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last updated 3/3/09

Our 2nd featured blog is http://houseofkittyblog.com/!
We had an interview with Emily, the manager of her blog and online store, House of Kitty from Canada. Read her interview below to find out more about Emily and her passion for Hello Kitty ®!

1. When did you become a fan of Hello Kitty®?
Emily: Around age 5. My Dad used to go to Japan for business  a few times a year and he would bring back gifts from family there. I used to get a lot of cute Sanrio stuff.
2. What do you like about Hello Kitty®?
Emily: I love how cute she is and that she just makes me feel cheerful when I look at her. As a creative person, I really like how all the different Hello Kitty designs look. I also love cats having grown up around a lot of cats including my neighbors, music teacher and cousins.
3. How did you find out about GOTOCHI Hello Kitty®?
Emily:  noticed Hello Kitty had unique regional designs on a trip to Hawaii.  It was the first time I had seen Hello Kitty with a tan. I didn’t realize this was called “Gotochi” until I discovered an online store that sold tons of Gotochi Hello Kitty keychains and cell phone straps.  
4. Do you have a favorite GOTOCHI Hello Kitty® item/design?
Emily: Because I love Hawaii so much it would probably be the Hawaiian themed Hello Kitty.  I even got married in Hawaii.  Other than that, I also like the Hello Kitties dressed up in kimonos doing Japanese dance because I studied traditional Japanese Dance myself for about 25 years.
5. How many GOTOCHI Hello Kitty® items do you have as part of your collection?
Emily: I’m not sure but as a percent, probably a quarter. I have Japanese and Hawaiian dolls, coin purses, towels and keychains.
6. Where do you shop to get your Hello Kitty® items?
Emily: There’s a few local shops I like:  Smiley’s and Gift Surprises. I also have my own online shop (http://www.houseofkitty.com) where I buy items. I think I let myself splurge more when I’m on holidays. When we travel to the US, Target is great.
7. How many Hello Kitty items do you have and do you have a favorite?
Emily: I had a huge drawer dedicated to Sanrio when I was a kid plus a few dolls and other items I put on display, but I gave it all away when I was a teenager. I got back into Hello Kitty in my mid-20s and so I’m still building it up slowly. I only have about 30-40 items now down from probably over a 100 items when I was a kid.
 8. Do you have a Hello Kitty lucky charm that you always carry with you?
Emily: No, I just like having any cute Hello Kitty item with me for everyday use.  Right now, I usually carry a Hello Kitty coin purse.
9. Do you have a Hello Kitty tattoo?
Emily: No, I don’t have any tattoos Hello Kitty or otherwise.
10. What Hello Kitty item do you want the most right now?
Emily: I really like the Hello Kitty Tokidoki series. It’s just fun to look at and I don’t have anything from it yet.  I also like the Hello Kitty baking/cooking items.  They’re really hard to find here even when I order for my store, I can only get my hands on a few items.
Thank you, Emily, for participating in our interview and for being a fan of Hello Kitty and Gotochi.

 Visit House of Kitty’s blog (http://www.houseofkittyblog.com) and store (http://www.houseofkitty.com) for more info.

Our very first featured blog is hellokittyjunkie.com!
We had a chance to interview
Maria, the owner of Hello Kitty Junkie,
to find out more about her cool blog dedicated to Hello Kitty®!

1. When did you become a fan of Hello Kitty®?
Maria: I do not know exactly when I became a fan of Hello Kitty®. I just know I have always adored her! I have pictures of myself as a kid with Hello Kitty® sandals and other Sanrio character goods. (picture: http://www.hellokittyjunkie.com/2008/01/19/sanrio-love-since-day-one/ )
2. What do you like about Hello Kitty®?
Maria: I like too many things about Hello Kitty® (here is a partial list) :
Hello Kitty® reminds me of my childhood (youthful innocence), Hello Kitty® reminds me of Japan (my family and my homeland), Hello Kitty® reminds my family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, , etc. of me!, Hello Kitty® loves everyone, Hello Kitty® is a universal poster child for caring, sharing, happiness, friendship... And all that other good stuff, I grew up with Hello Kitty®, Sanrio brands her to everybody, Hello Kitty® brings people together, Hello Kitty® embodies innocence, sentimentality and harmony, Hello Kitty® promotes "social communication", Hello Kitty® is a pop culture icon, Hello Kitty® is a fashionista.
3. How did you find out about GOTOCHI Hello Kitty®?
Maria: A couple of years ago, I saw pictures online about Hello Kitty® representing all the different prefectures in Japan and thought, "Wow! What an amazing concept!" An awesome blog I look for inspiration is Japan Regional Hello Kitty® ( http://japanhk.blogspot.com/ ). But after looking through the Gotochi Kitty site ( http://gotochikitty.com/ ), I was hooked! My curiosity has heightened after a shop owner I visit showed me a few Gotochi Kitty collection books -- I had to buy them all!
4. Do you have a favorite GOTOCHI Hello Kitty® item/design?
Maria: Just one favorite!? That is a tough question... One of my favorite charms is a Hello Kitty® dressed up as a fish (picture: http://www.hellokittyjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/218_hello_kitty_fish_charm.jpg ). I know this one is super kawaii because I let my Mom pick one charm out of my collection, and she chose this one... Which means yes, I gave it to her! Hello Kitty® dressed up as food is always a yummy treat! I aslo have started to fall in love with Kaburinbo line, in which Hello Kitty® is dressed up as other Sanrio characters!
5. How many GOTOCHI Hello Kitty® items do you have as part of your collection?
Maria: I have a handful of gotochi items -- three books, a few charms and some chopsticks and cups. Because there are thousands of charms, I do not think I will be able to collect them all! But trust me, this is one of my favorite series and if I could, I would have every single thing from this series!
6. Where do you shop to get your Hello Kitty® items?
Maria: I shop for Hello Kitty® stuff anywhere! I have bought things from Sanrio, Japan LA, Neotype Station, Happy Six, online shops, eBay, other collectors, Anime Expo, Target, Hot Topic, Toys R Us, Neiman Marcus... My Hello Kitty® radar goes off pretty much everywhere! I prefer to purchase things in person because I am a huge fan of instant gratification! But there are some things that you just have to order online. I have also found some wonderful pen pals through my blog ( http://hellokittyjunkie.com ) and my social network (http://hellokittyjunkies.ning.com ).
7. Do you have a Hello Kitty® lucky charm you always carry with you?
Maria: They are not really lucky charms, but I do carry these things with me when I leave the house:  my Kimora Lee Simmons x Hello Kitty® diamond ring, my Hello Kitty® credit card and some Hello Kitty® charms on my bag. I carry these things with me because I get to show off my love for Hello Kitty® without having to hit people over the head with it
8. Do you have a Hello Kitty® tattoo?
Maria:  I stick to the temporary Hello Kitty® tattoos because I am too scared to get a permanent one! (picture: http://www.hellokittyjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/310_kittys_bday_08.jpg)
 9. What Hello Kitty® item do you want the most right now?
Maria: The Hello Kitty® item I want most right now is a bag from the 2009 tokidoki for Hello Kitty® collection. I have not actually seen a bag, but I am just really hoping for it since I missed out on the first tokidoki for Hello Kitty® bag! I have seen the artwork for this collection and I am in love with anything Simone Legno (creator of tokidoki) designs! I always want Gotochi Kitty charms -- but that pretty much goes without saying. And... I really want a large Hello Kitty® plush -- a life-size one is ideal!
 10. Is your room filled with Hello Kitty®?
Maria: My room has Hello Kitty® sprinkled here and there. It is pretty messy and I have many things packed up... I would love to share a picture when my room is a lot cleaner!
**Thank you for the interview! Please check out my blog ( http://hellokittyjunkie.com ) and my social network ( http://hellokittyjunkies.ning.com )!
Thank you, Maria!! We are amazed by your passion and dedication to Hello Kitty®!

Know someone that's a huge fan of GOTOCHI or Hello Kitty® like Maria? Send us an e-mail to info@gentecal.com to be featured on our web site!!