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! 

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