{Spring Into Sustainability Giveaway Hop} Simply Straws :: Glass Straws & More! Ends 3/30

Welcome to the Spring Into Sustainability Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering and The Frugal Greenish Mama. Members of the Green Moms Network are excited to bring you great prizes to encourage your family to live a more sustainable lifestyle, all valued at $25+. Our hosts have two great grand prizes too! Happy Mothering is giving away a Wondermill Junior Deluxe hand grain mill valued at $219.95. Enter here. The Frugal Greenish Mama has an awesome gardening package valued at $262.90 sponsored by Earth Easy and Humble Seed. Enter here. After entering my giveaway and the grand prize giveaways, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form to enter more great giveaways. 

When I think of sustainable materials, I first think of glass since I use glass a lot. Pretty much infinitely reusable, it's a safe, toxin free choice for storage or display of all sorts of things throughout my house, and we drink only out of glass at home. In the last year we've started using reusable glass straws to drink from as well. In the long run I'm keeping unnecessary plastic out of landfills, saving money, and choosing the safest option for my family.

I recently came across Simply Straws and I was immediately drawn to their beautiful glass straw colors and fun glass jar mugs, all made in the USA and family-run.

"Together we have collaborated to form “Simply Straws”, where we have consciously chosen to care.  Our products are reusable, sustainable, durable, biodegradable and handmade with intention in USA. Our colors are non-toxic, our materials bpa free, our sleeves made from fair-trade, organic hemp, flax, and cotton. Our web hosting and printing powered by eco energy, we use non-toxic dyes and fsc certified 100% post consumer recycled paper for business material.  All packaging is compostable." 

I already knew glass was the best, non-porous option to drink from prior to working with Simply Straws, but it's been great to learn how much better straws are for your teeth when drinking liquids. The founder of Simply Straws has been a Dental Hygienist for 31 years and wanted to be able to offer patients with a safe, eco-friendly option to minimize contact with the teeth and helps reduce the effects of acid on tooth enamel, while removing the harmful exposure to BPA that would be found in a ordinary plastic straw. With glass I definitely think she succeeded! Given my love of glass and this event focused on sustainable products, naturally I was thrilled with the opportunity to review some amazing glass options from Simply Straws.

First off is the Simply A-Mason Mug Bent Combo which features a 16 oz. glass mason jar with a handle, a screw-top lid and an 8" bent glass straw in your choice of color (or clear). I have a thing for mason jars so the execution of creativity into a drinking vessel like this is just thrilling! As you can see there is etching on the lid, and the S initial on the glass jar too. There is actually an option to customize the etching on the glass jar for just a small additional fee! How awesome would it be to customize these for a wedding or other event!? I'm loving it. Of course I also got a little giddy when the teal color glass straw arrived at my door -- it's my favorite color! I think the 16 oz. size is perfect since any larger would be a bit heavy when full. The handle is especially great for drinking an icy cold beverage too. 

I also received a Single Sleeve Set - Color with an 8" Wide, Amber colored glass straw and an Apricot with Coffee Stitching organic sleeve. The sleeve features a smart design that opens and closes using a sewn on ribbon loop. The material is a pretty thick weave so I feel confident in the protection it provides the straw in case I'm transporting it somewhere. I'm in love with the rustic, crunchy feel of this whole ensemble! This set also makes it incredibly easy for me to keep a glass straw in my purse for eating out. One-time use plastic straws are so wasteful and I'm working on wasting less in general.

Since making the switch to glass straws, my 4 year-old is absolutely obsessed with grabbing a glass straw out of the utensil drawer any chance he gets. He's already claimed this amber straw since his favorite color is orange and the Wide width of it is perfect for his beloved smoothies (I can't wait for summer so we can make them more often!). I'm happy he's so eager to use glass as such a young age. 

And check out that customizable etching again! I really enjoyed inspecting the beautiful etching of each straw and on the mason jar mug also. It tells me that Simply Straws is proud of their craftsmanship and stands behind their products! In fact, Simply Straws offers a Lifetime Guarantee Against Breakage for their glass straws so you can rest assured that using glass straws is not as scary as it may seem! Really it's not. And if you're really worried about a rolling straw falling off the counter, choose a Simply Bent straw!

 

Here's a comparison photo of a Wide (12mm) straw opening on the left, and the Classic (9mm) opening option of the right. The Wide is great for all liquids, but I think would be best for thicker soups and smoothies. The Classic is best for teas, juices, water, wine and other beverages. There is also a Skinny width if you prefer even smaller. Each width is available in 6", 8" and 10" lengths, straight or bent, and in clear or color. Glass straws can be purchased as singles, or as part of a set or package.

Simply Straws is definitely a wonderful online shop for all your glass straw needs, especially if you're looking for colors and want to support a family business. Now on to the giveaway!

 

Win It!

One winner will receive a bundle set which will include: 1 Clear Skinny 6" straw, 1 Clear Classic 8" straw, 1 Clear Wide 10" straw, 1 Classic Brush & 1 3-Straw Sleeve in Denim ($47 RV)!

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review for free. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This contest will run through March 30, 2013 at 9:00 pm PST (March 31, 2013 at 12:00 am EST). The winner will be chosen the following day and announced on The Reynolds Mom. No purchase necessary. US entries only. Must be 18 years or older to win.The sponsors provided me with free samples of these products to review, and I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to The Reynolds Mom and not to Facebook. Please note that The Reynolds Mom, the Green Moms Network and the Spring Into Sustainably event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. We will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 4-6 weeks for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.