GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE Getting Cozy

After a scorching early Fall here in L.A., we are finally getting some rain! The chilly temperatures have us longing for cozy days snuggled up trying some new at-home beauty treatments. We can't wait to treat ourselves to these soothing eco-friendly options to help us get comfy as the rain trickles down outside. 

Epsom Salts Bath: If you're feeling achy or stressed, you could use a soak in an Epsom salt bath. Many Americans are deficient in magnesium, and Epsom salt baths are one of the easiest ways to boost your levels, relieving symptoms of magnesium deficiency like joint pain, fatigue, and arthritis. Epsom salts also help relieve stress, reduce inflammation, and flush out toxins from the body. Yes please! 

Soften your Feet: We love a good pair of wooly socks in the winter. But what we love even more is that our favorite fuzzies keep our feet feeling baby smooth. Here's how. Soak your feet in warm water for 5-10 minutes, then use a pumice stone to scrub your heels and pads. Apply a rich moisturizer (our Argan Balm is a great tool for the job) to the tops and bottoms of feet and pull on a pair of comfy socks. We promise when you take your socks off after a few hours, your feet will be so supple.

Warm Your Moisturizer: If your house is chilly it's hard to get warm. Here's our favorite tip. Post-shower, warm a bit of your favorite moisturizer in the microwave. Make sure it's not too hot before you slather it on your skin. It will keep you feeling toasty as it absorbs and softens your skin. Our favorite? Josie's Moroccan Argan Body Oil. Try the Calm (lavender) scent, and get to relaxing! 

Images via: Viciously Cyd, DTW, Pinterest

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Burn Off That Thanksgiving Feast

We all over-indulged over the Thanksgiving holiday. Hey, that's what it's for, right? But then came our day of reckoning: today, Workout Wednesday. Our trainer, Michelle, had us running, jumping, squatting, and sweating to help us burn off the sweet potatoes and pecan pie. If you're carrying a bit of bulk yourself, help yourself to an extra serving of Michelle's fat-burning regimen.  

Get Your Heart Going: This means cardio! Running, jogging, swimming, jumping jacks. Try interval training—alternating short bursts of intense activity with bursts of lighter cardio. Try walking for five minutes, then jogging for five. Interval training burns more calories, and therefore more fat. 

Feel the Burn: Got a resistance band? If so, you can do your full-body strength training at home. Michelle had us doing bicep curls and tricep kicks for sculpted arms, squats for great gluts, and crunches for those pesky abs. 

Eat Clean: To help your body recover from the Thanksgiving binge, eat extra clean foods like leafy greens and fresh fruits and veggies; drink plenty of water. If snacks are your downfall, try to eat smaller portions more frequently to keep your blood sugar steady and your urge to snack at bay. And just say no to the Cheez-Its and Oreos! 

Image via: Pinterest

IN THE KITCHEN Mom's Hot Cocoa

Much to my daughters' delight—and mine—it snowed at the farm yesterday. It was the first snowfall ever for Indi Joon, and since Rumi Joon and I are Southern California girls, it was a huge thrill for us, too.  The three of us snuggled up in front of the fireplace as the flakes floated by, with cups of cocoa for Rumi and me. I can't send snow to the less wintery parts of the country, but I can share my mom's cocoa recipe, now mine, soon to be Rumi's and Indi's. 

Mom’s Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:

4 cups whole milk

1 vanilla bean

½ cup semisweet chocolate, chopped

½ cup milk chocolate, chopped

Warm milk in a pan over medium heat. Split vanilla bean down the middle, and scrape out the seeds using the back of the knife. Add seeds and vanilla bean to milk. Simmer milk for a few minutes. Whisk in chocolate until melted. Remove vanilla bean and serve with marshmallows.  

Images via:

Apartment Therapy

Blueberry Lake

JOSIE'S PICKS for Holiday Cheer

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, everyone's gearing up for the winter holidays. Whatever wonderful winter holiday you celebrate, you'll love these seasonal party finds I discovered on Etsy. Enjoy!

With joy for the world,

Josie

Holiday Garland

Vintage Snowflake Glassware

Snowflake Bunting

White and Red Lanterns

Evergreen Wreath

Holiday Photo Booth Props

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I try to experience gratitude every day for all the goodness in my life. But today, I'm giving thanks even more—for my family, my friends and coworkers, and of course, all of you. This season, and especially this holiday, is all about celebrating the things we have, and think about how we can give of ourselves to each other and to this beautiful planet. So thank you, my beauties. You are constantly inspiring me to do better and to do more. And I love ya!

With love and lots of gratitude, 

Josie

Images via: Martha Stewart, Nest of Posies

WHAT WE'RE DRINKING Thanksgiving 2012

Let's face it: the food gets all the attention on Turkey Day. But what about the beverages? Apple cider is delicious, heated on the stove with mulling spices; a splash of whiskey in the after-dinner coffee makes listening to Uncle Bob's long stories a bit more pleasant. Here's our guide to the season's yummy sips, alcoholic and non-.

Felicitation Punch

Mulled Cider

Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

Sparkling Panakam

Cranberry Orange Sparkler

Bill Heck’s Old Fashioned

DO GOOD Movember

November might be a cold month, weather-wise, but spirit-wise, it's toasty warm. We gather with families and friends, share rituals old and new, and focus on who and what we're grateful for. November is also "Movember" (for "Mustache November"), a time to show support for the millions of American men—one in six—who are diagnosed each year with prostate and testicular cancers. The folks at Movember and Sons have found a creative way to raise funds to fight these diseases: Grow a mustache! Bros begin November first clean-shaven and spend the rest of the month crafting a most impressive ‘stache, seeking out sponsorship for their efforts—the funds from which are donated to male cancer research. For lovely ladies who can’t sport a 'stache, you can make a donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation or the LIVESTRONG Foundation to do your part.

ECO STYLE: The Elder Statesman

Five or six years ago, when Ali and I were dreaming up a line of luxurious, earth-friendly cosmetics, our dear friend Greg Chait started The Elder Statesman, his line of exceptional, luxurious cashmere clothing.  Greg's always been a source of inspiration for Ali and me, and now we have proof that the movers and shakers  of the fashion world agree. Greg just won the coveted CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America)/Vogue Fashion Award—a huge honor, well-deserved. We're so proud of Greg, and hope you'll check out his brand. We can't wait to see what he'll do next! You go, Greg! Way to make your dreams come true. 

Love,

Josie

Images via: Vogue

GET-THE-LOOK Aimee's Instant Refresher

Aimee is our Manager of Quality Assurance and Regulatory here at JMC. Her mission is to ensure that everything JMC is as perfect on the inside as it is on the outside —a job that requires a sharp eye and a meticulous nature. While the rest of us shuffle around the office every morning like zombies, making pots and pots of coffee, Aimee's always on her game, bright-eyed and ready to take on the day. Inspired by Aimee's perennially fresh look, we asked her to give us a few pointers and, generous one that she is, she gave us the inside line on her fave formulas. 

1. Use a foundation brush or your fingertips to even out your complexion with your shade of Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation. 

2. Apply Argan Illuminizer to the cheekbones, brow bones, and the inner corners of the eyes, blending with your foundation brush or fingertips. 

3. Dab Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink onto the apples of cheeks, blending toward your temples with your fingertips. 

4. Brush 2 coats of GOGO Natural Volume Mascara on to upper lashes.

5. Apply Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Cha Cha to lips, and finish with a coat of Argan Balm. 

ECO TIPS Bathroom

The bathroom just might be the most useful room in the house! But, it contributes to environmental degradation. To the rescue: a few tips for making your bathroom a little more chicological.

Green your toilet paper: Recycled toilet paper reduces the need for virgin wood pulp, which reduces the need to cut down trees. It's available at most natural grocery stores and many of the chains, too. Here's one of my favorites. 

Get into (tank-free or solar-powered) hot water: More than 10% of your energy bill comes from heating water for your steamy showers. Switch your water heater to a tankless or solar powered version. You'll put out a chunk of change initially, but you'll save energy and money in the long run.

Give your bathroom an organic makeover: Towels made from organic cotton, bamboo or hemp fibers are available everywhere from Pottery Barn to Bed, Bath and Beyond. My fave source, here.

With love,

Josie

Images via: Country Living, Honestly WTF, Modern Hepburn