The Midnight Blog

Blog Update | Migration in Progress

2015-06-15T22:28:00.000+01:00

You read that right: my blog will be migrating from Blogger to Wordpress this week! I am also taking this opportunity to freshen up its looks and give it a (much needed) redesign. Things will probably look messy for a little while and I will not be posting here until the blog is ready, readable and viewable without squinting.

I am still on Twitter if you want to chat, and I will be focusing these next couple of weeks on my shop, which will open in ten days! There is still a lot to do and prepare before the launch, and I am trying to manage it all on top of my "normal" work (and life), so things are quite busy over here. I would like to thank you all for your enthusiasm and support regarding this new crazy venture of mine. It's all very exciting, scary and new, and your support means the world to me. I can't wait to see how things unfold and I am very happy with this blogging transition as well. It is no coincidence that all these changes come at a time when I feel myself changing, and although the prospect of change can be scary, I feel it's necessary to move forward. So here's to changes, guys!

I hope you are all doing well and I wish you all a lovely day and an even nicer week!

The Sky Garden | London

2015-06-11T10:36:00.000+01:00

There is obviously a lot to blog about after having spent two whole weeks in London, but one of the first thing I've been dying to share with you was our visit to The Sky Garden. I had seen this place pop up on other blogs (it seems to be quite a popular location at the moment) and I couldn't wait to go up there and see London from above (which I'd never done!). And guess what? It's FREE. You just have to book a ticket and you're good to go!

The Sky Garden is London's highest public garden. It's in the middle of the City, on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch Street. It spans three floors, offering a 360 degree view across London. There are two restaurants, a bar and, of course, a garden. You can wander around the whole place and even step on the open air terrace, which is quite intimidating when you're afraid of heights (like me), but the experience is too amazing to miss on.

Sky blue Tower Bridge.

Skyscrapers and high buildings are not as common in Europe as they are in America, and it's always thrilling to stand at the bottom of one when you're not used to it. It's even better to stand at the top, of course, and we enjoyed it so much we stayed way longer than anticipated. After going through security (airport-style) and up in the elevator, we stepped out and couldn't believe our eyes. The view over London is out of this world, and the landscaped gardens are gorgeous. We didn't have a drink and didn't eat there, but walking around the two floors was enough. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere eerie and seeing London from above was even better than I expected. I love how messy and chaotic it looked from up there. London is such a special city!

Saint Paul's Cathedral amongst the cranes.

Tower of London.

30 St Mary Axe (aka The Gherkin).

The gorgeous Shard.

When we came back to our AirBnb later in the evening, several pictures of The Sky Garden started appearing in my Twitter feed, and I realized that there was a whole bunch of London beauty bloggers I follow that were having dinner there. They arrived right when we left! It really is a small, small world (even in London!).

We had a great time at The Sky Garden and I had a lot of fun taking pictures and videos during our visit. If you ever go to London (or live there), this is definitely a must-see. Even better, book a table and eat at the very top!

Have you ever been to The Sky Garden? Do you like this type of visits?

Midnight Glimpse | 13

2015-06-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

Our small patio/garden is looking pretty good considering we abandoned it for two weeks.

I tackled my neverending cookbook wishlist by ordering these two, which 've been coveting for months.

Warm weather calls for Nice cream! Frozen bananas, blackberries and blueberries. Easy and delicious.

Orders keep on arriving for The Midnight Shop! The shop will be opening on June 25th. SO EXCITING!

On another note, I am planning on migrating my blog from Blogger to Wordpress (and working on a redesign at the same time). Have any of you experienced a transfer to Wordpress? Would you recommend it? Is Wordpress as awesome as it sounds? I am not familiar with this at all and would love to hear about your experience.

Happy monday!

Race Recap | Bupa London 10,000

2015-06-04T13:38:00.000+01:00

I thought I'd kick off my London vacation posts by writing about the reason why we went there in the first place: the Bupa London 10,000. I had signed up to the 2014 edition but had to cancel because of our move (and struggling finances). I immediately signed up to the 2015 edition with the firm intention of not letting any obstacles (money or otherwise) come between me and that start line. Mission accomplished.

The Bupa London 10,000 is a highly popular 10k (there were around 13 000 runners participating this year!) taking place in the center of London. They set up a new route this year, which started on The Mall and ended opposite Buckingham Palace. It took us through Westminster and the City and involved running past Trafalgar Square, St Paul's cathedral and Big Ben (amongst other landmarks). In one word (sorry, two): it rocks.

The assembly point was in Green Park (a gorgeous park that deserves its name) filled with the most beautiful trees. That day, the pollen decided to join the party and a lot of us struggled with this. I am not allergic, but my eyes stinged the whole time (so many tears!) and my throat felt scratchy until we finally left the park and made our way to the start line. I had it easy compared to other people, whose run was affected by this. Pollen is nasty.

When it comes to my run, I think (no, I know) that this race was the most emotional race I've ever done. Emotional in all the ways possible. I spent the first two kilometers with tears in my eyes (tears of joy this time, not pollen-induced). When I ran passed the National Gallery and turned my head to the right and saw Big Ben, I just died of happiness. And this was only, like, 300 meters in. When I reached the first kilometer mark, we crossed path with Jo Pavey running for the finish. Everyone clapped and cheered and the atmosphere was amazing. It felt as if I was running the London Marathon (without the blisters).

Things went a little downhill between the 5k and 7k mark. The scenery was less of a diversion (less things to see), it started to get very hot and my morale somehow went down. I felt tired, sad, basically all the feels you don't want to feel when running. At some point, I even thought I wouldn't be able to go on. That was pretty bad. I've never felt this before during a race, and there are reasons behind it from my personal life, which I will not get into today. But they basically took over my mind and heart and stripped me from the joy I had felt minutes before. It was like being attacked by a Dementor (one that makes the temperature go up instead of down).

I managed to snap out of it by remembering where I was and by giving myself a very motivational talk (which I wish I'd recorded it for future times, because it had the desired effect). I really enjoyed the last few kilometers and smiled and threw my hands in the air when crossing that finish line, for the first time ever. Too bad the official photographers didn't manage to catch that. That would've been a nice souvenir and a reminder of what I had accomplished that day. Because overcoming our deep and old struggles is way harder than running 10k.

As for the whole event, it was very well organized, except from the fact that there very few portaloos compared to how many runners there were (I didn't need to use them, but the queues were MAD). And I will forever rant about the content of the finisher bags which, in this case, consisted of shampoo, toothpaste, a caramel bar and an energy drink. Like I said last year after the Race for Life 10k, I am very disappointed by the fact that all these running events, which promote the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, do not take advantage of their success to promote healthy snacks (why not give away a cereal bar or a fruit instead of a refined caramel bar?) and healthy treats (why not give away natural beauty samples instead of microplastic-filled toothpaste?).

The answer is money and sponsors, of course, but it really infuriates me and I find it all absurd and plain ridiculous. I love a sugary treat like the next girl, but being rewarded of running 10k by being handed chocolate and a fluorescent drink does not seem right or logical to me. I read a lot of comments and critics on the race's Facebook page, but the only finisher bag complaints I saw were of a few people saying they would have prefered a Mars bar instead of a plain caramel bar. Does this mean I'm alone in this?

All in all, this race exceeded my expectations and I couldn't be happier to have participated to such an exciting event. Running in London was as fun as I had imagined, the atmosphere was energizing, all runners were inspiring and I would do it again tomorrow. For those of you who might be interested, online entry to the 2016 Bupa London 10,000 is already open. I don't know if I'm going back next year yet, but I highly recommend it. It's the perfect excuse to visit London and also see it through a runner's eye, which is the best feeling EVER.

Back from London

2015-06-01T13:50:00.000+01:00

We are back from London! We had the best time there and we really enjoyed this long-awaited break. The weather was on our side and we loved having the time to wander around and see the city slowly, without rushing like we usually do. And what a treat it was. I took a lot of photos and videos and I can't wait to share them all with you guys. Until then, I wish you all a great start of the week and a happy first day of june!

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag

2015-05-28T22:00:00.000+01:00

Photo taken on the kitchen island of our AirBnb. I want the same kitchen at home.

Since I shared my spring skincare routine with you last week, I thought I would write about makeup or, more precisely, what makeup I bring with me when I travel. I am currently in London, so this is perfect timing, although I admit that there isn't much difference between my travel makeup collection and my actual makeup collection! I have never owned a lot of makeup (except during my theater years, because I needed it to work).

I always go for a natural look (I am not adventurous at all when it comes to makeup!) and I am focusing on simple, cruelty-free and eco-friendly brands, preferably organic and with an eco-conscious philosophy. This is not the case for all my collection yet: I still own products that I will replace when they're empty, and I am still looking for smaller brands and alternatives for some (vegan lipsticks, natural eye shadows, etc.).

FACE
I spent years battling acne (up until I was about twenty) and, although I am now acne-free (yay!), I have the scars to prove it. My skin has always been a sensitive subject and there was a time when I couldn't get out of the house without at least a light coverage on. I am now more confident and I don't put makeup on my face everyday but, when I'm out and about or when I'm travelling, I like it when my skin looks at least even.

I either use Lily Lolo mineral foundation on its own (although never in the winter, because it makes my skin look drier than it is!) or a light BB cream followed by my Homemade translucent mineral powder, which helps matify and refine my skin naturally. I have almost finished this Garnier BB Cream (I've had it for a loooong time!) and I will not be buying it again. I am looking for an organic, healthier and most of all less nasty alternative.

I only use a concealer when I have dark circles/tired eyes, and I love my Beauty Without Cruelty Supercover Cream Concealer. It does the job well, gives good coverage and doesn't look flaky under the eyes. As for the blush, I use a Homemade powder blush: I mix a little bit of red ochre with clay until I get the shade I want, and tada! A mineral, natural, customized and two-ingredients blush that looks great and natural on your skin.

When it comes to brushes, the ones I bring with me are the EcoTools Retractable Kabuki Brush and Tapered Blush Brush. EcoTools brushes are made from bamboo, recycled aluminium and are 100% cruelty-free.

EYES
I am a mascara-only kind of person, although I like wearing kohl eyeliner from time to time and, on very rare occasions, eye shadow. I love my Green People Organic Volumising Mascara (it does the job beautifully) and I use the Beauty Without Cruelty Soft Kohl Pencil (not pictured) whenever the mood strikes. I bought the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette a long time ago and I'm starting to wonder if I'm ever going to use it up in this lifetime, so I always bring it with me when I travel. To apply eye shadow, I use the EcoTools Eye Shading brush.

LIPS
I have four lipsticks, all of them from UNE. I always bring two different shades with me: the UNE Casual Matt Colour (shade M09) and the UNE Lip-Toned Colour (shade L05). They are all almost empty and, although I love them (I love how natural they look and also their natural and partly organic ingredients), I don't think I will buy from UNE again, as I learnt that the brand belongs to Chanel-Bourgeois. I would rather buy lipsticks made by a small independent brand instead of a big multinational that couldn't care less about the environment.

Note: As always, this post is not sponsored in any way and does not contain affiliate links. I purchased all the products linked in this post.

What do you bring in your makeup bag?

Midnight Glimpse | 12 (London Edition)

2015-05-25T13:00:00.000+01:00

Even though you will have your fair share of London posts within the next few months (staying here for two weeks does lead to a pretty huge amount of blogging material), I thought I would share some sneak peeks of our first week in London anyway, because you can never have too much London in your life. Right? We are staying in an AirBnb flat in Little Venice, near Paddington, which makes us feel as if we're actually locals (we wish). The flat we rented last time was a tiny studio, but this time we decided to go for a more homey place because of a longer stay. We clearly made the right decision and we are having a great time exploring the city, discovering new places but also revisiting some of our favourites, and soaking up the atmosphere of the bustling city. London in the springtime is a real treat and I can't wait to see where our second week takes us.

Albert Memorial, Kensington Gardens

Flowers in Hyde Park

At the National History Museum

Swans on the Serpentine, Hyde Park

Borough Market

The Gherkin viewed from the Sky Garden

My Natural Spring Skincare Routine

2015-05-21T13:00:00.000+01:00

I've been reading and watching morning/evening/daytime/nighttime beauty routines for ages, but I somehow never took the time to write one for my own blog! As most of you know, I am a "minimalist" in many (if not all) aspects of my life, so the bathroom is no exception. My goal is a zero waste bathroom and, although we're not there yet, my beauty habits have changed a lot these past few years and I confirm that putting less stuff on your face is a good thing. My skin has never felt better (although my skin is very complicated and problem prone).

I no longer buy conventional skincare products and I take great pleasure in the fact that my bathroom shelves look deserted! I store my oils and hydrosols in amber glass bottles and I have been using the same cotton rounds for two years now. I favour quality over quantity, and I strongly believe that's great not only for my skin, but also for the environment. Plus, I love the look of my little apothecary collection!

I only use natural/pure ingredients in my skincare routine. I still need to work on my makeup collection, but I now know where to look for better alternatives and I replace everything as time goes by, whenever something runs out. For example, I now make my own powder and blush myself. I found small makeup brands throughout the years and I also discovered a lot of makers while I was looking for collaborators for my shop, which is great!

1/ CLEAN

The first thing I do in the morning is clean my face with a Konjac Sponge. I have been using these sponges for over a year now and I am hooked. The Konjac sponge is a facial sponge made of 100% pure konjac plant, which cleans and exfoliates the skin with water. It leaves the skin soft and it's perfect for dry or sensitive skin (like mine). The sponge in itself is 100% compostable, which is perfection in itself. My all time favourites are the pink clay and green clay sponges, but each sponge has its perks. I am in love with this little thing!

2/ TONE
If you want to replace your traditional toner with a natural and alcohol-free alternative, hydrosols are the way to go. I already talked about them here but, basically, hydrosols (or floral waters) are produced from the steam distillation of plants. Each hydrosol has its own magical properties and they are a great addition to your skincare routine. I love blending hydrosols and, right now, I use a homemade orange blossom and rose geranium blend. Orange blossom soothes dry and irritated skin (like mine) and rose geranium is great for oily/combination skin (like mine). I told you my skin was complicated!

3/ HYDRATE
I use carriers oils instead of moisturizers (and also balms in the winter, when my skin is too dry). If you fancy a read, I already wrote about my favourite carrier oils here. Now that spring is here, my skin starts getting more oily, so I use lighter oils than in the winter. Right now, I use a jojoba, sweet almond and rosehip blend I made myself (fancy brands would call this a serum). Jojoba oil helps regulate the production of sebum and has a non-greasy texture. Sweet almond is also really light and gets absorbed fast while being packed with vitamin A, B and E. Rosehip oil is one of my go-to oils because of its healing properties (I have old acne scars and my aim is to get rid of them before I turn 80 - so stay with me and I'll write about the results in 50 years).

1/ CLEAN
I remove my makeup with coconut oil and reusable cotton rounds (which I wrote about here a while ago). First, I spread coconut oil on my face to dissolve all my makeup (including mascara, eyeshadow... it works wonders!). I then splash a little water on my face and massage my skin. I remove it all with a reusable cotton round and warm water. It really works and it also leaves your skin feeling soft and clean and coconutty.

2/ TONE
I use my own hydrosol blend, that I spray on my face, leave for a minute and remove with another cotton round. It helps take off the remaining impurities and oil. Right now, I'm using a blend of cornflower and sage hydrosols. Cornflower has calming and tonifying properties (it's great to soothe sensitive skin and also puffy eyes) and sage helps fight against hormonal skin problems and oily skin, thanks to its purifying properties.

3/ HYDRATE
I currently use a homemade blend of avocado and apricot kernel oil (when my skin is dry). Avocado oil is known for its regenerating and healing properties (it also gives a glow to my skin I haven't noticed with other oils, except maybe coconut oil!). Apricot kernel oil is toning and revitalizing, and is a light oil that balances well with avocado oil, which is heavier on the skin. When my skin isn't too dry or when the nights are warmer, I use pure aloe vera instead of oil, which is light and enough to hydrate my skin throughout the night.

I hope you liked reading about my skincare routine! I have become quite passionate about natural beauty these past few years and I now love talking about it on my blog. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing about it! Now, what does your skincare routine look like? Any tips or recent discoveries to share?

Midnight Finds | 6 Granola Recipes

2015-05-19T12:49:00.000+01:00

Honey almond quinoa granola | Chunky chocolate buckwheat granola | Coconut oil granola

Three recipe granola | Gingerbread granola | Chocolate and sesame granola

Do you like granola? I do. And making your own granola is the best thing ever (eating it is quite enjoyable too). It's easy, tasty and customizable: nuts, seeds, fruits, chocolate... You eat, you pick. I tend to get easily bored when I have the same breakfast everyday, and granola is one of my favourite breakfasts to make when I fancy a change or a treat (I admit I've been quite the smoothie eater/drinker these past few months). That chocolate buckwheat granola you see up there? It's the best granola I've ever eaten. Do you have a go-to granola recipe?

PS: If you want to follow my London adventures, I am posting pictures now and then on Twitter (I'm not on Instagram, but these could be called "latertweets" for you instagrammers). Come and say hi if you want!

Ready for London

2015-05-15T11:00:00.000+01:00

That's right, folks! We're leaving for London on sunday! I'm way too excited for someone who lives only three hours away from there but hey, it's not everyday that a) I get a break and b) I get to spend two weeks in one of my favourite cities in the world. Last time we were in London, Christmas was on its way. This time, we'll get to enjoy the city in the springtime AND (bonus) I get to run the London 10,000! I realized only recently that I will be crossing the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace, and also that Jo Pavey will also be running. Pretty cool.

I will be away for two weeks but I have scheduled a few posts. I will probably be on Twitter and blogs from time to time but I want to enjoy my stay without being glued to my computer, so fear not: if I'm not answering comments or commenting on your blog, it just means I'm having a great time and I will be back in june! I'm sure I will take enough photos and videos to last me (and this blog) a lifetime, so I think we can expect a little collection of London posts when I'm back. Until then, I wish you all a great weekend and I will talk to you soon!

At the Bristol Food Connections

2015-05-11T11:46:00.000+01:00

At last, Arnaud and I went to the Bristol Food Connections! It's a food festival taking place across the city of Bristol during nine days. The festival's slogan is "Bringing people and good food together", and this is exactly what it feels like once you're there: you eat (a lot) and you meet (a lot) of people. There are food markets, cooking demonstrations, concerts, workshops, conferences, mini-festivals within the main festival, eat-ins, yoga suppers... If I lived in Bristol, I would spend the nine days there, eating and listening to people talk about food.

Our first stop was the Street Food Market in Millenium Square, where we gobbled down some very tasty, organic, handmade chunky chips. We also went for the veggie and organic Moorish flatbreads (with grilled aubergines, hummus and couscous). The weather was lovely, so we took our time there, soaking up the atmosphere, feeling passionate about Incredible Edible's urban edible gardens and watching people splashing around in the fountains. It almost felt like a summer's day, which was very, very, very enjoyable.

Next stop: Eat Drink Bristol Fashion in Queen Square. We had seen the tipis last year when I ran the Bristol 10k but it was the last day of the festival and we hadn't taken the time to explore. This time, we enjoyed the friendy atmosphere, the craft and food stalls, the live music, the beautiful architecture, the trees and, of course, the hay. Everybody was happy and relaxed and it felt as if we were on holiday (the best feeling in the world).

Last but not least, the GROW Festival (which happens to be supported by Riverford, who deliver our weekly fruit and veg box). This is held on College Green, and there were several talks (from composting or wellbeing to urban farming), activities revolving around soil, a producer's market (which was very busy), a bee corner, a "Get cooking" pod and even a yoga class for children. I had a refreshing Coco-Nuts smoothie (I wanted to go for the "Hydrate Me" watermelon and pear juice but it was already sold out!). Arnaud went for the vanilla and chocolate sheep milk ice cream and we drank/ate under the last rays of sun (it started raining soon after that).

We took a last stroll on Harbourside, where we bought some organic brownies for the drive home (we clearly needed to eat more) and dreamt about moving to Bristol so we could go paddleboarding every week and join Incredible Edible and sell our car and... well, you get the point. Who wouldn't want to live in the Green Capital of Europe anyway? For now, we are quite happy where we are, but ever since we visited Bristol for the first time last year we've been thinking, possibly, maybe, of one day moving there. Maybe. Until then, visiting for a day is great! There is still a lot to discover and explore, and we can't wait to see more of what the city has to offer.

SURPRISE! You even get another video (I'm on a roll).

Natural Dental Care | My Daily Routine + Recipes

2015-05-07T12:00:00.000+01:00

Brushing our teeth is something we do on a daily basis and several times a day without giving it much thought. It's a habit we've had since childhood. Brush, eat, brush, eat, brush, sleep, repeat. Good oral hygiene is important, but we tend to forget two things along the way. 1) The waste we produce by throwing away our toothbrushes and toothpaste packaging. 2) The terrible ingredients used in most conventional toothpastes.

Arnaud and I have made the switch to natural and handmade bathroom and household products several years ago. We believe less is more and we embarked on a slow but effective and neverending Zero Waste journey that can be both overwhelming (at times) and highly satisfying. From skincare to laundry liquid, we are now either making our own products or buying them from small shops (prefereably organic, made in small batches and with recyclable packaging). We learn new things all the time and the experience is a real eye opener.

One of the things that took a while to tackle is our dental routine. After months of tests, failures and successes, this is where we are now. I am by no means a dental expert and I know this can be a touchy subject (especially using baking soda as toothpaste!) but, as of today, I am very happy and my teeth feel clean, white and healthy!

According to a recent study, more than 4.9 billion plastic toothbrushes end up in landfills and oceans every year in the world. Toothbrushes that will never biograde and that will sit there for years. The only trouble is that finding a 100% biodegradable solution is not easy. You could always use neem or miswak twigs but, if that's too much for you (and I'm personally not there yet!), the next best thing is using bamboo toothbrushes.

Bamboo brushes are biodegradable, recyclable, compostable, sustainable, renewable... all the -ables you could think of. Although the bristles are usually nylon (or a mix of nylon and bamboo fibre, like mine), the waste is minimal compared to a plastic toothbrush. And they are an eco-friendly alternative both because of their disposal and the way they are manufactured. The plastic industry is knows for its pollution, while bamboo is not only natural, but is also the fastest growing woody plant on earth (which makes it also more renewable than wood production). Plus, bamboo toothbrushes do the job with the added bonus of being pretty and cute.

I bought mine from Save Some Green. You can also find some by WooBamboo and Brush with Bamboo.

Most conventional toothpastes come in plastic packaging. This, we all know. But did you know that most toothpastes contain aluminium, petroleum derived dyes and even animal glycerine (amongst other nasty ingredients)? We have tried several natural toothpastes available on the market, and most were fine. We especially liked Earthpaste and Jason toothpastes. The only problem was the price. Organic, natural and good quality toothpastes do not come cheap. They also do not solve the plastic packaging/waste problem.

So I decided to start making my own. We first tried baking soda on its own, but we found it too harsh on the teeth and gums. I now mix baking soda with Bentonite clay and add a few drops of spearmint essential oil. I then store it in a small glass jar. That's it. A cheap and quick alternative, with no plastic involved! Baking soda is the ultimate cleanser, Bentonite clay is detoxifying and remineralizing, and spearmint adds some freshness.

RECIPE > Mix 2 tbsp of baking soda with 2 tbsp Bentonyte clay. Add 4 drops of spearmint essential oil (cinnamon also works well). Mix again. Sprinkle on your toothbrush whenever you brush your teeth.

This is optional, but since natural toothpaste doesn't give you the freshness that conventional toothpaste gives you (well, the illusion it gives you), I like to end with a spray of homemade mouthspray. It tastes great and also purifies your mouth. Cinnamon and clove have antiseptic properties, help fight bacteria and bad breath.

RECIPE > Bring 1 cup of water to the boil. Add 1 tsp of whole cloves, 1 cinnamon stick and 5 fresh mint leaves. Remove from heat and let the spices and mint infuse. Once cool, take the cloves, cinnamon and mint out and pour your mouthspray in a bottle. It can also be used as a mouthwash. You can also add a few drops of clove/cinnamon/spearmint essential oils if you want it a little stronger. Recipe adapted from Hello Natural.

Have you ever tried making your own toothpaste? Or using a bamboo toothbrush?

A Day in the Life [Video]

2015-05-04T08:24:00.000+01:00

This video/post was inspired by Amanda's A Day in the Life video and Crystal's A Day in Photos series.

Here it is: my first video on this blog! I had A LOT of fun making this. Even more than I thought. A lot of you may not know this, but filmmaking was one of my very first passions in life. I started "making" films when I was young (before cameras were a common household thing and yes, typing this makes me feel old). I studied cinema in high school and at university and I have a whole box of tapes from those years with hours of unedited material.

In the end, even if my intention had been (at least at some point) to become the next Sofia Coppola, I ended up trying to be the next Ginger Rogers. I studied the performing arts in Paris for two years before joining a theater company. During those years, I worked on stage and backstage, and also directed all our promotional videos. I even directed a documentary shortly before leaving, which was an amazing (and stressful!) experience.

I have always felt at ease with video. I love photography, but I think I feel even more comfortable filming. And I am head over heels in love with editing. It's my favourite part of the whole process. Unfortunately, ever since I left the company, I have put on hold a lot of my creative side: playing music, performing, singing... and filming. Which is a bit silly, considering my camera HAS a video mode. I don't know why I've waited so long to press that button. It was like reuniting with an old friend. A bit like when I grab my guitar (or eat a chocolate muffin).

So here it is, I give you my very first video on this blog! I sincerely hope it won't be the last (I had way too much fun making it and editing it). It's a "Day in the Life" video, which is basically a peek into what a typical weekday looks like for me (condensed in less than two minutes). As you will notice, on a normal day I eat, work, eat, work, run, eat, sleep. Fascinating, I know. I also do other things like getting dressed, complaining about the weather and brushing my teeth, but they didn't make the cut. I'll keep those for another day. OK?

Midnight Finds | 6 Cauliflower Recipes

2015-04-30T12:19:00.000+01:00

Roasted Buddha Bowl | Cauliflower Pizza Base | Cauliflower Crust Garlic Breadsticks

Curried Cauliflower Soup | Harissa Lentils and Cauliflower | Cauliflower Tortillas

I currently have four cauliflower heads in my fridge. I think I beat my own personal record on this one. That's the thing with veg boxes. Our veg and fruit reserve is usually very low (if not empty) by the time the next box arrives but, sometimes, some of the veg stack up from one week to another and I end up with a collection of the most "unloved" veg of the week. We do like cauliflower, but because it keeps longer than other veg, we tend to wait a little longer before eating it. This is how you end up with four cauliflower heads in your fridge. And this is why I went looking for new cauliflower recipes. To spice things up a little. I already tried this Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower recipe and loved it. Otherwise, I tend to simply roast it with other vegetables and serve it with rice or quinoa. This time, I just want to try something different. Plus, I've been wanting to give cauliflower rice a go, so this might in fact be the right time. Do you have a go-to cauliflower recipe? Do you ever make cauliflower rice?

Find me on Pinterest for more recipe ideas!

Midnight Finds | Sarah Lee Photography

2015-04-27T09:35:00.000+01:00

I am not particularly an ocean girl. Now, don't get me wrong. I like water. I like swimming. I like the ocean and the sea and the waves. Actually, I feel great in the water. Always have. But I don't crave it or miss it. That is, until I stumble upon pictures like Sarah Lee's. Her photos make me want to move to California and learn to surf or scuba dive! There's such a sense of freedom and energy in these images. Don't you think? You can feel the power of the ocean. You can almost hear the sound of the waves crushing and the underwater "silence".

Sarah Lee is an underwater, surf and lifestyle photographer from Kona, Hawaii. She is also a long-distance swimmer and surfer. I discovered her work while looking for a video to share on Earth Day. I was looking for a video of the Earth seen from above and ended up watching this one, which shows how astronauts capture images of our planet from space. This lead me to this video, which shows how Sarah Lee works. I was hooked, and immediately had a look at her website and photos. And now I'm sharing them with you. Because, beauty.

Sarah Lee Photography

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My thoughts are with the victims, families and survivors or the Nepal Earthquake.
We can all help by donating to Unicef, The British Red Cross, Oxfam, Care (or the organization of your choice).

Race Recap | Bridgwater Bolt 10k

2015-04-23T12:20:00.000+01:00

The usual "I will show you my medal but not my sweaty face" shot

I love sundays. Sunday is the only day of the week I allow myself to wake up later than 7:30am. But, last sunday, I got up at 7:00am to run 10km. See? I truly deserved a medal. Not only did I run 10km after a running slump that lasted all winter, but I also beat my PB. This was a) not expected and b) not planned. At all. My only aim was to find the right pace to cross the finish line in one piece. So my time was a surprise: 01:07:13. Hooray!

The Bridgwater Bolt 10k is organized by my local gym. It was the first time I attended and I'm really glad I did. The atmosphere was friendly, the event was well organized and the route was lovely. We passed some red-brick-british-garden-cottages that deserved to be featured in a movie. I was the only one in awe because, well, english people are used to those. I am not. I think I might never get bored of the English countryside. It's pretty.

I was in good company during the whole run. I ran half the race behind a couple of lovely ladies who happened to have the same pace as me. I would have loved to chat with them but I just *gasp* couldn't *gasp* run *gasp* and talk *gasp* at the same time. I felt great for the first few kilometers. At one point, there was a dry-muddy-holey stretch that was a little challenging. Quite good for a cardio workout. I managed to pick myself up and run the second half without struggling too much though. All in all, I'm very happy with how I felt throughout the race (I even managed a sprint finish!). I enjoyed myself and the fact that I was here, in England, running 10k when, less than two years ago, I was still living in France and incapable of running more than three minutes straight.

A race wouldn't be a race without a plush costume or two to greet you.

I didn't realize how unsexy my sports bra was until I saw this photo. Too bad.

It's the best sports bra I've ever owned. Support and comfort over looks, people.

Next race: Bupa London 10,000! Bring it on, London.

My Problem with Etsy (and Why I'm Leaving)

2015-04-20T12:00:00.000+01:00

This blog post has been sitting in my draft folder for months. Clicking on publish made my day.

Last week, Etsy became a public company and made its Wall Street debut. For some, this is good news. For others (me included), it's the last straw. I have been in a love/hate relationship with Etsy for a long time. I am familiar with Etsy both as a seller and a buyer. Arnaud had an Etsy shop for a couple of years, and I opened mine last year. Since then, Arnaud closed his, and I am about to close mine - once my listings have expired.

I have been visiting the Etsy forums for months and I am far from being the only one who has been worried, or even angered by some of Etsy's policies and changes. I have also read a lot of great blog posts and articles saying the same thing (all better articulated than mine, as is often the case) but I really want to put it out there anyway, not to encourage or discourage anyone, but to share my thoughts with you. This is not a rant. This is an explanation as to why I think Etsy has now more problems than perks, and why I decided to leave.

Etsy is a website I have loved and supported because, as most of you know, I believe in the power of buying handmade and supporting independent crafters around the world. I have discovered so many artists and lovely treasures on Etsy. I have loved this website both as a seller and a buyer. Etsy did help making handmade a global "thing" and for that I will always be grateful. But, because of its success, Etsy grew bigger and it feels like it lost its soul along the way. There is now what feels like an ocean between the company and the community.

> FACTORY-PRODUCED ITEMS
In 2013, Etsy changed its policy by allowing Etsy sellers to use outside manufacturers to produce their designs. If this doesn't wave goodbye to "handmade", I don't know what does. Since that change, there has been a huge drop in traffic noticed by sellers. Etsy became some sort of crafty eBay. Genuinely handmade items are now lost amongst items made in factories. Although we often say the more the merrier, on Etsy, the more sellers there are, the more your shop is likely to be drowned. And it's even worse now that artisan makers are lost amongst a sea of factory-produced items which do not comply with the handmade motto that Etsy defends.

> UNFAIR ACCOUNT SUSPENSIONS
A lot of genuine artisan shops have been suspended from Etsy for no justified reason. Meanwhile, you can find resellers selling items that belong to eBay or Alibaba without being suspended. This is unfair and infuriating.

> ETSY ADMIN
I think it is fair to say that Etsy is not the best when it comes to replying and helping their customers. I once was amongst a group of sellers who had some of our item photos stolen to be "resold" as false items. We all contacted Etsy and reported the items and had to do all the work on their behalf. When I sent them an email, I only got a (belated) generic answer. On the forums, Etsy admin answers are slow and replies are often shady.

> FRONT PAGE
Last year, Etsy changed the website front page. I have found this change very unpractical as a seller. All you can see now are your recently favourited items, shops, and picks that Etsy believes I will love. As a seller, I tend to go straight to my shop. Now, my front page looks more like a buyer's page than a seller's. Also, I was sorry (and still am) to see the front page treasuries go. I don't know about you, but I used to LOVE front page treasuries, which would often help me discover new shops that I would not have searched for had I not seen them on there. Even if front page treasuries used to be targets of favoritism from Etsy (which used to enrage me), as a buyer, treasuries were a great way to promote your shop for free (by curating treasuries and appearing in them). Now, you have to buy ads. Which, I am sure, makes Etsy very happy.

> UNEXPECTED CHANGES AND TESTS
Etsy tends to make changes and tests to the website without warning. Very often, these changes are for the worse. Now, I am not saying change is bad (on the contrary, it is necessary) but recent changes have not been great. At all. I find the more time passes, the less user-friendly the website is. It's almost like they're trying to make it more tricky, less logical. Plus, it's as if they don't listen to their testers and to what the users have to say.

> LATE REVIEWS
This is a small detail compared to everything else, but I believe it's an important one when you're a seller. Since last year, buyers can't leave a review of your product until a specific amount of time. Etsy says it is "so items can only be reviewed after it's likely they have arrived". I say it's killing the review system. When Arnaud used to have his shop, and at the beginning of mine, we used to receive almost as many reviews as sales. People would me reminded to leave a review soon after their purchase. Now, people forget because of the allowed time period (I know I am also guilty of this as a buyer), which is a shame because I believe reviews do help sales. As a customer, I am more inclined to buy a product that has good reviews than one that has none.

This list is not exhaustive. I could write a novel about my experience with Etsy, good and bad. I kept it short, but you can read more in the links I provided below, or simply by looking for more info yourself or by browsing the Etsy forums. A lot of makers are looking for alternatives to Etsy and are thinking of leaving. Others are happy with Etsy and many do not share my/our point of view. Which is absolutely fine. I just wanted to share my opinion on the subject and am looking forward to hearing yours.

I must also state that Etsy is not and had never been my main source of income: I am a translator, and I make and sell things on the side. I know a lot of people's livelihood depends on their Etsy shop and it's way more complicated for them than it is for me.

> FURTHER READING
Etsy: Can Craft and Capitalism Coexist?
How Etsy Alienated its Crafters and Lost its Soul
How Etsy Changed the Rules
Etsy IPO Backlash from Artisan Sellers
Why I'm Leaving Etsy
"Handmade in Spirit"
Rusetsy - Revealing Unknown Secrets of Etsy
The tale of an Etsy seller who almost got her shop suspended

Although I will continue to buy handmade, I will now buy on smaller online platforms, the sellers' independent websites and, of course, keep on buying local and on markets. I will myself sell my products on my own online store. I know it will be harder to promote and to be found, but it's a risk I am willing to take.

Now, I would love to hear your thoughts! What is your relationship with Etsy? Were you aware (as buyers or sellers) of all the things I mentioned here? What do you think of the recent news?

Midnight Glimpse | 11

2015-04-16T13:14:00.000+01:00

So many flowers on the blog recently. Sorry, but I had to include these.

Opening an online store does enhance one's organizational skills.

Sweet memories of a (long gone) delicious lunch.

My new running shoes aka the most comfortable and light pair I've ever owned. I would marry them if I could.

We'll be in London in a month. How do you expect me to work when all I want to do is plan?

Midnight Finds | Flower Portraits

2015-04-13T13:16:00.000+01:00

I don't remember when I first stumbled upon Georgianna Lane's beautiful photos (it was a long time ago!) but I remember how I felt the first time I laid my eyes on this peony. I was gobsmacked. I love nature and floral still life in general, but there is something in these (seemingly) simple portraits that I find as moving as a real portrait. Georgianna manages to capture the life and personality of the flowers she photographs. Don't you think? And with spring in full swing, there is nothing quite like delicate and colorful flowers to make us smile!

PS: I am now on Twitter. For better or for worse. Let's be friends there too?

Spring in the Park

2015-04-09T14:30:00.000+01:00

These pink flowers (a variety of daisy) always make me think of the All in the Golden Afternoon song
(from Alice in Wonderland). I don't know why these ones particularly, but they always do. I love this song.

Today, I got out of the house without my coat on. And without my scarf on, which is a miracle in itself. Could it be that spring is officially on the way? I think so! Ah, spring. The sun is back. Blossoms are back. Runs are back. Shorts and dresses are back. Cute lambs are back. Springwatch is back. Even the ice cream van is back! It's as if everything was put on hold for six months and is suddenly coming back to life. The feeling is even stronger now that I live in England. Winters feel longer here, with shorter days than we had in France and, well, more rain. And wind. And rain. I love winter, but I always miss the colours of spring and summer. And the light. The light! It's so enjoyable to come back from the gym in the evening when the sun hasn't even set. Even our weekly vegetable boxes are starting to get more colourful (not mentioning our plates!). And spring is also back in our local park. So I caught it on camera. Because that's what you do when you're a blogger, right?

Has spring arrived where you are?

Running Update | Upcoming Races

2015-04-06T14:30:00.000+01:00

Spring is back which, in my books, means running is back. I admit I've been in a running slump this winter, prefering the warmth and fun of my gym classes over the cold and lonely park trails. I love running in the spring and autumn, but I find running in the heat of summer and cold of winter less... well, enjoyable. Now that the long days (and acceptable temperatures) are back, I am happy to be putting my running shoes on in the mornings before work and head out for a run. I also have a few races coming up, which is always a great source of motivation. I signed up to two races I've been dying to try for years, so I am pretty excited about that.

BRIDGWATER BOLT 10K - April 19th
This race is part of the 1610 Race Series, which is organized by my gym and consists of three 10k races, two sprint triathlons and a duathlon across the counties of Somerset, Devon and Dorset. Some people take on the challenge and do the whole series. Good for them. I'll just stick to my 10k for now, all right? This is supposed to be a flat course (no hills, people! No hills!) with stunning views of the Quantock Hills and Somerset Levels. Signing up to races is a great way to visit new places (this is how I discovered Portsmouth and Bristol), and makes it feel like more of a fun visit than a race. Granted, it's less relaxing than strolling around town while eating an ice cream, but it's fun nonetheless and you can actually eat that ice cream afterwards as a reward.

BUPA LONDON 10,000 - May 25th
This is the highlight of my year. Seriously. I had signed up to this race last year but had to cancel because of budget troubles (moving house does that to you). This year, I am definitety going. Not only that, but we will be spending two weeks in London. Two weeks! The race starts on The Mall and finishes opposite Buckingham Palace. Yep. We'll be passing many London landmarks, like St Paul's Cathedral, the Millenium Bridge, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. It doesn't get better than this. I am really looking forward to this race and vacation!

THE GREAT SOMERSET COLOUR RUN - June 14th
I've been wanting to sign up to a Colour Run for a long time (actually, since I first started running). For some reason, the official Color Run races are always far from where we live, so I was waiting for one to happen nearer to sign up. Last week, I realized there would be a local colour run in june in a town close to ours. I signed up right away. These events look like so much fun! Have you ever done a Colour Run?

Happy Easter (already?)

2015-04-03T14:49:00.000+01:00

Easter card by Joanne Hawker

I can't believe we're already in april. I can't believe it's already Easter. I see all those Easter egg hunts leaflets and signs in the streets and I cry (internally) because I'm 30. Not 3. But who says I can't have my own egg hunt? Here is what I'm going to do: on saturday, I will run 5k at my local Parkrun and have myself a little gym session. On sunday, I will stuff my face full of chocolate. After all, this is what Easter is all about... Or is it? Happy Easter!

The Midnight Shop | Coming Soon

2015-04-01T08:00:00.000+01:00

It's official: the dream is becoming a reality and The Midnight Shop is on the way! Like I mentioned a few months ago, I am working on an independent store where I will not only sell my own products (room mists and candles) but also natural beauty and home products made by British and European makers.

I am curating a carefully picked selection of 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free, eco-friendly, small batch and elegantly designed products. My aim is to support local makers who put nature and your health first, and who only use natural ingredients to make their products: soaps, lip balms, reusable cotton rounds, aromatherapy candles and much more! I also want to do my part by donating a small part of the profits to the RSPB, and I try to be mindful of the environment from the products I source to the way I ship the orders.

That's a lot of things to work out and organize for one person, from product research to packaging questions and website design, but I'm learning a lot along the way and it's already become a very exciting adventure! I am happy to be working with talented makers with whom I share the same values, and I am very proud of the way the store and the whole experience are coming along. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

The shop will open in june 2015, but you can already find The Midnight Shop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. You can also sign up to the monthly newsletter to be notified of the launch and for exclusive offers, news and green tips. Now, I am not used to social media as I don't use any of those for my blog (especially Twitter and Instagram), so this will definitely take some getting used to! We'll see how it goes. Most of all, I can't wait to share the website with you guys! I really hope you will like it.

Recipes I Tried and Loved | 03

2015-03-30T08:00:00.000+01:00

Instant Naan | Playful Cooking
I made these only a few days ago and they were a huge hit (at least, Arnaud and I thought so!). I've tried quite a few naan recipes before, with or without yeast, and this one is by far the easiest, quickest and tastier of them all. I replaced the sesame seeds (which I was deprived of) by flax seeds, but that's the only change I had to make. The recipe was pretty straightforward and I will follow it again next time we fancy some tasty naans!

Falafels | Jamie Oliver
This was the first time I tried making falafels at home and I was pretty excited to give them a go. They were delicious. I made some flat bread and houmous from scratch (I was on a roll that day!), and we made some wraps where we added some avocado, salad, coriander and seeds. We both love eating falafels, but making them at home definitely took the whole experience to another level! Have you ever tried making some yourself?

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Sauce | Top with Cinnamon
I love recipes that have both "healthy" and "chocolate" in the title. You will never fool me, food bloggers! But I always click anyway. This recipe includes three ingredients: dates, almond milk and baking chocolate (or cocoa powder). I used raw cacao powder (which is even better and, pardon the pun, "healthier" than processed chocolate). I made the sauce to go with some muffins I had made earlier and that had turned out pretty dry (yet another "light" version of chocolate muffins that didn't turn out well). Let's just say this sauce tastes just like your standard chocolate fudge sauce, without the added sugar, cream or butter!

Coco-Chocolate Cookie Superfood Bites | Garden of Vegan
I love making energy bites to snack on before or after a run or a workout. These superfood bites are delicious, and a bit more "naughty" than the usual healthy bites I tend to make (because of the chocolate). Like all raw snacks, you can choose what ingredients to put in them depending on your taste. Yet another great raw snack!

What have you been cooking lately?

More Recipes I Tried and Loved | Find me on Pinterest

Midnight Glimpse | 10

2015-03-26T08:00:00.000+00:00

Cornflowers, sunflowers... Seedlings are on their way, and some are even already planted!
It's really beginning to feel like spring over here (even though it's still very, very cold some days).

Orders are starting to arrive for the future shop. It's getting more real (and exciting) by the minute! There is still a lot of work ahead, the website to keep working on, more orders to make, more amazing makers to meet. I can't wait to share it with you guys! I intended to open in april, but june is starting to make more sense (so much to do, so little time!). I am very excited by this new venture and I am learning a lot along the way.

Although we watched last week's eclipse on TV, we caught this lovely sunset on the road. It was gorgeous.

My first middle grade translation hits the shelves in a few days and the publisher shared an extract online.
I loved working on that book and I can't wait to have the real thing in my hands. The illustrations are so cute!