No matter how hard I try, I can't make today's image match today's word. Picture taken at Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris.
une lèvre (levr)
: lip
du bout des lèvres = half-heartedly
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronouce today's word, the expression, and this sentence: Download MP3 or Wav file
Elle a des lèvres expressives. She has expressive lips.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
On Thursday Smokey and I were feeling inspired to film another video. It would be a good way to take the mind off Friday's dermato appointment (bad news, the new year will begin with more stitches…), and so we threw our collective energies into demonstration—a cake demonstration!
I dusted off the dining room table before setting out all of the ingredients for the traditional French gâteau au yaourt. Jean-Marc happened to be passing by, and his unexpected appearance made me nervous.
"Ça va la star?" As soon as he saw the video set up he couldn't help but poke fun at the self-styled présentatrice. And it didn't help things to be caught wrestling our handicapped dog up onto the dining chair.
"Oui, ça va," I said casually, grabbing Smokey's slippery legs and heaving my furry cohost up onto the seat only for him to come tumbling down on me once again.
Jean-Marc shook his head.
Never mind what he thinks. I'm going ahead with my project! And so what if my husband's presence is unsettling, this is a good opportunity to learn to block out all outward distractions! …But first, I might put the outward distraction to work.
And so I had Jean-Marc hit the "record" button for me, seeing as it was several feet away from where I was sitting (admittedly on top of my cohost, should he slide off the set once again).
Jean-Marc did as I asked, only he couldn't help but try to frazzle me on his way out the door (stopping to wave at the camera and, in so doing, dispelling my concentration).
Never mind – just get on with it, I told myself. With the camera rolling, I grabbed the bottle of vegetable oil—as one would grab a baton—and I ran with it!
So much goes through the mind while the body tries to remain poised before a camera. As I cracked the eggs, their shells as stiff as my own exterior, I realized that seconds were elapsing without words. Say something! You've got to say something! I panicked.
"In France we have these beautiful brown eggs…."
After a bit more stammering I caught sight of my cohost, who was having a sudden attack of stage fright. Pausing to mollycoddle Smokey almost cost me the rest of my concentration, but soon we were back on track.
The video was finished before we knew it and I decided to go ahead and upload it for our Youtube subscribers, a modest number of viewers who might, if we were lucky, have a thing or two to say about my and Smokey's latest vlog effort.
But before uploading the clip, I stopped to review the footage and that's when I noticed how parts of it were unflattering. Specifically, there were a few "middle-aged moments" that made me cringe.
"There are some bad angles," I admitted to Jean-Marc. "I look a little old."
Jean-Marc smiled, "that's because you are old!"
His sourire broke the news to me softly, and though he was teasing I saw glimmers of truth and was surprised by the effect that truth had on me. I felt energized! No, I was not old, but I was no longer a young woman either. With this realization I could now begin to enjoy the freedom of not having to try to look like one.
"I'm posting the video!" I smiled and hurried to my room to upload it.
Only, once the video was live, it wasn't thinning skin or a slackening jaw that drew my attention, it was a bizarre puckering reflex that caught my eye. On viewing the footage I noticed how, every minute or so, my mouth would suddenly contort. I watched, amazed, as my lips screwed up and over to the side. It looked as if I were trying to suck something out from between my front teeth, something like chewing tobacco!
The ungraceful gesture taught me a thing or two about myself. One, no matter how much control we impose on our bodies to remain poised, there will always be a little unruly part of ourselves hell-bent on breaking free, and two, no more excuses about my bad French–with pucker lips like these, pronunciation ought to be a cinch.
Enjoy the video and thanks for your tips on how to improve!
The recipe for the yogurt cake is found here.
French Vocabulary
le dermato (dermatologue) = dermatologist
le gâteau au yaourt = yogurt cake
Ça va la star? = how's the starlet
la présentatrice = the show host
oui, ça va = yes, everything's fine
le sourire = smile
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
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Dear Kristin & Smokey — I loved your video. You both looked so good. Kristin — please don’t take that fool seriously. He is looking in the mirror. When I used to do counseling, I noticed that most of us are talking to ourselves when we are being cruel & mean. Please don’t let this unhappy person effect your wonderful videos. Your mom was right!
I am planning on making this cake. Good luck to you and quick recovery. I just love seeing Smokey — what an adorable furry companion! Be well.
I loved your video ! Smokey is a natural please continue .. I hope to try your cake soon.
Kristin .. You’ve read them all, now go make another wonderful video. Aloha, Bill Facker
Dear Kristin,
My wife and I just loved the video. It adds so much more to your blog and we look forward to sharing a lot more of your beautiful world. Keep them coming, just as they are, in your own inimitable style.
What’s one troll among thousands of friends !
Looks like Smokey scared it off.
Good luck and best wishes,
Reading every one of your comments I am reminded what a caring and heart-of gold-community–or family, as Herm says–that we have here. Thank you so much for encouraging me. Wishing everyone here a joyous season.
Dear Kristin,
Well just me start by saying how much I disagree with Tim. Excuse my language from here on, but what an ASS! And RUDE! How long has he been reading this blog? Not long I am sure as he does not know, love, or understand what this blog is about. Learning new things, forging ahead in adversity, making friends, (and I don’t think I would want him for a friend, rude arrogant man!) We all love this blog and you will never know just what it means to some of us. I have worked in broadcasting and some of these people (especially the ones who are not very talented) have very inflated egos. Ignore him! You are doing fine, especially for someone who has only just started and who has not had the luxury of being educated in the field, AND who has so many other things to do day to day that any attempt at something new should be applauded! He should try getting kids to school, laundry done, meals prepared, animals cared for. He would probably not last an hour.
I am not finished raging about Tim, but I want to get to why I am posting. I baked your cake last night and this morning we are enjoying one of the best and easiest cakes I have ever made. I added banana and canned pineapple to the “top”, pressed the fruit down with back of a spoon and used a bundt pan, so that when I turned the cake out the fruit was incorporated into the cake. My family loves it and my very busy daughter thinks she may be able to make this herself. So thanks for the video, I thought it was really nice and personable as well as informative.
Please don’t give out Tim’s email. I may just send him an awful message to butt out, and not that nicely.
(I was wondering if Jean-Marc would do one showing us how to make our own wine at home, since some of us love the act of doing?
Sharon
Just found this about baking soda and baking powder … thought it might be helpful.
http://www.cuisineamericaine-cultureusa.com/levure-et-bicarbonate-de-soude/
I enjoyed both you and Smokey in the video. He seems such a wonderful companion. It was like walking into your kitchen and watching you make the yogurt cake. If you make it too professional, the homelike atmosphere could get lost. But, I would like to have seen the resulting cake or better yet have been there to sample it.
Geary
Your blog was always a joy to read before but the addition of the videos makes it just fabulous!!! So blessed to get this recipe of the simple, traditional yogurt cake. I know many of us will be making it. You sit in front of the camera & talk to us just like a friend would. What could be better than that?? Please please please keep the videos and the recipes coming! They are so enjoyable & bless all of us who so enjoy your blog. THANK YOU for posting them and being willing to step out of your comfort zone.
Great video, you and the smoke work well together!
Hi Kristi,
Love the video! I love Jean-Marc’s little “hello”. That was funny!
Keep making the videos..you and Smokey are great!
Have a nice week and I want to try to make the cake soon.
The video was so great. I never saw any of the things you said were there. But I loved having Smokey there with you. What are his handicaps?? I know his tongue strays sideways sometimes but he looks so sweet!! More PLEASE!! (Videos that is)
I love smoky’s tongue!!!!!!!!!!! susaan
Loved your video with Smokey as sous chef. He is a real gentleman sitting there so calmly. Your video skills are already good.
Anne
Wonderful video! and wonderful cake! I’m wondering what diameter your cake pan is? I’ve made yogurt cake several times for carry-ins, and there is rarely any left to bring home! And next week, the perfect time to take one in to work!!
Now I have a quick recipe for you to try! All you need is coconut oil (or perhaps butter if you don’t have coconut oil…) 1 banana and 2 eggs. Melt coconut oil in a frying pan. Mash the banana, whip in 2 eggs, pour on hot skillet. When brown on bottom like a pancake, flip, and cook until brown on the bottom again. (only 1 serving)
Let me know what you think!
Delightful. I’m so sorry to read the superior sounding post by “tim the professional”. What he seems to have missed is that we’ve already fallen in love with you and Smokey, and want to see YOU, not some professionally produced how to type video. Your personality and charm and beauty shine through and give us just what we want – a visit with Kristin.
Vicki, I love the banana cakes recipe and will try it soon. Thanks!
Really cute and fun to watch.
I also would love to see a Buche de Noel video.
It is fun to see you showing us your French life.
Kristin, I just discovered your blog and love it. I am an old French expat (did the reverse of what you did.) Do you have the means to delete Tim What’s- its-name’s ignorant comment? Because reading that man’s opinion was a waste of my time and he does not belong anywhere near your blog.
Loved the fact you let Smokey co-host. He is so darling and you are beautiful.
Kristi, I had such fun watching you and Smokey make a yogurt cake! You made an adorable video and we just have to realize that people such as Tim Snider have serious problems. Ignore him! He is definitely not worth a nanosecond of your time. Remember that getting older is natural — we are ALL doing it. You know that it’s what’s INSIDE that counts, and you’ve truly got that covered, ma Belle!
Video charming. Would love to make this cake — got the recipe down but how long to bake and at what temperature? I could not find that. Thanks.