Blackout

When I was checking emails last night, all sudden I got just Dark. Blackout!

I always have a flashlight handy and candles are everywhere,so I got my flashlight and checked outside. I didn't see lights in many houses, so should be just blackout.

Oh, well, these days many people don't want to turn on the light to save power bill even night time. So not sure sometimes.  

The lights came back just 10 to 15 minutes later, but just so weird.

When I had lived in Japan I've never experienced blackout like this.

I have got a note from the power company just before Christmas. They said they were going to cut the power 8:30am to 4:00pm!! Don't you think it was too long?

Just like this. We have blackouts 3 or 4 times a year at least here. I'm not sure this is not so many or too many if I compare to other countries, but it's too many if I compare to Osaka Japan where I was born!

I've never had a flashlight before, candles were just for romantic night or the time I just felt like it.

But now the flashlight and candles are necessity to survival life here. Ha ha ha

My Dog, Milo

He is Milo. My baby boy when he was puppy. When I decided to have a Jack Russell, everyone told me "Don't get Jack Russell!" include my mom.

Why not, Milo in the movie "Mask" was cute and seemed no problem.

I fell in love with him when I saw him! He looked like wearing a mask like Zoro, a bandit!! So cool.

Oh well, it was big challenge for me. Nobody told me Jack Russell needs so much exercise and so hyper!! I actually got injured my shoulder for taking him walk....

He is 2 and half years old now. He lost his mask but he has eye lines! still cute.

Now I use a water gun to exercise him. Milo chases water, so about 15 to 20 minutes just shoot water gun right and left.

That's really works because when my friends come over,they just want to try it. Save my energy!

That's is his best exercise so far. : )

Japanese Apricot

Obviously I'm not a native English speaker, but some how I managed to have a little handmade soap shop.

When I started to learn how to make soap, I've never ever imagined I would have a little online shop.

My soap mentor in Japan was chemist, so he has explained so much staff about chemical reactions.....most of the times it was over my head!

After I moved to Australia, everything went so quick to set up my little shop to actually sell my soaps.

First, you need your products to sell, second you need a shop name, logo, pictures...etc. If you have lots of money you can just hand everything over to designer or whoever you need.

I don't have enogh money to hire designer or photografer to make your shop look good.

So it took long time to think up my logo. I'm using the flower at the end of my shop logo. It's actually Japanese Apricot.

My dear grand mother's name, the lady I respect the most. She was intelligent, kind and graceful woman. It's been seven years since she had  past away.

I use her name of flower to remember her and show my respect.

If you stuck of your idea, how about look around your family. Always some inspiration come up.

My new gloves

Sorry not good picture...

I got new gloves. It was just $3 at REJECT shop. (I'm not sure US and UK have this shop)There were several cute colors, but I really liked this black!!

The gloves cover almost my ellbow. Don't expect too much, it's very thin vinyl.

But this gloves make me smile, I'm having good time when I'm making soap!

Soap Moulds

Are you a fun of wooden soap moulds? Or flexible soap moulds?

In Japan, many people use the milk container as a soap mould. It's not made of plastic as many other countries. We have 1000ml size milk and it's made of paper.Off course it does has coating inside. 

You don't need any paper liner, you can peel off when soap gets dry. I used to use milk containers as a soap mould as well.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

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Use side way



Then I got a silicon flexible  mould.

Silicon Soap Mould

This is very thick well made soap mould made by Japanese silicon moulds company. You don't need to make any paper liner but only problem I found is, if you use more soft oil, it's very difficult to get it out. And normally my recipe is using more soft oil. It's not gonna be beautiful soap...... 

So I'm using acrylic soap moulds now.

This is very simple structure. The acrylic frame and tray. Cover the bottom of the acrylic frame with the film wrap and set in the tray like a picture above. No paper liner need. And very clean and beautiful surface. I love it!

How do I get the soap out? It's sooooooooo easy. Just push it up!! Don't need to unscrew or anything. Easy to use, easy to clean.

So far, this is my favorite soap mould.

Green Tea

Everybody knows what green tea is, but do you really know how to prepare delicious green tea?

First of all, Japanese green tea has many kinds, such as sencha, Gyokuro, Houjicya, Bancha etc...
All those tea come from the same tree but the process, time of picking, which part of leaves are picking, make different kind of tea and make taste different.

Some of my friends told me that they don't like green tea because it's very bitter taste. So I tried to explain them how the temperature of hot water influenced the taste of Japanese (Green) tea.

I found interesting web, called Maiko Cha (Tea). They explain everything about Japanese tea. If you want to know about Japanese (Green) Tea, check it out!

Maiko Cha

And I really recommend to go to Japanese or Asian grocery store to get tea leaves. And have fun to drink a delicious cup of tea!

Valentaine Basket ー Dreaming Girls

New Soaps are arrived!

Valentine Basket - Dreaming Girls

Love Love Love

This is a little gift set for your special one or yourself. This basket contains 4 different soaps and little grooming tools.

The heart is a symbol of love. Those heart theme soaps will make you smile.

■□ Cupcake Soap-Love Heart ■□

Ingredients：

Olive oil, Rice bran oil, Coconut oil, Palm oil, Purified water, Sodium Hydroxide, Castor oil, Shea butter,

■□ KISSES Soap ■□

Ingredients：

Olive oil, Purified water, Coconut oil, Palm oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Macadamia nut oil, Castor oil, Vanilla Fragrance

■□ Pretty Pink Cupcake Soap ■□

Ingredients：

Olive oil, Purified water, Coconut oil, Palm oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Macadamia nut oil, Castor oil, Bergamot EO, Lavender EO, Cinnamon, Vanilla Fragrance oil

■□Calendula Honey　Soap ■□

Ingredients：

Olive oil, Coconut oil, Palm oil, Purified water, Sodium Hydroxide, Calendula petals,　 Patchouli Essential oil, Mandarin Essential oil, Sandalwood Essential oil

Flat Rate $11 Shipping within Australia

Please check my etsy shop.

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M Naturalz