princess, the chatterbox (and kid biz i-spy bag giveaway)

If you have, or have ever had a four-year-old, you will know what I'm talking about.  I love Princess to death and she is, for the most part, pretty darn angelic (especially when compared to her demon-possessed high-spirited little sister.)  But I'm not gonna lie.  Sometimes she just drives me crazy.  From the minute she wakes up until the moment she goes to bed, except maybe to eat, she never stops talking.

And it's not just mindless chatter that you can tune out, although I do try.  Her chatter, for the most part, is highly imaginative pretend play that requires me, the listener, to engage with. "Mommy, you be the kid and I'l be the mommy.  Now we're going to go to school.  This is my house.  Oh, hello kid, are you lost?  Come sit in my house and let me make you some food.  Now let's pretend we're princesses.  No, I'm a princess and you're the mean witch."  And so on and so on.  All. Day. Long.

I hate to admit it, (but since I've already admitted that my own child quite frequently drives me nuts I might as well confess this too), but sometimes I will actually say, "let's see what's on TV," knowing that the magic box is pretty much the only thing that will pause the incessant mind-numbing noise that is my daughter.

Of course this relief comes with a price: major guilt.   Because a good mom would come up with something creative.  A good mom would offer up a fun craft or a educational activity, or perhaps read a book or get down on the floor and play with the child who just wants a little attention.  A good mom would not just turn on the TV and plunk her child in front of it like some sort of digital nanny.

And so I fail.

But for today at least, there's hope.  Redemption has come in the form of an I-Spy bag.

I found these adorable bags on an Etsy shop called KidBiz 2010.

They are made and sold by a family of 5 sisters and 4 brothers, ages 6 to 15, who started this business as a way to earn money for summer camp. They all work together to make the I-Spy bags, and each sibling has a specific task. 

(Clearly, their mom does not fail.)

The I-Spy bag comes with an attached tags that has both pictures and words telling the child what to hunt for.

Even better, they come in a variety of different patterns.

But the best part of all?  You can win one for your little chatterbox.  The very cool kids of Kid Biz 2010 are giving one lucky reader an I-Spy bag of their very own. 

Here is how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit Kid Biz 2010's Etsy Shop and tell me your favorite I-Spy pattern and whose stocking you would stuff it into.  (1 entry)

Optional Bonus Entries:

-Become a follower of Living Well, Spending Less via Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, or RSS feed.  Leave a separate comment below to tell me how you are following. (1 entry)

-"Like" Living Well, Spending Less on Facebook.  Leave a separate comment below. (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter.  Leave a separate comment below. (1 entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter or post it on your Facebook wall.  Leave 3 separate comments below. (3 entries)

-Post a link on your blog to this giveaway.  Leave 3 separate comments below.   (3 entries)

Entries for this giveaway will be accepted through Tuesday, December 22nd, and I will draw a winner at random using Random.Org on Wednsday, December 23rd.

And in case you haven't been keeping track, today is the last day of 30 Days of Holiday Cheer here on Living Well, Spending Less.   Make sure you don't miss out on any of the other great giveaways. 

Here are all the current giveaways:

Scrabble Tile Pendant from TKI Designs (ends 12/10)

Click here to enter. (low entry!)

4 Handmade Cards from Kimono Cards (ends 12/12)

Click here to enter. (low entry!)

Retro Christmas Apron from Nissa Lynn Designs

Click here to enter (ends 12/14)

Handmade Designer Makeup Clutch from Punk Rock Momma

Click here to enter (ends 12/16)

Giraffe Alphabet Print from Nursery Love

Click here to enter. (low entery!) (ends 12/19)

 Did you vote today? Click here & thank you!