WISCONSIN LAVENDER FARM: THE PERFECT DAY TRIP

It's summer in Minnesota and that means hot and humid. Not my favorite season. I love when the wildlife returns in spring and I enjoy the sounds of nature in the summer months, but the weather just makes me long for autumn. With the heat being what it is, our family has pretty much stayed glued to the AC at home, but my girls and I got fed up with being stuck inside. We decided to soak up the summer, heat or not, and take some road trips around the state. This week, we ventured just next door to Wisconsin.

Stockholm, Wisconsin: More Than Just Cornfields!

Our destination was the tiny town of Stockholm which is a 1.5 hour drive from our place. I was actually super surprised by how gorgeous the drive was! I mean, I fully expected endless cows and cornfields, but about halfway there, it transformed into amazing cliffs, rolling hills, and trees stretching as far as you could see. It was seriously beautiful and made the drive just fly by.

Stockholm itself? It's one of those blink and you miss it towns, super tiny but really cute and charming. Everyone we met was lovely, and there's actually enough to see and do to fill up an entire day.

Lavender Fields (and Wildflowers!) Forever

First on our agenda was Allaire's House, a sweet little coffee shop. They had all sorts of coffees and homemade scones - a perfect, cozy spot to just chill for a bit.

Then, we headed to Lavender Bluff Farm hoping to pick some lavender and wildflowers. Sadly, the lavender was a no-show this year (thanks to the mild Midwest winter), but the wildflowers were absolutely blooming and abundant. We got there early to beat the worst of the heat and had such a great time picking under a gorgeous, sunny blue sky. There was even an outdoor yoga class happening when we arrived, which looked really cool, something I might try someday. 

After our picking adventure, we popped into the farm's gift shop. It's a fantastic space with tons of stuff. 

Of course, most things were lavender-themed: dried bouquets, perfumes, face creams, you name it. My oldest snagged a cute pen shaped like a lavender stalk with flowers. Oh, and they offered us free lavender lemonade, which was a nice touch.

Shopping, Scenery, and a Vow to Return

Next, we wandered into town to check out the gift shops and art galleries. There were lots of people out and about, all with great energy and happy faces. Just a really nice vibes all around. Every shop was unique, offering a wide variety of cool items. I even found a candle for a friend that had biodegradable packaging with wildflower seeds embedded in it. How cool is that?!

Even though we were having a blast, I had to call it a little early after a few hours because my back started acting up. But we vowed to return. We're already planning to check out the nearby hiking trails and visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, which is just a few miles down the road. 

If you know of any other cute towns we should visit in the Midwest, please let me know. We're always in the mood for a new adventure. 

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THE SOAP PIXIE HAS FLOWN INTO A NEW REALM...YOUTUBE!!

Now you can step into the magickal world of Bristleberry Hollow with Oona the Soap Pixie and Poppy the Ladybug. From behind-the-scenes soapmaking to whimsical stories and enchanted releases, it's all starting now. 

Please check out our intro video over on YouTube. 

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW CAULDRON & MOON SOAP STAMPS FOR MAGICKAL BATCHES

Something new is brewing at the Soap Pixie!! We just added two custom soap stamps that we think you're going to love (thank you Chris for making them). One is a little cauldron that will show up on all of our spell connected soaps, so if you see it, you'll know it's part of Oona's Grimoire. The other is a moon and stars stamp, and that will mark every bar that's connected to the moon phases. Just a small touch, but we hope it makes the magick feel a little bit more real when you hold the soap in your hands. ⭐

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COME SEE US THIS THURSDAY

We will be in Northfield this Thursday so if you're around, drop by and see us. For more info click HERE
 

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WHY I BECAME A WILDLIFE RESCUER

For as long as I can remember, I’ve cared deeply about animals. I’ve spent decades speaking up for them, whether it was handing out flyers outside the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Minneapolis to raise awareness about how elephants are abused for entertainment, or protesting outside the Mall of America because Victoria’s Secret was using wood pulp from the Canadian Boreal Forest for their catalogs. I’ve even organized a boycott of Red Lobster over their connection to the Canadian seal hunts.

In 2012, my heart really found its place in wolf advocacy. I threw myself into it. I tabled events for Howling for Wolves, met with legislators, protested, marched, and even flew to Washington D.C. to help defend the Endangered Species Act. I was all in. Committed. 

But in 2024, after another devastating failure to pass legislation that would permanently ban future wolf hunts in Minnesota, something shifted in me. I was tired. Tired of begging lawmakers to care. Tired of feeling like no matter how loud I screamed, it wasn’t enough. I needed to find a way to keep helping, but in a way that didn’t leave me feeling so heartbroken all the time.

That’s when I circled back to something I had done years ago, back in the '90s - wildlife rescue. I reconnected with Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, an incredible nonprofit that helps transport injured and orphaned wild animals to rehabilitators, supports those rehabilitators, and educates the public. I signed up to volunteer again and honestly, it’s changed me.

Lately, I’ve had the joy of rescuing raccoon kits. Some of them (pictured) lost their mother after she was hit and killed by a car. Holding those tiny, scared babies and knowing I’m getting them the help they need - it’s hard to put that feeling into words. It's hope. It's healing. It’s purpose.

For so long, I felt like I was letting the wolves down every time the system failed them. But with rescue work, I get to DO something. Right now. I get to act. And I can see the result almost immediately - a life saved, a second chance given.

Helping wildlife has given me a new kind of energy. I haven’t stopped speaking up for wolves. I never will. But now I also get to be part of the hands-on work, and that’s made all the difference.

At the end of the day, I don’t believe we’re here just to live for ourselves. I think we’re meant to live for something bigger and for me, that “something” has always been the animals.

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