You may remember that I mentioned just a few short months ago that CVS Pharmacy is now, and finally here in Colorado. Although there aren't any stand-alone stores near me, I'm however able to access their services through their in-store locations at Target. CVS has always been one of my favorite pharmacies and when I lived in New York City, I would do most of my pharmaceutical shopping there, along with a few extra since they did more than prescriptions. However, today, I want to share with you the reason I just love CVS Pharmacy, it's all about their innovative digital tool, and why you should consider making them your go-to pharmacy as well.


There's an app for that! The CVS Pharmacy App. In a world where we're ruled by technology and we want everything at our fingertips, CVS rose to the challenge. Now you can save time, stay healthy and even spend less with the CVS Pharmacy app.

I have to admit, I love shopping but I also love a good deal as much as the next person, and with a household of 5, I want to be able to save money. With the CVS Pharmacy app, I am able to do that since there are app-only deals that you won't find anywhere else, and you can access all of your offers right there on the app. Be sure to link your ExtraCare® card, however.

I have medications that are prescribed to me by my doctor that I need to have refilled. The app makes refilling and picking up my prescription a whole lot easier as well. I can view my prescription history, and order my refills all right there in the comfort of my bed. All I need is to turn my phone on and get on the app. If my prescriptions have a barcode, I can even scan the barcode on my prescription using my phone's camera on the app making the pickup process so much easier. I even set up a text alert so when my prescription is ready I can get on my way to pick them up. Now no need to wait in the pharmacy for any length of time before pick up. Although I really don't mind waiting in Target.

However, did you know that you can even check the drug interactions right there on the app as well? How cool is that! Now you can check to see whether a prescription that you will be taking will have an adverse reaction to either another drug you're taking or even the foods that you are eating. Now, this is a great way to make sure that you're taking your prescriptions the way they were intended to be taken, safely!


The app has also made family health care a whole lot easier as well. Now you can find your closest MinuteClinic walk-in click, check to see what type of services are provided and you can even check to see if your insurance is accepted before heading there. You can also view the wait times and even hold your place in line. This is great for those last-minute flu-shots that you're going to need this winter.

The CVS Pharmacy App is a lifesaver and makes prescription shopping so much easier. This is great for the elderly, or even people like me who hate waiting and being in lines. If you're not getting your prescriptions at CVS Pharmacy currently, what are you waiting for? Download their app and start saving today!

The app is currently available in both the Android and Apple Store.

So how does a typical day begin? Well I have to tell you that no two days is ever alike. We're on a constant go, go, GO! However, the one thing that does remain constant is that I get up around 6:30am every morning. If I'm not in mommy's bed, which is usually most of the time, I then wake her up because after all, if I'm up then everyone has to be up. Getting up early also means that I'm going to need breakfast, but first I have to brush my teeth. Mommy hates morning breath and she insists that I brush. Breakfast usually consists of waffles or pancakes, eggs, sausages and a nice big glass of milk, and of course there's always fruit in the refrigerator or in the fruit bowl. Mommy insists that I eat a good breakfast because she claims it's the most important meal of the day. Once breakfast is over, the fun begins, but first mommy insists that I take my Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® products.


My regimen consists of the KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin with Omega-3 Gummies, KIDS FIRST® Calcium + Vitamin D3 Gummies and the KIDS FIRST® Fiber Gummies. Each does something different for me, but what mommy likes about them is that they are  Gluten Free, made with all-natural fruit flavors, their colors are derived from natural sources, there are no synthetic dyes and contains no preservatives or yeast.


Once breakfast is over and I've taken my Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Gummies products, mommy decides what we're going to do that day. Usually that day consists of some sort of adventure. Like recently we decided that we were going to brave the Pikes Peak Summit, which is the most visited mountain in the world, right behind the Fuji Mountains in Japan. Without my Nature Made KIDS FIRST Multivitamin with Omega-3 Gummies, I don't know how I'd make it up there. Not only do they taste good, but they come in 3 delicious flavors, strawberry, lemon and orange. They also provide 9 key nutrients plus the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that I need. Its an easy way for me to fill many of the nutrient gaps that may be lacking from my diet.†


Our adventures usually take us through an entire day and so that usually means that I eat whatever is available at the closest restaurant since mommy rarely packs a meal. While she may have a few snacks, there's never really anything substantial to eat and I'm not going to starve because mommy wants to have fun. OK, granted, I also want to have fun, but I also want to eat as well. I'm a growing child and I need my calcium for my growing bones, after all I need to be able to run and jump around all day long.


Once my day is over, mommy and I head back home from wherever we were at and relax at home before bedtime. Usually being outdoors all day means that I'm certainly not getting the fibre I need to keep me regular.  Fiber is important to help support healthy digestion†.  It is important for kids like me to include fiber-rich food sources daily in our diet.  Fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans), whole grain and cereals are great options.  However, if it's a challenge for your kids to consume these foods daily, KIDS FIRST® Fiber Gummies can help supplement your child’s diet. †


With school back in session, my Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Gummies products are a staple in my regimen and will continue to be. Mommy loves them and so do I. Not only do they taste great, but they're good for me too. I just have to remember they're not candy, so mommy keeps them out of my reach. Be sure you pick up your supply at your local Target like I do and have your kids back-to-school ready.

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  These products  are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Today you get a sneak peek into my room, it's definitely not an interior decorator's dream but it's all mine. My post today is coming to you courtesy of Nolah Mattress and their amazing mattress. Before I go into detail about their mattress, I first need to tell you my story. I suffer from back pain and I've posted about it quite a few times. I was a medic in the US Army and you would think that my work was easy, but it wasn't. We're talking about carrying around a 60lb medic supply bag, and don't forget your firearm while being fully protected in your body gear. We would go on 10k marches dressed like that when not in combat and when you are, be prepared to have on your body armor 24/7. Now after years of doing this, my back hurt and it hurt really bad. I've seen countless chiropractors, done physical therapy and I'm currently doing yoga. However, at night, you also want to have a comfortable sleep and preferably without the aches and pains. I had to have a good mattress that doesn't hurt or aggravate my back pain. Before I got the Nolah Mattress, I had a very expensive mattress which consisted of springs, but I've had it for quite a few years and I noticed that it was starting to feel uncomfortable so I was excited to give the Nolah Air Foam Mattress a try.


Here's a little info about Nolah Mattress.

While they are an online company, they are however an American company, based in Denver, Colorado, my currently adopted home state. They are very passionate about sleep, technology, the great outdoors and adventures. They not only care about the way you sleep, but they also care about the wellbeing of our endangered wildlife. For every mattress you purchase, they also adopt an endangered American animal through their charity partner Defenders of Wildlife. 

I'm a big fan of dolphins so when I chose my mattress I decided to help the dolphins.


Now I have a king sized bed and my former mattress, came to me via a delivery company and was placed on my bed for me. The packaging was bulky and needed to be done by more than one person. I received my King sized Nolah Mattress (76" x 80") in a box, yes, you read that correctly, it arrived in a box and vacuumed sealed. It was not only convenient but made it easy to move to it's final destination on my bed. Once taken out of the box I placed it on my box spring, removed the outer plastic wrap and it inflated on my bed, just like magic.


Now I've purchased a vacuum sealed mattress before for my kids and it was recommended that you let it inflate for at least 24 - 48hrs before you can sleep on it. Not so with the Nolah Mattress. You can sleep on it immediately, which is one thing that I just loved about it. Another is the mattress cover. You may not see this, but the cover design itself is inspired by nature and our beautiful Colorado mountains. It symbolizes the sun rising above the horizon and the mountains below.


Now I've slept on many hotel beds and have even slept in a few 5 star hotels in my lifetime and the one thing I've always noticed and loved has been their mattresses. I thought that I would never be able to afford anything quite as comfortable, but I can say that this is very comparable to those, and at more than 1/2 off the prices those other mattresses are being sold for. The Nolah Mattress is sold for 1/2 of the retail price because they cut out the middle man. And their guarantee is amazing. You get a risk free 120 night in home trial, that's 4 months to try out your new mattress and if you don't like it you get to return it for a full refund. I'm talking FREE Shipping to you and FREE Return if you don't love it and a FULL REFUND, who else offer such a guarantee? And IF (which I doubt you will) you return your mattress, they donate it to a local charity, thus making sure that your mattress is put to good use.


So what makes the Nolah Mattress so amazing?

1. The Nolah Air Foam™ doesn't contain Viscoelastic chemicals such as the regular Memory Foam does, so it keeps you cooler, especially during the summer and is considered 100% temperature neutral.

2. You get a 15 year warranty and a risk-free 120 nights in-home trial period.

3. Free Shipping, Free Return and Full Refund if you're not satisfied.

4. You help protect our endangered American wildlife, thus in turn doing something great for our planet.

5. Available in a variety of sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King and California King

6. Made right here in the USA

My Final Thoughts:

You're sleeping on a luxurious high quality mattress without paying the exorbitant fee usually associated with such a mattress. You get a comfortable sleep at night and you stay cooler during the hotter months. You get a mattress that contours to your body and helps to relieve pressure on your hips and back areas and is the perfect mattress for those suffering from back pain. AND you're getting a mattress that gives you an unparalleled level of sleep, comfort and support. I have to admit that this is one of the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on and while I still do have back pains, because of course they don't go away completely, it has certainly helped me, and have given me back my love of sleeping. I am now sleeping comfortably on a Nolah Mattress and I most certainly recommend them to everyone!


Now for the giveaway that you've all been waiting for. One of lucky Growing Up Madison reader will win the mattress of their choice from Nolah Mattress. The winner will be randomly selected by PromoSimple and will have 48hrs to respond to the winning email. Failure to do so will mean forfeiting your prize and a new winner will be chosen. Prize will be delivered by Nolah Mattress. Good luck!

Many people get confused as to why making time for their spouse matters, it’s this thought embedded within us that our children must forever be first priority. The truth is that your spouse needs to come first, yes even before your children. This doesn’t mean you love your spouse more than your children or love your children any less. The simple matter of fact reason why making your spouse a priority matter is because this is the person who will still be by your side once those children are grown.

I'm a homeowner and being a homeowner can be extremely expensive. I always joke around that I spent way less money when I was renting in NYC, even with the rent being exorbitantly high. Being a homeowner, is no ride in the park. We're talking about mortgages, home owners insurances, home owners warranties (I definitely recommend if you're a homeowner) and the usual utility bills, plus any home repairs that may appear. While I would have been able to call my home management team if something comes up while renting, now there's no one to call and I have to dig into my funds when something breaks. I've noticed that since we upgraded our home to a much bigger home, with awesome landscaping, my water bill has been sky high. I was looking at over $400 every month and that's from landscaping (watering my lawn), toilet flushing, doing dishes, taking baths, showers etc., and don't talk about the summer! Now, while I can cut down on my lawn watering, that would mean that my grass would turn brown and die and I don't think my Home Owners Association would like that, I still have to do the dishes and all of the above, however there are ways to cut down on water consumption and I decided to take the plunge and do so. We still had the old fashioned toilets that took a LOT of water with each flush and I wanted those high pressure toilets that only used about a gallon of water per flush. I scoured the internet and did my research and during my search, I was approached by Mansfield Plumbing. Seems like the toilet gods were talking to me because they just happened to email me while I was searching for the very same thing.

I remember the day Madison was born, it seems like it was just yesterday. Oh, how I actually miss those days, although having her at the pre-school years is just as amazing. I would count her little fingers and toes and wait for her to share her beautiful smile, believe it or not she smiled a lot more then. The days flew by and by the time I knew it, she was crawling and then walking. Time flew by while we had fun together and believe me, that first year surely did fly by. For any new mom, one of the biggest milestones in her child's life is that very special first birthday. Together with cake, balloons and gifts, and those special people that mean a lot to you, you celebrate an event that only happens once a year. Babies'R"Us also knows how fast that first year can fly by, and is happy to share that they will celebrate Baby's First Birthday in a big way at stores nationwide.

When your child moves on to the teen years, it’s difficult to let go as a parent. This is your baby, your pride and joy, the hardest thing is learning that they are growing up and you must let go. There are easy ways to give teens the independence they will beg for, while still maintaining the parental role. After all, the teen years are still part of childhood; they need you now more than ever. Regardless of what your teen screams at you when they are upset, they still need their parents, but they are correct in needing more independence at this age as well. Here’s how you can give your teen more independence without risking it all:

Feeling appreciated is what builds bonds between couples and friends. Regardless of your relationship status, you most certainly have some close friends that you want to show your appreciation to, or maybe you want to show your spouse how you appreciate all that they do. You can most certainly show someone your appreciation without going broke or taking too much time out of your day. When you show someone how much you appreciate them, it allows you to create a domino effect of that person showing appreciation to another person. Don't you just love how that works?


There are many simple ways you can show someone your appreciation and here’s some great ideas:

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day, or so they say. I do try and eat breakfast daily, but sometimes it's not always possible, so I will grab a protein bar, a quick cup of coffee and I'm out the door. That has been happening since my days of the military and even now that I'm retired, I still do the same thing. However, there are days when I have all the time in the world and I want to eat something substantial, but I also don't want to spend too much time doing a full on meal but I also want something simple that is still filling. At my recent yearly physical, I also got rather bad news. I may look fit and healthy, but I'm not entirely so. I found out that my bad cholesterol level is very much elevated and I might also be diabetic. What that means now is that I now have to take control of my diet and life and add in exercise. A good way to lower your cholesterol is by eating oats, and my Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats are a great way to do that. Not only does it taste amazing, it also gives me my required fibre. Oats have been dubbed one of the world's healthiest foods and is one of the best ways to start off your day.


Ingredients

1/2 cup steel cut oats
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup water
1 medium apple, chopped (appx. 1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon coconut oil
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, toasted
Pinch of salt
Honey (or sweetener of your choice)


Instructions

Add the almond milk, water, oats, chopped apple, cinnamon and coconut oil to a small pan and bring to a simmer.

Turn down to medium-low and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the oats are tender to your liking.

Turn the heat off and add a pinch of salt, the vanilla and sweetener of your choice (we added two tablespoons of honey). Stir to combine, taste and adjust sweetness. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash or two more almond milk or water.

Serve immediately with toasted walnuts on top, if desired.


Notes:

To toast the walnuts, add them to a small pan over medium-high heat and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes. As soon as you can smell them, remove them from the pan and let cool. Nuts can burn in a matter of seconds, so you want to be sure to stir them constantly and remove them from the pan to immediately stop the cooking.

With the hectic life that each of us lives, it’s no wonder that many families have put aside the importance of making time for family. It’s far too easy to get caught up in life and neglect the ones we love the most. Think about why you created the family in the first place, you wanted to have a happy little home with the sounds of children’s laughter surrounding you. Both you and your spouse desired to create an actual family, maybe one that you didn’t have when you were growing up.

There is nothing quite like the open highway, watching the scenery go by and taking in the views. I always have my camera on hand and if I'm not in the driver's seat, you can find me taking photos as we go by. That however can come to a halt really quickly when motion sickness kicks in. A two hour trip can quickly turn into 4 because someone has to get out of the car, get outside for fresh air and sometimes even make a run to the bathroom.


I remember the first time I had motion sickness. I was actually in the Caribbean on a boat traveling to another island that was about an hour away. The sea was as calm as could be but the rocking motion was just not for me. I remember thinking that lying down would have helped so I went to a cabin to lie down. Big mistake, I ended up feeling even worse than before. I had heard of sea sickness, but had never experienced it before, and thought that I would have been ok. After all it was only an hour away and there were no waves. Can you believe that it's been over 30 years and I still have yet to step foot on another boat. We are however, planning a family cruise but I am not dreading it one bit. However, since that day, I could no longer travel for long periods of time without feeling some sort of nausea.


In the Caribbean, there are home remedies for everything. If you get a cold "there's a herb for that", if you get a fever "there's a herb for that too". Well for motion sickness, the magical cure was ginger and my mother would boil ginger and we would drink it, and surprisingly it worked. When I migrated to the US, finding fresh ginger wasn't always possible so we did the next best thing. We experimented with over the counter medicine that only seemed to work but never really did. I stocked up on ginger ale and I would always have a piece of candy or gum in my bag for whenever I was taking a trip.


Now I'm all for products containing natural ingredients. Products that don't make me drowsy. After all, I'm usually the one driving and no-one wants a drowsy driver behind the wheel. That's one of the reasons why I take Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals. It is the  #1 pharmacist recommended brand for treating and preventing motion sickness, and it is also the first non-drowsy solution for motion sickness from Dramamine®, the leaders in motion sickness relief. It not only prevents and treats nausea and vomiting without the drowsy side effects, since it contains the clinically-tested ginger dosage required for preventing and treating motion sickness.


So if motion sickness is a problem and you don't want it to "rain on your parade", keep Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals on hand. It will help keep your motion sickness at bay and you'll get to enjoy your journey as much as you will your destination!

For savings on your purchase of Dramamine, download this digital coupon.

Let's discuss: How do you keep your own feelings of nausea at bay? 

School's out for the summer! Seems like just yesterday I was humming along to that song, and now school is back in and summer is almost out. The kids are back in school, night time routines are back in place, back to school shopping is over and homework is being done. The school week is spent doing work sent home from school, and the weekends are spent with family. I can't believe that the year is almost over. Can you? As a family, I like spending time together, doing things as a family and that includes our movie nights and one of the ways we enjoy our movies is by having XFINITY X1 services. I don't know about you, but there is no way that I can live in a home without access to a television. After all, I have my favorite shows that I just have to watch and I can't wait until their season begins this fall.

I have done quite a few posts about LBL aka Light Bladder Leakage and it's no taboo. Most females suffer from it and you don't have to have kids like I do to suffer with LBL either. It can happen to you at any time and at any age. Sure you may be more susceptible to LBL after having kids, but just realize that you don't have to have kids for it to happen. I remember when I first experienced LBL. I was in the army and doing our regular PT (Physical Training in military lingo) and we were doing a 5 mile run. Trust me when I say that it didn't end up well after my run. I was lucky enough to speak to my army doc at the time who explained it all to me and what was going on.


So what exactly is LBL? Well have you ever laughed, coughed, sneezed or even jogged and noticed that you "leaked" a little? Or how about you're in a rush to get to the bathroom and you're doing that potty dance and you just can't make it in time because there's either a line at the bathroom or maybe you're at home and there's a little someone in the bathroom who refuses to let you in because she's brushing her teeth? Yes it can happen! While there are things that you can do at home to help you, such as Kegel exercises or even cutting back on the amount of caffeine you consume daily, Poise Microliners are also there to your rescue.


You don't need to run out and buy those super thick pads like you're seeing your period or even those heavy duty liners either. Poise Microliners may be thin, but they protect you like no other! Trust me! I've been using them for a few years now. You may remember my story about using another brand of liner that was so super sticky that I couldn't even get them off. Since that day I switched to Poise I've never looked back! Not only do they keep me clean and dry, but when I use them, I know that I'll come home odor-free. The worst thing is that smell from leaking, and you don't want that!


Whenever I get dressed to go out, sure I have my accessories on but my main accessory is always my Poise Microliners. I never go anywhere without them. I make sure that I not only have one on, but I also have one or even two in my bag because you just never know! So don't let LBL stop you from having fun, go out, enjoy yourself and have Poise Microliners on hand. Do you know where I get mine? I pick mine right up at Walmart and it's so convenient because I can pick up my supply of liners while shopping for the other necessities I need at home. So what are you waiting for? If you suffer from LBL pick up your own Poise Microliners, you won't regret it!


Let's discuss: How do you stay feeling fresh and confident all day long?