Hong Kong is filled with independent boutiques and it's great to shop locally. Unfortunately, the rent in Hong Kong is extremely high, if a business can stay open for over a year it's considered a success here. This makes it more difficult for small business owners, but luckily Hong Kong has a great aray of boutiques and social media also makes it easier for independent owners to promote their items through facebook or Instagram.

I love browsing through the independent sellers and seeing what they have to offer. Boutiques gives you a different choice and sometimes you find something incredibly unique. I picked up these items a few weeks ago at a few places, the cat ring was from a plaza in Kwai Chung that is full of independent sellers. The inspirational postcard is hand written and drawn lovingly by a typography seller, with one of the best quotes. As if I need anymore necklaces? I couldn't help myself from buying this space rock, yet the picture doesn't do this necklace justice as it has subtle colours that show whenever the light hits it.

A few of my favourite independent shopping centres:
Trendy Zone - 潮流特區. Address: 580A Nathan Road, Mong Kok
Island Beverly Store-金百利廣場, Address: 1 Great George Street, Causeway Bay
Kwai Chung Plaza- 葵涌廣場, Address: 7-11 Kwai Foo Road, Kwai Chung, Kwai Fong
D2 Marketplace weekends, Address: 9 Cheung Yee Street, Lai Chi Kok

Throwback Thursday: Hong Kong photo diary

Seeing as it's a Thursday and I recovered some old pictures from my other memory card, I thought it would be nice to share some photos from Hong Kong. This year I want to show case more of my pictures too and improve the quality.

For the girl who should move on

You take a path and you reach the middle and can only take one route. By the side is an old man, and he tells you that if you take the left path- and he will give you map and you will be able to find a way out of the dead end. Whereas, the right path, it will guide you to a dead end where it will take you a long time to figure out how to get out.

It’s a no brainer right? You would choose the left path for sure. However, if we apply this theory to the affairs of the heart, I think most of us lean towards the right path, we decide to keep on going down this unknowing path, not sure what the outcome will be but we waste our time on the right path thinking we will be able to find our way out. Reality hits, and thinks that the left path should have been my first choice but surely it’s too late now? We cling on to this hope, the hope that we will find our way out of there, or in real terms, that the person you desperately are clinging on to will show you the affection you've been wanting.

I think I’ve been fighting between the two paths lately, lying to myself thinking that I chose the left path- having the map and directions to get out, when really all along I’ve been stuck on the right path, not sure where I’m going. It's not a bad thing, please don't take it as a bad thing, sometimes we need to be stuck somewhere, not quite know where to go so we can figure out a way out of there.

I want to make a choice, and choose the left one, to take the directions and get out. Let's not stay in here anymore.

'She lost him. But she found herself, and somehow that was everything.' 

*For the girl posts are a series of posts dedicated for the girl who needs a little guidance, a little reminder and a push to always achieve 

Our Year in Review- 2015

What a year 2015 was! We've learned, laughed, been frustrated, loved, travelled, changed. Here's are some of our favourite highlights from 2015:

Sophia

2015 really felt like a year when I overcame my fears. I ran my first marathon, achieved some of my goals and got over broke down my fear of rejection. I embraced the quote 'everything you want is on the other side of fear'. Previously, I was scared of a lot of things and I got the chance to overcome them in 2015.

I realised that I needed to start believing in myself and I could achieve the things that I want to do, previously I would of never thought that I could complete and run a marathon but I did. To never give up on something because it's difficult, to open up a bit more and to try new things. My favourite moments from 2015? Seeing Ed Sheeran live in concert, ticking off three new places on my travel list- Amsterdam, Malaysia and Philippines, visiting even more places in Hong Kong and enjoying and appreciating my family and friends. I really loved 2015, it was a big learning curve for me, full of ups and downs but overall a great year. Especially in the life lessons of realising nothing is perfect and happiness is a state of mind rather than a goal. 2015 was a big year of reflection for me and to overcome the limitations that I had put on myself.

Things that I will take for 2016? To keep on dreaming of new goals and trying to fulfil them, look after myself better- my brain and my body, being a better person towards society and to find something worth waking up for each morning. 2016 I'm totally ready for you, here's to another hopefully self-improving year.

Posts closest to my heart for 2015:
The Blind Pursuit of Happiness
For the girl who should say how she feels
The Illusion of Perfection
For the girl who fears everything 
UN Global Goals

---

Apple

1. I paid my rent on time every month, ate a lot of good food, and had no regrets.

2. I finished my first 10km marathon.

3. I was promoted at work.

4. I made friends I could trust and who really cared.


5. I was healthy physically and mentally.

6. I went for countless walks, and met many dogs.



7. I set myself a goal for the year and achieved it.

8. I visited some beautiful places in Hong Kong.



9. I celebrated special days with my loved ones.



10. I helped to organise the company's annual dinner, and it was really fun. But I don't want to organize it again.



11. The annoying bf make me laugh every single day.

12. I went on a one night trip to Macau with my university mates and we they behaved like kids.



13. I pampered myself and went for a luxury balayage hair treatment.



14. We visited family in Singapore and we spent a day in Universal Studio, the Zoo & the Night Safari.



15. I went home and hugged my lovely Bobo & Gigi.



Overall 2015 was a very jovial year for me, there was nothing bad about it (that I could remember) other than work frustrations - but hey that's inevitable.

For 2016, I've set myself three new goals, they're mostly about learning more and self-improvement. Well, I'm looking forward to sharing all the good stuff with you this year, and I hope you have a great one yourself :)