Hello Kitty Toast

When I was about twelve or thirteen, Hello Kitty was hot. Really, really hot. I don't know what it was about that little cartoon character, but suddenly every girl I knew was smitten.

I collected erasers, pencils, pads and folders. Notebooks, pens and socks and I was part of the junior high in crowd because of that stash.

I think it was the first time I was truly aware of what a fad was, as I watched the infatuation come and go in very short order.

By the time I entered high school, Hello Kitty was a distant memory. In fact, when I started teaching, and my kindergarten and first grade students were plastered with her big head, it barely even registered that it was the same figurine I'd spent my hard earned paper route money on years before.

It wasn't until I had my own kids that I realized how popular Hello Kitty's brand had become.

My youngest was especially taken with that cat. Dare I say that for a long time, she was obsessed and I found myself smack in the middle of Hello Kitty round two. Once again, I found myself purchasing journals, pencils, stickers and coloring books.

I bought her patches for her jeans, dolls, hats, gloves, bathing suits, pjs and a pillow case. Her favorite artist at the time, Avril Lavigne, even had a song about her.

Hello Kitty was still hot.

But as my daughter moved toward high school and more mature pursuits, her infatuation naturally cooled. Sure, she'd always love Hello Kitty, but her interest was dwindling and the new merchandise didn't really excite her anymore.

Then about three years ago, we were flipping through a Christmas catalog and it there is was, larger than life, the Hello Kitty Two Slice Toaster. No way. It was ridiculous.


It was a giant Hello Kitty head with two slits in the top that would produce the image of her head on to your toasted item. I kid you not.

Of course, it made its way onto my daughter's wish list, half as a joke, I think, but Santa vetoed that idea since it was not cheap and we didn't need a toaster.

When Christmas morning rolled around, all was well, because I don't think she ever really expected it. Or wanted it.

However, the Hello Kitty two slice toaster became a huge joke in our household for the rest of that year.

You know what I want for my birthday?

Hello Kitty two slice toaster? 

Of course.

Or

You know what I wish I had right now?

Hello Kitty two slice toaster?

Yes! But not really...

It was the go to punchline in our house...happy, sad or in between. Hello Kitty two slice toaster was always the answer.

So, when Christmas rolled around the following December, you know I had to buy that silly thing and pop it under the tree. It was one of the funniest holiday mornings we've ever had. It was totally unexpected and it had risen to such a mythical status, when she opened it, we all laughed until we cried.

Now, I wish I could tell you that we put it to good use after that, but as with many things in life, the build up was way, way better than the reality. Hello Kitty made decent toast, but it was still just...toast.

With a head on it.


Meh.

I already had a fabulous red Kitchen Aid toaster that I adored and used whenever toasting was necessary. I myself had received it as a gift, without as much fanfare, but I loved it just the same.

And it matched my kitchen perfectly, so when it was on the counter it looked like a decor accessory. Plus, it didn't need to be washed after each use, like dishes or the blender, and I didn't need to be a world class chef to produce something edible.


In my book, it doesn't get any better than that.

And then one lovely day, the thing went up in flames. No warning, just smoke and sadness. The end.

As my husband placed it in the trash, I went online to order a new red KitchenAid toaster but stopped in my tracks when I saw the prices. Yikes. They ranged from about sixty dollars to almost three hundred. For a toaster? Um. No.

The one I had barely made it three years, so I was not going to splurge on a short term item like that again.

Yes, there were other brands that made toasters in red and they were much less expensive, but I didn't have time to investigate and besides, I was reminded, what was the rush? We already had a toaster.

We did indeed.


So. For the past two weeks we've all been enjoying Hello Kitty toast. One side looks normal. The other. Not so much.

It tastes the same. Well, almost, you see that head is created by a plate in the toaster that blocks the area from being heated. The patterned area is essentially un-toasted bread. Interesting.


Even better though, is watching my strapping DIY guy make his breakfast with that bow clad cat head. It's like we live in a dollhouse. It just doesn't fit.




At least not until I find a cheap red one.

Hello Kitty two slice toaster anyone?