Azuki (Red Beans) Soap

Japanese Azuki (Red beans) are a small, dried, oval-shaped bean with a distinctive deep red color and are one of the few beans that contain low fat and high protein.Azuki is second popular beans after soy beans in Japan.

Azuki(Red beans) was one of the main products used for washing the face and body before soap was introduced in Japan.


Azuki contain “saponin,” which is a natural cleansing agent that removes old keratin, sebum and dirt from pores. Also saponin reduce excessive sebum production that useful for pimples and acne skin problems.

This soap is face soap, you can wash your body as well.

I have oily combination skin so normally I use this soap for washing my face.

This Azuki powder are very fine, so you don't feel any grits.

If you have oily or oily combination skin, I recommend this soap!

DIY Printer Table

I got a new laser printer. Only problem was didn't have any space to place....

The inkjet printer and back up computer, papers, all those stuff have already occupied the space. So, I checked everywhere, Officeworks, Super K mart, K mart.....I checked the coffee table, shelves, but none of them didn't have enough space or not high enough to hold  all printer stuff.

So, I decided to make printer table. 

First, materials. I got the palettes from BIG W. 

Then cut it and paint it and build it.

Of course hubbylas did almost everything. : )

Actually I used the glue to put together. Used some bolts but mostly glued them.

I prefer to have shabby look and not just white, so using gray primer under white paint. It became concrete look. I like it!



Put some weight on for over night. Then I have a new printer table!!

Sorry, it's difficult to see the color, but it's not white, more gray. I think this color is better look with PC stuff. And it's not fragile actually.

I like it every day ♪



Yuzu Exfoliating Soap is coming soon!

As I wrote about Yuzu's (Japanese grapefruit or citrus) health and beauty benefit before, I created Yuzu Exfoliating Soap.

This is dried Yuzu zest. It's so beautiful scent. I love it! But unfortunately lye kills nice scent, that's ashamed. I think all soap maker are struggling with lye kills scent and effects the color.

I put those zests in the mill ( I use coffee mill ) and made it powder.

When the soap got trace, just mixed with it. Thank god, Yuzu didn't change the color. You can see orange dots in my Yuzu Exfoliating soap.

I really wanted to use Yuzu Fragrance oil, so I bought it from American company. mmmmmm it's really nice scent but it's NOT Yuzu scent that I can recognize....oh, well I guess it's very difficult to create exactly same Yuzu scent.

Anyway Yuzu Exfoliating Soaps are on the way. Coming soon.

DIY OLD BBQ- My New Soap Table

This is my new soap table (shelf). Don't you think this is familiar design?

Yes, I made this table from old BBQ which I found in my neighborhood. I found this just 2 blocks away from my home but it was sooo heavy. Good woods.

This is the original. When I brought it back home . Can't really see but it was soooo dirty. It was covered by oil and fat I guess, and coals were still inside....So had to clean first.

Then coat with the primer and painted. I wanted to have a shabby look, so I didn't do too much paint.

The middle part and the top part needed the boards to become shelf and table. So, thank you Bunnings, got the cheap boards and covered those.

Now I got a new soap table!! Even though my hubbylas did most of job done. It was so much fun to do it!!

I'm still looking for another old BBQ. he he he

Yuzu (Japanese Citrus)

Have you heard Yuzu? or Japanese Citrus or Japanese Grapefruits?

Yuzu is a variety of citrus fruit which is cultivated in Asia.

The taste of Yuzu is sour, tart and very fragrant citrus, slightly smaller than a billiard ball.

There are a number of uses for Yuzu in Japanese cuisine and use of it's juice and zest.

 Yuzu are also treated to extract their essential oil which is mixed in with bath and cosmetic products.

Even seeds of Yuzu, can preserve with Sake and it is use to create natural skin toning.

Yuzu is not only for cooking, Japanese have been enjoying yuzu bath on winter solstice  for many years, because the tradition says that doing so will chases evil spirits away, maintains health, and keeps away cold for a whole year.

Yes, Yuzu is a super food! Unfortunately I can't get Yuzu in Australia. Maybe I can, I just don't know. If someone knows where I can get Yuzu near Gold Coast please let me know!

Anyway, I got the dried Yuzu peel from Japan. It smell really good and brought back so much memories.....

It's summer time in here so I think I wont use it for bath, I think I'll use Yuzu peel for my soap. ♪

I'm gonna show you when I make Yuzu Soap.

More about Yuzu, Check this web
↓
Yuzu Passion