Yay or Nay?

Do you spend your money wisely or frivolously?

If we had unlimited amount of money, we'd buy everything on sight. As shopaholics, you know we're dangerous to ourselves and to society.  Add our obsession, Sanrio, into the mix and it spells disaster. This is why our enablers keep us on a leash. 

Well, at least, mine does...


Here are three products that I'd like to focus on, whether or not it's worth your buck:

Pic Provided by IG

Biore is a company that specializes in skincare products, so that wins my confidence! A rare Sanrio product that comes in liquid form that I wouldn't mind purchasing. Although, it's a cute collaboration, I have a feeling that paranoia Nancy will have something to say that will prevent me from spending my hard earned money. She'll probably mention the glaring fact that I'm just buying it for the My Melody sticker that's pasted on the Biore brand. 

I can hear her now...

paranoia Nancy: you bad, girl! (with a thick Asian accent)

Me: But, Nancy--- 

paranoia Nancy: Waste money! Go buy doll instead!

 With a HK costume? Perfect accessory! 

Stand alone product?

Not everyone is going to associate a bow to the feline cat, especially outside of Asia. When I buy something, I'd like to show off that I am a Hello Kitty lover. I'd like people to know that I'm representing my favorite Sanrio character.

This was sold on Sanrio Japan's website awhile ago

When I buy Kitchen appliances, I expect my Sanrio products to be different from the norm. Pasting a sticker seems like a waste of creativity in terms of character branding design. The designers were probably going for simplicity to attract the adult fans, but what made their kawaii products stand apart from regular standard appliances, was their quirky designs. Most people don't want what everyone else has-- they want to have something that makes their home stand apart from the average suburban home.

How to Clean Plushes

You can read at the original source here or continue reading below.

Stuffe & Nonsense Lore: Cleaning Stuffed Animals

How should I clean plush toys?

Your best plan is not getting the plush in a condition such that it needs cleaning, but since you're already looking for cleaning information I guess it's too late for that. So in the future keep your stuffe away from whatever soiled it this time -- or vice versa. Information here applies only to stuffed animals or plush toys made with a fabric covering of fake fur. The faux fur may be synthetic materials (usually polyester, acrylic or modacrylic) or natural materials (usually wool, wool/cotton, mohair, or alpaca). Objects with a real fur or leather covering would need different treatment.

From making soft sculptures and selling stuffed animals we have had a bit of experience with cleaning, and more from having a house full of plush (about 200, not counting our own handmade stuffed animals in storage or under construction). But most of our cleaning experience came when we were buying and re-selling "previously loved" toys. Quite a few of the recycled animals we sold required various amounts of cleaning and repair after they were rescued from the flea market, garage sale or thrift store. Possibly Candy's greatest cleaning success was salvaging a bag full of soiled unicorns from Southern California.

Note: Stuffe & Nonsense is not responsible for any damage to your toys that may occur from following cleaning suggestions listed here! Any cleaning products you plan to use will probably have a similar disclaimer on their container.

Dusting and preening

These steps aren't really "cleaning" -- rather basic maintenance. But it's good to know about basic maintenance, and any more serious cleaning ends with preening. So we're going to start here anyway.

The basic tools for plush care are a hair brush and a damp cloth. An old terry washcloth is perfect for the damp cloth. Wet the cloth and wring it out well; we're talking damp here, not wet. Get a hair brush to be used only on the plush. Synthetic fur does not need to pick up hair care products transferred from a brush used by people. Brushes with metal bristles, intended for pet care, can work very well on plush but can tear up the backing fabric if not used carefully. You want a brush with well-spaced stiff plastic bristles for most uses.

A vacuum cleaner and a lint roller are additional options for dusting.

Rub the surface of the plush lightly with the damp cloth to clean off dust, pet hair, food crumbs or whatever else has gotten onto the fur. Use the hair brush to straighten and arrange the nap of the plush, fluff flattened fur or smooth ruffled fur. For long fur, use the brush gently to separate snarls. Remember that any hair pulled out with the brush probably will not grow back, so brush gently. The brush will also lift out dust or debris buried in the fur. Give the surface another swipe with the damp cloth after brushing to remove anything the brush lifted.

A lint roller can be used instead of a damp cloth. The lint roller works especially well on pet hair. In our house there are four cats and a dog as well as lots of plush, and plushes that are near cat walkways have to get lint-rolled fairly often.

Pay attention to the style of fur you're working with! Don't brush out a plush surface that is supposed to look felted, tangled or woolly. Stick to lint rollers or vacuums for such material.

Vacuum cleaners

If your plush has accumulated a LOT of dust, you can use a vacuum cleaner on it. First, detach the carpet sweeper. No matter what the vacuum's manufacturer says about short-pile or long-pile adjustments you do NOT want to use that on your plush toy! A dusting brush attachment is good if you've got one, or just use the end of the vacuum hose if you're very deft. Preen with a hair brush and follow behind the brush with the vacuum. If there are costume or accessory parts on the plush, be sure not to suck them into the vacuum.

Immediate cleanup

You can minimize later cleanup woes by promptly handling any spills that get on a plush surface. If something liquid lands on a stuffed animal, do not try to wipe it off. Wiping motions will just force the liquid down into the fur more. Instead, do what an actual wet critter would do: shake. Vigorously shake off as much of the liquid as possible. You may want to do the shaking over a towel or a tile floor or outside, but do the shaking as quickly as possible so the liquid does not get a chance to soak in. Blot any remaining dampness by dabbing the surface with paper towels or a dry sponge. Dab, don't wipe! No sense spreading the stain around.

Once the spot is just damp, dilute the spill by dabbing with a wet sponge. Then blot with cloth or paper towels. Repeat several times to remove as much of the spilled material as possible.

Surface cleaning

... is the only kind of cleaning you ought to be doing on plush.

For surface cleaning you'll want to use an upholstery cleaner or a mild detergent in water. We've had good success with the Woolite products, both detergent and upholstery cleaner. (Other people have told us that Woolite is terrible and horrible and should never be used on anything. Your Mileage May Vary) If you have very hard water you may want to use bottled water to clean with. Spot-cleaning products or alcohol may also be used for surface cleaning, but test such solvents very carefully.

Before using any cleanser on a plush, test for compatility on an inconspicuous spot. An "inconspicuous" spot is generally a spot that is underneath when the toy sits in its normal posture. Since you just want a "spot" test, put a bit of your cleanser on a small applicator like a Q-Tip and wet the test spot. Wait until the test spot dries. Brush off any dried cleanser residue and examine the test spot. Is it still the same color? Especially look for a ring of lighter or darker discoloration around the test area. Pull the fur in the test spot and be sure it's not falling out. If you see any problems with the test area, you'll need to pick a different cleaning product or live with whatever it was you wanted to clean out.

Remove costuming or accessories before any serious cleaning exercises. These are usually tacked on with a few stitches of heavy thread. Use pointed scissors or a seam ripper to snip the fastening threads. Make a note or take a photo so after cleaning you can tack the accessory back on where it was. Sometimes ribbons or other decorations are just tied on and can untie easily.

After a successful test, use your selected cleansing product to clean the plush. Have enough cleaner to clean the whole toy. Once you take the step of using a cleaner or detergent, you will generally need to clean the whole object rather than just a problem spot. Especially with older toys, one clean patch will usually look different than the rest of the animal. Even with a tested cleaner, proceed with caution. A cleaner that is fine for the base material may damage nose or paw-pad fabric, or affect air-brushed details.

Use just enough cleanser to thoroughly wet the plush and the backing material, avoid letting much soak through to the stuffing. A sponge is generally the best applicator, and gives you good control over the amount of cleanser applied to the plush. A plush soaked with cleaner looks about as glamorous as a dog or a cat getting a bath, but at least it won't claw your face off or shake soapy water all over everything.

After cleaning, let the plush dry completely, then use dusting and preening techniques to clean out the cleanser residue. Vacuuming can be a great aid now if you used upholstery cleaner. Replace any removed accessories or decorations.

Washing

All cautions aside, it is possible to wash many plush toys. But it's much safer to stick to surface cleaning. Washing should be a last resort because there is risk of damage. We have washed quite a few stuffed animals and have mostly had good results, but we have also thrown out a few items. One large sheep took on a most un-natural shape; after washing it was not at all sheepshape and had to be sent off to the rendering plant.

Check a few things first to see if the plush is a reasonable candidate for washing. Read the tag on the item for possible information on construction and materials.

• Is it stuffed with fiberfill? Toys stuffed with styrene foam, foam beads or excelsior must not be washed. Things stuffed with synthetic fiber (usually polyester fiber) or plastic beads are candidates for washing.
• Is it stuffed really firmly? Does it feel like a pillow or like a log when you squeeze it? Even if the toy is stuffed with synthetic fiber, if it's stuffed very firmly it may never dry out after washing, and shifts in the stuffing may ruin the shape.
• Does it have stiffeners in it? Plastic stiffeners can shift out of place. Cardboard or hardboard stiffeners can collapse or disintegrate. Metal stiffeners can corrode. Washing anything with stiffeners or shapers in it is risky.
• Does it have joints? Joints are another risk area for washing. Plastic joints are not affected by water, but are not very strong and can fall apart. Hardboard joints use hardboard that can soften or warp when wet, and metal fasteners that can rust after getting wet.
• Is it made of synthetic fibers? Or is it made of fancy mohair/wool/alpaca stuff? It is not a good idea to try to wash mohair/wool/alpaca.
• Does it have clothing or accessories? If so, can they be removed? Any clothing or other accessories will need to be removed before washing, or you run a terrible chance of some very interesting "bleeding". (You know, like when not separating out your red shirt from the rest of the wash gives you pink underwear.)
• Is it just too darned big? A stuffed animal less than about 18 inches in its largest dimension can probably be judged "small". As the stuffed animal gets larger you run into greater chance of problems during washing, as the parts of the animal get pushed around inside the washing machine. Drying also poses more of a challenge for larger animals. That said, we have washed an Avanti snow leopard that's about 5 feet from nose to tail-tip and it came out fine.

As a general rule, the more expensive the plush, the less likely it is safe to wash. If you've got a soiled item that looks like a washing candidate, put it in a cloth bag -- a pillowcase is excellent -- tie the bag closed and toss it in for washing. The plush (and the bag) must fit loosely inside the washing machine. Use a bag of some reasonably sturdy woven fabric, not a mesh bag like those intended for washing hosiery. The goal here is to protect the surface of the fake fur so you don't get any split ends or felting or other physical damage from the washing process. You can put more than one plush per bag, as long as they all fit loosely in the bag.

By "wash" we mean cold water wash and cold water rinse with mild detergent on a gentle cycle. If you don't have access to a good washing machine with a gentle cycle, stick to surface cleaning. Laundromat washers seldom have a "gentle" cycle, even if they do have a button labelled that way. If at all possible use a front-loading machine, especially for large plush. For detergent, we've had good results with Woolite. Don't even think about bleach, nor fabric softener.

After washing, take the still-tied bag out of the washer. If the toy was safe to wash, it's usually safe to dry, too. Air drying is OK, but puts you at risk of getting mildew started inside the stuffing. Still in its protective bag, put it in a clothes dryer for a cycle on a gentle, low-temperature setting. Two cycles may be necessary to dry larger plushes thoroughly, or when you are washing more than one item at a time.

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Reading the tag

Tags on a stuffed animal usually have information about materials and construction, and may even have specific care suggestions. Look for a cloth tag sewn into a seam. There may also be something useful on the drop tags. Here are samples of information from tags found on some plush toys on a shelf near my computer.

--------------------------

All new material
Outer: 100% polyester
Inner: Polyester fibre
...To prevent product migration do not wash by hand or machine...

That line about "product migration" makes it sound like it might fly South for the winter if it's washed. But the caution is actually that the polyester fibre stuffing can rearrange itself during washing, changing the shape of the stuffed object dramatically. In terms of materials, this item is a good candidate for washing. The caution that the stuffing may get pushed out of shape by washing does not mean that it will, but it is a risk to consider.

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NEW MATERIAL POLYESTER/CELLULOSE FIBERS
WASHABLE: Wash surface with mild soap and water
When dry, brush lightly - DO NOT DRYCLEAN

"Dry" cleaning in fact involves immersion in various solvents and is not usually a good option for plush toys.

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Surface washable
mild suds - cold water - air dry - brush gently
Content: polyester fibers, metal stiffener

Because of the metal stiffener this object would not be a good candidate for washing.

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Covering: 55% wool/ 45% cotton
Stuffing: 100% polyester
Surface washable

Since the covering is 55% wool it would be risky to wash this object.

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Stuffe & Nonsense

Washing would not be recommended for most Stuffe & Nonsense handmade stuffed animals. We use a lot of wool, mohair or alpaca plush that would not tolerate washing well. And though we generally use polyester fiber for stuffing, we often stuff very hard so shape changes and drying would be a problem.

Gimmicks: Theme Restaurants

The Good, the Bad...

When I go to restaurants or even into cafes, I expect to get my money's worth. I expect to fill my stomach with good food. With my favorite restaurants, I always end up leaving satisfied. Mostly because of the talented chefs behind the counter, who actually care about their craft and the reputation that comes with it.

It's what you'd normally expect for the many average restaurants out there in the world. I never try a new restaurant or cafe without looking up their customer feedbacks. A good restaurant rating usually gives people the confidence to try something new. I look up the feedbacks because I don't want to waste my time eating at a bad restaurant who doesn't really care about you, but only your money. With bad food, there's a more likely chance that the service might be bad as well.

When a restaurant or cafe has no diners, the place usually ends up closing down. The exception to this rule is if the place is a theme restaurant, but it seems that theme cafes are getting away with it because they have one thing that the average cafe restaurant doesn't have... a gimmick.

 Pic Provided by IG

Paying a Gawker Fee

Before I got into collecting Sanrio, I have never heard of theme cafe restaurants because there was none from where I live in Los Angeles. The idea of a cafe restaurant based around a character like Hello Kitty or Barbie was very different from the norm. By using a pop culture icon, these cafe restaurants are able to draw in tourists to their place of business. Many curious diners are more interested in the themed decor than if the food is good or not. These theme cafe restaurants hope to use the popular character obsession to feed their pockets rather than caring about their craft and reputation in the food industry. 

 Pic Provided by IG

By going to these theme cafe restaurants, you're basically paying an entrance fee to see the decor and use their very cute themed dinnerware. When one steps into a theme restaurant, one would think that the food art creations would be as impressive as the matching decor. If you've never been to a theme cafe, think again. If theme restaurant owners are in the food business for genuine reasons, then they would have invested in creating food art to impress the fans. 

Seeing that the food isn't their top priority, when will die hard fans ever get a theme restaurant where the gourmet pastry chefs truly cared about your taste buds and the art of creating masterpieces?

For now, you can only rely on individual bakers for great looking food character creations.

What's Your Ideal Jewelry Case?

I resisted at first...

When I saw this jewelry case for the first time on Sanrio Japan's website, I just knew that I would love to store my Sanrio jewelry inside. Since this jewelry box came with a clear glass view display on the top, I knew I would not be keeping just any kind of jewelry inside. The entire jewelry case would only hold my special Sanrio valuables.

I went through all the Pro's and Con's of whether or not I should purchase this product. I asked myself continuously days after if I needed this item in my life. Do I really need one? Ultimately, my need for something with a glass display on top of the case was too tempting for me to resist. I kept picturing this case on top of my dresser vanity in my Sanrio themed bedroom, displaying all my bling-bling fashion rings. 

With this image in my head for the next few weeks, I am definitely my own worst enabler because internally, I was convincing myself to get it. I kept telling myself that you never know when Sanrio will ever make another jewelry case box with a glass top to display a collection of rings. Also, it was the perfect size jewelry case for someone like me. It would take me a couple of years to fill all the empty ring slots. Another thing is that I like the fact that the case is not too small.

While I was trying to think of more brainwashing reasons to buy the case, my better self -- crazy Paranoia side named Nancy (oh, did I forget to mention Nancy to y'all? ;p ) chimed in to tell me the reasons as to why I shouldn't buy the jewelry case. First, the LTS design looks like they pasted a clear sticker on the case and called it a day. If the LTS design was indented or etched more into the glass to give it a more sculpted feel, then there would be no hesitation in buying the product. Lastly, paranoia Nancy pointed out that the knob handles are just too plain looking. Instead, the designers could have added Kiki and Lala's die cut faces as knobs. Lala as the top drawer knob and Kiki for below.

It Arrived...

Even with the doubts of making the right purchase choice, I still bought it. I had an option to choose from three character designs (HK, My Melody, LTS) and Little Twin Stars was the most appealing design for me. First thing I did when I took the case out of it's box was to smell the inside of the drawers. It smelled of a new product. Divine.

My Sanrio Rating:  ♥♥♥ 

Daily Life of a Sanrio Addict

Hello Kitty ♥ Collaborations by Sanrio

High end Fashion Book

WHERE to Buy:

Sanrio, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobles


High-end

This being a coffee table top book is what sold the deal for me. I like the expensive type of fashion books that are used to entertain guests who are visiting your home. It's definitely a perfect gift that fits well with the more mature adult Hello Kitty lovers. This type of book would fit in nicely into any living room that doesn't have any kawaii theme to the room. Or it can be a perfect addition to any Sanrio theme home or shrine of a themed room.

This hard cover book features the many collaborations that have been done with Hello Kitty. The glossy pages are enriched with vibrant colors that it's hard to resist from putting the book down. 

My Sanrio Rating:  ♥♥♥♥

Below are Pages from the book:

Kittified Diary: Precious Firsts

Even though I have been collector for more than 5 years, my journey has been more of a slow pace of my own choosing. In the beginning, when I became a full-time Sanrio collector, I bought many things under the influence of wanting a huge collection at my disposal.  As time passed, I began to realize that I was collecting based on my favorite type of things: figurines, stickers, pencil cases, erasers, etc. Some of the items that I have collected over the years became impulse buys because it would mean my collection of pencil cases (as an example) would grow. It was not because I was in love with the design. It was because it was a cute Sanrio character and the type of object that I was currently collecting. I've learned to let go of things that I no longer wanted nor loved. I started to collect with a more defined purpose in collecting things that I will want to cherish forever. 

Jackpot! A Yardsale to Come...

I went through a phase where I went through all my collection and got rid about 10% of my entire collection. Whoo-eee! Yeah, me too, I thought that I would finally get to shrink down the size of my collection. As a full-time collector, you will realize that there is no such thing as a word like "shrink-age" in our collectors' vocabulary. It doesn't even exist in our reality. You will find out that your collection will never shrink down, but will grow and grow until you have realized that you've quickly ran out of space.

In my journey, I realized that there will be times that I will change and grow in different periods of my life and my Sanrio collection will go through the same process to better reflect the style that I am currently into. 

Even with the years of collecting under my belt, I am still a newbie at heart. How can that be when I have such a big collection? For starters, my dear collectors, is that my path as a collector is just starting to take form. Remember, I haven't yet hit the big 10 years of collecting full time. I have always been selective in my choices that helped controlled the size of my collection from expanding to gigantic "overboard" proportions. I'm the type of collector who follows her own rules. I don't follow the trend of what's currently "hot".

If I love it, I collect it.

It's my Collector's vow.

Being picky may be my mightiest weapon in cherishing every moment as a Sanrio Collector. Every step I take, I feel like a toddler just taking my first steps. My collection has always consists of mainly coin banks, dolls, and such - but, never into jewelry. I guess you could say that I was still hiding under a rock and have just taken my first step in venturing out into a new world.

Here's to the world of Precious Firsts...

My first HK Necklace

My first MM Chocolates

My first HK Cakepops

Recomendation: Personal Shopper Japan

If you are looking for another International Shopping Agent...

www.personalshopperj.com

This past year, I realized that I needed to keep my options for a Shopping agent open to more than one company. Some agents are willing to go the distances just to keep their customers happy and I've found that with Personal Shopper Japan aka PSJ. Whatever required service that you need, PSJ is willing to accommodate in a timely fashion.

Consistent Communication. Smooth & Excellent Transactions. Speedy Delivery.

With my experience with PSJ, I was able to get a Hello Kitty plush that cannot be bought online from Puroland. They provide a service that a staff member will personally go to Sanrio Puroland and buy your item.  Since then, I've had four successful transactions with PSJ. Superb service.

More importantly, if you ever need to find a limited and/or exclusive item, this is one shopping service that will try their best to go one step further to get that limited stock item in the hour that the item is being released. Due to time constraint, many personal shopping services are not able or willing to accommodate a customer's special need. I know because I've contacted many other shopping agents, who have told me that they cannot provide the time constraint service that I needed for my Sanrio obsession. At the end of the day, PSJ is one of two shopping agent services that I keep returning as one of their loyal customers. 

Without these Japan Shopping Agents, my Sanrio collection would never have grown to the size that it has to date.  

Happy Sanrio hunting, fellow collectors!

Tarina Tarantino: Pink Head Mod Ring (Orange)

Tarina Tarantino...

My Sanrio Rating:  ♥♥♥♥

I've always wanted to buy a Hello Kitty ring from the fashion jeweler, Tarina Tarantino, but I never really found *the* perfect design that would capture my eye for eternity. At last, I've found the ring.

It's modern and chic, the best combo that you can ask for...

This ring is perfect in every way. The pink head mod design is what attracted me into buying my first Tarina Tarantino jewelry. The Swarovski crystals adds a sparkly shine to the ring, making it more stylish and chic. I'll definitely be buying more Hello Kitty rings from this fashion jeweler!

Is there an Agenda?

Why is everything gender specific these days?

It feels like all the toy manufacturers are on the same agenda plan for future generations laid out by our American government. Hmm...

POP! Did y'all hear that?

That's the sound of many Hello Kitty fanboys' hopes fizzling out. There goes the plan to stop stereotypes for male Sanrio fans. Wouldn't this be harder for more of the mainstream society to accept guys liking Hello Kitty? I feel a little bad, too, at times forgetting that there are guys out there who are Sanrio fans. When I write, I tend to generalize and assume my readers are females. 

Also, I have to point out that one of Sanrio's agenda goals is to hook most girls into becoming Sanrio addicts from a young age and to pass the obsession to their future daughters. Unfortunately, this further continues the stereotype that Hello Kitty is only for children.  

So, my question to Hello Kitty fans all around the world, is there a good mature way of fighting this stereotype without resorting to name calling and calling non-fans haters?

Pic Provided by Mom-101

Trends & Top Picks from the 111th American International Toy Fair

By Anna Sandler

I recently attended the American International Toy Fair, a massive event at the Javits Center in New York City featuring more than 1,000 companies showcasing the latest in games, toys, crafts, stuffed animals and dolls.

This is my third year going to the Toy Fair, and in addition to seeking out what I think are the best new products for kids, I also visit the Toy Fair to find out what the latest trends are in the industry, usually both for better and worse.

Here are the trends I noticed this year:

Toys are more gender-specific than ever. For example, it’s rare to see a toy that is 50 multi-colored building blocks. Now, it’s 50 pink blocks and a princess figure or 50 blue blocks and a policeman. It may be what’s best for the toy manufacturers, but I’m doubtful it’s what’s best for the child.

There aren’t as many stand-alone toys as there used to be. This year, the majority of toys being promoted as a company’s top seller were so because they featured a popular TV show, movie or beloved character. It’s not that I don’t love Hello Kitty, but I’m not sure it adds anything to a baby’s teether.

You can read the rest of the article here...

Here is another great article...

Toy companies: Please please please stop ignoring what girls really want 

(Hint: it's not always pink.)

By Mom-101

This week at the NY International Toy Fair, there were two words I found coming out of my mouth more than any other:
“Or girls.”
I was floored by the number of manufacturers telling me, over and over and over, “we have these awesome craft kits for kids including knitting, embroidery, tie-dyeing…or science kits for boys!”
Or girls. 
“We have this line of costumes here, like brides, princesses, fairies, and nurses. Then there’s this line of firefighters, soldiers, superheroes and astronauts for boys. ”
Or girls. 
“And here, we have the ferret plush in pink for girls, and then in brown for boys.”
Or girls.
It blew me away.
The company with the costumes featured above did have one superhero outfit for girls that I saw: Robin, of Batman and Robin fame, complete with a tutu.
A crimefighting tutu, surely.
Since the moment a few years back that I was completely confused as to why a McDonald’s Drive-Thru attendant asked me if I wanted a boy or girl Happy Meal (unrelated to the gender of the animal from whence the food came, I subsequently learned) I have had a heightened awareness of how the toy industry is increasingly dividing boys and girls in ways I really thought we got past in the 70′s . That was when the first toy I remember really desperately wanting was an Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle. It was also the first toy that made me realize all toy ads lied about how good their crappy toys were. But that’s another story.

The thing is, despite all my frustration and disappointment with the boy/girl toy separation, despite all my awareness, I am 100% totally guilty of it too.
We walk into a toy store to get Thalia’s friend a birthday gift and while I tend to gravitate toward crafty gifts, I automatically look at the jewelry box-painting sets or friendship bracelet kits. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. My girls would make Rainbow Loom bracelets until dawn if I let them (and so would plenty of boys by the way). But I don’t necessarily peruse the science experiment kits, the microscopes, or the Lord of the Rings LEGOs for her 9-year-old girlfriends, despite my own girls being card-carrying graduates of the school LEGO Builders Club and Science Experiment Club.
The times I do consider these gifts, I have to ask, “would Emily like something like a microscope or a geode kit?”
I realize I don’t ask that question quite so often if we’re buying gifts for boys. Nor do I ask whether Caleb would enjoy a Rainbow Loom.
So what the heck is going on when I have to mentally push myself out of the pink tutu mindset to shop for girls who aren’t my own?  It’s kind of disheartening when even parents like me, who should know better, get stuck in this stereotypical rut.
I even see evidence of it on Cool Mom Picks–we can feature a gender-neutral red and blue felt crown from an Etsy artist which will get a ton of love on Pinterest. But show the same one in pink with little bunnies on it–the shop sells out its stock.

I was thrilled that there were actually a few smart toys for girls that defy the pink aisle which I wrote about, including Alma Loveland‘s awesome Attatoys Mixmates blocks. (I didn’t once have to say “or girls” when we talked, or anything!) I’ve met her a few times at conferences, and I’m so thrilled that she’s got a potential home run on her hands for all kinds of kids. However her kind of thinking was exceedingly rare at a show with more than 1000 exhibitors, some of which should know better.
There’s one moment at the show which stands out most to me as emblematic of the entire issue. A young PR rep for a brand was kindly introducing me to four new girl dolls: a ballerina, a baker, a fashionista (whatever that is) and I am blanking on the other one. Hooters girl? I forget. I asked the woman why there couldn’t be one–just one–who was an astronaut or a veterinarian or something a little less stereotypical. It was clear I completely caught her off guard, because her jaw actually dropped and she stood silent for a bit before stammering something about how “well, ballerinas…that’s what all five-year-old-girls want to be.”
Which is not the right answer. I was shocked. And so was Christina who is my witness to this all, and fellow concerned mom-of-girls.
So I asked my friends and followers on Twitter what their daughters want to be when they grow up. I think the answers are wonderful, diverse, and fascinating.

@craftforesty: She wants to be a “disco truck driver” or a snowboarder. – Lola, age 6
@kathyinalaska: My 6yo wants to be a ballerina or an FBI agent.
@JLBarnes9: Mia: “independent”, Kyra: “A veterinarian”
@TheJulieMarsh: Tacy: “An author or a marine biologist or a politician.” CJ: “I have no idea, but something important though.”
@ballantynetanya: My five year old wants to be a construction worker
@wandsci: A teacher and a doctor (this week). The one who wants to be a teacher says she’ll also write books.
@stefaniya: One wants to be a scientist, the other wants to own a tea shop and sing in a band in her free time.
@monabenach: first woman to play professional baseball.
@WellVersedMom: My daughters’ choices have been marine biologist, pilot, singer, architect & graphic designer.
@overflowinbrain: Archaeologist, volcanologist, scientist.
@JennaStern: Architect.
@FabiSaba: an astronaut veterinarian.
@Enza0305: Celya, 9: either a babysitter, or a baker, or work at a shelter for dogs and she doesn’t want to go to ballet classes anymore…
@redshutters: Mine wants to be veterinarian, ballerina & doctor–sky’s the limit for her!
@jenrenpody: a dancer & an artist. I blew her mind when I talked to her about dance itself being art. She loves to create, and she’s 6.
@Nosepicked0811: happy #1. She wants to be an astronaut on Monday, scientist Tues, fashionista/boutique owner Wed, & world traveler the rest.
@TheInsideLife: Ella, 5yrs: “A doctor, a writer, and a church worker.”
@jadetert: Builder, teacher, mom, or veterinarian (5 yr old)
@mheschmeyer: Broadway actor, broadway actor, and pediatrician. 
@JKonfrst: U.S. Senator
@michelledwood: professional volleyball player.
@ChaosRu: One of the first people to go to Mars. Also an engineer.
@ttsiegel: A singer/artist/astronomer (C, age 4 1/2); a teacher/mommy (E, age 4 1/2).
@kristins4kids: 1-music teacher or author; 1-lamb farmer or music teacher; 1-figure skater.
@alexaflotsam: Spy, writer, teacher, actress. Mostly writer, which I am (cannot tell you if I am also spy, obviously.)
@cuizoo: Just asked. She is unsure at this point, but is completely sure she doesn’t want to be a model or a ballerina.

Now granted, this is not scientific research in the least. If I passed it off that way, every strategic planner I’d ever worked with would unfriend me instantly. My readers may be more progressive than most–and it’s possible that the parents with girls who want to be models and fashionistas didn’t respond.
(Also, where the heck were the men in this conversation? Dads are just as responsible for raising enthusiastic, curious daughters too.)
Still, if you look at the answers, there are definitely a few ballerinas and mommies in the bunch. There are singers and actresses and (adorably) a babysitter. And hey, I’m all for girls wanting to be princesses. Or pop stars. But the aspirations for girls don’t end there.
So why do girls’ toys?
The problem with the ballerina-fashionista dolls I saw isn’t that such a thing exists; it was creative, technologically speaking, and will probably be very successful. The challenge as I see it is the company so takes for granted that this is what a girl toy is, that they wouldn’t even think to prep a PR person for any potential questions about why.
(I’m sorry PR rep, for catching you off-guard; you are really sweet and I didn’t mean to throw you. I just assumed it was a standard question with a standard answer about market research or something that would have been interesting.)

Now I also spent a lot of time in the LEGO booth at Toy Fair too. (I have never done business with them; I just like LEGOs.) And while they have gotten a lot of flack for LEGO Friends over the past year, I stand in defense of them. Whether the bricks are pink or red or black, they all interlock, they all work together, and they get girls building even when they are all but ignored by other companies.
I realize that girls do play with toys differently than boys do. And I know that are girls who would rather play with a hair stylist than a LEGO City police officer or Tauriel the Elf. So I appreciate that they’re all made available–and should your kid wants to stick a sword in the hairdresser’s hands (battle with evil competitive alien hair salon?) she can.

The bigger issue, as far as I can tell are the toy retailers. Big and small. Several product developers and PR folks spoke off the record to me, explaining that some retailers mandate toys that neatly fit the way they merchandise their toys at shelves: One aisle for boys, and one for girls. They ask for custom pink versions of everything from dolls to bookshelves. They ask for distinct packaging featuring either boys or girls on the boxes. They justify that this is “giving parents a choice.”
And yet, our only choice as parents isn’t boy or girl at all. It’s blocks or cars? Expensive or cheap? Big or small? Building or crafts? Science or poetry? Animals or robots? The list goes on.
As one smart parent suggested, “why don’t they just display the toys by age? I have no idea what to get a four-year-old at all.”

Indeed.

Interestingly, the company with the gihugic costume display at Toy Fair that you couldn’t miss to save your life, featured the tagline, Dream. Believe Achieve.
I would love them–along with any marketer, salesperson or distributor who has ever employed the sentence And for boys we have…. in a pitch–to stop a moment and consider exactly what they think they are encouraging children to dream and achieve.  And I’d love us as parents to consider the same thing. Especially when we automatically drop a Make-Your-Own Sparkle Lipgloss Kit in our carts instead of a telescope.
Or whatever plaything it is that they make for wannabe U.S. Senators, spies, and disco truck drivers

January Haul

Focuses on the usual Three Suspects ;)

For this haul shipment, it focuses on accessorizing all aspects of my life. Whether it's in the kitchen, car, or making a fashion statement, I am armed with cuteness overload. I'm one step closer to kittifying my home 110% more than when I started 8 years ago. I still need more to achieve the full kittification that I need to show my kawaii style. The future sure does look brighter at this end. Won't you join me on my journey to my very own sweet world?

Collectors & their Personality

Which one are you?

Doll Collectors

A sweetheart; A helpful or obliging person
We love maintaining our doll collections, whether dressing them up or displaying them in showcases. We communicate with other fellow collectors by trading dolls or giving out helpful information to obtaining an exclusive doll.

Figurine Collectors

Dependable; Cares a great deal about appearances
We give great care and attention to our figurine collections. We are diligent in getting the latest figurine and adding to our growing collection.

Sticker Collectors

A tenacious, diligent, or persistent person
We slowly collect over a long period of time. We may start out with a small collection of stickers, but as time goes by, we have accumulated a whole album to show off to other fellow collectors. We have the patience of a saint when it comes to our stickers.

Pen & Eraser Collectors

Witty and creative
We love to use our powerful tools to design, draw, or write masterful pieces of work. We're always busy doing a project or about to start one.

Stamp Collectors

Genuine; Seeks approval of others by trying to impress with skills or talent
We love to show what we can do for others, whether it be a skill or talent. We love to be useful and be known as the go-to person for help.

Say Hello to Average "Joe"

I can't resist from saying so, but are you still living in your own safe bubble world?

Hello Kitty fans-- meet the rest of the world (outside of Asia)! Say hello.

Before reading the article below, please do keep in mind that this author is not a hater or a "detractor" of Hello Kitty. Just a normal average reaction of someone who sees Hello Kitty for little girls. Stereotypical since there are adult fans of Hello Kitty, but what can you really do? That's life. Roll with it or get left behind for throwing a tantrum because the world doesn't revolve around you and your interests.

Aside from that...

Below is a very cool looking Camaro car, all decked out in Hello Kitty. For some people, it may be ugly to them, but to us, fanatics, we love it! And, especially, for someone like me, who is very picky. I'm thinking the reason I like the whole overall appearance is because the car has a simple design with Hello Kitty attached to it. It's not too much Hello Kitty, where some owners just plaster Hello Kitty art all over the car. The design below didn't go overboard. It's pleasing to the eye. 

You can find this car on the streets of Dubai (think Saudi Arabia)

Look at the Interior customization inside-- that door! I want mine with HK pattern prints.

Read the two articles at Auto Evolution or continue below. The second article is a follow up.

This Hello Kitty Camaro Will Ruin Your Day

By Ciprian Florea

While a Hello Kitty theme might be appropriate for a Mitsubishi Mirage, we can't really understand why some people would use the Japanese character to pink up a musclecar.

Don't get us wrong, we ain't got nothing against Moulin Rouge or Panther Pink Mopars, but Hello Kitty Camaros are just plain wrong. Yes, we said Camaros, which means there's another one besides the eye-stabbing ReStyleIt version we saw last year.

We don't know the story behind this one, but the plate suggests it's from Dubai. Which is a bit surprising to be honest, as we'd rather expect to see some gold-plated Camaros over there. Anyway, this black GM-built musclecar got a pair of pink stripes across its hood and top, Hello Kitty writing on the side mirrors and huge Hello Kitty-themed decals on its doors.

To complete the car's feminine looks, the owner also opted for a pink bowtie badge on the front grille and a couple of pink eyelashes above the headlamps. Yuck!  

and...

Meet the Owner of the Hello Kitty Camaro ZL1

By Mihnea Radu

A few days ago, just before the Detroit Auto Show was about to start, we received a photo via twitter of a black Camaro ZL1 with pink Hello Kitty accents. Naturally, we jumped at the chance to say it's a bit of a misfit, an oddity that should never exist.

But the owner of the car reached out to us a few days later, saying "Don't let it ruin your day, my day begins when I start my awesome ZL1 HELLO KITTY CAMARO, All you will see is the dust I leave behind. Get a life, I have one and it's great."

Our curiosity was instantly sparked by this and we reached out to the owner to find out more. After all, even if some people might not like it, the ZL1 is bringing its owner joy and that's what matters.

Yolanda is originally from South Africa but moved to Dubai. She says people there are much more civilized and kind. She even goes as far as to say that it's a privilege for her six kids to live the UAE.

So what about the car? Yolanda's photos show it was wrapped at a company called foila and even has four Hello Kitty exhaust tips. Yes, they do make those in Japan. Behind the custom scissor doors, there's pink seat covers and Hello Kitty pillows. Even the steering wheel, shifter and door cards have been customized.

This really is a Camaro like no other and Yolanda says not a day goes by without people taking photos or asking her about it.

My Melody vs. Hello Kitty

~~ * --Let the Fan War Party Begin-- * ~~

Next battle round is the feud between two of Sanrio's most famous characters: My Melody and Hello Kitty.

At last, we get to nitty-gritty of things. We finally made it to two big champs to see an awesome fight on our hands. Yes siree, folks, two frenemies going head-to-head to see who comes out alive and kicking... 

*halts in mid-sentence*  No good? What-- that's not enough to spark your fighting spirit?

Sheesh. Tough crowd to please here. Ok, okay, I hear you...

Onwards to more of my troublemaking ways:

FACE-OFF:   My Melody vs. Hello Kitty

ROUND 4

	My Melody	Hello Kitty
1. How old are you?	39 years old	40 years old
2. Do you have a sidekick?	Yes, my lambie-pie-- Piano ♪	Bear or Tiny Chum
3. Do you have any famous relatives?	Kuromi, my devil cousin	Twin sister, Mimmy! She wears her bow on the right side
4. What is your image like?	Kawaii brand image	Child brand image
5. Who does Sanrio favor more?	I'm head in line to take HK's crown, so the answer is obvious	*shakes head* I disagree. I'm still a hot commodity to Sanrio
6. How about the public?	*bragging* everyone loves me *shows off the many love letters*	*Whimpers* I receive a bit of both  *revealing hate & love letters*
7. What kind of reactions do you get on the streets?	Who are you?	Celebrity Status
8. Which fruit comes to mind?	Strawberries	Apples
9. Do you have an iconic accessory?	I wear a hood over my ears	My bow on my left ear
10. Favorite Fashion color?	For this era-- Pink. You'd think I only have one outfit in my closet *sarcasm*	I am in between colors at the moment *pulls out a pink bow & a red bow*
11. How are you feeling right now?	I'm very cheerful and talkative *Smiles brightly*	*Does not speak: being moody*
12. Who's your BFF in Sanrio?	Kiki & Lala. We're very popular and we make a sweet combination when we're together. Fans scream for us.	Keroppi is my best choice. Number 1: he's not a dog; 2: I only hang out with the most popular, hence Keroppi is more popular than Pochacco
13. What's the word on your success?	I'm moving up the ranks: animes, comics, games...	I'm everywhere. I'm pushing for a movie deal to Sanrio
14. Who is the breadwinner?	*haughty* I'm on the brink to global fame	The theme parks and cafes speak for themselves
15. Where do you see yourselves in 10 yrs. from now?	Didn't you hear? Hello Kitty was supposed to retire & I was supposed to be Queen of Sanrio *resentful*	*rolling her eyes at the dramatics* You wish (@ My Melody). Getting married and still be the hottest cat around! *winking to the camera*
16. Anything you want to say to the fans?	Sending my love to everyone. Please vote for me as your Favorite *bows respectfully*	Goodbye, Cheerio, Sayōnara, Adieu, Ciao, Adios, Annyeong...

*Exits*

That's a wrap-up, people!
Where has the time gone? Not only were we in the presence of two of the kawaii-iest creatures on earth, but we got to hear from them personally! Did they make your day brighter or what? *beaming with so much energy*

*Smile dies*
You can stop shielding your eyes now. I've stopped doing the bunny hop of excitement.

If you enjoyed that battle round, please take it to the comments section below.
*Whispering* We all know Hello Kitty is the winner of this round.

Quality Over Cheap Labor

Didn't I read somewhere that Sanrio was looking for a cheaper manufacturer like in China? My first initial reaction was my concern for the products that I would buy from Sanrio. To me, products from China tend to be cheaply made and not worth much your value of a dollar. Even if I hear that things are improving in China, my main concern are the quality of the design and material coming from Sanrio. There are times I have visited Sanrio boutique stores and thought to myself that some of their products look cheaply made.

In recent years, more and more of the plushes look to have the appearance of a cheap product. They look like they have been sewn up by an amateur. It didn't help that the plushes appeared to be made with cheap material. But not all plushes that were manufactured in China looked cheaply made and usually, I would assume these plushes were made in Japan. 

Last year in February, I bought a huge Hello Kitty die cut face pillow, but with closer inspection, I found that if I was not careful that I could end up tearing the material of the pillow. I was dismayed over this fact over the next couple days because I assumed that I was getting the value of what I paid for this expensive Sanrio product. 

Maybe before I buy another plush or pillow from Sanrio, I should inspect the manufacturer tag. "Should I risk it?" would be my first thought when handling a Sanrio item. The more I think about it-- this shouldn't be my deciding factor in whether or not to buy the product from Sanrio. Shouldn't Sanrio care about their reputation to be selling quality stuff rather than mass produced cheap products? They should if they want to gain millions of new fans around the world. Nothing comes out of it doing things half-way. You have to take the long road to success without taking any short cuts. Isn't their goal to be known worldwide?

You can read the entire article here or continue reading below.

Sanrio up a tree after Hello Kitty items found to be made in China

By TOSHIHIRO OKUYAMA/ Senior Staff Writer

Sanrio Co. has been clawed by some of its Hello Kitty items on sale at the company's flagship store in Tokyo that were prominently displayed as being domestically manufactured, but were made in China.
Sanrio, the official home of the beloved cartoon cat, is checking the products at its outlets in Japan to ensure that their country of manufacture is being properly designated.
The company was forced to take the action after a Chinese student and her classmates in a master's program in journalism at Waseda University and an Asahi Shimbun reporter pointed out the discrepancies to shop managers earlier this month.
The shop, Sanrio World Ginza, debuted in the capital’s Ginza district in 2009 as the company’s largest flagship shop in the world. It sells about 10,000 items varying from accessories to clothes to stationary.
The students visited the shop between November and this month as part of their investigative reporting classes.
They noticed signs that were put up at several shelves with an illustration of Hello Kitty atop Mount Fuji, which said in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese that the products under this sign were made in Japan.
But the students discovered that despite the sign, some products had an attached tag that said in English that they were “Made in China,” including tote bags and folding umbrellas featuring Hello Kitty. Some products had a price seal that was attached in a manner that gave the impression that shop officials wanted to hide the made-in-China tag.
The law against unjustifiable premiums and misleading representations prohibits displaying products in a way that could mislead shoppers about the country of origin.
An official with the Consumer Affairs Agency said in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun that the discrepancy between the sign and the products’ tags is problematic.
“Some people may buy items after seeing the sign at the shelves without checking the tags,” the official said. “Whether the act constitutes a violation of the law depends on the individual case.”
Last August, Sanrio delivered its outlets signs and points of purchase advertising that said that the items are Japanese made to coincide with the launch of its “Made in Japan series.”
Products made in Japan are particularly popular with foreign tourists, who visit the Ginza shop in high numbers. Chinese tourists tend to shun items made in their home country and opt for those made in Japan.
Manager of the shop said the mistake was not intentional, and that it was the result of a misunderstanding by a sales clerk handling the display. Company officials say that the Chinese products were inadvertently mixed with the Japanese ones on shelves with the sign at the Ginza outlet.
An official with Sanrio’s publicity section said the company ordered immediate corrective action.
“We reviewed the display that may cause a misunderstanding,” the official said. “We also gave instructions about the display at other outlets.”
The company, based in Tokyo, is investigating its 220 shops in Japan for possible errant and misleading displays.