With three kids, that means three birthday parties per year, plus family get togethers for holidays.

We generally host a family and friend dinner for the kids’ birthday and then once they reach school age, we do a kid birthday party as well.

Additionally, we host Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That is 5 days of festivities per year, hosting a minimum of 8 people per festivity.

Now, take those minimum of 8 people, multiplied by the 5 festivities and that would be 40 straws per year – and that’s just the festivities hosted in our house and does not include Easter, Thanksgiving, our birthdays or our mother/father/sister in law birthdays that are dinner festivities and include a minimum of 8 people.

So in all, our 40 straws have another 56 straws for a whopping total of 96 straws per year that we spend money on and throw away when we are done.

But not anymore.

I recently received eco-friendly, reusable glass straws from
.

GlassDharma straws are “known for their uniqueness, strength, and beauty” and “are about the best life has to offer – healthy living promoting a healthy world with a ‘touch of glass’”.

GlassDharma straws are sold individually or by set and come in different lengths, diameters, bent, and even with decorative colored dots.

As you can see in the image above, I was provided a short straw (shorty sipping straw) with decorative dots, a regular sized straw with decorative dots (ice tea standard straw), a wide diameter straw (bubble tea standard straw) and a bent straw (ice tea bend straw).

GlassDharma has been producing glass drinking straws since March of 2007 with the mission of creating world-wide awareness about single use plastics and how damaging plastic straws are to our environment. GlassDharma glass straws provide an alternative that replaces straws made from plastic.

As of the beginning of 2012, GlassDharma’s shipping numbers total over 200,000 straws world-wide. Although that may sound like a large number to some, the goal of the Company is to provide glass straws to at least 2% of the American public. With U.S.A. population at about 300 million, this works out to 6 million straws.

In addition to being eco-friendly, GlassDharma has a lifetime guarantee with each and every straw. Meaning if it breaks, GlassDharma will repair or replace the straw. Hopefully that won’t be necessary as GlassDharma’s glass straws are made from the safest, strongest glass commercially available, but it is comforting to know that they have a hassle free lifetime guarantee (especially when you have littles!)

While each straw does not come with a cleaning brush, one of the straws purchased will have a cleaning brush included in it’s packaging, further reducing waste by combining shipping.

As you can see, we were provided a thicker cleaning brush for our wider straws and a smaller cleaning brush for our thinner straws. Additionally, you can purchase additional cleaning brushes, carriers and sleeves for your glass straws under the
on their website.

GlassDharma glass straws are great for hot or cold drinks, they are easy to clean, kid friendly, safe, perfectly for all types of drinks from teas to smoothies, and make a great conversation piece!

I have heard of GlassDharma previous to receiving our own straws, but I have to admit, I am in love with these bad boys! I love the eco-friendly concept and they are such fun to drink out of, wash and reuse again and again! (And the kids love them too!)