JOSIE'S PICKS For a Bright New Year

Hi Beauties!

I hope you’re enjoying a little well-deserved time off this holiday season. Now that the craze of gift buying has passed and all the presents have been opened, I have my sights set on one of my favorite holidays—New Year’s Eve!  I love the spirit of opportunity that comes with the beginning of a new year, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the new things I want to achieve and discover--I promise I’ll share once I hone in on them a bit more. In the meantime, here are a few fun finds from Etsy to keep things sparkly and bright as we usher in this brand new year of our lives together.  

Lots of love,

Josie

2013 Calendar

Happy New Year Bunting

Happy New Year Invitations

Glitter Envelope Liners

Party Blowers

Gold Sparklers

A DAY IN THE LIFE Philadelphia Style Party

 

I feel so lucky that I get to be on the cover of this month’s issue of Philadelphia Style! To celebrate the issue, the mag threw a seriously swanky party last night at Hotel Monaco in Philly. It gave me an excuse to throw on a glam dress and some makeup and hang with some of my favorite Philly peeps—even the gorgeous models who show off my Argan goodies on QVC got to join me! Here are some pics of the bash. Thank you, Philly Style! You made me feel so welcome in my second hometown.

Xo,

Josie

Images via: philly.com

ECO TIPS Happy Holidays

While scrambling to get gifts for everyone on our list before the onslaught of holiday parties, it’s easy to let our eco-conscious ways fall by the wayside. Here are our tips for getting things back on track while still enjoying the spirit of the season. 

Think Beyond the Gift Bag: Endless piles of crumpled gift-wrap makes us (and the trees) oh so sad. So what’s our solution? Eco gift-wrap! Try wrapping gifts in paper bags, newspaper, or old sheet music. Add some twine and a fresh piece of greenery and you’ve got a cute little package!

Get Smelly: We love all the wonderful scents of the holidays—fresh spruce, spicy cinnamon, warm cookies. Instead of spritzing something synthetic, scent your home the natural way by simmering cinnamon sticks in a few cups of water on the stove or placing a dish with a few tablespoons of vanilla extract in the oven at a low heat.

Decorate with Nature: Take inspiration from Josie’s Thanksgiving mantel decoration, and find things outdoors to decorate your house with. Try fresh evergreen clippings or a few pinecones as festive table decorations. Once you’re done with them, you can return your decorations to the outdoors, minimizing waste and consumption.

Images via:

House of Anais

Midwest Living

Goddess Place

JOSIE LOVES One Part Gypsy

As if the name One Part Gypsy wasn’t enough to have me hooked, freelance artistic director Rachel Nahmias’ blog is full of the things I love: tasty raw food recipes, boho style inspiration, and beautiful photography.  Even though Rachel and I have never met, her blog leaves me with the warm feeling that I’ve just had a good conversation with a friend—a friend with seriously great taste.

Be sure to check out the blog, as well as Rachel’s Pinterest. You’ll be inspired! 

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

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

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

ECO TIPS Flea Market Treasures

This weekend, our Marketing Coordinator, Annalise, took an expedition to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and snapped some pics of the all the awesome wares.  People come from far and wide to Pasadena to visit the Rose Bowl Flea Market in search of a deal on everything from vintage boots to antique chandeliers to hand-woven rugs from Tangier. If you’ve never visited a flea market, you’re missing out on some seriously cool vintage goodies. Here are our tips for amateur flea market-ers.

Haggle, Haggle, Haggle: Don’t be afraid to bargain with the vendors. This is a flea market, not Neiman Marcus! If it’s the end of the day—bonus! Chances are, the vendor would rather give you a good deal on that vintage mirror than pack it back into his truck.

Do a Lap: OK, so you see a vase right at the entrance of the market that you can’t live without. DO A LAP! If you aren’t familiar with the items being sold, you might buy something that really isn’t as unique as you think it is. Once you do a lap of the market, you have a better sense of what is really one-of-a-kind and what is well, everywhere.

Take a Second Look at Ugly Ducklings: Oftentimes at flea markets, you’ll see a whole lot of outdated furniture that makes you cringe. But don’t run away too fast. Try to look beyond the chipping paint or the polyester upholstery. Does it have a good structure and design? You can get “ugly” pieces at amazing prices and turn them into gems with just a coat of paint or a trip to the upholstery guy. Plus, you’re creating something totally unique with a great story.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Splish Splash

This summer when we were in Pennsylvania, Rumi Joon and I spent a lot of time running through the sprinklers and swimming in our friend's pool. There's nothing like a dunk in cool water to chill out on a hot day—and I also got some great low-impact exercise in the pool. After watching my JMC coworkers boogie boarding and body surfing at the beach this weekend, I'm in the mood to try some fun water sports. What are your favorite ways to splish, splash, and work that body of yours?

With love,

Josie

Images via: 

CherryBow Shoot-Me-Now Pinterest

JOSIE'S PICKS for a Boho Home

My mom has a great eye for design. In fact, she picked out most of the cool décor at the JMC offices! She even gave us some amazing prayer flags that she made from vintage fabrics she’s collected throughout the years from estate sales and hole-in-the-wall fabric stores. We have them draped from the beams in our lobby. Here are few picks from Etsy and beyond, inspired by the style we both love.

With love,

Josie

Stitchinnetka Prayer Flags

Studio 180 Turkish Kilim Rug

Crate & Barrel Raj Candleholder

Abundancy Middle Eastern Tray

Pillowstore Woven Pillow