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IN: Beauty, Friday Favorites, Lifestyle, Wellness

Friday Favorites: Fall 2018 Edition

October 11, 2018 By Melanie No Comments

Happy Friday, friends! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a Friday Favorites roundup and I felt the change of seasons warranted a special Fall edition. As you all know, I have the opportunity to test out various beauty products, activewear and food each week thanks to very generous brands. Some of them I end up loving. Some I could do without. And some are SO cool, fun, or practical that I feel the need to share it with the world! The following are a few of my favorite things that I’ll be rocking all season long and I hope you end up enjoying! 

This Rose Gold Set From Calia By Carrie 

There are so many amazing sets I’ll be wearing this season, but so far none have received as many compliments as this one. Is it beautiful? Yes. Is an all rose gold outfit super extra? Of course. But that shouldn’t stop you. 😉 

The top does not zip all the way so you do have to pull it over your head, which can be slightly annoying after a sweaty workout but works great on the way to the studio. I love that the shorts have a tight black spandex inside layer. They’re great for boxing, hot yoga and HIIT classes (I’ve worn them to all three) and thanks to the bottom layer I never have to worry about flashing anyone. 

The best part is that this whole look is SO affordable! I just checked the site and they’re on sale now for $25 (shorts) and $45 (jacket). Get on that! 

My Black “Dance” Bag From Caraa

This is seriously my new go-to bag for EVERYTHING! It’s so chic and fits my laptop, multiple books, wallet, keys, snacks, shower wipes and more. I brought it to the airport on my most recent trip to Florida but also use it frequently here in the city. 

The material is a mix of mesh, nylon and leather. Gold zipper details and lock mechanisms add a beautiful touch to the otherwise classic backbag. The straps are wide and thankfully don’t cut into your skin, even when I’ve loaded way too much into the bag. 

It is on the pricier side at $225 but I honestly can say, I would buy one myself. It’s such a great investment piece and something you’ll get guaranteed use out of. It’s also a great holiday gift! Feel free to use my code: MELANIET10 for an extra 10% off. 

Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING 

At the risk of sounding super basic, pumpkin spice is one of my favorite things about Fall. Of course I love them in latte form but if those aren’t your jam and you’re craving something a little healthier, I’ve got two new favorites for ya: 

Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Spice Grain Free Granola: This granola blends nuts, organic chia, pumpkin seeds, nutmeg, and ginger for a super tasty pumpkin spice treat. The secret ingredient is Ashwagandha, a powerful adaptogen and ancient medicinal herb that helps the body manage stress. I love eating the granola straight out of the bag as a snack but it also tastes really good over greek yogurt. You can try it as a topper on smoothies and protein shakes for a satisfying crunch.  

RxBar Pumpkin Spice bars: Featuring eight clean ingredients and 12 grams of protein, these are such a great post-workout snack that you can throw in your bag. This flavor is reminiscent of pumpkin pie but not quite as sweet as the real deal. They’re also free of preservatives, fillers, dairy, and soy. 

Pairing Floral Dresses with Edgy Accessories 

This is hands down my favorite non-activewear look this Fall. There’s something about mixing feminine pieces with tough details like leather jackets and combat boots that manage to look fun and chic.

I bought the heeled combat boots on Nasty Gal and to be honest, they were the only purchase from that company that I actually liked. They’re surprisingly comfortable, super affordable and look great with a variety of outfits.

The dress is from Aritzia and is a universally flattering wrap style. It’s pretty short so I try to wear black boy shorts underneath to avoid any Marilyn Monroe moments while walking on the street. When the weather cools down a bit I’ll be rocking this with black tights or my go-to OTK (over-the-knee) boots. 

Function Of Beauty Shampoo and Conditioner

I’ll admit, when I first saw these customizable vegan hair care products on Instagram I thought it was all hype. Sure they come in multiple colors and look absolutely stunning… but was it worth the price? When I worked in PR I used to get all my hair care for free so paying anything over $10 for shampoo and conditioner has been a struggle for me. 

Thankfully I was given the opportunity to try out the new pistachio scent and fell head over heels in love. I’m actually ordering a refill soon because we’re sadly almost out! I blame Bay for stealing dollops whenever he showers. 

Before they sent me the two bottles, I had to fill out a personal hair quiz on the Function of Beauty site. This covered everything from my hair length and texture to what hair goals I was looking for (shine, deep condition, thermal protection, color protection, and hydrate). What I ended up with is a personal elixir of hair care goodness that literally smells like a French pastry shop. I’m OBSESSED. 

~

I hope you all enjoyed this roundup! Have a lovely weekend and I’ll be back with another post very soon. 

Filed Under: Beauty, Friday Favorites, Lifestyle, Wellness

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Meet Melanie

Meet Melanie

Hi and welcome to Headstands & Heels! I’m Melanie — a Digital Strategist turned Wellness Entrepreneur, certified yoga instructor (RYT 200), dog mama, and content creator based in Denver. I hope to encourage others to follow their dreams and cultivate a healthy, balanced lifestyle filled with mindfulness and positivity. 💕 Send me a note at: mel@headstandsandheels.com

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For all the women in your 30s — cheers to trying
For all the women in your 30s — cheers to trying new and old hobbies, connecting to your inner child, fully embracing all the things you love and feeling so much more confident in who you are 💕💫 

#romanticizeyourlife #lifeinyour30s 
#joyfulliving #smalljoys #cozyhobbies

One thing I know to be true when it comes to findi
One thing I know to be true when it comes to finding joy in movement is that when you’re short on time, you want something quick and convenient

That’s why having a dedicated space in your home that’s already set up for you to workout is so helpful! No commute. No reservations. Whether it’s a full home gym or a small corner in your bedroom, as long as it’s accessible it makes the whole process of getting to the workout so much easier, faster and a little more joyful than rushing to a studio or gym 

I have everything in my home gym listed on my LTK and a discount code for @shopstakt mats (all linked in my bio) in case you’re looking to build a space like this for yourself 💕

PS: and if you’re looking for an at home workout that actually makes strength training fun, my personal favorite is the Soundtrack Strength Club series by @calliegullickson on @onepeloton ✨🧜🏻‍♀️

#healthylifestyle #wellnesslifestyle #healthyliving #selfcaretips #movementislife #homeworkouts

Happy Monday! Here’s a gentle reminder that your
Happy Monday! Here’s a gentle reminder that your morning routine doesn’t have to take long for it to be impactful. Adding little moments of mindfulness can do wonders for your physical and emotional wellbeing and even 5 minutes of self-care can set the tone for the day 🦋💕

Since my mornings are a bit more chaotic now, following my 3 step formula to nourish, move, and practice self care has been SO helpful during this phase of life 💫. And I hope it does the same for you! 

Swipe through for some mindful exercises that take less than 5 minutes and comment WORKSHEET if you’d like to receive my free, printable Mindful Morning worksheet straight to your inbox 

Here’s to making our morning routine feel a little more special, even on those extra busy days ✨

#healthylifestyle #healthyhabits #romanticizeyourlife #happyandhealthylife #joyfulliving #softwellness

What, like it’s hard? 🤪

#momsbelike #nickimi
What, like it’s hard? 🤪

#momsbelike #nickiminajchallenge


Just in case you need a new book rec for your fina
Just in case you need a new book rec for your final summer vacay plans or trips to the beach, I’m sharing 7 of my favorite summer reads that I think you’re going to love! ☀️💕

Swipe through, save for later and let me know which ones are YOUR favorites orrrr even better, what would you add to this list? 

#girlswhoread #cozyhobbies #romanticizeyourlife #booklovers #selfcaresummer #igbookclub

Friendships in your 30s hit different and I’m so
Friendships in your 30s hit different and I’m so grateful for the people in my life, near & far, who fill my life with so much laughter and love 💛✨ 

#romanticizinglife #smalljoys #lifeinyour30s #girlhood

A little peek into some of my favorite parts of my
A little peek into some of my favorite parts of my morning with Lily 🌸

Don’t let this fool you, she’s been waking up at 5am lately 😫 so goes down for her first nap at 7:30am (which is NOT ideal). All of this was filmed between 7:30am - 10am, just in time for our nanny to arrive and for me to start my work day 

Needless to say, we are still figuring things out over here but I wouldn’t give up these precious moments for anything 💕✨ 

#romanticizeyourlife #newmomlife #morningroutine #morningslikethis

✨This and having my phone on dnd ✨

I’ve bee
✨This and having my phone on dnd ✨

I’ve been wanting to try the Japanese Head Spa treatment ever since I saw a video of one go viral a few years ago and earlier this week, @butterflybeauty.co made my #selfcare dreams come true! 🦋💕 {sound on for all the ASMR} 

This was hands down one of the most relaxing treatments I’ve ever had — starting with a scalp analysis, followed by a custom mini facial, arm & chest massage and full scalp treatment with lots of exfoliation, massage and herbal remedies 

After going through lots of postpartum hair loss, it was so nice to see regrowth happening in the scalp analysis videos and I love that the head spa treatment itself helps to improve scalp health and stimulate hair growth 💁🏻‍♀️

10/10 recommend and if you’re in Denver, you HAVE to book a session with Jennifer! I can’t wait to go back 

#selfcaresessions #wellbeing #healthylifestyle #headspa #selfcareideas #denverwellness


We may be new moms, in our 30s and happily married
We may be new moms, in our 30s and happily married, but we’re still just girls at heart 💕. 

Last night’s cozy evening in with a cutesy summer craft, s’mores, wine and a teenage romance drama will ALWAYS be my idea of a fun time 🐚🌊🏝️

Anyone else watching the new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty? Annnnd if so, what team are you on? 

PS: I’ll share a little bts of the making of these super cute shell trinket dishes soon!

ICED BANANA BREAD MATCHA LATTE coming in hot for #
ICED BANANA BREAD MATCHA LATTE coming in hot for #MatchaMonday! 🍌🍵 

This features the yummiest homemade banana bread syrup that you’re going to want to add to all of your matcha or coffee drinks! 

Banana bread syrup recipe:
✨ 2 ripe, mashed bananas
✨ 1 cup brown sugar
✨ 1 cup water 
✨ 2 tsp cinnamon
✨ 1 tsp vanilla 
✨ sprinkle of salt & nutmeg 

Simmer on stovetop for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally. Strain over jar and store in fridge

To make the banana bread matcha latte all you need are:

✨ 1 cup oat milk 
✨ 1-2 tbsp banana bread syrup 
✨ 1 tsp ceremonial grade matcha (I used @thematchamotto) whisked with 1/4 cup hot water
✨ Ice 

Let me know if you’ll be trying this! 💛

#matchatime #matcharecipe #summersips #healthylifestyle #morningmatcha

Filed under: July Joys 🌻

✨ flower picking wi
Filed under: July Joys 🌻

✨ flower picking with my flower girl 
✨ lemon blueberry cupcakes 🦋
✨ in my hot pilates era 
✨ ice cream on repeat 
✨ pool days 
✨ a little garden visitor 
✨ stopping to smell the flowers 
✨ sweet and slow mornings
✨ creekside hike with the pups 
✨ the best dinner dates 
✨ this cherry set 🍒 
✨ a fun summer read 

I hope you all are having a beautiful weekend 💕


It is up to us to make our lives beautiful 🌸

T
It is up to us to make our lives beautiful 🌸

The small joys are found in the mundane mornings, the unexpected laughter, the people who feel like sunshine 

The beauty of life is not that it’s perfect. It’s that every day you wake up with a new opportunity to grow, heal, love and find gratitude through it all 💕🦋

{audio: @malamalife} 

#romanticizeyourlife #romanticizinglife #smalljoys #gratitudepractice #pocketsofpeace #momentsofcalm


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Currently Pinning

  • Quinoa Breakfast Bowl and more GF/DF Ideas - Simple Bites
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  • #autumn
  • You’re up before the sun. Another shift. Another bill. Another “Just get through this week.” You keep showing up—even when you’re running on empty—because you have to. That’s life sometimes. And it’s okay to admit that. Some seasons are about survival.⁣ ⁣ But if you’re always waiting for life to calm down before you let yourself live, you might miss the living altogether.⁣⁣ ⁣ We all have goals. And some of us, depending on where we started, have to hustle harder to get there. That’s just bein...

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For all the women in your 30s — cheers to trying For all the women in your 30s — cheers to trying new and old hobbies, connecting to your inner child, fully embracing all the things you love and feeling so much more confident in who you are 💕💫 

#romanticizeyourlife #lifeinyour30s 
#joyfulliving #smalljoys #cozyhobbies
One thing I know to be true when it comes to findi One thing I know to be true when it comes to finding joy in movement is that when you’re short on time, you want something quick and convenient

That’s why having a dedicated space in your home that’s already set up for you to workout is so helpful! No commute. No reservations. Whether it’s a full home gym or a small corner in your bedroom, as long as it’s accessible it makes the whole process of getting to the workout so much easier, faster and a little more joyful than rushing to a studio or gym 

I have everything in my home gym listed on my LTK and a discount code for @shopstakt mats (all linked in my bio) in case you’re looking to build a space like this for yourself 💕

PS: and if you’re looking for an at home workout that actually makes strength training fun, my personal favorite is the Soundtrack Strength Club series by @calliegullickson on @onepeloton ✨🧜🏻‍♀️

#healthylifestyle #wellnesslifestyle #healthyliving #selfcaretips #movementislife #homeworkouts
Happy Monday! Here’s a gentle reminder that your Happy Monday! Here’s a gentle reminder that your morning routine doesn’t have to take long for it to be impactful. Adding little moments of mindfulness can do wonders for your physical and emotional wellbeing and even 5 minutes of self-care can set the tone for the day 🦋💕

Since my mornings are a bit more chaotic now, following my 3 step formula to nourish, move, and practice self care has been SO helpful during this phase of life 💫. And I hope it does the same for you! 

Swipe through for some mindful exercises that take less than 5 minutes and comment WORKSHEET if you’d like to receive my free, printable Mindful Morning worksheet straight to your inbox 

Here’s to making our morning routine feel a little more special, even on those extra busy days ✨

#healthylifestyle #healthyhabits #romanticizeyourlife #happyandhealthylife #joyfulliving #softwellness
What, like it’s hard? 🤪 #momsbelike #nickimi What, like it’s hard? 🤪

#momsbelike #nickiminajchallenge
Just in case you need a new book rec for your fina Just in case you need a new book rec for your final summer vacay plans or trips to the beach, I’m sharing 7 of my favorite summer reads that I think you’re going to love! ☀️💕

Swipe through, save for later and let me know which ones are YOUR favorites orrrr even better, what would you add to this list? 

#girlswhoread #cozyhobbies #romanticizeyourlife #booklovers #selfcaresummer #igbookclub
Friendships in your 30s hit different and I’m so Friendships in your 30s hit different and I’m so grateful for the people in my life, near & far, who fill my life with so much laughter and love 💛✨ 

#romanticizinglife #smalljoys #lifeinyour30s #girlhood
A little peek into some of my favorite parts of my A little peek into some of my favorite parts of my morning with Lily 🌸

Don’t let this fool you, she’s been waking up at 5am lately 😫 so goes down for her first nap at 7:30am (which is NOT ideal). All of this was filmed between 7:30am - 10am, just in time for our nanny to arrive and for me to start my work day 

Needless to say, we are still figuring things out over here but I wouldn’t give up these precious moments for anything 💕✨ 

#romanticizeyourlife #newmomlife #morningroutine #morningslikethis
✨This and having my phone on dnd ✨ I’ve bee ✨This and having my phone on dnd ✨

I’ve been wanting to try the Japanese Head Spa treatment ever since I saw a video of one go viral a few years ago and earlier this week, @butterflybeauty.co made my #selfcare dreams come true! 🦋💕 {sound on for all the ASMR} 

This was hands down one of the most relaxing treatments I’ve ever had — starting with a scalp analysis, followed by a custom mini facial, arm & chest massage and full scalp treatment with lots of exfoliation, massage and herbal remedies 

After going through lots of postpartum hair loss, it was so nice to see regrowth happening in the scalp analysis videos and I love that the head spa treatment itself helps to improve scalp health and stimulate hair growth 💁🏻‍♀️

10/10 recommend and if you’re in Denver, you HAVE to book a session with Jennifer! I can’t wait to go back 

#selfcaresessions #wellbeing #healthylifestyle #headspa #selfcareideas #denverwellness
We may be new moms, in our 30s and happily married We may be new moms, in our 30s and happily married, but we’re still just girls at heart 💕. 

Last night’s cozy evening in with a cutesy summer craft, s’mores, wine and a teenage romance drama will ALWAYS be my idea of a fun time 🐚🌊🏝️

Anyone else watching the new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty? Annnnd if so, what team are you on? 

PS: I’ll share a little bts of the making of these super cute shell trinket dishes soon!
ICED BANANA BREAD MATCHA LATTE coming in hot for # ICED BANANA BREAD MATCHA LATTE coming in hot for #MatchaMonday! 🍌🍵 

This features the yummiest homemade banana bread syrup that you’re going to want to add to all of your matcha or coffee drinks! 

Banana bread syrup recipe:
✨ 2 ripe, mashed bananas
✨ 1 cup brown sugar
✨ 1 cup water 
✨ 2 tsp cinnamon
✨ 1 tsp vanilla 
✨ sprinkle of salt & nutmeg 

Simmer on stovetop for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally. Strain over jar and store in fridge

To make the banana bread matcha latte all you need are:

✨ 1 cup oat milk 
✨ 1-2 tbsp banana bread syrup 
✨ 1 tsp ceremonial grade matcha (I used @thematchamotto) whisked with 1/4 cup hot water
✨ Ice 

Let me know if you’ll be trying this! 💛

#matchatime #matcharecipe #summersips #healthylifestyle #morningmatcha
Filed under: July Joys 🌻 ✨ flower picking wi Filed under: July Joys 🌻

✨ flower picking with my flower girl 
✨ lemon blueberry cupcakes 🦋
✨ in my hot pilates era 
✨ ice cream on repeat 
✨ pool days 
✨ a little garden visitor 
✨ stopping to smell the flowers 
✨ sweet and slow mornings
✨ creekside hike with the pups 
✨ the best dinner dates 
✨ this cherry set 🍒 
✨ a fun summer read 

I hope you all are having a beautiful weekend 💕
It is up to us to make our lives beautiful 🌸 T It is up to us to make our lives beautiful 🌸

The small joys are found in the mundane mornings, the unexpected laughter, the people who feel like sunshine 

The beauty of life is not that it’s perfect. It’s that every day you wake up with a new opportunity to grow, heal, love and find gratitude through it all 💕🦋

{audio: @malamalife} 

#romanticizeyourlife #romanticizinglife #smalljoys #gratitudepractice #pocketsofpeace #momentsofcalm
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