Back To Madison

After leaving the Green Bay area, we made our way to Madison…again! But this time it was more business than fun. Thankfully our kind of business is pretty fun. ;)

We stayed with Justin’s gorgeous cousin and her husband and son, enjoyed some homecooked meals in the evenings and several trips to Madison farmer’s markets. It was so incredibly kind of them to open their home to us over the weekend, and I know Justin especially was really grateful for the time spent with them.

Justin and Little Mikey

I was also able to sneak in a bit of hooping with Denise and her family. I loved it! Being able to ask questions and even answer a few, and just have fun. I can’t wait to find more of these.

Hooping Class in Madison

We “commuted” during the day to Jennifer and Mark’s home not far away to do some work with them. I had the honor of initiating a brand new dready mama! Jennifer’s long beautiful locks had already been started, so we spent a few hours tightening up the existing and finishing up the rest of her head. Isn’t she just gorgeous with dreads? I can’t wait to see them take shape over the next few months.

New Dready Mama

Jennifers Baby Dreads

Perhaps the most fun was seeing and working on their very own 1982 Winnebago Brave! Look familiar?? Yup, that would be Benny’s big bro, sitting a little longer and with a much different layout. Justin really enjoyed doing repairs, comparing vintage quirks and getting Mark started on the rest of the refurbishing process.

Benny and The Other Brave

Justin and the other Brave

Ceiling Repairs

Mark is a baker and they are looking to start a unique and inspiring mobile venture across the US with their four children. I’m super excited to see how their family’s journey unfolds! Hopefully they’ll be starting that blog soon. Hint hint. ;)

Thank you both and good luck to you guys!

Current location: En route from OKC to Dallas for the Rethinking Everything conference!

September’s Sponsors

At the beginning of every month, I like to highlight the lovely sponsors and affiliates that align with my personal standards and help support my passion for blogging.

I hope that you’ll check them out and support the ones you love!


Straight from the hands & heart of Melbourne-based artist Jess Loyer, Full Spiral Designs is a collection of nature-inspired jewelry made with 100% recycled metals & natural gemstones. With a belief that designs inspired by natural beauty ought to reflect a respect for this earth, she strives to use eco-friendly materials. Her organic metal work & playful application of color makes her pieces earthy & fun.


Family of Movers is a family of five on a mission –converting a school bus into their “new” home/lotion & shampoo lab to tour the country spreading Ebelegy love around while using their hands to build houses. Ebelegy is Lynne’s passion. She creates handmade organic hemp lotion for eczema, psoriasis and dry skin. “Please if you have a skin problem, you can get healing here.”


Mama’s Herbal Soaps came into being over a decade ago inspired by Shauna’s Great Grandmother ‘Mama’ and her love of soap making and nature, her childhood which was spent running wild and free in the forest, and her overwhelming desire to be at home with her children. Shauna’s soaps and herbal medicines are precious gifts which she is grateful to share with you and yours.


FreeHippie represents small steps by the artist, Rebecca Galardo, in trying to create progress towards a harmonized world for herself and her customers. FreeHippie carries handmade, high quality resin jewelry made with re- & up-cycled items, hemp jewelry, spiritual items, statement pieces and dreadlock adornments.


Founded by Barb Lundgren and Sarah Parent, Rethinking Everything Magazine publishes powerful stories of deeply transformative change. Their cutting edge online delivery offers so much more than a paper magazine, including video and audio from our contributors. Are you ready? You’re about to change.

Blog readers can enjoy a special “Organic Sister” discount!


Have you been dreaming of traveling, around the country or maybe even around the globe, but think it’s unrealistic or aren’t sure how to make it happen? Did you know plenty of regular people – with or without kids or partners – have already made it happen? Whether you’re caught up in the But’s or stuck on the How’s, Magnus and Maria, of Extended World Travel, can get you started!


WE ADD UP is a global campaign using organic cotton t-shirts that literally “counts you in” to help solve the climate crisis. Choose your preferred action – from showering together to breastfeeding – and they will hand-print your unique number to show the world that small actions add up. Also, a portion of each sale goes to a non-profit organization working to implement the solution your item promotes!


Suzy is a Mama, Wife, Business Owner, Environmentalist, Activist, and Nature Lover. She spends her days running her online shop Hip Mountain Mama and environmental blog One Small Change, cherishing her children, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. She dreams of creating an Eco Village, living off the land, and respecting the earth and the people who live on it.


Paul and Elizabeth are unschooling parents, long-time travelers and small business owners of Caracol – Inspired Jewelry. Caracol specializes in fine silver jewelry handcrafted by independent artisans here and abroad. All of their jewelry is hand-selected for its unique style, high quality and fair-trade standards.


And the winners are…

I must say I was so nervous-anxious-excited to see the comments and the beautiful words of encouragement pour in for my very own photography. I can’t describe to you how reaffirming you all are to me! I badly wish I could give something to everyone but…well, that would sort of defeat the purpose and I’m pretty sure Justin would be none too pleased with me. ;)

The Road
This one seemed to be a top pick – along with its quoted card!

I’m am super pleased, however, to announce the two winners chosen by Random.org…

Of the laminated print, the winner is……#50 Lauren who commented:

I’m happy for you and feel good about this move you made. Of course you should sell your photos! I love the one of the frog… He did look like a zen master there on that long leaf… good luck with everything! I love your blog.

Of the set of cards, the winner is…#122 Rebecca who shared this on Facebook:

Tara is someone I have been inspired by (her life and her photography) and have been following on Flickr for I think 2 years. She is now opening up her own photography shop – and giving away two prints :) I entered the giveaway and so should YOU! My fave is ‘Boxcar Dreams‘. Anyone else have a fave?

Thank you to everyone who entered! You have truly, truly filled my heart. :)

Inspiration Monday – Heading South

Bench Monday - Dancing Rabbit Edition
[Current location: Dancing Rabbit Eco-Village, Missouri]

We couldn’t be more excited! We’re heading south to Dallas, Texas for the annual Rethinking Everything Conference starting on Friday. Although  it’s their 14th year, it is only our first year attending RE and we can’t wait to spend 5+ days with some awesome conference veterans doing some awesome conference connecting.

Some inspiring things we’re looking forward to:

  • Seeing some Texan friends
  • Joining in the stop-motion animation fun
  • Hooping with new friends
  • Discussing Big Ideas
  • Adding our voices to the documentary
  • Playing in the pool
  • Eating yummy food

Will you be there?

Want a little Rethinking goodness in your inbox?

Check our Rethinking Everything’s quarterly ad-free magazine, chocked full of inspiring stories of individuals who rethought and rediscovered amazing ways to live.

If you purchase from this link you’ll get $15 off the regular price and access to all back issues, while helping me to support my family and my passion for blogging.

What’s been inspiring you?

It can be a story, quote, or excerpt; a piece of art you made or a pair of earrings you love or some fantastic article that left you in awe.

Submit your blog post link below or share in the comments!

Singing My Song: My Photography Giveaway

Good Morning Anne

I’ve been up to something.

Something both yummy and provoking that challenges my self-doubt and insists I push through the fears I’d rather avoid, thank you very much. It’s exciting and terrifying in the very best of ways.

I’m now selling my photography.

The idea fell into my head several months ago with such determined assurance I felt for sure it hadn’t come from me. And the way it quickened my heart and stirred up my fears confirms (as it always does) that it’s exactly what I’m suppose to be doing.

Of course, as is my fashion when I’m confronted with facing my own self-loathing demons, I procrastinated a good four months. But thanks to Visionary Mom and her awesome teams, I’m finally moving forward with a dream I’ve only toyed with for several years.

I’m still wracked with doubt. As a self-taught photographer, there is much I have left to learn and I seem to insist on perpetuating my doubts by comparing my work to the work of the many other fantastic, experienced artists doing their thing.

I almost gave up completely until this quote was whispered to me:

“Use the talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke

I am very, very far from the best. You could write encyclopedias on what I’ve yet to learn. And some of my attempts make even me laugh. But occasionally I stumble across a shot that lights me on fire, and am in awe to hear it do the same for others. So, this is me singing my little bird song, adding my voice to the chorus of very best in the woods.

Bench Monday - Boxcar Edition

To add to my awe and amazement, within a week of putting my prints for sale, I sold my first! Not only did I sell my first, I sold it to someone in the UK. And I don’t care what anyone says, no one is bursting the bubble of excitement I create by calling myself an international photographer. ;)

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce my RedBubble.

It’s where you can find my favorite prints, and order them to your specifications. You can also find cards and postcards with some of my favorite shots combined with some of my favorite quotes. And if there is something you’d like to see added, let me know!

Buy my art

The Giveaway!

I can’t wait to share my prints with TWO lucky winners:

  • The first winner will receive an 8×12 laminated print: you choose your fave photo and border color.
  • The second winner will receive a collection of each of my cards: you choose either postcards or notecards or a combination of the two!

How to enter:

There are FIVE ways to enter:

  1. Leave a comment here telling me your favorite print or what you’d love to see me place on RedBubble
  2. Tweet this giveaway (you can use the ReTweet button below) including the name of your favorite print
  3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, including the name of your favorite print
  4. “Like” The Organic Sister on Facebook
  5. Blog about this giveaway, linking back here and to my RedBubble account, as well as sharing the name of your favorite print.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry for them all to be counted!

The giveaway will close August 31st at 8pm CST and the winners will be announced shortly after.

Good luck!