Hi friends.

Items aren't linked for this post because I want you to read the blog and enter the giveaway at the end! (Items are linked throughout this post as always.)

I had such lofty goals to get back here sooner but the month of June took over my LIFE. With exciting things though! Sorry to keep you on the hook for my next post. I’ll make it up to you this one, I swear.

I also wanted to get this blog done before July 1 so I could announce my birthday giveaway, but I don’t think an extra day will make too much difference!

The month of June flew by so fast with busy-ness. I have used that word in other blog posts saying how I don’t care for it, but I FELT that during June. Long story short, we demolished the old garage and excavated for the new space! My brain has been swirling with my to-do list regarding the garage project, let alone my crafting side hustle/vendor markets, this blog, custom projects, trying to see friends and make time for myself too.

June happenings

I kicked off June with doing a massive thing for myself and the “unknown” future. I won a discounted cash price to get my Ovarian Reserve levels checked at Ova Egg Freezing in Chicago. The best part was I got to have quality time with two of my best friends and hang out with babies! I feel information is power and our bodies house so much information the more you know, the better, right? Overall, I got positive news that maybe I’ll share another time, but I do want to say I wish this test was available in our regular doctor’s offices. It comprised of a vaginal ultrasound and blood work. To me that doesn’t seem complicated to be able to do on a regularly scheduled visit. And this kind of testing could open doors to women who want to know what their options are and maybe aren’t ready to make a decision. It’s a fail on our healthcare system … but I digress.

I also went on a solo expedition to visit a peony farm about an hour away. I wasn’t able to attend their festival because we would be knee deep in demo the following weekend, so I took the chance while life was still “calm” and I loved it!! I ordered so many peony plants I can’t even recall what I ordered but they will arrive this fall for planting! I also made a TikTok about it if you would like to view it here! Can you smell them through the computer?

@alisonkepner

Visited Ovans Peony Farm in Fox Lake, WI yesterday. So magical seeing all the varieties of peonies in full bloom! ❤️🌸✨ 🌺 ##peonyfarm ##foxlake ##wisco

♬ Prelude: An Appreciation of Life - Josh Abbott Band

The middle of June was unique in the fact that I got to spend 5 days basically uninterrupted with my parents and Brandon. I haven’t spent that much quality time with my parents since I was in high school. I also haven’t had anyone stay at our house for that long so that was good and interesting all around! Anyone else still learning how to be an adult around your parents? Just me? Ok, haha. I made a YouTube video about the demo & excavating here if you’re curious. It actually just shows how ridiculous my father can be sometimes, so if you ever wonder where I get it from, you’ll see.

I’ve definitely slacked on some of my workouts, but I have kept up with self-care rituals early in the morning. In fact, I’ve only added to it! I’ve added an Oracle deck to pull from which has really in-depth messages that fill my soul.

Also, I did have a private spirit reading at my house with Melanie France and some friends/family last weekend and I love to wonder about my past lives. I think living in a historic town helps fuel that. I walk the streets and fill Brandon’s ear with questions about what it would have been like during the early 1900s and the old circus days. It fascinates me to think about that. Growing up, my dad would always taunt me and the friends that called the house to talk to me by saying “Alison isn’t here, she ran away and joined the circus.” How ironic is it that I live 2 blocks from the circus now, in a circus town?

Also, I just did a Botanical Reiki session for the first time at place new to me, New Moon Wellness, recommended by a close family member. To say I loved it is the understatement of the year. I’ve been adding my flower essence drops in my water several times a day and I will report back on how I feel different! If you have never done Reiki, I would encourage you to look it up. Energy work is so intrinsic, and I embrace it but that doesn’t mean I always understand it either. I’m just happy that there are people that do understand so I can go see them!

Concrete was finished on the new garage early this week, and we are {patiently} waiting for the construction to start sometime later this month.  Hopefully by August it will be done and we can put our backyard back together!

Coming up in July, we are heading out for vacation next week to Colorado! Neither of us have ever been so we are pumped for a new adventure! It will be nice to see my cousin who lives out there as well! After our return, it’s the Sauk County Fair week and my birthday! Growing up I LOOOOOOVED the fair, it was always the week right before school started. So now it’s super fun that my local fair is usually on my birthday! Double the fun!

I have tweaked some of my vendor markets as some dates have been shifted but I have added a Ladies Night at the Sauk County Fair if you want to come check it out! I hope to have more of the color changing pop can glasses done by then too! (Inspired by a TikTok of course but I got to check out a new brand of vinyl that I am really liking!)

@alisonkepner

Essentially Alison’s first TikTok order using @teckwrapcraft color changing vinyl! Thanks, Danielle @thatsad5 , for the order! ##teckwrap ##TeckwrapCraft

♬ A-O-K - Tai Verdes

During the fair week, we have tickets to see Charlie Berens “The Manitowoc Minute” which should be good! We saw him a few years ago and it was great! Even better he’s coming to the Sauk County Fair! Any event within walking distance is a good event to me! 

Beyond that week, we have tickets to the Baraboo Wine Walk which makes its return since 2019. So happy to partake! We might be gluttons for punishment as we have tickets to the Van Gogh Art Exhibit the following evening with some friends and then a very special birthday celebration the following day!

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT BEING BUSY?

The month of July is barely started and it’s already over in my head at the same time. Filled with goodness and love, I’m going to try to remember to take it all in and enjoy the moment!!! 

My grandma turns 97 on July 20^th and to commemorate our years of writing back and forth, I got a tattoo on the start of our birthday month. I went through all of her letters and picked “All my Love,” in her handwriting to place on my left forearm. I love it!

                           

Ok, back to my birthday giveaway!! My birthday is July 15 and I’ll be #37 this year! Crazy how time flies!

Growing up on the farm, it wasn’t always easy for us to have birthday parties/celebrations. Something always happened with the weather or the pigs, etc. Or Alison used a sassy tone of voice with her parents and got her privileges taken away. (That happened more often than I care to admit.) Now as an adult that’s sometimes why I do things “extra” to celebrate. And I do believe life is worth celebrating, at any age or time! 

So, my friend, I would like to giveaway a basket of some of my favorite things TO YOU! I want you to comment on this blog post and tell me about your favorite birthday memory and why it was special to you! You have until midnight on July 15^th to enter and I’ll pick the winner the following day and notify you!

I did say I was going to highlight some of my favorite items to use in the shower and I do need to replace a couple, so that’s a big hint on some of the items that might be in the basket. Also, might be a couple self-care items from an earlier blog post! And maybe more fun surprises! I love giving gifts so this project will fill my cup up with love!

I have to share a couple items for you so you know what you’re getting into with the giveaway options. The first is this face and body scrub called MAKE ME A MORNING PERSON. If that doesn’t ring true to you, I don’t know what will! It smells amazing and I used a small amount pretty much daily. I’m not an expert in scrubs so I’m not 100% sure if you really should use a scrub daily, so use caution. Do what works FOR YOU. It has Rosemary and Peppermint oil in it which makes you happy and alert at the same time! Both of those oils also have lots of other benefits listed on the tub (reducing appearance of fine lines, anti-septic, reduces inflammation, etc.) It does have an affirmation on the tub which I love

“I allow myself to feel energized & positive all day, so let it be said & so be it.” 

I LOVE THIS. I purchase this from a Handmade Shop on Amazon and Amazon tells me I have ordered it FIVE times. If that isn’t a testament to this product, I’m not sure what would be. It’s handmade in small batches in Chicago as well which I think is cool. I have not ordered any other products from MOJO Spa but maybe I will soon! 

When I was linking items here, I saw this product offering and I might have to try this too!!

The other scrub I use daily in the shower is a homemade batch of Himalayan Salt Scrub sold by Time for You Wellness & Spa in Sauk City. This is a really cool storefront that sells crystals, oils, Himalayan Sea Salt products but also has a sauna and a Salt Room! I have used their sauna a couple times and have also done a Salt Room meditation which was trippy. When I last visited, they had this Exfoliating and Relaxing Himalayan Salt Scrub on the bathroom sink to use when you washed your hands. I thought it smelled so good I immediately bought some and put it in my shower! I don’t think this is the intended use for this product as the gal at the desk checking me out had never heard of someone using it like this, but I love it! I rub this one mainly on my stressor spots, my shoulders, neck, and low back. It will fill your shower with an amazing smell, and you’ll feel immediately transformed to a spa!!

The last item I want to tell you about isn’t anything crazy but in keeping with the scrub rant I’m on, I love this Dr Teal's foot scrub. With everything going on outside this summer, I have decided to keep my finger and toenails naked, so they don’t get messed up. And to just let them breathe a little after years of polish on them. Without getting pedicures to keep my feet feeling nice, I decided to get this foot scrub and I use this daily in the shower to give myself a fake pedicure! Also smells great and I’m pretty sure I found this at Walmart.

There you have it, a sneak peek into the Essentially Alison Birthday giveaway and into my shower!!!

I hope you all have a great and safe 4^th of July and I promise I’ll be back before August!

As always, the products shared are simply items I love. I'm not being paid or sponsored {yet} to share any products with you, just sharing from the goodness of my heart. All opinions expressed are truly my own.