Hello Kiddies!!!

It has been a while since I have posted anything but here at Kit and Chick Industries, just haven't had the time. There has been a lot of stuff going on and we are in our busy season with parties, graduations and First Communions.  We have several big cupcake orders and a couple catering gigs. There are also a bunch of parties to attend. I have to make Hello Kitty Cupcakes. I will post if they come out cute.

I came across this cute Hello Kitty hand soap. My boys did not think it was as cute as I did.  I wonder why. I told them they weren't going to like visiting the Hello Kitty Hotel. They quickly changed their mind and were disappointed when I said we weren't really going. I guess I'm a bad mother sometimes.....Oh Well.

A Little Spring Fling

Who doesn't love these retro park rides? These things are on big springs and rock back and forth, watch out for your fingers. However, don't rock too much. The solid steel head can knock your teeth out. The kids today are so lucky as far as safety goes.Everything it safety plastic on foam rubber carpeting or wood chips.  When a was a tyke in the seventies there was a very good chance you could be rushed off the play ground to go for a ride in an ambulance. All the enjoyable playground entertainment had high injury risk. The swings could easily go up in the air fifteen feet. We used to swing high and jump off. I sprained my ankle a few times doing that. I remember my friend broke her leg in first grade falling off a twenty foot slide. It was all about splinter thigh, sea-saws and metal bar, fat lip, jungle gyms. There was a merry go round type thing that you could easily be thrown from. However, if you were pushing, you could get dragged or trampled. I suppose it was better than getting hit in the head, with a pair of "Dr. Scholls sandals" or clogs that flew off a swinging friend. You might even slip and rip your knew open on the concrete that was directly below the jungle gym. Taking time out to eat your squashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich that absorbed that sour lunch box smell after it was crushed by a banged up apple made it all worthwhile. Ahhh, the memories of a seatbeltless childhood.

  The other day took a trip to the zoo. Here we see a beautiful mountain lion. I am happy we don't have cats this big in Massachusetts. However we do have bears, which are twice as big and are known for assaulting vacationers with picnic baskets.

 Here is a lovely leopard. It sat right on the other side of the glass. It was really cool to get up close and personal.

 This is some sort of a badger or something. I did not even see what it was called. He was cute but I could not find any information about him around the cage.

 Here were some flamingos  I love flamingos!!! However , they need to be made of plastic.  These birds smell awful!!! Below you see the children fooling around with the sign. Below is a picture of leaves starting to sprout. So far it has been a very cold spring. It is already May but we are still in dropping into the low forties at night. Is it possible we might see a few snow flakes this spring? I would not be a bit surprised.

When terror is around the corner from home......

We are all in total shock here today. Boston is a different city this morning. We have lost a few of our own because of the twin bombings not to mention over 140 others who were injured. I got FB messages from friends saying they were all in at the  Boston Marathon as runners or spectators. I was stuck at work but heard the news minutes after it happened.  The frightening thing is that so many people I care about were put in danger not to mention the relatives of mine who are Boston Police officers.  My dad is a retired Boston cop. These guys and gals are one of a kind . We are a passionate proud city and we will survive but everyone is hurting right now.

Sad Day for Boston

It was a lovely Easter!

 Here are a few of the baskets the Easter Bunny brought for my children, however, the small one in the front was for me.  I did not want to get accused of taking candy from the little kids, they are getting too smart. It took a couple of hours to get everything put together.

 No Easter Basket is complete without a Paddle Ball or a punch balloon.  The Easter Bunny couldn't find the balloons but the Paddle Balls were perfect. I love their cool retro design.

 I am a Facebook Friend with Antique Doll Corner. I collect many different kinds of dolls and I wanted to post an Easter Greeting for my other doll enthusiast friends. This doll is the tallest one I have at over two feet. Her maker is Armand Marseilles. She is holding a little basket with colored candy eggs and chenille chicks. I just love chenille chicks. So adorable!

 We went to the parents for Holiday dinner.  They always go all out in the food department. They had prime rib, lamb and turkey.  They also had all sorts of veggies and appetizers and bread for the vegetarian minded that dined with us. I forgot to take pictures of the pastries and dessert that I pigged out on. It was so delightful but that gluttony came at a price. I tossed and turned all night.

 Here is a beautiful Butterball turkey stuffed with a sausage and apple stuffing. The chickens were very upset by this. I told them not to worry.

 The chickens were very curious about the colored eggs strewn about. They always follow the little kids around like puppies looking for snacks. The chickens love to see the children because they know if they hang around they might get a cookie. Below, is a picture of the kids looking for plastic eggs.  The Easter eggs had candy and money. Then, there was "the bonus egg" that had twenty dollars. The competition was fierce. Wow, this picture looks so dismal.  Easter was so early this year that the only pop of color in the yard were a couple random crocus plants. Even the daffodils are still sleeping. At least the day was warm.

 Here are some little Italian Easter candies from my husband. Every year he goes to Mike's Pastry in the North End of Boston and gets a big beautiful lamb cake. It is made of marzipan and royal icing and filled with sweets. He also get the big pretty wrapped chocolate eggs filled with a prize. However, this year it did not happen. He just went to Vincenzo's Italian eatery in my town and fulfilled his obligation of getting me some Italian candy. I really thought the bottle filled with Baci chocolates was adorable. Nice work Hon! It was a great Easter all around.

More pre-Easter fluff.

 Here is my finished basket for the church. I stated earlier that we bring a basket to the church to be blessed for our Easter Breakfast. It came out very festive.

 I made several little baskets for my female family members. I added soaps and cute little chocolates. I love these little Lindt lady bugs, sheep and bunnies. All very sweet for spring in general.

Above, is an Easter card from our friends from Poland. I assume it says Happy Easter. It has sparkles on it like a Christmas card but they did not show up in the photograph. It is nice people are thinking of us.

 I collect Victorian greeting cards. Here are a couple Spring Greeting cards and below I have a couple Easter cards.

 I also wanted to share this adorably sparkly fabric card made by a local designer. It's just precious.Well, I am off to take care of more business. Hopefully, I can get some nice pictures of our Easter festivities. Have Fun!!

Pre-Easter Prep.

 The day before Easter is always a little hectic. We decorate eggs. I always buy several different kits. This year it was Spider Man, Sesame Street and Kittens and Puppy fun. I wanted to appeal to the different age children I have. The easiest eggs are the ones where you slip on the little plastic sleeve that melt perfectly around the egg. However, the eggs this year were all too fat.

 Below are two Italian Easter Breads. We go to a Ukrainian Church and it is customary to bring a basket to the church to be blessed.  The basket usually has an Easter breakfast of eggs, kielbasa  bread and cheese. The funny thing this year is Ukrainian Easter is not for a few weeks because they follow the Julian Calender. We sort of mix The Ukrainian Christian with Roman Catholic Rites so we will celebrate tomorrow with our extended family and we will do it again in a few weeks. You really can't go wrong with two big spring holidays. In reality it is still too snowy and cold for Easter egg hunting.

 Here are the four dozen eggs. The kids should get them done in an hour.

 I needed a healthy sugar break. Nothing says Happy Easter like artificially colored pink snowballs and a cold bottle of coke. We really cut back on the sweets for lent so I need to jump back into the program. I am already thinking about my breakfast of jelly beans and chocolate.

Enjoy the Day. Off to clean my house.