Whitney Haldeman
This Week in the World: Week 10

Bumble BFF

In the midst of my non-stop travels, I went home to Nashville last week to host an event with Bumble BFF. But before I get into the particulars of the evening, let me give you a little context as to why I participated in this particular partnership.  

If you’re single, chances are you’ve given Bumble a go at some point. If dating apps are completely foreign to you, let me break it down simply: Bumble is an easy way to connect with other people in your area. It shows you profiles of people you want to see (filtered by age, location and gender) and lets you connect by a mutual opt in by swiping right. But unlike other apps, women always make the first move once you match on Bumble. (#girlpower) 

I had already been an active user of the app (any brand that connects me to cute European guys while traveling is a win in my book). But after listening to a podcast interviewing Whitney Wolfe (the founder and CEO of Bumble) while doing my coast-to-coast road trip earlier this spring, I really became an advocate for the brand. 

Aside from empowering women to make the first move, the Bumble brand also deeply values connection. Bumble has a reputation (in my opinion anyway) to be the platform of choice if you actually want to go on a date and get to know someone, not just casually hookup. But then they take things a step further than most dating apps, because the connections you can find here aren't just limited to the dating realm.  

Let me pause quickly to rewind to a conversation I had last year. A friend of mine had just moved to a new city where she knew no one except her husband. On a day when she was feeling particularly lonely, she called me to tell me how she wished she could get on a dating app just to meet people without having to date them. “Why is there a service to help you find a partner, but not friends? Isn’t that just as valuable?”  

Enter Bumble BFF. Using the same mutual opt in by swiping right, this portion of the app serves to help you find your girl gang. So whether you’re looking for a bestie to brunch with, a yoga buddy or any kind of gal pal, Bumble BFF has you covered.  

I couldn’t be more on board with this idea. As a traveler who loves connecting with people everywhere I go, I’m all about expanding opportunities to meet people. So to celebrate this service and introduce some gals to each other in my own city, I teamed up with Bumble BFF to throw a party with the purpose of connection.  

Right from the start of the ideation for this project, I knew I wanted to bring in one of my BFF’s, Tillie. This girl values authentic connection more than just about anyone I know.  She’s also done so much to empower singles in our community (including hosting awesome mixers to meet new people). Given the heartbeat behind this event, she was an obvious choice to help me co-host.  

bumble bff nashville
bumble bff nashville tn

We both agreed a bunch of people just standing around and chit chatting over drinks would be missing an opportunity to have some fun, so we called our friend Emmy at Inner Light. Inner Light Yoga is an awesome new studio in Nashville that’s super high energy and unlike most other yoga classes you’ve probably ever been to. This include dance parties to Justin Bieber and instructors occasionally dropping the F bomb as they guide you through your practice, but ultimately they’re about the collective of people and that together we are stronger. 

We all put our heads together on how to make this event a super fun, memorable night that leaves people feeling inspired + well-connected. We realized that while an app may not be the most basic way to make friends, there were plenty of other “basic” things we knew everyone could all agree on. This lead us to a theming the night with some of those favorites. So we spread the word about “basic”-ally the best party ever to students at Inner Light, on all of our respective social media channels, to gals using Bumble BFF — pretty much any and everyone that was new to town or looking for some friends, and we packed the house full.  

 

Emmy created a super fun pop playlist that was bursting with guilty pleasures like NSYNC and Spice Girls. We did tons of partner poses and moved off our mats throughout the class to move and dance and mingle with one another.  

After practice, our friend Holly from Golden Roots made some yummy snacks for everyone. They are an amazing local meal delivery service that partners with local farms in Tennessee to create delicious, thoughtful, gluten-free recipes. I told Holly about our idea to embrace the “basic” and so she made some amazing gluten-free avocado crostini and quinoa grain bowls for everyone to nibble on after practice. Not only is Holly adorably creative + a super good cook, she's also a registered + licensed dietitian who’s seriously talented at what she does. If you’re in the Nashville area, I can’t recommend her services enough.  

To put the cherry on top of our basic theme, we served up some delicious frosé (yep- frozen rosé) because why would you drink anything else at a party like this?) 

We were also able to give away some awesome swag, free classes to Inner Light, a yoga mat, and two gift cards to Vida-Flo Nashville. I was especially excited about these gift cards because I went to Vida-Flo myself the week prior and loved it. They offer IV treatments that deliver direct hydration, vitamins and energy (the perfect way to re-hydrate after a sweaty yoga class and multiple glasses of frosé).  

The night was so much fun and all these awesome partners coming together made everything that much more wonderful. I loved getting to chat with so many amazing women- both old friends and new ones. And I especially loved watching other women connect from afar.  

If you’re someone who’s a skeptic about digital connection, allow me to help you squash those doubts immediately. I already disclosed that Bumble has allowed me to go on lots of dates with cute guys around the world, but I’ve also met a handful of my closest friends online through the blogging world. In today’s digital age, connecting with people you meet in some form of online format is no longer seen as “weird.” In fact, I would argue those who continue to believe this ancient mindset will miss the opportunity to meet many wonderful people who can enrich your life. 

 

I sincerely believe platforms like these empower us to be our best selves and live our best lives. And while we'll always cherish our friends that we’ve had forever, I also think it’s of the utmost importance to continue to seek connection with new people who share our passions as we continue to grow and develop.  

 

I am so thankful platforms like Bumble and Bumble BFF exist for those of us who love to get out in the world and connect with people in it. And I’m especially thankful that so many wonderful people came out for such a fun night to celebrate what that looks like in action.  

 

Interested in trying Bumble and/or Bumble BFF? Download the app!

 

Thanks to Bumble BFF for sponsoring this post + event and for giving us all a reason to have such a great time! All opinions are my own.

Thanks for stopping by!

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

 

Berlin Travel Guide

BERLIN TRAVEL GUIDE

Of all the traveling I’ve done in Europe, Berlin may be the most unique destination I’ve visited yet. With tumultuous history so recent it almost feels palpable, Berlin has seen an overwhelming transformation over the last 75 years. This city was headquartered by Nazis, heavily bombed during World War II, divided by communism with the Berlin Wall and finally reunited -- all in such a short period of time. Today, Berlin is one of the most multicultural and open-minded cities in Europe and offers visitors the perfect blend of both grit and glamour. 

I've always been interested in Berlin's history, but I especially wanted to visit after befriending my pal Caitlin this past year. I always love my time with her, but I was particularly excited for this trip. She calls Berlin home, and I knew she'd be able to show me the best of this fascinating city (and from a local's perspective). Thanks to Caitlin + her sweet boyfriend Oliver (who is Berlin-born and raised), I fell in love with the German capital and learned even more than I anticipated I would. 

Berlin is definitely someplace worth visiting and should be added to your travel wishlist immediately. When you plan a trip of your own, here's what you should know:  

One of the nights I spent in Berlin was at Hotel Oderberger: a historic boutique hotel, just a stones throw away from Mauerpark. Originally a bathhouse, this building was converted to a hotel just last year (the bath now the stunning indoor swimming pool). While the building may be historic, the decor is chic + contemporary. I loved the overall look + feel of the entire property. Aside from the aesthetics, both the cocktail bar and restaurant (also where breakfast is served) were incredible. The staff was extremely helpful (and spoke perfect English too). Overall, if you’re looking for a boutique hotel in central Berlin, this is the place for you. 

I ran into my friend M.C. from High School, who was also visiting Berlin. Small world!

I ran into my friend M.C. from High School, who was also visiting Berlin. Small world!

For my second night, I headed just west of the city center to a quiet + quaint area of town called Hansaviertel. Here, I stayed at ABION Villa Suites: which offers luxury maritime themed rooms. I absolutely adored my experience here! My room had floor to ceiling windows with canal views of the Spree (which reminded me a lot of Amsterdam!) It made for such a relaxing escape to come home to after sightseeing all day and I found myself having a hard time wanting to leave the room again once I was back! All the decor is bright, contemporary and luxurious. I definitely recommend staying here if you're someone who prefers a luxury experience and likes to retreat from the hustle and bustle of a city (although this location still makes it very easy to get around Berlin). 

abion villa suites berlin germany
abion villa suites berlin germany

For my last night in Berlin, I stayed at Motel One Berlin Upper West, which was such a cool experience. Motel One is designed to look + feel like a luxury boutique hotel, but without the luxury price tag. They do a really great job of cutting costs in areas you're least likely to miss, which means the overall value is one you can feel great about.

I absolutely loved the decor of the entire hotel, and my room had such an amazing view of Berlin!  I was also incredibly impressed with the common spaces (the rooftop bar and lounge area is actually stunning and felt like a swanky luxury hotel). 

If you're looking for the best of both worlds regarding luxury and price, Motel One is a great option for you! They have a few other Berlin locations as well, but Upper West is their newest property (and I'm fairly certain it won't disappoint). 

 

 

SEE + DO

BERLIN WALL MEMORIAL

If there's only one thing I tell you to do in Berlin, it's spending time where the Berlin Wall once stood. This was hands down my favorite landmark I visited. Obviously, I knew about the Berlin Wall from history class, but I didn't really know what to expect when visiting (after all, the wall came down- so what is there really to see?) The city has done an incredible job commemorating where the wall once stood and divided East and West Berlin during the communist occupation. There is a memorial that pays tribute to the deaths that occurred there while people tried to escape from the East to the West. The museum includes an exhibit that depicts the history of the wall, including interviews and biographies from Germans who escaped or died trying. No matter how I try to sum up my time here, it's sure to fall short. This is truly something to experience first-hand, and will stay with you long after you leave Berlin. 

 

 

BRADENBURG GATE

One of the most popular landmarks in Germany is the Bradenburg Gate, located in the heart of Berlin. This neoclassical monument is a symbol not only of Germany’s tumultuous past, but also of European peace + unification. It’s almost always crawling with tourists, but it's also a pretty epic place to watch the sunset so you definitley don't want to miss visiting this spot. 

 

 

BERLIN CATHEDRAL CHURCH

Unlike most of the rest of Europe, Berlin’s architecture is fairly modern after being heavily bombed during World War II. But even among the newer buildings + Communist-era blocks, let’s be clear: it still has it’s fair share of beautiful cathedrals- the most famous being Berlin Cathedral Church. This is one of the most-photographed spots in the city- and for good reason. On a warm sunny day, this is the perfect spot to camp out with a picnic on the lawn + marvel at this beautiful building. 

In the 1960s, the Communists erected this 1,200 foot TV tower in the center of the city. It's purpose wasn't just for better TV reception, but to also remind people of the power of the atheistic state (this was at a time when leaders were having the crosses removed from the majority of churches and cathedrals). What they didn't think about, was that when the sun hit the tower, it created a huge reflection of a cross on the mirrored ball. People joke that it was the "Pope's revenge." Regardless of the history, this landmark is arguably the most iconic part of the Berlin skyline and you simply can't miss it while visiting the city. 

 

TIERGARTEN

On a pretty day Berlin, head to Großer Tiergarten: a tranquil park in the center of the city. Caitlin and I hopped in these quaint little row boats and paddled along the pond near a traditional biergarten (where you should definitely stop for a beer). We also saw a clan of artists casually sketching in the nude (which definitely caught us off guard!) But juxtaposition like that is exactly what makes Berlin, Berlin and is why I love this crazy, quirky city. 

 

OTHER SIGHTS YOU CAN'T MISS: 

Memorial to the Murdered Jews

Checkpoint Charlie

East Side Gallery

 

 

EAT + DRINK

Berlin is known for a variety of food + drink. Traditional fare includes things like pretzels, pan-fried pancakes (known as kartoffelpuffer), currywurst, apfelstrudel and schnitzel. They also have a prominent Turkish population, which means you can get a mean kebab. But while all of these favorites are certainly worth trying, limiting yourself only to these options would be a missed opportunity. Berlin is a cultural melting pot, which means a variety of cuisines done well. While we definitely indulged in a lot of the above, Caitlin showed me more of the modern food scene that the locals are enjoying. 

 KLUNKERKRANICH

Caitlin took M.C. (a friend of mine from high-school who happened to be in Berlin too!) to Klunkerkranich for drinks one afternoon, which we loved. This rooftop bar has been called one of the "hippest" spots in Berlin. It's tucked away above a car park in Neukölln, and is another great spot to watch the sunset. 

 

LA LUCHA MEXICAN

While Caitlin and I were walking through Kreuzberg, we stopped dead in our tracks when we saw La Lucha: a new Mexican restaurant. This brilliantly-pink restaurant takes a modern approach on traditional Mexican cuisine. Caitlin got to sit down with the owner, Max, a young man from Holland, who is quickly making a name for himself in the Berlin food scene. You can read her full article on the restaurant here, but in summary: "The owner Max lived in Mexico for two years where he first found his love for the cuisine.  He loved going to the street food markets where you have the options to order from several different stands and can share with friends your different plates of food- thus his idea was born. The concept here is that your food doesn't come out in any order- just when it's ready. Everything is made to be shared and enjoyed together, just like at home. The menu has a "selection" platter where it takes care of the ordering for you. It also offers plenty of drink pairings as well as a "tequila discovery flight" for those of you ready to get the weekend started. If you're with a larger group, ordering the pitcher of sangria is highly recommended-  especially on those warmer days out on the patio."

Another great reco, courtesy of Caitlin! Spindler is on one of her favorite streets in Berlin, right on the canal in Kreuzberg. Their carefully curated and seasonal menu is inspired by Nicolas Gemin, a young and innovative French chef. You can also read her full article on this gem here, but this spot is known for its impressive brunch, as well as coffee and deserts (a German tradition around 4pm).

If you haven't picked up on it already, Caitlin knows a thing or two about the food scene in Berlin. Once again, you can read full details on this spot in the article she wrote (here) but this cafe boasts exposed brick, tables topped with vibrant flowers, tropical plants, and an aroma of freshly baked sourdough bread. Since bread is their specialty, they have amazing pizzas, cinnamon rolls and sandwiches- making it a great spot for breakfast + lunch. 

 

TIPS FOR SURVIVING THE CITY

  • The public transportation is cheap and easy to use- whether it's the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, a bus, tram or ferry. Just be sure you actually buy a ticket, because they do have people (dressed liked everyday commuters) who will announce themselves once the train starts and check everyones ticket. I'm told they make quite a scene and you don't want to be caught without one.

  • Berlin is also known for having some of the best nightclubs in the world (Wilde Renate, Kater Blau, About Blank + Sisyphos being some of the most popular). But if you're thinking of something along the lines of Las Vegas- think again. Getting into these establishments isn't easy, and there are some things to know before you go. Wear dark colors (think casual grunge, not heels or dresses) and don't talk much while standing in line. Know how to say your age in German, and know the names of the DJs who are playing that night. If there are a lot of guys in your group, you're better off splitting up into smaller groups in line. You'll also have better odds getting in if you have a German with you.

  • The Spree (which I mentioned while speaking about my stay at ABION Villa Suites) is the river that runs through Berlin's city center. You can take river cruises if you want to tour the city from a unique perspective, but you should also grab food at a restaurant along the canals here to dine like a true Berliner.

 

 

Berlin was a fascinating destination exploding with history and things to do. I have no doubt I'll be back again (I'd want to even if Caitlin didn't live there!) and I can't wait to discover even more to this city when I do. Shoutout to both Caitlin + Oliver for being fantastic hosts and showing me all that their is to love about their city-- you guys are the best! x 

 

Still more you want to know about Berlin? Let me know in the comments below!

Hope you find this guide helpful as you plan your trip, and as always thanks for stopping by!

xx, 

Whitney

blonde atlas
BERLIN TRAVEL GUIDE