Super Easy DIY Natural Cosmetics

Super Easy DIY Cosmetics

Our relationship to beauty products says so much about ourselves: do we spend a fortune on tubes smaller than our pinkies that promise to erase any proof that we once smiled? Have we been buying the same stuff, month in, month out, since age fifteen? Do we follow the (totally unbiased) magazine reviews and share in the enthusiasm for this or that new molecule? Do we lose sleep over sulphates, chlorides, glycerines, and nano-particles ?

Do we go full granola and… make our own?

If you’re in the latter camp, but feel intimidated by the long lists of exotic ingredients you would have to special order and then store in some cabinet until they rot or stale, this post is for you!

I’ve put together this list of quick recipes for homemade all-natural cosmetics, selecting ones that are very easy to follow. You can often make them your own by swapping ingredients for ones that will work best for your skin type, and the best thing is, they mostly use ingredients you already have at home!

No excuse not to give them a go, and any of these would make a lovely homemade gift this holiday season.

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Food Blogger Pro: Why I Joined and You Should Too

Food Blogger Pro

If you’re a Chocolate & Zucchini reader, there’s actually a good chance that you have a blog of your own, or are thinking about starting one.

And whether you’re just in this for the fun of it, or have ambitions to turn your talents into an occupation that pays the rent, I’m sure your number one goal is to grow your food blog: blogging is such an all-consuming activity that it’s natural to want the greatest number of eyes on the fabulous content you strive to create.

This means working really hard to hone your craft and put out content you’re excited to share (if you lie sleepless because you can’t wait to hit publish in the morning, you’re doing it right) but it also means staying in the game in terms of social media and, for those with professional goals, monetization.

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Best Eats in Grenoble, From a Local

Best Eats in Grenoble

France is such a beautifully diverse country, I want to make sure you see and taste the best it has to offer! When it comes to Paris I’ve got you covered (ask me about my tours!) but there are many other places with exciting and delicious things for you to experience. So I’ve asked a team of French bloggers from different cities to share their favorite spots, and I am offering them to you in this series.

In Grenoble, Valérie recommends…

Valérie I Love Cakes

Valérie Décoret is a pastry chef who’s passionate about travel and photography. She takes us on a tour to discover Grenoble, her hometown and the capital of the Alps. She writes the blog I Love Cakes, in which she shares her love for authentic things and delicious desserts.

The perfect day in her book is a beautiful autumn day in the countryside, with a walk in the forest and an elaborate meal prepared with her family. Follow her on Instagram, too!

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Best of October

Amsterdam

Amsterdam As A Family

French children had a school break in October, and we decided to spend a week in Amsterdam.

It’s a city Maxence and I are quite familiar with, having spent a number of long weekends there over the years, pre-kids. We were delighted to find it is a very family-friendly city, and we had a wonderful time strolling along the canals, exploring local playgrounds, dodging the bicycles, and spotting as many Fiat 500’s as we could.

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24 Hours in Paris: The Ultimate Guide

The Seine

Anne ElderThis is a guest post by Anne Elder, my friend and former assistant, who has lived in Paris long enough to know the city like the back of her hand.

Anne is the writer behind Hardly Snarky, where she shares her stories of delicious adventures. She learned how to cook in the tiniest kitchens of France and how to taste cheese in the Jura mountains.

She now lives in New York, where she works as a freelance writer and social media consultant. She still has a tiny kitchen. Follow her on Instagram!

As Paris becomes easier to reach via layover en route to so many European cities, I’ve had several friends come to me overwhelmed by the many ways to spend their precious few hours in the City of Light.

This 24-hour guide, adapted from the many personalized schedules I’ve crafted for friends, combines must-see tourist sites with the charming streets Paris is known for, as well as some stellar views of the city.

Bring your prettiest walking shoes, and make sure to stop at the closest boulangerie for a nice fresh croissant before you begin, like a true Parisian.

Allez, c’est parti!

French Food Cheat Sheet

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