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Three plants in pots on a shelf

My Favorite Affordable Plant Store: Ikea

Published by welcomeobjects

Home doesn’t feel quite like home to me without some plants. When I moved across the country, I gave my plants away to friends. I even gave away my beloved three-tiered plant stand. (As it turns out, it wouldn’t have fit in this new apartment anyway.)

After landing on the east coast, I went to my favorite affordable plant store to replenish. It’s called Ikea. 🙂

Indoor Plants at Ikea Prices

The plant area at ikea, featuring potted plants on metal shelves.

The plant section at Ikea in Brooklyn.

Like most things Ikea, the price is right. A 4″ himayalamix? $5! A sizeable 9.25″ Bird of Paradise (aka strelitzia)? $35. Tall, large 12″ tropical plants go for $50 a piece. One of the best deals is a 8″ snake plant, currently priced at $20. (When I snagged mine in the fall of 2021, it was even less at $15.) Sometimes Ikea also runs promotions with their Ikea Family card.

Among the plants I’ve adopted from Ikea: a ZZ plant ($13), flamingo plant ($15), peace lily ($13), an aloe ($5), a little dragon tree (aka dracaena marginata, $3),  a trio of cacti in pots ($13), and a bromeliad ($13).

The quality seems good too. Most of my plants are doing alright, though I’ve had to experiment with moving them around to different rooms. Except for the bromeliad. It lost all its red almost right away and looks scraggly now, though it’s still alive. I don’t think it likes it here in NYC.

Oh, and there was a succulent ($4) who is no longer with us. I don’t know why succulents have a reputation for being easy to take care of. Mine never do well. I officially give up on them. The cacti are happy, though.

Minimalist Planters from Ikea

Ikea planters are hit or miss for me, as they come in different aesthetics. But I can usually find something with a clean, minimalist look. While Ikea no longer makes the white planters I favored, there’s a style called Muskot that is reminiscent of it.

When I first wrote about Ikea planters, I stuck to all white pots. But I’ve expanded to other colors, mostly because there’s an Ikea pot, Gradvis, that I love the design of. Designed by Inma Bermúdez, the series — which includes vases and a mister too — features vertical lines, which I find quite handsome. The pots comes in neutral colors like light gray and black, but not white or off white. (Why not?!)

Shelves of planters at Ikea in pink, gray, and black.

Gradvis planters – $4.99 – $12.99

And Ikea still makes Bittergurka, the metal planter that I wrote about before. The price has gone up from $12 to $16, but hey, prices have gone up on everything.

The biggest jump in price I saw was the beloved bamboo-and-metal three-tiered plant stand I mentioned above, Satsumas, which was out of stock for the longest time during the pandemic. It’s back, but at twice the price. When I bought it in 2017, it was $30. It’s now $60. Ikea does makes a similar plant stand in all metal, the Olivblad, for less ($27).

Other planters with a minimalist look that caught my eye: Nypon, which looks like concrete but is made of thick plastic (it comes in various sizes), and Drakfrukt, which is off-white with some light speckles.

Don’t miss the other plant accessories. This metal plant stand, Svartpeppar, is a good price at just $8, and it can be flipped on either end. I picked up this elegant ivory and gold watering can with a skinny spout ($15).

Two plants in black pots and an ivory watering can from Ikea.

Vattenkrasse watering can – $14.99. And some of my happier plants: Flamingo plant (aka anthurium – the red parts just came off recently) and ZZ plant.

Lastly, here’s a new item I just noticed: This cactus-shaped watering can/vase. ($15). How cute is that? I want it, even though I don’t need it. I’m going to tell myself that the handle is probably hard to use so I don’t buy it.

A suitcase open to show its contents, which is packing cubes

Carry-On Only: What I Packed For 3 Weeks in Japan

Published by welcomeobjects

In November, I took a three-week vacation to Japan and Taiwan. It was my first time visiting Japan and I spent most of the trip there. From the food to historic temples and shrines, abundant and on-time trains, and the remarkably clean streets and public restrooms, there was so much to love. It felt great to travel after staying put for the last couple pandemic years.

Both countries were actually Covid hot spots during the time we were there, showing up purple on the NY Times Coronavirus World Map. (The darker the color, the more of a hotspot. Japan is currently orange and Taiwan remains purple.) So, we took precautions, trying to eat outside where we could and avoiding restaurants at peak hours when we did dine inside. Thankfully, the 7-11s in Japan are a life-saver. They’re everywhere and stocked with delicious and affordable take-away meals. I really did not mind eating a few 7-11 meals in our hotel room.

I always pack light for trips. (See my packing list for one week in Mexico City or this 6-week capsule wardrobe.) But I knew that I wanted to pack especially light for Japan because the likelihood of me returning with more stuff was high. As a small, petite person, I was excited to shop in a country where things would fit me better. (Why yes, I did have to buy a duffel bag to cart home some of my new belongings.)

** this post contains affiliate links **

What I Packed For 3 Weeks

First, temperature check. We were looking at highs of about 60°F/15.5°C but also some chillier days of about 45°F/7.2°C as the weeks went on. We visited Tokyo, Hakone, Nara, and Kyoto in late November and early December. In addition, we stopped in Taipei for a few days, which is considerably warmer with temperatures in the low 70s.

Here’s the minimal wardrobe I packed:

A flat lay of about 16 clothing items folded into squares, neatly arranged on a white surface

Everything I packed for 3 weeks for Japan and Taiwan. Not shown: pajamas, underthings, swimsuit.

Tops & Sweaters

Bottoms

Outerwear

Shoes

Accessories & Layering Items

I also packed pajamas, socks, underwear, and a swimsuit. Everything above, plus toiletries, fit in my carry-on suitcase or I wore on the plane. My personal item for the seat was my trusty Lo & Sons backpack (reviewed here), which carried my laptop, journal, a book, noise-canceling headphones, water bottle, and snacks.

Now, I admit to cheating a bit with the outerwear. I didn’t pack a coat suitable for 40-degree weather. (It would have been tight, but one would have fit.) I told myself I would suck it up with HeatTech and my down vest and jacket. I figured if I needed outerwear, Japan was the perfect place for me to buy a new coat. (Ended up buying two!)

What Worked Well In My Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Three images of me, a person with black hair, wearing variations of the same outfit (t-shirt with midi skirt) taking selfies in a hotel mirror

Taiwan outfits: variations on a theme. This Quince skirt traveled well. [review]

Layers! If living in Northern California for decades has taught me anything, it’s how to layer. On warmer days, I wore a T-shirt with a cardigan. And on colder days I combined the HeatTech tank with the button down shirt and a cashmere sweater.

The silk midi skirt was a recent-ish purchase and I was pleased with how well it traveled. It took up very little space and I could dress it up or down. T-shirt or blouse plus skirt was the way to go for me in the warmer environment of Taipei. Adding a sweater to the outfit worked for the cooler weather in Japan.

Of course having all the items in the same color palette — blacks and blues, staple colors of my wardrobe — made it super easy to get dressed and out the door. I also felt that my minimalist style fit in with what locals where wearing. (Of course, people dress in different styles. But no matter the style, in general, people dressed nicely.)

The Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag was a last-minute buy for this trip. I knew that I wanted to bring a lightweight crossbody bag for the ease of hands-free travel. But the ones I owned were too too small for all-day adventures. I’m so happy with this purchase. With two zip pockets inside, it kept me organized. And it easily carried everything I needed, including a water bottle and small guidebooks. (Update 2/28/24: I review it in depth here. )

It rained some days, and we didn’t pack any rain gear, but this was not a problem. Big, clear umbrellas are popular in Japan and cheap at any convenience store or Daiso, the Japanese dollar store. I also picked up some rain ponchos at Daiso to wear over my backpack on days we were in transit.

A person with dark hair wearing a mostly black outfit consisting of a T-shirt, a cardigan, and a skirt with sneakers. They are mid-stride.

What I wore while visiting the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in November. I added a wool cardigan to my wardrobe (among other things) while I was in Tokyo. Shirt // Skirt [review] // Bag [review] // Platform Sneakers [similar]

Me, a person with black hair, posing in a brown A-line coat with a black crossbody bag in front of a wooden areas

A typical Japan outfit, after I bought a coat. True, this coat was from Uniqlo and I could have bought it in the States, but I swear some things fit differently at Uniqlo Japan. Plus, the exchange rate worked in my favor.

What Could Have Stayed Home

I ended up not wearing the long-sleeve HeatTech shirt. But if I hadn’t bought a coat (well, two) in time, I would have needed it.

The cotton tank top got the least wear out of my tops. I brought it in case it was going to be grossly hot in Taipei (but that was not the case). I thought that I might also want it for layering. But I almost always reached for the T-shirts or blouse instead.

I also didn’t use the gloves, but I don’t regret packing those because when you need gloves, you really need gloves and don’t want to be running around trying to find some.

We did laundry once halfway through the trip. Looking over what I packed, I wore nearly everything. And some things, I wore nearly every day, like the jeans and of course, the sneakers.

I really went minimalist with the one pair of shoes. I usually pack another pair for variety or different occasions. But I knew we weren’t doing anything where I’d need a “nicer” shoe. And I have to say, if you’re going to go with one pair, these platform 574s (with the insoles swapped for these) were comfy. I walked 20,000 steps many days in them.

BTW, I must mention that Japan has this awesome luggage forwarding service. If you’re traveling from city to city, you can forward your bag ahead to your next hotel. (Just pack your essentials with you since you’ll be without your suitcase for a day or two.) Even though I was already traveling light with one carry-on and a backpack, I loved using this service and traveling unencumbered.

Bottles of skincare products on a wooden table.

My Winter Skincare Routine

Published by welcomeobjects

A friend asked about my skincare routine, so I thought I’d share with all of you too. This is an update to my first skincare post in 2019. Some of the products remain the same, but I like to try new things so there’s some additions here.

A caveat: I am not a skincare expert. I honestly feel a little sheepish blogging about skincare since I don’t know enough about it. So these are just my preferences and observations as an interested-but-not-totally-informed consumer.

Some relevant facts about my skin for review purposes: I have combination skin. The area around my nose tends to get quite oily. I’ve had a history of blackheads and bad acne, particularly as a teenager and young adult. I even took Accutane when I was in college.

So here’s my current routine and whether or not I think these items work (at least for me).

** This post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects. **

My Morning Skincare Routine

1. CosRx Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser – I started using this a few years ago and still do. The idea is that a low PH cleanser mimics your skin’s natural PH. Acne is more likely to happen when your skin is too acidic. I appreciate that the fragrance is light. BTW, I let my face air dry after I wash it. I don’t dry with a towel. I think this has helped reduce breakouts.
Cruelty-free: Yes

2. CosRx Blackhead Power Liquid – This is supposed to reduce blackheads. I’ve had this bottle for a year and even though I use it most days, I’ve only gone through a quarter of it. At this rate, the bottle will last for years! Does it work? I honestly don’t know. Can’t say that I’ve seen a difference. BTW, this bottle squirts quite aggressively. I’ve squirted anti-blackhead liquid onto my walls. Don’t know if it’s just my bottle or other ones, but cup your hand around it when pumping.
Cruelty-free: Yes

3. The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20 in Vitamin F – I’m on a quest to lighten my age spots and have tried different Vitamin C serums, though none of the really expensive ones like this Peter Roth one. Does this work? Hmmm, not sure. Prior, I tried The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2%, which is an extract from the bearberry plant. Though I felt like this didn’t do much for me, a friend says she noticed a difference for her spots.
Cruelty-free: Yes

4. Stratia Liquid Gold – This moisturizer is full of ceramides and oils to improve your skin barrier. I am happy to report that it works! I noticed a difference after I started using it. (My skin felt more irritable before). It has an earthy smell and a bright yellow color, which disappears as your skin absorbs it.
Cruelty-free: Yes

5. Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen – My final step is sunscreen, of course. This sunscreen has physical blockers. It goes on with a white cast at first, but that fades as it absorbs into your skin. (At least on my medium skin tone.) BTW, I’ve started putting sunscreen on my neck too. I don’t know if you saw that tweet about an elderly lady who had applied sunscreen her face but not her neck. The difference was stark! That got me putting sunscreen on my neck stat.
Cruelty-free: No

My Evening Skincare Routine

Bottles of skincare products laid out on a wooden surface.

My winter evening skincare routine includes: toner, lactic acid, moisturizer mixed with facial oil, retinol (if not doing the acid), and a lip mask.

1. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser or Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil – The first one is new to me, but the oil I’ve been using for years. They both take off makeup, just in different forms. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser has a creamy texture. I guess it depends on what texture I feel like cleansing with that night. The oil leaves my face feeling softer. Sometimes I double cleanse just for fun. I’m aiming to switch to all cruelty-free products, though, and Sulwhasoo is not. So after I use up this bottle, I’ll try another brand.
Cruelty-free: The Ordinary (yes), Sulwhasoo (owned by AmorePacific): no

2. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner – Toner is supposed to gently rebalance your PH and add some moisture back into your skin after cleansing. Out of the ones I’ve tried, this one is by far my favorite. I love the way it smells. If anything, this is like aroma therapy for me. But there’s also an unscented version.
Cruelty-free: yes

3. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA – On some nights, I use an acid. This is a chemical exfoliation to help skin turnover. I started using this after trying a sample of Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, which is pricey. The main ingredient in it is lactic acid, so I bought a $9 bottle from The Ordinary. If you’ve never used an acid before, you might want to start with something gentler such as mandelic acid. (Stratia makes one that’s $14. The Ordinary has one too.)  I started with the lower percentage of the lactic acid (5%) initially and then worked my way up to the 10%. I feel like it does help my skin look better. It seems to help with breakouts too. If I stop using it, I’m more prone to breaking out.
Cruelty-free: yes

4. Stratia Liquid Gold – I use this as my nighttime moisturizer too.

5. Stratia Fortify Facial Oil  – In the winter, I need extra hydration to deal with dry skin and intense radiators. This facial oil has a bunch of stuff in it, including camellia seed oil, which is supposed to be hydrating. I mix a few drops into my moisturizer.
Cruelty-free: yes

6. Stratia Night Shift – On the nights I don’t use lactic acid, I apply retinol after my moisturizer. Retinol is Vitamin A and supposed to be anti-aging, fighting those wrinkles and lines etc. Stratia says their 0.15% retinol in Night Shift is encapsulated in a lipid sphere, “which helps it penetrate deeply to stimulate collagen production.” Think of encapsulated retinol as a “time-release” retinol, which can be gentler on the skin. (More about retinols in this Bustle article here.) A pea-sized amount of this is all that I need to cover my face.
Cruelty-free: yes

Extras

Elensilia CPP Collagen 80 Timeless Eyecream – I randomly bought this while trying to meet the minimum for free shipping in an order. But does eye cream really work or is it a scam? In this Reel from Lia Yoo, founder of Krave Beauty, she says eye cream is structurally no different from facial cream and that collagen products don’t really work because it’s difficult to actually penetrate into the dermis layer. So, I’ll use this up since I already have it, but won’t be rebuying.
Cruelty-free: Not sure

Mario Badescu Brightening Mask with Vitamin C – Since June, I’ve been using this mask three times a week. Unclear if it’s actually brightening my face, but I enjoy the ritual of it.
Cruelty-free: Yes

Laniege Lip Sleeping Mask – A lip mask is another must for winter. I received a small pot of this in a Sephora birthday box. It has a sticky texture and does hydrate, but the taste is stronger than I’d like.
Cruelty-free: No (owed by AmorePacific)

Some Thoughts & A Referral Code

I feel like it’s hard to know if skincare works. Once in a while, it’s clear that a product does. But many times: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I have a few other products in the wings to try. I always seem to have a stash, haha. When I try a new item, I introduce just one at a time for a month. That being said, I do think that my skin looks better and clearer after I started a dedicated routine, so something must be working.

BTW, if you’re interested in Stratia, you can get $10 off your first order with my referral code.

A flatlay of clothing items: black short sleeve button up, jeans, a black nylon bag, and brown wedge shoes.

2022 Shopping & Decluttering Recap

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s time to look back on the past year and take a look at the state of my wardrobe and shopping habits. Every year, I recount how much I bought and spent, and how I’m faring in my goal to be a more conscious consumer who’s consuming less. This year, I’m also adding a section about what I decluttered.

Pictured above: Some of the items I acquired in 2022: Vetta top, Everlane jeans, Lo & Sons bag (PR product that was gifted to me), Muji shoes [similar]. BTW the shoes are new and have not been worn outside and that is why I felt OK about putting them directly on top of my shirt.

** this post contains some affiliate links **

What I Bought in 2022

In 2022, I spent $2,418 on 34 items, which is significantly more than in recent years. (My count does not include jewelry, accessories, and undergarments.) 2021 had been my lowest shopping year yet in terms of number of items with just 17 items. I had been steadily trending downward over the past five years.

What did I buy? Here’s a breakdown by category:

Shoes – 4
Tops – 6
Sweaters – 2
Dresses/Jumpsuits – 3
Skirts – 4
Pants – 3
Shorts – 2
Outerwear – 6
Bags – 4

I bought quite a few tops even though in counting my wardrobe, I concluded I already had plenty. But most of these were tank tops for the summer. (We’ll get to that in a moment.) Outerwear also jumps out at me. It’s another area where I feel I have enough. Two of the new buys were blazers, though, which had long been on my wardrobe wants list.

Of the clothes I acquired in 2022, I already know I’m not keeping two items. In both cases, I was trying to buy a certain thing — a black midi skirt (from this post), a black cropped cardigan — and these items checked some of the boxes for what I wanted, but not all. In the end the details were not right. The cardigan, for example, was longer in the body than I really wanted. I should have been pickier! I need to remember not to compromise when it comes to clothes.

The Reasons I Shopped More

What happened in 2022 that caused me to shop more? There are three things I can  point to:

1) I moved to a place with actual seasons and found myself needing summer clothes. I mean, I owned a single pair of shorts before this. Now I own these and these too. Eight of my purchases were specifically for the summer (most of it was from Pact, as you can see in this review and this one.)

2) In my personal life, I had a very difficult year and reverted a bit back to my retail therapy ways. I was less discerning about thinking through purchases.

3) I traveled abroad to a country where the clothes fit better … so I went shopping. Many of my outerwear purchases came from my vacation.

What I Decluttered

Flatlay of an outfit: a black pencil skirt, a snakeprint skirt, and black heels

Some things I decluttered because they’re too small now: a J. Crew wool pencil skirt and a snakeprint shirt. Not the heels, though! Those are dr. Liza and I’m keeping them.

Over the course of the year, I also deleted 30 items from my wardrobe, so overall, I had a gain of 4 items. Even though I did a purge of my closet before moving at the end of 2021, I still found things to get rid of in 2022.

The most common reason I removed something was that it was too small or too tight (12 items, reason 1b on this list of the reasons I got rid of things in my wardrobe). I held on to some things hoping that I’d lose the weight I gained during the pandemic. And while I’ve lost some of it, I realized that I also just like to wear things looser than I used to.

The next reason was that I just never wore the thing (5 items). This was followed by Not Me Anymore (4 items). The rest of the reasons were for fit issues or details of the garment not being right. And one item just plain deteriorated (the pleather jacket in this post).

Some More Stats, Plus My Goal for 2023

After doing a wardrobe count, I have 188 items total (this includes shoes and bags). That means 18% of my wardrobe is new. When I see the stat like that, it seems high.

Five of my new wardrobe items in 2022 (15%) were secondhand and 62% were from ethical brands. It’s been my goal for several years now to shop secondhand more (at least 50%) as that’s the more sustainable way to shop. Every year, I’ve failed at it. I think for 2023 I’ll make this my only shopping goal so that I take it more seriously. Try again!

Blueland spray bottle and tablets on a counter with a pink background.

Blueland Review: Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaner

Published by welcomeobjects

One of my new year’s traditions is giving my home a good clean. So I thought it’d be appropriate to review a cleaning product from Blueland.

A More Planet-Friendly Company

Blueland is an sustainably-minded cleaning products company that sources environmentally-responsible ingredients and eschews single-use plastic.

The founder, Sarah Paiji Yoo, says she began thinking about ways to cut down on single-use plastic when she became a new mom. “I was horrified to learn that all the plastic I was throwing away was contaminating our water supply and generating hundreds of microplastics in the water and food I was feeding my baby.”

Blueland is a B-Corp and offsets its carbon usage. When it comes to sustainability, Blueland has certifications to back them up. They are Cradle to Cradle Certified, Climate Neutral Certified, and EWG verified (among others). EWG stands for Environmental Working Group and they maintain databases that I use to check cosmetics and cleaning supplies for unsafe ingredients. Do note that only two of Blueland’s products meet EWG’s standards for verification at this time: the fragrance-free laundry tablets and dishwasher tablets.

I decided to give Blueland a try when I recently ran out of the Method bathroom cleaner I usually use. Blueland makes concentrated tablets that you add water to. This makes sense to me. No sense in shipping water around! This also means you can just use the same spray bottle repeatedly instead of getting a new one each time.

** this post contains affiliate links **

How Well Does Blueland’s Bathroom Cleaner Clean?

A hand holding up a spray bottle and a pouch containing a tablet.

Blueland Bathroom Cleaner. I’m re-using my own bottle here. Starter kit with 3 tablets $18.00,  refill pack: 3 for $6.50, 6 for $15, or 12 for $27 

Blueland sells a bathroom starter kit that includes an initial spray bottle. But I decided to forgo their bottle since I can just reuse the empty Method bottle I already had. The tablets come individually packaged in a small compostable pouch and shipped in a recyclable padded paper envelope. Each tablet is meant to be dissolved in 24 ounces of water. The Method bottle is 28 ounces, so I guesstimated and didn’t fill it up all the way.

Drop the tablet, let it fizz, and in a few minutes you’re ready to clean.

The Method and Blueland bathroom cleaners are both eucalyptus-scented. The first thing I noticed was that Blueland wasn’t as fragrant as the Method bathroom cleaner. The scent is faint. But I didn’t mind at all. I prefer the milder scent, actually.

I don’t know enough about chemicals to comment on the ingredients, but you can find a full list of ingredients for each product on Blueland’s website. This cleaner does contain sodium lauryl sulfate (so does the Method cleaner), a surfactant that’s common in personal care items too. Sodium lauryl sulfate can irritate the skin, but isn’t considered dangerous unless it’s in contact with the skin for a long period of time. Still, if you have sensitive skin or skin conditions, you might want to avoid it.

So, how well does it work? I’ve tried it on my bathroom counter and sink and on the soap scum in my bathtub. For light maintenance (like wiping down the bathroom counter and sink), it works just fine. With soap scum in my bathtub, I do need to give it a good scrub. I use my Full Circle grout and tile brush or a scouring pad for that. (Read my review of Full Circle products.) It does a comparable job to the Method cleaner.

Overall, the cleaner works as expected and I have no complaints. As to tough mildew and mold (I have a particularly mold-prone bathroom), I still need to deploy the admittedly not-environmentally-friendly Tilex for that.

Using refill tablets instead of a bottled product makes sense beyond the environmental aspect. It’s kinder on the pocketbook too. Each refill is only $2.25 to $2.50 depending on how many you buy at once. Sufficiently impressed by Blueland, I’ll be trying out their other offerings as I use up my current stash of cleaning products. I’m glad to support a company that’s creating more eco-friendly products, and one that’s Asian American-owned too. You can buy Blueland products directly from their website or from their Amazon storefront.

Related to the latter, I wanted to share this essay by Yoo about being Asian American in these pandemic times. Like many Asian Americans, she experienced racism and China-bashing during the pandemic — including from her own customers! You’d think that consumers who value the environment would also be anti-racist, but depressingly, that is not so.

Three models, women, wear Everlane clothing

Everlane Year-End Sale: My Reviews

Published by welcomeobjects

Everlane is running a year-end sale through January 1. So, I thought I’d pull together all the reviews I’ve written for items that are on sale in one post.

Jeans & Shorts

The Authentic Stretch High Rise Skinny – A solid choice for skinny jeans. I found them true to size. My review here.

The Original Cheeky Jean – These high-waisted jeans are the ones I reach for the most. Some colorways are on sale, including the clove (now only $29), which you can see me wearing in this review. I took my usual size. However, on a recent trip where I wore them nearly every day for three weeks, I found they stretched out nearly a whole size with such frequent wear. Size down if you’re in between sizes.

The Way High Jean – I wear these jeans (in black) often. To me, they’re comfortable and flattering. However, a friend found the rise too high and uncomfortable when seated. I haven’t tried the colorways that are on sale, but I love my black pair.

The Easy Short – Comfy, though not the most flattering on a petite. My review here.

The Linen Boxer Short – Another comfy, not flattering pair of shorts. Would probably make good sleep shorts though. I reviewed these in a round up of Everlane shorts.

The Tourist Short – I was not a fan.

The Way High Canvas Short – Not bad, though not for me. Just the adobe brown is on sale.

Sweaters & Tops

I, a person with black hair, am taking a selfie in a mirror in an Everlane store, wearing a yellow boxy cardigan.

The Cashmere Cardigan (formerly known as the ReCashmere Cardigan) – Marked down to $100 on 12/29 (originally $200)

Cashmere Cardigan – This boxy, cropped cardigan made of recycled cashmere runs big, even for Everlane. My review here. The tapenade color and a maroon with contrasting pink are on sale.

The Air Tank – This fabric stretches out so much that I do not recommend it.

Sweats

A comparison of the same person wearing a set of Everlane Track sweats in two sizes.

Wearing the Track Joggers and Track Oversized Crew in XS and S on me, a 5′ 4″ person. (The joggers in black are not on sale. Other colors are for $23 – $62, originally $78.)

The Track Jogger – My go-to sweatpants. I own these in two colors and wear them often. Review here.

The Track Oversized Crew – The proportions of this sweatshirt didn’t work for petite me. But YMMV.

Shoes

Everlane sport sandal in black as worn by me in front of a mirror. The mirror reflects my feet.

The Sport Sandal – $30 (originally $78)

The Renew Sport Sandal – I tried these on in store. They seemed decently comfortable and look like more modern Tevas. There’s also a teddy version on sale that I don’t understand. Wouldn’t the teddy footbed get sweaty and dirty?

A few more things that I haven’t reviewed, but tried in the dressing room: The Billow Tiered Maxi Dress is overwhelming on a petite. Too much material! The Naia Ripple Tank Dress is a better choice.

A note of caution: Many of the items in the sale are final sale. So shop carefully (if you’re shopping at all.)

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with Everlane. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects. You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.

Nisolo Canvas Tote Review

Published by welcomeobjects

Just noticed that a bag I bought earlier this year at Nisolo is now on sale at 50% off as part of their year-end sale, so I thought I’d share a quick review in case anyone was eyeing it.

** This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought this tote myself. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. **

I’ve owned the Nisolo Canvas Tote bag since August and overall, I like it. While the design is a simple one, the leather straps and copper rivets elevate it a bit and make it feel warm. All three colorways — olive green, an earthy orange called amber, and black — come with brown vegetable tanned leather straps.

I bought the black after considering a similar bag from Madewell, the Canvas Medium Transport Tote.  But the canvas of the Madewell tote looked faded. I liked the blacker black of the Nisolo tote, as well as its ethical production. (An aside: I’m loving brown paired with black these days.)

If you’re new to Nisolo save 20% off your first purchase with my code WO20.

A flatlay of a black tote bag and its contents: a rolled up hat, two pouches, a folded up reusable bag, a folded up fan, sunglasses case, metal water bottle, and coin purse.

Nisolo Canvas Tote – $40 (originally $80). Plus the things I carry in it. I utilize a pouch system in my bags.

What I like

  • It’s lightweight, weighing in at 11.8 oz (according to my postal scale).
  • At 14″ w x 14.5″ h x 4″ deep, the size is big enough for toting a sizable amount of stuff. (It’s similar in size to my Everlane Pocket Tote.)
  • The canvas used for the body feels sturdy and structured. It can even stand up by itself.
  • The interior features one zip pocket, a must-have for any tote.
  • It also has a key leash, which I find very useful.
  • The 9.5″ handle drop feels just right.
  • Like all Nisolo products, it’s ethically made in a factory that pays living wages. This tote was made in a factory in León, Mexico.
A hand holding the keyleash, which is attached to the inside of a tote bag.

I love key leashes.

What could be better

  • It lacks a closure. While this is not a deal breaker — I bought this bag knowing it didn’t have one —  sometimes I wish there was a zipper on top for more security, especially when I’m on public transit.
  • I often find little leather particles inside the bag. I think these are coming from the underside of the straps, which have an unfinished feel to them and have gotten slightly shaggier in some spots with use. This means I shake out the bag once in a while.

This bag originally retailed for $80, but has been marked down to $50. Right now through the end of the year, you can take an extra 20% off with code BYE2022, which brings it down to $40.

Another item I’m familiar with that’s part of the year-end sale is the Go-To Flatform Sandal in brandy and black. I picked up a pair of these in August in a different color. I’ll write a full review of them another time, but I’m happy to report that they’re comfortable. Make sure to size up by half a size, though, as they run small. UPDATE: Review here.

A person posting in front of steps in a park, wearing a white sweater, gray pleated midi skirt, and black booties and black hat. They are holding on to the hat.

Out and about with my Nisolo canvas tote. Photo is from this post.

If you do decide to get this tote and are new to Nisolo, use my code WO20 for 20% off your first purchase.

A collage of several products: a black shirt as worn by an asian model, two bottles of nail polish, and leopard print boots.

What I Bought During Black Friday 2022

Published by welcomeobjects

Even though I was traveling abroad in November, I ordered a few things during holiday sales. Here’s a brief recap of what I bought in November. This list isn’t complete, though, because honestly, I bought quite a bit of stuff while traveling. (Like, had to buy a duffel bag to take all that extra stuff home.) Mostly clothing, but also stationery, a home good or two, and some small gifts.

Shopping while traveling, especially in another country, feels different than usual shopping. Perhaps I’ll devote another post to that. When I’m on vacation, I definitely fight against impulses to buy every cute or well-designed thing. There’s an element of scarcity mindset that comes into play. (“If I don’t buy this, I’ll never see it again!”)

What I Bought

Anyhow, here’s what I bought during Black Friday and other holiday sales. Compared to last year, it’s notably less. Though I made up for it with my vacation shopping.

Cirque Colors Nail Polish. This Brooklyn-based cruelty-free company makes nail polish in fun colors and finishes. I bought two of the jelly polishes, one of the magnetic ones in a red-orange shade, and a gold topper.

Vetta Textured Girlfriend Shirt in Black. I own this shirt in a lighter color already. (My review here.) With all the black I wear, it’s surprising that I didn’t already own a short sleeve black button up. (After I bought it, though, it went on sale even more when there was an additional 30% off promotion. Argh! I hate it when that happens.)

dr. Liza Boots in leopard print. Wait, you might be thinking, don’t you already own these? Didn’t you write a whole review about them? Yes and yes. However, I discovered during last year’s dr. Liza November sale that these boots fit better for my wide feet in a half size up. After debating whether it was worth rebuying these, I decided that life is too short to be wearing a sub-optimal size. This means I have a size 6.5 available if anyone is interested.

(This is the second time this year I’ve re-bought something I already own in a better size. Anyone else do this?)

And that’s it.

A shoe box open to show leopard print ankle boots packaged in paper.

Unboxing my new dr. Liza booties.

How Last Year’s Buys Fared

Inspired by Kristy’s post where she accounts for her prior year’s purchases, I thought I’d quickly do the same with mine.

I’m not going to go into all the skincare and beauty items I bought last year since there’s always an element of trial and error. But, out of the 12 items, only one of them was a resounding no: the Pixi Endless Shadestick, which ended up being the wrong shade for me. I gave it to a friend.

Out of the 10 clothes and accessories I bought, two didn’t work out because the colors didn’t work for me. (Hmm, this seems to be a theme.) I returned the Everlane Original Cheeky Jean in washed midnight but bought the same jean in other colors later. And after wearing it twice, I sold my Baggu Packable Sun Hat feeling that the color was not the most flattering for me.

I’m still using all the household items I acquired last November, with the exception of the CB2 Contact Mugs, which I returned. They were heavier than I liked. I ended up thrifting some mugs from Goodwill instead. Also, I don’t use the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker as much as I thought I would, though I do use it. But the brew just isn’t as tasty as what you’d get in a coffee shop. Not sure if it’s the contraption or the quality of the coffee I buy or what.

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

Me, a person with black hair, wearing an all-black outfit from sweater to pants, standing in front of a brick wall made of yellow and red bricks. My hands are in my pockets.

Outfit: Monochrome in Black Textures

Published by welcomeobjects

Hi. It’s been a bit quiet on here because I’ve been traveling! This is my first overseas trip since the pandemic started. More about that later, including traveling during these covid times and what I packed in my carry-on for three weeks away.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share this outfit I wore before I took off for my trip. It’s no secret from my Instagram that I love a monochrome look. I find it’s an easy way to get dressed and looked pulled together. But how to keep it interesting? Texture!

Me, a person with black hair, wearing an all-black outfit from sweater to pants, standing in front of a brick wall made of yellow and red bricks. I up pushing up the sleeves on one arm.

Italic Sweater [review] // Uniqlo Pants [review, similar] // Uniqlo Bag // Vintage Belt [similar] // AGL Shoes [similar]

For this outfit, I started with this boxy cashmere sweater, which is in heavy rotation for me during the fall and winter. I paired it some tapered pleated pants — mostly because I haven’t worn them in a while. When I realized I’ve neglected something in my closet, I try to incorporate it into an outfit.

I tucked the sweater French tuck style, so that the tuck is just in the front. To elevate the look, I added a skinny vintage snakeskin belt with gold clasp and pointy toe flats. Finally, I topped it with a crescent-shaped sling back for a modern touch.

Though it may appear as just an all-black outfit from far away, close up, you can see that every single item has a different texture. From the fluffy sweater to the sleek pants and the snakeskin of the belt, every item has a different feel. Even the shoes have a slight sparkle to them in the light. To echo the gold belt clasp, I chose a brass ring and a watch with gold hardware. This outfit is all about the details.

Closeup of outfit: cashmere sweater, nylon crescent shaped bag, snakeskin belt, polyester pants with pleats. All items are black.

Accessories: Uniqlo Bag // Vintage Belt [similar] // Ring [similar] // Timex Watch [similar]

While there isn’t much wow factor with this outfit, it feels very me. I feel pulled together, and am not sacrificing anything for comfort.

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

View from above of someone cutting a slice of pumpkin pie on a wooden table with orange leaves for decoration.

2022 Ethical Black Friday & Holiday Sales

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s time for my list of holiday sales from ethical and sustainable brands. I like to use this time of year to stock up on products I use often, or to buy something I’ve had my eye on for a while. Of course, don’t buy stuff just to buy stuff. Mindful shopping is especially important in the face of holiday consumerism.

As usual, I’ll keep updating this list as I learn about more promotions. I’m sure there will be a flurry of activity as Thanksgiving approaches. Some brands are starting sales earlier in the week. So check back for updates.

Apparel

ABLE – Women’s apparel, bags, shoes, and jewelry made by women from around the world. 35% off full-price, 40% off signature specials, & up to 75% off sale with ITMATTERS.

Amour Vert – Women’s clothing with feminine vibes. (Here’s my review on how their items fit on a petite.) 30% off everything. 40% off on orders over $200. 50% off orders over $500. Sale items are eligible for exchange or store credit.

Carol Young | Undesigned – Clothing created by a designer who studied architecture. Made in Los Angeles. 20% off her Moth Crushed Travel Wear with code THANKFULL through 11/28.

Christy Dawn – Ethically-made women’s clothing with flowy boho vibes. Petite sizing too. Up to 70% off from 11/10 – 11/28. Note that all items 30% off are eligble for store credit, but not return. Items that are greater than 30% off are final sale.

Curator SF – Slow fashion for women, made in San Francisco. 25% off sitewide with THANKFUL25 through 11/28. Items bought with the discount are eligible for exchange or store credit only. 

Eileen Fisher – Take 50% off sale items through 11/28.

Everlane – Up to 40% off select items from 11/22 – 11/28. Plus they’ll donate $1 per order, up to $50K, to support Tree People. (Commendable though I can’t help but notice this is significantly less than donations they’ve made on prior Black Fridays.) Some of my favorites, including the Cheeky Jean (my review), the Way High Jean (my review), and the Track Joggers (my review) are on sale. Do note that some sale items in their regular sale section are final sale.

For Days – A start-up making casual clothing committed to closed-loop manufacturing. 40% off, plus $8, $12, and $22 deals.

Gracemade – A “fashion-forward interpretation of modest apparel.” Made in downtown Los Angeles out of locally sourced and deadstock fabrics. 40% off, plus  free U.S. shipping.

Jenni Kayne – California lifestyle brand. Women’s clothing, home items, and shoes. Known for their cozy cocoon sweaters. 25% off. No code needed.

Kotn – Instead of a sale, this Canadian maker of bedding and cotton wardrobe basics for women and men donates 100% of their proceeds between Black Friday and Giving Tuesday to build schools in rural Egypt, where it sources its cotton. This is the sixth year Kotn is doing this

Pact – Casual clothing, bedding, and bath for the whole family. Made from certified organic cotton in fair trade factories. (See some of my reviews.) The entire site is marked down 20% to 50% off through 11/29. 

Quince – Apparel, accessories, and home items made in factories that pay fair wages. Daily flash sales.

Reformation – Flirty, trendy women’s clothing. Petite sizing available. 25% off sitewide.

Summersalt – Swimwear, loungewear, and other clothing made out of recycled materials. (Not much info on where and how things are made, though) 30% off sitewide with THANKFUL.

Tradlands – Women’s shirts, sweaters, and more in classic looks. Extra 30% off markdowns with BF30. Sale items are eligible for exchange or store credit only.

Vetta – Convertible clothes that can be worn several ways. Made in the USA. Up to 50% off. Did I just order another Textured Girlfriend Shirt in a different color for myself? Yes I did. (My review of the Girlfriend Shirt an be found here.) Sale items are final sale. UPDATE: Take 30% off with YAY30, including sale items.

Yuki Buttons – Linen clothing handmade by Yuki in California. 20% off.

Apparel for Kids

Bash + Sass – Minimalist, gender neutral tees, hoodies, and rompers for babies and toddlers. Made in San Francisco. 50% off with GRATEFUL through 11/28.

Pact – Mark downs of up to 50% off through 11/29. 

Bags & Shoes

Baggu – My favorite reusable bag! Plus hats socks, & more. 20% off sitewide. No code needed. Sale purchases are final sale.

Day Owl – Backpacks made from recycled materials, as well as secondhand bags. 60% off sitewide.

dr. Liza – Women’s shoes designed by a chiropractor/osteopath. (Read my review of the flats and of the booties.) 50% off when you spend over $250 CAN (about $200 USD) 11/17 – 11/28. Items bought with the discount are eligible for exchange or store credit only. 

Lo & Sons – Makers of stylish travel bags. Read my review of their backpacks and convertible tote. I wear my Waverly belt bag all the time. Up to 70% off from 11/21 through 12/4. Any orders placed 11/21 – 12/31 will also be be eligible for extended returns until 1/31.

Nisolo – Ethically-made shoes produced in Peru with Leather Working Group Certified leather. 25% through 11/20 with EARLYACCESS. From 11/21 – 11/28, get 30% sitewide off with GIFTS30. Plus up to 40% off select styles.

Beauty & Skincare

Cirque Colors – Non-toxic nail polish in fun colors including holographic and jelly finishes. Made in New York. 20% off with HOLIDAY20 through 11/29.

Londontown – Cruelty-free, 9-Free nail polish brand. (My review here.) 30% off with BF30 through 11/27. Excludes UV gel colors and gift cards.

Stratia – 20% off this skincare brand with THEBIGONE. This sale happens just once a year. I’m a fan of their Liquid Gold moisturizer and stock up during this time of year. Not sure if you can stack discounts (probably not), but here’s $10 off your first order with my referral link.

Home

Full Circle – Eco-friendly and well-designed home care items. See my recent review. 20% off with BF2022 through 11/28.

Graf Lantz – Bags, laptop sleeves, accessories, and housewares made in Los Angeles. I love the simplicity of their merino wool felt placemats and coasters. 30% off nearly everything. No code needed.

Kotn – Organic cotton bedding & bath. Instead of a sale, proceeds fund the building of schools in rural Egypt, where Kotn sources its cotton.

Marley’s Monsters – Reusable goods for the home like washable “paper” towels, personal care items, and baby care. (See my review of their reusable cosmetic rounds.) Up to 25% off through 11/28.

Package Free Shop – Toiletries, cleaning supplies, and more items for low-waste living. Up to 50% off with HOLIDAY.

Pact – Bedding & bath made of fair trade certified, organic cotton. (I like their percale sheets.) Mark downs of up to 50% off through 11/29. 

First Image: Element 5 Digital/Unsplash

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.