Last Chance To Grab American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year!

Enter to win American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year Lea Clark

If you have a young child in your life you're going to want to enter this giveaway today. My blogging friends and I are joining together to give away an American Girl doll, just in time for the holiday season. All of these simple entries can help you win the one big gift to go under your tree, sit by the candles, and simply shock your little one into disbelief.

My daughter has been blessed and received several American Girl dolls over the years - my mom is a big fan and enjoys surprising my daughter with them as presents for big occasions. We're truly lucky to have her make our holidays and birthdays such fun - and I'm really excited to be doing the same for one lucky little kid out there who might be dreaming of finding Lea Clark under the tree (or wherever you hide your holiday presents!).

Keep reading to find out more about which doll we're giving away, my co-sponsors, and how you can enter to win.

Good luck, y'all. I'm rooting for you!

Lea Clark™, the 2016 Girl of the Year, dives in to new adventures and explores what’s in her heart. 

The 18" Lea doll is only available until 12/31/16, or while supplies last. This American Girl Doll giveaway is for a Lea Clark American Girl Doll, Lea's Exclusive Collection, and her book Lea Dives In–written by Lisa Yee, valued at $180. Giveaway ends on December 11, 2016 at 11:59 pm. Shipping just in time for the holidays!

Meet Lea, the 2016 Girl of the Year™! The 18" Lea doll has warm hazel eyes that open and close, and long, light-brown wavy hair with sun-kissed highlights. She has a huggable cloth body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl.

Lea and her bundled starter set ($180 value!) comes with:

• Brazilian festival outfit: A bright, multicolored dress, featuring an attached braided belt and braided trim on the straps
• Sandals with crisscrossed laces
• Underwear
• An embroidered canvas messenger bag with colorful woven straps
• A pretend compass necklace
• Lea Dives In paperback book
• Lea’s Beach Dress (available only in this collection): A tie-dye-print dress with bows at the shoulders
• Green flip-flop sandals
• Matching sunglasses
• A pretty butterfly hair clip

American Girl Doll Giveaway – Lea Clark 2016 Girl of the Year

Sponsored by:

Life of a Ginger

Good Girl Gone Redneck

Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles

It's me, debcb!

Beauty in the Mess

Merlot Mommy

Emmy Mom

Penney Lane

Amber Nicole

Embellishmints

Kiss My Tulle

Simply {Darr}ling

Adventures In Familyhood

Mama Mommy Mom

A Madison Mom

The Best Crowe's Nest

 

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Entry-Form

Terms and Conditions:
This American Girl Doll Giveaway is open to US Residents 18 years of age or older. Giveaway ends December 11th at 11:59 PM ET. Winner will be chosen by random drawing. Winner will have 48 hours to reply via email to accept the prize or another winner will be chosen. All entries will be validated. Sponsors reserve the right to invalidate any entry at their discretion. Entering will add your email to our mailing lists. We NEVER share our contacts.

 This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with American Girl, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest.

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Style Inspiration: Halloween Decor

Decorating for the holidays can feel like a chore. For some reason it was easier before I was a mom. I simply pulled out the bin for the appropriate season and moved ahead from there.

Easy as 1-2-3. Or something.

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Style Inspiration: Polyvore

Oh, my creative and fashionable friends - have you found yourself over at Polyvore yet? 

If you haven't, you need to head on over. But read my post first, okay?

The great news is that you don't have to actually BUY the clothes you find on Polyvore. You can create boards of things you covet. Like the bracelet below in my Casual Style board. That's over $1K. Dream on, I know, but it's so pretty.

Anyway, I used to be addicted to the Polyvore creations that my friend Elisa over at Globetrotting in Heels pulled together. I still am, I'm just a missing in action bloggy friend. But head on over there, she's got an outfit of the week up right now you're going to love. 

And so do I. In fact, I have a few of them. 

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Minted ~ #spon

* This post is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Minted. I will be compensated in Minted credit for sharing this information with you. *

Have you heard of Minted yet?

It seems everyone has these days. I've probably entered every Minted giveaway I've come across with hopes of winning a gift card so I could pick and choose some of their beautiful products for myself.

And here I am, talking about them to you.

Minted has offered me an opportunity to let YOU shop in their beautiful products.

Cool, right?

I think so. That's why I said yes!

But hang on. Let me fill you in on what's hot over at Minted right now.

The school year is coming to a close, and Minted's Graduation Announcements are sleek and elegant. Some are simple, some more flashy, but they have styles that work for everyone.

This one is one of my favorites:

source

I love the idea of using a baby or little kid picture and then a current picture beneath it. I also like the black and white look. I think it's classy. And it tugs at my heart a little as I look forward to my future and imagine my now 6-yo in a cap and gown. (Ahh - someone make time stop for a little while!)

Minted also has something really cool over on their website. They've got inspiration boards. Inspiration boards are a place where you can create your own little area of joy. Images of artwork, love notes to yourself and your family members, framed, not framed, color coordinated or not. It doesn't matter. It's a place all of your own that you can create and share via the Minted site.

An example of one that I find so pretty and classic:

My Art Wall board by Kristin. See more Minted.com

I kind of want all of these pictures for myself. They're simple, cute and just my style. Colorful and not cluttered. A perfect match. And you can create your own inspiration boards, too. And lucky for me, Minted is inviting me to purchase something, too. I haven't decided yet what I'll be buying, but I really do have my eye on this piece or something like it ...

source

Now for the fun stuff!

Minted has offered me a $50 code for one of my readers so you can do some shopping, too!

I was starting to use Rafflecopter for this giveaway, but then I got fidgety and decided to do it the old fashioned way and use comments and Random.org to pick a winner. So keep on reading for the giveaway details:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

* Head on over to Minted and let me know which department you'd love to spend your winnings in!

OPTIONAL EXTRA ENTRIES (in separate comments, please. Don't hate me, but if all of your information is in one comment it will count as a single entry!):

* If you already follow me on twitter let me know and toss your handle into your comment. I'm not asking you to suddenly follow me to get this entry. And y'all know I'll know. ;)

* Tweet about this giveaway. cc me @goodgirlgonered and share a link to this page. Feel free to toss in @minted in the tweet, as well, if you're so inclined!

Or use this sample tweet:

I just entered to win a $50 Code for @Minted via @goodgirlgonered here: http://bit.ly/17b0Qg6 #giveaway

Comment below with the URL to your tweet so I know you did it.

* Make up an entry. Seriously. Share on Facebook. Pin this giveaway. Have a friend come by and tell me you sent them. Or come up with something even more creative. You might even get bonus points!

Thanks for reading to the end here *I know it's a long one!* and I hope you'll enter. I want to say I hope you win, but I hope all of you enter so one of you can win, because I only have one code to give away.

p.s. Winner will be chosen via Random.org one week from today.

* As previously indicated, this post is sponsored by Minted. I will be compensated in Minted credit for sharing their website with you and hosting this giveaway. * 

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Beauty redefined.

It's that time of the week ~ when you get to say whatever you want and feel great about it because you know that enough people might pop by to support you from Shell's PYHO linky. Though I don't link up all the time, I'm relieved to know she's there, my bloggy friend, so I CAN if ever I want to.

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Yesterday my daughter wanted to polish our nails. We eventually did it - which is only part of the story.

While waiting (ever-so-un-patiently) for me to do her nails for her, she decided that she wanted to do some magazine skimming. She decided that she wanted to tear out some pictures.

Typical 5-yo behavior, yes? Yes. I agree. It seems to be. And it surely is.

But her goal for the project she had in mind?

BEAUTY.

Beauty?

Beauty.

Write it enough times and it doesn't look like it's spelled correctly after a while.

What kind of pictures did she want? I asked her. She answered, 'Beauty pictures.'

I suppose a part of me held my breath. Would my child tear out pictures of women in dazzling dresses? With long, flowing hair? Pearly white teeth? Super high heels? What defines beauty for a beautiful five-year-old girl?

She started turning the pages. Pointing.

She found her beauty. My heart sunk. Just a drop.

It's make-up.

Make-up of all kinds and colors.

So while I love that she adores the splashes of pink, purple and blue, and I appreciate her flair and style as she coordinates her multi-colored/patterned ensembles every morning, I flinched a little that her definition of beauty was ... is ... make-up.

We're talking nail polish, lipstick, perfume (perfume!?!), and more. And while I'm cool with her tearing out the pages that include Ellen DeGeneres as she exclaimed, 'That's YOUR girl!' (yes, yes it is), I worry what she is thinking. Where this comes from.

How does a child whose mother wears not one stitch of make-up AT ALL find that to be beauty?

I mean, seriously. I probably could stand to use a color or two on my eyes. And something more than the splash of gloss on my lips. Though admittedly I do sometimes use a shimmer that is a bit stronger. But not enough to define beauty. Where DOES this come from?

And then the thoughts flicker through my head. What is it that she thinks of when she tears these pages out? Is it color? Style? Fashion? Flair? Television? Celebrities? Dress-up? Does dress-up always include more than fun/funky clothes? I racked my brain a bit. Our dress-up bin is way more than the standard princess dresses. It includes things like baseball caps, sun hats, fake jewelry, random belts and bags, and whatever else she or I decided might work for her creative play.

We eventually polish her nails. Each finger (all ten!) a different color. Her toes a pretty *pink* that was more a summery coral. She felt beautiful. Even more so when I added the requested sparkle over each color. Perfect! She showed her dad. 'Look Daddy!' Walked back again to show off her toes. Nice, he said. She was happy enough. I had helped her feel beautiful, I supposed.

And then last night, as I lay next to her in bed giving her a few good night squeezes she hid her hands under the blanket. 'Momma?' (This is a new thing. A phase, perhaps? Either way - it intrigues me - her new name for me.)

Yes, I answered, snuggling close.

'Do you want to see my nails?'

Okay. Did they come off? She nodded. Her hands moved slowly. Did you PICK them off? Another nod. A huge giggle. I was slightly frustrated. It took no time at all to do her nails, but would I do them again and again if she was going to pick the polish off? Sigh. Perhaps.

But then a thought.

She took OFF the beauty. She didn't care.

All this beauty talk. These images. The colors. All of it added up to?

Nothing.

Sometimes kids like to think outside of their daily box. Sometimes they like beautiful things. Colors. Flashes of inspiration. Maybe it all looks like paint to her? She adores paint. More than this mom would like sometimes ... but I digress.

She took off the "beauty." It didn't matter. She's still beautiful.

And so am I.

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The importance of time together

It's so easy to avoid spending time with the people that mean the most to you. It's so natural to fall out of the moment and into other things.

And as much as I love me some technology, it's technology that makes that easier to do than it has ever been before. I mean, honestly.

Consider this ...

You go out for dinner and your child is antsy. You try to talk her down. Get her to focus. Look for a way to keep her still. You really don't want to walk out. You have no food in the house and no patience.

You or your other half pull out your cell phone. Angry Birds it is!

Calmness perseveres.

As a stay-at-home mom I try to get a few minutes to myself during the day. Usually to finish a blog post. Maybe to catch up on my friends online, via the mommies group I participate in, or by reading their blogs. Hopefully catching someone on Twitter. Or, yes, my newly created facebook account.

I look to escape on Pinterest. Or pick up a book and try to hide. I still read the page-turning kind, so I'm picking up my copy and my cup of coffee or tea and sitting at the table while she jumps around to the Fresh Beat Band or watches the same movie for the hundredth (at her choosing!) time.

But it's not just the gadgets and the electronic focus. Not at all. See this scenario:

My husband comes home, we sit down and eat as a family. By the time he gets home my child has already started her meal. Sometimes it's late and that's the best option. We struggle with speaking to one another over her attempts at getting our attention. She asks to be excused. Polite. Mission minded. We say yes. "Go wash your hands."A quick glimpse at a few quiet words while the water runs in the background.

The water shuts off. "With soap," I find myself saying, in the direction of the silence. The water is back on. And then off again.

We try to talk to one another over her focus of playing with the dogs, dancing around, whatever is on her mind. It's easy to sigh, smile at one another and find ourselves wrapped up in the next steps of the day.

Getting her to bed has never been an easy task. We struggle with her staying in her bed, or her room. We've worked on new ways - and I think I've found one! But still ... she needs one of us (usually me) to be with her for a bit. It's so hard to shut her brain down for the day. Once we leave her the TV calls to us. The iPad. The phone. Facebook. Twitter. Who is out there?

We sit together on the couch. Our DVR is our friend. We don't even watch that many shows together any more, but we find time for the few we do. It's worth it, to share a laugh or two. Or ten. To catch up on the news (if you call Jon Stewart the news. I do. Often. Who has time for much else, I must ask!) or whatever we feel like focusing on. Laughing together at the end of the day is essential.

He's tired. He has work tomorrow. I have my daughter's brain. Or I should say she has mine. I can't shut down. I pop online. Turn a few pages in that book. Play a word game as a way to decompress.

These are not the things I will remember as I grow older.

Not the things my child will look back on moving forward.

She'll remember that I made changes to make our together better.

She'll consider the moments I share with you below that capture the happiness of our day and time together.

Obviously I'm on the other side of the camera here, so I'm not captured in the moment, but I'm capturing the moment for my memory's sake. I need to honestly do a little less of that, as well. I need to put down the phone and/or the camera and stop snapping away the moments. I need to be IN the moment, instead of outside of it. That would be a huge step towards making our time together better.

As for my little one, I know she'll always think back and consider the fun moments. She's got a memory like an elephant. Or like me, if I'm being honest. So without pictures I know that she'll remember the times her mommy and daddy held her hand and lifted her up across a curb or a puddle. She'll think of the time she planted flowers with her daddy INside, and remember the importance of watering them every day now that they're outside. It's my hope that she'll always think back and see that time together can be so much more than turning on the television and skimming through the DVR.

And so will I.

So let's try to make the together moments the fun ones. Let's try to do less of tossing the phone, the remote or the tablet at the children and more of the let's make a mess mentality. Having fun is what matters most. Even more importantly if we spend that time together to create that fun on our own. Now - where are the chalk and bubbles? Yes, it's raining, who cares!?!

If we do that we'll all remember these moments. And probably (okay, surely!) be happier because of them!

* I have written this post as an entry to Brica's contest for a full sponsorship to the Type-A Parent Conference. Brica's motto is "Making Together Better," and they requested a post in conjunction with that motto meaning as entry submission for this contest. 

Brica can be found online at Brica.com, on Twitter at @Brica and on Facebook at /BricaInc.

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Masterpiece in the Making

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Flower Craft!

Looking for the perfect craft for Spring? Mother's Day? Or just to keep your little ones busy enough and indoors (away from the real flowers that cause awful allergies - oh, is that just me?)? Here you go:

I wasn't quick enough to take pictures for this step by step tutorial, but I do have pictures of the finished product, so that has to count for something.

Materials needed:

- craft sticks
- tissue paper in a variety of colors
- glue
- scissors

Take the tissue paper and let your kids go crazy with the scissors. Safely, of course.

You can also use coffee filters (we did this craft previously) and markers to create your own fun and funky flowers. Pretty much whatever you have on-hand will work for these.

Dab some glue on the end of a craft stick, and fold up the freshly cut tissue paper to attach. Once attached, continue folding and snipping extraneous paper to create a *flower* that meets your liking! Or your child's liking. We did these together and had a lot of fun.

Basically that's it. A few quick steps to make your little one happy with a fun and simple craft. If you have a pretty vase you can use, pop your new flowers in there and pop them up on the mantle like we did. They really look pretty! Not quite as pretty as my floral arranger, but still ... pretty!

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A spot of dialogue ...

"It's impossible."

"What do you mean? Nothing's impossible."

"This is. It really is."

"There has to be a way."

"No. No. I don't think so."

"I'm sure of it."

"I'm glad you are. I'm so totally not."

"Try it on."

"Why bother?"

"Just try it ON."

I sighed. She was such a determined bitch, my best friend.

"Whatever. It's not going to fit."

"Just shut up and try it on, would you?"

I slid behind the dressing room curtain. Slipped out of my sweats and slipped the dress over my head.

"Sonofa ..."

"It fits, doesn't it?"

"Shut up."

She tugged at the curtain and I pulled it back, across my body.

"Let me in."

"Shut up and go away."

"Let me in, or I'm coming in anyway."

I let go of the curtain.

"It fits," I whispered softly.

"You look beautiful."

I looked up at her, the both of us crying now.

"I can't believe it."

"I told you it would."

"I can't believe it."

The tears flowed freely between us.

"Stop it before you ruin the dress."

"Get out of here."

"Whatever."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Now get out."

"Fine."

"Bitch."

"Back atcha."

She slipped out to the other side of the curtain. I stood there for a minute, maybe more. Looking in the mirror. The dress fit. I really did look beautiful. I couldn't believe it.

Slowly I realized I had been holding my breath. I smiled at my reflection and let it go.

This piece has been a part of today's writing prompt at the red dress club. Feel free to link up by clicking below:

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Wordless Wednesday: Balls on Cups!

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Toys in Cups!

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Lazy Days ...

If I weren't lazy I'd be doing these crafts instead of having made fresh-baked (ie: Pillsbury Ready-to-Bake) peanut butter pb cup cookies with my kid. Yes, I was so lazy I didn't even feel up to doing cookie cutter cookies. Le sigh ...

How to Make Muffin Tin Crayons -- Over at trianglemommies.blogspot.com

DIY Sidewalk Chalk with Alicia over at A Beautiful Mess

Recycling Brown Paper Bags with Lisa over at Two Bears Farm

Tents and Smores over at Superheroes and Princesses

Muffin Tin Mom's Guest post on how to make a Handprint Caterpillar over at No Time for Flash Cards

So, maybe I'll kickstart the week with one of these fun ideas. Or maybe I'll just be lazy tomorrow, too. We'll see. Enjoy!

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Results!

Well, many of you were right! It's a dragon. Or a dinosaur. I think it depends on when you ask. But mostly a dragon. And now she wants to make more dragons.

But I most especially enjoyed NYCgirl0501's answer:
"I'm going to step outside the box and says its a man leaning back in an office chair wearing a tu-tu! :)"

You rock, Chica, thanks for the chuckle!

Here are a few more pieces of the little one's artwork, just because ... Enjoy!

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Can you tell?

What this is ...?

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Putting myself in Time-Out

Right now. Right this second.

See, I created a fun bucket (sort of) for my daughter last night. It's filled with pasta and rice, more specifically, orzo, white rice, pastina and alphabet pasta. I should have known it'd be messy, especially when it comes to this kid, but I figured what better way to play her own version of search and rescue, so to speak?

I put 15 beads in there, and yesterday we played for what seemed like hours. This morning she wanted to get on it, ASAP. So we played some more. The most important instruction in this game is that she MUST PLAY OVER THE BIN. 100% of the time. Otherwise it's noodle/rice central all over my friggin' floor. Anyone else struggle with this? Creative time = making a mess? Well, let's just say Mama may need an extra happy pill this morning. Or at the very least it truly was a prediction when I asked hubby to bring me home an iced chai latte from B&N yesterday, and he brought me a Venti (as if he even knows what that size means!) And this AM when I opened the fridge to get a beverage for Happy Pill #1, I nearly cried with relief when I saw it there. For it's so easy to forget you have the beverage of your choice waiting for you.

And so, when the child made her first mess of the morning, I was calm. And I told her if it happened again the TOY gets a time out, but she does not. Of course, stupidly, mommy gave her a small car to play with in the bin. D'uh. Stupid mommy. Stupid -- stupid mommy. Sigh. Mess #2 has mommy pounding the table and about ready to bite my own arm. I'm so serious. So the toy got a T-O, the TV got turned on and I have Team OomiZoomi or whatever the he!! they're called mesmerizing said child. And here I am.

Is that bad? Is that OK? Please validate me. It's so little for me to ask of you, isn't it? Just that small request. And so, here I am. Dog barking outside. Several memes awaiting my attention. And me, sitting here. With you. Well, not WITH you, but talking TO you. Which I guess may mean I'm talking to myself. But hey, what the heck? Why not do it on paper (electronically) as opposed to sit on the couch and actually DO it? Talk to myself. What? You don't do it? Dude, I was walking around Target yesterday and got caught doing it. Guy laughed and said he does it all the time. Thank goodness. Another similar soul. Whew. As I was saying ... what WAS I saying, anyway?


btw: This Team OomiZoomi guy totally sounds like Joe from Blues Clues. I mean it. I need to go google him now. Uhm, the show. I have no idea, well, no, that's a lie. Him name is Donovan Patterson? Something like that. [I checked - it's Patton!] Holy cr@p. And I only know that because he has done some crazy Noggin/Nick JR commercial for reading or something and SAYS his name. At least I think that's it. OK. I'm done rambling about Joe now. I much prefer Steve, anyway. [And it's TOTALLY HIM!!!! I'm so smart in the world of Kid-TV!]

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Kool Aid Mix + Water = Painting Fun

That actually adds up to a bit of a mess, stained red fingers [it doesn't really come off!] and one happy kid!

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Muffin Tin Monday!

We're back!

Well, sort of ... it's been a while since we've participated in MTM, and although that makes me sad I am happy to share some pictures of my daughter's own attempts at creating an MTM for me (and for herself, too!)

Check it out:

And for more info on Muffin Tin Monday, check out Michelle's blog!

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What do you think?

I changed up my blog a bit. I have been trying to decide if I wanted a new background, and started digging around on Aqua Poppy Designs to decide if I wanted to switch things up. I tried a handful of the brownish backgrounds she had for free on her site, and I decided to give this one a go.

It's definitely different. I almost opted for the polka-dots one, because I had been using Blogger's dotted background since Day 1, but the more I looked at it, the brighter it seemed, so I went back to a more neutral color scheme. I like the browns, I like the light blue with it, I may have to play with my fonts and colors, but for now I think my blue font for my posts still works, which was important to me.

Anyway, what do YOU think? Do you like it? Prefer the old style? Take a look at her site and let me know if you think there is a better background that seems to suit me. I'm open to suggestions!

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Random Thought ...

Isn't it funny how I started this blog to talk about myself, my life, etc. and yet my last handful of posts have about 5-6 pictures of my daughter in them ... EACH!!!!

Ah, what becomes of who we are once we have a child? Do we know ourselves anymore, or do we simply become "Mommy, Momma, Mom, Ma ... " forever?

And on that note, as a mother I take pride in this DoodlePad drawing my daughter did yesterday. I HAVE to share it, because she drew this ...



And then she told my husband that it was a kitty-cat. I could hear his surprise, and he had her repeat it for me before sharing it with me, and you know what? IT IS! IT IS A KITTY-CAT!!! (Do I sound like Tweety Bird? I totally don't mean to, but come on, she's 2-1/2! This is a pretty d@ng good kitty-cat, don't you agree?)

Ah, being a parent is incredible, isn't it? I'm kvelling ... and if you don't know what that means ... well, click HERE to find out! Thank you, Merriam Webster, I can't believe kvell is in the dictionary!

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"Peggy Boing!"

Wonder what that means? That's how my daughter repeats "piggy bank." Or something like that. It varies ... now and then it sounds like piggy ... and other times it sounds like bank ... but for the most part I hear Peggy Boing (maybe w. a K thrown in at the end!)

We made one last week. Then we made another one the next day. She enjoyed it so much we had to do it again.

I got the idea from one of the cool and crafty books I got recently. It's so simple, all you have to do is take a coffee can (the first one we used was entirely plastic, the next one was a chai tea can, so the bottom is metal) and clean it out really well. Then let your child put loads of stickers on it, or if you can't get the label off, wrap a piece of printer paper or construction paper around it and tape it down.

So it goes like this:
1. Clean out coffee can
2. cover w. paper to hide label
3. stickers all around can
4. use clear packing tape to cover entire can
5. cut slit in cover
6. Tah dah! Piggy Bank!

The real instructions say to tape the cover down, but I know my child and she would have been working to tear that thing apart to get that money out, if only to put it back in again. We've already done that a zillion times since last week, so I made the right call and didn't tape it shut permanently. You make the choice that's right for you and your little one.

Either way it's fun, and they have something that they can use when it's time to teach them about money. We've got quarters down already, but nickels are a bit tougher. Pennies are easy to spot, and dimes are kind of so-so.

She'll get them eventually, I'm sure. Or by the time she needs to there will be new and funkier versions out there in the world. Or something like that!

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