JOSIE'S TIPS Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment

Hi Beauties!

When I created my new Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment, I was looking for a way to seriously pamper my skin without taking the time out of my busy schedule to go to the spa for a facial. The creamy oil formula I created deep cleans pores with Argan hydration while the included cleansing cloth buffs away dead skin—so you’re left with silky, hydrated skin and smaller-looking pores. What more could you ask for! I use it once a week to give my skin a little pick-me-up. Here are a few of my secrets for making the most out of your jar.

1. Instead of immediately wiping off the treatment, submerge the entire cleansing cloth in hot water, ring out, and immediately drape it over your face for about 40 seconds, allowing the steam from the cloth to open pores and the cleansing treatment to deep clean. Once the cloth has cooled, use it to wipe off the excess treatment.
2. Use water scented with essential oils to wipe off your cleansing treatment for a relaxing aromatherapy experience. Fill a bowl or sink with very warm water, and add in a few drops of essential oil or infused water. Try eucalyptus or tea tree for acneic skin, and rosewater or rose oil for dry skin. For irritated skin or rosacea, steep a bag of chamomile tea in the bowl. Dip your cleansing cloth in the infused water and use it to wipe the creamy oil from your face.
3. Don’t forget your neck! The skin on the neck and décolleté is just as sensitive and precious as the skin on your face, and one of the first places where we begin to show signs of sun damage and aging. Use Cleansing Treatment on these areas to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. And don’t forget to smooth some Argan Oil on after!

If you have questions or comments about using the Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment, please feel free to post in the comments! I'd love to hear what you think.

With love,

Josie

ECO STYLE Alternative Apparel

Have you ever tried on a T-shirt by Alternative Apparel? You will never go back! Specializing in super soft basics, Alternative Apparel is one of our go-to eco-friendly fashion brands. They use certified organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and fabrics made from recycled materials. The company also practices social responsibility, ensuring that none of their manufacturers employ children or forced labor, and that they provide fair wages, healthy and safe work environments, and benefits to their employees. Have a look at Alternative’s website for eco and socially responsible goodies that you can feel good about buying (and wearing.)

WHAT WE'RE EATING Mammoth 2013

This weekend we’ll all be traipsing off to Mammoth Mountain for a company field trip! Some of us will be skiing, a few snowboarding, while a handful of stragglers will be cooking up something warm and yummy for dinner. But cooking for a group of over twenty is no small feat! We’re bringing a few crock-pots to help us out, but still stuck on what we should make! Help us! Do you have any great recipes that are perfect for large groups? Please share and help us get some good grub!

Beef Stew with Bacon

PINTERESTING FINDS Stunning Strands

Buns and ponytails can just get so boring! Now that the temps are dropping again here in L.A. and we’re all trudging around wearing black coats, black boots, and black pants, we’re craving a new ‘do to spice up our somber winter look. Pinterest to the rescue! Check out some of the inspiring coifs we love.  And don’t forget to follow Josie on Pinterest for more!

Twisted Sister

Braided Crown

She’s Banging

Curly Girl

Retro Volume

DO GOOD The Girl Effect

Hi Beauties!

As a female entrepreneur, empowering other women is something that I consider a duty and a calling. I mean, if we can’t count on our sisters to lift us up, who can we count on? I’ll be sharing some of the empowerment causes that are close to my heart so that together we can be catalysts for change.

Have you heard about The Girl Effect? It’s an organization centered on the idea that if we simply empowered and educated the adolescent girls of the world and gave them the resources they deserve, we would see a decrease in poverty, HIV, and suffering in developing countries. How, you ask? By investing in the economic potential of women through education and delaying child marriage, issues such as HIV and poverty are significantly decreased. Here are some stats from The Girl Effect’s site that will blow your mind:

• Half of all first births in the developing world are to adolescent girls. Medical complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls 15-19 worldwide.
• Worldwide, nearly 50% of all sexual assaults are against girls 15 and younger.
• Girls who stay in school during adolescence…are less likely to be subjected to forced sex and…more likely to use contraception.
• Closing the joblessness gap between girls and their male counterparts would yield an increase of GDP of up to 1.2 percent in a single year.
• Giving women the same access to…resources and services as men…raises total agricultural output in developing countries by up to 4% and could reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 100-150 million.

The Girl Effect website has a wealth of information if you want to learn more. You can check out some of the organizations they partner with to help make the movement a reality. And tell me, have you ever seen The Girl Effect in action?

With love and power to you!

Josie

IN THE KITCHEN Beet Ravioli with Pine Nut Filling

Valentine’s Day is so much fun when you have kids. Rumi is all excited at the prospect of getting valentines from all of her friends (and her mama and daddy) with little chocolates attached. I remember bingeing on candy at school on Valentine’s Day as a kid, so I can understand her excitement. But after all that sugary indulgence, I know we’re all going to want something light and savory for dinner. Ali and I like cooking together, so I’ve been looking for something romantic that we can make for our little family. This “heart”-felt recipe for beet ravioli with raw pine nut filling might just do the trick. The deep red of the beets makes perfect heart-shaped ravioli, and the recipe is still super healthy! What are you having for dinner on V-day?

Hearts,

Josie

Images via: Formaggio, Gourmand

ECO TIPS Eating Green

The old adage “you are what you eat,” might seem cliché, but as scientists conduct more and more research on the effects of pesticides on the human body, it’s becoming apparent that the old phrase rings true. While it’s easy to understand the value of eating organic, it’s often expensive and difficult to implement the necessary changes in our own eating habits. Here are our quick tips for making eating green just a little easier on your wallet and your waistline. 

CSA Boxes Sad but true: eating organic can be seriously expensive. Our trick? CSA boxes! Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA) is a great way to get local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly subscription, and you’ll receive a bodacious box of fresh veggies straight from the farm. The cost of a CSA box is usually far below what you’d pay in store. Search for CSA boxes in your area at localharvest.org.  Oh, and be sure to look for programs that partner with organic farms—not all CSA boxes have organic goods.

Avoid the Dirty Dozen If buying organic all the time just isn’t an option for you, prioritize your picks. The Environmental Working Group releases an annual list of foods that have the most pesticide and herbicide residue—if you can, you should only buy these foods organic. The list includes: apples, celery, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries, and potatoes. Check out the EWG website to find our which foods are the lowest in pesticide residue.

Grow Your Own There’s no better way to ensure what goes into your food than growing it yourself. Start your own little organic vegetable garden! There’s nothing better than a simple salad with fresh lettuce, sun-ripened tomatoes, and crunchy cucumber picked right from your yard. Yumm!

Images via: Pinterest, Style Me Pretty, Untangled Life

GIVEAWAY WINNER Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil

Thanks to everyone who entered the Infinity Cream giveaway! We have selected Adele, and her lovely tip about using Infinity Cream to prevent blisters and make your collarbone glow, as our winner! Congrats, Adele! We're sure you'll enjoy your tube of Infinity Cream as well as a pot of our new Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment!

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Feeling Sporty

The last time we seriously played sports was probably in a middle school P.E. class. But after hearing that a few of our coworkers have joined adult sports leagues—playing fun childhood standbys like dodge-ball, kickball, and softball—we’re thinking we should get back into it. What better way to break a sweat while having a blast with some friends? If you have a great adult team experience, please share in the comments! We’d love to find out more! Team JMC has a nice ring to it…

Image via: The Guardian

JOSIE'S PICKS For a Loving Day

Valentine’s Day means a little bit more to me since I became a mom. I now think about it as a day to celebrate all the great loves of my life—my daughters, my husband, my parents and special friends. I want to show everyone how special they are to me! So if you haven’t found your love match yet, don't dread the day! Think about focusing on all the other people you love—or even showing yourself a little well-deserved affection. I like to put together little hand-made valentines for those who mean the most to me. Here are some of my favorite V-day finds from Etsy to inspire you for Feb 14. 

Wishing you love of all kinds,

Josie

Adventure Card

Painted Mason Jars

Valentine’s Nail Polish

Heart Cut-Out Shirt

Rose Gold Heart Necklace

Valentine’s Day Bunny