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Some films I watched recently

I just started a Lovefilm membership a few days ago which I am very excited about :) so I have already watched a few films I loved. I watched some films by Kim Ki-Duk, I posted some stills of some of his movies earlier. Having bought his film '3 Iron' last year and being really impressed I wanted to see some more of his films.
A few days ago I watched 'Spring Summer Autumn Winter and Spring'. It's about two monks who live on a floating house on a lake. The way its shot is stunning, it makes me want to run away to Asia and live on a mountain or something...which I would probably do. The film stuck with me because it has a strong message in it, which I wont give away but you really feel like you have actually learnt something after watching it...whereas if you watched something like 'Night at the museum' or anything with Matthew McConaughey in you'll either think it was ok at the time and forget it within 10 minutes OR if you watched the latter, you will swear and shout cause you have just lost an hour and a half of your life that you will never get back. So yeah good film :)
After being impressed with both of the Kim Ki-Duk films I had seen I watched another called 'The Bow'.
Its about a young girl and an old man who live on a fishing boat at sea. The man found the girl when she was 6 and she has been there for 10 years, never having left the boat. I know what your thinking but its not like that. It is agreed that they will marry on her 17th birthday. They are both very happy and content until one day when a boy comes onto the boat to fish...I wont say anymore but I thought like the other films of his that I've  seen it was shot beautifully. And the ending was really surprising too.
Another film I watched recently and LOVED was 'The lovely bones'. It was so beautiful, and sad, I had a lump in my throat for most of it and I don't often cry in films. I loved the scenes shot in her heaven, which were of course filmed in New Zealand. I need to try and read the book again really, I got half way through but I couldn't really get into it.

I love these Movie covers

I know these are all variations from the same film but I LOVE THEM! Which is why I spent 12 pounds more when I bought the dvd just so that I could get the cover I wanted...and I don't regret it :)

I want to make these!

Earl Grey Macarons

makes about 100 small or 50 regular sized shells

For the shells

110g ground almond, dry
200g powdered sugar
90g aged egg whites, room temp
A pinch of cream of tartar
30g fine granulated sugar
2 tea bags Earl Grey tea

As always, make sure to age the egg whites for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours. Weigh out the ingredients accurately. Combine the almond, powdered sugar and the tea leaves in a food processor or chopper. Process until very fine and sift into a bowl. Process any larger pieces left over.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat 90g of egg whites on medium-low speed until frothy. Add in the cream of tartar, then the 30g of granulated sugar gradually, taking care to incorporate sugar well after each addition. Gradually increase your speed (there’s absolutely no rush) until relatively stiff and glossy peaks form. You should be able to invert the bowl and the meringue should stay in place. The air bubbles in the meringue should also be very small.

Add half of the almond and powdered sugar mixture into the egg whites and gently fold to incorporate. Add the rest of the mixture and fold carefully and gently, until you see a consistency somewhat like lava. Be careful not to overfold.

Pipe 1 inch rounds onto silpat lined baking sheets, giving them ample space because they will spread a little. Let them rest for 30 minutes or until skins are formed.

Heat your oven to 260 degrees F and bake for 20 minutes. Rotate your baking sheets at least once for even baking.

Meanwhile prepare the filling

2 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
Some lemon juice

Heat your egg whites and sugar in a saucepan and stir continuously until sugar is dissolved. It should look white and foamy. Turn off heat. Be careful not to cook the egg whites. It should look like marshmallow cream! Beat in your butter and lemon juice. I used about 2 tablespoons. You can also put in the zest if you wish.

Once the shells are cooked let them cool on the baking sheets before peeling them off. Cool them further on racks, before adding the filling. Allow your macarons to mature for at least the next 3 days to improve with texture.

recipe adapted from muffinsareuglycupcakes.wordpress.com

and since I'm on the subject these look so cute

Since it's nearly Valentine's Day...

I thought I would post some of these LOVELY vintage cards :)

words cannot describe how much I love this card! <3

Lovely..

Be afraid of the rose that has a face in it...

Cute...and also funny!

I love this one... 

 the following ones cause me to hyperventilate- brace yourselves...

they are so gorgeous!

Here are some weird and creepy ones! I'm not sure what message your sweetheart is trying to send with these ones...

hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!

not sure what it says but I think the picture speaks for itself! 

Kim Ki Duk Films

I have been a fan of Asian cinema for a long time, but in the last few months I've watched some films by Kim Ki Duk and the cinematography is amazing. He captures ambiance and emotion with hardly any dialog at all. I thought I would post some stills from a few of his films...


From 'Spring Summer Autumn Winter and Spring'

from 'The Bow'

these are posters for a film called '3 Iron'