Homeschool Crew: Virginia Soaps and Scents

One of the boxes that came in the mail from the Crew was smelling pretty good! We couldn't wait to open this one! We received a box of variety from Virginia Soaps and Scents. Inside our box was several yummy smelling bars of soap (Orange, Milk and Honey, something lime (my fave!)) along with a shampoo bar and a laundry soap starter kit! What fun!

I am truly not a fan of bar soap, however with these, we all love them. They are placed at various sinks and tubs throughout the house. (And don't tell, but some people may be getting them for Christmas! These products will make great gifts!) The reason I don't generally care for bars - lack of lather - but these bars seem to lather up really well, which makes me happy - something about seeing the bubbles that makes you feel cleaner!

Next, I tried the shampoo bar. The first day I tried it, I didn't care for it, so I stopped using it. Then when I got 17+ inches cut off my hair and made it a little easier to manage, I gave it another try. I did like using the bar, it lathers really well, and I will continue to use this bar. Now, as far as buying more...I am unsure about that. It gave my hair a sticky feel when it is wet and I am not crazy about that. Now, when I am done washing it and is is dry, I really love the way it feels - but once I get back in the water, feels sticky again. Normally I wouldn't think to much of that, but when I went swimming last week, my hair was pretty sticky feeling and I didn't care for that. Even though it wasn't my favorite, I did appreciate the opportunity to try it, and I wish it would work for me....

Our last goody from Virginia Soap and Scents was a laundry soap kit. I have made homemade powdered laundry soap before but never tried the gel. The kit that was sent made right at a gallon and lasted an incredibly long time. The smell of the soap wasn't over powering in the laundry room, but the clothes smelled clean when they came out of the wash. I would continue to use the laundry soap, but there is one thing that I didn't care for - lack of bubbles! When my washing machine is filling with water and I add the laundry soap, I want to see bubbles! There were very few bubbles with this kit and that is something that is important to me - I am sure it is all in my head, but I feel like if there are bubbles, then it's doing it's job in cleaning!

Disclaimer: Being part of The Homeschool Crew, these products were sent to me free of charge in order for an honest review on my blog. For more reviews and opinions, please visit the Crew through the button above.

Homeschool Crew: The Amazing Bible Timeline

We took on a new part to our lessons this year, Bible Study. We have done things on and off, but this year, we have a curriculum that we are using and keeping up with on a daily basis. Both of the kiddos, as well as myself have learned a lot from the consistency. We all enjoy Bible time and look forward to it each day.


Imagine how excited we were to get the Amazing Bible Timeline in the mail! It is a very interesting poster, made by the company Bible Charts and Maps. Well, to say this thing is huge, would almost be an under-statement - but it is HUGE! We found a place in our hall to hang it and the kiddos visit it frequently! We were about 3 weeks into our Old Testament study when we put the map in the hall and they loved being able to follow the lines and see where everyone fit in on the chart. They still get up at least once during Bible and go see where we are. We have never done a time-line of any sorts here, and this one, being already finished, has been a great learning tool.

I do want to point out that I am not the best when it comes to my Bible Stories, I don't know much about the Bible at all (but I am learning) so, from my point of view and opinion, this is a great tool. Please know this is how I feel about the chart! With what little we know around here, it has been a helpful tool.

When you purchase the Amazing Bible Timeline, you also receive 2 free downloads - Interactive Map of the Holy Lands and Digital Amazing Bible Time Line. I have downloaded both of these and the kiddos have played around with them - they love the map one! If you are looking for some extra for your Bible Study time, I encourage you to go check this tool out! We have thoroughly enjoyed it and I see it as a permanent in our hallway for a while.

Disclaimer: Being part of The Homeschool Crew, these products were sent to me free of charge in exchange for a review on my blog. To read more reviews and opinions, please visit the crew link above.

Homeschool Crew: Sarah's Wish

As part of the crew, one of our recent mailbox surprises was the book Sarah's Wish by Jim Baumgardner. Now, if you read my blog, you know I love to read!

Sarah's Wish takes place in the 1800's and had my kiddos attention from the beginning. We used it as a lunch time read-aloud and they really enjoyed hearing the story. Once we were through reading it as a read aloud, Samantha took it and that was the moment she started reading chapter books.

In addition to Sarah's Wish, Jim has also written Sarah's Escape and Sarah's Promise. I am hoping these find their way to our house for Christmas Time. I know they are clean
For more reviews about Sarah's Wish, please click the CREW link above!

DISCLAIMER: Being part of the Crew allows me to receive these items FREE of charge in exchange for my review. This is my opinion only!

Homeschool Crew: Guardian Angel Press

As part of the crew, the kiddos and I got a few down loadable books from Guardian Angel Press. We received three different books Earthquake, Stubby's Destiny, and No Bones About It.


These were all in storybook form, and while they were cute stories, and we enjoyed reading them, I am still not to the point of caring for ebooks. Especially when they are presented as a sit on the couch and read story book.

If you are studying earthquakes, then this ebook could help you. And if you read to the kiddos from the computer, you may enjoy these. Like I said, the story and illustrations are cute, I just didn't care for the ebook form and don't feel I would use these.

For more reviews on Guardian Angel Press, please visit the Crew link above

Cold, rainy, dreary Saturday

Due to the fact that I wasn't sure how hard church was going to be, the kiddos just stayed where they were for the day.  Church wasn't to bad.  Mom and dad joined me again and it was a good service - not too emotional.
Rog helped his dad with hay, then they headed to deer camp this afternoon.  I took a nap and then went to my sisters for Taco Soup & cornbread followed by a fun game of Rage! Sunday nights are the best!!!!

Sad

I received a call today that I have been worried about getting...a member of our church family, a good family friend, passed away this morning. He had been battling cancer for a while and was truly a walking miracle. I pray that I have half the faith he has shown over this time of trials. He was an awesome person, a friend to everyone and a shining example of grounded in faith and he will be missed by all he touched!

Saturday

Rog had to work at the station today and I got up when he left and checked email and such - I was trying to keep quiet so I wouldn't wake the sleepers...

I was quiet for as long as I could, but had to get started in the kitchen.  I started with bread for lunch...tossed all the stuff in the bread machine to mix, knead and rise.  From there, I started in on the Amish Friendship Bread a friend gave me - today was baking day! By the time I finally got that in the oven, the kitchen was pretty messy!  While unloading the dishwasher, the sleeping kiddos woke up!  They were happy to wait on 'chocolate chip bread' for breakfast and went straight to Indiana Jones on the Wii!

The HOG GAME started at 11:00 and my sis and one of our friends came over to watch it. Once they got here, I started chicken noodle soup and threw the bread in the oven. 

Hogs played an awesome game and lunch turned out to be pretty yummy!  I will post the recipe for the bread - really simple and really tasty!!

Everyone left - including Ry - and I spent the rest of the evening doing nothing!! It has been nice and quiet and I think I am about to hit a warm tub and the bed - complete with a book!  Have a blessed Sunday all!

Rainy Friday

We woke up to cool and rainy day today.  The kiddos didn't have much school to finish, so we finished that up and finished Samantha's clothes.  After lunch, we decided to join the homeschool group at the skating rink.  Kiddos had a great time skating, Heeling, scootering and running with their friends!
Samantha went to Gramma's for the night and Riley has Em over to spend the night.  Since they took over the TV in the den, I went to bed!  I sat in there and worked on getting the rest of the contacts in my phone!  I finished that, now I just need to get my calendar updated, then I will be back up and running!
Kiddos are finally settling down to watch a movie, so I am headed to bed...at 11pm.... maybe they will go on to sleep!

Simple Days

Nothing big on our plates for today.  We had our normal school work and chores.  Once they finished with their school work, I sent them out to play.  Samantha's recent love is riding her bike! She spends hours outside riding around and around the backyard.  Riley will pull out his bike and ride and ramp!  He has asked me to check out BMX for him... I guess I should....
Tonight was Girl Scouts and neither my co-leader or I had anything planned, so....we played games and sang GS songs!  We have 2 new girls in our troop, so it was a good thing for the troop to hang out and have fun - get to know each other.
One of my GS parents GRACIOUSLY loaned me their old phone!  It is like the one I dunked, so I know how to work it - just got to clean all of her apts and contacts off here and start adding mine...
Rog is waiting on me to watch Survivor!  So I am off here to crawl in bed and work on this new phone and watch Survivor!

Homeschool Crew: Nature Friend Magazine

This came in the mail the other day, and I had a chance to just skim over it before the kiddos grabbed it!!
It went missing for a few days, then I finally made the request that whoever had confiscated it, please return it - suddenly, no one had it!  Mysteriously, it was on my desk this morning...hmm...I didn't ask!
Through The Crew, we were given a two month trail period to Nature Friend Magazine, complete with Study Guide.  For some reason, we are not very nature oriented homeschoolers.  I like the ideas, but they just don't ever seem to happen with us like the do for some folks.  So, while I thought these magazines were cute and the kiddos enjoyed them, I am not quite sure how I would work them into our school.  The Study Guide was attached in the center, and popped out for each use but the teacher.  Both the magazine and the study guide were full of wonderful information, awesome pictures and even items sent in by readers! 
The kiddos have spent quite a bit of time with these two magazines - you can tell they have been loved these past two months!
I think if you are a nature loving, outdoors as much as you can be, studying all about the plants and animals, these are wonderful magazines!  I think there is much information that can be used from these magazines!
For more reviews and such on the Nature Friend Magazine, please visit the Crew link above!
In the center of the magazine

Amish Peace by Susan Woods Fisher

I love reading Amish fiction stories.  There is just something about the slow paced lifestyle that I really like.  I know that the fiction books are just that, fiction, but they do offer a nice peek into the window of the lifestyle the Amish live.
I recently finished a book called Amish Peace by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  It is listed as an Inspiration book, and that it is.  Suzanne has taken each aspect of our fast paced busy life, and compared it to simple, almost laid back, peaceful feeling that the Amish live.  I am sure that it is not all flowers and rainbows in the Amish community, but you have to admit, their life is so much more 'simple' than ours. 
I really enjoyed reading Amish Peace. It gave much more 'true' insight to the Amish way of life, as well as made me slow down and think about my own fast paced life and those around me. Over the next few months, I will be working on simplifying my own life.
Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

It's Not About Him by Michelle Sutton

WHAT I HAVE TO SAY: This was a pretty cute story!  It was an easy read and fairly simple to follow!  Definitely one of those you could read thru on a good Sunday afternoon!

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


It's Not About Him


Sheaf House (September 1, 2009)


by


Michelle Sutton





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Michelle Sutton, otherwise known as the Edgy Inspirational Author, is Editor-in-chief of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, a member of ACFW, a social worker by trade, and a prolific reader/book reviewer/blogger the rest of the time.



She lives in Arizona with her husband of nineteen years and her two teenaged sons. Michelle is also the author of It's Not about Me (2008) and It's Not About Him (Sheaf House 2009). She has nine other titles releasing over the next three years.











ABOUT THE BOOK



Susie passed out while drinking at Jeff’s party and later discovered she’s pregnant. She has no idea who the father is and considers having an abortion, but instead decides to place her baby for adoption. Following through ends up being more wrenching than she imagined, but she’s determined to do the right thing for her baby.



Jeff feels guilty that Susie was taken advantage of at his party and offers to marry her so she won’t have to give up her baby, like his birth mother did with him. But Susie refuses, insisting he should he marry someone he loves. Can he convince her that his love is genuine before it’s too late? Can she make him understand that it’s not about him—it’s about what’s best for her child?



If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of It's Not About Him, go HERE