Kids | Saved By Grace

Purchasing A Small Animal for a First Pet

April 16, 2024 By Christine 3 Comments

I remember being a child and wanting a pet to call my own. I had a dog at the time, Vince, a Boston Terrier, but I wanted to get a pet that I could keep in my room and be mine and mine only. Being that my brother and mom were not a fan of rats or mice, I asked if I could get a hamster. I was so happy when it was Ok’d by my mom and I went and got my first little buddy. I named him “Nosey” because of the way he wiggled his nose all the time when he sniffed around.

Flash forward to today. I now have a 10 year old daughter and like myself, she is an animal lover. The other day, she told me she wanted to be a vet.

Being that I hadn’t had a small animal for a while, (I owned rats for a couple years, but their equipment and cages were long gone) and certinally not a hamster, I was happy when I decided to check out PetSmart and start my journey there.

What I loved most about my experience with PetSmart was how knowledgeable the staff was. I spoke with Matt, who was the associate working in that department that evening. I saw hamsters of all kinds (some I had never seen before) and I told him what I was looking for. I wanted a hamster that was most open to human contact and less likely to be aggressive or bite. He suggested without hesitation, we get a Fancy Bear Siberian hamster. The ones in stores are black. I loved this as I had always thought hamsters were tan-ish in color.

I noticed that the hamsters sold at PetSmart were all male. I inquired why and Matt told me this was in order to avoid a pregnancy situation. In other words, it is to make sure you don’t take home one hamster and end up with a few more than you bargained for because the hamster you chose was pregnant. I remember buying female rat once and about 3 days after we bought her, we had 10 babies. I was not very happy. I think it is great that PetSmart takes this precaution.

After I had chosen the hamster I wanted to adopt, and Matt had answered all my questions, I filled out an adoption form and asked him to help me pick a cage. He pointed out an amazing set up that included all the pieces needed for a first home-food, bedding, a water bottle, wheel and even chew toys. He was very good at helping me compare prices and I told him my budget and there were several options to go with. He even showed me great accessories to purchase to make my hamster’s home the best ever!

Overall, I highly suggest adopting a small animal from PetSmart. The associates are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. I loved how smooth this purchase was and I was very impressed with Matt’s professionalism and knowledge.

Some things to keep in mind if you want to get a small animal for your children:

Make a budget that offers a bit of room in it for purchasing your pet’s supplies.
Do your research on what small animal would best fit your life. Don’t pick a nocturnal animal if the activity will bother you at night.
Pick an animal that is age appropriate. An animal that requires a lot of care may not be the best for a child under the age of 10.
Ask lots of questions when you purchase. If the employee doesn’t know the answers, find someone who does.
Purchase from a reputable business. This is crucial for making sure you get a healthy animal.

Overall, I think small pets can be great for older kids. They can teach responsibility and give your kiddo a fun and enriching experience!

Filed Under: Homelife Tagged With: Family, Kids, pets

ThredUp is opening a New Women’s Store!

April 12, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

When I come across good deals and news in the shopping forefront, I like to share them!

Have you ever used thredUp for buying and selling your children’s clothing? Now there will be a women’s clothing store run by the same company!

It hasn’t had it’s grand opening yet, but can you tell I am super excited? The best part is, for every person you refer to the site right now, you can get $5 credit to use in the store when it opens!

If you haven’t heard of thredUp, let me tell you a bit about this cool shop. You can buy name brand, high quality used clothing for your kids (and soon yourself!) at major discounts! Think: going to the Goodwill looking for those needle in a haystack brand names without the hunting. All the clothing is free of defects and must meet the high quality standards for thredUp. It is like a consignment shop online and the best part is, you can make money selling your own items on the site!

Come join me on the newest online shop by clicking on this link and signing up so you will know when the shop opens, plus you will get your own referral link so you can get credit as well!

Photo © Crystalfoto | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: Frugal living, Kids

Monkey Mat {Review}

April 10, 2024 By Christine 2 Comments

With the weather getting nice outside, it is definitely picnic time! One problem many moms come across is how to let their little ones play outside and do so as clean as possible!

I am not a mom to little ones anymore, as I have a 10 year old, yet I still think the Monkey Mat is something every mom should have in her arsenal! (aka-”purse”). The Monkey Mat is a portable play mat that is so compact, it fits right in your purse, glove box and picnic basket!

The Monkey Mat is made out of a water repellant material and has weighted corners for keeping it in place. It also features an attached zip pouch for easy compact carrying.

I want to stress that this mat is not just for moms with toddlers! I am glad to have it for our many picnic outings as blankets are great, but they take up a lot of room and are not water repellant. The Monkey Mat folds out to a 5 x 5 ft size, so it has a lot of room on it for playing, outdoor exercise, picnics and outdoor concerts. Montana has so many outdoor events and I often wish I had brought a blanket to sit on. With the Monkey Mat, I don’t have to even think about it. I can just slip it in my glove-box and keep it there and wherever we are, the Monkey Mat is ready to go.

Pros:

I love the water repellent materiel. Montana mornings often mean dew on the ground and this is perfect. I love how portable and light-weight this is and the how easy it is to fold out and put back in the attached pouch. I also love that it has weights on the ends to keep it in place. There are even loops on the ends to tie it down if the weather is extra windy! Moms with toddlers and babies will appreciate the loops it has on the indie of the mat for tying down toys!

Cons:

I wish it was just slightly larger. That is really the only complaint I have about it!

Verdict:

Please, don’t think this is only for babies! This mat grows with your child and is even useful for adults! I would highly recommend this awesome product!

To Purchase:

Head over to the website to purchase the Monkey Mat for $39.99. You can also check out the local places it is sold in states such as California, Colorado and New York!

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Family, Kids, Product Reviews

Teacher Peach {Review}

March 23, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

Teachers are extremely valuable and unfortunately, in many cases, they do not get the recognition they deserve. Teacher Peach is a nifty website designed to get little, low cost gifts that Teachers would love to show a good teacher how much you appreciate them! Not only that, but if you are a teacher, yourself, you will find tons of awesome products just for you to make your day easier! There are some great items on there that would fit right in with a homeschooling mom!

I was sent a couple items to review including the Quench Tumbler and the Travel 7 in 1 case.

The Quench tumber is the popular style of tumblers with the plastic straw that you see everywhere these days. I am not a teacher, but I do drink fluids at work and it is a requirement for me to have a reuseable cup with a lid to keep them in. I took this Quench Tumber for the test!

The Travel 7 in 1 case holds all the essentials including stapler, staples, paper clips, Stickie notes, rubber bands, a hole puncher, and a tape dispenser. Everything that would be great to have on the go! The case snaps tight to hold it all neatly in place.

Pros:

The Travel 7 in 1 case was very handy to have as I was helping my husband get his resumes together during his job hunting. We made copies at the local copy shop and this neat little case fit right in my purse!

Cons:

The quench tumbler cracked a bit on the rim when I washed it the first time. I also noticed this created a lose seal and water got in between the layers of the cup. I tried to let it dry and fix this issue, but two days later, there was still water in it and it created condensation in between the layers. I would recommend to avoid this by not immersing it in water and being gentle with the lid when putting it on and off. Overall, I didn’t find it as durable as I had hoped.

Verdict:

Teacher Peach has a lot of amazing products at very reasonable prices. The Travel 7 in 1 Case is only $5.95. I would not recommend the Quench Tumbler though if you are hoping for a lot of durability.

To Purchase:

Visit Teacher Peach and check out their nifty products for teachers (and many for moms!).

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Family, Kids

Ways to Keep Your Child Entertained at a Restaurant

January 22, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

We have all been there. You go out for a nice family meal and the food is taking a little longer than your child’s stomach says it should. They get antsy, restless and grouchy. The coloring page is no longer entertaining them. You scramble in your purse for a single object and a scrap of paper to keep them entertained just a little bit longer. Your patience is wearing thin.

First and foremost, to have a better dining experience, come prepared, make your expectations clear on behavior and dine at a time when your kids are not too tired.

If you have all that in order, I came up with a list of things to do at the table to keep those little busy bees entertained! In the meantime, you may find yourself creating memories!

Try making a “straw caterpillar.” Simply bunch up the wrapper of a straw, while it is still attached in an accordion fashion and slip it off the straw. Lay it on the table and tell your kids to watch closely as just a bit of water makes the caterpillar come to life! Drip a couple tiny drops onto the wrapper and it will start to unwrap, but appear to be moving. My husband said he used to do this all the time as a kid.

For little ones, try asking them to arrange the items on the table from tallest to shortest.
Play “I spy”
Take your child for a walk while you wait for your food.
Come prepared with small, healthy snacks to keep the “Hungies” at bay while you wait.
If they are just learning to read, try having them read you the menu.
Ask them to tell you a story about how the food is being prepared in the back.
Bring flash cards with you and use this time to teach!
Get them involved in being little food critics. Ask them to tell you one thing on the menu that sounds wonderful and why and one thing on the menu that sounds icky and why. Make it a goal to eat one thing on the menu they wouldn’t normally like and ask them to critique it for you. Ask them to tell you what they like and dislike about the atmosphere at the restaurant.
Play Tic Tac Toe with the silverware at the table and sugar packets. Line up knives to create a Tic Tac Toe board and each player gets a different colored sugar packet.
Bring along simple table games that can be tucked away in your purse such as Pairs in Pears or Bananagrams.

What do you do to entertain your little ones when you are out for a meal?

Filed Under: Homelife Tagged With: Kids

What I Love About my Daughter

January 16, 2024 By Christine 1 Comment

Warning! This post is heavy with photos and gushing with love and admiration for my daughter

Aww, my little girl. She is growing so fast. It really is amazing to watch a baby become a little person with a separate identity from you and then into a little person you can carry on deeper conversations with. I am always amazed by what words my daughter uses at her age. Words I didn’t even think she knew! (all good words, I promise!)

My life has changed since I had her, too. I was a scared single mom when she was born. I was overwhelmed and had no idea how I was going to be as a mom. I used to love just laying her on my chest and listening to her snore (yes! she even snored as a baby!) as she sleeps.

I am now married, and my daughter will turn 10 in less than a month. She is an amazing person. I am so proud to call her my own.

My daughter has this amazing giving spirit. She has always loved to see people light up with gifts. I would have a million pictures she colored for me if I didn’t weed them out. Every Christmas, she spends her own money to buy everyone a gift. She loves giving to other people so much and I love that about her.

Another quality she has is she is amazingly independent. I remember taking cat naps on the couch when she was still very little and not worrying that she would get into something she wasn’t supposed to. While a lot of parents struggle to get their kids in bed, I have never had one single night where it was an issue. I remember being astonished when at 3 years old, she would start asking me if she could go to bed because she was tired. Of course I said yes! It allowed me to peek into the kind of independent soul she would become. Even now, I have never had a doubt in my mind that she will be able to handle anything that comes her way into adulthood.

I love that my daughter is creative. She has this mind that can create anything she puts it to. She is a good problem solver and loves learning. There is nothing better than a person who loves learning. That almost guarantees they will never stop growing in mind and spirit.

She has a love for Jesus. While I am a Christian mom, I do not try to shove my beliefs on my daughter. She is allowed to not go to church if she doesn’t want to (although she often chooses to go) and she is allowed to ask questions. I want her to find Jesus and develop a relationship with him on her own free will and I am happy she is doing that. I believe our spiritual selves are able to develop deeper meaning when it is not something that is forced upon us.

I love that my daughter is unique. She isn’t all into girly things (although lately she has started taking an interest in lip gloss and body sprays) and yet, she isn’t a total tomboy either. She has always loved her dolls and science kits equally.

We have so much fun together and have our own special games we play together that no one “gets”.

Being a mom is so rewarding. Its amazing, even.

Filed Under: Homelife Tagged With: Family, Kids

Knickerbocker Glory Underouts {review}

January 1, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

When I think of comfort, it may not come as a surprise that I think of sitting in a warm toasty home with just some comfy, non-constricting clothing (such as my undies and a t0-shirt) and a good movie. Now, most people can’t sit around in just their undies around the house, but at least your kiddos can! Introducing Knickerbocker Glory!