Geisha Skin Secrets

I cannot be bothered with centralising my posts anymore. It's too much effort and I have to press enter everytime a line looks full enough. So I shall just justify my text now :3

I've recently taken an interest in the skin care secrets of Geishas. Achieving flawless skin is one of the things on my highest-priority-to-do list (as you probably already know). My jaw line has recently broken out with a series of small lumps which don't want to go away. I've put it down to using too many products that contain fragrances and just too many products in general. After stumbling across a blog, it opened my eyes to the fact that we don't need fragrance in skincare. Our skin doesn't really care if it smells like lavender or bergamot. All it wants is to be healthy. The blog also showed that fragrant essential oils are actually phototoxic to our skin cells, meaning that the application of these oils can increase the sensitivity of our skin to the sun. Here is an article on pubmed studying the effects of these oils. Although the concentration of and solvent that the oils are suspended in will play a part in how harmful it is to the skin, I'd rather not go with the risk.

I digress again. On a random google for perfect skin, I came across rice flour. Plain, ground rice flour. It seems to have a rather good reputation in helping to brighten and whiten the skin, reducing blemishes and pigmentation and helping to treat wrinkles. Rice is used in many brands of skincare, such as L'Occitane and even SK-II.

Rice apparently has amazing sun protection benefits, it contains paraaminobenzoic acid (a sunscreen), ferulic acid (an antioxidant which helps stabilise and increase the potency of vitamins C and E), gamma oryzanol, an antioxidant to help regulate collagen production, and allantoin which helps soothe and repair skin. Many people in Asia also use the water from washing rice as a toner so help keep their skin soft and bright. It was then I found that Geisha's use rice flour in their daily skincare routines. So I thought 'If rice is good enough for a geisha who has flawless skin despite the heavy amounts of make up they wear, then it's good enough for me.'

My internet research led to me a series of sites documenting the skincare secrets of Geishas. The main products they use are:

• camellia oil
• rice
• persimmon
• sea salt

Camellia oil is very popular in Japan, derived from the seeds of the camellia plant, it has antioxidant and antibacterial properties and increases skins elasticity. It's used in a variety of hair care products (such as the ever popular Shiseido Tsubaki haircare range) and geisha's use it to moisturise their skin and eyelashes.

Rice, as mentioned above, seems to have a multitude of benefits for the skin. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that speeds up the production of melanin in the skin, not exactly good news when you want luminous, even coloured skin; and unfortunately it is written in our DNA for us to naturally produce tyrosinase. This is where rice comes to the rescue! Applied as a paste, rice is said to inhibit tyrosinase. I haven't found a study to back it up (I haven't looked yet, doesn't mean that there isnt one available), but there is probably some truth to it considering Asians have been using rice for years to achieve a fairer complexion.

Persimmon contains a whole lot of minerals and vitamins, all helping to create a smooth and healthy complexion. Geisha's used persimmon in mask form to prevent aging, regulate oil production and keep it bright and supple. Persimmons contain compounds called catechins which have anti-infection and anti-inflammatory properties, their numerous amounts of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and lycopene, help to delay ageing, and its mineral content can increase the potency of antioxidant function in the body. Persimmons sound pretty amazing, huh? Although using it as a mask does sound appealing, I think I'd rather eat my persimmon. They're just so delicious :3

Sea salt is used by geishas to exfoliate the skin on their body, keeping it smooth and flawless. Sea salt is made from the evaporation of the water from sea water, meaning the salt contains a bunch of minerals that are beneficial to the skin and can actually hydrate the skin, keeping it plump and smooth, unlike ordinary sodium chloride. Skin can become dry, blotchy, itchy, dull and irritable when it doesn't receive the minerals it needs to stay healthy, and as skin starts to age, its cell to cell communication abilities become slower and less effective. By upping the level of minerals available to the skin cells, cell communication can function at the rate that keeps skin youthful.  Even without scrubbing sea salt manages to slough off dead skin cells, leaving smooth and glowing skin ready to absorb moisture and minerals. Sea salt works best when used in combination with warm water to increase circulation to the skin so the nutrients can be taken to other skin cells via the blood at a faster rate.

Ehh...this post is getting rather long. I shall finish with a few geisha-inspired recipes you can make from ingredients in your kitchen cupboards.

Gentle Face Cleanser/Mask/Scrub

Mix one tablespoon of rice flour with either milk or yoghurt till it forms a smooth paste. Apply this to warm, freshly cleansed skin and leave on for at least 10 minutes or till dry. When you're ready to wash it off, use warm water and remove the mask using your fingertips in circular motions. Pat dry and apply your usual skincare.

The yoghurt/milk contains lactic acid and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, meaning it is useful for cleansing skin, unblocking pores and hydrating skin. The rice flour, although crushed to a fine flour, is still slightly grainy. This makes it a very gentle exfoliator, but don't use too much pressure!

This concoction can be used as a face cleanser, not a make up remover. So after removing your make up, feel free to use this as your last step to your cleansing routine to leave skin soft and bouncy.

Persimmon Mask

Mix one tablespoon of mashed persimmon with one teaspoon of honey and one egg yolk. Apply to clean, warm skin and leave for around 15 to 20 minutes before washing off with warm water.

Honey has anti-microbial properties and can rejuvenate skin after a day in the sun. It's also a humectant, making it great to keep dry skin moisturised.

Egg yolks contain vitamin A which can regulate skin cell growth. It is very common in skincare creams and serums in the form of retinol or retinoids to help unblock pores, support collagen production to help smooth wrinkles and fine lines, and even out pigmentation and skin texture by increasing the rate of cell turnover.

Sea Salt Body Scrub

Mix two tablespoons of sea salt with a little yoghurt to create an exfoliating cream. Massage in circular motions over warm skin, preferably halfway through a shower, then rinse off and finish with body lotion.

I haven't included a specific recipe for camellia oil, but you can always add a little to either of the recipes above and anything you care to concoct for yourself. Camellia oil is rather pricey so I prefer to use it as a moisturiser when I won't need to wash it off for at least the next few hours.

I have finally come to the end of this post.

If you have managed to reach the end, then I would like to congratulate you! :D

I hope you found it informative and have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it ^^

Until next time!

Jia 

x

Dusty Old Blog

It's been a while since I've written a blogpost!

I'm actually rather lazy, writing a post that I would consider worth reading 

takes time, energy, and creativity; these don't always come to me at the right 

time in the right does T_T

However I shall try my best!

I will continue my series of blogposts on various make up items,

please be patient! I will get round to it :D

I've recently decided to change my style a little.

I have a very simple fashion style: striped tops, jeans,

booties, converse, t-shirts, occasionally dresses.

The simple yet clean cuts make for a comfortable, well put-together look,

but it can get a little boring at times.

Hence the change!

I've decided to settle for mode gyaru style.

I've been following Popteen gyaru styles for a while now,

the fashion always looks so cute and their eyes look so big and doe-like.

However, I'm not exactly a teenager anymore and although I'm only in my early 20s,

I just don't think I want to carry a sweetly adorable style.

That's when I found Mode gyaru fashion!

It's edgy, monochromatic, colourful yet simple, all at the same time!

It's also more mature and sleek, perfect for standing out amongst the

more common fashion that people sport in this city without

being overly extravagant.

Ena Mastumoto is probably the most popular gyaru who sports mode fashion

effortlessly. I'll leave you with a few of her outfits and make up looks,

I would show some of my own but I haven't had time to go shopping

and put together some outfits that are even remotely mode.

Gosh I love this look.

Mode make up generally includes a heavier eye, brighter lenses

and a brighter lip.

However there is a more natural version like the one below.

Just as pretty, just a little more suitable for daytime wear.

Flowy shirt, distressed shorts, hot booties and a purse that stands out <3

Although I personally wouldn't wear the trousers (a little too bright for me)

or the shoes (I'm a little iffy when it comes to transparent shoes), 

I do love how the pattern and colour of the trousers jazz up a simple

black top and cardigan. That splash of sparkle from the necklace is just 

perfect, too.

Elegantly simple but the chain adds edge.

This one is great when you don't have time to put something

elaborate together but still want to look sharp.

That's all for now!

I'll be back!

Jia

x

Primer Reviews

I'm finally getting round to reviewing the primers I mentioned in this post here.

I decided to put them all into one post rather than just reviewing them separately.

The same picture I used in the primer post :D

Swatches!

Above I have shown four of the five primers.

The tan coloured one is Benefit's The Porefessional,

the purple one is Catalina Geo's Colour Capsule Make Up Base,

the pale yellow is Soap & Glory's Bright Here Bright Now

and the pink one is Benefit's That Gal.

This'll be a rather lenghty post again by the way!

Benefit: The Porefessional

 I currently use this primer nearly everyday.

I apply it to my forehead, nose, chin and cheeks as these are the areas where oil tends to

appear during the day and where I have larger pores.

Benefit claims this primer is airbrushing in a tube as it is able minimise cover large pores

and fine lines. It also is oil-free and includes a Vitamin E derivative to act as an anti-oxidant.

Its ability to minimise pores is, well, minimal to say the least.
The pores which are most visible on my face are on my cheeks, they aren't exactly huge
but are large enough to annoy me. After applying the primer over them, I can
barely see any difference in pore size. My base also settles into the fine lines
around my mouth too.

You're probably now wondering why I'm even bothering with it?

Well to be honest, a little foundation cleverly applied will mask my pores and I'll

just have to keep a close eye on the foundation creasing, so I'm not to bothered that

the primer doesn't do what it claims.

The only reason I started using this primer to begin with was because of it's oil controlling

properties. My forehead often gets greasy and leaves my skin feeling rather uncomfortable

so I decided I needed something to help, and this primer definitely does help in that

department! Sure there is still some oil production (that's just normal bodily functions)

but my forehead is definitely less greasy come midday compared to when I

don't use the primer.
It does also leave my skin looking smoother, too.

Catalina Geo's Colour Capsule Make Up Base

My sister bought this primer from Hong Kong and I'd never actually heard of the

brand before, but I decided to steal it off her and give it a go :D

Even though the actual product in the tube looks like lots of little purple

balls suspended in a clear serum (or essence as they state on the site),

when you pump the primer out it comes out as a grainy textured purple blob.

This originally annoyed me a little as I wanted to squish the little balls myself,

but I guess by ready-squishing them, you get a more even ratio of serum to colour.

When you first spread the product, the texture will initially seem uneven but if

you continue to blend the serum will smooth out.

The base contains SPF (I think it's SPF40++), contains a botanical ingredient
called Royalhersome that lends resilience to your skin, 

moisturises your skin and of course colour corrects it.

The product comes in three different colours: green to camouflage redness,

blue to cover freckles, pigmentation and age spots and purple is used to brighten a complexion

neutralising the yellow undertones in the skin.

When I started using this primer, my main concern was my dull looking skintone and

the need for something with high sun protection. 

I'm not entirely sure if it does neutralise the yellow undertones as the first thing I noticed

was that it left a faint faint cast over my skin due to its high SPF content.

However I continued using it for a while purely for the SPF and because foundation

applied smoothly over it, which basically corrected the white cast it left.

Soap & Glory's Bright Here Bright Now

 Although it's not technically marketed as a primer, I like to use it as one, mainly because
I generally never go out without a foundation.
The primer is golden in colour, has a sort of fruity yet woody (in my opinion) sort of scent
and has lots of shimmers visible.
This one is best if youre skin is rather dry and you need a little something more
than just your original moisturiser to help your foundation apply smoothly.
It contains apricot kernal oil and aloe vera which help contribute to its moistursing
properties; the primer also contains shimmers and a firming complex to help brighten and
lift your complexion, but I couldn't see much of an illuminating effect to be fair, and I
don't use it often enough to see the lifting effects.
The Boots site also states it contains orange essential oil to revive and uplift skin.

I use this primer whenever I have patches of dry flaky skin that just won't go away,
and somehow this primer actually works!
My foundation applies without catching onto any dry flakes, nor do the
shimmers help accentuate the dryness either :D
Although to be honest, the shimmers disappear once you apply
it to your skin anyway.
However if you're looking for something that will really lift and brighten on its own,
this primer may not fit the bill perfectly.

Benefit's That Gal
I decided to buy this after the MUA persuaded me to sit down and let her try out

different products on me. This was one of them, along with You Rebel tinted moisturiser.

When the MUA tried this product of me my skin looked positively more radiant so

I decided to let it come home with me.

Needless to say I could never recreate the glow with the primer XD

Either MUAs have some skill that only they can dish out, or perhaps the shop

lighting is just deceiving?

The primer contains raspberry, chamomile, sweet almond and algae extracts to

sooth skin and help it retain its natural moisture, and has light reflecting pigments

to brighten the face (all taken from the Boots website).

I can't seem to find any trace of shimmer when I study the primer, but I guess it

could be like the YSL Touche Eclat where the highlighter has no visible
shimmers but somehow highlights.

I actually really like the pink colour, it's so girly and cute ^^

I'm also very partial to the smell. It's sort of like a fresh bubblegum scent.
I don't use this primer very pften because it never seems to make much
of a difference, except making me a little happier when I catch a whiff of
the cent when I apply it.
Other than that I can't say it does much for making my skin look
healthy and radiant, with or without a foundation.
However, like the Soap and Glory Bright Here Bright Now,
it does add moisture to the skin and stops the foundation from catching onto any dry flakes.
So if you have money to spare, want your skin to be more moist
for foundation application and aren't looking for a product that will make you go
'wow my skin is glowing!', you can always try this out.

 L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer

Last but not least, is the primer above. It's not a very good photo and I didn't swatch it,
but it's basically a pale, baby pink, very dense squishy textured mousse.
It's main purpose, like Benefit's The POREfessional, is to mask lines, pores
and uneven skin texture, leaving skin silky and matte.

I actually really like this primer. I got it ages ago but never really appreciated it up until
now when I decided to let it live a better life.
I pick some up with my fingertips, smear the primer on my fingertips to warm
up the primer a little and make it easier to smooth onto my skin.
Again, I concentrate on my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.
This primer imparts a really nice, smooth finish to your skin; also it's oil
controlling properties are not bad either.
Its ability to cover pores are marginally better than Benefit's, but
still isn't amazing. Howeveh for the perfect primer continues ^^"
Just as a bit of trivia, apparently this primer can be applied
around the mouth to stop lipstick from bleeding.
I can't really vouch for this though as I never wear lots of lipstick out,
just a stain most of there time.

Overall, I think my favourite primer is either Benefit's POREfessional or
L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer.
Both of these help control the oil my skin produces and impart a soft focus
effect to my skin.
However, I'm still looking for a primer that fills pores and lines
and keeps them filled throughout the day!

And you have reached the end of this extremely long winded post!
I wonder how many of you will actually reach this point?
I hope this review will be of use to at least some of you though!

Hope you're all having a good weekend!
Jia
x

Limited Edition Dollywink Eyelash Set Review

I decided to take the jump and buy myself some Dollywink eyelashes.

I'm the type of person to hoard make up and such, and then be too self conscious to actually wear

something out on the streets that doesn't follow my usual make up routine.

One of the items that I generally won't wear are fake eyelashes.

I've got a small-ish collection, I suppose. Two boxes of 10 pairs of lashes..some single pairs..

and now to add to the collection are Dollywink's No.2 Sweet Girly and No.6 Baby Cute.

The lash set

The limited edition pack includes just one pair of No.2 and No.6 and also the eyelash case in lilac.

So obviously, today I will be reviewing this entire item.

My first impressions of the No.2 lashes is that they are very pretty but VERY LONG.
By long I mean both the fibre length and lash band length.

Definitely not for everyday wear unless you like to really stand out.

The No.6 lashes are very cute though, albeit rather difficult to handle without

a pair of tweezers. It'll take a short while to get used to applying them, and make take a few
goes before you know where to best place them. They can also look slightly odd if worn on their own, hence they must be balanced out with longer upper lashes, unless of course that's the look you are trying to achieve. If you already have long upper lashes, then you're pretty much all set to use these
by themselves; however if you're not so lucky and have shorter lashes or are going for a droopy eye gyaru look, you may need to use some upper falsies.

Comparison!

Above I have taken a picture where I have applied the lashes to just one eye.

The lashes do make a significant difference to your eyes, especially in heightening their level of glam.

Below I have included pictures where I am wearing the lashes on both eyes and from different
angles so you can appreciate how they will be viewed by others and just how long the upper
lashes really are. If the bottom lashes look off to you, it's because it's the very first time I've tried
using them : )

Both eyes with No.6 and No.2

View from a slight angle

Downwards view

  In all honesty, I really like these lashes. It's just a shame that my eyes stand out
way beyond my comfort zone when I wear this style of eye make up.
Although I guess I could just ease myself into it?

These probably are the best lashes I've bought so far. The thin, clear and flexible band of No.2
makes applying them so much easier than the other lashes I own and they really are super lightweight!
Of course they still cast a shadow over my vision due to the sheer length of them, but they
are comfortable to wear and don't poke the corners of my eyes.
As I've mentioned earlier, the band length is longer than any of the other lashes I own,
which makes them especially suitable for the gyaru look that Tsubasa so often wears.
(Of course, Tsubasa created them for the purpose of gyaru make up anyway.)
The fibres used for the hairs are very soft and have a gentle curve. They don't look very
shiny in real life, but under the flash of a camera they can exhibit an slight unnatural shine.

The No.6 lashes are split up into six individual sections, the outer portions have a slightly
thicker fibre design whereas the inner portions have a finer fibre design. This helps to make them
look slightly more natural when wearing them, but then again these lashes will never look natural anyway.
The lash bands are made of the same thin, clear plastic as the No.2 lashes and also feel very
lightweight, so no pokey feeling either.

So will I ever repurchase these lashes?
I most probably will, that's if I ever wear them enough to the point of needing a replacement.

The set also came with the lash case shown below. I'm on the fence about this
product.

Dollywink lilac lash case

Inside of case

 Firstly I do love that the box has two compartments, a cute polka dotdesign and a secure snap fastening. It is also a good size and can fit lots of lashes inside, perhaps
a small tube of glue and some mini tweezers; and also looks very cute amongst my make up.
However I do find that the box is made of a lightweight, rather cheap plastic. It reminds me
of a child's jewellery box. Also the hinge is basically just the plastic thinned down so it can be
folded over. I just get the feeling that it's the type of hinge that will start to wear and snap after a while.
The design on the lid is printed on with a sort of paint that seems it will scratch and fade
very easily if extra care isn't taken.

I know it seems like I'm nitpicking but with all the hype that accompanies these
products, I really did expect a better quality product, such as a hinge with sturdier
metal components.

I'm not completely sure if I will repurchase this if mine breaks,
I might end up finding something more suitable or perhaps I will
succumb to its cuteness again if I find it at a bargain price.

Overall I guess I would say I am happy with the eyelashes but the
lash case could do with some improvements.

I have reached the end of my long and rambly review.
Hopefully it didn't bore you too much and can be of help
to some of you
^^

Signing out!

Jia
x

Face Make up, Lesson 1: Primers

I just randomly decided to make a series of posts about the different aspects of make up.
Maybe some people who are new to make up will learn something, or maybe it'll just be a fun read for you.
I'll try to keep everything concise but then again I do like to ramble so this is your warning :D


There are generally mixed views about primers. Some people don't bother with them
at all and just think it's an extra layer to bother with and extra money spent,
whereas other people couldn't live without them.


Primers have been made to produced for different purposes:

• Covering redness
• Brightening up a sallow complexion
• Smoothing out pores, fine lines and uneven skin texture.
• Controlling oil production
• Creating a protective base between skin and foundation
• As a sunscreen

The primers for covering redness are mainly green coloured as green is
known to neutralise red.  

Purple or pink primers are for brightening a dull complexion. Sallow complexions
are caused by yellow undertones and purple primers help to lift the
complexion by counteracting the yellow. Pink primers add a subtle
glow to help brighten any face. Some brightening primers also
contain small amounts of pearl/shimmer to add an iridescent touch to the skin.

Primers for smoothing the complexion and hiding large pores are
mostly silicon based.  The silicon helps to temporarily fill out the pores and fine
lines, creating a much smoother base for your foundation to be applied over
and preventing caking of the foundation.

Finding yourself with an oily forehead at midday can be extremely irritating, hence
lots of people turn to primers to help absorb excess oil during the day.

Other times, some people will see foundation as being harmful to the skin if applied directly
to it, which is why they like to use a base to act as a protective layer.

This ones a no brainer, primers with sunscreen are obviously used as sun protection.


Of course, once you've chosen your which area you want to target
with your primer, you're going to need to choose one (duh).
There are so many out there, it can be a little overwhelming.
Here I've listed a couple of brands and links to the different primers they have,
ranging from drugstore to high end.

NYX - they have a range of four primers and the HD Studio Photogenic Primer
has received some awesome reviews. Click here for the NYX site.

L'oreal Paris has a nice range of primers, tending to problems all listed above.
Click here to see the range.

Smashbox's range of primers appear rather popular amongst bloggers,
with the Photo Finish Foundation Primer being the favourite. They have a rather larger range, click here to see, but carry a high price tag. 

MAC carry their Prep and Prime range which provides primers targeted for all parts
of the face and all sorts of complaints. They have a lip primer, one for oil control, one for brightening and even powders to really set the make up. Check them out here. 

There are obviously many many MANY more brands out there
with their own primers, some that work better than others,
some that may work for others but  leave others digusted.
I highly suggest looking around online for reviews by people who have
a similar skin type to yourself and always trying the testers (on your hands of course) if available.


Underneath are the primers that I currently own myself.
I haven't included reviews for them this time round as it'll just make this post longer than it already needs to be. 
I will be doing reviews for these soon though ^^

Primers!

That's the end of my primer post!

This is my first post about make up so if you have any tips

to help me improve my posts, please comment below ^^

Thanks for reading!

Jia

x

IMATS 2012

I'm a girl, I love make up. Although my interest in purchasing cosmetics has waned a little (I spent the last year of sixth form buying fake eyelashes, and the first two years of uni buying at least one piece of make up every two weeks ^^"), I still love playing with make up, experimenting with different ways of applying it and trying out different brushes. Before anyone gets at me and says I used my students loans and grants on make up rather than books blah blah blah, I actually had a part time job throughout my uni studies, ok?

Back to the actual main topic, the IMATS! My sister bought us tickets to go, and although the atmoshphere wasn't exactly amazing, it was still a really fun day. Even though I didn't want to buy any make up, I was interested in getting some creams and cleansers. Below is my haul from the IMATS.

HAUL!

I bought two tubes of Embryolisse Lait-creme concentre (it also came with a smaller version but I gave that to my mother), Embryolisse Lotion Micellaire, a bottle of Bioderma Crealine H20, and the perfect skin brush set from adesign. 

I was really excited to find Embryolisse would have its own stall there; I absolutely love the lait-creme concentre, it offers a good amount of moisture and keeps my skin soft. It's definitely one of my favourite moisturisers, along with L'occitane's Mom and Baby cream (OMG that stuff is seriously dream in a tube!)

For anyone who hasn't tried it yet but wants to, please note it does contain mineral oil, and to those who don't like it like I do, please remember that I have dry skin : )

I bought the micellar lotion and Bioderma cleanser after reading about them online and wanted to try them out, I shall do some reviews for them after I've used them a little more ^^

I wasn't really expecting to buy any make up brushes, but after molesting a couple and finding out how SOFT some of them were, I just really wanted some. Both my sister and I got the perfect skin set, I only really wanted the flat top foundation brush (the third one down in the picture) but it was a better deal to get the whole set and the cute mock crocodile skin pouch it came with sealed the deal XD I've read good reviews about the flat top foundation brush and the pointed kabuki brush, but shall review them fully when I've had a play with them all ^^

Overall although it was a great day, there were lots of make up artists creating ugly masterpieces on models (ugly as in monstrous creations for things like horror movies), one of the brands made a model look like a Hindu goddess (I'm not sure if that's what they were going for but it sure looked like it), and other models who were made and dressed up with fantasy style costumes. I don't have pictres for those unfortunately, my sister does but I can't be bothered to ask her for them XD

So that's the end of this long post!

Tomorrow is Valentines day!

I know lots of you will say it's too commercialised nowadays, or what's the point of going along with it with your other half seeing as you're already with them so obviously they'll be your valentine yada yada yada, but I'm sure there are also lots of you out there who are into all the smudgy wudgy stuff too!

I haven't actually bought my boyfriend anything yet because the things that he wants hasn't been released, so instead I'll be baking him some cookies tonight and will just have to wait for his gifts ^^

Hope you'll be having a great day either way!

Jia

x

Cooking Attempts!

I decided to attempt making mochi again last week, but with mung bean filling rather than red bean (the cupboard ran out of red beans). It was kind of a success, minus the fact that they look sort of ugly...but hey at least I actually got the filling into it this time round! My other attempts left me with stiff coloured mochi balls so I couldn't exactly mould them around the bean filling...but the other half still ate the unfilled mochi balls. He said it's because he likes the taste of glutinous rice flour, which I'm sure he does, but I know that the other main reasons are that he didn't want my hard work to go to waste and he didn't want to hurt my feelings XD

Mochi mochi mochi

That's them! Not too shabby for a er...3rd attempt XD

Please ignore the paper in the background :D

Before my mochi attempt, my mum brought home a load of mushrooms so I decided to make mushroom pate! It turned out delicious, it had a nice garlicky hint to it ^^ But it didn't exactly look pretty and I forgot to take a picture ^^" I did make rosemary and cranberry crackers to go with it though and I took a picture of those! These were actually really good, and a great way to use up those cranberries that have been sitting motionless in the cupboard for ages.

Crackers!

Hope you had a good weekend!
Jia

x