Kikki K 2014 - Inserts Review

So last week I purchased my 2014 inserts for my personal size. It was a snap impulse buy, but whatever.

I posted my 'haul' on facebook and had some requests to blog about my thoughts and do a pen test.

Let's get started!

My local store likes hiding these types of things on me, I can never find them and always have to ask. The packing the insets come in is nothing to write home about just a plain plastic slip, but for $15, one can't complain as that is cheap for inserts compared to the Filofax and Collins inserts.
I also love the fact they start in the first few weeks of December - right before uni starts for summer so I can use them sooner!

The only layout they offer in personal size is week on two pages which is what I have been using most of the year.

Hopefully you can see this clearly, these are 3am photos.
Each day has faint lines on it so you can write neatly, each day also has a birthdays line, so you wont have an excuse to ever forget.

Week on two pages layout
 

Monthly View

I don't know if I am going to use these, the boxes are tiny!!! It also makes it really hard to write in when you are left handed like me.
I think I may need to purchase the Filofax horizontal monthly inserts or make my own.

The Pen Test

I know a few people were interested to see what pens would bleed through, I was really surprised. The quality of the paper is so much better then the Filofax inserts and I also think they are better then the Collins inserts I've been using.

Now, I do not own a lot of fancy pens. I am a huge love of the Pilot Frixion range though.



Pens Used



Flip side, not as much bleed through, just a bit of shadowing - I can live with that



This is the flip side of the paper with it held up to the lamp in my room.

There is however one thing I find slightly annoying is that there are these black banners on certain pages. Nothing a sticker can't cover. I just find them annoying as it cuts out some of the writing space in the day. A nice gesture, just annoying.

Have you planned what you will be using for 2014?
x
 

Confession: We need to talk...

Now, let's be a little bit serious here (for just a second, I promise)

I thought it was important to post this now as I delve further into the world of Australian politics within my own life , university life and blogging life.

I have a bit of a confession to tell you all... I am a Wikileaks Party member.

I have decided upon this in the last few weeks after being very unhappy for various reasons with the main two political parties that have governed Australia in my lifetime.

Why?

This years election has brought out a fierce streak in me, I had a very intense argument with a friend of 15 years over politics, although we made up a few weeks later, our friendship has never been the same and never will be, because unlike the impression I get from her, I believe people do not have to apologise for their opinions.

It is no secret I am not a fan of Australia's Liberal Party, for a number of reasons.  

My up bringing was/still is quite middle class, I'm not very fancy, I don't bring in huge sums of money, I live at home, so one would think that I would be a Labor Party Supporter, which I was up until this election. It is also important to note that I did vote for them. (we will come back to this)

I would like to share with you the turmoil I had when I arrived to the polling booth on election day I saw, what has become quite a life changing event.

Looking at the table cloth as people refer to the senate ballot sheet was 'Wikileaks Party'...I was quite taken back as I had not heard very much about a party being formed.

I had been a admirer of the work Wikileaks did when they released the cables of the wars. I always remember seeing Assange on the news and being;

1. Very proud of him for being so brave and taking a stand
2. rebelling against the superpower of the world
3. supporting whistleblowing
4. changing the world

Something inside me resonates with Julian Assange, he is your everyday common Australian bloke who is taking on the super powers of the world, and scaring the crap out of them. The combative side in me adores stories and people like this, I also think the core fundamentals of his actions embodies the Australian spirit. (and yes, that rambling went through my mind above this went through my mind while standing there trying to vote. )

I couldn't just leave to polling booth without filling in my ballot papers, I was really torn on who to vote for, but in the end my upbringing and lack of knowledge of the Wikileaks Party made me vote Labor for the Senate.

However, in the past 2 months I have been spurred on to do more research on Wikileaks, Julain Assange and the Wikileaks Party. Looking at studying politics I had a notion of joining a party, although I wasn't very happy with either major political party within my country I decided I needed to bit the bullet and join Wikileaks.

I believe in what they stand for, their mission statement reads - "[Wikileaks Party] objectives which include the protection of human rights and freedoms; transparency of governmental and corporate action, policy and information; recognition of the need for equality between generations; and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination."I think these are important factors that need to be addressed particularly on the level of the Senate, as they really do rule the roost when it comes to decisions.

Will people disagree with me? Yes. There is a lot of people out there who do not agree with the action of Wikileaks. Trust me I have read them.

Do I care if people disagree? Not really.
We live in a society that is supposed to be democratic I am free to think, act and do what I please within ethical and lawful restrictions. Joining a political party may not be high on every 21 year olds agenda, but it is on mine.

I am smart enough to know that there is no one, no party in politics that is crystal clear, politics can be a dirty game played on a public level, however I believe, our society in Australia allows free thinking, which allows me to vote, or even share my opinion on politics on the internet. So now you all know.

Thanks for reading. x






 

Week 43!

What a week it has been, second last week for uni..WHOOOO!!! count down is on!

I've had a rather dramatic week, my pitch project for marketing was due on Monday, which my group was scrambling all day to complete. Our presentation was a bit of a disaster, but I think we should be okay, the tutor laughed the whole way through our presentation, and luckily my waffling skills got us through the dreaded Q&A section of a presentation.

Oh and to top this dramatic week of studying off, I received a email from the maths subject coordinator asking me to come and speak to him as he doesn't think I would pass the unit.  It resulted in me withdrawing from maths all together.

It sucks because now I will have another Failed Withdrawn unit on my transcript (long story) but at the end of the day it makes me less stressed and also gives me a chance to boost my marks in my final exams as I wont be dedicating most of my time to maths. Which will hopefully boost my GPA - which I only found out how important it is after that meeting on Wednesday.

So there is my week in a nutshell. Winding down a bit which is nice, but I know this is the calm before the storm, which is exams.

 

Life Decsisions: Swapping Degrees

sorry blog - o - sphere, you are going to get many blog posts from me today.

Ever had one of those heart wrenching finds from your past? Well I did a few weeks ago.

I found a bit of paper from high school (yes I keep things like that) that had our ambitions in life for the next 10 years.
Whilst I know life changes in an instant there is still part of me that wishes whole heartily that I followed the path that I had set out when I was 15, as it seems pretty awesome.

I won't share with you everything on that bit of paper but I will pick out a few points of the things I wanted to do by age 25.

• I want to be out of home, either in my own house or close to buying a house.
• I want to have a degree in Political Science
• I want to travel

There are a few other little things that really resonate with me still to this day.

So this brought me to my latest life decision. I decided I am going to swap degrees at uni, as it is a start to what I hope will unfold from the list above.

So I will now end up graduating with a Bachelor in Commerce - majoring in Human Resources with a minor Bachelor of Arts - Politics and International relations.

Yep, try saying that to everyone new you meet each semester!

I am really excited about the change, this semester has been rather horrible, I lost all motivation to do most things for uni. Studying marketing has taken its toll on me. It definitely wasn't what I expected, nor am I very good at it either.

I am so excited for the next coming year at uni, I think this is such a positive change that I needed. It will also push me further into the field of trade unions - which is where I think I would like to end up.

If you made it this far into my rambling, well done. Thanks for listening. :)  

 

My week 41 & 42

Oh hi, long time no see right?

I have been super busy the past three weeks, uni work, bush fire drama, sickness, motivation levels etc;

Here is my week 41.

I must say I really love the washi I used (from Kmart) I think it is super cute!
It was a super busy week, preparing the final details for my final projects due the next week for uni.

This week doesn't look so busy, but it was long and tyring, my HRM report and presentation was on Wednesday.

39 paged report, 6 weeks of group meetings, 15 mins presentation and finally handing it! Felt AMAZING!!!!

Then there was of course the bush fires that ripped through NSW on Thursday - terribly shocking and devastating to the community I live in.
I am safe, but over 200 families have lost their house in the Blue Mountains. A devastating event.
If you have a spare $10 - please donate it to the Salvation Army, to aid them in rebuilding these peoples lives. www.salvationarmy.org.au/Donate  

I also, just wanted to say a huge thank you, to everyone involved in putting out these fires, especially the Fire-fighters and volunteers. God bless all of you!

Another thank you to everyone who sent me text messages, Facebook messages and called to check if my family was okay. It's heart-warming.

Remember to stay alert and diligent when there is a fire. Stay safe people! x
 

I'm still here!

I haven't disappeared! I've been super busy, between uni, bush fires, life, sickness.. normally blogging will resume this weekend.

hope you are happy, safe and well xx

Week 40

Another week has been brought to a close.

What a looooong week. In terms of decoration this week it has been kept to a minimum, although it doesn't look like a busy week, it certainly was! I find the busier I am the less I use my planner...strange!

As you can see, I've been watching Gossip Girl, finally watched the last season - the truth was revealed (although I read it online when it was first released) felt like my teenage years were well and truly over with the conclusion of the show.