head cabbage, very thinly sliced (1 pound or 5 to 6 cups shreds) which will be easiest on a mandoline if you have one
4 medium carrots, peeled into ribbons with a vegetable peeler
5 lacinato kale leaves, ribs removed, leaves cut into thin ribbons
4 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
Canola, safflower or peanut oil for frying

Toss cabbage, carrot, kale, scallions and salt together in a large bowl. Toss mixture with flour so it coats all of the vegetables. Stir in the eggs. Heat a large heavy skillet on medium-high heat. Coat the bottom with oil and heat that too.

Grab a small handful of batter, and arrange in small piles on the skillet to form 3 to 4 pancakes. Press down gently with a spatula to flatten slightly. Cook for 3 minutes, or until the edges brown. Flip the pancakes and cook them again until brown underneath.

Serve with soy sauce, sriracha, or other Asian-inspired dipping sauce.

DREAMING OF TUSCANY

ECO TIPS Save the Sea

Hi Beauties!

As a California girl, I’ve always had a great appreciation and respect for the ocean. But while I was living on the beach in Oahu before Rumi Joon was born, that love only increased. In honor of World Ocean’s Day, which was on Saturday, here are a few things you can do to keep our oceans inspiring and beautiful.

Know Your Fish: The U.N. estimates that 80 percent of the world’s fisheries are overexploited or depleted from overfishing. To keep our fish populations happy and healthy, do you research on what types of fish are in season and sustainable. For example, while at the sushi table, you should choose Ahi tuna over Bluefin tuna, a species on the verge of extinction due to overfishing. Also, try to choose wild Alaskan salmon over farmed salmon—farming causes excess pollution and contributes to overfishing.

Reject Excess Plastic: Floating on the water’s surface, plastic looks a whole lot like a delicious snack to many marine animals including birds, sea turtles and marine mammals. But plastic bags and the like can cause these beautiful creatures to choke or starve. Keep them safe by buying products with minimal plastic packaging and choosing reusable cloth bags over plastic grocery bags. Even better? Encourage your city to ban plastic bags at grocery stores. Now that’s change!

Seek Ocean-Friendly Makeup & Jewels: Say no to makeup made with shark-based squalene and jewelry made from coral. Both are linked to overfishing and ecosystem depletion. Instead, look for products with olive-based squalene and choose beachy baubles made from sea glass.

Let’s save the sea!

Love,

Josie

PINTERESTING FINDS Redesigning the nest

Hi Beauties!

My mom is the most amazing decorator in the world. She has an amazing eye for how to make a home look lived-in, comfy, and yet perfectly stylish. Inspired by her talent, I’m always looking for ways to rearrange my rooms to give them a new boho edge. Here are my current inspirations! Follow me on Pinterest for even more!

With love,

Josie