New soap and body product classes

Joan Morais, a certified aromatherapist and instructor, is teaching some great classes this year!

Here’s just a sampling:

NATURAL SKIN & BODY CARE PRODUCT MAKING COURSE
JULY 23, 24, 25, 2009 Last one for 2009!
Thurs, Fri, & Sat, 9:30am-4:30pm
Courtyard Marriott, Fairfield, CA

Learn how to make body lotion, anti-oxidant facial cream, anti-wrinkle eye balm, purifying facial toner, facial cleansing milk, and more.

NATURAL SOAP MAKING COURSE
AUGUST 9 & 10, 2009
Sun & Mon 9:30am-5:30pm
Courtyard Marriott, Fairfield, CA

Learn how to make cold process soap, goats milk soap, marbled soap, honey, oats, herbal tea soap, shea butter soap, moisturzing complexion soap, hand milled, rebatched soap, shampoo bar, and even a pet shampoo bar and more!

NATURAL SKIN & BODY CARE PRODUCT MAKING COURSE -intermediate level
OCTOBER 16, 17 & 18, 2009
Fri, Sat, & Sun, 9:30am-4:30pm
Courtyard Marriott, Fairfield, CA

This course is for those who have taken the beginner level course and will teach more advanced techniques to lotion maing and aromatherapy, as well as perfumes, body oil, massage oil, and deoderants.

Glow: Create Your Own Aromatherapeutic Skin Care Products and Candles
OCTOBER 25, 26, & 27, 2009
Kripalu Center for yoga & health
Stockbridge, Massachussetts

Please visit her website for more detailed class descriptions and registration info.

Looking for a herbal shampoo? Check out our DIY recipe for making your own natural herbal shampoo with basic supplies. We also have a herbal conditioner recipe too. Home-made shampoos and conditioners are a great way to strip back to basics and control what herbs you are putting into your hair shampoo and products. Store-bought herbal shampoo contains lots of numbers and ingredients that as the consumer we know very little about.

Lots of Americans seem to think that May 5 is Mexican Independence Day, but that holiday actually falls on Sept. 16.

May 5 is the celebration of the Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexicans defeated the French in 1862. Independence Day marks the beginning of their fight for independence from Spain in 1810. That was the day of what’s known as El Grito de Dolores, or the cry of Dolores, for when the Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bells at his church in Dolores and declared that Mexico should be free from Spanish rule.

They would fight for their freedom until 1821 when they finally gained independence.

Fabulous Classroom has a little of the history and ideas for celebrating the holiday for all age groups. There’s also a link to a good video in that post about the real story of Mexican Independence Day.

Twinkl also has a good tops about the history and different activities, discussion ideas, crafts and foods that can be incorporated into lessons at school or used at home.

I also found a few pins that no longer link to a website but include good information on Mexican Independence Day, including some questions for students to answer based on the reading. You can find more printables and questions for kids from TX Homeschool Mama on Etsy (also available in Spanish).

You can find a lot more paid resources about Mexican Independence Day at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Mexican flag crafts are a fun option for celebrating Mexican Independence Day (though the current iteration of their flag has only been in use since 1968). Kids Activities Blog has a free Mexican flag printable and a few different ideas for decorating it including dot markers and torn tissue paper.

You can also find some great Mexican crafts at Red Ted Art. The post includes all sorts of Mexican inspired projects including Day of the Dead crafts, Frida Kahlo pinatas and upcycled musical instruments. I love the giant paper flowers they shared from Honestly WTF.

Have you read?