Ladies, we've all been there. It's that time of the month and we're either at work or at school when the time comes. As much as we'd like to stay in our pajamas and curl up in a ball all week, we have responsibilities, we have to work hard for what we get. So each month we put on our darkest pants or jeans and struggle with hiding the evidence. We are forced to hide them in our shoes, the waistband of our pants or in a balled up fist as we make a run for it. Avoiding eye contact with our peers, hoping that no one will notice or try to stop us and make conversation with us. Ladies, you all know what I'm talking about. So let me just come out and say it.

Periods, tampons and pads.

That's right, I'll start the conversation about it since our society thinks it too embarrassing to talk about. I mean we didn't choose the lady life, the lady life chose us. So then why are we punished for it?

For those of you who don't know, there is a tax on tampons and pads. Yes I know there is a tax on pretty much everything, but the tax on tampons is ridiculous. Only a handful of states exempt the tax on tampons.

Above is the map showing which states tax. As you can see 40 out of the 50 states put a tax on tampons.

In an article called "The 'tampon tax' explained" by Sarah Larimer, it states "On average, according to Garcia's office, women in California pay about $7 per month for 40 years of tampons and sanitary napkins. Statewide, it adds up 'over $20 million annually,' according to a news release."

Although many people find it taboo to talk about periods, there is one company who doesn't. Lola, who is an all-women company, started a national conversation about periods and I'm about to tell you how.

In an article titled, "How the All-Women Tampon Company Lola Started a National Conversation About Periods" by Michelle Ruiz stated:

"At Lola, tampons are everywhere. The unofficial office mascot is a tampiñata—a traditional, colorful donkey piñata stuffed with tampons instead of candy, which Lola sent to editors and VIPs like Karlie Kloss (who happens to be an investor) at launch time last year. For perhaps the first time ever, Instagram lit up with #Lolagrams and #Lolashelfies: women proudly sharing their tampon boxes beside peony bouquets and Chanel No. 5 bottles. (It helps that the Lola box is a chic, inconspicuous white and slate blue.) Suddenly, periods weren’t to be hidden, but celebrated."

Now Lola Just celebrated their one-year anniversary on the 11th, but they've helped open up the conversations about tampons and periods in just one year. In my opinion, that is great. We women shouldn't be afraid to talk about something that is natural. We should be able to talk about what happens to us. I will no longer walk with my head down every month. I will stand tall. So let's all be like Lola and talk about tampons and raise awareness.

Too cute not to talk about