Inspiring words

Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.

- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

For more of these daily reminders, check out my Pinterest board.

"Coup de coeur" of the Week #4

I know Christmas was two months ago, but it's been a very Craig Mather week and I stumbled upon this.. "12 days of Les Mis" and I find it very entertaining, you might too. Here are (from left to right) Craig Mather, Scott Garnham, Chris Key and Hadley Fraser from the cast of Les Misérables London. "Five foot niiiiiine".

Eugène Delacroix

If I ever asked you to pick your favorite artist, could you? There are so many talented artists out there that it might be impossible to just pick one. I however have one painter who is above all the others in my mind (and my heart): Eugène Delacroix. Leader of the French Romantic movement (although he never considered himself Romantic), Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix, student of Théodore Géricault (who painted "The Raft of the Medusa"), lived during the 19th century. His use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of the optical effects of colour influenced the work of the Impressionists and his passion for the exotic inspired the artists of the Symbolist movement. In the words of Baudelaire, "Delacroix was passionately in love with passion, but coldly determined to express passion as clearly as possible."

His most famous paintings are "Massacre at Chios", "The Barque of Dante" and my personal favorites "Death of Sardanapalus" and "Liberty Leading the People".

Massacre at Chios

The Barque of Dante

Death of Sardanapalus

Liberty Leading the People

"Coup de coeur" of the Week #3

Team Starkid speaking French! My favorites in this video are Darren Criss, Dylan Saunders and Joe Walker. One day, they will come here and will get to speak French with all of us. :)

Peanut Butter Cookies

Delicious chewy PB cookies that make me feel like I am in America again. Recipe coming from a great cookbook I received from Cara before I left MS.

Ingredients (for about 5 dozen cookies):

355g of flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder (=levure)

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (=bicarbonate de soude)

1/2 teaspoon of salt

115g of butter

115g of vegetable shortening (=graisse végétale)

170g of brown sugar

200g of sugar

2 eggs

175g of peanut butter

Preheat the oven to 180°C (=350°F).

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
Cream the butter, shortening and both sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the peanut butter.
Add the reserved flour mixture by the cupful, beating at low speed to mix well.

Shape the dough into little balls and place on ungreased baking sheets about 5cm apart. Press each cookie twice in each direction with the back of a fork to make a crosshatch design and to flatten it.
Bake in the center of the oven until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.

Bring it out of the oven and put the cookies on a rack to cool.
Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Enjoy! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

On this Valentine's Day, like every other day, even if you are alone, don't forget to tell yourself "WWAHD?"("What would Audrey Hepburn do?") and be happy.

Love all. xx

"Coup de coeur" of the Week #2

Zooey Deschanel on Saturday Night Live was hilarious!

With Jean Dujardin and Karmin performing too. I simply loved it!

Across the Universe

Who doesn't love the Beatles? It might be the best band I ever had the pleasure to listen to. They are timeless, entertaining and amazing. If you love the Beatles as much as I do, you'll love "Across the Universe".

This movie from 2007, directed by Julie Taymor, was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. "Across the Universe" is a psychedelic and magical musical, centered around 33 songs of the Beatles. It follows the life of Jude, a young man from Liverpool, who leaves for America to find his father. He meets Max, a young rebel, and his sister Lucy. Their friendship will lead Jude to the heart of anti-war protests and the cultural revolution of the 60s, all about sex, drugs and rock and roll. Together, they will meet other people, also lost in the change happening at the time.

The list of actors include Jim Sturgess (who I personally LOVE), Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther McCoy and T.V. Carpio. With appearances by Bono, Salma Hayek and Joe Cocker. All the songs from the movie were written by the Beatles and each is rendered beautifully. My favorites include "All my loving", "All you need is love", "It won't be long", "Hey Jude", "Because" and "Something". For an entire list of the songs, check the Wikipedia page.

To be honest, if there ever is a Broadway (or West End) musical made out of this movie, I would really love to play the character of Lucy. Getting to sing the songs of the Beatles every night would be a dream.
I really enjoy this movie, every time I watch it. It has a powerful message and the songs are all very beautiful. I recommend you to watch it, it is worth it.

Tell me which songs were your favorites in the comments! :)

And just because I love it SO much, here is my favorite part of the movie:

Les Misérables

I have been obsessing over Les Misérables for a few months now. I went to see the show in London last June and fell in love with the story, the songs and the characters. My dear friend Aurélie (with whom I went to see it in London) found the songs and gave them to me about four months ago, and I haven't stopped listening to them ever since. I also received the DVD of the 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 for Christmas, and watched it twice already. I think it is pretty clear that this musical might be one of my favorites.

The musical Les Misérables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, opened at the Barbican Theatre of London in 1985 (it is the second longest-running musical in the world), the music was composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg and the lyrics were written by Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel and Herbert Kretzmer. Set in the France of the 19th century, the story follows the struggles of different characters, going from prostitutes and student revolutionaries to factory workers and others. The musical mainly centers on the lives of Jean Valjean, Javert, Fantine, Cosette, Marius, Eponine, Enjolras and the Thénardier couple. My favorite character is Eponine, I cannot hide it; any of us girls can relate to her and what she is feeling.

There are 34 songs (or 49 according to the Wikipedia page) and no matter how many times you listen to them, they will always give you chills. You certainly know some of them, even if you don't think you do: "On my own" or "I dreamed a dream". Those two are absolutely beautiful, but take some time and listen to "A heart full of love", "Red and black", "Do you hear the people sing?", "One day more" or "At the end of the day" and you will know what I mean about the chills.

Many very talented actors played these characters over the years, but my favorite ones are Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Samantha Barks as Eponine, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Katie Hall or Lisa-Anne Wood as Cosette, Liam Tamne as Enjolras and of course, Craig Mather as Marius (some might say Nick Jonas, but eh, I love Craig very very much, big part of the obsessiveness I was talking about).

As you might have heard, a movie is currently in making. I personally think it is not such a bad idea, I would love to see what they make out of it. I must admit, I am not very excited to see Hugh Jackman as Valjean nor Anne Hathaway as Fantine. Although I like both these actors, I don't see them as those characters. I am A LOT more excited about Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and most of all: Samantha Barks as Eponine!

The story is beautiful, the characters and the actors are breath-taking and the songs are amazing. I recommend this musical to anyone, you will not be disappointed. Even if you do not feel like musicals are 'your thing', then wait for the movie to come out. I cannot believe I waited this long to discover it.

Samantha Barks

Craig Mather, Alexia Khadime and Lisa-Anne Wood

Alfie Boe and Lea Salonga

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

 Looking for poems for English Lit class make you stumble upon gems.

The Help

As many of you know, I spent a year in Mississippi two years ago. I had the best time of my life, I met wonderful people and I will never forget everything I experienced during that year abroad. When I first learned I was going to live in MS, I was a bit scared. I knew nothing about that place and it was not really where I was dreaming to go.. just think about New York City or Los Angeles, and you'll see the difference. Although, once I landed in West Point, MS and the heat of the South struck me, I was hooked. I just had to go with it. I started to meet new people every day, and I realized the most important thing was not to be in a cool city with lots of buildings and the beach, but to have people welcome you (even if they hadn't planned it at first) and love you as much as the people from the South do. The best part about my whole year there was the people I have met. I miss them and think about them every day. You cannot just forget people that nice.

I went to see "The Help" at the movies about a month ago and it made me think about Mississippi A LOT. How could I not? The story IS about Mississippi. I often cry during movies, and I like it. I do not try to hold the tears in, I just love letting them fall on my cheeks and not wiping them. And of course, I cried during "The Help".. a lot. I then decided to read the book, and I was not disappointed. I cried as well, not as much, but I did. I also loved all the references to Southern life, and I am so glad I understood them.. things such as Ole Miss, fried chicken and "Roll Tide"!

"The Help" is a beautiful story about the lives of the colored maids working in white houses in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. It focuses mainly on the characters of Skeeter Phelan, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson. All the main characters of this book are strong women and I like the fact that men are not the most important characters for once. This story is awful, but beautiful at the same time. The way white women acted at the time makes me sad and disgusts me, but the acts of Miss Skeeter make me believe there were people who thought differently, and still are. We might say this is all over, but it is not. It depends on which part of the world and it should not be that way. Racism is a serious issue, and I am glad books/movies like this one make us aware of it.

Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are marvelous actresses who depicted those characters beautifully. I like the fact that Kathryn Stockett, the author of the book, based herself on Octavia to create the character of Minny and that she got to play her in the movie. But, my favorite performance of this movie is Bryce Dallas Howard as the awfully-extremely-racist Hilly Holbrook. She was flawless and depicted that awful character so well. I loved her. Other female characters were portrayed by Jessica Chastain, Ahna O'Reilly and Allison Janney.

Like I said, there aren't many male characters in this story: Stuart Whitworth and Johnny Foote. And I was surprised to find two actors that I LOVE in the movie: Chris Lowell and Mike Vogel. Besides crying, I spent the whole movie drooling over their beauty.

To conclude, besides saying that you absolutely NEED to read the book or watch the movie, I would like to include a line of the book:

Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.

 

Today is World Nutella Day!

 

As a Nutella addict, I was very happy to find out today was Nutella Day. In my house, it is Nutella Day practically every day, but this time, I have an excuse. I know you guys love it too.  

Find recipes, stories and everything you want on NutellaDay.com.

And check out this picture of a (warm) waffle with Nutella I made during exam period.. it was really needed. (It is, indeed, my French course notes.. awful!)

Joyeux anniversaire Darren Criss!

This handsome guy is 25 years old today.
Let's all wish him a very happy birthday! ♥

Source: youwouldalwayswin.tumblr

"Coup de coeur" of the Week #1

This video makes me cry and laugh so much at the same time. I've always loved the actress Kristen Bell, but now I love the person even more.

My BEST cupcakes (yet).

Cupcakes très chocolat
Préparation: 10 minutes - Cuisson: 25 minutes

Ingrédients (pour 10-15 cupcakes):
100g de chocolat
90g de beurre
3 oeufs
70g de sucre
50g de farine
Pour la chantilly:
120g de chocolat
20cl de crême liquide
Vermicelles de chocolat pour la décoration

Préchauffer le four à 150°C (chaleur tournante).

Faites fondre le chocolat dans une petite casserole avec un tout petit peu de lait, et tournez pour ne pas qu'il y ait de grumeaux.
Séparez les blancs des jaunes. Fouettez les jaunes avec le sucre jusqu'à une pâte mousseuse. Ajoutez le beurre fondu et le chocolat, mélangez bien. Ajoutez la farine.
Montez les blancs en neige, puis incorporez les à la préparation. Répartissez la pâte dans vos petites caissettes à cupcakes et faites les cuire 25 minutes. Laissez refroidir sur une grille.

Pour la chantilly au chocolat noir, faites fondre le chocolat de la même manière et laissez reposer. Montez la crême fraiche en chantilly avec le fouet éléctrique. Quand elle commence à former des pics, ajoutez le chocolat tiède en filet puis continuez à fouetter quelques secondes, vraiment pas longtemps! Si la crême est trop fouettée, c'est trop tard. Placez la chantilly dans une poche à douille et décorez les cupcakes. Ajoutez quelques vermicelles.

Conservez au frais et sortez les cupcakes environ 10 minutes avant de les consommer. Bon appétit!

The Belgian Waffle

The Belgian Waffle is a lifestyle blog on movies, tv shows, books and cooking. I love all of these things and I'm pretty obsessive about them too. I also LOVE musical theatre, and I would love to share with whoever cares what I discover. And I thought I always take pictures of what I eat (especially desserts) and it gets on everybody's nerves, so why not use these pictures for something..

Most articles will be in English, except for recipes which will be in French (unless I have it in English at first.. anyways). If you want to try it, I can still translate it if you need me to.
It will mostly be from my point of view (so hum, if I have bad taste in movies or else.. that's too bad). I hope to get guest authors to contribute as well. If any of you guys want to submit anything, feel free to do it!

Articles about other subjects might also appear, like my "Coup de coeur"s of the Week and so on.

Hope you enjoy!

xx Alice

Ps: also, I am a bit obsessed with pretty boys, excuse me for that.