Celebrating Happy Moments with Kikki.K Stationery - One Journal At A Time

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Shopping at Kikki.K in Hong Kong was a great experience (you can read about it here), but what I love more is how their journals carry a positive message that we can always find something good or something we can be thankful for all around us.  When life throws us a curve ball and we feel like nothing's going the right way, these little notebooks and journals remind us that maybe the glass is just half full.

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My Happiness Is...

Is It Just Me?  Sometimes it really feels like nothing is working and everyone is driving me crazy...have you ever felt that way?  I use this little notebook from time to time to help calm me down. 

Glass Half Full  A recurring theme among Kikki.K's collections is the idea that life is a glass half full.  Kristina, the founder, had a rough start on her business, but with support from her family and a positive attitude, she kept going and turned her dream into reality.  This little book of happy things is an example of Kikki.K's message - It's a space for writing down happy thoughts, things that make us smile, things that remind us of the happiness around us - in big and small doses - we sometimes look past.

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I Am Thankful For...

Keeping a Gratitude Journal  Sometimes life gets crazy and stressful and I find myself complaining about things more than ever.  I really don't want to live my life like this, so I google around and start reading about gratitude journals.  It's a small and simple lifestyle adjustment that I'm willing to try.  Since then, I've been starting off my day with a gratitude journal entry.  This quiet moment allows me the time to slow down and appreciate all the great people I'm surrounded with.  It's a great way to start the day with a smile on my face.  I know this concept may not work for everyone at first glance...but do give it a try for couple weeks and you'll see the transformation.

More Than Just A Journal  Kikki.K's gratitude journal is a little different or should I say a little more than just a journal.  It gives me space to develop a holistic approach before I dive into writing down my daily gratitude thoughts.  An example is the reverse bucket list - Writing down what I've already accomplished in life, what makes me happy, and what I'm proud of.  It's a small switch in mindset - The result is a positive energy that fuels even more creativity, ambition, and curiosity.   

Stay Consistent  For the gratitude entries, there is one tab per month and pages for entries within each monthly tab.  It helps me stay consistent in keeping my entries.

Small Reminders  I also enjoy reading the little reminders at the bottom of these pages.

Inspirations  And finally, the inspirational quotes throughout this journal serve as encouragement that even when life gets tough, there is always something we can be thankful for. 

This one is my favorite. 

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Writing Down Those Random Thoughts...

This fruity-themed notebook is in the same collection as the "My Little Journal of Happy Things".  It's great for writing down those random thoughts or blog ideas that pop into my head from time to time.  All the cute images/graphics make it fun to use this notebook, too.  

Don't Lose That Great Idea  I have a habit of keeping a notebook with me most of the time, so that I can write down the thoughts as soon as they come to mind.  When I'm done with my yellow Moleskin, I'll start using this cutie.  And staying true to Kikki.K's positive message, words of encouragement are spread throughout this notebook. 

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Thanks so much for letting me share with you my love for stationery and, more importantly, some of the lifestyle changes I've gone through.  I'm always looking for ways to improve myself...would love to know some of the things you practice to live life to the fullest!

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Kikki.K - Exploring This Stationery Heaven in Hong Kong

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Sometimes our great travel moments happen when we're not really looking.  Kikki.K was one of those for me while spending time in Hong Kong.  I was actually looking for another store in the Times Square mall when I came across the boutique.  And since I'm a huge stationery fan, I had to go in there!

Kikki.K's founder, Kristina Karlsson, founded the brand because she wasn't able to find her beloved Swedish stationery designs in Australia where she was living.  Also, she was at a crossroad between continuing her un-enjoyable career and creating her own dream career.  She of course chose the latter.  Kristina's story is quite inspirational and many of her products are drawn from her own journey and experiences.  It's definitely worth watching her short 4:36 minutes video.  Even if you don't like her products, you can still learn a few valuable life lessons from her.

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a Cozy space for exploration

Kikki.K's boutique has minimalist style. Nevertheless, it's open, warm, and very welcoming.  The dim and soft lighting makes it a very cozy space. 

Each collection is neatly showcased on the shelves while little display table encourages everyone to touch and feel the products.  If you have lived in or visited Hong Kong, being allowed to open the packaging and touch the products before buying them is rare.  I'm happy that Kikki.K is showing the Hong-Kongers a more interactive shopping experience.  I also want to say that the store associate was so nice and easygoing, which added to the great experience.

Interactive displays allowing customers to touch and feel the products.

Greeting cards galore.

"You can never have too many pens."

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can I have everything please?

I have a hard time deciding what to buy, or should I say, what not to buy here.  Luckily, Kikki.K does ship to the U.S. via their website.  They also ship to the U.K., Singapore, Sweden, New Zealand, and of course, Australia.

I end up purchasing a few journals.  You know that saying, "don't judge a book by its cover"?  Even though these journals already have super cute covers, there's so much more on the inside pages.  Also, each journal has a different focus or purpose, but the overall theme is always about finding happiness in places you'd least expect it and appreciating more of what surrounds us everyday.  Here's s snapshot and I'll be talking more about each journal in the next post!  Be sure to check back in this week.

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hong kong store location

The Hong Kong store I visited is located on the B2 level (second basement level) at the Times Square shopping mall in Causeway Bay neighborhood.  Using MTR (Hong Kong's subway system), get off at the Causeway Bay station.  The Island Line (blue) stops at this station.  Look for bilingual exit signage pointing toward Times Square.  The station is connected to the mall via underground walkways.

Thanks for stopping by!

Are you also into stationery? What are your favorite brands?

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Last Lamps Standing - Hong Kong Duddell Street Steps & Gas Lamps

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During this past visit home, I played tourist for a little bit.  The Duddell Street Steps and the gas lamps is one of those places I've actually never been to even though it's right in my own backyard! 

Scandalous past of the duddells

Duddell Street was named after the brothers George and Frederick Duddell.  George emigrated from Macau to Colonial Hong Kong in 1841.  His scandalous story began when he became the owner of the first opium monopoly in Hong Kong.  He secured a beneficial friendship with an important law enforcement authority, which essentially allowed him to make loads of money from buying lands for cheap.  At one point, he was the third largest land owner in the British Colony and his properties included many of the plots around Duddell Street.  Why a street would be named after what we would considered today as a criminal is beyond me, but I suppose Mr. Duddell was an influential figure during his time in Colonial Hong Kong, having ties with the high society.

The Last Four Gas Lamps Standing 

The Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps collectively play an important role in preserving Hong Kong's British Colonial past.  While the granite Duddell Street Steps were built between 1875 and 1889, there is no official record of when the four gas lamps located on each end of the Steps were installed.  The only information we have today is that these lamp belonged to the "two-light Rochester" models produced in 1922 by Suggs & Co..  What's also unique about the lamps is that these are the only 4 remaining gas lamps in Hong Kong as all other gas lamps in the city were replaced by electric lamps after WWII.  

Declared Monument 

The Duddell Street Steps and gas lamps have been declared as a monument by the Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office.  According to its website, once a place has been declared as a monument, the Office has the power to protect the monument, which includes prevention of unauthorized alterations.  Happy to know that this piece of Hong Kong history will be preserved for generations to see.

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Looking Up The Steps - You can still see some remnant of colonial Hong Kong.

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Looking Down - Back to the urban jungle that the city is known for.

 

Guarding a Piece of Hong Kong's History 

The two pairs of gas lamps each located on one end of the Steps.  It's as if they are fiercely protecting this piece of British colonial history of Hong Kong.  This part of town used to be less-populated, but it has since been taken over by high-rise office buildings and now becoming a popular tourist destination thanks to the "Bing Sutt" Starbucks located off the middle level of the Steps (it's one of the specially-designed Starbucks around the world that reflects part of the local history.  Will share this in another story).  

Witness To Many Made-For-TV dramatic scenes

I remember, as a child growing up in Hong Kong, I watched many local TV drama shot on these steps.  The usual storyline is either two lovers quarreled, with one person running away and onto the steps, and then made up in the rain (a must for dramatic effect) or a young man who has been through hardship sitting on the steps with his head down (and possibly beer in his hand) and then getting a much-needed prep talk or a big "wake up" face-slap from a friend or an elder. 

Here's an example - Rain.  Lovers' quarrel.  What did I tell you?

Photo Credit:  http://www.saleoffaz.info/hiking-in-hong-kong-as-tvb-drama.html

some travel tips

MTR vs Taxi  I highly recommend taking the MTR (Hong Kong's subway system).  Everything is written and announced in English and Chinese, so it's very easy for non-Chinese-speaking visitors to use as well.  It's also the cleanest & most modern subway system you'd ever see.  While taxi's are convenient, many taxi drivers do not know the English names of Hong Kong's streets, so it may become an unpleasant experience.

Direction  From MTR, get off at the Central station.  Two lines stop at this station - Island Line (Blue) and Tsuen Wan Line (Red).  See here for a map of the MTR system.  Look for bilingual exit signage that indicates the exit towards "Landmark", which is a shopping mall.  Once inside Landmark Mall, locate the Gucci store on the ground level.  Exit the mall at the ground-level doors near Gucci.  Duddell Street is a tiny street perpendicular to the street you're on and entrance to the street is on the other side of the road from where you stand.  Once on Duddell Street, walk to the end of the road and you'll see the Steps. 

hong kong's unique history

I hope you'll spend a few moments to visit Duddell Street if you are ever in Hong Kong.  It's definitely a special part of Hong Kong's British colonial history and another example of the city's unique "east meets west" melting pot culture. 

Thanks for letting me share this special spot in my hometown with you! What are some of your favorite hidden gems in your hometown?

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