DISCLAIMER: A huge "thank you" to Walmart for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own and yours may differ. This post also contains affiliate links and I will earn $10 off my next order if you sign up using my link and you will too.  

Statistics have shown that 9 out of 10 Moms agree: grocery shopping is a time sucking, craptastic job. The other woman would've agreed, but she was too busy ushering her "angry-because-he-didn't-get-the-new-Batman-toy-he-wanted" four year old out of the store to answer the survey.

Fear not, weary Moms, I am going to be your #groceryhero today. Say "goodbye" to the drudgery of grocery shopping and say "hello" to Walmart's new *FREE* online grocery service. Yes, I said, "free online grocery service". What is this sorcery you ask?! Well it's only the coolest thing since sliced bread. (which is among one of the over 30,000 items you can have delivered right to your car)

If you can remember your name and know how to click things on a screen, you can order your groceries online for FREE... well, the groceries aren't free, but the service is. Can you imagine: someone else walks around the store and picks out exactly what's on your list, then they bag it and deliver it right to your waiting car and it's not even your birthday!

No more fighting with little Timmy about toys or snack cakes he's thrown in the buggy while you weren't looking. No more hiding from nosy old Ms. So-and-so from down the street who always seems to be everywhere you are and who always notices "you forgot to take your trash can around" by the HOA's allotted time on Friday afternoon.

No more impulse buying the half-off dozen donuts you know you don't need, but they are half off, so you're actually saving money over buying them full price. No more buckling and unbuckling little Sally from her car seat.   In short, no more crap, just groceries the way mother nature intended: quick and stress-free. (I can not be held responsible for the traffic you will fight on the way to the store)

So how exactly does this magic work? First, you need to create an account on Walmart.com's grocery service. This is super easy and the only info they ask for at this point is a few pertinent pieces of personal info, your name, address, email, etc.

After you've created your account, the next step is to pick out your groceries and add them to your cart. There are over 30,000 items available; everything from bread and eggs to pencils and paper, to vitamins and supplements and laundry detergent and dish soap. They even have certain pets supplies and food for Fido and they have a specific "organic" section for us crunchier folks.

As you can see, there is a little heart above any item you denote as a "favorite" This allows you to easily add items to your cart in the future. This is a very helpful feature. There's also no time limit on your cart. All items are saved, even if you (or your husband) accidentally closes out your browser window. (as long as you are signed in)

Once you have all your items in your cart, you can choose a pick-up time. Walmart has made this super easy with their one hour block schedule. Can't be there right at ten sharp, no worries, choose 10-11 and show up any time in that hour. You can choose to pick up your groceries any time from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., assuming it is open.

After you've made your selections and scheduled your pick-up time, you're finally ready to head over to the checkout. I love this part, because there are no impulse bars of chocolate waiting to sabotage me.

Simply enter your debit or credit card info (cash is not accepted at this time), double check your pick-up location and time slot and hit the button. That's it, you're done. 

You have the opportunity to edit your cart at this time, in case you've forgotten anything. Also, you can enter promo codes at this step. Use code "REALEASY" to score *$10 off your first order.
(*new customers only, minimum order $50 for this coupon to work. Otherwise the minimum order is only $30. You can use only one code per transaction)

The only thing left to do now, is set yourself a reminder to actually go and retrieve your groceries. When you pull up to your designated store, you will call the number on your email receipt or you can just download the app on your Android or Apple device to check in and let the attendant know you're there.

After a couple of minutes your groceries will be delivered right to your trunk by a friendly Walmart grocery grabber. Mine was named, Trevor and he was super friendly and helpful and he didn't even know I was a "secret shopper". Your charges will be explained to you and if there were any out of stock items, they will let you know it was excluded or substituted, depending on your preference. (this option is on your order form)

All in all, this was the least painless grocery experience I have had in quite some time, minus the times I send my hubby to the store and I would totally do it again, especially since it's free!

This service is available in 30 markets across the US. You can check the Walmart grocery site for the location closest to you. Simply enter your zip code and start shopping and while you're there, score a $10 credit toward your first order.

So now you've ordered your groceries online and saved at least an hour and a half of wandering aimlessly around the store what will you do with all that  free time?! I have a few ideas...

• Spend an hour catching up with your friends on Facebook. While you're there, you could share your referral link to earn $10 off your next order. (Check your account page for the link)
• Watch a movie or an hour long TV show.
• Go grab a bite to eat with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Better yet, invite them to come over and cook them a meal using some of the yummy groceries you just bought from Walmart.
• Go for a walk or a jog or a hike in the woods.
• Go to the library and check out a new book... perhaps a cookbook.
• Plan a week of meals using the groceries you just ordered from Walmart. (Ok, Ok, this one might not be fun, but very helpful nonetheless)
• Find a pond and go fishing.
• Write a letter to your Mom. A real, old school pen and paper letter. Moms love that kind of stuff.
• Go through the car wash with your kids. You know, the automatic one with the colorful bubbles that look like you ran over a unicorn and smell like cherry. Bonus points if you have a moon roof.
• Binge watch an hour of your favorite show on Netflix *cough* Stranger Things *cough*.
• Peruse Pinterest for birthday ideas for your kids' next party.
• Go to your local beauty supply store and buy a funky color to dye your hair. (Note: I will NOT help you clean up the mess that will likely result from this "activity")
• Play a game with your kids. It could even be *gasp* a board game. Show your kids the joy of kicking butt at old school monopoly. Not the console gaming version. The real deal one, where you can throw actual play money in the air when you win.
  
• Visit your local park and swing like you did when you were a kid. This is really fun... unless you have vertigo, then, not so much.
• Do some artsy fartsy craft with your kids. Kool aid play dough or something like that.
• Grab a cup of coffee at your favorite coffee place... by yourself. This one may take some cooperation from your significant other.
• Write a poem or funny song and share it with your family, encourage them to do the same.
• Play dress-up with your kids. Bonus points for the craziest outfit. Extra bonus points if you wear said outfit in public.
• Make a pillow fort.
• Crank up the stereo and have a dance party with your kids... or by yourself, I'm not judging.
• Go to your local animal shelter and pet the animals. (I am not responsible if you decide to bring ten of them home)
• Take a bubble bath. (If you think this is not fun, you're obviously not a woman)
• Have an impromptu backyard cook out... with the groceries you just picked up from Walmart.
• Look at old family photographs and make fun of your parents for wearing bell bottoms and go-go boots.
• Make a bucket list of all the things you wanna do before you die or before you grow up, which is akin to dying, in my opinion.
• Watch standup comedy videos on Youtube.
• Take a nap.
• Do nothing. Just relax and savor the hour you have and reflect on what a rockstar you are.

DISCLAIMER: A huge "thank you" to Groupon for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own.

It's funny how much things can change without you even noticing. Like how your kids grow up right in front of your eyes, but the change is so subtle, you don't even notice it until it's happened. How you always think you have another day, week or month, but one day you wake up and they're grown.

I had this realization over the long weekend, when my daughter decided to use her birthday money to put toward the rent on her new apartment, instead of going shopping with her friends. Wait, what?! Yep, that was the instant I knew she was grown.

She looked the same, but I could tell something had changed. I could tell she wasn't just a kid anymore and I was both proud and sad at the exact same time. It really hit me: she will probably never live in my house full time again. I will miss her more now than I did before. I took comfort in knowing she'd be back to crash on my couch every few weekends; to hang out with her little brother while avoiding his repetitive requests to play Pokemon Go.

As Kaylee was packing up to go back "home" to Knoxville yesterday, I found myself making her a care package to go. In it were all the old bags of rice her dad and I no longer eat since going low carb, a few tea bags, some Stevia packets (that I didn't care for), an old bottle of blueberry syrup, some random condiments and finally, the cute canister set of mine she'd had her eye on. I wasn't using them anyway and I knew she could and maybe she'd think of me every time she uses them, just maybe.

While our relationship will never be exactly what it was while she was living in our house, it will grow and adapt into something new and (hopefully) wonderful as has my relationship with my own Mom, who I feel myself becoming more and more  like with each passing day. Maybe Kaylee is not the only one who is growing up.

I remember the first year I knew I was a bona fide grown up, it was when my Mom bought me towels and sheets for Christmas one year... and I was actually appreciative. I was legitimately excited to get some new towels and sheets and don't get me started on the yearly Christmas toilet paper. Every year for the past five or so years, my Mom gifts me a huge family pack of t.p. for Christmas.

It's a running joke among our family, because I was always borrowing t.p. from my Mom, since she lives a half a block away and I see her almost every day and there were five bums that seemingly ate toilet paper for breakfast around here. Now, Kaylee is old enough to enjoy the family tradition, but first, her birthday! Where does one shop for the grown-up kid who has nothing and needs everything?! Duh, Groupon Goods, of course!

Groupon is the site you know and love for all kinds of things from pizza deals to weekend getaways, but have you ever perused Groupon Goods? This is the part of Groupon that is dedicated to any and everything you will ever need for your home, self, car, boat, etc. and even a few things you don't.

Need a new fishing pole? Get it from Groupon Goods. Wanna know how many miles you have (or in my case, have not) walked today? Yep, Groupon Goods has activity trackers. Need a new bed for Fido or how about a lunchbox for little Timmy? You guessed it, Groupon Goods has that too.

I bet Groupon Goods doesn't have a beer of the month subscription, do they?! Heck yeah they do. Anything your little heart desires, Groupon Goods can deliver to your doorstep at a fraction of the cost of buying it elsewhere.

For a limited time, you can save an extra 25% off of your first Groupon with code "FIRST". (new customers only. max value $30) Groupon also offers FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $35 and returns are always free, so head on over to Groupon Goods and snag something nice for your kid (or the beer of the month for yourself, I won't tell). 

In the low carb community there are two types of people, those who count "net carbs" and those who don't. I personally could go either way.  Some low carbers say grains stall them or even make them gain, but for me, fiber is verrry important, so I look for ways to add it to my system a couple of times a week and what better way than pizza?!

I almost feel bad calling this a "recipe", it's more like a "friendly suggestion", as there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to making your perfect pizza. Grab your favorite ingredients and a huge handful of cheese and go to town. 

The key to this recipe is to start with a good flatbread. I use this flatbread from Aldi. They are very affordable and taste really good, unlike some other flatbreads I've tried in the past. 

You will also need a very small amount of pizza sauce. They have sugar free if you need it, but I personally just use regular or make my own. The amount of carbs vs serving size make it almost negligible. From here you need only a good imagination and a few fresh ingredients.

I used pepperoni, mushrooms and garden fresh banana peppers, but you could also use chicken or even seasoned ground beef, onions and jalapenos for a taco inspired pizza or you could use ranch instead of tomato sauce for a chicken ranch bacon pizza. I've made this particular combination on a fathead crust before and it was over the top amazing!  

I like to put the cheese directly on the sauce, then pile the toppings on that and add another sprinkling of cheese, just for good measure. Then I sprinkle with "sticks and stems" aka Italian seasonings (parsley, basil and oregano), pop it into a 425 degree oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

If you want a super crispy pizza, place this (carefully) directly on the rack, but don't call me to help you clean your oven, when it bubbles over, 'cause it ain't happening. For you non-daredevils, bake on a cookie sheet or pizza stone, if you're fancy schmancy.  The total (net) carbs for this is about 9ish, maybe 10, depending on what toppings you add and how much sauce you use, but I'm not judging.
Enjoy!

DISCLOSURE: A huge "thank you" to Savings.com for sponsoring today's post.  I am not a Doctor, so any info I give here is strictly anecdotal and you should check with your family Doctor before beginning any vitamin or supplement regimen.

I like to keep things kinda light around here. I usually don't delve into the more personal stuff, unless you count that one time I shared my story for #SAAM, but that is all about to change.

For the past year or so, I have been battling (and that's exactly what it is, a battle) a mood disorder called PMDD. For those of you that are unfamiliar with this, let me break it down for you. PMDD is like if PMS and crazy met, fell in love and had a baby, that's PMDD. It is all the normal moodiness, sore breasts, water weight gain, cravings, etc.  that accompanies "that time of the month", but it is so much more.

Like clockwork, about 10-14 days before good ol' Aunt Flo comes to visit, I can feel myself starting to change. My fuse is shorter, my anxiety ramps up, "the crazy" as I like to call it slowly starts creeping in and my emotions are not at all what one would call "normal". I worry about every little thing in the world, then I go to sleep, wake up and worry again.

I start to feel very disconnected from the usual happy-go-lucky person I am the other 3ish weeks out of the month. My ability to concentrate wanes and my anger grows. It's very Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-esque. I often want to climb out of my skin and just run away from myself, because I am such a bitch. There's no other word for it. It is what it is.

I find myself getting frustrated at things I would normally let slide. I snap at my husband and the kids for silly things I know they can't help, like "mouth noises" or spilled milk. I feel they are secretly plotting against me, because they think it's funny, when nothing could be further from the truth, because as bad as it feels for me to experience this, I'm sure it is just as bad for them to live through as well.

I try really hard to remember this is not just my struggle, this condition affects those around me as well, but it's really hard sometimes, so I confine myself to my room or just clam up as not to hurt anyone with my misdirected frustration, which then turns into, a feeling of isolation, which begets sadness and anger. It's a horrible cyclic thing I would not wish on my worst enemy.

I didn't like feeling this way every month, so I decided to find some help. I looked online and started researching exactly what PMDD is, why it happens and how to alleviate some of the more bothersome symptoms.

My initial research wasn't very encouraging. Most of the sources I found said PMDD is best treated with hormones or mood elevators / stabilizers and that was not even an option for me. I try to stay away from pharmaceuticals as much as possible. Not because I don't believe in their efficacy, but because I have a very sensitive system and I have a hard time taking most medicines, so I try to stay as close to natural remedies as possible.

Not one to give up, I decided to dig a little deeper and see if I could find supplements that would replace the things my body was lacking during this specific part of my cycle.

To find supplements that would help, I first had to understand exactly what PMDD is and what was going on in my body that made me wanna stab people in the neck with a spork.

From my research I found that, unfortunately, not a lot is known about how PMDD works and what exactly causes it, but the general consensus is good ol' hormones are the culprit.

Since hormones control everything from metabolism to emotion, it stands to reason it could definitely cause the "craziness" I feel during that time of the month. In my research, I found that rising levels of estrogen and the declining levels of progesterone are the likely causes of the intense symptoms experienced during the ovulation phase of a woman's cycle.

It is estimated that only 3-8% of women suffer from PMDD which sounds like a small percentage, until you become one of them. PMDD does not have to be a source of embarrassment, treatment and help is available. You do not have to suffer in silence.

There have not been a lot of studies done on PMDD, but there is lots of anecdotal evidence that shows many promising routes of treatment. If your symptoms are severe enough, your Doctor can prescribe birth control pills to ensure you don't ever reach the luteal phase of your period, which, in theory, will quell the symptoms due to the extreme fluctuations of hormones.

There are also over the counter progesterone creams made from all natural ingredients like yams and such and I've read that bio-identical hormones are a good choice for some women as well. While I wasn't quite ready to go full on Suzanne Somers, I did find a good regimen of supplements that have really worked miracles for my symptoms. 

There are not a lot of specific PMDD supplements that weren't full of things I wasn't really too keen on trying, so I broke my symptoms down and tried to treat them individually. For me, the most bothersome symptoms were the intense mood changes and anxiety related symptoms, such as heart palpitations, but PMDD can affect women in lots of different ways.

When doing my research, I came across a study, like a for real for real double blind, peer reviewed study about the efficacy of krill oil on PMS and the results were very promising.

The study shows that out of 70 women, "a statistically significant improvement was demonstrated among baseline, interim, and final evaluations in the self assessment questionnaire...". In layman's terms, it worked.

I decided to grab a bottle of krill oil the very next time I went to the grocery store, what could it hurt. If it worked, great, if it didn't, oh well, at least I tried and I felt totally safe taking it, since it was just krill oil and I am definitely not allergic to shellfish.

I wasn't really even sure what I was looking for or what the difference was in all the different brands, so I just grabbed a couple of bottles of Nature's Bounty, since I had a coupon for them and they were on sale BOGO at Kroger... double score. (as of the date of publication, Nature's Bounty is currently BOGO at Kroger)

After I got home and started comparing brands, I realized I had made a good choice. Nature's Bounty uses no artificial colors, flavor or sweetener, preservatives, sugar, starch, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, wheat, yeast, or sodium in their krill oil and it is 100% all natural ingredients with no fishy aftertaste.

*Click to Print Coupon*

I honestly didn't really expect to notice a difference, it seemed a little woo-ish to actually work, but the month after I started the krill oil, I realized  I was about three days into my cycle and I noticed I didn't want to throat punch anyone the week before. Wait, was this a fluke or did the krill oil actually work?! 

I continued the krill oil for a couple more months, then I ran out of the BOGO bottles I had bought the months before and kept forgetting to restock and it came creeping back. The quick temper, the intense sadness at the drop of a hat, the anxiety and doom and gloom, it all came back. What had I done differently?! Oh yeah, I forgot to get more krill oil. I will never make that mistake again.

After doing a lot of Googling and a lot of reading, I decided on a dose of 1 gram of krill oil a day for three weeks of my cycle and 500mgs a day for the actual week of my period. To find out which part of my cycle I was in, on any given day, I did what any woman would do... I downloaded an app, 'cause ain't nobody got time to write stuff on a calendar every day.

The other symptoms I was experiencing were heart palpitations, which were very likely due to a magnesium deficiency, so I added a cal-mag-zinc supplement to my regimen along with a 1000 mg fish oil supplement for general heart health. Note: Fish oil and krill oil are not the same thing and the month I tried to cheap skate it out and buy fish oil only, my PMDD symptoms returned.

Using this combination of vitamins and supplements is working for me, for now, but if there ever came a time it wasn't, I definitely wouldn't hesitate to seek treatment from a Gynecologist who is well versed in the little nuances of a woman's body and body chemistry.

Here are a few more tips I have gleaned from the internet and from reading other women's stories.

• Try to avoid caffeine during the week leading up to your period. (yeah, right, probably not happening for me, but you do you)
• Avoid alcohol and try to eat a balanced diet high in complex carbs. (Being on a low carb diet, this one is super tough for me, so I like to try to eat avocados during my ovulation week)
• Get out in the sun, if possible. Not only does the sun just feel nice on your skin, it is also a good source of Vit D, in case you're deficient,  which is thought to be a contributing factor of PMDD symptoms.
• Track your symptoms monthly. This will be invaluable, in case you decide to see a Doctor, but also for your own purposes as well. (so you can stock up on chocolate)
• Make sure you get enough rest. I know, I know, but at least try. If you can't get a full 8 hours a night, try sneaking in a little cat nap during the day. Get dad to watch the kids for 45  minutes, while you snooze.
• Try yoga or meditation. Meditation and deep breathing are number one and number two in my arsenal against anxiety. I relax and deep breathe myself right to sleep sometimes. I swear it sounds like hippie magic, but it really works. If you are new to meditation, search "guided meditation for (enter your problem here)" on Youtube and go from there.

If all else fails, please don't hesitate to seek treatment from a Doctor. There's no shame in asking for help. Find a PMDD support group and become active in it, even when you're not feeling down. 

I can not count on two hands the number of women I have seen asking, begging for someone to talk them off a ledge in a FB group I belong to and the women respond in droves with love and support and resources, because they have been there, done that and have the scars to prove it. You can be normal again, PMDD does not have to control your life and you do not have to face this alone. If you are in need of support, NAPMDD is a great place to start.

In celebration of the August 12th release of Disney's new film, "Pete's Dragon", I have some awesome educational activity sheets to share with you guys.

This packet contains 12 pages of instructions and activities for parents and educators that are perfectly aligned with the movie. Everything from a dot-to-dot puzzle to a dragon hunt, there are lots of activities to keep your little explorer busy, while "growing their brain".

DISCLAIMER: A huge "thank you" to PlumbTile for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect PlumbTile.

Adulting is hard, guys. Even on the "easy" days, it is still hard. Making appointments (and remembering to go to them), feeding the pets (and the kids) every day, making sure there's no crazy looking green mystery meat  growing antibiotics in the fridge, remembering where you parked in the three story parking garage... any or all of this is enough to drive a sane person not-so-sane.

A woman (or man) needs a place where she (or he) can unwind and let go of all the stress of the day. A place to just sit back, relax, dim the lights, light some incense, play a "sounds of the rainforest" CD or even some Kenny G. (I'm not judging) and woosahh it all away. 

Sounds great, huh? Well, unfortunately the Y frowns upon this type of behavior and since nobody can afford to go to the spa every single day, why not bring a little bit of the spa home to you, instead with these tips and design ideas from PlumbTile.

In the interest of full disclosure I feel I should tell you, I have never been to a day spa, but I have seen plenty of HGTV shows with those cute brothers and I am a connoisseur of all things relaxing, so I consider myself appropriately qualified to advise you on this topic.

Setting the mood is key when designing a relaxing space. Start with earth tones for your base pieces, such as the vanity or sink basin. This will give the room a warm feel.  Choose materials with a smooth look and feel that will give the room a "clean" appearance, without being stark white and "hospital-y".

Luckily, marble and granite is becoming more and more affordable, especially for smaller uses like counter tops and basins, so if you're gonna splurge anywhere in a bathroom remodel, I highly suggest going with a natural stone.

Choose a dimming light fixture if available. This simple step will go a long way in setting the mood for your dream spa bathroom. If a dimmer is not available, you could get creative and just remove a bulb from your fixture and call it even. (joking)

From the lighting all the way down to the candles or potpourri you choose, this space should be a treat to all your senses. Choose flooring that is smooth and cool to the touch and place a fuzzy rug down to balance the look. The 24 inch floor tiles are super hot right now and look great in a larger space.

When it comes to towels, the fluffier the better, in my opinion. You could even splurge on a heated towel rack for the ultimate home spa experience. (Or you could totally cheat and just throw your towel in the dryer for 20 minutes or so, while you're enjoying your bubble bath)

Choose an "accent" color to contrast the warm earth tones of the floors and vanity. Blues and greens are really hot right now and you can find lots of bath accessories that will add a pop of color right where you need it. Think towels, toothbrush holders, waste baskets and such.

One of the best things about going to the spa is the fact that it doesn't look like a hundred little gnomes live there. There are no tub toys lingering about from the night(s) before. There is no leftover bathtub paint that swore it was washable, when your Mommy senses told you it was a liar. There is no laundry laying inches from the hamper, just taunting you while you try to relax. In short, the spa is clean.

I know, I get it, it is a very novel idea, but one you can totally do, I promise. 
Start by clearing the clutter from the counters. Hide that crap underneath the vanity like any normal person would or just throw it away.

If you find a half empty tube of toothpaste with a random hair sticking out of it, in the bottom of the medicine cabinet, let it go. Just let it go. Toothpaste is only a dollar at the dollar store, you do not need that random hair infested tube of crap bringing negativity into your new zen space.

Let's face it, we can't all afford a lavish spa bathroom makeover, but you can still have the spa experience at home. Treat yourself to big fluffy towels, all the smells, all the bubbles and allll the candles (or oil diffuser for safety).

Stand in the aisle and smell every single bottle of bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, conditioner there is, then bring 'em home and lock yourself in the bathroom for an hour (or more, not judging, some days are harder than others).

Tell hubby he has the kids and take a minute (or sixty-five) for yourself. Grab your mp3 player or phone and all your smelly goods and just disappear. You deserve it. Being a Mom can be hard sometimes, but it is the best "job" you will ever have.

Those little (and not-so-little too) people need you to be at your absolute best and you just can't do that if you're stressed to the max with no relief in sight, so treat yourself to a bubble bath tonight. It sounds like a simple fix and it is, really, but the effects will be long lasting and probably very much appreciated by your family.