Each Friday we bring you people in the free-from and allergy world that we're championing by introducing you to our favourite products, companies, bloggers and more!

Mel Jumpy

This week, it's the turn of our lovely friend Mel who blogs at Le Coin de Mel. Mel is happily married with four children and a serious food addiction. A keen photographer, she is rarely seen without her camera around her neck. Her blog is all about food, family life, allergies, crafts, days out and pretty much everything she gets up to with her family. When Mel is not drooling over food on Pinterest or Instagram, she bakes with her children, plans meals, thinks about her next sweet treat, shares recipes with friends or takes photos.

So, over to you Mel!

5 random facts about you?

  • I used to love mustard so much as a child I'd eat it on its own.
  • My favourite subject at school was Design and Technology.
  • I have a huge wooden trunk full of journals. I wrote my first one when I was nine.
  • My first pet was a poodle called Silver.
  • Lunch at my grand-parents every Thursday was liver and artichokes. I wasn't a fan but luckily their dog loved liver (shush, don't tell my nan!).
  • What is the story behind your blog?
  • My friend Loraine is an avid reader of blogs. After Jumpy was diagnosed with a plethora of food allergies, she declared that I had to start a blog to share my recipes and crafty projects. I laughed, telling her I had no time for that, but after she mentioned three or four times, it wasn't a crazy idea anymore: it was a project!

Do you have a favourite place to work in?

My kitchen!

What do you do when you procrastinate?

If there was an award for procrastinating, I'd win it, there's no doubt about that. I can't quite explain how I do it (it's an art, really), but I am an expert at avoiding getting things done and instead faffing for hours. Call me the queen of faff!

Do you have a favourite quote?

It's not a quote as such but "Life is a journey, not a destination" has been my mantra lately. It's so important not to miss the little things, the joy that every day brings because you're dwelling on what was or looking forward to something. The present is what we have to focus on, not the past or the future. "Don't wish your life away" is something I repeat a lot to the children when they long for the school disco, Christmas, the holidays, their next birthday...

If you had an entirely free day to spend on your own doing something for your own pleasure what would you do?

I'd love a day in a spa getting pampered and eating fine food. A girl can dream, right?

Do you prefer city, country or coast?

Mountains! I don't think I'd like to live on top of a mountain, but it's certainly my destination of choice for holidays. I grew up in rural France but I love living in town and being close to London.

Do you have a favourite book?

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Hubby bought me this book when we first met and it has made me want to travel to Botswana. It might stay in my bucket list for a few more years, but I will go one day.

Are you a morning person?

Don't ever try to have a conversation with me before coffee has started to work its magic.

Did you have a favourite television programme as a child?

A film, yes: The Goonies!

What is the one thing you would tell your younger self?

Laugh every day.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee!

Sweet or savoury?

Sweet AND savoury!

What is your favourite meal and why?

Fillet steak with French beans, Dijon mustard and a glass of Châteauneuf du Pape.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

A hairdresser

What is your favourite time of the day?

Dinnertime

What would your dream job be and why?

I think I'm doing exactly what makes me happiest. Sharing my time between eating, taking photos and creating recipes whilst spending lots of time with my children is pretty much living the dream for me.

What one bit of advice would you give to someone just starting out in the blogging world?

Join networks so you don't feel isolated and don't be afraid to ask questions. Bloggers are a friendly bunch and if you email someone with a question, you can be sure they'll be pretty quick to try and help.