A DAY IN THE LIFE Autumn Weekend

After running all over New York City for meetings (with a stroll through the park in between), I got some R&R with the family on Sunday. We perused the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market looking for fun treasures and sipped lemonade to beat the heat. Funny how I went from the falling leaves of the East Coast to the hot sun of the West Coast! Speaking of NY, any recommendations for must-visit eateries or shops when I'm in town? I'd love to get your local perspective so send away!

WINNER Goodbye Winter Skin

How could we resist this face when selecting our winner of the Goodbye Winter Skin Giveaway? Actually, Katherine gave us some great tips for getting through the cold and we thought that Schmoopie and his sweater just added to her great entry. Congrats!

How does she do it? To survive winter Katherine:

• Begins the day with a cup of hot water and lemon to replenish her body and get her blood flowing. 
• Puts on some sunscreen (and sweaters for her and the pup) and heads out for a brisk walk with Schmoopie to get some fresh air and start the day truly awake!
• Drinks room temperature or hot water throughout the day to stay hydrated and warm.
• Eats seasonally to keep her body in balance.
• Treats her hair to a weekly mask for extra moisture.
• Keeps active with yoga (which can be done in the warmth of the indoors).

Wonderful tips and truly a great routine to survive the season. As for Schmoopie, send us more photos Katherine! What a doll.

GET THE LOOK Balmain Fall 2011

The Balmain Fall 2011 line may have been composed of glam rock inspiration a la David Bowie, but the fresh-faced models inspired us to give you tips on having perfectly smooth, even winter skin. Their cheeks were slightly dewy with the sheerest hint of color, while their lips had a only a hint of color as if their lipstain had rubbed off on their pillows. To get this simple look, follow our advice.

1. After cleansing skin with the Argan Cleansing Oil, mix a small drop of 100% Argan Oil with our Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+ for extra hydration. Let your skin soak it up before applying foundation.

2. Even out skin tone with Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation.

3. Dab the Argan Color Stick in Rosey on the apples of your cheeks and on your lips making sure to blend in lightly for a soft color.

4. Finish the look with a coat of GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara.

That's it! Simple. Now go forth and be moisturized.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Stretching

We get it. It's cold outside, your bed is warm and that dream about vacationing on a fantastic island makes you want to close your eyes again to see if you can return to swaying in a hammock. We don't blame you. But if you're going to skip out on a workout (or two), please, please, take a few minutes to stretch before you face the day.

Not only will you

• improve your muscle strength
• help your posture
• increase flexibility
• help prevent injury

But it will also get your circulation going so that you are actually more alert and awake! And since it requires no equipment, you can do it wherever you are, even if you're on the road like I am. In the long run, those few minutes will turn into a healthier you.

Speaking of stretching, we also challenge you to stretch your limits a bit throughout the day, even if not in the physical sense. Perhaps try a new food, sip a new tea, take the scenic way home or learn about something you wouldn't normally be drawn to (staffers around here recommend This American Life or Radiolab just for stretching your mind).

How do you break out of your comfort zone? Any good stretches you recommend?

ECO STYLE Potipoti

With the chill in the air, we're always on the lookout for warm sweaters to bundle up in. Potipoti, the collaboration of Nando Cornejo and Silvia Salvador typically leans towards the punky, graphic-arts inspired vibe that can only come from two cool kids from Europe. But their Fall 2011 collection is chalk-full of cozy and comfortable knits for both men and women that are produced in small textile mills in Spain and Portugal.

We're loving the ruby hues and the oversized styles and cuts of the pieces. Makes you want to bundle up, grab your portable mug of coffee and face the day!

Speaking of cold, I'm off to New York. I'll be sending you love from the Big Apple!

JOSIE LOVES Roost

You're going to take one look at these photos and fall in love with Roost just as much as I (and the rest of JMC) did. Explore further, and you'll find that Coco's gorgeously photographed life journal is peppered with adventures in eating gluten/refined sugar-free and organic all in the name of love. Who would have thought (I mean, just LOOK at that harvest cake)?!

Thanks Coco for making our lives both healthier and sweet at the same time. We're big fans and we look forward to following your journey and eating along with you. Check her blog out here.

GOODBYE WINTER SKIN Giveaway

Hello friends! While Josie is away at QVC, we're here experiencing some rain as if the seasons change in Los Angeles. While we only get winter visiting for a day or two, we know some of you are out there prepping for the real cold. So we want to know, how do you survive winter? Do you slather on Argan Oil? Eat lots of soup? Layer up in long johns? By next Thursday, tell us your seasonal solutions for survival and you may win a little prize (hint: Argan Oil, anyone? The winner will be announced next Friday. And while you're at it, check out our top picks for saying goodbye to winter skin.

Send your photos and stories here. See you Monday!

(We're sorry, but the giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only).

JOSIE'S TIPS Argan Lip Treatment

We've all been there: Chapped lips in cold weather. Cracked, painful, dry lips that make it hard to think about anything else. No matter how much you try to solve the problem, chances are that you've encountered a product that makes it instantly seem better, but in the long term worse.

Well, enough! Argan Lip Treatment can be used alone, as an exfoliator, or with color for hydration and it will truly soothe and heal. Here are my tips for using this little pot of perfection to help your painful pout:

-For a quick exfoliating treatment, rub a dab of Argan Lip Treatment together with a touch of organic raw  sugar to form a paste. Rub over lips and rinse with lukewarm water.

-Put on a coat of Argan Lip Treatment before bed. In the morning, you'll wake up with supple and soft lips.

-Protect your lips before color by applying a coat of Argan Lip Treatment first. (Note: Don't use with our Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain as the stain will clog.)

-If you're without your 100% Argan Oil To Go while you're out and about, use the Argan Lip Treatment to treat a split cuticle.

Photographs here and here.

WHAT WE'RE EATING Autumn 2011

Every now and then, we'll offer you a roundup of yummy recipes that use our favorite ingredients of the season. This time, it's a pumpkin here, a squash there, and some apples and cranberries for a bit of sweetness. As we may have mentioned, here at JMC we sit around the big wooden lunch table every day and the topic of conversation that comes up often? Food. I guess what parts of brains aren't dedicated to cosmetics and products are saved for all things edible.

So enjoy! And keep us posted if you happen to whip up these amazing dishes.

101 Cookbooks: Winter Vegetable and Tofu Korma

Bon Appetit: Pumpkin Pear Crisps

Kitchenist: Roast Squash Soup

Smitten Kitchen: Baked Kale Chips

The Kitchen Sink Recipes: Hot Mulled Cider

Martha Stewart: Orange Scented Cranberry Sauce

A DAY IN THE LIFE Halloween with Sephora

Our Director of Education, Jessica Camper, sent us a few photos from her Halloween with the Sephora team in Dallas. The entire zombie/fish look on Jordan Cook was created using our REM Pen 2-in-1 Argan Eye Shadow & Gel Liners. Crazy, huh?

What were you for Halloween? Post a photo on our Facebook wall and we'll select a winner to get an awesome prize.