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IN: GirlBossing

What I’ve Learned Since Becoming a Full Time Blogger

February 15, 2019 By Melanie 2 Comments

Happy Friday, lovelies! Today is a super special day because I’m celebrating four different occasions! You ready for this laundry list? *Takes deep breath. Okay… here we go:

  • 5 years of dating Bay Phillips
  • Bay’s dirty 30 birthday
  • My 3 year blogiversary
  • 1 year since I put in my two week notice at my old 9-5 job to pursue blogging full time

If this doesn’t call for cake and champagne I don’t know what does. haha 

I honestly can’t believe it’s been three years since I’ve started this blog of mine. Sometimes it seems like I’ve had it for so much longer, while other times it feels like I just started it yesterday. One things for sure, it DOESN’T feel like a full year of being my own boss. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride with lots of highs and a few lows. I’ve dealt with my own insecurities and imposter syndrome has reared it’s ugly head several times. Despite the low points, it has been so incredibly fulfilling to make my own schedule and build my brand. I know it sounds cliche but damn… I feel blessed. So so so blessed and thankful. 

And I owe so much of this to you guys. My readers, whether you’re new to Headstands and Heels or have been here since the beginning, I can’t thank you enough. Every message, email, and comment of support has meant the world to me! It’s easy to let pride and ego get the best of us when we’re embracing the hustle, but let me tell you… it’s not lost on me that you all are the reason being an “influencer” is a sustainable career path. 

This year I’ve made it my mission to give back to you all in every way I can. This means hosting more free events, creating an e-book filled with branding tips (launching later this month!), offering more blogger consultations, sharing an IG Tips series on my Instagram Stories, and putting service above “likes” on all my posts. I hope that we can continue to grow and thrive together! I feel like there’s so much in store for Headstands and Heels, and I hope you’ll be along for the ride. 

In the spirit of service, I wanted to use this opportunity to share something with any aspiring bloggers out there. If your Instagram presence or blog has been your side gig and you’re thinking of taking the leap to make it a full time job, there are a few things I think you should know. These are all based on my own learning experiences from the past year. Some may not pertain to you and I’m sure there are many things that I’m accidentally leaving out. One thing’s for sure, it’s SCARY AF to leave a steady paycheck to embrace a freelancing lifestyle and we could use all the advice we can get. ๐Ÿ™‚ 

Organization is Everything 

Administrative tasks tend to be the hardest but most important part of any business. When you are acting as the head of every “departement” it can be easy to let things slip through the cracks. Invest in tools that will help you (like Freshbooks for invoices or Dropbox for storage) and become proficient in free tools like Google sheets, Google drive and Google Calendar for the others. It doesn’t hurt to have a daily planner where you physically write things out. I also think apps like Wunderlist or Evernote can really come in handy. These admin tools are going to be your BEST friend so don’t be afraid to get nice and acquainted with them all very early on. 

Prepare for Taxes

It is never too early to start prepping for taxes because let me tell you… tax season will come and it’s SCARY. Not only should you be keeping track of all your income sources but it’s crucial to put away at least 30% of what you earn each paycheck. Many bloggers will file quarterly instead of waiting for tax season to start. My suggestion is to open up a business account and use that to store all of the money earned from your brand. You can “pay” yourself (transfer money to your personal account) when needed but the majority should be kept separate. Get a filing cabinet and start saving all receipts related to business expenses so you can write them off later. I slacked on a few of these things and am paying the price now. 

Schedule Days Off

When you make your own schedule it can be tempting to work around the clock. You’re not bound by any office hours anymore and weekend work will become a thing. However, if you operate this way for too long it’s a super fast track to burn out. Do your best to set “working hours” for yourself. It may vary week to week but for the most part it’s helpful to give yourself structure and a sense of normalcy for your business. And please, don’t be afraid to take some time off and away from social media.  

Combat Loneliness 

If you’re coming from a 9-5 office job like me, it can be hard to adjust to the lack of company. You’re going from being constantly surrounded by people to being… alone. Without a boss to keep you on track, a direct report to delegate to, or a colleague to ask advice, the world of blogging can become super lonely. You need to find ways to combat this. Maybe it’s investing in a membership at a co-working space. Maybe it means setting up at a coffee shop twice a week just so you can be around more people. Or maybe it’s setting up meetings and in person co-working dates with other bloggers/influencers. The important thing to remember is that you’re not actually alone, you may just need to work a little harder to find your new “colleagues.” 

Know Your Worth

When it comes to negotiating rates with brands, it can be tough. Some will try to low ball you. Many won’t give you the time of day. Others may scoff at your price points. It’s important to remain respectful but stay firm in your negotiations. Don’t be afraid to turn something down if you don’t think the compensation is worth it. But also don’t be afraid to do things at a lower price point or even on an exchange basis if it means building a lasting relationship with a brand. It’s important to be very realistic in this department and remind yourself that whoever is on the receiving end is not your friend. When it comes to partnerships, you are one brand doing business with another brand. You need to do enough research on market value to come up with a fair fee while also being honest about how much time, energy and money it will take you to complete the agreed upon scope of work. 

Say Yes, Especially If It Scares You

As your brand grows, there will be opportunities presented to you that challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. Whether that’s being asked to speak on a panel, record an Instagram Live, lead a workshop, host a class, attend a cool event, fly somewhere solo, etc. There will be things that scare you and that’s 100% okay. You need to feel this fear, acknowledge and accept it for what it is, and then learn to let it go. Learn to say yes to the things that scare you because more often than not, these are the things that will change you in the best way. 

Invest Wisely

Don’t be afraid to invest in areas of business where you need help. This is no longer going to be your side hustle, it’s your full time job now. This means you might need things like: a better camera, an accountant, a lawyer, a go-to photographer, and maybe even an intern or assistant. No one wants to pay the big bucks in the beginning but it’s necessary! You have to be willing to invest in your business in order for it to thrive and grow. 

Build a Network

This business is all about who you know. It can be tempting to stay home and power through your workload but it’s important to prioritize networking. That means saying yes to events, finding other like-minded, local bloggers to connect with on Instagram, and creating meet-ups. I know it can be intimidating and somewhat exhausting to meet new people every day but trust me when I say it’s worth it! Building a network is a powerful thing to have in your toolbox and brands pay attention to how “in the scene” you are. 

Take Risks

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Want to write an e-book? Do it. Start a YouTube channel? Go for it. Try a new post series? Sounds great. The best of the best are constantly innovating and refining their craft. They aren’t afraid to try something new. Even if it fails, it’s a learning experience and they’ll move on. Life without risks is boring and businesses that don’t take risks become stagnant.  

Remember Your Why

On the days when you feel extra stressed or find yourself lacking direction or clarity, step back. Remind yourself why you started your blog/Instagram in the first place. Remember a time someone reached out and said that your post impacted them in some way. Ground yourself in your purpose and your reason for doing what you do. It’s not about money. It’s not about the “likes.” These things are so fleeting and should never be the reason why you do what you do. 

I hope all you aspiring bloggers find this helpful! And if you’re not looking to become a full-time blogger, well, I hope you at the very least found this to be entertaining! Maybe it gave you a little insight into my day to day life. ๐Ÿ™‚ 

I’m signing off and going to go pick up Bay’s birthday cake now! Cheers to 3 years and more years to come! 

Shop My Look (and head to my latest Instagram post for a chance to win a $300 Athleta gift card!):

Filed Under: GirlBossing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lina says

    February 15, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    This is so inspiring and so helpful I am on year 2, so many amazing opportunities have come my way and it is so easy to forget why I started. thank you and congrats you are doing so well

    Reply
  2. Raquel says

    February 16, 2019 at 3:53 am

    Always love your Tips go grow business and especially appreciate the reminder in this post to save for taxes. It’s so necessary and can be overlooked by newbies. Keep the TIps coming!

    Reply

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New Meet Melanie

New 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 NYC. I hope to encourage others to follow their dreams and cultivate a healthy, balanced lifestyle filled with mindfulness and positivity. ๐Ÿ’• Send me a note at: mel@headstandsandheels.com or Read More

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This is your sign to pack yourself a picnic and enjoy some quality time outside! โ˜€๏ธ After a very gloomy and cold winter, Spring always feels like an awakening here in NYC. Not to mention with #EarthDay right around the corner, itโ€™s even more of a reason to enjoy the warm weather, sunshine, and all things that Mother Nature has to offer! ๐Ÿ… ๐Ÿฅ’ ๐ŸŒฟ
 
One of my fav things nature gives us is veggies and Iโ€™m obsessed with how @dirtkitchensnacks has turned them into a yummy snack! Not only are their Air Dried Veggie Crisps super convenient, crunchy, and delicious but theyโ€™re also made from upcycled veggies (surplus or imperfect) that would have otherwise never left the farm! This means less food waste and more veggies for me and you to enjoy. ๐Ÿ‘ 
 
I love supporting brands that are doing awesome things for people and the planet and think you all will love them too! ๐ŸŒŽ ๐Ÿ’•
 
They have 3 different kinds of Veggie Crisps to choose from and you can find them online: grape tomato, blushed bell pepper, and zucchini. ๐Ÿ… ๐Ÿฅ’ Which veggie is your favorite? #DigInWithDKS #Sponsored

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The lights are so bright but they never blind me. ๐Ÿ’ซ #DateNight

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2 years after saying โ€œI doโ€ and it feels like it was just yesterday. โค๏ธ Our first anniversary was spent in lockdown last year {Swipe for a bts} and today Iโ€™m getting vaxxed ๐Ÿ’‰. It feels like weโ€™ve come full circle and Iโ€™m so ready to celebrate with a dinner in the city tonight and a pretty big adventure to come ๐Ÿ˜Š. Love you, @bayphillips.

Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and I
Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and Iโ€™ll be one happy gal ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ„๐ŸŒธ. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Itโ€™s been a gloomy day in the city and I woke up with an itch to put all my whimsical, colorful dreams on paper. Swipe to see the enchanted forest landscape and the BTS of how it came to life. ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ 
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Thereโ€™s a beauty that comes with the stillness of painting. For an hour or two the whole world melts away and itโ€™s just me, the paper and my brush. ๐Ÿ–Œ Showing up with no creative expectations has a way of making me feel limitless, and in many ways itโ€™s the most mindful exercise and expressive form of self care I can do. ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ’• 
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I hope you jelly beans have found your own quiet, creative moment this weekend. I promise itโ€™s the best way to unplug and reset ๐ŸŒˆ  #selfcaresunday

Iโ€™m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies
Iโ€™m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies Iโ€™ve ever made! ๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿข๐Ÿ’• These vegan matcha & tahini cookies are fun to create and are guaranteed to make your tastebuds do a lil happy dance! 
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Theyโ€™re a little sweet and nutty with a crispy outside and chewy inside. Bonus: creating the turtle shapes reminded me of playing with playdoh! (Talk about a throwback)
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Iโ€™m going to test out and share several #EarthMonth ๐ŸŒŽ inspired recipes over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! 
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You can find this recipe on @veggiekins blog. ๐Ÿข 10/10 would recommend for cuteness + a healthy treat that makes you smile๐Ÿ˜‹. #HealthyDesserts

๐“๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐Ž๐–๐„๐‘
๐“๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐Ž๐–๐„๐‘ ๐ข๐ง โœจ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ฒ.โœจ
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Good things rarely come easy in life and they definitely donโ€™t come quickly. More often than not, it boils down to a very underrated behavior called consistency. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
So what does that look like? It means: 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธChoosing to ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ even when youโ€™re not feeling motivated
๐Ÿ”ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค over and over even when it doesnโ€™t seem like anything sticks
๐Ÿ”ธ ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ even when progress is slower than you would have liked
๐Ÿ”ธ Holding yourself accountable and ๐ญ๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ฉ๐ฌ one day at a time till you cross the finish line
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Everyone hypes up motivation but the truth is there will be MANY days where you are unmotivated. Where you find yourself to be tired, frustrated, and impatient with lack of results. 
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But thatโ€™s where the real magic happens friends. When you can show up consistently for yourself โ€” in all aspects of your life, you WILL achieve your goals. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐’๐จ ๐ค๐ž๐ž๐ฉ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ . 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
On days when you feel like quitting, remind yourself of your why. Give yourself space to rest and then get back in there and keep trying. ๐Ÿ’ฏ 
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Iโ€™ll leave you with this quote: 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
โœจ โ€œ๐ˆ๐ญโ€™๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž ๐ข๐ง ๐š๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐š๐ฉ๐ž๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ. ๐ˆ๐ญโ€™๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐๐จ ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ.โ€ ~ ๐“๐จ๐ง๐ฒ ๐‘๐จ๐›๐›๐ข๐ง๐ฌโœจ
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
{๐Ÿ“ธ: @mikohafez}

Happy Easter๐ŸŒธ , beautiful humans. He is Risen!
Happy Easter๐ŸŒธ , beautiful humans. He is Risen! โœจ 
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Today Iโ€™m celebrating Godโ€™s eternal love for us and the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ . โœ๏ธ The past 13 months have been full of challenges, discomfort and practicing patience through the unknown. Iโ€™m grateful that through it all, God has brought so much good into our lives and continues to guide us in the direction of his plan. ๐Ÿ’• 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
โœจItโ€™s a comfort to know that after the darkness, there is always light.โœจ
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Even if you donโ€™t celebrate, I hope youโ€™re having a wonderful weekend filled with love and hope for beautiful things to come. ๐Ÿฅฐ  #HappyEaster { ๐Ÿ“ธ: @winilaophotos}

Lookinโ€™ for a super simple & sweet Easter treat!
Lookinโ€™ for a super simple & sweet Easter treat!? ๐Ÿฃ These 4๏ธโƒฃ ingredient HEALTHY chocolate pb eggs are for you! 
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Iโ€™ve seen these knockoff Reeseโ€™s eggs all over Pinterest and used the recipe by @ambitiouskitchen to make mine. ๐Ÿ’• {SWIPE FOR A CLOSE UP}
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Recipe:
๐Ÿ”ธ Mix 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter with 1 tbsp maple syrup and 2 tbsp coconut flour 
๐Ÿ”ธ Scoop onto parchment paper and form/flatten into egg shapes 
๐Ÿ”ธ Freeze for 1 hour 
๐Ÿ”ธ Melt dark chocolate in small bowl and dip PB eggs 
๐Ÿ”ธ Freeze for 5 min and top with drizzle of white chocolate and sea salt 
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Store them in the freezer till ready to eat! ๐Ÿ’• Happy Easter Weekend everyone ๐ŸŒธ #MelsMeals #healthydesserts

๐ŸŒฑ Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask
๐ŸŒฑ Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask and chillll Q&A session because there are lots of new friends on here! ๐Ÿ’•
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Since I canโ€™t believe I hit 30k followers (and 25k on TikTok!?) I thought a little โ€œabout meโ€ and fun fact sharing was in order! ๐Ÿ’•โœจ
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๐€ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ž ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ž
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๐Ÿ”ธ Hi lovely humans! My name is Melanie and I created this blog 5 years ago to share my wellness journey and healthy, positive lifestyle + connect with likeminded people such as yourself. ๐Ÿ˜Š
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๐Ÿ”ธ I currently live in NYC with my husband, @bayphillips, and our two rescue pups @chipandnina 
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๐Ÿ”ธ I graduated with a BS in Marketing and have been working in the social media/digital marketing space for 8 years!! 6 years in corporate marketing for tourism and global beauty brands and 2 as a full time wellness blogger 
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๐Ÿ”ธ I went through a 200 hour yoga teacher training course a few years ago and have been teaching online and at various branded events ever since ๐Ÿ’•. Hoping to teach at a studio once the world is back to normal 
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๐Ÿ”ธ Personality traits in a nutshell: Iโ€™m a Cancer โ™‹๏ธ, ENFJ and Enneagram 2w3 
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๐Ÿ”ธ I am a Christian and my faith is super important to me. I have a whole blog post called โ€œConfessions of a Christian Yogiโ€ if youโ€™d like to read more 
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๐Ÿ”ธ Things I love that youโ€™ll probably see a lot of on here: painting ๐ŸŽจ, reading ๐Ÿ“–, my pups ๐Ÿถ, clean & cruelty-free beauty products๐Ÿ’…๐Ÿป, cute activewear ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ, low impact workouts ๐Ÿง˜๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ, yoga & meditation, food that makes me feel good ๐Ÿฅ‘, matcha ๐Ÿต, colorful home decor ๐Ÿก, self care ๐Ÿ›, and houseplants ๐Ÿชด. 
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I hope you stick around and we can get to know each other!! 
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๐ˆ๐ง ๐Ÿ๐š๐œ๐ญ โ€” ๐ˆโ€™๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ž๐š๐ซ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ!! Where are you from? Whatโ€™s your fav kind of workout? What do you do for fun? Plz share away! ๐Ÿฅฐ #SelfCare 
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Special announcement: Iโ€™m officially a @CaliaByC
Special announcement: Iโ€™m officially a @CaliaByCarrie Brand Ambassador for a 2nd year and I couldnโ€™t be more thrilled to continue sharing their amazing clothes and accessories with you!! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ’• As a brand, #CALIAByCarrie is all about helping you to โ€œ#ChooseYouโ€and take that extra time for self-care -- which of course is a theme I can 100% get behind, especially this year. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป
 
They have some super pretty pieces for Spring, including this matching set in the color Confetti Dot Sea Fog! ๐Ÿฅฐ Iโ€™m obsessed with the high waisted fit, subtle color block and hidden pocket details. ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿผ Swipe to see how it easily goes from a workout to coffee run (or barre to brunch!) and head to my stories to shop the pieces. 
 
Canโ€™t wait to share more!! ๐ŸŽ‰ Would you like to see more styling photos like this series? Let me know! ๐Ÿ’•#CALIAByCarrieUnderwoodPartner #StayThePath

๐ŸŒฑ PINK & GREEN SMOOTHIE ๐ŸŒฑ {Swipe for the rec
๐ŸŒฑ PINK & GREEN SMOOTHIE ๐ŸŒฑ {Swipe for the recipe} 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
This day totally got away from me as Iโ€™ve been playing catch up with work, but I did have a chance to make this super pretty dragonfruit smoothie and wanted to share!! ๐Ÿ’•
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
I originally was hoping the colors would layer on top of each other but I added too much liquid ๐Ÿ˜…. Even so, the combined flavors were delicious and sooo tropical, plus those pink swirls and drips were everything! 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
SAVE the recipe and give it a try! ๐Ÿฅฐ #greensmoothie

A very Spring weekend in the city. ๐Ÿš• { Swipe fo
A very Spring weekend in the city. ๐Ÿš• { Swipe for ๐ŸŒธ blooms} My dad and brother flew up to visit so I spent these past few days unplugged and fully present. ๐Ÿฅฐ 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
I didnโ€™t capture all the moments but it was a weekend full of really delicious food, great views ๐ŸŒƒ , lots of games, about 40K steps ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ and somehow an entire season of Survivor. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Feeling very happy and ready to take on the week. ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸปWhat is one fun thing you did this weekend? #SpringinNYC


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  • Introducing a product into the marketplace comes with an inherent carbon footprint, whether it be in the form of wasteful packaging or environmentally harmful production practices. During an age when thousands of new startups surface every year, every business now has a moral responsibility to seek out sustainable ways to offer their products. Thankfully, we have these 10 sustainable brands to lead the way. #ethicalfashion #slowfashion #ecofriendly #zerowaste #zeroplastic #ethicalbrands
  • After spending lots of time researching what makes fashion sustainable, we now present this masterlist of the best sustainable clothing brands... #sustainableclothing #ethicalfashion
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  • These green bloody marys are a refreshing take on the classic brunch cocktail. Made with tomatillos, yellow tomatoes, tart green apple, jalapeno and fresh herbs, theyโ€™re smooth, fresh, slightly sweet and just a bit spicy. | from Lauren Grant of Zestful Kitchen #bloodymaryrecipe #brunchcocktail #greencocktail

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This is your sign to pack yourself a picnic and en This is your sign to pack yourself a picnic and enjoy some quality time outside! โ˜€๏ธ After a very gloomy and cold winter, Spring always feels like an awakening here in NYC. Not to mention with #EarthDay right around the corner, itโ€™s even more of a reason to enjoy the warm weather, sunshine, and all things that Mother Nature has to offer! ๐Ÿ… ๐Ÿฅ’ ๐ŸŒฟ
 
One of my fav things nature gives us is veggies and Iโ€™m obsessed with how @dirtkitchensnacks has turned them into a yummy snack! Not only are their Air Dried Veggie Crisps super convenient, crunchy, and delicious but theyโ€™re also made from upcycled veggies (surplus or imperfect) that would have otherwise never left the farm! This means less food waste and more veggies for me and you to enjoy. ๐Ÿ‘ 
 
I love supporting brands that are doing awesome things for people and the planet and think you all will love them too! ๐ŸŒŽ ๐Ÿ’•
 
They have 3 different kinds of Veggie Crisps to choose from and you can find them online: grape tomato, blushed bell pepper, and zucchini. ๐Ÿ… ๐Ÿฅ’ Which veggie is your favorite? #DigInWithDKS #Sponsored
The lights are so bright but they never blind me. The lights are so bright but they never blind me. ๐Ÿ’ซ #DateNight
2 years after saying โ€œI doโ€ and it feels like 2 years after saying โ€œI doโ€ and it feels like it was just yesterday. โค๏ธ Our first anniversary was spent in lockdown last year {Swipe for a bts} and today Iโ€™m getting vaxxed ๐Ÿ’‰. It feels like weโ€™ve come full circle and Iโ€™m so ready to celebrate with a dinner in the city tonight and a pretty big adventure to come ๐Ÿ˜Š. Love you, @bayphillips.
Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and I Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and Iโ€™ll be one happy gal ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ„๐ŸŒธ. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Itโ€™s been a gloomy day in the city and I woke up with an itch to put all my whimsical, colorful dreams on paper. Swipe to see the enchanted forest landscape and the BTS of how it came to life. ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ 
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Thereโ€™s a beauty that comes with the stillness of painting. For an hour or two the whole world melts away and itโ€™s just me, the paper and my brush. ๐Ÿ–Œ Showing up with no creative expectations has a way of making me feel limitless, and in many ways itโ€™s the most mindful exercise and expressive form of self care I can do. ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ’• 
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I hope you jelly beans have found your own quiet, creative moment this weekend. I promise itโ€™s the best way to unplug and reset ๐ŸŒˆ  #selfcaresunday
Iโ€™m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies Iโ€™m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies Iโ€™ve ever made! ๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿข๐Ÿ’• These vegan matcha & tahini cookies are fun to create and are guaranteed to make your tastebuds do a lil happy dance! 
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Theyโ€™re a little sweet and nutty with a crispy outside and chewy inside. Bonus: creating the turtle shapes reminded me of playing with playdoh! (Talk about a throwback)
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Iโ€™m going to test out and share several #EarthMonth ๐ŸŒŽ inspired recipes over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! 
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You can find this recipe on @veggiekins blog. ๐Ÿข 10/10 would recommend for cuteness + a healthy treat that makes you smile๐Ÿ˜‹. #HealthyDesserts
๐“๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐Ž๐–๐„๐‘ ๐“๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐Ž๐–๐„๐‘ ๐ข๐ง โœจ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ฒ.โœจ
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Good things rarely come easy in life and they definitely donโ€™t come quickly. More often than not, it boils down to a very underrated behavior called consistency. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
So what does that look like? It means: 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธChoosing to ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ even when youโ€™re not feeling motivated
๐Ÿ”ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค over and over even when it doesnโ€™t seem like anything sticks
๐Ÿ”ธ ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ even when progress is slower than you would have liked
๐Ÿ”ธ Holding yourself accountable and ๐ญ๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ฉ๐ฌ one day at a time till you cross the finish line
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Everyone hypes up motivation but the truth is there will be MANY days where you are unmotivated. Where you find yourself to be tired, frustrated, and impatient with lack of results. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
But thatโ€™s where the real magic happens friends. When you can show up consistently for yourself โ€” in all aspects of your life, you WILL achieve your goals. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐’๐จ ๐ค๐ž๐ž๐ฉ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ . 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
On days when you feel like quitting, remind yourself of your why. Give yourself space to rest and then get back in there and keep trying. ๐Ÿ’ฏ 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Iโ€™ll leave you with this quote: 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
โœจ โ€œ๐ˆ๐ญโ€™๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž ๐ข๐ง ๐š๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐š๐ฉ๐ž๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ. ๐ˆ๐ญโ€™๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐๐จ ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ.โ€ ~ ๐“๐จ๐ง๐ฒ ๐‘๐จ๐›๐›๐ข๐ง๐ฌโœจ
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
{๐Ÿ“ธ: @mikohafez}
Happy Easter๐ŸŒธ , beautiful humans. He is Risen! Happy Easter๐ŸŒธ , beautiful humans. He is Risen! โœจ 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Today Iโ€™m celebrating Godโ€™s eternal love for us and the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ . โœ๏ธ The past 13 months have been full of challenges, discomfort and practicing patience through the unknown. Iโ€™m grateful that through it all, God has brought so much good into our lives and continues to guide us in the direction of his plan. ๐Ÿ’• 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
โœจItโ€™s a comfort to know that after the darkness, there is always light.โœจ
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Even if you donโ€™t celebrate, I hope youโ€™re having a wonderful weekend filled with love and hope for beautiful things to come. ๐Ÿฅฐ  #HappyEaster { ๐Ÿ“ธ: @winilaophotos}
Lookinโ€™ for a super simple & sweet Easter treat! Lookinโ€™ for a super simple & sweet Easter treat!? ๐Ÿฃ These 4๏ธโƒฃ ingredient HEALTHY chocolate pb eggs are for you! 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Iโ€™ve seen these knockoff Reeseโ€™s eggs all over Pinterest and used the recipe by @ambitiouskitchen to make mine. ๐Ÿ’• {SWIPE FOR A CLOSE UP}
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Recipe:
๐Ÿ”ธ Mix 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter with 1 tbsp maple syrup and 2 tbsp coconut flour 
๐Ÿ”ธ Scoop onto parchment paper and form/flatten into egg shapes 
๐Ÿ”ธ Freeze for 1 hour 
๐Ÿ”ธ Melt dark chocolate in small bowl and dip PB eggs 
๐Ÿ”ธ Freeze for 5 min and top with drizzle of white chocolate and sea salt 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Store them in the freezer till ready to eat! ๐Ÿ’• Happy Easter Weekend everyone ๐ŸŒธ #MelsMeals #healthydesserts
๐ŸŒฑ Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask ๐ŸŒฑ Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask and chillll Q&A session because there are lots of new friends on here! ๐Ÿ’•
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Since I canโ€™t believe I hit 30k followers (and 25k on TikTok!?) I thought a little โ€œabout meโ€ and fun fact sharing was in order! ๐Ÿ’•โœจ
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๐€ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ž ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ž
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ Hi lovely humans! My name is Melanie and I created this blog 5 years ago to share my wellness journey and healthy, positive lifestyle + connect with likeminded people such as yourself. ๐Ÿ˜Š
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ I currently live in NYC with my husband, @bayphillips, and our two rescue pups @chipandnina 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ I graduated with a BS in Marketing and have been working in the social media/digital marketing space for 8 years!! 6 years in corporate marketing for tourism and global beauty brands and 2 as a full time wellness blogger 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ I went through a 200 hour yoga teacher training course a few years ago and have been teaching online and at various branded events ever since ๐Ÿ’•. Hoping to teach at a studio once the world is back to normal 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ Personality traits in a nutshell: Iโ€™m a Cancer โ™‹๏ธ, ENFJ and Enneagram 2w3 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ I am a Christian and my faith is super important to me. I have a whole blog post called โ€œConfessions of a Christian Yogiโ€ if youโ€™d like to read more 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐Ÿ”ธ Things I love that youโ€™ll probably see a lot of on here: painting ๐ŸŽจ, reading ๐Ÿ“–, my pups ๐Ÿถ, clean & cruelty-free beauty products๐Ÿ’…๐Ÿป, cute activewear ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ, low impact workouts ๐Ÿง˜๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ, yoga & meditation, food that makes me feel good ๐Ÿฅ‘, matcha ๐Ÿต, colorful home decor ๐Ÿก, self care ๐Ÿ›, and houseplants ๐Ÿชด. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
I hope you stick around and we can get to know each other!! 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
๐ˆ๐ง ๐Ÿ๐š๐œ๐ญ โ€” ๐ˆโ€™๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ž๐š๐ซ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ!! Where are you from? Whatโ€™s your fav kind of workout? What do you do for fun? Plz share away! ๐Ÿฅฐ #SelfCare 
โ €
Special announcement: Iโ€™m officially a @CaliaByC Special announcement: Iโ€™m officially a @CaliaByCarrie Brand Ambassador for a 2nd year and I couldnโ€™t be more thrilled to continue sharing their amazing clothes and accessories with you!! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ’• As a brand, #CALIAByCarrie is all about helping you to โ€œ#ChooseYouโ€and take that extra time for self-care -- which of course is a theme I can 100% get behind, especially this year. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป
 
They have some super pretty pieces for Spring, including this matching set in the color Confetti Dot Sea Fog! ๐Ÿฅฐ Iโ€™m obsessed with the high waisted fit, subtle color block and hidden pocket details. ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿผ Swipe to see how it easily goes from a workout to coffee run (or barre to brunch!) and head to my stories to shop the pieces. 
 
Canโ€™t wait to share more!! ๐ŸŽ‰ Would you like to see more styling photos like this series? Let me know! ๐Ÿ’•#CALIAByCarrieUnderwoodPartner #StayThePath
๐ŸŒฑ PINK & GREEN SMOOTHIE ๐ŸŒฑ {Swipe for the rec ๐ŸŒฑ PINK & GREEN SMOOTHIE ๐ŸŒฑ {Swipe for the recipe} 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
This day totally got away from me as Iโ€™ve been playing catch up with work, but I did have a chance to make this super pretty dragonfruit smoothie and wanted to share!! ๐Ÿ’•
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
I originally was hoping the colors would layer on top of each other but I added too much liquid ๐Ÿ˜…. Even so, the combined flavors were delicious and sooo tropical, plus those pink swirls and drips were everything! 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
SAVE the recipe and give it a try! ๐Ÿฅฐ #greensmoothie
A very Spring weekend in the city. ๐Ÿš• { Swipe fo A very Spring weekend in the city. ๐Ÿš• { Swipe for ๐ŸŒธ blooms} My dad and brother flew up to visit so I spent these past few days unplugged and fully present. ๐Ÿฅฐ 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
I didnโ€™t capture all the moments but it was a weekend full of really delicious food, great views ๐ŸŒƒ , lots of games, about 40K steps ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ and somehow an entire season of Survivor. 
โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €
Feeling very happy and ready to take on the week. ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸปWhat is one fun thing you did this weekend? #SpringinNYC
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