I have a love hate relationship with PSL's

As we journey into the world of autumn, characterized by changing leaves, Starbucks drinks and brown leather over the knee boots, we see the continual dedication to consumerism. In a season populated by a holiday created to give thanks for what we have, and the harvesting of local crops, consumer buying habits spike.

http://business.time.com/2014/01/02/10-big-consumer-trends-from-the-2013-holiday-shopping-season/

We are a society defined by a series of paradoxes. Thanksgiving is a weekend we spend with our family and friends to celebrate how much we have, then surrounding this, we have created both Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We criticize the massacres that continually occur every Black Friday, yet we still advocate for the great deals. We see a spike in participation for Cyber Monday as of 2013 up 17% from 2012.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes, also known as PSL's, have hit the youth to young adult market by storm. A woman in the United States has even gone so far as to purchase 52 boxes of PSL mix in an attempt to stock her shelves enough to have 1 years supply.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/10/20/woman-buys-year-worth-pumpkin-spice-lattes/

How far have we slipped as a society when a woman's priority becomes securing an obscenely large amount of spiced seasonal beverages as to avoid possibly skipping a day of indulgence. Just to give you some context, an average serving of the decadent drink is 380 calories with 13 grams of fat, which is based on a Starbucks oddly labeled size: grande (and in case you didn't get that, a medium). Correct me if I'm wrong but I was raised on the idea of moderation. If you enjoy something that might not be very good for you don't consume it everyday, save it for special occasions, or at the very least, not every single day.

Don't get me wrong, I can't think of anyone who doesn't appreciate a great deal, or enjoy basking in the crisp fall air with a seasonally themed hot beverage. What I do wish to advocate, is that emphasis should be placed back on the family. Maybe this year spend that extra day we have off from work and school actually with your family, not searching for heavily discounted products. Maybe this year take that money to you would spend purchasing products, and donate it. Remember that there will always be more products, but there will not always be more time.