Jarro-Dophilus Women ~ A Moms Meet Review

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. 

Compensation for this post was provided and this post may contain affiliate links.

Good digestive health is not just helpful, it is necessary for our bodies to function correctly. For women, that need for a healthy balance goes beyond our digestive tract. Let's face it ladies, we also need to take care of our urinary tract and our reproductive tract health. Whether you are 20 or 50, Jarrow Formulas has a probiotic formula that can help you keep your body working well.

For this Moms Meet review, Jarrow shipped their Jarro-Dophilus Women formula, plus a few extras. The Women's formula is based upon years of clinical research. The four strains of probiotics used in this formula are strains found in the vaginal tract of healthy women. To read more about these, visit Jarrow's website.

After reading some of the research on Jarrow's site, I wanted to try this women's formula out for myself. I've taken regular probiotics for digestive health for years...and I can tell if I've missed them for more than one day. But this was the first time I had tried a formula to help the rest of me - something specifically designed to help my reproductive tract health. I was not disappointed! This formula has a food-grade enteric coating, something I knew was important because I wanted the probiotics to stay potent until they reached my small intestines. 

The first thing that impressed me was the way Jarrow Formulas sends their products. They use a cool ship packaging that helps the probiotics arrive still in their optimal temperature range so they stay effective.  If you order online you can have them cool shipped to your home. I looked at our local Fresh Thyme Market for the Jarrow Formulas line. They keep it in the cooler case so they all stay fresh and effective. You can also get them from other local health food stores like: Whole Foods Market or Sprouts Farmers Market.

Once I got into the box to the products that Jarrow sent, I saw that they had sent us four different products. The Jarro-Dophilus Women, Fem-dophilus (designed for vaginal and urinary tract health support,) Yum-Yum Dophilus (a chewable probiotic formula for children that needs refrigeration,) and Jarrow-Dophilus Infant (probiotic drops for babies.) 

While I have been trying out the Women's formula, Arlene (age 17) has been trying out the Yum-Yum Dophilus chews. While Arlene is above the originally intended age for the Yum-Yum Dophilus chews, she found that taking them daily during the past month has helped her digestive tract stay regular, and she has been sleeping better as well. As a teen with an activity packed summer, I was thankful yo be able to provide her system an extra boost for the month of July which is usually her busiest month of the year. 

More about Jarro-Dophilus Women

Why is vaginal health a key component that we often overlook? I really don't know except that maybe we just get so busy being women: wives, mothers, daughters, employees and employers that we only think about it if something goes wrong. What if we started taking one extra minute a day to keep our reproductive tracts healthy so we wouldn't be slowed down by something going awry? I think it is time to take that minute! Jarro-Dophilus Women uses the patented Astarte strains that have been researched multiple times. If you're going to choose a supplement, make sure it is a quality one like this one from Jarrow Formulas!

I've been taking the Jarro-Dophilus Women for four weeks now. The very first night I started sleeping more soundly. By the end of the first week I could tell my digestive tract was back where it needed to be. Since then I have seen a gradual increase in my energy level. Being completely honest here: this past month has been one of the mentally toughest I've been through in recent years. Having my gut and reproductive tract in excellent health has gone a long way to help combat the stress!

Overall, I have been duly impressed with the quality and scientific research behind the Probiotic supplements from Jarrow Formulas. I can highly recommend them for you and your family. Take the time to get educated about which probiotic strains are recommended for the issues you are facing and then take action - take that one minute a day towards better health!

Connect with Jarrow Formulas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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What we've been doing ~ March - April 2017

Wow, what a couple of full months we have been living! Remember when Christ said that we may have life, and have it to the full? (John 10:10)  Was this what He was talking about? There have been so many blessings, and a couple of challenges along the way that I just wanted to sit for a minute and share what's on my heart.

Mama, God has this thing called life all figured out! Stop stressing out if you don't understand how it is all supposed to work because He has a plan for you to follow. Just ask Him what it is! Could I have imagined all the things that have happened therapist few weeks? Maybe, but probably not. I think He lets us set a few plans just so He can blow us out of the water by how He fulfills them!

March started off with Arlene attending the annual meeting go the local fiber arts group, SWIFT. They are the lovely ladies who have encouraged her on her way to better spinning and weaving. Her fiber arts mentor Sue is a big part of the group and has invited Arlene along the past few years. They are all looking forward to the Midwest Weavers Conference in June.

The next week we had a 4-H meeting, lunch with dear friends, and went on a tour of a maple syrup farm. They had the same issue we did, that Spring came so early that the maple tapping season was shorter this year. Still, we learned a lot more than were previously knew about how commercial operations work, and we found a lovely, not too far away location to purchase additional syrup from.

The third week of March I'm still wondering how Arlene got any of her coursework done as it seems we were always on the go. A legislative meeting, an awards party at Conner Prairie, 4-H Ag Days, and a trip to her friend Susan's fiber shop. Life seems to be like that these days, every other week goes from slightly busy to a whirlwind! Good thing Arlene is good at making dinner so I don't always have to be home from work in time to make it.

Later in March Arlene spent a day at the Indiana Association of Home Educators' convention helping Susan Marlow with her Circle C Ranch booth. Mrs. Marlow os one of those gems that I am glad has come into Arlene's life for the good influences, and the fun! Training for the opening of the outdoor season at Conner Prairie finished off Arlene's month and I think somewhere in there I even slept-LOL!

April seems to be shaping up as just as much of an adventure as last month was. Kurt and I had a volunteer training at Conner Prairie while Arlene worked out on the grounds. The next week Arlene spent a day as a page for our State Representative at the Statehouse on Indianapolis. That was followed by a 4-H meeting and a family trip to Eagle Creek park for birdwatching. This was also the week that Spring arrived in full force.

Later in April we attended another Legislative meeting, had friends over to visit, attended a Strawberry Social and went to Fiber Fest in Greencastle. A whole day of wool, yarn, and fun! Another fun blessing for April? I got an email from Panera that I had been selected to receive a free bagel every day this month. Um- yes! So we've been planning out routes to events around a stop at nearby Panera stores.

Easter arrived, and I was so thankful that we had been watching the Drive Thru History® - 'The Gospels" series as I felt like even through the midst of our full life that my heart was prepared to celebrate Christ's redemptive work on the cross.

Since then? Arlene went to the dentist, Emily registered for her college classes for fall, and we had our bathroom redone. Whew!

Whenever someone says "it must be nice to stay home and homeschool" I just smile and nod. Yes, it is nice, but it is not what you think. :)

Schoolwork wise? Lots of it! Arlene is doing a variety of project through Art Achieve, we've been reading quite a few books, including the newest release form Lamplighter, and she is working away in her math and biology. Sometimes Spring can be challenging when the warm weather calls us outside, so we try to focus on getting the basics done early and enjoying the afternoons in the fresh air as often as possible.

Work? Yup, I'm still there three days most weeks. It's not a bore, but rather a chance to share the love Christ with those around me. It gives me a lot of time to pray for my family and friends, and frankly, it keeps me in shape. God is using it for His glory, and for my good as He conforms me to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-30)

Besides all of this? I'm trying to learn to touch-type. It is a skill I've known I need for a while, but have finally set aside some time to work on learning. I'm finding it difficult, partially because I'm older and memorization take longer, and partially because I have such long fingers. If you're ever seen my fingers, you'll know what I'm talking about. It is difficult to hold them curved at the correct angle so that I can reach all the keys at the same time. But I plan to persevere! I guess I'm a glutton for difficulty because I've just started reviewing First Form Latin form Memoria Press. I tried to learn some basic Latin a few years ago when the girls were in a Classical Conversations class, but it started too fast and too in-dpeth for me to retain it. I want to learn some Latin to help my brain pick out derivatives, and to challenge myself to form some new mental pathways. I may never get far, but I am going to work at it.

What have I learned form all of this? God is bigger than any struggles we may face. He uses those trials to prove to us how true the faith He has given us is. He proves Himself faithful. And He proves that He loves us by all the wonderful opportunities He gives us for joy and fellowship! If we are lacking in joy, it is because we are not taking the joy He offers and making it our own. If we are lacking in fellowship it is because we are not willing to set aside our selfish desires to see what He has planned for the Body of Christ. I would much rather live a joyful, God-Centered life than a sorrowful world-centered one!

Take time today to recognize the blessings God has bestowed upon you this past month. Ask Him for direction for your future, and hang on for the wild adventure!


Linking up with Homeschool Highlights and The Homeschool Post's Weekly Blog and Tell

Once Again Nut and Seed Butters ~ A Moms Meet Review

Shortly after joining the Blog Ambassador program at Moms Meet I received my first review assignment: Once Again Nut  Butters. 

This has proved to be a really tasty review! We received a large, well-packed box filled with four of Once Again's Organic Butters: 
American Classic Creamy No-Stir Peanut Butter
Unsweetened and Salt Free Creamy Cashew Butter
Unsweetened and Salt Free Creamy Roasted Almond Butter
Lightly Sweetened Sunflower Seed Butter

Once Again Nut Butter was kind enough to include a few extras in our box: a reusable shopping bag made from recycled water bottles, a stuffed "Rocky" the raccoon mascot toy, a coloring book, and four booklets with recipes and coupons. What a pleasant surprise to open this sturdy, albeit heavy, box and find all those extras inside! :)

Arlene and I realized that to do justice to four different types of nut and seed butters during the limited time of this review, we should enlist some additional help. Even though I like nut butter on my celery, it was going to take us a while to really use four full sized jars! Since the rest of our family is often gone to work all day, we planned a lunch date with my friend Danielle and her girls. Arlene (16) decided to give the coloring book to her friend Rachel, who is several years younger. Also attending our tasting party was Danielle's daughter Emily who is nearer Arlene's age. 

We started with lunch, hoping to make the tasting party a slow-food event, instead of rushing it because everyone was really hungry. We put out the three nut butters and the Sunflower seed butter, as well as celery and two different types of crackers, then we let everyone taste to their little hearts' content. Danielle and I talked about how we might use the butters in smoothies or cookie recipes, and I gave her one of the booklets with smoothie recipes. 

The girls tasted each of the various kinds on crackers, and then went off to talk in the other room. After a few minutes they were back again getting more nut butter and crackers. Arlene's favorite was the Creamy Peanut Butter, Emily said she really liked both the Peanut Butter and the Cashew Butter, and Rachel was torn between the Sunflower Seed Butter and Peanut Butter as her favorite. We talked about the taste, the consistency, and the spreadability of each of the butters. Danielle and I both thought the Cashew Butter was good, but could be improved by the addition of a small amount of salt. That is probably because I, at least, usually have lightly salted cashews to snack on instead of unsalted ones.

Overall Danielle's favorites were the Peanut Butter and the Almond Butter, while my favorite was the Sunflower Seed Butter, with the Peanut Butter being a close second.

Arlene and I continue to eat the butters at home, and sometime I pack a couple Tablespoons of the sunflower seed butter in my lunch to eat with my celery or crackers at work. Arlene loved how well the creamy peanut butter tasted on saltines, which is ironic, but encouraging, from a girl I have trouble getting to eat peanut butter in anything except cookies! We are planning to try the almond butter in our cookies soon. I would also like to try the sunflower seed butter and cashew butter in smoothies. Thanks to the recipe booklets I now have lots of new ideas for my smoothies!

Once Again Nut Butters offers a variety of Natural and Organic Nut and Seed Butters, as well as honey, and bulk roasted nuts. We were excited to be able to review these Organic butters, especially after researching the company and finding out how well their mission lines up with our food philosophy. Once Again Nut butters supports Organic and sustainable farming practices as a part of their mission, and is an employee-owned workplace. For those Moms  (& Dads) looking for a company to trust with the health of their children, this one measures up well!

Overall, the quality of all four of the nut and seed butters was excellent! The jar labels all come with a space to mark the date you opened them, and they recommend refrigeration on all but the peanut butter to keep them fresh and to prevent the oil from the nuts and seeds from separating out. The American Classic Peanut Butter does not separate (unless it gets over 90 degrees in your kitchen) thanks to the addition of a small amount of organic palm fruit oil. It is really SO yummy! All four varieties we received are Gluten Free Certified, Vegan and Kosher. 

If you would like a coupon to use on your own jars of Once Again Nut butters, you can find them on the Once Again website or on the Moms Meet website, under the coupons tabs! On the Once Again website you can also use the retail store locator tool to find their products at a local retailer near you! If you already have a favorite - you can order a whole case from the Once Again website. :)

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I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.