I stumbled across an online discussion the other day about finding the perfect small drink bottle for smoothies, and it sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole. What started as a simple question – “where can I find a decent bottle for my morning smoothie?” – turned into a fascinating glimpse into our relationship with stuff, sustainability, and the endless cycle of consumer trends.

The original poster had reasonable needs: something small enough for a 20-minute commute, capable of holding a smoothie overnight in the fridge, and ideally not requiring a second mortgage to purchase. Simple enough, right? But the responses revealed something interesting about where we are as a society.

There’s something oddly liberating about deciding to take control of your own grooming routine. Maybe it’s the dad in me, or perhaps it’s just reaching that age where practicality trumps vanity, but I’ve joined the ranks of blokes who’ve embraced the DIY haircut life. Every couple of months, out comes the clipper for a good buzz cut, and every fortnight or so, the facial hair gets trimmed back to respectable stubble.