You’ll Love Restoration Hardware’s New Teen Line Even If You’re Not 16

Restoration Hardware definitely has a signature style — weathered wood, leathers and industrial-chic, library-worthy decor. But now, the furniture store has its eye on a younger crowd. The company recognized that with all the social media platforms out there, teens have become “tastemakers” in their own right. Hence, RH Teen, a line designed for the über-stylish teens and young adults of the world, was born. It’s neutral, very stylish and full of well-designed pieces of furniture, lighting, rugs and wall decor. And it’s so chic that we have a feeling it won’t only be teens wanting these pieces for their rooms.

1. Type Side Table ($329): We’re huge fans of all things typography-inspired, so we’re all over this coffee table made of giant type letters. And we love that you can use them all together or separate out the letters for smaller side tables.

2. Geometric Bookends ($89): Keep that reading list organized in style with these sleek and chunky bookends. They come in brass and silver so you can keep the metallic trend going strong on your desk, bookshelf or bedside table.

3. Free Spirit Pillows ($55-$59): Surround yourself with positive affirmations and cozy pillows. Those tassels really make us excited to throw one of these cheery pillows on our couch.

4. Metal Wire Photo Display ($119): If you’re ready to change out that worn corkboard, try a très chic option that won’t put holes in all your favorite photos. Weighty brass hexagons anchor a sturdy wire that is perfect for showing off artwork or keeping to-do lists all organized.

5. Illuminated Speech Bubble ($269): Forget about seeing your name in lights. It’s time to put your whole to-do list in lights. Or just draw a funny stickman instead.

6. Kenzie Side Table ($249): The metallic game is on point with this snazzy side table. But if you don’t want to spend money on this look, make sure you check out our cheeky hack that looks just as as good.

7. Gold Foil Typography ($179): We all need a motivational poster or two. And this one is pretty darn glam.

8. Geometric Pendant ($279): Add some bling to your ceiling with this open pendant light that will shine bright like a diamond. Just try not to break into song every time you flip it on.

9. Geometric Shelving ($129): Box shelves are awesome, but triangles and hexagons are even cooler. It’s a fun idea to layer two or three since the geometric sides will line up together.

10. Avalon Storage Desk ($1400): Clean lines, a white finish and brass hardware make this desk a winner for any home office. You can also add bookshelves for extra storage, but those deep drawers look sturdy enough to handle even the most hefty file situation.

11. Vintage Steel Desk Chair ($139): Boasting classic vintage flair in a very modern shade of copper, this seat is one we would love to have at our desk. Or dining table.

12. Concrete Table Lamp ($199): Concrete has never looked so chic, especially in geo form. If you love the look of this lamp, go ahead and check out some of our concrete DIY projects you can totally do this weekend.

13. Perforated Metal Storage Baskets ($39-$69): Whether you’re organizing your office or that messy space under the bathroom sink, we can think of a ton of reasons why we definitely “need” gold storage baskets.

14. Ombre Macrame Drapery: ($159-$179): It looks like the ombre trend isn’t going anywhere. For a fun variation on the traditional sheer panel, try layering this macrame panel on your windows, mounting it as a wall hanging or even using it as a canopy like this bedroom.

Are you a fan of Restoration Hardware? Tell us what you think of the new collection in the comments below!

Mid-century modern decor embodies the perfect marriage of sleek simplicity and timeless elegance. With clean lines, organic shapes, and a minimalist approach, the MCM style captures the essence of vintage design with a contemporary take. This interior style showcases a blend of form and function, emphasizing both aesthetics and practicality. From iconic dining tables to vibrant wardrobes, these mid-century modern decor picks continuously captivate not only guests, but yourself, bringing a touch of retro-chic sophistication and grace to any space.

Mid-Century Modern Decor

Mango Wood Contemporary Pillar Candle Holder ($15)

The mid-century style is recognizable for simplistic yet organic shapes, and these sleek candle holders stylishly adhere to that.

Raawii Strøm Vase ($89)

For a burst of color, opt for this shapely blue vase.

Joybird Flynn Mirror ($305, was $470)

The rounded corners on this mirror bring elements of comfort into your mid-century-inspired space.

Gold Starburst Atomic Clock ($130)

Toeing the line between mid-mod and art deco, this gold starburst wall clock is the ultimate decor accessory for a retro vibe.

Kate & Laurel All Things Decor Sylvie Mid-Century Modern Pattern Framed Canvas ($110)

Don't forget to dress up those walls with some wall art! This colorful design is sophisticated, but simultaneously playful.

West Elm Pure Ceramic Footed Decorative Bowl ($75, was $94)

Continuing with the organic form, this display bowl can be used to hold fresh fruits, or utilized as an elevated front door catch-all.

Wideboy Alarm Clock ($59)

This wide alarm clock will sit on your bedside table in mid-century fashion. The bold numbers followed by thin clock hands recall the appliances made in the vintage era.

Sputnik Ball Candle Holder ($59)

You might have seen this starry shape once or twice before, without knowing its form originates from the 1957 Sputnik spacecraft launch! Since then, the sputnik has become a bold symbol not only of the space race, but of mid-century design as a whole.

World Market Multicolor Woven Check Pillow ($32, was $40)

Just because mid-century modern leans heavily on wooden pieces doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with color! The structured pattern on this pillow plays well with more rounded, organic lines.

Mid-Century Modern Wall Shelf with Arched Wood Design ($70+)

The lined arch detail takes this shelf to anything *but* boring. It's the perfect size to flaunt all your favorite knick-knacks, or a small bouquet of flowers.

Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Set of 2 Betterhood Rattan Nightstands ($130)

This duo of nightstands infuse your bedroom with all the mid-century details – from rattan shelves to tapered feet.

IKEA Ekenäset Armchair ($279)

We love the subdued color on this chair's upholstering. It adds enough flair to your space, but will match swimmingly with your existing style.

Urban Outfitters Mason Storage Cabinet ($1,300, was $1,700)

This smooth arched cabinet would work amazingly in a mid-century modern kitchen space, offering plenty of storage that you can see, thanks to its glass windows.

Tilton Round Mint Green Geo Pedestal Outdoor Accent Table ($72, was $80)

Have fun with accents – this mint green table is the ultimate way to start.

Saracina Home 2 Door Mid-Century Modern Wood Storage TV Stand ($360)

The tilted legs and low-sitting silhouette of this TV stand give it that mid-century definition. Use it to stack books on, store homewares, and style more mid-century decor!

Room & Board Gibson Coffee Table ($1,300)

Your mid-century coffee table is not a mid-century coffee table unless it has curves. This triangular pick from Room & Board is simple yet eye-catching!

Urban Outfitters Hugo Side Table / Nightstand ($199)

The rounded hutches in this side table design make a perfect play on negative space, adding desirable dimension.

Anthro Living Home Velvet Hagen Dining Chair ($468)

The velvet material these dining chairs are constructed from introduce more elegance, ideal for a cozy mid-cench dining room!

Threshold Johannson Mid-Century Modern 4 Shelf Bookcase ($170, was $200)

Mid-century styles thrive on function. This shelved bookcase provides an ample amount of space to store books, papers, and pictures!

SAYGOER Small Oval Coffee Table ($80)

The contrast between this table's legs and tabletop allow you to match the piece with the rest of your mid-century modern furniture!

Mid-Century Modern Lighting

Anthro Living Electra Table Lamp ($161, was $248)

This warm-hued lamp brings in some friendly flair to your mid-century bedroom or living space!

Terrain Globe Table Lamp ($128)

The grained wood combined with an alluring, spherical lampshade makes this light super sleek.

IKEA Dejsa Table Lamp ($55)

The mushroom lamp is heavily trending, but for good reason. This one emulates fungi in the most amusing way, opting for a neutral color palette that's easy to pair with other decor pieces.

Urban Outfitters Aldona Marble Table Lamp ($169)

Think of this marble pick as the more elevated version of the above lamp – perfect for a clean home office.

Retro Design Mushroom Lamp ($66)

Go bold with this all-orange mushroom lamp that'll illuminate your home with super warm light.

Mid-Century Modern Rugs

Ruggable 5'x7' Modern Chartreuse Rug ($219)

The abstract pattern on this rug will go great with mid-century modern basics, amping up the color!

Amelia Hazy Swirls Area Rug ($164, was $235)

With this rug, you can cover your floors in the adorable arched rainbow motif that's so prominent in mid-mod design.

Poly & Bark Berat 6'x9' Rug ($169)

This rug design provides a great balance between straight and wavy lines, all working together to coat your living room or bedroom floors in abstraction.

Joybird Rumi 6'x9' Rug ($658, was $1,013)

The scattered shapes on this piece surprisingly form a cohesive look, with enough color to add visual interest to your home decor.

Balta Rugs Caserio Mid-Century Modern Abstract Rug ($185, was $206)

The overlapping arches on this comfy floorpiece are outlined in a dark gray that further accentuates its mid-century details.

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Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Anthro Living

I’ve triedtons of different food trends in my day. From dumping chili oil on ice cream to concocting my very own Sleepy Girl Mocktail, nothing I’ve eaten measures up to the sheer weirdness we saw go viral on social media this year (major side eye to Dua Lipa’s pickle Diet Coke).

These are the top 5 most ridiculous TikTok-viral food trends of 2024 that left us questioning whether they really should’ve gone viral in the first place.

@claudiaeatsgood chamoy pickles are so good😋😩❤️ @Bussin Snacks #chamoypickle#chamoy#chamoypicklekit#bussinsnacks#takis#fruitrollup#mukbang#asmr#asmrmukbang#chamoypicklemukbang#juicy#pickle#mexicancandy♬ original sound - Claudia💕

1. Chamoy Pickles

People couldn't quit it with the chamoy pickles (AKA chickles) this year. I never would've guessed that chamoy, a condiment made from dried fruits, chilies, sugar, and lime juice, would be slathered atop the sourest pickles money can buy.

But the food trend didn't stop at just chamoy – many snackers stuffed their pickles with everything from the likes of Hot Cheetos, Takis, and Fruit Roll-Ups. What?!

This insanely sour, tangy treat kickstarted what the internet's coined as the 'Red 40 Diet', which certainly cannot be medically advised.

If you care for your GI tract, this food trend is 100% worth skipping and leaving behind in 2024.

@dualipaofficial

What do we call her?

♬ original sound - Dua Lipa

2. Pickle + Jalapeño-Infused Diet Coke

Diet Coke, pickle juice, and jalapeño juice = all the ingredients needed to concoct Dua Lipa's controversial 2024 drink. She loves it, but I on the other hand, do not.

Now, don't get me wrong: I love a good unexpected flavor combo, but gulping down a simultaneous dose of both pickle juice and jalapeño juice was not tasty to me whatsoever.

This trend even sparked a slew of Sonic diners to start ordering their soft drinks with pickles – but as divisive as this trend can be ("Don’t knock it till you try it," TikToker Mississippi Memaw told Food and Wine), it's just flat out weird.

@logagm

New cucumber recipe 🚨

♬ original sound - Logan

3. Cucumber Salad

If you bought a mandolin slicer recently, you might as well admit you're a victim of the TikTok-viral cucumber salad trend that made its rounds this year.

"Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber," TikTok user @logagmsounds off in the intro of every single one of his cucumber salad videos. And thus, the food trend was born.

It felt like I couldn't go a day on TikTok without seeing at least 5 recipes for a damn cucumber salad. When it comes down to it, I can appreciate the novelty (and taste) of this trend, but not the oversaturation. I'm gonna eat an entire cucumber one day, and get so tired of it the next. New innovations in 2025, please!

@kylekruegerr Would you try these?😂 #foodreview#seagrapes#food#review#tastetest#weirdfood♬ original sound - Kyle Krueger

4. Sea Grapes

It was like people wanted to eat the weirdest, grossest things in 2024. I can't blame 'em, especially if it's for clicks and views. But this food trend in particular literally made me want to gag – and I was only watching people eat through a screen (any fellow ASMR fans out there?).

They don't look like they're supposed to be crunchy, but they are. Sea grapes grow from aquatic plants and are filled with essentially what is a "salty liquid." They burst in the mouth when you eat them (one TikToker called them 'edible Orbeez'). Yuck.

@julieta.asmr I figured it out!! Blooper at the end 🥴 #asmr#asmrcommunity#asmrtiktoks#asmrvideo#asmrsounds#asmreating#asmrfood#asmrfyp#asmrmukbang#mukbang#asmreatingsounds♬ original sound - Julieta ASMR 🍒

5. Exploding Candies

The final (and especially weird) food trend I propose we leave behind in 2024 is these dang exploding jelly candies. They also made their rounds on ASMR TikTok, and I truly cannot stand to watch a single video featuring them.

First off, they look so annoying to consume. The fruit-shaped jellies are contained in a thin layer of plastic that's meant to burst open when you sink your teeth into it, prompting you to slurp out the sweetness inside. But what irks me the most is the fact that many people trying them can't even break the seal.

I'd rather watch someone make a simple PB&J than go to town on these microplastic-infused candies.

Subscribe to our newsletter to read up on more food news + trends!

Wayfair, you’ve got what I need — and a lot of things I want, on sale, for a limited time only. Between April 26th and 27th, the home decor you’ve always dreamed about can be yours for up to 70% off this Way Day. Choose from outdoor furniture, area rugs, lighting, and more on Wayfair's website.

To save you some time (because there’s not a lot left), I browsed through the sale and gathered some of my favorite things! Here are some of the best buys you can shop at Wayfair right now:

Outdoor Furniture (Up To 60% Off)

Charmain Polyethylene (PE) Wicker Seating with Cushions ($310, was $370)

This classic patio-set up can be the centerpiece of all your summer soirees! With all-weather wicker and water-resistant cushions, the 4-person conversation set should last season after season.

Sesame Naples Steel Pergola with Canopy ($488, was $699)

A canopy is a great way to make your outdoor space feel warm and inviting. This pergola/canopy combo is a mix of modern and boho, workin with just about any other furniture you may have on your porch or patio.

Area Rugs (Up To 80% Off)

Adelia Performance Blue/Orange Rug ($87, was $385)

The colors on this rug are EVERYTHING. Area rugs are often an expensive investment, so this is definitely a deal you don't wanna miss!

Living Room Seating (Up To 60% Off)

Atherine 6-Piece Upholstered Sectional ($700, was $820)

The Atherine Sectional is sleek and sophisticated while still looking cozy and sittable. Can definitely picture a nap or two on those cushy cushions!

Lighting (Up To 65% Off)

Drinkard 3-Light Dimmable Vanity Light ($50, was $180)

This vanity light is a simple way to upgrade and modernize your bathroom. The chic design is simple enough to go with any vanity, but stylish enough to make a statement.

Mattresses And More (Up To 70% Off)

Wayfair Sleep™ Medium Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress ($324, was $370)

A mattress that helps cool you down without having to blast your ceiling fan? Count me in.

Bathroom Furniture (Up To 65% Off)

Karine Free-Standing Double Bathroom Vanity With Marble Vanity Top ($817, was $3,562)

The vanity being aesthetically appealing is honestly the second-best thing about the Karine Bathroom Vanity — the deal is insane enough for us to buy it regardless, TBH.

Bedroom Furniture (Up To 60% Off)

Briaroaks Queen Upholstered Platform 3-Piece Bedroom Set ($460, was $800)

If you move a lot in your sleep, a tufted headboard may be your new BFF. Of course this looks lovely, but the padding is sure to save you a lot of headaches...literally.

Kitchen & Dining Furniture (Up To 65% Off)

Gillham Iron Dining Table ($157, was $498)

Honestly? Pack up the whole room — we'll take it. (Really, though, this table is a gorgeous addition for any dining room situation)

Home Office Furniture (Up To 60% Off)

Tisha Corner Bookcase ($96, was $145)

Shelving and storage doesn't have to just be utilitarian — it can be beautiful, too! We love how this bookcase combines form and function.

Did you buy anything from Wayfair's Way Day sale? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

Header image via Wayfair

First loves are TOUGH — especially when you start to see all the red flags you missed along the way once it's over. If you've been dissecting your own early love stories by reading Reddit threads or chatting with your girlfriends about their own relationship experiences, just know this: you're not alone! The entire Brit + Co staff even found ourselves discussing the first person we ever fell in love with...and the recounts did not disappoint. From realizing 19 seemed to be a common age for our all-time worst relationships to understanding how our first love was probably not as ideal as we originally thought, it made us wonder why we couldn't pinpoint red flags back then.

Licensed Psychotherapist Prerna Menon, founder of Boundless, LCSW-PLLC and Licensed marriage and family therapist Joseph Cavins, LMFT have a few thoughts that have helped us decode the precarious time in our lives.

Here's why some of us ignored how awful our first love might've been

1. We thought our first love was perfect and would argue with anyone who wanted us to take things slow with them.

Savannah Dematteo

I'll never forget the first time I fell in love at 19. I thought my ex was the "wind beneath my wings" because he had a great sense of humor and was creative like me. I told myself he was the person I was going to marry so I was offended when my parents didn't think he was mature enough to be in a serious relationship. If this sounds familiar, pull up a chair because Menon explains why we tend to idealize our first love.

"Your first love is your first experience with romantic love too, hence you typically see it with rose-colored glasses. The overwhelming emotion is often infatuation, which tends to overshadow the more critical and analytical part of our brain," she says. Sadly, this sounds like something my parents told me before but I couldn't fathom how true it was as a teen.

As the Clinical Director at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, Cavins has seen this play out before too. He says, "In your first relationship, there is a tendency to put your partner on a pedestal. The excitement of new love can create a powerful emotional fog that makes it hard to see flaws clearly."

Essentially, this "excitement of having a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner supersedes" our ability to questions things we normally wouldn't put up with, according to Menon.

2. We tried to ignore the how many times our first loves disagreed with our values or goals.

Keira Burton

While some couples are able to make their relationship work despite having a different outlook on life, sometimes it can be a sign that things aren't going to work long-term. Cavins says, "One major red flag is disregarding differences in values or goals for the future. For instance, you wish to become a parent someday while your spouse swears this will never happen— or vice versa. Early on, you might dismiss these differences, believing love will conquer all. However, these mismatched priorities can lead to resentment and challenges over time."

Honestly, I probably should've ran whenever my ex would mock my belief in God only for us to have to attend his mother and stepfather's church whenever I visited. There was so much confusion there, but I tried to dismiss it as something he needed time to work out.

Menon adds, "If this relationship makes you feel like you'e standing in quick sand - where you are trying to move forward but often feel held back in your individual aspirations, it may not be the right fit for you."

3. We thought it was 'cute' when our first loves made suggestions about which friends to avoid or what clothes to wear.

Luis Zambrano

Cavins says, "Excessively possessive behaviors are another red flag that people often ignore easily when they fall in love for the first time. People tend to justify such behaviors by citing that it's due to love or protective instincts." I'm all for being in a relationship where your partner's able to see different sides of a picture, but controlling behavior shouldn't come with that. What might that look like?

Cavins says, "Your partner may frequently check in on you, offer opinions on who you should spend time with, or subtly pressure you into making choices that suit them." For example, your partner could start off making suggestions about your style that slowly morph into them controlling everything you wear. Somehow I went from being a self-professed 'girly-girl' to trying to emulate the style of 'sneakerheads' in a short amount of time. Though I love wearing everything from New Balance to Niké sneakers now, it's in a way that feels cohesive with my style.

You may have brushed this kind of behavior off because, again, you thought it meant your first love wanted the best for you. "It is understandable that such behavior hypothetically may come off as pleasant or affirming; however, they often signal an unhealthy dynamic of control rather than mutual respect," says

4. We always gave in when our first loves forced us to be affectionate.

Adely

*Sigh* I'm shaking my head for my younger self because there were many times I didn't advocate for myself in my first romantic relationship. I'd often give in to affectionate or intimate moments despite wanting personal space so I wouldn't be seen as 'boring' or uninterested in my ex. Menon says, "Given the infatuation, your first relationship can feel all-consuming and often is codependent. Hence, this may result in you overlooking that your partner does not respect your boundaries or desire for personal space."

Partly because the excitement of the relationship makes you want to spend all of your time together, until you don't. And then, it is often too late to correct a maladaptive historical pattern.

4. We always made excuses for why our partners would shower us with affection only to ignore us days later.

Pavel Danilyuk

Let's be clear, 'love bombing' feels confusing and awful. No one should make you feel like you're the center of their universe only to ignore your calls or texts days later. But, this probably happened while you were with your first love. Cavins says, "There's a tendency for people to brush off their first love's emotional unavailability. When, for example, a partner is not responsive and not engaging in intimate discussions or does not express their feelings, some may rationalize this as them being 'just not ready.'" If that were the case, this person wouldn't have made you feel like being with you is something they truly wanted.

Of that, Cavins believes "it's important to recognize these behaviors early" because "they can result in a one-side emotional investment that leaves one party feeling unfulfilled in the long run." Sadly, my first love would have days where he was super sweet to me only to feel like I was smothering him with attention. This is also the same person who begged me to remain in our romantic relationship when he went to basic training although I felt it would be better if we chose to be friends. Imagine my surprise (and hurt) when he told me we should have an open relationship months after getting stationed for the first time.

I should've known better because he was never 100% on board with the idea of marriage until after he graduated from basic training. Cavins calls this "emotional disconnectedness." His further explanation is this is "when the initial chemistry between the partners subsides that emotional attachment matters." To avoid this, he feels "identifying and addressing any of these is critical in a case where you are looking to create a strong and healthy bond."

5. We ignored the ways our former partner blamed us whenever they got in trouble with their parents or an authority figure.

Ketut Subiyanto

Did your first love have a hard time taking responsibility for things that went wrong by gaslighting you to absorb the blow of their mistakes? If you've furiously nodding, we should start a support group. Cavins says, "A key sign is a lack of personal or relational growth. Healthy relationships encourage mutual development, but if one partner stays stuck in old patterns while the other grows, it can create frustration and distance."

At no point should you be the reason why your first love got in trouble after answering their parents' house phone late at night after telling you to call at a certain time. It's situations like this that should've alerted us to awful behavior, but I can see how easy it is to dismiss things.

What if I'm in love for the first time and recognize these signs?

Andrea Piacquadio

First, my heart goes out to you for being in a relationship that doesn't feel healthy. It hurts when we realize the person we thought was so great is anything but. The road to letting go of idealization may be long, but you can and will get better. Cavins says, "In the process of self-healing and recovery, the first step that must be taken is self-reflection. Ask yourself all of the necessary questions that arise, such as what this relationship means for you, what your boundaries are, and what this partnership has revealed about you as an individual."

I keep saying this, but relying on journal prompts can help you unpack a lot of things and, thankfully, Cavins agrees. He says, "You could always opt to talk to a specialist or being journaling in order to find some closure and draw meaning from the experience." Also, he wants you to start "making new memories." But, don't be passive about it.

"You will have to engage yourself in activities that will help redirect the focus of your thoughts. This could include joining a new class, engaging in a hobby, or traveling that involves some independence. These experiences can help shift your mindset from loss to growth and reinforce your identity outside of the relationship," says Cavins.

Another important thing you can do is "solicit help from others," according to him. "Calling on people you trust, like friends and family, to talk about these feelings can significantly help in healing," he says. This also helped me navigate life outside of my first real romantic relationship, reminding me that I still had a lot of love in my life that didn't begin or end with my ex.

Here are Menon's tips:

  • Let yourself grieve — Let this loss run its course. If you need to feel angry, sad, distraught, nostalgic. Allow yourself the full breadth of this experience. If I ask you right now "don't think a out a yellow monkey", I can bet you just thought of a yellow monkey. We call this "the imp of the mind". When you reject feelings, or thoughts, they come back 10 times more fiercely. To move the feeling along, we must let ourselves experience it.
  • Rediscover your identity (So important) — Your first love is often intertwined with self-discovery, and identity formation. Reconsider your goals, interests, values, friendships and hobbies and try to build your own sense of identity and individuality.

Anastasia Nagibina

I saw my first love again and it feels like we're falling in love all over. Can we have a happy and healthy relationship?

I'm not going to tell you to run even though I told my ex I never wanted to speak or talk to him again. You could easily reconnect with the first person you fell in love with and realize that you're both in a place where you can have something beautiful. However, Cavins and Menon want you to be mindful if you're in this position.

"Reconnection is possible," begins Menon, "if both parties can objectively claim that they have grown emotionally and resolved the issues that held their relationship back." But, "if the reconnection is built on one person growing and the other not, it is likely to fail," she alerts. You'll need to "proceed with caution," she says because "your first love was a nostalgic era in your life that can cloud your judgement." To put it more clearly, she doesn't want you confuse "the fuzzies" with a "true knowing that the two of you can make it work."

Cavins says, "Reconnecting with a first love can trigger a strong wave of emotions, but it is important that such a decision is made with caution and a strong sense of pragmatism. Personal growth is a primary factor. Each party in the relationship must ask themselves how they have grown and evolved as individuals over time. If past patterns of conflict, immaturity, or unhealthy dynamics remain unaddressed, the same issues could resurface."

He wants you to consider these things:

  • Are there any active relationships or past engagements that would make it rather difficult? That's because the feelings that come with reigniting old flames are very strong and can alter a person’s life, making it essential to start thinking from all angles before going ahead with it.
  • Address previous challenges that caused the breakup in the first place. If the reasons behind the breakup have been resolved or do not exist anymore, then yes, meeting again has its prospects. However, keep in mind that, at times, memories can be selective and unfavorably distort the truth by overplaying the good qualities while avoiding the negative ones.
  • Only rekindle things if both individuals are in a healthy emotional state and the decision is grounded in practical, mutual considerations—not just sentimentality or romanticized memories. Clear and honest discussions and an understanding of purpose are vital in ascertaining if rekindling the relationship will be worthwhile for both parties or if it will simply be an act of revisiting unresolved emotions.

Menon's final piece of advice is similar in that she encourages you to be "self-critical, self-aware, and self-nourishing." She doesn't want you to be afraid to be "clear and transparent about your expectations for the relationship" either. Though we weren't a fan of the outcomes of our first real romantic relationships, they've made us wiser. So, shout out to our first loves for being the worst because they've become our best learning lessons.

That's not all! We have even more helpful articles about relationships & family if you're looking for everything from celebrity couples to navigating hard conversations during the holidays.

No matter how many times I rewatch The Vampire Diaries, there's nothing like seeing a cast reunion — and the weekend of December 6, we finally got to see our three favorite Mystic Falls gals together again! Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, and Candice King were just some of The Vampire Diaries cast members who reunited for Epic Con to chat all things Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline...but things took a turn in the middle of the interview when one of the backdrops almost fell on Nina!

Keep reading to see what happened during The Vampire Diaries cast reunion with Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, and Candice King.

www.tiktok.com

Even after all these years, Bonnie and Caroline are still saving Elena #tvd #thevampirediaries #ninadobrev #candiceking #katgraham #elanagilbert #carolineforbes #bonniebennett #epiccons

As someone who's done plenty of interviews myself, I know how fast a situation can spiral — and this interview accident is crazy. While talking on stage about the show, one of the backdrops begins to lean forward, and right before it falls on top of Nina, Candice and Kat quickly move to push it in the opposite direction.

"I don't want to see any 'Bonnie saves the day' memes," Kat jokes, referencing the fandom's love for Bonnie consistently helping the group throughout the show's eight-season run. "I don't want to see it, I don't want to hear it!" You can also see a relieved Nina hug Candice before revealing she thought it was a spider!

www.instagram.com

In addition to this "Bonnie saves the day" moment (sorry, Kat, I couldn't help it!), the internet went crazy when Nina posted a video of her, Candice, and Kat recreating a photo they took during season 1 — especially after rumors have circulated for years that Kat Graham was mistreated on The Vampire Diaries set.

While these rumors have never been outright confirmed, fans have paid very special attention to what Kat has said...especially when she confirmedshe was the lowest-paid cast member and cried over her natural hair after revealing she wasn't really allowed to have an afro while filming.

"Love you girls so much!!!!!! 🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️" Kat commented on Nina's post, while a fan added, "And now the rumors can definitely be ended 🫶🏼❤️." These women are so powerful and clearly love each other so much, and I will take any and every cast reunion we can get!

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When Brit + Co caught up with Ian Somerhalder, he also expressed how much he loved filming The Vampire Diaries. "Every single day it was a laugh," he says. "I mean we had to be serious, you're running from ghosts and vampires and stuff, and you know, someone makes a fart joke and a 130 people erupt in laughter, there's only so much you can run for your life."

And thank goodness, Ian confirms just how much fun the cast had! "We laughed, that's how we kept each other sane," he says. "I spent 8 years on the show and now it's [been] 15 years. It's my longest relationship."

"I cannot believe it's been 15 years," he continues. "And so everyone who's seen the show, watched the show, supported us — and me — in any way, shape, and form regarding the show, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

What would your dream The Vampire Diaries reunion look like? Let us know on Facebook!