There are a few requirements a bag has to have to work in all my travel scenarios. One is a laptop sleeve since sometimes I travel for work and the trip is so long I have to pack my work bag. The second is a luggage handle strap. If I’m going all over the airport with my wheeled carry-on, I don’t want to have to carry my personal item or worry about it falling off my wheeled carry-on. Lastly, it needs to be counted as a personal item. My anxiety doesn’t want to take the risk every time I board a plane that the flight attendant will make me check my wheeled carry-on because my personal item is too large.

If this sounds like you, keep reading for my complete, honest review.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Everlane

You may know Everlane as the American clothing retailer that provides timeless, sustainable, and ethically sourced fashion, but do you also know they carry bags, shoes, and accessories? I’ve been shopping from them online (I don’t live near any of their 11 stores) for years and can attest that the quality is phenomenal for the very fair pricing.

Compartments in the Everlane Weekender Duffle

Aside from the padded laptop sleeve requirement I noted above, the Everlane Weekender bag has a few compartments, and they are all quite handy!

In the interior of the bag are two water bottle pouches, one on either end of the bag. There is also an interior zipper pocket to put things you want to keep extra secure. I like putting my wallet in that pocket, along with items that normally go in my purse.

On the exterior of the bag is a rather long pocket where I put things I’ll need easy access to, like my ID, earbuds, and hand sanitizer.

Straps on the Everlane Bag

The people at Everlane have thought of everything! There are three ways to hold the bag, and then a luggage sleeve to put over the carry-on handle if you don’t want to hold it.

There are two hand straps, over-the-shoulder straps (9″), and a padded adjustable cross-body strap (51″). I probably use the over-the-shoulder straps the most but all three options have come in handy depending on the circumstance.

All of the straps are black, so depending on the color bag they are monochromatic or contrasting. I love the color combination of the light neutral warm quartz against the black straps.

Structure

Some pretty popular carry-ons are very structured, especially if they have a shoe compartment at the bottom. I love that the Everlane isn’t structured ( I mean it holds its shape but there are no hard edges) so I never have to worry if I’ll be able to squeeze it into a space.

The Everlane bag has fit as a personal item on every flight I’ve flown on last year, and I never had a flight attendant question it. I can’t say the same thing for some of the other bags I’ve seen in the airport.

The official dimensions of the bag are 14.2″ H x 7.3″ W x 19.5″ L so check if this will work with your airline, but I’ve had zero issues on United and their partner airlines.

Materials of the ReNew Transit Weekender

The main body of the bag is made of water-resistant 100% recycled polyester, and I’ve found that it holds up very well! Because it’s not leather, I’m not too worried about ruining it while traveling. Although I have a couple of marks on it, there has not been one rip, tear, or snag.

Price

At the time of publishing, the Weekender Bag is $95. I looked at a lot of bags and all of them were over $100. Free shipping doesn’t kick in until you spend $100 on the website, but at that price, I’m ok with spending on shipping. Or you can add one of their basics to your cart and get something to put inside your bag!

Colors

The bag is offered in five timeless, neutral colorways, all with black straps. I have warm quartz and it looks great dressed down or dressed up.

Final Verdict of the Everlane Weekender

I 1,000% would recommend the Everlane Weekender and would buy it again! It met all of my requirements needed for a bag, and I can’t believe the quality for the price. Honestly, there isn’t one thing I would change.

If you have any questions leave a comment down below and I’m happy to answer!

If you loved this review, check out these other travel-related posts!

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

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If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

Reading Nook Chair Criteria

When designing the cozy, multi-purpose space, I wanted a reading chair deep enough to curl up in and read. Since the space is small there’s a fine balance between how big doesn’t overtake the room.

Furniture should be up off the ground in a small room, so the chair needed to have legs. And since I also took this opportunity to try something different and painted the walls black, for a dark and moody vibe, the chair color would need to contrast.

Why choose the Interior Define Caitlin Accent Chair?

After looking at a lot of chairs, I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. I was ready to make an investment for something quality and comfortable but not if it wasn’t perfect.

I came across the Interior Define Caitlin Chair, a collaboration with The Everygirl, and I immediately loved the transitional design. Since I can’t guarantee my tastes won’t change, buying something transitional means even if my style does change chances are I’ll still like the chair. I was shocked at how customizable it is! Interior Define offers the chair in 141 fabrics, a variety of colors, and 12 different leg options. The website is super user-friendly, being able to filter by color and fabrication. If you love the look of the chair but it’s not just the size you are going for, they have a full collection and offer the Caitlin in different sofa configurations.

I loved the idea of black legs to blend into the black walls but cream fabric to contrast. What really sold me though was boucle as an option. Since I was having daydreams of curling up with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and a book the chair should be soft and cozy too.

Online the chair looked great but I couldn’t find any thorough reviews online. Luckily we have an Interior Define store here in Chicago so I went for a visit. Although they didn’t have the full size Caitlin chair in the showroom, they did have the petite version and I really liked it. The chair was comfortable but how much can you tell after sitting in a showroom sample for five minutes?

My Experience With Interior Define

Interior Define is known for making high-quality, custom furniture at a lower price than most custom furniture brands by cutting out the middle man.

After hearing some mixed reviews on Interior Define’s customer service, I’m happy to say I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them. I was in contact with them quite a bit as I ordered my furniture in August, received the Graham Chair in January, and received the Caitlin chair about a month later. I also used their chat function on the website to ask about some measurements before placing the order and they were very prompt.

Since all the pieces are custom made and aren’t made until ordered, then produced overseas, and then shipped to the U.S, it does take a long time to get your furniture. They used to quote 12 weeks but when I ordered in 2021 it was over 20 weeks.

If you don’t have a showroom near you, don’t worry! Interior Define will send you free swatches of fabrics so you can decide what works for you in your own home.

The Full-Size Caitlin Accent Chair Review

I love the look of this chair! It looks cozy and inviting which is exactly what I wanted.

When the chair was first delivered, via white-glove delivery service, and I sat in it the seat and back were a little more firm than I remembered. After a couple of days, I started having buyer’s remorse so went into the showroom to sit in that petite model I sat in before. I thought maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but it definitely wasn’t. The showroom model was so much more comfortable than the new chair I had at home. The back was so firm that there wasn’t a ton of seat depth, no curling up for me.

After speaking to the store associate who assured me that was normal and it would just take a couple of weeks to break in, I went home feeling much better. She was right! I could tell week after week it was getting more and more comfortable and now it’s very comfortable, I love it!

Final Verdict on the Caitlin Accent Chair

I love the full-size Caitlin Chair and I’m so happy I chose it! If I could do it all over again though I would also buy the ottoman. While I’m short and can definitely fit curled up on the chair, I much prefer having the option of an ottoman to sprawl out on too.

It takes about 20 weeks from order to delivery, which is a long time to wait, but more than that the delivery fee is charged per delivery, not per item, so ordering the ottoman alone the delivery fee is almost the same price. It’s much better to pay one delivery fee and order a few items at the same time if you can plan in advance.

People ask if Interior Define is expensive and really it’s all relative. Yes, it’s expensive compared to Ikea, but for this home I was ready to make an investment. No, it’s not expensive compared to Restoration Hardware, but that’s not in my tax bracket.

If you loved this review, check out my Interior Define Graham Office/Dining Chair Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

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If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

Office Chair Criteria

After buying our first condo in 2021, I decided that I would take the time, and invest the money, into decorating the home the way I really wanted. Not that you can’t do that in a rental, it’s just for me I never knew how long I would be staying in that spot. I know I’ll be staying here a while, and the furniture pieces will fit the space as long as we are here.

Once I knew exactly what the room would be used for, planned out where everything would go, and landed on a design scheme, I could finally start looking for furniture.

I’m not sure exactly what to call the style of my home office/yoga studio/reading room, but I had a vision in my head of dark and moody, yet cool and glam. I loved LittleEdwardian‘s lounge and kind of used that as a jumping-off point.

So with the walls painted black I wanted a minimalistic black desk and an all-black chair to go with it, but it needed to be comfortable, and something that could also act as a guest chair if needed.

Why the Interior Define Graham Chair as an Office Chair?

After searching for a long time, and I do mean a long time, I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Most black chairs didn’t have gold legs or if it was 100% black, they had poor reviews and wouldn’t be comfortable sitting in them for long periods of time. Remember, I was kind of looking for a dining chair, but instead of sitting on it for two hours at dinner, would be sitting on it for around ten hours while working.

That’s when I came across Interior Define and the option to create a custom chair. The Graham chair is offered in 119 different fabrics that come in a variety of colors and fabrications and you can choose from matte black or matte brass leg colors. They also offer the chair with contrast piping but since I was looking for it to blend into the background that wasn’t for me.

On paper the chair looked great but since it was so new there were no online reviews for me to read through. Luckily we have an Interior Define store here in Chicago so I went and sat in it in person. It seemed like it would be quite comfortable but how much can you tell after sitting in a chair for five minutes?

After looking at the fabric choices I decided to place an order for the ebony performance velvet with matte black legs. It was definitely more than I wanted to spend, but Interior Define has 15% off sales pretty frequently so I waited for one of those to place my order.

My Experience With Interior Define

Interior Define is known for making high-quality, custom furniture at a lower price than most custom furniture brands by cutting out the middle man.

I’ve heard some mixed reviews on Interior Define’s customer service, but I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them. And I’ve been in contact with them quite a bit as I ordered my furniture in August and only received the Graham Chair in January and am still waiting on my Caitlin reading chair ordered at the same time (update: the Caitlin chair has arrived and the full review is posted).

I love that they will send you free swatches of fabrics so you can decide what works for you. The online chat feature is excellent and I used it both before placing my order and after. When I was measuring my door to see if the Caitlin chair would fit through the frame, the customer service associate was prompt in letting me know the dimensions with the feet removed. When I unexpectedly didn’t get both furniture pieces delivered together, I used the chat feature again, and not only was the customer service associate able to assist, he’s been personally emailing me every step along the way to keep me updated.

The Graham Metal Frame Upholstered Chair Review

First, let me start by saying the chair is gorgeous. Although ordered in ebony, which is a pure black, when the light hits the velvet a certain way it almost looks dark grey. I love it as it gives the piece some dimension without calling attention to it.

Sitting in the chair is comfortable, for the most part. Here is where I have a few caveats so let me be as transparent as possible (but feel free to drop a comment below if you have questions I haven’t answered).

There are dimensions on the Interior Define website, and I did measure, but probably not thorough enough.

The seat is deep, so when I have my back against the back, my feet do not touch the floor (I’m 5’4″ but really I think it depends on how long your legs are) which puts a strain on my knees. For the time being, I have yoga blocks under my desk and put my feet on those which work great, but aren’t aesthetically pleasing. I plan on getting a pretty footrest, but I can’t seem to find what I have pictured in my head (let me know if you know of a good spot) so I may have to make one.

Since this isn’t a traditional office chair and the height isn’t adjustable, I can’t cross my legs because of the lower shelf of my desk. Now you may not cross your legs, but when I’m sitting for ten hours, I switch positions frequently. After taking the blog post photos I removed the lower shelf of my desk which makes it a much more pleasant experience. The desk was inexpensive and just OK so it’s fine to disassemble it, and now I’m on the hunt for one I do love.

Final Verdict on the Graham Chair

I love it and I’m very happy with it! Is it slightly annoying that I now need to buy a new desk and find a footstool? Yes. But those are very specific problems based on the desk that I owned and my height challenges, haha.

It’s gorgeous, quite comfortable, and you can’t beat the design options. No question the Graham chair would make a great dining chair, but if you are looking for a beautiful, high-quality desk chair I recommend it.

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

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The post Interior Define Graham Chair Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

West Elm

Red Dried Eucalyptus

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT FOR THE VASE

Is there anything more Fall than dried leaves? I love this red dried eucalyptus because it adds a seasonal element and the red color will warm up any room.

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Williams-Sonoma

Black & Gold Pumpkin

CAN IT BE FALL WITHOUT PUMPKIN

Although pumpkins for Fall decor may seem traditional and not modern, Williams-Sonoma gives these a twist with a cool black and gold colorway. And, pumpkins can do double duty as Halloween decor too!

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Z Gallerie

Feather Wreath

A HINT OF GOLD

I like the look of mixing metals but the warmth of gold feels autumnal, so this white feather wreath with gold tips gives off a modern fall vibe.

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Crate & Barrel

Pumpkin Scented Candle

BECAUSE FALL SHOULD BE LIT

I am candle obsessed and there’s nothing better than. a beautiful candle that smells great.

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Related: Movies to watch this Fall

Pottery Barn

Faux Fur Blanket

FOR THOSE CHILLY NIGHTS

Even if it’s not cold where you are, you can’t think of Fall without thinking of fires and sweaters and cozying up under a blanket. I have a couple of these in different colors and sizes and they are very soft, with just a little bit of weight to them.

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Z Gallerie

Spiked Pumpkin

A LITTLE PRICKLEY

Well, this pumpkin is most definitely not all warm and cozy, but it is cool AF. There’s a collection of some other spiked shapes too if you’re loving this look. Again, since it’s pumpkin can work for Halloween and Fall decor.

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Crate & Barrel

Faux Maple Tree

BRING THE OUTDOORS IN

While I’m not usually a proponent of faux trees or plants, I am a sucker for a maple tree with red leaves. At 7.5′ tall this tree can really bring some warmth to the room, but the black cement pot gives it a modern feel.

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Target

Wooden Wick Candle

FOR A CRACKLING FIRE

It’s not that easy to find a wooden wick candle, so that fact that this is in a mercury glass jar and smells like pumpkin spice? It’s so affordable, it’s a no-brainer.

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CB2

Faux Pampas Wreat

LEAN INTO THE BASIC

We’ve seen all sorts of iterations of Pampas Grass because it’s very in right now. This is self-contained on a wreath and the wheat color is still light, but with a little warmth.

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DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

The post Modern Fall Decor Items appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

West Elm

Reed Diffuser

WHEN CANDLES JUST WON’T DO

I love candles but sometimes lighting a candle might not be the best.  Let’s say you have a cat who is attracted to a flame or young children who are attracted to…anything.  A diffuser is perfect because it’s set it (up high) and forget it.

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Crate & Barrel

Owl Napkin

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT OWLS

At first glance, this just looks like a black and white patterned napkin, but upon closer inspection, you can see it’s a white owl repeat on black. I love when things are in your face.

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Pottery Barn

Candlestick Holders

SPOOKY, BUT MAKE IT CLASSY

I picture these dark bronze candlesticks with black tapers for Halloween.  There is something about candlesticks that seems so elevated.  After Halloween is over sub out brown for Thanksgiving and maroon for Xmas.

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Pottery Barn

Skeleton Champagne Flute

CHEERS NOT JEERS

Imagine all the cool cocktails you can serve in this unique champagne flute, bubbles on bubbles.

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Related: Modern Fall Home Decor Items

West Elm

Skull Vase

NAUGHTY AND NICE

Juxtaposition is cool so I love the idea of pretty flowers in this spooky black terracotta vase.

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Crate & Barrel

Skull Double Old Fashioned Glass

COCKTAILS FOR THE PARTY

Metallic skull old fashioned glasses are perfect for a party, and for the best brandy old fashioneds!

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Williams Sonoma

Skull Decanter

MUAHAHAHA

A welcome addition to the bar, this lead-free crystal decanter has a touch of macabre. 

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West Elm

Filled Candle

IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE CANDLELIGHT?

Perfect year-round, these black candles add a touch of class (and cedarwood) to any home.  It’s not often you find black wax, and the glass is so pretty you can reuse it when empty.

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Amazon

16oz Glass Bottles

THE IDEAS ARE ENDLESS…

A set of three glass bottles, these are perfect for any room.  I imagine them in a bathroom filled with bubbles (too bad I don’t have a tub) or on a bar with a batch of pre-mixed cocktails.  It could be used to keep your homemade almond milk or on kept the kitchen counter for some olive oil.  

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Crate & Barrel

Faux Pampas Grass

LIGHT AS A FEATHER

OK so these aren’t feathers but they are light as. Pampas grass is very in right now so consider this a Halloween twist.

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CB2

Tea Light Candle Holders

A LIT HALLOWEEN

These come in a set of 6 and would look great down the center of a dining table, a mantle, or a windowsill.  The multifaceted glass adds to the vibe.

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The post 11 Cool Halloween Home Decor Items appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

Diptyque

Paris

QUINTESSENTIAL LUXURY CANDLE

The luxury candle maker came out with a city series a while ago but they were only sold in the city where you were.  Now they are available online and we can be transported wherever we’d like.  They have multiple cities but there’s something special about buying a ‘Paris’ candle that is quite literally made in France.

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Brooklyn Candle Studio

Italy

AN ITALIAN PASTICCERIA, THAT IS

A candle made in the U.S inspired by a bakery in Italy…sign me up.  Warm baked goods always give off a cozy vibe.

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Hotel Lobby Candle

Five-Star Hotel

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

One of my favorite bloggers, Lindsay Silberman, launched Hotel Lobby Candle earlier this year and it’s become an immediate favorite.  The scents are fantastic, the quality is high, and the branding is on point.  There is a signature (re: expensive hotel) scent and there was a limited edition holiday.  I’ll be signing up for the pre-sale for the next scent (tip: they sell out fast).

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If you like home decor check out my Interior Define Caitlin Accent Chair and Graham Dining/Office Chair reviews.

Hotel Lobby Candle

Christmas Market

BRING ON THE MEMORIES

Another candle by another blogger, Nostalgic Candle was launched right before Christmas, so the first scent ties back to Christmas Markets.  Once sold out another limited edition scent will be released and I’m eager to find out from where.  Helene features a photo on the candle from her travels to that place, which is also very unique. 

Full transparency, the quality was not what I expected.  After reaching out Helene offered to send a replacement, so kudos on the great customer service.

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Tocca

Montauk

HAMPTONS, BABY!

For those of us that don’t live near a coast, the combination of grass and salt is the perfect scent while we (well at least me) pour a glass of sparkling rosé.  

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Sol Essentials

Sedona

SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THE DESERT

Juniper and cactus flower evoke images of red rocks and starry nights. Sol Essential candles are amazing! They are a perfect size (not too big and not too small), they smell incredible and the price is right. I also love that it’s a women-owned small business.

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Ranger Station

New York City

CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF (love Alicia)

Super chic matte black vessel and black wax, the coolness screams New York City.  They are hand-poured and made in Nashville.  Small batch luxury.

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Homesick

Chicago

HOME SWEET HOME

Homesick is the brand that started the candle destination trend.  They have a plethora of places available and with a simple design, these are perfect for just about anyone.  The very detailed description of the scent also makes buying online a little less scary.

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Elsewhere Candle Co

Grand Canyon

A GIVEBACK ELEMENT

These candles, inspired by National Parks in the U.S., support the National Parks Foundation.  Yes, different parks really do smell differently.

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Tom Dixon

London

THE RIVER THAMES

Does London have sunny days? Sure. But think there is something about the scent of brick and rain that is so relaxing. And I die for a beautiful candle holder.  

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P.F. Candle Co.

Los Angeles

CITY OF STARS

California vibes are aplenty in an amber glass vessel, kraft paper label, and a giveback to the Downtown Woman’s Center.  Feels good to do good.

Go Shopping

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

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The post 11 Candles That Smell Like Places appeared first on Very Obsessed.

***updated November 2021***

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

Pottery Barn

Mirror Tree

WHO’S THE FAIREST ONE OF ALL?

Little mirror beads make up the leaves of these wire trees.  Available in a set or individual, it’s modern nature chic.

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CB2

Glass Snowman

OR 3 WHITE SPHERES

Opaque white glass, you wouldn’t even know this is a snowman without context.  When you can’t tell what it is…isn’t that modern at its finest.

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Crate & Barrel

Metal Nutcracker

ZINC FOR DAYS

I love a modern take on a classic, and is there anything more classic than a nutcracker?

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Related: Best Advent Calendars for Adults

CB2

Glass Tree

SHINY = FESTIVE ; MATTE = COOL

Like the reindeer, with 3 colors and multiple sizes to choose from, you can decide how you want to decorate with the trees.  I love the mix of shiny and matte.  

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Crate & Barrel

Metal Reindeer

REINDEER ARE REAL, METAL REINDEER ARE NOT

Available in silver or zinc (almost black finish) and 5 sizes, how you style these reindeer is up to you.  7 of the same style all in a row,  mixed metal and sizes…the possibilities are endless.

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Crate & Barrel

Wall Hung Tree

WHEN YOU ARE LIMITED ON SPACE

This pre-lit tree hangs on the wall so takes up zero floor space. At first glance, it may look a bit abstract, but isn’t that part of what makes it cool? 

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Etsy

Mini Wreath Set

ALL THE WAY FROM BELGIUM

5 fresh mini wreaths will arrive straight to your door from Belgium.  They come with your choice of ribbon (silver, gold, or white are my pick) and each one has a minimalist but unique design.  Pricey, with a side of Europe. 

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Not quite ready for the Holidays yet? Check out this list of the best modern Fall decor items.

Etsy

Metallic Deer Head

PETA FRIENDLY (I THINK)

This modern, no animals hurt in the making, resin deer head has après-ski lodge vibes, in the coolest way.

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Etsy

Concrete Tree

IT’S A CONCRETE JUNGLE OUT THERE

When you take something soft and natural like trees and translate it into something hard and cold like concrete, what you get is a minimalist holiday dream.

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West Elm

Silver Candle

CAN ONE HAVE TOO MANY CANDLES?

It’s hard to find a Christmas Tree scent in a candle that doesn’t look like it.  Not only is this candle not traditional and/or green, but it’s silver and modern!  And for that reason, this is the perfect Christmas candle.

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Williams Sonoma

Bay Leaf Wreath

YES, THAT KIND OF BAY LEAF

With a unique scent, you can use the dried bay leaves for cooking throughout the year.  How’s that for multi-functional holiday decor?

Go Shopping

If you like home decor check out my Interior Define Caitlin Accent Chair and Graham Dining/Office Chair reviews.

The post 11 Cool & Modern Holiday Decor Items appeared first on Very Obsessed.

These work, take up minimal space and are quite useful.  In fact, I used each one to make the salad in the above photo.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

Oxo Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer

Full transparency, my current avocado slicer is the second one I’ve owned.  The first one I received during a holiday party as part of a white elephant gift, and while I love avocado so I was appreciative, I never used the gadget.  I gave it away and never used it.

Fast forward to me receiving it as a gift again, and after a gentle suggestion from my husband to try it for his fear of me cutting my hand every time he watched me try to remove the pit with a chef’s knife, I finally succumbed. And I have never looked back.  It’s amazing and an avocado game changer.  I no longer find it annoying to make avocado toast, or add avocado to salads and bowls, or make guac.  

What’s cool about the gadget is you are using only one tool to cut the avocado open, scoop out the inside and remove the pit.  And the way the pitter is inset you aren’t in jeopardy of cutting yourself, phew.  Can you do all those things without a special tool?  Sure.  But is it as safe…IMO, nope.

Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Opener for Cans

Is it just me or are can openers unnecessarily difficult to use?  For the longest time, I had a regular hand crank opener and it was so hard to turn that my hand hurt after using it.  And then the top metal piece, which is very sharp on the sides, would inevitably fall in the can, and all I could think about was I should have washed the can first because now there was probably rat feces inside the can since you know rats are crawling all over them in the stores…right?

Then I thought I would get all technologically savvy and get an electric can opener, which it’s not like I’ve got that much room for another appliance but that’s how annoying opening cans is to me.  Call it user error, but I could never get the teeth to latch on to the can.

After Amanda shared on her IG stories about this can opener I knew I had to have it.  And it is as amazing as I thought it was.  It’s different from a traditional can opener because you place it on top of the can (not the side), it’s super easy to turn, there are no sharp edges, and the best part, you lift the top off, no possible way for it to fall in.

Oxo Good Grips Corn Peeler

Grilled corn on the cob is so good.  The grilled flavor adds a lot to salads and bowls, but it’s also equally delicious just eating it straight off the cob.  I’ve always found it slightly annoying to bite into the cob, feeling like I get little bits in my teeth and that’s after being super careful not to get on my face.  But for salads and bowls, I would take a knife and cut it off the cob, always leaving an unnecessary amount behind.

Enter the corn peeler, which I didn’t even know existed until I stumbled across it and decided I needed it.  It is ergonomically shaped for corn so it slices right through the kernels and you don’t leave any of the delicious bits behind.  Such a little thing, such a big difference.

Meat Thermometer

The secret to eating restaurant-quality meat at home is to not overcook it.  I love that using a meat thermometer gives me the peace of mind of knowing that it’s not undercooked, I’m not going to get sick, and by making sure it’s just to the temperature recommended I can guarantee it’s not overcooked as well.  This is a must-have for me in making pork and chicken and I use it every time I make this Harvest Salad.

Do you need this exact meat thermometer?  No, I’m sure there are a ton of great ones out there.  I like this one because it’s digital, easy to read, comes with a little cover, is inexpensive, and has lasted for years. Amazon doesn’t carry this exact model anymore but this one is similar.  

Herb Scissors Set

A newer addition to my kitchen gadget arsenal, and not one I use every day, but it has made recipes and cooking easier, and less of an annoyance.  I love cilantro but hate chopping it for guac or other recipes so I found myself just leaving it out sometime.  First, you have to pick the leaves off the stem, then you have to roll them, and then my knife just seems to make it turn to mush instead of chopping through.  I thought it might be a knife problem (and still might be, I’m in the market for a new set) but I think it’s honestly just because I don’t have professional kitchen skills.

With the herb scissors, I can just take the herbs after washing them, hold them by the stem, and chop away directly into the dish.  So easy, and that’s what kitchen gadgets should really be about.  

What is excluded from the above are tools that are a little more specialized, like a nut milk bag.  Although it’s essential for things like making almond milk.  I’m completely aware that not everyone is making homemade nut milk…yet.

On Amazon? Check out these other posts!

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

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Times may have changed but my love for reading and books haven’t. I’m in that weird generation (hello, Xennial) that kind of grew up with tech, but also kind of didn’t.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a paper book. It’s the sense of accomplishment you get when you can feel how far you are through the book, the way you can lend it to someone, the way you can highlight important quotes.  But for as many reasons as I love a physical book, I have more reasons to LOVE the Amazon Kindle more.

If you ask my friends, they’ll tell you I’m a fan. So, in case you are on the fence too, here are the reason I love my Amazon Kindle.

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Reasons I Love My Kindle

1. I can travel with as many books as I want, and it never takes up more space or is heavier.
2. While lying at the pool on vacation (one of my favorite places to read), I can hold the Kindle with one hand and my pina colada with the other.
   • IMO, a Kindle is essential for travel. Here are some other unexpected travel essentials.
3. On the off chance, it’s windy at the pool during said vacation, I never have to worry about the wind blowing my pages. 
4. I don’t have to be that annoying person on a plane who reads but keeps everyone else up with the overhead light (you can read the Kindle in the dark).
5. I can read whatever embarrassing book I want without worrying about any judgment from the jacket cover.
   • If you are looking for non-embarrassing fiction recommendations, check here and here.
6. The Kindle syncs with Goodreads to know exactly which books I want to read and can easily purchase from the screen.
7. I rent library books for the Kindle for free, all without leaving the house.

The Paperwhite model I got years ago still works great.  If it ever did stop working though I would not hesitate to replace it with a new one. 

On Amazon? Check out these other posts!

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

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