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

Real talk… that time of the month SUCKS, doesn’t it? I mean, we’re basically walking around trying to pretend life is totally normal, taking care of the kids, spending time with friends, doing all of the normal life stuff, all the while our body is screaming at us, cramping, and generally making us feel sucky. It’s like the main event isn’t enough, we have to throw in soreness, crabbiness, and bloating… ughhhh.

My family has pretty much learned there’s one solution to my moodiness during period time… and that’s to throw chocolate at things. See, I tried to be one of those super zen, yoga-solves-my-cramps kind of girls, and let me tell you, unless there is hot fudge involved, I’m just not interested in it during that time of month, you know? So when I can feel that time of the month coming on (and oh yeah, I can feel it approaching), I head to my local Walmart store and grab as much chocolate as possible (for real, you should have seen me last time… I bought chocolate bars, chocolate cake mix, hot fudge, some more chocolate bars from the baking aisle, chocolate ice cream, and my favorite U by Kotex® pads).

One time a year or so ago, my friend tried to convince me that pads were totally not the way to go. She had found a lot of success with a menstrual cup and suggested I try it. I’m not opposed to trying new things, so I gave it a go and OH MY GOSH. First off, the yoga poses I had to go through to make that work were insanity. I distinctly recall lying on the floor of my bathroom trying to make it work, and when you’re crampy and bloaty and just want to burst into tears over commercials that happen to have puppies in them, lying on the floor trying to make this work is not generally a good thing.

But I tried. And then I tried to do the whole… actually emptying it.

And then the nightmare really started, because I dropped it. I’m not even freaking kidding. I. Dropped. It. When it was full. Because the best way to add to the soul-sucking nature that is a period at times is to make it look like a horror film just happened in your bathroom.

So… I switched. I switched to pads. Game changer right there… see, U By Kotex® Cleanwear® have this awesome 3D Capture Core that is super crazy fast at absorbing, which protects you against leaks. I don’t know about you, but I hate when I get a leak all over my yoga pants because then I have to do stuff like laundry when I want to be doing stuff like… eating chocolate, duh.

Plus, the U By Kotex® pads are now available in this awesome Style-N-Store packaging that helps them stay nice and tidy and not all over the place (am I the only one that tends to open a package of pads and they just kind of go everywhere? Anyone? Anyone? But for real… this was a lifesaver).

Because of the uniquely shaped Tru-Fit® wings, the pads stay in place (in case you actually want to do yoga, which… you do you… and if by yoga you mean getting more chocolate, then count me in!), and they have suuuper soft sides for your comfort. I don’t know about you, but I do not have a thigh gap, and I also do not like the little chafing stuff that happens during period time when your pad rubs against your thighs. These pads are super soft so they don’t torture you like that!

In addition to pads, my total period staple, U By Kotex® also has liners that feel just like your underwear! How awesome is that? Keeping a box of each in my bathroom means I am well-stocked for any period emergency (or just for total comfort all month long, thank you liners!)

I don’t know about you, but if it isn’t clear by now, I really, really dig giving into my cravings during that time of month. One of my favorite ways to give into that craving is with a chocolate caramel lava cake, because the only thing better than chocolate is more chocolate, obviously.

My molten lava cakes start with a boxed chocolate cake mix and the ingredients listed on the back of that box– just use any kind you’d like and mix it up as it says to on the back.

Next, you’ll need some chopped chocolate. I recommend buying a bar for the cupcakes and also a bar for eating because chocolate… but for the purposes of actual baking, you’ll just need one bar, chopped.

In a lined cupcake tin, spoon in 2 tablespoons of batter, then stick a piece of chocolate in it.

Next, spoon in caramel, hot fudge, and melted chocolate. I like to use about a teaspoon of each of my lava ingredients– if you love caramel, you can do 3 teaspoons of caramel. If you love fudge and hate caramel, do 3 teaspoons of just fudge. I do a teaspoon each of caramel, fudge, and white chocolate. You do you here.

Place these in the oven, and bake at the temperature listed on your cake mix’s package instructions for about 1-2 minutes less than the suggested bake time.

Then, remove the cakes from the tin, overturn it and remove the liner carefully– the lava will spill out from the cake. Yum!

You can also drizzle yours with additional yumminess if you want, or leave it as-is. I like mine drizzled with extra fudge or melted white chocolate.

Seriously… these cakes are so easy to make, take about 15 minutes total, and they’re so delicious that you don’t even have to use your period as an excuse to have one– make them anytime!

But if you are on your period, U by Kotex®, purchased from Walmart, is a great choice because it allows you to save money and live better, while having a great product that helps you stay confident that you’re comfortable, not leaking, and just generally not experiencing the total suckage that is a period. Plus, Walmart has everything you need to make these lava cakes, making it a great choice all around.

Plus, right now U by Kotex® and Walmart have a great SNIPP offer going on… when you buy 2 U by Kotex® products in a single transaction, snap a picture of the receipt and submit it, you’ll earn rewards… these rewards are good for things like music, books, magazines, and even gift cards (which can be used to buy really, really important things. Like chocolate). Text UbyKotex to 811811 for submission details– the offer is good through 9/30/16!

So tell me… when it’s that time of the month, #WhatMattersToU? Let me know in the comments below how you tackle your period yuck, whether it’s with yoga, chocolate, or something else, and don’t forget to check out U by Kotex® at Walmart.