May is one of our favorite months here at JMC. It starts out with Cinco De Mayo, followed three days later by Josie’s birthday, and then at the end of the month, our Director of Ecommerce, Josh, holds his legendary May Pole party. As it warms up here in L.A., we just can’t get enough of good friends and good food—making May the most fun month of all. Here are a few things we’re cooking up for the potlucks, barbeques, and sunny days by the pool.
It’s no secret that we love giving back here at JMC. One of the charities that’s closest to our hearts is City of Hope. We’ve been partnering with the life-saving cancer research and treatment organization for a few years--every time you purchase a GOGO Mascara, we give another one to a City of Hope cancer patient and donate $1 to City of Hope cancer research. So when they asked Josie to be one of their Citizens of Hope, of course she said yes. Through our work with City of Hope, we had the opportunity to meet some of the wonderful people behind the organization, including Mary Sadeghy, City of Hope’s Senior Director of Marketing & Business Development. Mary and her team work hard every day to help City of Hope achieve the dream of curing cancer. As a cancer survivor herself, Mary has a very personal perspective on the important work that they do at City of Hope. She’s a bright, bubbly, generous spirit so we were thrilled when she agreed to share her story with our Chicological readers.
How did you end up working at City of Hope?
After spending over 23 years in corporate marketing jobs, I was really interested in using my experience and business skills toward something that would make a difference in the world. I have a few different passion points – finding a cure for cancer, women and children’s issues and education.
I wasn’t quite sure where my path would lead me, but I was determined and 100% confident that I had to work on a cause that meant something me. And, almost like magic, I heard about my current job at City of hope and knew immediately I had to have it. Somehow, I was lucky enough to convince them to take me!
As a cancer survivor yourself, what does it mean to you to be working towards a cure for the disease?
There are really no proper words to explain how important my work is to me. I am fiercely passionate about City of Hope and the incredible work that happens here every day. And, though I am especially attached to our cause as a survivor, I am equally fueled by the many people I know who have been touched by cancer – family, friends and even total strangers. I would give anything to spare people from ever having to hear they have cancer, or that a loved one has cancer. I feel incredibly lucky to be a survivor, and just as fortunate to work somewhere fighting for a cure.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
It’s a cliché, but it honestly is the people. The caliber of people who work at City of Hope is extraordinary. It’s a special place that attracts smart, passionate, caring and dedicated people no matter what their role. It’s exciting, motivating and very meaningful to be surrounded by that all the time. You can palpably feel the force field of positive energy and commitment when you visit our campus! I call it fairy dust because it really is something special and dreamlike.
I also meet a ton of people in my day to day to life who just beam when I tell them where I work. Inevitably, they’ve known someone who was a patient, and it’s incredible how consistent the experience is – the compassionate care and outstanding treatment they received. It’s pretty special to see how hopeful people can be in spite of a difficult diagnosis. As a marketer, I love that we live and breathe our brand!
Finally, working in corporate life, we’d always say, “We’re not curing cancer”. And, I just love the fact that now I can say… “We are!” It’s instant perspective every day and in all situations.
What can our readers do to support cancer research and City of Hope?
More than ever, raising money for research is a critical to having the proper resources to find new treatments and cures. There are lots of ways to give – from straight donations to participating in our Walks for Hope to buying products you use every day from our fantastic partners like Josie Maran Cosmetics. No amount is too small – it all adds up, and we can all feel good about giving no matter how we do it.
Spreading the word is also very important and one of the easiest ways to do that is to become a Citizen of Hope, like Josie! All you have to do is go to cityofhope.org/citizen and make a badge with a word that gives you hope and share it with friends, encouraging them to do the same. Awareness is an important step in fundraising.
We hear you love JMC products! What’s your fave?
You heard it right – I do love JMC products! It’s very hard to pick a fave – but if I really have to, I’m gonna go with the Argan Matchmaker Foundation. I’m a little hesitant to share that openly because I get compliments on my skin, and I’d like people to believe I was born this way. But, it’s really all about the product! I love that it has a little bit of dewiness and blends in almost invisibly, and the magical self-adjusting color is super groovy!
Congratulations to Jessica Orr Ulery, our Earth Day Model Citizen. Jessica, a pre-school teacher, bundled up her gaggle of adorable students and embarked with them on a mission to clean up the trash in their neighborhood. Along the way they learned about reusing, recycling and reducing. Jessica is teaching the next generation to be guardians of this planet that we all call home—and that’s what Earth Day is all about!
When we reached out to Jessica to let her know that she was the winner of a full set of our Model Citizen products (signed by Josie and Ian, no less), she shared that over the past few years she has lost 224 pounds, and will be running in the Peachtree 10K in Atlanta to raise funds for the Ian Somerhalder Foundation—a cause that’s close to her heart. Jessica says, “Running this race, especially for something I believe in so passionately, is life-changing for me.”
We are touched every time we hear the amazing stories of our beautiful customers. Jessica’s dedication to doing good shows us once again that we have the best customers in the world!
Thanks, Jessica, and to everyone who entered the Earth Day Model Citizen contest. We were truly touched by your stories, and the ways in which each of you is changing our world for the better.
Contest 
Happy Earth Day, everyone!
Today is one of my favorite holidays! I like to think of Earth Day as Mama Earth’s version of New Year’s Day. It’s a chance for all of us to resolve to do better for our planet at her creatures (including one another) in the upcoming year. Here are a few things you can do today that will continue to help Mama Earth for the rest of the year.
Switch Your Light Bulbs: Tonight, go home and switch our your lightbulbs for energy efficient ones. Your energy bill and the planet will thank you.
Pick Up Trash: We all see it—trash littering our home. Go outside and pick some up! Even if it’s just a few pieces, you ARE making a difference. What if everyone followed suit and picked up just a few pieces of trash? Imagine the effect we could have!
Plant Something: Of course, planting a tree is one of my favorite Earth Day activities because it is the gift that keeps on giving back. But even a small plant in your backyard or in a pot for your house will help. Plants improve the quality of our air, and having a little green around has been proven to improve your mood.
And, as always, I urge you to speak for the earth when she cannot speak for herself. Vote for laws and regulations that protect our wildlife, our waterways, and our forests. Support nonprofits and companies that fight for the planet. And tell you friends and neighbors about the importance of doing good for the earth. If you are a good role model for the people in your life, chances are, they’ll want to follow your lead.
Peace on Earth,
Josie
P.S. This watercolor of our planet is one of my favorite new discoveries. Hope you love it as much as I do!
The attacks in Boston are still impossible for us to comprehend. That something so cruel and violent could take place at such a joyful occasion still makes our minds spin. But, as with many of these horrific events that our country has endured within the last few years, we are bolstered and uplifted by the tales of heroism, compassion, and good that have bubbled up to the surface like geysers of cool water, soothing, though perhaps never fully healing, the pain in our hearts. One such tale of good came to us this morning, when one of our own, product developer Jenn, took part in a Run For Boston at the Santa Monica pier. Hundreds of runners came out to run in solidarity for those that were affected by Monday’s attacks. We asked Jenn to share her thoughts on the experience, and what she hopes to convey to others in the running community about the attacks on Boston.
What effect did the attacks in Boston have on your running community?
It was so hard. I think the first feeling was one of being really violated. That someone would take an event that’s such a big celebration of the hard work of thousands of individuals and tarnish it in such a horrific and violent way is inconceivable. Seeing the videos, I couldn’t help think that that finish line looked like every finish line I’ve crossed. I’ve been there. I could imagine how panicked they must have been. How afraid. But it did unite us all together. Runners stick together—there’s a huge sense of community and support in the running community and that can’t be broken.
What did the run this morning represent?
I felt like it was something I owed to the running community as a whole to represent L.A. and show our support for Boston. Even though we’re on the other side of the country, we love them, believe in them, and support them. But we also always say “we run for those who can’t,” which was especially true today. There are a lot of people who will never be able to run again because of this attack. We wanted to pay tribute to those people and be their legs.
What was the atmosphere like?
It was 6 a.m., but even though it was early, the energy was electric. Everyone was ready to run. There was a big group hug with hundreds of people. There were runners of all ages and abilities. It was touching to see everyone come together, even on such short notice. There were a lot of Boston jackets and shirts of people that had run in Boston this year and previous years.
What would you say to people who want to help:
The Governor of Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston put together a fund for those injured and their families. I encourage everyone to donate what they can. Give blood if you’re able. And if you’re a runner, don’t be afraid. This act was committed to incite fear. Keep running races; keep getting out there—we are a resilient group as runners and as Americans. Keep doing what you love.
It’s official! Earth Day is only one week away! As one of my favorite holidays, Earth day holds a special place in my heart because it really inspires people to do better for our planet and its creatures every year. I always say that you use your wallet to vote for what you believe in—which is why choosing eco-friendly products is so important. Here are a few of my picks from Etsy and beyond that bring Mama Earth and her health to the forefront of our consciousness, right where it should be!
Honest Company Fruit & Veggie Wash : I love this wash for making sure all waxes and pesticide residue is removed from my produce!
Boxed Water is Better: This company is doing great things for Mama Earth, including donating 10% of profits to world water relief! Love it!
Every Day is Earth Day: A sweet reminder for my house.
Haagen Dazs Vanilla Honey Bee: I love it when big companies do great things for small creatures. Haagen Dazs has a line of bee-built flavors that help fund honey bee research so these little guys don’t get sick and disappear!
Earth Seed Bombs: These sweet little seed bombs look like little worlds. Inside are little wildflower seeds that sprout and bloom when planted!
Eco Friendly Moss Earrings: Have you ever seen anything like this? Little earrings with moss on them!
With lots of love for you and our planet,
Josie
Although it might not be at the top of your “style” list, choosing sleepwear made from eco-friendly materials is just as important as what you wear during the day. During the 8-10 hours you spend in your pj’s, your skin does the majority of its detoxifying. So it’s extra important to get your z’s in non-toxic, organic fabrics. Here are some of our favorite cute options that are also friendly to Mama Earth.
Only Hearts Organic Cotton Pajamas
We love playing chemists in our kitchens and concocting new beauty elixirs. One of our fave ways to revive skin post-winter is by exfoliating and moisturizing with a homemade body scrub. Here’s our formula for creating the perfect potion for gorgeous skin.
Pick a Base. Choose the main ingredient in your scrub. We personally like oil-based scrubs (shocking, we know) made with Argan Oil or even Coconut Oil. The oil softens and protects your skin from over-exfoliation. But if you’re looking for something a little less rich, you can also use pure organic honey as a base. Use about ½ cup of base to create a full batch of scrub.
Choose a Scrubber. At the heart of any good scrub is something that will help slough off dead skin and impurities. The two easiest scrubbers that you’re sure to have on hand are sugar and sea salt. Sugar is great for a gentle, hydrating scrub. Sea salt is slightly more abrasive but contains beneficial minerals to help draw out impurities and toxins. Add ½ cup of your scrubber.
Add a Booster: Pick a booster based on your individual skin needs. If you’re oily or acne prone, try lemon oil or lemon juice. If your skin is prone to redness or irritation, add a few drops of calming lavender oil. If dryness is your problem, add some ground oats for an extra boost of skin-nurturing moisture.
Mix it all together and voila! The best way to invigorate your skin!
Images via: Social Graces, Larkspur Company, A Glimpse
Our simply wonderful Model Citizen 2013, Ian Somerhalder, dedicates much of his life to ensuring the safety and health of our planet and the creatures on it. He's so much more than a great actor--he's a do-gooder! On today's guest blog, Ian shares why collaborating with Josie was a natural choice for him, and what he hopes to achieve as this year's Model Citizen.
I’m a huge believer in collaboration and community. Businesses, people, and projects all function at a higher level when they combine resources. When I heard about Josie’s commitment to the environment I knew we were meant to work together. Like Josie, I see our world as one big interconnected organism. And I admire her for being a business owner who’s using her company to make the world a better place. I've been a huge fan of Josie's 100% Pure Argan Oil for a while now, so I knew I just had to be a part of something I believe in so much.
Josie’s doing a pretty incredible thing this year by donating ten percent of the sales of the Model Citizen collection to my foundation to help us with projects like the ISF Animal Sanctuary, where mistreated animals will find a safe haven. The sanctuary will double as a sustainable agriculture farm and triple as a youth education center. I want kids to leave the farm with compassion—compassion for animals and for other people.
Being a model citizen is pretty cool! I encourage you to be a part of the program and help our dreams come true.
Ian
I am so happy to have Ian Somerhalder as our 2013 Model Citizen!! I’m in awe of his commitment to the earth and the creatures on it, so I was honored when he agreed to partner with me on this year's campaign. I created the Model Citizen campaign last year to bring attention to trailblazers making a difference in their community and support them in their endeavors. This year we're offering three limited edition, shimmering formulas that are delicately scented with our brand new Honey Lavender Chamomile scent. And Ian helped design the packaging, which is limited edition too! To make the deal even sweeter, ten percent of the sales goes to the Ian Somerhalder Foundation to help Ian with projects like the ISF Animal Sanctuary. Check out our Model Citizen 2013 video to learn more about Ian, our amazing partnership, and how together we're making the world a more beautiful place for our furry friends.
Lots of love,
Josie
