Day Three: The Test of Hello Kitty

It’s officially three days into the New Year and so far my life hasn’t been “interrupted” too badly. It appears that my wants for useless junk have significantly dwindled since becoming a ridiculously conscious consumer.

Example: I have a relatively minor obsession with the ever adorable Hello Kitty. My fiance has been less than thrilled with my desire for all things Kitty, but I’ve been happily indulged by friends and family for years (him too, I love my HK contact case). However this minor consumptive habit has never extended beyond notebook paper, band-aids (yes, I will proudly wear hot pink boo-boo hiders to my place of work), the occasional pillow or lamp, etc. However, I have been wishing after a HK toaster or toaster oven, in slight secret, after my black&decker lost it’s ability to perform a “timed toast”, which means i have to pump it up to 400F every time I need toast . . . and then stare it to ensure it never becomes charred or that my apartment doesn’t suddenly catch on fire. So, I am at Target buying body wash and there I see it— GLOWING on the clearance shelf: A HELLO KITTY TOASTER OVEN! Ahhhh!!!! I almost tripped in my excitement. The dials are pink and it has even more functions than the B&D. Plus, HK’s face is cutely plastered on the sides. AH! She’s just begging me to come toast bread and pizza rolls. “Kate, we would be such great friends! I know how much you love covering deliciously toasted honey wheat bread with butter and cinnamon!” And what else is there, eeks, a HK regular toaster that puts her face on the sides of bread, bagels or other delicious carb cakes. Not to mention the alarm clocks, hair dryers, 8 glass personal water dispenser…! My eyes were probably glazing over as I stared at the loot before me, clutching a massive container of Olay body wash.

Deep breath, I pick up the toaster oven and turn it to the side. Duh, “Made in China”. Hair Dryer, “Made in China”. I put the items back on the shelf, step back, turn around, and walk away. Woah, where did my self control come from? This is AMAZING. I know that my fiance breathed a sigh of relief when I told him of the feat later . . .mainly because the last thing he wants is Hello Kitty staring up at him everyday from his plate starting in June.

So I may add to my list of barred things– all items Hello Kitty, as I looked through everything that I owned of the HK variety and to my chagrin all displayed “Made in China”.

No more Burberry either. It appears that only scarves and trenches will remain made in England. So many memories too. My first grownup purse was Burberry (sadly out of commission now). I’m glad that I purchased my little, quilted jacket two years ago when the price was worth the artisan quality of “Made in England”. More and more “Luxury Brands” are moving the bulk of their production to mainland China and attempting to scheme up ways to avoid the “Made in China” tags while taking advantage of cheap labor.
Read about it here. And Another.

Next time, a more serious post about the repression of religion in China.

Best,

Kate