• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Wellness
  • Yoga
  • Beauty
  • GirlBossing
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Shop

Headstands and Heels

  • Wellness
  • Yoga
  • Beauty
  • GirlBossing
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Shop
IN: Travel

6 Ways to Spend a Summer Afternoon in Manhattan

July 27, 2020 By Melanie 1 Comment

Hi friends! NYC is officially in Phase 4 of reopening and despite indoor activities being off limits, the city is starting to come alive again as people rush to rooftops, parks and outdoor dining. As we start to ease into this new way of living while also maintaining social distancing and staying safe, this has sort of become a time to “rediscover” the Manhattan we once knew and loved.

If you’re in the Manhattan area and looking for ways to spend a summer day, you’re in luck. I’m so excited to share Part 1 of a two part series of Summer activities to do in NYC!

This is also the very first guest blog post that I have on my channel and it’s written by my amazing marketing assistant, KellyAnne Tang! Join her on her adventure through the city as she shares a few of her favorite Summer spots and what to expect while there.

Stay tuned for Part II from yours truly soon. ~ Mel

Guest Blog Post By Headstands & Heels Marketing Assistant, KellyAnne Tang

This summer marks my third anniversary of making New York City my home, and it’s definitely been a year to remember. Over the past few months when it felt risky to even set foot outside of my apartment, I found myself desperately missing the city even though I never left. While this crisis is still far from over, it warms my heart to see the city slowly coming back to life.

I’ve recently started to feel more comfortable getting back on the subway and spending more time out and about. If you’re feeling the same way, I wanted to share these 6 ideas for how to safely spend a summer afternoon in the city.

I live up in Harlem so these are based in Manhattan and the Bronx, but stay tuned for Mel’s Brooklyn edition! Grab your face mask and hand sanitizer, and you’re ready to go!  

FERRY TO GOVERNORS ISLAND

This urban oasis is one of those places that many New Yorkers haven’t visited even after living here for years! It’s only a quick, 15-minute ferry ride away, and once on the island, you can walk or bike around, have a picnic, and take in the absolutely stunning downtown views. There’s also a courtyard with food stalls where you can grab something to eat and drink (including some fun frozen cocktails!).The island just reopened for the season, and you can make reservations for the ferry here ($0-3).

PICNIC IN CENTRAL PARK

I’m sure this isn’t new to anyone, but honestly, it never gets old for me. I love picking up fruit from the farmers market (there’s a great one at the American Museum of Natural History on Sundays) and spending the afternoon in the park. Every time I’ve visited recently, it’s been pretty easy to find space and shade. A couple of my favorite spots are the Great Hill and the secluded meadows hidden in the Ramble. I highly recommend waiting for the fireflies to come out for a little extra magic. Afterwards, it’s an absolute requirement to get ice cream. I’m a big fan of either the Almond Bar or Grasshopper Pie flavors at Emack & Bolio’s on the Upper West Side, but there are Van Leeuwen and Big Gay Ice Cream shops nearby as well!

BIKE OR WALK THE MANHATTAN WATERFRONT GREENWAY

This is a great route that follows almost the whole perimeter of Manhattan, and it’s perfect for a long walk or bike ride with minimal car traffic. I first started running the western portion when I was training for my first half marathon, and I discovered that it’s a great way to see a lot of the city. One of my favorite sections is the area between Riverbank State Park and The Little Red Lighthouse where there are lots of open areas to take a break. It does tend to get crowded on the weekends lately, so I would recommend trying to go on a weekday in order to make sure you can keep a safe distance from others.

EXPLORE MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS

One of my favorite not-so-hidden gems in this neighborhood is The Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It’s definitely worth walking by and marveling at this enormous building on your way to grab breakfast. For something quick, pick up one of the best bagels in the city at Absolute Bagels, and if you’re in the mood for brunch, try Community Food & Juice (sister restaurant of Clinton St. Baking Company on the Lower East Side). Their pancakes are AMAZING, but you can’t go wrong with the french toast either. For a post-breakfast stroll, you can head to the nearby Riverside Park. You can go uptown and end up at Grant’s Tomb, which is right next to a lovely park with lots of space for lounging. Or you could head downtown and admire the 91st Street Garden, which you may recognize from the end scene of “You’ve Got Mail.”

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES AT NYBG (BRONX)

The New York Botanical Gardens are one of my favorite places in the city, so I’m super excited that they are reopening their outdoor spaces. The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden is in full bloom right now, so it’s a great time to go! They have designated picnic areas, and I recommend picking up supplies beforehand on Arthur Avenue, the Little Italy of the Bronx. It’s about a 20-minute walk or a quick car ride from the gardens. You can grab focaccia and cannoli at Madonia Brothers Bakery and pick up some fresh mozzarella and tomatoes at any number of little shops nearby. NYBG opens to the public on July 28th, and you’ll need to reserve a timed-entry ticket here.  

TAKE IN THE VIEWS AT FORT TRYON PARK

This gorgeous park in Washington Heights can be a little bit of a trek if you don’t live uptown, but I promise it’s worth it! There’s an A stop that drops you off right at the entrance and from there, you can meander through the beautiful Heather Garden. When you need a break from exploring, find a bench overlooking the river or relax on the lawn beneath the Cloisters. There’s a lot to see, so you can easily spend a couple hours here.

Stay safe and we hope you enjoy your afternoon exploring Manhattan! If you’re looking for a weekend escape, be sure to check out Mel’s recap from her time in the Catskills.

~ KellyAnne

Filed Under: Travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynnellen says

    July 27, 2020 at 5:10 pm

    I want to go to all of it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

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. 💕 Send me a note at: mel@headstandsandheels.com or Read More

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Find Me on Instagram


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! ☀️ 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, it’s even more of a reason to enjoy the warm weather, sunshine, and all things that Mother Nature has to offer! 🍅 🥒 🌿
 
One of my fav things nature gives us is veggies and I’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 they’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. 👏 
 
I love supporting brands that are doing awesome things for people and the planet and think you all will love them too! 🌎 💕
 
They have 3 different kinds of Veggie Crisps to choose from and you can find them online: grape tomato, blushed bell pepper, and zucchini. 🍅 🥒 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. 💫 #DateNight

2 years after saying “I do” and it feels like
2 years after saying “I do” and it feels like it was just yesterday. ❤️ Our first anniversary was spent in lockdown last year {Swipe for a bts} and today I’m getting vaxxed 💉. It feels like we’ve come full circle and I’m so ready to celebrate with a dinner in the city tonight and a pretty big adventure to come 😊. Love you, @bayphillips.

Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and I
Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and I’ll be one happy gal 🎨🍄🌸. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’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. 🌿🌼 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There’s a beauty that comes with the stillness of painting. For an hour or two the whole world melts away and it’s just me, the paper and my brush. 🖌 Showing up with no creative expectations has a way of making me feel limitless, and in many ways it’s the most mindful exercise and expressive form of self care I can do. 🎨💕 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I hope you jelly beans have found your own quiet, creative moment this weekend. I promise it’s the best way to unplug and reset 🌈  #selfcaresunday

I’m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies
I’m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies I’ve ever made! 🥰🐢💕 These vegan matcha & tahini cookies are fun to create and are guaranteed to make your tastebuds do a lil happy dance! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
They’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)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m going to test out and share several #EarthMonth 🌎 inspired recipes over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You can find this recipe on @veggiekins blog. 🐢 10/10 would recommend for cuteness + a healthy treat that makes you smile😋. #HealthyDesserts

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐢𝐧 ✨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲.✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Good things rarely come easy in life and they definitely don’t come quickly. More often than not, it boils down to a very underrated behavior called consistency. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So what does that look like? It means: 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸Choosing to 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 even when you’re not feeling motivated
🔸 𝐏𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 over and over even when it doesn’t seem like anything sticks
🔸 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 even when progress is slower than you would have liked
🔸 Holding yourself accountable and 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 one day at a time till you cross the finish line
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But that’s where the real magic happens friends. When you can show up consistently for yourself — in all aspects of your life, you WILL achieve your goals. 👏🏻
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝐒𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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. 💯 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ll leave you with this quote: 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲.” ~ 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
{📸: @mikohafez}

Happy Easter🌸 , beautiful humans. He is Risen!
Happy Easter🌸 , beautiful humans. He is Risen! ✨ 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Today I’m celebrating God’s eternal love for us and the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ . ✝️ The past 13 months have been full of challenges, discomfort and practicing patience through the unknown. I’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. 💕 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨It’s a comfort to know that after the darkness, there is always light.✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Even if you don’t celebrate, I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend filled with love and hope for beautiful things to come. 🥰  #HappyEaster { 📸: @winilaophotos}

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

🌱 Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask
🌱 Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask and chillll Q&A session because there are lots of new friends on here! 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Since I can’t believe I hit 30k followers (and 25k on TikTok!?) I thought a little “about me” and fun fact sharing was in order! 💕✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 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. 😊
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 I currently live in NYC with my husband, @bayphillips, and our two rescue pups @chipandnina 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 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 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 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 💕. Hoping to teach at a studio once the world is back to normal 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 Personality traits in a nutshell: I’m a Cancer ♋️, ENFJ and Enneagram 2w3 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 I am a Christian and my faith is super important to me. I have a whole blog post called “Confessions of a Christian Yogi” if you’d like to read more 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 Things I love that you’ll probably see a lot of on here: painting 🎨, reading 📖, my pups 🐶, clean & cruelty-free beauty products💅🏻, cute activewear 👟, low impact workouts 🧘🏻‍♀️, yoga & meditation, food that makes me feel good 🥑, matcha 🍵, colorful home decor 🏡, self care 🛁, and houseplants 🪴. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I hope you stick around and we can get to know each other!! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 — 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮!! Where are you from? What’s your fav kind of workout? What do you do for fun? Plz share away! 🥰 #SelfCare 
⠀

Special announcement: I’m officially a @CaliaByC
Special announcement: I’m officially a @CaliaByCarrie Brand Ambassador for a 2nd year and I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue sharing their amazing clothes and accessories with you!! 🎉💕 As a brand, #CALIAByCarrie is all about helping you to “#ChooseYou”and take that extra time for self-care -- which of course is a theme I can 100% get behind, especially this year. 🙌🏻
 
They have some super pretty pieces for Spring, including this matching set in the color Confetti Dot Sea Fog! 🥰 I’m obsessed with the high waisted fit, subtle color block and hidden pocket details. 👉🏼 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. 
 
Can’t wait to share more!! 🎉 Would you like to see more styling photos like this series? Let me know! 💕#CALIAByCarrieUnderwoodPartner #StayThePath

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

A very Spring weekend in the city. 🚕 { Swipe fo
A very Spring weekend in the city. 🚕 { Swipe for 🌸 blooms} My dad and brother flew up to visit so I spent these past few days unplugged and fully present. 🥰 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I didn’t capture all the moments but it was a weekend full of really delicious food, great views 🌃 , lots of games, about 40K steps 👟 and somehow an entire season of Survivor. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Feeling very happy and ready to take on the week. 👍🏻What is one fun thing you did this weekend? #SpringinNYC


Popular Posts

My Current Cruelty-Free Skincare Routine

Friday Favorites: 7 Eco-Friendly Products That Will Change Your Life (and the World!)

Currently Pinning

  • 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
  • These healthy Carrot Cake Energy Bites remind you of an indulgent slice of cake, but are actually good for you! They're vegan, no-bake and seriously delicious! Raw, vegan and gluten-free. #energybite #carrotcake #healthysnack
  • Grapefruit popsicles
  • 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, they’re smooth, fresh, slightly sweet and just a bit spicy. | from Lauren Grant of Zestful Kitchen #bloodymaryrecipe #brunchcocktail #greencocktail
  • A tropical cocktail recipe for pineapple lime sangria spritzers. Love the edible flower garnish.

Currently Pinning

  • 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
  • These healthy Carrot Cake Energy Bites remind you of an indulgent slice of cake, but are actually good for you! They're vegan, no-bake and seriously delicious! Raw, vegan and gluten-free. #energybite #carrotcake #healthysnack
  • Grapefruit popsicles
  • 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, they’re smooth, fresh, slightly sweet and just a bit spicy. | from Lauren Grant of Zestful Kitchen #bloodymaryrecipe #brunchcocktail #greencocktail

Sign up for my Newsletter 💌

Footer Widget Header

Subscribe

Join Me!

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! ☀️ 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, it’s even more of a reason to enjoy the warm weather, sunshine, and all things that Mother Nature has to offer! 🍅 🥒 🌿
 
One of my fav things nature gives us is veggies and I’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 they’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. 👏 
 
I love supporting brands that are doing awesome things for people and the planet and think you all will love them too! 🌎 💕
 
They have 3 different kinds of Veggie Crisps to choose from and you can find them online: grape tomato, blushed bell pepper, and zucchini. 🍅 🥒 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. 💫 #DateNight
2 years after saying “I do” and it feels like 2 years after saying “I do” and it feels like it was just yesterday. ❤️ Our first anniversary was spent in lockdown last year {Swipe for a bts} and today I’m getting vaxxed 💉. It feels like we’ve come full circle and I’m so ready to celebrate with a dinner in the city tonight and a pretty big adventure to come 😊. Love you, @bayphillips.
Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and I Give me all the iced coffee and a paintbrush and I’ll be one happy gal 🎨🍄🌸. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’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. 🌿🌼 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There’s a beauty that comes with the stillness of painting. For an hour or two the whole world melts away and it’s just me, the paper and my brush. 🖌 Showing up with no creative expectations has a way of making me feel limitless, and in many ways it’s the most mindful exercise and expressive form of self care I can do. 🎨💕 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I hope you jelly beans have found your own quiet, creative moment this weekend. I promise it’s the best way to unplug and reset 🌈  #selfcaresunday
I’m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies I’m gonna file this under cutest healthy cookies I’ve ever made! 🥰🐢💕 These vegan matcha & tahini cookies are fun to create and are guaranteed to make your tastebuds do a lil happy dance! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
They’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)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m going to test out and share several #EarthMonth 🌎 inspired recipes over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You can find this recipe on @veggiekins blog. 🐢 10/10 would recommend for cuteness + a healthy treat that makes you smile😋. #HealthyDesserts
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐢𝐧 ✨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲.✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Good things rarely come easy in life and they definitely don’t come quickly. More often than not, it boils down to a very underrated behavior called consistency. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So what does that look like? It means: 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸Choosing to 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 even when you’re not feeling motivated
🔸 𝐏𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 over and over even when it doesn’t seem like anything sticks
🔸 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 even when progress is slower than you would have liked
🔸 Holding yourself accountable and 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 one day at a time till you cross the finish line
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But that’s where the real magic happens friends. When you can show up consistently for yourself — in all aspects of your life, you WILL achieve your goals. 👏🏻
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝐒𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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. 💯 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ll leave you with this quote: 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲.” ~ 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
{📸: @mikohafez}
Happy Easter🌸 , beautiful humans. He is Risen! Happy Easter🌸 , beautiful humans. He is Risen! ✨ 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Today I’m celebrating God’s eternal love for us and the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ . ✝️ The past 13 months have been full of challenges, discomfort and practicing patience through the unknown. I’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. 💕 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨It’s a comfort to know that after the darkness, there is always light.✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Even if you don’t celebrate, I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend filled with love and hope for beautiful things to come. 🥰  #HappyEaster { 📸: @winilaophotos}
Lookin’ for a super simple & sweet Easter treat! Lookin’ for a super simple & sweet Easter treat!? 🐣 These 4️⃣ ingredient HEALTHY chocolate pb eggs are for you! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve seen these knockoff Reese’s eggs all over Pinterest and used the recipe by @ambitiouskitchen to make mine. 💕 {SWIPE FOR A CLOSE UP}
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Recipe:
🔸 Mix 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter with 1 tbsp maple syrup and 2 tbsp coconut flour 
🔸 Scoop onto parchment paper and form/flatten into egg shapes 
🔸 Freeze for 1 hour 
🔸 Melt dark chocolate in small bowl and dip PB eggs 
🔸 Freeze for 5 min and top with drizzle of white chocolate and sea salt 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Store them in the freezer till ready to eat! 💕 Happy Easter Weekend everyone 🌸 #MelsMeals #healthydesserts
🌱 Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask 🌱 Just a little @cocokind chlorophyll face mask and chillll Q&A session because there are lots of new friends on here! 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Since I can’t believe I hit 30k followers (and 25k on TikTok!?) I thought a little “about me” and fun fact sharing was in order! 💕✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 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. 😊
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 I currently live in NYC with my husband, @bayphillips, and our two rescue pups @chipandnina 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 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 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 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 💕. Hoping to teach at a studio once the world is back to normal 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 Personality traits in a nutshell: I’m a Cancer ♋️, ENFJ and Enneagram 2w3 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 I am a Christian and my faith is super important to me. I have a whole blog post called “Confessions of a Christian Yogi” if you’d like to read more 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🔸 Things I love that you’ll probably see a lot of on here: painting 🎨, reading 📖, my pups 🐶, clean & cruelty-free beauty products💅🏻, cute activewear 👟, low impact workouts 🧘🏻‍♀️, yoga & meditation, food that makes me feel good 🥑, matcha 🍵, colorful home decor 🏡, self care 🛁, and houseplants 🪴. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I hope you stick around and we can get to know each other!! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 — 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮!! Where are you from? What’s your fav kind of workout? What do you do for fun? Plz share away! 🥰 #SelfCare 
⠀
Special announcement: I’m officially a @CaliaByC Special announcement: I’m officially a @CaliaByCarrie Brand Ambassador for a 2nd year and I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue sharing their amazing clothes and accessories with you!! 🎉💕 As a brand, #CALIAByCarrie is all about helping you to “#ChooseYou”and take that extra time for self-care -- which of course is a theme I can 100% get behind, especially this year. 🙌🏻
 
They have some super pretty pieces for Spring, including this matching set in the color Confetti Dot Sea Fog! 🥰 I’m obsessed with the high waisted fit, subtle color block and hidden pocket details. 👉🏼 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. 
 
Can’t wait to share more!! 🎉 Would you like to see more styling photos like this series? Let me know! 💕#CALIAByCarrieUnderwoodPartner #StayThePath
🌱 PINK & GREEN SMOOTHIE 🌱 {Swipe for the rec 🌱 PINK & GREEN SMOOTHIE 🌱 {Swipe for the recipe} 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This day totally got away from me as I’ve been playing catch up with work, but I did have a chance to make this super pretty dragonfruit smoothie and wanted to share!! 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I originally was hoping the colors would layer on top of each other but I added too much liquid 😅. Even so, the combined flavors were delicious and sooo tropical, plus those pink swirls and drips were everything! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
SAVE the recipe and give it a try! 🥰 #greensmoothie
A very Spring weekend in the city. 🚕 { Swipe fo A very Spring weekend in the city. 🚕 { Swipe for 🌸 blooms} My dad and brother flew up to visit so I spent these past few days unplugged and fully present. 🥰 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I didn’t capture all the moments but it was a weekend full of really delicious food, great views 🌃 , lots of games, about 40K steps 👟 and somehow an entire season of Survivor. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Feeling very happy and ready to take on the week. 👍🏻What is one fun thing you did this weekend? #SpringinNYC
Follow me on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Headstands & Heels · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy