ALONG COMES MARY

(This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhatMattersToU #CollectiveBias)

Something I have always loved, yet struggled to stick with, is exercising and being active. Once I get into one of my grooves, I love the adrenaline rush you get from a great cardio session or climbing up (or down) a rock you thought you would NEVER conquer on a hiking trail.

But, then? Lets just say I am guilty of falling off the workout wagon. Usually, it is when life gets crazy or I get sick only to never return to my newfound routine. One of my main reasons used to be whenever I was approaching “my time of the month.” I have always had extreme difficulties with my periods, and have dealt with blinding (literally) cramps and even fainting, as well as increased mood swings and my anxiety going over the top.

There are so many reasons why we all should be staying active. I even overheard someone say at the gym recently, “If it was easy, everyone would be in shape” and its so TRUE. It is the easiest thing to put your health on the back burner.

I always recall my second date with Michael It was an afternoon hike at Griffith Park, and guess who was dealing with “that time” and the last thing she wanted to do was be on a hike with a cute boy? Yep. This gal. I quickly learned just how outdoors-y Mike is, and that I felt really good, too, the more I hiked and tried new activities with him. Yep, even when I was on my period week.

Since our early days, I have come to jump at any chance I get to go hiking or be outdoors. We regularly go to local trails like Stoney Point, and my favorite part of our trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea was definitely all of the walking we got in (I know, it wasn’t the cheese and wine….but, that ran a close second!).

Since its Summer now, I just joined a gym and am loving how I feel. Added perk? Gym membership meant I needed to get some athletic gear. When I went to Walmart to grab some jogging pants and a tank top, I ended up with all of my necessities, too. Like the latest  U by Kotex® Cleanwear® Ultra Thin Pads and their Barely There® Liners.

I have shared my U by Kotex® love before, and it remains my go-to for those feminine needs. With their new  Style N’ Store packs at Walmarrt, they have 4 unique designs to choose from, and the Style N’ Store packs have a convenient “drawer feature” for easy storage.

When I first read that, I was a bit like “Huh?!” but check out how cool this feature really is:

I know I always feel like the usual packaging for feminine need pads are bulky, and take up a lot of cupboard space. Not only does this drawer feature reduce how much space is taken, but, they’re so trendy and cute!

Unique 3D Capture Core* features Xpress DRI* cover for crazy fast absorption to help stop leaks, and you stay secure with uniquely shaped Tru-Fit® wings.

With their U by Kotex® Barely There Liners, I decided to give those a whirl for my lighter days or just to have on hand. They’re super  comfortable and definitely made to feel just like your underwear. Super handy when you’re racing around the gym!

So, on those days when I really want to pull the covers over my head, I try to remember a quote I read once, it went something along the lines of “No matter what you do, it will be hard. Its your decision which hard you choose.”

Moments like this help me decide which hard I choose 🙂

And, this is one of my favorite pictures Mike has taken. Super out of my element but loving it:

You can also take advantage of SNIPP when you purchase 2 packs of U by Kotex® products at Walmart , then text UbyKotex to 811811 and upload a photo of your receipt  Go to UbyKotexrewards.com and register to choose your customized reward!

So, these work outs and hike adventures are definitely what matters to me. What matters to U? xo