Whitney Haldeman
This Week in the World: Week 10

Style

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What you ACTUALLY need this Holiday Season

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This morning I turned on the TV to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade like I've done almost every year.  I won't explain my frustration for all the Black Friday adverts or holiday hysteria that seems to drown out what should be the sentiment of today... because sadly it's not anything we're not used to at this point.  Consumerism has been creeping up on Thanksgiving for years now, and we’ve all kind of become numb to it.

But what really has been bumming me out isn't just that Thanksgiving is being robbed, it's the obsession with materialism as a whole. At the risk of sounding self-righteous, I’ve experienced somewhat of a personal transformation in the last couple of years. Perhaps living out of a suitcase made me pause to reconsider how very little we actually need to survive, but I just can’t help but think that it’s not really worth the time or money or stress we put ourselves through every single year to buy things like candles or lipstick.

Don’t get me wrong— I think gifts can be a great way to show thoughtfulness to someone you love. And burning a great candle or getting a new lipstick are hardly sins- so by all means, enjoy them! But buying someone something they don’t really need (or sometimes, even really want) simply out of obligation I think is missing the point. And at the end of the day, I think we could all benefit from pausing before purchasing and asking “Do I actually need this?"

So as we're all tempted by the sales happening this weekend (there are some really great ones) I'd just encourage you to be a bit more mindful about what you and the people you love actually need this year rather than buying stuff just because it's a good price. Need some inspiration for smarter shopping? These are some items I genuinely believe are wise purchases that everyone needs (even when you're living out of a suitcase and can only carry the absolute essentials). 

 

A WARM COAT

Okay, maybe not if you live in a sub-tropic climate… but for most of us at some point every year we need a proper coat to keep us warm in frigid temperatures. You can’t go wrong with a classic black down coat- and it doesn’t have to be expensive either. I’ve had my Michael Kors one like this (which is currently on sale) for over 4 years now and I still wear it almost every day in the winter- whether I’m dressed up or in gym clothes. 

warm coat

These picks are from NORDSTROM, which currently has an extra 20% OFF selected sale items, FREE shipping + FREE returns from 11/24 – 11/2. 

 

 

These are some other good, classic coat options from J CREW that are 40% OFF now until 11/26.

 

 

GOOD TRAINERS

Whether you work out often or not, we all need a good pair of trainers for days that we're on the go or walking a long distance (or if you just want to go easy on your feet). I lived in these Nike Lunar Apparent Women's Running Shoes (which are currently on sale) this year- whether running on the treadmill or walking around London or anywhere else in the world. I suggest the black + white because they give a neutral look you can wear not just with athleisure, but any casual outfit really. 

TRAINERS RUNNING SHOES

Now at NIKE: Take an extra 25% off sales from 11/21 – 11/28

 

A JOURNAL

This may seem like it falls in the category of “fluff” or something we don’t really need… but I’d argue a journal is one of the best ways we can practice mindfulness. I never travel anywhere without mine- and I actually carry a few of them. One for prayer + practicing gratitude. One for recording memories and the names of places I visit when I travel so I don’t ever forget those precious details. And a third for jotting down work notes, to-do lists and general organization. Gifting someone a journal when they’re about to go on a big trip or if they’re going through a difficult season may be the sweetest thing you can give them. Write a note on the front cover that shares your intention or what your hope for them to get out of it is. 

I could keep going, but there are lots of other needs that are really just going to vary according to each individual person. For me, I genuinely need really great luggage and travel accessories for how often I'm on the go (see below). For someone who hosts lots of dinner parties, they'd need quality dishes and kitchen gear. My point is just that we don't all need everything.  

 

If you have some other specific items you may need, here are some sales to be aware of while you search:

J CREW | 40% OFF EVERYTHING

DATE: 11/21 – 11/26

 

MADEWELL | 25% OFF EVERYTHING

DATE: 11/21 – 11/26

 

NORDSTROM // Cyber Monday at NORDSTROM! Extra 20% OFF selected sale items. FREE shipping. FREE returns.

DATE: 11/24 – 11/2

 

ANN TAYLOR // 50% Off Everything with code: THANKFUL.

DATE: 11/22 – 11/24

 

 

ASOS // Black Friday Weekend- 30% off Everything

DATE: 11/22 – 11/28

CODE: EPIC30

 

NIKE //Take an extra 25% off sales

DATE: 11/21 – 11/28

 

REVOLVE //Take up to 50% off sale styles

DATE: starting 11/23

 

SHOPBOP // Get 20% off orders of $200 + .25% off orders of $500+ and 30% off orders of $800 or more with code MORE17 at Shopbop

DATE: 11/21 – 11/26

 

TOPSHOP //Save up to 50% off + Free Worldwide Shipping

DATE: 11/22 – 11/27

 

OTHER RETAILERS YOU MAY SHOP FROM:

WALMART

TARGET

MACY'S

SEPHORA

ANTHROPOLOGIE 

 

 

While I've shared some material things you may need and some places you can shop for great deals right now, what I really want to encourage is that you get creative and find ways to share more experiences with the people you love this holiday season. I personally have found experiences with my people to be the most valuable things in my life. They beat out the nicest material things I've ever owned and can never be taken away from me. 

eiffel tower paris
madeira portugal
joshua tree national park

 

I won't tell you what you should value because I certainly don't expect everyone to love travel the way that I do. But maybe just focus in on your "thing" instead of trying to do all the other things too. If you and our friends love music, prioritize gifting concert tickets. If it's being at home, consider hosting a holiday dinner party for the people you love. Do the people you love go crazy for a good meal? Take them to an epic restaurant or sign up for cooking classes together. 

Whatever it is, think about the ways you can experience the sweetness life has to offer, not just the stuff. Sure, it sounds cliché, but life really is about the memories you make with the people you love. So pause and consider what memories you want to make and with who-- then focus on that this season. 

 

What experiences are you thankful for and how do you plan to incorporate them into your holiday season?

 

I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving filled with good food, time with family and countless reasons to be thankful!

xx

Whitney

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3 shoes to pack on any trip to Europe

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3+SHOES+TO+PACK+FOR+ANY+TRIP+TO+EUROPE

Happy Thursday! I’m up bright + early to catch a flight down to south Florida for the week to visit family. As I started packing for this brief getaway, it dawned on me how strategic and selective I’ve become when it comes to deciding what shoes to bring along on a trip. And rightfully so!  These babies are easily some of the heaviest items we pack (and usually the largest contributor to overweight baggage fees). So how do you narrow it down?

For starters, it obviously depends on the destination (a week in the mountains is going to look vastly different than one at the beach). But I’ve learned from my travels that even if you’re visiting a variety of climates and countries, there are some fail-safe options you’ll likely want to bring along anywhere. 

If you’re new around here, I spent 7 months out of this last year living out of a suitcase and traveling through Europe- so I’d like to think I’ve learned a thing or two when it comes to functional footwear abroad. So if you’re planning to hop across the pond anytime soon, allow me to spare you some blisters + unnecessary luggage weight. 

I averaged 5 miles of walking every single day (often closer to 7 and sometimes up to 12!) so heels just really don’t make sense while you’re in Europe. I know they can make an outfit pop or your legs look great, but take my word on this bit. I assure you that you can still look chic in just about any outfit (and sans the pain) with only 3 simple pairs of flats. Still not convinced? Let’s get specific. 

 

1. A SMART LOAFER

Headed to the theatre? A nice dinner? Drinks with a European hottie? Any activity where a heel would serve you something a bit more dressy than usual, I believe a smart loafer will also do the trick. You can be chic + classic with a black pair like these or a touch on the wild side with a print like these. Depending on the particular pair, I think they pair well with a tailored pair of slacks, jeans or even a dress. 

 

2. ATHLETIC/LIFESTYLE SHOES

Not all athletic footwear is created equal. In fact, I’d argue that this trend has expanded far beyond athleisure. I love the juxtaposition of mixing my Superstars with something a bit more formal or feminine (like this blush blazer + scarf I wore in Amsterdam). Not only can it make an outfit more interesting, but your feet will love you on those days when you’re logging double-digit miles. 

 

 

3. SEASONAL FLAT

Obviously time of year and climate are factors to consider, so let’s talk seasonal flats. 

 

FALL/WINTER: BOOTS

If you’re traveling in Europe in cooler temperatures, I’d advise a pair of ankle boots (they don’t weigh as much and aren’t as bulky as ones that cover your calves). Think about the clothes you’re packing to determine if it makes more sense to bring tan, black or grey. 

 

FALL/SPRING: BALLET FLAT

ballet flats to pack for europe

Ballet flats can honestly be worn anytime of the year and are one of the most comfortable shoes on the market! Wear them with dresses, pants, shorts- you name it. Similar to my remark about boots, consider if the outfits you’re packing will pair better with tan, black or a pop of color. 

 

 

SPRING/ SUMMER: SANDAL

My criss-cross sandals were worn more than any other shoe I brought on this most recent trip to Europe! With temperatures at their all-time-high for the year, I didn’t want socks anywhere near my feet! Opt for sandals that are comfortable enough to walk in and that are versatile (so you can wear the same pair to the beach or with a dress to dinner). 

sandals to wear in europe

So there you have it! I survived my 7 months in Europe with minimal pairs of shoes and am confident you can do the same. Are there other types of shoes you’d never leave out of your suitcase? Let me know in the comments below!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by friends! Stay tuned next week for some more travel guides from recent adventures!

 

xx

Whitney

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Travel Hair Hacks

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TRAVEL HAIR STYLES

Hey friends! Hope your week is off to a great start. I'm finally back in the US after spending the last couple of months in Europe. It was another wonderful adventure and I still have so many travel guides that I'm working on sharing with you. But today, I'm taking a break from those to share some travel hacks I've recently discovered for your hair. Lately I've found myself needing to hit the ground running right after a flight when I land in a new destination; and no matter how much effort I seem to put into my hair before takeoff, once I reach my destination it always looks terrible (especially on those transatlantic red-eyes abroad).  

I went to my hairdresser Lauren at Fruition Salon to get her expertise in this department. I warned her that I'm lazy and needed options that were easy and required little skill. But I also wanted something that would actually look good hours (sometimes a whole day) later. She showed me two super easy ways you can style + set your hair before a travel day that actually leave your hair looking freshly styled upon arrival (and I can vouch that these are easy enough to replicate on your own). 

Before we started styling, we blowdried my hair with a lift hold mousse and put some dry shampoo at my root (this preventatively absorb oils as you wear it so when you take it down to wear it's nice and fresh).

 

Speaking of products, these are the only ones we used to create these styles if you want to use the same ones. I'll speak to them as we go through each step. 

fruition salon nashville tennessee

 

Regarding tools, just be sure you have a comb, bobby pins, hair ties and something to section off your hair with. 

 

STYLE 1: BRAID TWISTS for beach waves

1. Divide hair into two sections on each side (4 sections total). 

 

 

2. Starting on one side, spray the Blowdry Primer. 

 

 

3. Begin to braid (be sure to start at the section of your hair that you want the waves to begin, not all the way at the root. We started more eye-level along my cheek bone). If you have thick hair and are wanting more control, braids should be tighter and closer to the head. If you are wanting more volume (which we wanted for my hair) let the braid be slightly more "loose." 

 

4. Once you finish braiding two sections on one half of your hair, you'll twist them together, overlapping the front braid over the back. Pin them over the ends to hold the braids together. 

 

5. Repeat on the opposite side. As you pin each half, you should pin them into the opposite back section, overlapping the braids to create a more seamless finish. With longer hair you may need an additional pin or two to tuck in the ends. 

You’ll leave your hair set like this while you travel until you reach your destination and are ready to take it down.

*If you want to create this same look in a short window of time, simply take a heat tool (we used a straightener) to run over each section of hair a few times before pinning. 

When you take your hair down, finish with some perfecting hairspray and enjoy your beach waves! 

 

 

 

STYLE 2: KNOT TWISTS for bouncy curls

For this style, only pay attention to the left side of the back of my head (for the sake of time, we split my hair in half so we could demonstrate both styles in a shorter period of time!)

 

1. Divide hair into two sections on each side (4 sections total) and spray the sections with Blowdry Primer. 

 

 

 

2. Starting on one side, tie two of the sections in a knot. 

 

 

 

3. Continue to tie the strands in knots over and over until you reach the end of your hair.

 

 

 

3. Use bobby pins to tuck the ends into the center. 

 

 

 

4. Repeat on the other side. Similar to the last style, you'll want to pin the two sections together to create a more seamless finish. 

 

 

Once again, you’ll leave your hair set like this while you travel until you reach your destination and are ready to take it down. 

*If you want to create this same look in a short window of time, simply take a heat tool (we used a straightener) to run over each section of hair a few times before pinning. 

When you take your hair down, finish with some perfecting hairspray and enjoy your bouncy, natural curls!

 

Both of these took less than 15 minutes to style and left my hair looking far better than it ever has when I travel. Not only will these be great options while on a plane, but I'll probably even sleep with my hair in either style any night while I'm traveling and I don't want to mess with heat tools. I can't thank Lauren enough for teaching me these hacks and I hope you find them helpful for your next travel day! 

 

Want to book an appointment with Lauren? Click the button below or call 615.298.7771.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be back to sharing some more travel guides soon (and I have some new adventures on the horizon!) I'm excited to share more about both with you in the near future. Until then, have a great week! 

xx

Whitney