Consumerism is rampant, we can see the effects of it all throughout Carroll. I  think of this when it is brought up is the different types of water bottles people bring to school. 

 I myself  have fallen victim to the hype around almost every mainstream water bottle brand since I was in 4th grade when the Hydro-flask was popular.  I begged my parents for months for the bright pink color I saw a girl at recess with, I NEEDED that water bottle. 

Sure enough, Christmas Morning I unwrapped the vibrant pink metal container. I had never been more excited. 

I eagerly went to school with it after break was over, waiting for everyone to make comments about how lucky I was and how nice it looked, and they all seemed to be nicer to me that day. 

Sure enough, when I went out to recess I dropped it onto the concrete and it got a giant dent in the side. Needless to say I was no longer cool, and my parents were very frustrated with me. 

This was the first time I experienced wanting something in order to fit in with my peers and become “popular.” This would happen year after year, with different stuff each time. In the last few years, though, I’ve noticed a common theme. 

These popular things everyone wants are phasing in and out more rapidly than in the past, and are more expensive than ever. I’m going to focus specifically on water bottles, as I have a bad habit of caving and buying them whenever they are popular.

I need to acknowledge that there is no reason I should have as many water bottles as I do, and in retrospect I should not have spent all of my hard earned money on them, but alas. 

I have tried every mainstream water bottle the past few years, including the Stanley (tumbler and water bottle), Owala (tumbler and water bottle) and the Brewmate tumbler. There are others as well, but I won’t be listing those. 

If I had simply done some research before I purchased all of these, my decision would have been clear from the start, saving me lots of money. 

Through all of my Mom and I’s shared collection, I’d have to say that the Owala tumbler is my favorite. It doesn’t spill when tipped over, has a nice straw that matches the color scheme, is easy to clean, fits in my backpack, and comes in a variety of color schemes. 

All in all, this water bottle is by far my favorite, to the point where when I lost it on a vacation I begged to get one for Christmas, bringing me right back to where I was in fourth grade.