This post was sponsored by Who Gives A Crap, the very best recycled toilet paper. I only partner with brands that align with our family’s values and choose to only share with you the products and companies that we love and believe in. All thoughts and opinions below are my own. Thank you for support!

Who Gives A Crap is possibly the best thing to happen to toilet paper since …. well …. EVER. They have taken something that tends to always be boring and have made it fun. And even better, it’s plastic free! Each roll is wrapped in a fully recyclable colorful paper that tells you everything you need to know about what’s inside.

Our package of beautifully colored TP came on maybe the best day possible. I was feeling out of ideas in regards to keeping Jude occupied …. counting down the hours until dad was to come home. Since cutting out TV for Jude (well mostly ….), there have been days where I start to feel overwhelmed trying to think of something else for him to do that will take longer than five minutes. It’s amazing how quickly a four year old can move from one activity to the next. And then …. the doorbell rang. And just like that an unexpected game that lasted most of the afternoon. Who knew that making a toilet paper tower and then knocking it down, over and over again could be so fun. He’s been asking to do it everyday since. In fact, he’s asking me to do it now.

More than being a fun game, and pretty to look at, below are 7 reasons why Who Gives A Crap is the only toilet paper our family will ever purchase.

1. 50% of all profits are donated to help build toilets in developing countries.
2. Each roll is double the length which means it lasts twice as long. (each box lasts our family of three about five months)
3. They offer a subscription service so we never have to worry about running out of toilet paper.
4. Who Gives A Crap helps support our low waste home, something we’ve really tired to be extra conscious about this year.
5. The only plastic you’ll see is from the small amount of tape holding the shipping box closed.
6. As far as sustainable toilet paper goes (we’ve tried several), Who Gives A Crap feels and holds up the best …. it doesn’t fall apart when using it.
7. To date they have donated over 1.8 million Australian dollars.

Where do we keep all that toilet paper you ask? Sure living it a tiny home makes finding places for excess anything difficult. But when it comes to running out of TP, stashing a few extra under the bed, a chair, or in the cleaning closet suddenly doesn’t seem like such a big deal.

To find out more about Who Gives A Crap click here and use the code CHALK at checkout for $10 off your first purchase!

• pre-school / early childhood education
• parenting
• mindfulness / health

This post was sponsored by Acer, but the opinions shared here are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible

Miniature bud vases and woven basket are both from the White Company. It is so easy for me to get lost in the day, to get caught up in the motions, to just try and get through it. I came across this quote the other day ….

“Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort.”  Humphry Davy

It’s so easy to forget that all the small moments we experience everyday can actually bring joy if  we let them. Embracing mundane chores and letting “have to’s” become “get to’s”. Slowing down and letting myself just be in the moment instead of focusing on what is next. Celebrating the everyday for what it is. Not because each day is some spectacular big production, but appreciating everyday for what it is and finding peace and contentment in that. I’ve partnered with The White Company, who are opening their first store in New York on June 15th, (check out more info here) to help share this exact message … And what better reminder than their mantra “Perfect Simplicity”.

Jude and I have been visiting out local farmers market every Saturday for the last month or so. We’ve been getting enough vegetables, fruits, eggs, and bread, which has been significantly cutting down the amount of times we’ve needed to stop by the grocery store …. something definitely worth celebrating in my book! We’ve also been getting a small bunch of wildflowers to display around the house. The simple beauty of a delicate wildflower placed in those little glass bottles makes me smile as I’m heading from room to room picking up toys or making beds …. It’s nothing big or monumental but it makes all the difference.

Miniature bud vases and woven basket are both from the White Company.

Every once in a while, I start craving a change. I’ve been daydreaming a lot of a single family home with rustic charm + modern accents … A bit more square feet + a washer and dryer + perhaps even a dishwasher. It just feels time. These are the type of places that have been playing over and over through my head.

See more inspiration on Pinterest

The above images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

A few weeks ago, we took a long weekend to Yellowstone + Island Park. We spent three days touring around Yellowstone National park and saw more beautiful scenery and steamy geysers then we knew what to do with. It was my first time but Camden had been a bunch as a kid so he told us all about his childhood memories … seeing bears, fishing, hiking … classic boyhood adventures.

I can’t believe our baby boy is one. ONE! He’s all grown up and going off to collage this fall. In all seriousness though, Jude is Mr. independent. He wants to do + figure things out on his own and he’ll let you know it too … Well, this is all except for when it comes to eating or drinking by himself. For this, he still enlists on help from mom + dad. You would think that being in the zero percentile (yes, zero :-0) he would be a picky eater, but quite the contrary. Jude loves trying new foods and likes almost everything he tries. Jude can say: mama + dada, hey, yay, mmmmmm, baba (bottle or bye-bye), ka-ka (something gross). nah-nah (night-night) Jude can: wave hello + goodbye, “raise the roof”, clap, point, shake his head no, wave his pointer finger no, walk around furniture (not yet walking on his own).

I made Jude an orange + camomile + lavender cake that was really tasty with toy dinosaurs on top. This guy was all manners though and wouldn’t dream of eating his large slice of cake placed right in front of him on his highchair tray on his own. No Sir-ree Bob. He was dignified and only ate from a fork held by mom + dad (even thought I secretly wanted him to make a mess of it) … moreover, he really just thought the cake felt weird and slimy in his hands.

We love you, Juder-bug! Now do us a favor and stop growing up so fast!

It’s a new week and I’m officially, officially back. There are still kinks being worked out including a few problems with email subscribers getting transferred (if you are no longer getting updates, feel free to re-subscribe). Just starting out with something simple and sweet while trying to get back into the rhythm of things. So … Here. We. Go.

Mama, Jude, + his dinosaur.

Summer Shoulder-Tie Jumpsuit, Madewell. Sweater, Madewell (similar). Grosgrain Mini Boater Hat, Urban Outfitters . Jude’s Dinosaur, Amazon 

Welcome to the new Chalk White Arrow. As you may be able to tell, a lot of changes have taken place over here. There are still tweaks to be made and a few things that need changing … At this point in time, life is seeming to take longer than I plan for, but I appreciate you all being patient with me. Starting Monday, things will be getting more consistent around here. My goal is to get at least two posts up a week and possibly increase post frequency a little as we go along. A big THANK YOU to all of you who have stuck around … to those who have remained loyal readers, who send me kind words, who have always been supportive … This blog remains because of you.

Until then, you can find me on Instagram

Time has slipped away from me and taken this blog with it. Good news though. In seven-ten days, Chalk White Arrow will be getting a new look on a new platform. It’s really time to freshen things up and start new. Time for more frequent blog posts placed on a modern and simple layout. Speaking of time, we took this weekend vacation up in Deer Valley / Park City almost a month ago?!?! I can’t believe it’s been that long.

On our trip, Jude suddenly decided to become a pro napper and pro eater, so we spent a lot of time hanging out at the lodge. It had gorgeous views of a lake and ski slope … let’s just say, I’m not complaining.

It was still the off season in Park City, so it was really pretty quiet walking up and down main street. We ate at Vinto for lunch one day and we’re actually the only people in there. Jude took it upon himself to become very well aquatinted with our cute waitress. We kept our weekend erring on the side of low-key. We walked the streets during the day, stoping in at eateries for lunch, window shopping at funky shops, and taking lots of breaks for naps. We rented a few movies and takeout during the evenings and got plenty of sleep. Kramer loved running around the lake and having large windows inside he could watch out of. It was a really beautiful weekend.