DO GOOD World Rivers Day

“The land is our mother, the rivers our blood.” –Mary Brave Bird

This Sunday is World Rivers Day, a global event dedicated to celebrating and protecting the world’s beautiful waterways. The event brings attention to a wide array of issues surrounding rivers, including the decline of fish population and the construction of dams that harm wildlife.

DO GOOD

Volunteer or donate this Sunday! There are great organizations that support rivers in the U.S. such as the American River Conservancy and the Western Rivers Conservancy. No pennies to spare? There’s a ton that you can do to protect your local rivers. For starters, avoid washing your car near storm drains or pouring any kind of chemical or pollutant into the drains. If you live near a river, organize a cleanup crew for its banks, or work with a local group to plant vegetation to avoid erosion.

GET THE LOOK Iesha Goes Autumn Glam

If you’ve ever given JMC a call, you’ve probably had the great pleasure of speaking to Iesha, our resident product expert and customer service goddess. Not only does she take care of all of you, she also takes care of all of us here at the office—like any good office mom, making sure we’ve washed our dishes and taken a break to watch at least one funny youtube video during our hard work day. Iesha’s been breaking out her big cozy sweaters and her snazzy ankle boots lately, inspiring us to ask her to share her signature autumnal makeup look (using all her fave JMC goodies of course.)

1. Start your look off right by moisturizing with 100% Pure Argan Oil
2. Apply the shadow from R.E.M. Pen in Champagne/Almond to lids
3. Brush the darkest shade from the Beautiful Eyes in Beautiful Nudes palette onto the outer corner of the eyes and blend into crease.
4. Line the lower lashline with Eye Liner in Black
5. Apply two coats of GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara  to upper lashes.
6. Finish the look by applying Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Fox Trot to lips.

BEHIND THE SCENES Five Year Anniversary Party

We know how to PARTY here at JMC. This weekend, Ali and I held a beach party at Paradise Cove in Malibu for all the JMC employees to celebrate five years of Argan beauty. We played in the water, got messy in the sand, and had lots of yummy cake. (And then had a cake food fight with Rumi Joon.) Here are some snapshots of our fun in the sun!

Toward the end of the day, I had everyone play a game where they all stepped forward in the order they were hired.  It was crazy to see how quickly our little family has grown. When the sun finally started to set behind the sea, Ali, Rumi Joon, Indi Joon and I made our way back home, feeling so lucky to have such amazing people to work with. And I’m so grateful for you, too! I couldn’t do what I do without all of you—together, we really are changing the world one lipstick at a time.

With love and gratitude,

Josie

ECO TIPS Fab Floras

Fact. Fresh flowers actually improve your mood and chase away anxiety and depression. Plus, nothing instantly brightens a room like a beautiful bouquet or a pretty plant. Here are our tips for doing flowers the eco way!

Buy Local: Did you know the majority of flowers in the US are imported? That’s a huge carbon footprint for a few tulips! Ask your fave flower shop if they buy local. Chances are, they might have a mix of domestic and imported flowers at different times of the year. Buy what’s local and in season to keep your arrangement earth-friendly.

DIY!: Who cares if your flowers aren’t perfectly clipped, snipped and sorted. Pick your own favorites from what’s growing in your backyard and throw it in a vase! Or, if you don’t have a bunch of blooms in your yard, ask your florist for some of the leftovers from her arrangements. You might get a few crumpled petals, but you’ll have an eclectic mix of colors and textures that looks perfectly bohemian.

Be Creative: Don’t limit yourself to roses and ranunculus. What else do you have on hand? A few sprigs of dill or rosemary add delicate bursts of green to your arrangement and smell so yummy. Or fill a vase with kumquats before adding your flowers. Just don’t forget to compost your leftovers.

Images via:

Style Me Pretty

Oh Hello Friend

Delightfully Engaged

ECO STYLE Awamaki Lab

As the sister project to Awamaki, a Peruvian non-profit that works with Quechua women weavers to improve their quality of life, Awamaki Lab is doing some real good in the world while providing fashion forward types with some serious style.  Awamaki Lab is a four-month fashion residency program that places up-and-coming designers with Quechua weavers. The designers are mentored by fashion leaders, and collaborate with Peruvian artisans to incorporate hand-spun Andean textiles into contemporary designs. The program not only fosters burgeoning design talent, it also revitalizes an endangered weaving tradition and supports its weavers with a reliable source of income. Love that!

Xo,

The Chicological Chicks

A DAY IN THE LIFE Indi's Growing Up!

Can you believe how big Indi Joon is already? She’s still such a little girl, but I’m already feeling like time is passing too quickly! Soon she’ll be in school like Rumi. I’m taking lots of pictures to document her early life—I know she’ll want to look at them later. I’d love to hear what the other mamas out there do to hold on to their kids’ early years. Scrapbooks? Albums? Please share!

With love and lots of baby pictures!

Josie

IN THE KITCHEN Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Radishes, and Basil

We are cuckoo for quinoa! Quinoa cakes, quinoa pudding, quinoa salad, quinoa casserole. Is our obsession excessive? Perhaps. But, this South American super-grain is packed with protein, fiber and vitamins, so at least our fixation is a healthy one (unlike our love of beer, or our “relationship” with caffeine.) Not familiar with the wonders of quinoa? Try our yummy recipe for Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Radishes, and Basil. Make this one at the beginning of the week and you’ll have a delicious lunch that will last ‘til Friday!

Xo,

The Chicological Chicks

Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Radishes, and Basil

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water or vegetable broth

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp chopped rosemary

½ cup cooked chicken breast, chopped

6 large radishes, thinly sliced

¼ basil leaves, chopped

2 tbsp chives, chopped

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Combine quinoa, water, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and rosemary into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Quinoa should be plump and slightly translucent, with no remaining liquid. Cool until quinoa reaches room temperature. In a large bowl, mix cooled quinoa and the remaining ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Note: If you like things a little spicy, add ¼ tsp chili flakes. Yum!

Images via: My Less Serious Life, Fruit Guys, 2Stews

JOSIE'S PICKS for a party

Considering that September is JMC's birthday month, I've been doing some thinking about the birthday party we're having next Sunday. We've already planned the food (taco bar, cake, and ice cream) and the music (tunes selected by yours truly, DJ Jo-Z), but the decor has yet-to-be-decided. Etsy has some great outdoor party finds, including eco-friendly wooden spoons and vibrant floor pillows for casual but comfy seating. Here are a few of my faves. What are your tricks for throwing a shindig?

With love,

Josie

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Chicological birthday giveaway. See here for details!

Rustic Nest Lanterns

Grey Linen Napkins

Indian Floor Pillow

Beeswax Candles

Wooden Cutlery

Suzani Table Runner

GIVEAWAY JMC Turns 5!

In case you haven’t heard (and by now, how could you have not!) September marks the month of JMC’s fifth birthday! While we’re busy celebrating with our JMC family here at the office, we want celebrate with our extended Argan family too. In honor of our birthday, I’m giving away a set of everything you see in the image above. Just leave a comment about your favorite birthday ever for a chance to win! I’ll randomly pick a winner next week.

Can’t wait to read your stories!

Josie

CONTEST NOW CLOSED. WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THANK YOU!

BABY LOVE Decals + Dolls

Now that we’re all back and settled in L.A. together, I’ve been looking for ways to decorate my daughters’ rooms in a way that will inspire their imaginations. I recently discovered Blik Wall Decals, which seem like a nice way to add some whimsy. They come right on and off the wall, so I can easily switch them out as the girls get older and their tastes change. I’m loving the mix of prints they have—everything from delicate butterflies to goofy giraffes. Plus, the Venice, CA based company gives back to local and national charities like Boys and Girls Club of Venice and Manifest Equality.

Another recent find is Tane Organics. At first, I was drawn to Tane’s cute baby clothes. But they also have some pretty stuffed animals that are wrapped in organic cotton and machine washable—a must have as little ones like Indi Joon start going through their drooling, teething stages.

With love,

Josie