Virginia Soaps and Scents -- A Review

Well, I ummm . . . should have written this review a wee bit ago. Yikes. But it doesn’t reflect a negative opinion of Virginia Soaps and Scents, quite the opposite.

In fact, I am very sad because the soaps are on their last suds.

Sadness.

I’ve been contemplating making a little purchase from Virginia Soaps to put in my own Christmas stocking. Does that reflect how much I like these soaps?

Because I am part of the Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew, we received these handcrafted soaps in the mail (a few months back).

The Granola boys were so excited to have something delivered to our house that didn’t require Mommy reading the instructions. They were allowed to have instant gratification.

Literally, they were given a hands-on experience that immediately produced glorious results through the medium of suds, delicious aromas, and personally choosing what soap went in what bathroom.

This was a very unique product review because normally through the Crew we look at curriculum to be used in the “classroom.” However, Virginia Hand Soaps is an example of the “classroom” being applied in real life.

The story behind Virginia Soaps is quite unique and inspiring. The Spargurs are:

a homeschooling family with nine children living in rural Virginia. Our interest in soap making began with a history lesson and developed into an artistic passion. Our soaps are made with all natural oils – no added chemicals. Each bar is hand cut, so no two are exactly the same.

In the sample pack we received there were mini bars of Oatmeal & Milk & Honey Soap, Fresh Orange Soap, Coconut Lemongrass Soap, a Ginger Lime Shampoo Bar, and a Laundry Soap Kit.

We typically have foamy soap in our bathrooms, so it was novel for the boys to actually use a bar to wash their hands. I will admit that it has been difficult to keep the sink “deck” free of soap scum. However, after perusing the Virginia Soap website, I noticed that they sell a “handmade white poplar tray that will keep your soap high and dry for only $2.50!”

I have been impressed with how long our hand soap has lasted in the bathroom—at least double the length of time that our soap pump produces suds. So, if I purchased a Christmas scented hand soap from Virginia Soap, I could be reminded of Jesus well into March for $4.50 (a dollar less than the soap pump we go through each month)! That is a savings indeed!

I would strongly encourage you to visit the Virginia Soaps and Scents website to learn about the history of soap, the production process behind Virginia Soap, and learn about their VERY UNIQUE shampoo bar!

I loved this review and the products we received from Virginia Soaps and Scents. You better believe that I am going to try and find any excuse to purchase from this neat homeschooling family!

Click on the Homeschool Crew banner to read other reviews on this product

As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I was given this product to review, and I do not have to return the product to the vendor. I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are delightfully mine.

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Stick Figure Bible with Grapevine Press

I really want my kids to love God. But I don't want to force God on them. I don't want them to grow up feeling like Jesus was crammed down their throats. I want them to clearly see that God created them and loves them so much that He doesn't force Himself upon them.

Case in point: I love it when Mr. Smackdown gives me a spontaneous hug because he feels that gushy feeling in his heart, and the only thing he knows to do is squeeze me. Hugs from Mr. Smackdown are few and far between. But on occasion, due to some infraction, the Hottie Hubby (no offense) instructs Mr. Smackdown to give me a hug as part of his apology and this is met with opposition. To me, the hug doesn't carry nearly as much weight and bring joy as a freely given hug, one that was a choice.

God is the same way. He doesn't want to FORCE us to love Him. It doesn't mean anything. He wants us to make a choice. It means more. It causes us to love deeper, and not be resentful.

At some point in each of our lives, a choice to commit to or ignore a daily, personal friendship and interaction with God must occur.

I see that beyond providing my children with the necessities of life, my single most important job is providing opportunities for them to naturally learn about God and experience Him in practical ways.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

But this wasn't happening. Each time I tried to train Mr. Smackdown using a particular Bible resource last year, it was met with resistance.

I dreaded Bible time.

And then a package arrived in the mail. And it gave me hope.


As you know, I blog for The Old SchoolHouse Homeschool Crew. Throughout this coming year, I have and will receive various emails and packages at my door or on my computer of curriculum to sample and offer my opinion.

Praise God that I have had the privilege to review Grapevine Studies. I don't know if they will decorate your package, but mine came with a personal message as you can see.

Really, I don't know that I really even need to offer my own comments because Mr. Smackdown eloquently exudes excitement and a happy devotion to learning about God's Word in the following video:




Anyway, the Hottie Hubby and I decided to use the New Testament Overview with Mr. Smackdown.



We really think that it is important for our kids to be well versed in all aspects of the Bible. Thus far, I have been so pleased with Grapevine Studies, that I plan on doing the Old Testament Overview when we finish the New Testament Overview. Which reminds me . . . as one of my readers, you can get 30% off until September 15th, 2009 using the code crews at checkout if you decide to use Grapevine Studies as your Bible curriculum. You can get either an ebook or a hard copy. I have yet to enter the ebook revolution, and opted to kill a few tress so that I would have a hard copy teacher's manual and student book. Obviously, the ebooks are cheaper.


Being artsy-fartsy and a former kindergarten teacher, I am enjoying the multi-discipline aspects of Grapevine Studies. Not only is Mr. Smackdown learning about the Bible, BUT he is gaining body awareness through drawing stick figures, and learning how to follow step-by-step directions as I show him how to draw each picture.

Our times together in the Word, have been so sweet. We typically sit down over some tea, discuss what we drew last time, read our lesson, and draw. The lessons are short but powerfully allow us to focus on specific aspects of Scripture.

It has been such a blessing!





the+old+schoolhouse Grapevine+Press bible+curriculum homeschool

Still Waiting For Ants

We are STILL waiting for our ants. Each day the trip to the mailbox is eagerly anticipated and met with great disappointment.

In the meantime, Mr. Smackdown captured a fine looking caterpillar with a ferocious appetite. The green caterpillar was enjoying Mr. Smackdown's tasty garden lettuce. Instead of being upset, at what I would deem an unwanted intruder, he saw God's creation, beauty, and wonder.

"Can we keep him?"

Sadly, we have killed our first outdoor pet. I thought we left him with plenty of lettuce while we were gone on vacation. Unfortunately, the caterpillar pooped too much and couldn't crawl away.

I know. It is a sad story. But I figured it would provide interesting reading material.

Stay tuned for . . .

• a giveaway from Organic Baby
• highlights from Father's Day
• a review of the new planner from The Old Schoolhouse
• tips for camping with kids that I learned this past weekend

Tot School 4 1/2

For starters, I really want to know when our ants are going to arrive. I'm ready to learn about the letter "B." Our life is stuck. We talk about "A" ants all the time. Enough is enough! Please bring our ants, Mrs. Mailman!

Time to focus. Crazy. School is done for the summer for most children and teachers and I am convicted for the need to be more regular in our Tot School, which explains the absence of my weekly Tot School post--we had our summer break before summer break.

School has been a random splicing of activities. I am going to have to find a new groove with the addition of regular exercise and gardening now added to my list of granola activities. My focus for Tot Time has been and will be learning from our life experiences, scripture memory, recognizing letters and sounds, creating a corresponding lapbook with the letter of the week, basic counting, and fine motor skills such as coloring and cutting. (And moving tadpoles to the frog pond.)

The boys learned to set the table. Their future wives will thank me. I taught them how to set the table. Next, we took turns making a mess of our mock table and then correctly placing the dinnerware in its designated spot.

Here are a few highlights:

Mr. Smackdown has delighted in showing off his newly acquired skill of setting the table. I wonder how long it will be "fun" and not a chore? It is amazing how little helpful hands by growing children can become tremendous time-savers. When can he start cleaning the bathrooms and vacuuming?

As if we didn't already know the letter "A," we made "A's" with rubber bands on our geoboards, along with other designs to improve fine motor skills, which is necessary if your hand gets slapped by a taught rubber band!

Childhood just wouldn't be complete without using Ed Emberley's Thumbprint Art guidebook.

And to wrap it up, today we confiscated Mr. Smiley's bath time alphabet toys and put the letters in alphabetical order.

(Can you tell which letter is missing?)

We had some leftover numbers, and used our Connectagons and corresponded the correct number of pieces below each foam number.

After all that fun . . . I stopped at the library so that we could begin learning about the letter "B." The ants will have to move into our home under a different letter whether they like it or not.

Need Extra Money?

I had some "me time" today. God and I had a date this morning, so I felt comfortable using my "me time" to do a bit of shopping this afternoon and sip a latte at Starbucks over a new ebook from The Old Schoolhouse. But I confess, I printed part of the ebook and killed a few trees.

I had put off reading the book, because it required more time from me, having 95 pages. The WeE-book I read a few weeks back was so short!

My first glance made me think, "Why am I reading a book about homework? My kids aren't old enough for homework."


I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Homework: Juggling Home, Work and School Without Losing Your Balance wasn't about assigned homework! It had nothing to do with giving children homework! This book has the potential to create homework for me instead!


This e-book is the motivational equivalent of the Biggest Loser television show. I was encouraged to learn that there are other crazy busy moms like me! My slow venture into being a WAHM (work at home mom) is a daily and necessary reality that God has provided for many homeschooling families.


The pages of Homework: Juggling Home, Work and School Without Losing Your Balance are quickly devoured as each female author shares her journey into starting a business from home. These godly women offer tips, tricks, and resources while maintaining honesty in their struggle to balance their walk with the Lord, homeschooling, and family life.


If you are looking to begin a business from home, need extra income, and/or desire to be inspired, refreshed and encouraged, then this is the book for you. Bonus websites have been meticulously complied for the reader to further educate themselves on operating a home based business. Cut your legwork in half and order this book from The Old Schoolhouse.