Worrying about what Milton was going to do, where he was going, what he ended up doing... No one has slept well since Monday.
Now that it's almost a full week, one of my mother's friends mentioned something about running to various Walgreens to look for a specific type of sleep aid (some melatonin type pill, I think). The woman couldn't find what she is used to taking, and doesn't know what to do.
Here, she spent a couple dollars worth of gas to run around and find what she needs, only to come out with not the full tank she started with, and no medication. Plus not all gas stations are open right now because there's not enough to go around. This is also after the woman got rid of company who stayed at her house because they were in a worse flood area then we are (we are in Zone A, which is a major evacuation zone because we're smack in the middle of being near an area of the Caloosahatchee River and Gulf of Mexico).
So my mother mentioned I take some sleep aid gummies. As I was in my room at the time (trying to clean up a tech mess), she came to ask me what is it that I take to sleep at night because her friend wants to know.
I said it's a set of gummies, and went into the kitchen to read off what they are.
I know I have previously written about the Plant People WonderSleep Mushroom Gummies Supplement for Sleep and Relaxation with Reishi Super Mushrooms, Wild Elderberry Flavor, but now I'm trying a new product, as the WonderSleep wasn't in stock on the day I went to Sprouts.
The product I bought was Barker Wellness Co Nighttime Mushroom Adaptogen Gummies - Sugar-Free, Vegan Blend with Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga - Relaxation & Sleep Support.
Which as I went to the Barker site to check them out a little more as I write this, I didn't put two and two together.
The "Barker" in the title is Travis Barker, the drummer for Blink-182. Wow, I didn't even realize he had a link of organic / all natural products. I just thought this was a new company on the market.
Go figure.
It's not going to stop me from continuing to use what's in the bag, nor is it going to sway my opinion of the product purchased. Good for Travis for doing something good for himself and humanity.
According to the website, they are "a vegan wellness company focused on empowering you to live each day at your best. Our founder, Travis Barker, understands the toll that a busy lifestyle can take on your health.
His demanding schedule as a professional musician led him to examine every aspect of his health. This eventually led Travis to discover cannabinoids and their unique ability to nurture both body and mind.
We strive to share those healing properties through our line of premium, cannabinoid-infused products", even though not all products are cannabinoid-infused.
Case in point: the Nighttime Gummies I bought. do not include any type of CBD.
Per the website:
From the look of it, Amazon is on point for charging the same cost ($35) as the Barker site. However, at the time of this writing, you can "clip" a 20% off coupon for the gummies. It expires November 9, 2024. Prime members get free shipping, however, I am thinking that because the bag is already at the non-Prime "free shipping" cost, you might get it to have free delivery too if you're not a Prime member. I could stand corrected, so please look in to it if you go through the Bezos site. There also isn't an option for subscribe and save, so no discount given on a monthly re-order. It's one bag at a time whenever you want it. No "Set and forget"; you have to log in and buy it all over again next month.
That being said, to repeat, Barker's site has the bag for $35. Everyone pays shipping unless you fulfill an order of $100 (or more) in one fell swoop. I don't have a Shopify account, but from poking around, you can have a subscription made for this product. I know a lot of companies are using Shopify, but I haven't tied any of them to this site yet, so I can't speak on what the subscription costs are. Although, the front page states you can get "15% off" by signing up for emails and there's something called "Barker Wellness Bundle and Save - Save up to 20% when you shop our best selling packages. Our bundles include the best offer and when you bundle with Barker Wellness, you save!" so if you look into and purchase the best sellers, there's an added bonus. But it's only for best sellers. Not on single picked items. Also, like I mentioned above, there is a reward system.
The reward system (like a few other sites I've signed up for) is:
- 5 points for every $1 spent
- 50 points for following the company on Facebook
- 50 points for following the company on Twitter X
- 50 points for following the company on Instagram
- Every 100 points earned equals $1 (towards the next purchase, I would think).
- There are birthday rewards, but again, this is tied to Shopify.
When I bought the gummies at Sprouts, I don't remember what I paid; it was either on sale for $32 as a new product, or it was the actual $35. I had also bought the OM Mushroom Master Blend, Organic 10 Mushroom Complex & Adaptogens Powder to put in my smoothies, so I remember my total being around $70 after tax (I think). It was a month ago; things have been rough lately.
But after all this comparing, how do I feel?
Much like I said with the Plant People - I'm not waking up feeling gross or sick. I have been feeling fine in the morning and am not overly tired / groggy. I do get the afternoon slump but that's to be expected; everyone does. You also have to give this half an hour to an hour to kick in; it's not automatic - you won't be asleep in 5 minutes.
The directions state "Consume 2 gummies, then chill and relax. For best results, continue using consistently as part of your nightly routine. Enjoy!".
So when I know I want to go to sleep, I take the gummies and hang out for half an hour before going to bed. I have been sleeping though the night once I get in bed and relax. I have been finding I wake up a little earlier than my alarm some times, but I've been in such a different sleep state (not all REM or anything), that I'm slightly more rested. If I wear my watch to track my sleep, especially on weekends (rather a Friday and Saturday night since I get a little anxious on Sundays knowing I've got to go to work Monday. It's weird. I know. Don't question it), I'm finding I average 9.5-10.5 hours, depending on when I go to bed. One day I clocked in at 11 hours asleep with no wakeup during the night. Conversely, I usually get somewhere between 7 and 7.5 hours of sleep during the week. Sometimes less depending on what's going on in my head and what happened during the day.
So they do work.. it's just that you have to figure out a routine with them. If I don't take them daily (because even the friend said "take too often and you throw off your body's natural rhythm".. the whole reason why she's leery about taking anything, but needs something every once in a while), I find I sleep better when I do take them. The two work fine for me as I haven't tried just one.
Will I buy this again? More than likely. It's not a sweet or tart gummy, but it does have a fruity taste to it, so it's not earthy if you're expecting a mushroom flavor profile. Because of the way it's made, it's got a slight stickiness to it. I think it's whatever gelatin and sugar combination there is on it, to make it almost glisten. It's not gross; I think it has to do with the fact Florida is hot and humid right now, and even though these are in a cabinet, they're still susceptible to getting touched by the moisture in the air. I am no scientist so I could be wrong.
Then again, I'm no doctor, so please take this review with caution and a grain of salt. I do not study medicine and am not suggesting everyone takes what I've talked about. Please read the full ingredients and warnings on everything you do, as again, I am not a medical professional and cannot assist you in answering any medical queries. What I write here is based on my own experiences and my review is strictly that - my review and research. It does not substitute any advice from a medical professional and I urge you to seek help or answers from those more qualified than I am. If you end up clicking on any link I post and purchase something, I do get a commission from Amazon and a referral reward from the Barker site. But please conduct your own research and ask a trained professional if this would be right for you.
Please stay safe, sound and dry. Until next time.
Cheers;
