Product Review: My New H2O Sidekick

This is not the review I was going to kick things off with, but I thought I would go with a more positive review for my first post.  We'll get to that other one later.

So, I have a new little sidekick.  It's my Ello glass water bottle with the nifty silicone sleeve that I got at Target. I have been coveting glass water bottles for awhile now, but have just not been able to hand over $20+ for one at Earthfare or on Amazon.  For those who know me personally, you know I always have some kind of soapbox I'm on, and one of them is my new distaste for plastic.  I've always loved drinking out of actual glasses vs. plastic cups. Since I am on a mission to slowly get rid of potentially unhealthy things in our home, and since plastic is one of those things, I am notching away at some of it here and there.  I just replaced the kids' chipping melamine divided dishes with some cool stainless stuff.  Next up is the half-cooked Rubbermaid.  But, I digress.

When I found this water bottle at Target, I was very excited, and I was even happier when I found that it was only $10!  I plunked it right into my cart.  As soon as I got home, I washed it and filled it right up.  It's psychological, I know, but the water was so yummy.  Now, I will say that after the water sat for awhile, it most certainly tasted better than water that had been residing in something plastic.  No chemically taste.  BTW, if you don't think your drinks get chemically after sitting in plastic, try glass.  You will know what I mean.  Plus, it just looks cool.  And I like it.  And it makes me feel happy.  So, THERE. ;)

The silicone sleeve makes it easy to grip and I like the cap on this one better than the ones I had seen at Earthfare.  This cap has a loop on it, and it also creates a really nice water-tight seal.  I have thrown it into my pool bag where it proceeded to be upside down for an hour or so, and it did not leak a single drop.  While I have not dropped it yet, I feel pretty confident that the silicone sleeve will protect it.  The glass is pretty darn thick.  The one thing that I could see happening is a chip around the drinking area since it is not protected, but so far, so good.

I'm big on "psychological" and I'm also trying to cut out my sugar sweetened/artificially sweetened beverages, so I like to think that this water bottle is making me drink more water.  Whatever works, I guess.  I've come up with some pretty tasty water "concoctions" that have made my water consumption even easier.  Since I accidentally came home with a spearmint plant instead of flat-leaf parsley like the tray said, I decided to make the best of it.  Three or four lemon wedges and a sprig of the mint (crushed a little) was really refreshing.  I tend to like things sweet, so I put about 5 drops of liquid stevia in it and it was great.  My real favorite is this:  1-2 tablespoons of straight cranberry juice (not sweetened, dark as blood, sour as all-get-out, $8 a bottle, cranberry juice), about 4 lime wedges squeezed, and 5-6 drops of stevia, and enough water to fill the 20 oz. bottle.  Now that's a tasty summer concoction.  It sorta reminds me of my vodka and cranberry cocktails.  And I can drink it all day.  And I can drive my kids around.  So, THERE.  :)

If you are so inclined, grab one of these at Target.  I love!