BABY LOVE Clothes & Carriers

I've been exploring the world of baby stuff and finding faves. I'm happy to  pass on my discoveries to you, my dear readers.

I like to keep my soft, sweet new daughter, Indi, in soft, sweet organic clothes. The duds from Under the Nile are all made from 100% handpicked organic Egyptian cotton. The cotton is processed without pesticides or chemicals, so I know there's no harmful residue on my baby girl's skin. The cotton is sustainably harvested and Fair Trade, which is something that's really important to me and my family. Indi's been sporting the Short Sleeve Side Snap Undershirt. I can't wait to try the other clothes on her when the weather cools off.

 I'm loving the Beco Baby Carrier, too. It keeps Indi Joon snuggled up close to her mama and keeps my hands free. It's made of 100% organic cotton, and it's super comfortable and doesn't hurt my shoulders. I like the Gemini, which puts baby on your chest. It comes in a bunch of cute prints as well as black and brown.  

With baby love,

Josie

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Be Strong

I saw a quote on Pinterest the other day that resonated with me: "Strong is the new skinny." While I was in the modeling industry, spending a lot of time with rail-thin girls, I started to admire women with truly strong bodies. They looked like they could do anything! Strength comes in all shapes in sizes, but it gives you a confidence, grace and awareness in your body that "skinny" will never give you. Plus, a little strength training can help prevent all sorts of ailments including osteoperosis, arthritis, and diabetes. Here are a few of my tips for flexing those muscles. 

Good Things Come in Threes

If you lift weights or do resistance training more than three times a week, you're not giving your muscles enough time to recover. Twice, or once a week is better than nothing, but three will give you the results and boost in body power you're looking for. 

Band Together

I love resistance bands for strength training. It's an easy way to use your own body to provide just the right amount of strain to muscles. You can amp it up or tone it down depending on your strength level. And you can keep your bands at home and do a few bicep curls even when you only have 5 minutes. 

Slow it Down

It might seem counterintuitive, but lifting weights slowly is actually harder than racing through your exercises. Slow it down to really feel the burn! 

With love and strength,

Josie

ECO TIPS Shopping

Even though I'm huge on reusing and recycling and going easy on consumption, I'll admit it: every once in a while, I love going shopping with my girlfriends, too. Apparently it's not just me. I just read an interesting article that says the female love of bargain buys comes from caveman/cavewoman days, when women were the family's gatherers and foragers, searching through forests to find the best-looking berries, and climbing into trees to snatch up the plumpest plums. That gives us a great excuse to throw our hands up in the air and say "Shopping's natural! We can't help ourselves!",  but showing love to Mother Earth means being aware of consequences. My solutions? Read on.

1. Buy Used

Instead of heading to the department store when something new strikes your fancy, first try to find it in a more eco-friendly way—from a thrift store, a vintage boutique, or on websites like Craigslist and Ebay. Most of my favorite clothes are vintage or used treasures. Buying that way makes it easier to create a style that's all your own, and keeps you from looking like you just stepped out of a store window. 

2. Sell Used

If you're over that pair of brown clogs or that purse you paid too much for, consider re-selling them to a consignment shop or on Ebay. If selling’s not your style, you can always donate your cast-offs to a worthy charity like Dress for Success, which provides professional attire to women for job interviews. Or have a clothing swap with a bunch of friends. Your rejects might be someone else's fave.

3. Share It

On the rare occasion when I rev up to cook a big meal for my family and friends, I often have the annoying experience of discovering, mid-soufflé or mid-marinade, that I don't have the right tool for the job. I finally figured out that instead of going out and buying something I wouldn't use for another year, I could check with a friend (or my mom, who lives down the street) to see if she has one. When we pool our resources, we usually find we have everything we need. 

4. Cast Your Vote

As I always say, when we buy we vote for what we believe in. So take a through look at who and what you're supporting. Look for companies that use eco-friendly materials and ingredients, and give back to charities. When you shop with your conscience, you're doing good for others by giving yourself a treat.   

With love,

Josie

Images Via: Lovely Clusters Forever Cottage Sadite

BABY LOVE Diapers, Shampoo, & Swaddles

Now that Miss Indi has arrived, everyone's been asking me about my fave mommy must-haves, so I'm going to start blogging here as I discover them. 

In the six years since I was choosing diapers for Rumi Joon, a whole lot of great eco baby-care options have been invented. One of my new favorite businesses is The Honest Company, which was founded by Jessica Alba & Christoper Gavigan. I’ve been using their chlorine-free, biodegradable diapers on Indi.  A bonus? They give you a choice of super-cute diaper prints—gingham, pink stars, ice cream cones—to keep that baby bum eco-adorable.

Honest also makes shampoo. I tried it on Rumi and Indi and we love its yummy vanilla-tangerine scent! It's gentle on Indi’s tender newborn scalp and Rumi’s usually-tangled hair.

 

To keep Indi snug, I swaddle her in Aden + Anais Bamboo Muslin Swaddle Blankets. The fabric's an incredibly soft combo of muslin and bamboo, so even during the humid Pennsylvania nights, Indi stays cool. The blankets come in packs of three coordinating prints. My favorite is the Mela collection—it has a peacock print that Rumi and I both love. We're pretty sure Indi approves, too.

With baby love,

Josie

A DAY IN THE LIFE Playing Dress Up

It's so fun to play with your kids' looks when they're still too young to express their own tastes! Rumi Joon is definitely her own stylist, but Indi Joon is still my little dress-up doll.

With love, socks, sneakers, and hats,

Josie 

ECO TIPS Raising Eco Chic Babies

One of my favorite "quotes to live by" is a Native American proverb that says, "We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

When my first daughter was born, I became obsessed with that message. I wanted to do everything possible to make the world beautiful for my baby. Since Indi Joon arrived ten days ago, I've become obsessed again. I really want my girls to grow up loving and respecting nature. Here are the eco-warrior mama tips I came up with. I'd love to hear yours, too.

Teach the Birds and the Bees.

I grew up in a green household with parents who always recycled, and took my brother and me on nature hikes, and questioned where things went when we threw them "away." Their attitudes helped make me into the earth-mom I am, and I'm raising my girls the same way. Rumi doesn't get scared or grossed out when she sees a spider or a mouse or a bee, because she's never been taught to fear nature. I'm teaching my jellybeans to love all creatures, even if they're a little hairy and have eight legs. 

Grow a Garden full of Goodies

Believe it or not, one of Rumi's favorite foods is Japanese Shishito peppers. Luckily for us, they're super easy to grow in a hot, sunny climate like LA. We grow as many of the foods she loves as we can, so she has a first-hand appreciation for the benefits of doing-it-yourself in the garden. 

Read and Learn

There are tons of kids' books available that teach children to be good to the planet and kind to other people. One of my all time favorites is a book I had when I was a kid, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. "I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees!" 

With love,

Josie

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Loving Your Body

As many of you know, Wednesdays at JMC are our workout days. We run around the block, do dozens of squats, and crunch to our heart’s not-so-content. We’re a diverse group, ranging from 21 years old to 60, and we’re all at different fitness levels. Some of us can barely touch our toes; others are pro-style yogis. Although we sometimes slip up, we try not to compare ourselves to one another—after all, working out is all about showing your body some love, not bringing it down with negative self-talk. We leave our workouts feeling stronger, healthier, and a whole lot more beautiful (despite the frizzy post-workout hair). What makes YOU feel good about your body? What do you do to show your temple some love?

xo, The Chicological Chicks 

Image via Glamour

P.S. That's not us, we just really loved all the beautiful sizes in this picture. 

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Power Boost your Workout

Last week was party time, big-time, here at JMC. On Tuesday, we gorged on burgers and cupcakes to celebrate our coworkers with June birthdays. On Thursday we had a going-away party for Ali—he's headed to Pennsylvania to spend the summer with Josie, Rumi, and their very-soon-to-appear new baby: a celebration as cross-cultural as we are! We splurged on a Persian feast followed by a piñata party, followed by the inevitable mad dash for the candy. We finished off the week with a Friday shindig for Rebekah, our VP of Product Development, who's going on maternity leave. (Who knew pregnancy was contagious? Rebekah’s due date is the same as Josie's!)

Our beloved and brutal trainer, Michelle, noticed we were all kind of sluggish today after all that eating. Which left us wondering whether certain foods make working out harder, and others make it easier. We found some tips about foods that can boost the effectiveness of your workout.

Spice it Up 

We love spicy food—we have a giant bottle of Red Rooster hot sauce in every JMC refrigerator. So we were glad to learn that adding a little spice to your food will help you make the most of your workout. Capsaicin, the chemical that makes that jalapeno burn, also causes your body to release a burst of stress hormones, which speeds up your metabolism. A faster metabolism means you'll burn more calories whether you're working out or sitting at your desk. Other metabolism boosters? Green tea, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy products. 

Drink Up

H2O, that is. Drinking water steadily throughout the day will help you feel more energized and less sluggish during your workouts. It takes  a few hours for your body to absorb all that water, so be sure to sip throughout the day and not just right before you hit the gym. 

Shake it Up

Our Senior Manager of Marketing, Cristina, is one of our strongest and most toned coworkers. Before and after every workout, Cristina has a chocolate-y protein shake. Turns out, the shake increases the flow of amino acids to your muscles during your workout. Afterwards, it helps stimulate the muscle growth and tone that we're all looking for. Whey or soy protein shakes are our favorite. Here's to mastering at least one "real" pushup…

What do you do to get the most out of your workout?

xo,

The Chicological Chicks

Images via:Foundhealth OregonEast Tumblr

JOSIE'S PICKS Summertime Essentials

It’s been scorching in Pennsylvania, so Rumi Joon and I are spending hours splashing around in our pond, trying to cool off. Gotta love that summer heat! To help you enjoy the steaming season, here are some of my must-have summer products from sunscreen to snacks.

What makes your summer wonderful? Share, please.

With love and sunshine,

Josie 

Whole Foods Recipe for Peach Mango Popsicles

byMart Orange Striped Tote Bag

Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40

Free People Salena Crochet Texture Hat

Gazillion Bubbles Non-Toxic Bubbles

Havaianas Flip Flops

Other images via:

Favim

Christa in New York

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!