It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

A week ago I posted about a product that was sure to be on my Christmas wish-list this year. These glass straws from Glass Dharma were just about the coolest thing I'd ever seen. When I told my husband about them he said, "I remember seeing Humphrey Bogart drink out of a glass straw in Dark Passage."
Why of course. He's such a cultured man. But I digress.

So shortly after that post, thanks to those who clicked through to the link, I received an email asking for my address so some real live glass straws could be sent to yours truly! It was an exciting day. I laughed. I cried. I told everyone.

(I should stop right here and explain that I often recommend products I love just for the sheer pleasure of passing on great finds. I don't have ads on this blog and I don't get paid anything when I tell you about a product that is currently making a difference in my life. This reviewing a product business is a first for me.)

And then the straws arrived, packaged up in neat and tidy boxes with a minimal amount of padding. That surprised me; you think glass= fragile. They really are a lot sturdier than you might expect. They have a satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime guarantee against breakage and I was pretty sure my family would put that breakage guarantee to the test. I didn't stop my kids from making their straws do a little dance in their glasses (just to hear the tinkling noise) although I did tell them to do it gently. I have intentionally tried to treat them with the same care as I do all my other dishes (poor straws) and even had them at the bottom of a sink full of warm soapy water for a few hours. Not trying to test fate, but they have to work in real life or they won't work for us.


We tried out four different sizes and styles. My children are most enamored with the decorative dots straws; it's hard to resist the colorful decorations. I was pretty knocked out with the "bendy" straw. I find it easier to drink a lot of water with a straw- I could down12 oz. in no time with one of these babies. One of the straws was large in diameter and I could see it being a great milkshake straw (when that blessed day arrives and I'm drinking iced dairy products again). At some point, I plan on getting the kids their own smoothie straws, each with a different color. Maybe I really will get those for Christmas- they'd make great stocking stuffers.


In the end, I think I'm so enamored with these little straws because I realize how hard it is to make huge changes in our family life when it comes to getting away from plastics, eating healthfully, using natural cleaning products, etc. I can't do everything, but we can make gradual changes. I'm trying to implement one or two new healthful practices each week. Some of these changes are good for us, but not very exciting. My new straws are both.