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IN: Travel

The Catskills: A Mini Vacation in the Mountains

June 30, 2020 By Melanie No Comments

It’s been a long time since my husband and I took a real vacation. The last trip we took was to San Francisco, which was more for work rather than pleasure. The time before that was the holidays to see family.

With COVID-19 still at large, we knew it would be too risky to fly somewhere and our day excursion to the Jersey Shore made us realize that even a beach vacation would put us uncomfortably close to other people.

That’s when we got the idea to drive upstate to the Catskills Mountains for a little nature getaway to celebrate my birthday. I’ve been itching to go back upstate ever since my partnership with Ulster County last Fall. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Brooklyn apartment. But being confined in one space for several months is enough to make anyone crave a change of scenery.

So, armed with hand sanitizer and non-toxic bug spray, we rented a car and readied ourselves for a long weekend off the grid and deep in nature.

Map provided by Wanderlog, for itineraries on iOS and Android

Where We Stayed

While searching for a safe and beautiful mountain escape, I stumbled across The Mountain Brook. This charming Adirondack style bed & breakfast is located in Tannersville, NY, right near Hunter Mountain and the famous Kaaterskill Falls (which sadly was closed when we went). Not only do they have beautiful views of the Catskills Mountains but their real selling point was that they have private pet-friendly cabins, which meant Nina and Chip could come with us. Score.

I can safely say that having the private cabin was the best decision we could have made. It was very secluded (I think we saw a total of 5 people on the property) and the cabin was very clean. They didn’t offer maid service due to the virus, so it was good to know we were the only ones coming in and out of our room.

Our cabin porch had a lovely view and an untouched “yard” that made it easy to play fetch with the dogs. My favorite feature was definitely the fireplace though. It was the perfect cozy touch for the crisp, mountain air.

Where We Ate

After a super easy 2 hour drive out of the city on Friday, we ended up in Tannersville just in time for lunch at Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Cafe.

I was delighted to see that The Mountain Brook was just a short walk from Main Street, which was lined with restaurants and coffee shops. The majority were open for takeout and outdoor dining, and ALL required masks, so we didn’t have an issue finding places to eat.

After our 5 hour hiking adventure we ordered pizza, salad and beer from Sal’s Pizza. It was SO satisfying. I may or may have not eaten some while in the tub because lemme tell you… my legs were screaming at me after going up and down a steep mountain.

The ice cream at Mama’s Boys Burgers was delicious and they even had Milkbone Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiches for the pups! Seriously the cutest thing. The Catskill Mountain Country Store & Restaurant is a great spot for iced lattes, especially if you’re like me and plain coffee just doesn’t do the trick for you.

My favorite place though was Jessie’s Harvest House. They offered ample outdoor seating and even though the service was a bit slow, the food was well worth the wait. We ordered watermelon mojitos, scallops with a divine blueberry sauce & lemon hummus, and Italian cheesecake for dessert.

What We Did

Since the weekend called for lots of rain, we wanted to take full advantage of Friday’s sunny weather and go for a hike. I found a trail on Hunter Mountain called “Becker Hollow Trail” which is rated as “difficult” on AllTrails. Somehow I completely brushed off this rating and figured we could handle it.

If you’re thinking of braving the trail yourself, I recommend setting aside at least 4 hours. It’s about 4.7 miles, which doesn’t seem like a lot, until you reach the mile mark on the way up and the terrain quickly switches from a normal path to steep rocks. The pups did an amazing job and by sheer willpower, we made it to the top where a spectacular 360 view of the Catskills was waiting for us.

On Saturday it rained for the majority of the day, and the chill damp air was a welcome reason to cozy up to our fireplace and read a book. I actually was able to read “Head Over Heels” cover to cover by the end of the trip and can happily report it’s very cute and a fun summer read.

Sunday had much spottier rain on the radar so we decided to risk it and go for another hike. This time I found a much easier trail near the lodge which led us to Inspiration Point. The cliff offers up a great view of the Catskills and a nice spot to eat some lunch.

Other than our outdoor ventures, we really spent a lot of time cozied up in the cabin. Enjoying board games like scrabble and some movies we brought along. We roasted marshmallows at the outdoor firepit since the lodge provides everything you need for Smores.

Overall it was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

Shop My Outdoor Vacation Essentials

I’m personally so grateful that we had the opportunity to get out of the city for my birthday. Being surrounded by nature is so therapeutic and my only wish is that we could have stayed longer. If any of you New Yorkers decide to travel up to the Catskills this Summer (or beyond), I hope you found this helpful!

Safe travels, friends.

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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 Denver. 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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Another day, another healthy habit ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‹ . I ca
Another day, another healthy habit ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‹ . I canโ€™t believe we only have a few more to go! In case youโ€™re new here, Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits and mindful practices that you can incorporate your routine to help you feel your best. 

DAY 12: Focus on Hydration ๐Ÿ’ง

Iโ€™m not going to laundry list all of the benefits of drinking more water because this is one habit we all KNOW we need to do โ€” however if you find yourself struggling with this one, here are some tips that may help: 

โœจ Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning 
โœจ Jazz up your water with lemon ๐Ÿ‹ 
โœจ Add electrolytes to your water post-workout 
โœจ Make homemade juices from hydrating veggies and fruit (this one is celery, cucumber + apple) 
โœจ Fill an extra large water bottle to keep track of how much youโ€™re drinking through the day 
โœจ Serve water with every meal
โœจ Drink unsweetened iced or hot tea
โœจ Set reminders on your phone or use a tracker (like the one in my Mindful Morning Planner) 

I used to struggle with this habit but ever since moving to Denver a couple years ago, the dry climate has forced me to focus on hydration daily and now I feel like Iโ€™m constantly drinking water and using all the hydrating skincare products ๐Ÿ˜…

Stay tuned for the final 3 healthy habits of the series coming soon! 

#wellness #mindfulroutines #morningroutine #healthyandhappy #morningvibes #wellnesslifestyle #colorfulaesthetic #mindfulroutine #happyandhealthy #morninghabits #healthylifestyle #iamwellandgood

โ€œLook to the sunlight above and smile. You are n
โ€œLook to the sunlight above and smile. You are never alone.โ€ ๐ŸŒป Swipe for more healing words. Save, share and take what you need ๐ŸคŽ

#selfcompassion #selflove #dailyreminders #positivemindset #littlereminders #wellbeing #mindfulness #findthelight #selfgrowth #wellnesswednesday


Can you count how many plants are in this video? ๐Ÿชด๐Ÿคช Welcome back to my Healthy Habit series, where Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits and mindful practices to incorporate into your daily routine to help you feel your best. 

DAY 11: Bring Nature Indoors 

There are numerous studies that have demonstrated the power of keeping houseplants in your home. Emotionally, the presence of plants help to decrease anxiety and stress. The act of caring for them requires patience and watching them grow provides a feeling of accomplishment. ๐Ÿชด๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ

Some houseplants help to purify the air and if you plant a small herb garden in your kitchen, youโ€™ll reap the benefits of fresh herbs all year round.

Other simple ways to invite nature indoors are:

๐ŸชŸ open your windows on a cool day
๐ŸคŽ choose earth tones for your decor
๐ŸŒŠ play soothing sounds like ocean waves or rain ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ light candles or a fireplace
โ˜€๏ธ set up a reading nook in a very sunny corner of your home

Is this a habit youโ€™re already putting into practice? And if so, what is your favorite way to invite nature indoors? 

{well-being, wellness, self care, biophilia, healthy lifestyle, positive mindset, healthy tips, self growth} 

#wellbeing #healthyhabits #plantcare #houseplantlove #romanticizeyourlife #healthyathome #wellnesstips #wellnessblogger #healthyandhappy #mindfulhabits #morningroutine #mindfulroutine #selfcaretips

Embracing all the little moments of peace, beauty
Embracing all the little moments of peace, beauty and playfulness ๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ’—

Dressed in head to toe @fpmovement including all the cozy layers for when hot, golden afternoons transition to crisp, chilly evenings. I for one am so ready to see these leaves start to change colors, are you? 

PS: linked this whole fit in my stories for ya ๐Ÿ’Œ

#FPmovementPartner #healthylifestyle #outdoorsygals #denverblogger #hikingclub #hikingoutfit #summertofall #outdoorfitness #happyandhealthy #wellnesslifestyle

โ€œTry not to think about what could have or shoul
โ€œTry not to think about what could have or should have been. Whatโ€™s done is done.โ€ โœจโค๏ธ

Itโ€™s day ten of my Healthy Habit series where Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits that you can incorporate daily to help you feel your best and I recommend turning the audio up for this one ๐Ÿฅน

DAY 10: Live In The Present 

The beauty of practicing daily mindfulness is that it helps us shift our mindset to the only thing that is guaranteed โ€” this very moment. Each day we are alive is such a blessing and by channeling that gratitude, we can learn to cultivate more joy in the present moment instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. 

Mindfulness allows us to regulate our emotions and is a reminder that everything in life is temporary. We will all face challenges and difficult seasons throughout our lifetime โ€” but cultivating this mindful habit of living in the present is a helpful tool as you wait for the hard times to pass. ๐Ÿค

 โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข

PS: if you want to make this pumpkin spice oatmeal here is the recipe: 

โœจ 1/2 cup rolled oats 
โœจ 1 cup almond milk 
โœจ 1/4 cup water 
โœจ 1/2 cup pumpkin purรฉe 
โœจ 1 tbsp maple syrup 
โœจ 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 
โœจ 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
โœจ pinch of salt 

Bring almond milk and water to a boil and then add in all additional ingredients. Simmer for 8-10 min and top with bananas, chopped nuts, almond butter and a little drizzle of maple syrup 

{wellness, mindful living, intentional living, healthy mindset, positive thinking, self growth} 

#wellnesstips #mindfulhabit #mindfulroutine #morningroutine #cookwithme #romanticizeyourlife #liveinthepresent #selflove #selfgrowth #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #positivemindset #mindsetmatters #makebreakfastwithme #healthyroutines


โœจ ๐๐„๐– ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐›๐ฅ๐จ๐ : ๐Ÿ“ ๐–๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐“๐จ ๐…๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐š๐œ๐ค ๐ˆ๐ง ๐‹๐จ๐ฏ๐ž ๐–๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐‘๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ž (link in bio) โœจ
 #ad Iโ€™ve been struggling with motivation lately and wanted to share some of my tried and true tips that help me find joy in my fitness routine. 

One thing I know makes a difference for me is dressing the part and wearing activewear that is cute, fits like a dream and makes me feel confident. Thatโ€™s why Iโ€™m excited to share my newest activewear obsession โ€“ @neiwaiofficial ๐Ÿค

This Asian female-founded brand has some of the dreamiest, matching sets and these two from their Mousse Active Collection (swipe for a peep) are perfect for low-impact workouts like pilates, yoga and barre. I love the soft micro-suede material and know Iโ€™ll be wearing them all through Fall and Winter with some cozy layers. 

๐ˆโ€™๐ฏ๐ž ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ž๐ ๐›๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ž๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐‹๐“๐Š ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐œ๐š๐ง ๐ฌ๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ% ๐จ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐œ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐œ๐จ๐๐ž: ๐ฆ๐ž๐ข
{only valid through 9/15 so get yours quick!} 

Which is your fav: the emerald green or neutral mushroom? ๐Ÿ‘‡

#NEIWAI  #Active  #InhaleExhale  #MadeToLiveIn  #NEIWAIfriends #liketkit #LTKfitness #LTKSeasonal
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/4iwFl

Clean the house with me for Day 9/15 of my Healthy
Clean the house with me for Day 9/15 of my Healthy Habit Series ๐Ÿค

DAY 9: Clean your space ๐Ÿงน๐Ÿซง๐Ÿงบ๐Ÿงฝ

I wish I was one of those people that found cleaning to be enjoyable buuuut unfortunately thatโ€™s not usually the case. ๐Ÿ˜… I do however get very stressed out when thereโ€™s too much clutter or things start to feel like theyโ€™re piling up. So in reality, keeping my space organized and tidy is probably the most helpful mental health habit that I turn to over and over again ๐Ÿซง 

Weโ€™ve all heard the phrase โ€œclear space, clear mindโ€ and I ๐Ÿ’ฏ% believe that to be true. Eliminating clutter and keeping things tidy do wonders for mental clarity, creativity, and in my case โ€” a greater sense of ease. 

I find that even 10-15 min of cleaning/decluttering a day can really make a big difference but for when life happens and things build up a bit more, having a dedicated โ€œreset dayโ€ honestly is so worth it. ๐Ÿ’•

Stay tuned for six more simple, realistic habits into your routine to help you feel your best

{wellness, healthy lifestyle, healthy mindset, self discipline, self growth, wellbeing, reset routine} 

#healthyhabits #wellnesstips #mindfulroutine #cleanwithme #resetroutine #iamwellandgood #morningroutine #wellnessblogger #cleaningroutine #healthymotivation

Stepping into the weekend ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ and this shift of
Stepping into the weekend ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ and  this shift of seasons is making me more excited to spend time outside. Which brings us to day 8/15 of my Healthy Habits series where Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits to incorporate into your daily routine to help you feel your best ๐Ÿค

DAY 8: GO ON A WALK 

Something about getting outside for even 15 min of fresh air and movement is so healing and lately Iโ€™ve been doing a lot of โ€œwalk and talksโ€ where I put on headphones and chat with friends as I get my steps in. 

Sometimes I listen to music or a podcast but many times I just walk without any distractions. There are so many mental and physical benefits of taking time to go on a walk, and right now, itโ€™s been an important tool for me to get out of the house and help reduce stress. 

And now with sweater weather approaching Iโ€™m so excited to get out for more morning walks with a hot cup of coffee in hand. โ˜•๏ธ 

{wellness, healthy lifestyle, healthy mindset, self growth, self discipline, daily movement} 

#wellnessblogger #healthyhabits #morningroutine #morninghabits #dailyroutine #healthymotivation #iamwellandgood #morningwalk #hotgirlwalk #movementismedicine #mindfulroutine

#AD September is officially here and with it bring
#AD September is officially here and with it brings the promise of pumpkin spice and Fall vibes (which tbh Iโ€™m SO excited for!). ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽƒ๐Ÿงก I figure thereโ€™s no better way to kick off the season than with a Pumpkin Cold Brew Smoothie featuring @silk Almondmilk! I picked up all these ingredients at my local @Target and think you all are going to LOVE this recipe.

Be sure to SAVE this to try later:

โœจ 1 frozen banana
โœจ ยฝ cup organic pumpkin puree
โœจ ยผ cup greek yogurt 
โœจ 1 medjool date
โœจ 1 tbsp almond butter
โœจ 1 tbsp flax seeds
โœจ ยฝ cup cold brew 
โœจ 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
โœจ ยฝ cup SILK Unsweetened Almondmilk 
โœจ ice

Blend all ingredients and pour into your fav glass! I love how smooth and creamy SILK Almondmilk is and itโ€™s such an easy, plant-based swap for any of your smoothies. Get 10% off Silk Almondmilk with the Target Circle app from 9/3-9/9! ๐ŸŽฏ 

Be sure to tag us if you recreate this pumpkin smoothie at home! 

#silkalmondmilk #silktarget #pumpkincoldbrew #pumpkinsmoothie #smoothierecipe #smoothietime #fallsmoothie #pumpkinrecipe

My Healthy Habits series has been on a hiatus but
My Healthy Habits series has been on a hiatus but Iโ€™m ready to finish what I started ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ. In many ways, these little habits are exactly what I need right now and have become โ€œhealing habitsโ€ that I always turn to when I need a mental or physical boost. 

My hope is that by the end of this 15 part series youโ€™ll be inspired to incorporate more of these simple, realistic habits into your own daily routines 

DAY 7: WRITE IN A JOURNAL โœ๏ธ

Iโ€™ve been keeping some form of diary or journal on and off since 2nd grade, which is kind of wild when I think about all the notebooks filled with memories stacked in my closet. Writing is such a therapeutic exercise and a great introspective tool to help work through different feelings and emotions. 

There are plenty of guided journals if free writing is intimidating and I share plenty of prompts on my blog and @mindfulmorningclub page ๐Ÿ“–

I always suggest starting with just 5-10 min of writing time in the morning or evening and expanding if/when your schedule allows. โœจ

Do you keep a journal? 

#healthyhabits #morningroutine #wellnesstips #journaling #iamwellandgood #healthylifestyle #healthymindset #morningrituals #selfcaretips #morningvibes #autumnmorning #wellnesslifestyle #mindfulroutine #smallmoments #fallvibes

Little things that nourished my soul lately ๐Ÿ’ซ

Little things that nourished my soul lately ๐Ÿ’ซ 

๐Ÿถ mountain views with my lil family 
๐ŸŒธ writing everything out in my journal 
๐Ÿฆ‹ starting to ease back into workouts I enjoy 
๐Ÿ’ beautiful flowers & plants from friends 
๐Ÿฆ sushi followed by ube ice cream 
๐Ÿ’‡๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ much needed hair color refresh 
โ˜•๏ธ matcha & a new book 
๐Ÿ’…๐Ÿป treating myself to a pedicure 

Healing is not a linear process and Iโ€™m giving myself grace to feel all the feelings as they come. Through every challenge, thereโ€™s beauty in knowing the heart has a capacity for holding space for it all โ€” for moments of small joys, pain and sorrow, and perhaps most importantly, so much space for hope. 

โœจHope that by sharing my story, other women will feel less alone 

โœจHope that it helps shines a light on how painful, emotionally and physically, pregnancy loss can be 

โœจHope that God will give us our rainbow baby soon 

To the hundreds of you who had the kindness and courage to share your own miscarriage stories with me and others who shared words of love, thank you. We have felt so supported this past week and it has given us a lot of strength. 

I am craving normalcy again, and that means Iโ€™m ready to dive back into work with branded content going live this week and continuing my Healthy Habits series. Life moves forward and even though this experience will stay with me forever, 
I am ready to leave the pain behind ๐Ÿค

#lifelately #miscarriageawareness #newbeginnings #cameraroll

This isnt the announcement I hoped to share. We we
This isnt the announcement I hoped to share. We were so excited to welcome our little baby into this world. Instead we gained an angel. ๐Ÿ‘ผ 

Last Friday, at 11 weeks and 2 days pregnant, we checked into the OB for an emergency ultrasound. We were just a week shy of our official 12 week apptโ€” the one where we would find out the gender and prepare to share the news with family and friends. Instead, they couldnโ€™t find a heartbeat. ๐Ÿ’” 

The first trimester hadnโ€™t been easy. At 6 weeks I ended up in the ER but heard the babyโ€™s heartbeat and left feeling hopeful. We saw the baby officially at our 8 week ultrasound and felt more assured that things would progress as we hoped. 

Time continued to move forward and by the 11 week mark, we were picking potential names, reading parenting books, and starting to take bump photos. 

They say the odds of a miscarriage at 11 weeks is so smallโ€ฆ yet here we are. I know we are not alone in this but it doesnโ€™t make the pain and heartbreak any easier.

Weโ€™ve been taking time to work through our grief and process this loss together. We are grateful to have such an incredible support system and I thank you all for providing a safe space to share my story. I kindly ask that you do not share any unsolicited medical advice or ask questions. 

I know there will be brighter days ahead and this experience has made me very aware of just how much we look forward to having a family. Itโ€™s not our time, but I know it will happen someday.

For now, this is goodbye, little one. You are forever in our hearts ๐Ÿ‘ผโค๏ธ ~ M & B


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Another day, another healthy habit ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‹ . I ca Another day, another healthy habit ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‹ . I canโ€™t believe we only have a few more to go! In case youโ€™re new here, Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits and mindful practices that you can incorporate your routine to help you feel your best. 

DAY 12: Focus on Hydration ๐Ÿ’ง

Iโ€™m not going to laundry list all of the benefits of drinking more water because this is one habit we all KNOW we need to do โ€” however if you find yourself struggling with this one, here are some tips that may help: 

โœจ Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning 
โœจ Jazz up your water with lemon ๐Ÿ‹ 
โœจ Add electrolytes to your water post-workout 
โœจ Make homemade juices from hydrating veggies and fruit (this one is celery, cucumber + apple) 
โœจ Fill an extra large water bottle to keep track of how much youโ€™re drinking through the day 
โœจ Serve water with every meal
โœจ Drink unsweetened iced or hot tea
โœจ Set reminders on your phone or use a tracker (like the one in my Mindful Morning Planner) 

I used to struggle with this habit but ever since moving to Denver a couple years ago, the dry climate has forced me to focus on hydration daily and now I feel like Iโ€™m constantly drinking water and using all the hydrating skincare products ๐Ÿ˜…

Stay tuned for the final 3 healthy habits of the series coming soon! 

#wellness #mindfulroutines #morningroutine #healthyandhappy #morningvibes #wellnesslifestyle #colorfulaesthetic #mindfulroutine #happyandhealthy #morninghabits #healthylifestyle #iamwellandgood
โ€œLook to the sunlight above and smile. You are n โ€œLook to the sunlight above and smile. You are never alone.โ€ ๐ŸŒป Swipe for more healing words. Save, share and take what you need ๐ŸคŽ

#selfcompassion #selflove #dailyreminders #positivemindset #littlereminders #wellbeing #mindfulness #findthelight #selfgrowth #wellnesswednesday
Can you count how many plants are in this video? ๐Ÿชด๐Ÿคช Welcome back to my Healthy Habit series, where Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits and mindful practices to incorporate into your daily routine to help you feel your best. 

DAY 11: Bring Nature Indoors 

There are numerous studies that have demonstrated the power of keeping houseplants in your home. Emotionally, the presence of plants help to decrease anxiety and stress. The act of caring for them requires patience and watching them grow provides a feeling of accomplishment. ๐Ÿชด๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ

Some houseplants help to purify the air and if you plant a small herb garden in your kitchen, youโ€™ll reap the benefits of fresh herbs all year round.

Other simple ways to invite nature indoors are:

๐ŸชŸ open your windows on a cool day
๐ŸคŽ choose earth tones for your decor
๐ŸŒŠ play soothing sounds like ocean waves or rain ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ light candles or a fireplace
โ˜€๏ธ set up a reading nook in a very sunny corner of your home

Is this a habit youโ€™re already putting into practice? And if so, what is your favorite way to invite nature indoors? 

{well-being, wellness, self care, biophilia, healthy lifestyle, positive mindset, healthy tips, self growth} 

#wellbeing #healthyhabits #plantcare #houseplantlove #romanticizeyourlife #healthyathome #wellnesstips #wellnessblogger #healthyandhappy #mindfulhabits #morningroutine #mindfulroutine #selfcaretips
Embracing all the little moments of peace, beauty Embracing all the little moments of peace, beauty and playfulness ๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ’—

Dressed in head to toe @fpmovement including all the cozy layers for when hot, golden afternoons transition to crisp, chilly evenings. I for one am so ready to see these leaves start to change colors, are you? 

PS: linked this whole fit in my stories for ya ๐Ÿ’Œ

#FPmovementPartner #healthylifestyle #outdoorsygals #denverblogger #hikingclub #hikingoutfit #summertofall #outdoorfitness #happyandhealthy #wellnesslifestyle
โ€œTry not to think about what could have or shoul โ€œTry not to think about what could have or should have been. Whatโ€™s done is done.โ€ โœจโค๏ธ

Itโ€™s day ten of my Healthy Habit series where Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits that you can incorporate daily to help you feel your best and I recommend turning the audio up for this one ๐Ÿฅน

DAY 10: Live In The Present 

The beauty of practicing daily mindfulness is that it helps us shift our mindset to the only thing that is guaranteed โ€” this very moment. Each day we are alive is such a blessing and by channeling that gratitude, we can learn to cultivate more joy in the present moment instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. 

Mindfulness allows us to regulate our emotions and is a reminder that everything in life is temporary. We will all face challenges and difficult seasons throughout our lifetime โ€” but cultivating this mindful habit of living in the present is a helpful tool as you wait for the hard times to pass. ๐Ÿค

 โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข โ€ข

PS: if you want to make this pumpkin spice oatmeal here is the recipe: 

โœจ 1/2 cup rolled oats 
โœจ 1 cup almond milk 
โœจ 1/4 cup water 
โœจ 1/2 cup pumpkin purรฉe 
โœจ 1 tbsp maple syrup 
โœจ 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 
โœจ 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
โœจ pinch of salt 

Bring almond milk and water to a boil and then add in all additional ingredients. Simmer for 8-10 min and top with bananas, chopped nuts, almond butter and a little drizzle of maple syrup 

{wellness, mindful living, intentional living, healthy mindset, positive thinking, self growth} 

#wellnesstips #mindfulhabit #mindfulroutine #morningroutine #cookwithme #romanticizeyourlife #liveinthepresent #selflove #selfgrowth #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #positivemindset #mindsetmatters #makebreakfastwithme #healthyroutines
โœจ ๐๐„๐– ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐›๐ฅ๐จ๐ : ๐Ÿ“ ๐–๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐“๐จ ๐…๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐š๐œ๐ค ๐ˆ๐ง ๐‹๐จ๐ฏ๐ž ๐–๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐‘๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ž (link in bio) โœจ
 #ad Iโ€™ve been struggling with motivation lately and wanted to share some of my tried and true tips that help me find joy in my fitness routine. 

One thing I know makes a difference for me is dressing the part and wearing activewear that is cute, fits like a dream and makes me feel confident. Thatโ€™s why Iโ€™m excited to share my newest activewear obsession โ€“ @neiwaiofficial ๐Ÿค

This Asian female-founded brand has some of the dreamiest, matching sets and these two from their Mousse Active Collection (swipe for a peep) are perfect for low-impact workouts like pilates, yoga and barre. I love the soft micro-suede material and know Iโ€™ll be wearing them all through Fall and Winter with some cozy layers. 

๐ˆโ€™๐ฏ๐ž ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ž๐ ๐›๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ž๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐‹๐“๐Š ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐œ๐š๐ง ๐ฌ๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ% ๐จ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐œ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐œ๐จ๐๐ž: ๐ฆ๐ž๐ข
{only valid through 9/15 so get yours quick!} 

Which is your fav: the emerald green or neutral mushroom? ๐Ÿ‘‡

#NEIWAI  #Active  #InhaleExhale  #MadeToLiveIn  #NEIWAIfriends #liketkit #LTKfitness #LTKSeasonal
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/4iwFl
Clean the house with me for Day 9/15 of my Healthy Clean the house with me for Day 9/15 of my Healthy Habit Series ๐Ÿค

DAY 9: Clean your space ๐Ÿงน๐Ÿซง๐Ÿงบ๐Ÿงฝ

I wish I was one of those people that found cleaning to be enjoyable buuuut unfortunately thatโ€™s not usually the case. ๐Ÿ˜… I do however get very stressed out when thereโ€™s too much clutter or things start to feel like theyโ€™re piling up. So in reality, keeping my space organized and tidy is probably the most helpful mental health habit that I turn to over and over again ๐Ÿซง 

Weโ€™ve all heard the phrase โ€œclear space, clear mindโ€ and I ๐Ÿ’ฏ% believe that to be true. Eliminating clutter and keeping things tidy do wonders for mental clarity, creativity, and in my case โ€” a greater sense of ease. 

I find that even 10-15 min of cleaning/decluttering a day can really make a big difference but for when life happens and things build up a bit more, having a dedicated โ€œreset dayโ€ honestly is so worth it. ๐Ÿ’•

Stay tuned for six more simple, realistic habits into your routine to help you feel your best

{wellness, healthy lifestyle, healthy mindset, self discipline, self growth, wellbeing, reset routine} 

#healthyhabits #wellnesstips #mindfulroutine #cleanwithme #resetroutine #iamwellandgood #morningroutine #wellnessblogger #cleaningroutine #healthymotivation
Stepping into the weekend ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ and this shift of Stepping into the weekend ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ and  this shift of seasons is making me more excited to spend time outside. Which brings us to day 8/15 of my Healthy Habits series where Iโ€™m sharing 15 simple, realistic habits to incorporate into your daily routine to help you feel your best ๐Ÿค

DAY 8: GO ON A WALK 

Something about getting outside for even 15 min of fresh air and movement is so healing and lately Iโ€™ve been doing a lot of โ€œwalk and talksโ€ where I put on headphones and chat with friends as I get my steps in. 

Sometimes I listen to music or a podcast but many times I just walk without any distractions. There are so many mental and physical benefits of taking time to go on a walk, and right now, itโ€™s been an important tool for me to get out of the house and help reduce stress. 

And now with sweater weather approaching Iโ€™m so excited to get out for more morning walks with a hot cup of coffee in hand. โ˜•๏ธ 

{wellness, healthy lifestyle, healthy mindset, self growth, self discipline, daily movement} 

#wellnessblogger #healthyhabits #morningroutine #morninghabits #dailyroutine #healthymotivation #iamwellandgood #morningwalk #hotgirlwalk #movementismedicine #mindfulroutine
#AD September is officially here and with it bring #AD September is officially here and with it brings the promise of pumpkin spice and Fall vibes (which tbh Iโ€™m SO excited for!). ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽƒ๐Ÿงก I figure thereโ€™s no better way to kick off the season than with a Pumpkin Cold Brew Smoothie featuring @silk Almondmilk! I picked up all these ingredients at my local @Target and think you all are going to LOVE this recipe.

Be sure to SAVE this to try later:

โœจ 1 frozen banana
โœจ ยฝ cup organic pumpkin puree
โœจ ยผ cup greek yogurt 
โœจ 1 medjool date
โœจ 1 tbsp almond butter
โœจ 1 tbsp flax seeds
โœจ ยฝ cup cold brew 
โœจ 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
โœจ ยฝ cup SILK Unsweetened Almondmilk 
โœจ ice

Blend all ingredients and pour into your fav glass! I love how smooth and creamy SILK Almondmilk is and itโ€™s such an easy, plant-based swap for any of your smoothies. Get 10% off Silk Almondmilk with the Target Circle app from 9/3-9/9! ๐ŸŽฏ 

Be sure to tag us if you recreate this pumpkin smoothie at home! 

#silkalmondmilk #silktarget #pumpkincoldbrew #pumpkinsmoothie #smoothierecipe #smoothietime #fallsmoothie #pumpkinrecipe
My Healthy Habits series has been on a hiatus but My Healthy Habits series has been on a hiatus but Iโ€™m ready to finish what I started ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ. In many ways, these little habits are exactly what I need right now and have become โ€œhealing habitsโ€ that I always turn to when I need a mental or physical boost. 

My hope is that by the end of this 15 part series youโ€™ll be inspired to incorporate more of these simple, realistic habits into your own daily routines 

DAY 7: WRITE IN A JOURNAL โœ๏ธ

Iโ€™ve been keeping some form of diary or journal on and off since 2nd grade, which is kind of wild when I think about all the notebooks filled with memories stacked in my closet. Writing is such a therapeutic exercise and a great introspective tool to help work through different feelings and emotions. 

There are plenty of guided journals if free writing is intimidating and I share plenty of prompts on my blog and @mindfulmorningclub page ๐Ÿ“–

I always suggest starting with just 5-10 min of writing time in the morning or evening and expanding if/when your schedule allows. โœจ

Do you keep a journal? 

#healthyhabits #morningroutine #wellnesstips #journaling #iamwellandgood #healthylifestyle #healthymindset #morningrituals #selfcaretips #morningvibes #autumnmorning #wellnesslifestyle #mindfulroutine #smallmoments #fallvibes
Little things that nourished my soul lately ๐Ÿ’ซ Little things that nourished my soul lately ๐Ÿ’ซ 

๐Ÿถ mountain views with my lil family 
๐ŸŒธ writing everything out in my journal 
๐Ÿฆ‹ starting to ease back into workouts I enjoy 
๐Ÿ’ beautiful flowers & plants from friends 
๐Ÿฆ sushi followed by ube ice cream 
๐Ÿ’‡๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ much needed hair color refresh 
โ˜•๏ธ matcha & a new book 
๐Ÿ’…๐Ÿป treating myself to a pedicure 

Healing is not a linear process and Iโ€™m giving myself grace to feel all the feelings as they come. Through every challenge, thereโ€™s beauty in knowing the heart has a capacity for holding space for it all โ€” for moments of small joys, pain and sorrow, and perhaps most importantly, so much space for hope. 

โœจHope that by sharing my story, other women will feel less alone 

โœจHope that it helps shines a light on how painful, emotionally and physically, pregnancy loss can be 

โœจHope that God will give us our rainbow baby soon 

To the hundreds of you who had the kindness and courage to share your own miscarriage stories with me and others who shared words of love, thank you. We have felt so supported this past week and it has given us a lot of strength. 

I am craving normalcy again, and that means Iโ€™m ready to dive back into work with branded content going live this week and continuing my Healthy Habits series. Life moves forward and even though this experience will stay with me forever, 
I am ready to leave the pain behind ๐Ÿค

#lifelately #miscarriageawareness #newbeginnings #cameraroll
This isnt the announcement I hoped to share. We we This isnt the announcement I hoped to share. We were so excited to welcome our little baby into this world. Instead we gained an angel. ๐Ÿ‘ผ 

Last Friday, at 11 weeks and 2 days pregnant, we checked into the OB for an emergency ultrasound. We were just a week shy of our official 12 week apptโ€” the one where we would find out the gender and prepare to share the news with family and friends. Instead, they couldnโ€™t find a heartbeat. ๐Ÿ’” 

The first trimester hadnโ€™t been easy. At 6 weeks I ended up in the ER but heard the babyโ€™s heartbeat and left feeling hopeful. We saw the baby officially at our 8 week ultrasound and felt more assured that things would progress as we hoped. 

Time continued to move forward and by the 11 week mark, we were picking potential names, reading parenting books, and starting to take bump photos. 

They say the odds of a miscarriage at 11 weeks is so smallโ€ฆ yet here we are. I know we are not alone in this but it doesnโ€™t make the pain and heartbreak any easier.

Weโ€™ve been taking time to work through our grief and process this loss together. We are grateful to have such an incredible support system and I thank you all for providing a safe space to share my story. I kindly ask that you do not share any unsolicited medical advice or ask questions. 

I know there will be brighter days ahead and this experience has made me very aware of just how much we look forward to having a family. Itโ€™s not our time, but I know it will happen someday.

For now, this is goodbye, little one. You are forever in our hearts ๐Ÿ‘ผโค๏ธ ~ M & B
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