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IN: Lifestyle

We bought a house! Your home buying questions answered

March 9, 2022 By Melanie No Comments

Well fam, if you missed the announcement on my Instagram, Bay and I bought a house here in Denver! You can see a sneak peek of the interior HERE. After six years of renting in NYC and another year of renting here in Colorado, it feels absolutely amazing to own our own home! We have a little time before we actually move in, so before I start inundating you with way too much home content, I thought I’d get the ball rolling by answering some of the questions you all submitted in my IG story poll last week!

I’ve been having so many great conversations after the announcement with other people who are about to make a big move to Denver and it makes me so happy to know that this city is continuing to grow in popularity. I have a big Denver Guide that I’ll be releasing within the next week, so keep an eye out for that!

If you’re considering buying a home here in Denver or are just curious about the home buying process in general, I hope you find the following answers insightful! I did my best to consolidate the questions that were the most similar but I do tend to be long-winded so feel free to skip ahead if this is all just way too much info. haha

Without further adieu, here are your home buying questions, answered:

What are the best Denver neighborhoods for young couples?

Thankfully the city of Denver and the metro area have lots of great neighborhoods for young couples and families to choose from! If you want a true city vibe with walkability and lots of fun places to eat, drink, etc then LoDo (lower downtown) is awesome. Since it is the most “city” part of Denver, there are probably more condos than single family homes available but it’s a great option for renting!

If you want a neighborhood that’s super close to downtown, then Highlands is probably your best bet. LoHi is a little too young in my opinion (college feel) but West Highlands, Sloans Lake, and even Berkeley have some nice houses in walking distance of lots of cafes, bars and restaurants. Arvada is just north of Berkeley and is considered a suburb of Denver, but from what I hear it’s a great option for young couples who want accessibility to the mountains while also being within a 10 min drive to downtown Denver.

RiNo is fun and more of an up and coming neighborhood in Denver. We personally didn’t consider it because there are areas of RiNo that aren’t as safe as some other areas of the city. However, it’s definitely a place we like to visit often just for the amount of breweries and restaurants that are there.

I’m a HUGE fan of Wash Park and wish we could have found a home here. But unfortunately inventory is low and the homes that did pop up were out of our price range. This was also the case with Cherry Creek and Congress Park, but I definitely think if you can find something that fits your budget within those areas they are beautiful, safe neighborhoods.

South Denver and Centennial have a lot of great options and even though the latter is technically a suburb, it still has a lot of walkable areas with coffee shops, fitness studios and restaurants. The appealing thing about Centennial is that the houses are newer and the neighborhood borders two highways, making the drive to the highlands and to the mountains about equidistance to living in Wash Park.

How far over asking did you have to go? Does it need to be all cash?

Unfortunately with the way this market is, we knew we were going to have to go over asking price in order to have an enticing enough offer to even be considered. This played a huge role in the base price of houses we were even including in our search and it was super helpful that the one we found was listed at about 25% less than the max cost we were willing to pay.

Right as we were thinking of putting in an offer, someone came in with a very aggressive bid and day of deadline. We worked with our realtor to turn around a counteroffer within a matter of hours and ended up going about 20% over the original asking (which essentially put us super close to our max budget).

As part two of this question, there’s no way we would have put everything down in cash and thankfully that’s not expected in this market. The amount of cash you need to save for earnest money and your downpayment will all depend on the type of mortgage you choose and the price of the house you buy.

Did you find any banks or mortgage companies helpful?

Yes, we worked with Dan from Strive Mortgage Team and they were super helpful through the entire process! Getting the correct paperwork together can be a hassle but once it was in their hands we were pleased with how quickly things came together. We made sure to get pre-approved prior to beginning our search and from there it was a lot of discussions around conventional vs. jumbo loans, interest rates, and what mortgage option would be the best for us given both of our credit scores and income level. They were kind enough to send us some Crumbl cookies after we closed on the house as a congratulatory gift, so that was a nice added touch.

How did you pick the area/neighborhood while navigating crazy prices?

As I mentioned earlier, we would have loved to stay in Wash Park but the inventory and pricing just didn’t work out for us. Our realtor warned us ahead of time that sacrifices would have to be made either based on the type of house we buy or the neighborhood we chose. After viewing many open houses all in different neighborhoods within Denver, we ultimately decided that the quality of the house mattered more to us than the neighborhood. This mindset allowed us to open up our search area to include more neighborhoods in the Denver Metro Area that we were originally closed off to and with it came a fresh crop of houses that were a much better fit for what we both wanted.

Thankfully, we didn’t end up having to sacrifice safety, park & highway access, and walkability so I’m VERY grateful. I know that if we had stayed in Wash Park we would have ended up with a house that’s over 100 years old and in need of major renovations. After weighing out the pros and cons of that, we couldn’t stomach paying as much as we would have to just to turn around and dump more money into modernizing the house.

The home we bought is move in ready and aside from some minor aesthetic changes to the bathrooms and painting walls, it’s exactly what we were looking for. At the end of the day, that was the right call for us and we’re okay with saying goodbye to Wash Park to opt for a neighborhood just a few min south. At the end of the day, in this kind of market some sacrifices will have to be made. It’s up to you to decide what is more of a priority for you. If neighborhood is number one, then you’ll just have to know that renovating will be something you will most likely need to budget for.

How long did it take you to find a house in Denver?

In the grand scheme of things, not too long at all! We started the official search in November and bought our house in February. So just 3 months? I know a lot of that was luck because in December the inventory was so bad and the houses we looked at in January were starting to make us feel pretty disappointed in general. It’s easy to get your hopes up and I’m a terribly emotional person, which made the process of looking mentally exhausting.

I know it sounds cliche but I do believe that you’ll know pretty immediately when you find the right one. There were a few that we were originally excited about and we even had put an offer on a different one and lost. But aside from the other one we put an offer on, none of the others felt like “the one” to both of us. After walking through this last one, we both had a moment of looking at each other during the walk through and there was almost an unspoken agreement. It felt like home and that’s why the next evening when we got the frantic call that someone had put an aggressive offer on it, we knew we were willing to try and outbid them immediately.

Houses pop up and literally close within 24-48 hours here, so my suggestion to anyone who is looking to buy is BE LOCAL and BE FLEXIBLE. Even if it means you have to rent or stay at an extended stay airbnb for a month or so. Being local means you can drop what you’re doing in the middle of the day to go see a house the minute it’s available for showing. We saw our house the first day it was available and our offer deadline ended up being the next evening, even though they had over 70 showings booked through the weekend! Buyers are not afraid to be aggressive, so timeliness is everything.

How much should you allot for closing costs? How long did closing take?

Thankfully, once the offer was accepted we were able to close in a matter of weeks with the help of our realtor, Kate Kazell and Strive Mortgage Team. From what we’ve learned, it’s best practice to save up at least 6% of the loan balance for closing costs but the more you can save the better. We ended up allotting about 20% to our downpayment to get our monthly mortgage to a place we felt would be more manageable. I know that’s not something everyone can or wants to do, which is why it’s also so important to make sure you’re working with a good mortgage company that can walk you through the best type of loan and downpayment plan that fits your budget.

I hope you all found this helpful as you begin your own house buying adventure! If you have any additional questions don’t be afraid to ask. Send me a DM or leave a question in the comments here. And stay tuned for lots of home content coming this summer once we move in!

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

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It’s #workoutwednesday and the theme today is al
It’s #workoutwednesday and the theme today is all about MOBILITY. (requested by @e__marie__ )🤍 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Mobility is the ability for your joints to move actively through their entire range of motion and requires a level of strength, stability and flexibility. Good mobility makes exercises (and every day life activities) so much easier and helps prevent injury. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are lots of different #mobilityexercises you can add into your routine but the ones in the video are some of my personal favorites that I’ve included in yoga classes 🧘🏻‍♀️✨
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Move SLOWLY through each one (the video is sped up) and repeat each movement for 30 seconds before moving onto the next. 
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Leave a comment with what you’d like to see next week! 👇🏼
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#homeworkout #fitnessroutine #shapesquad #healthylifestyle #fitnessmotivation #workoutoftheday #myyogalife #mobilitydrills #workoutroutine #warmupexercise #yogapractice


Recent happy snaps from my #cameraroll vol. 150 📸💕


Hey Denver friends! It’s been a hot min since I’ve shared a roundup of Denver favorites so if you’re searching for things to do in the #MileHighCity SAVE this post 💕✨
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Swipe to find my top five picks for coffee shops, fitness studios, wellness spots, scenic walks, experiences, vibes bars, and more 🥂 
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I can’t believe I’m coming up on 2 years of calling Colorado home after moving here from NYC. If you’re new to the area as well and looking for friends, be sure to check out my women’s community group @denverfitfriends and join us for fitness/wellness events throughout the year.
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I hope you all find this helpful! There are plenty more spots listed on my Denver Guide on Headstandsandheels.com 🌸
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#denverfitfriends #thingstodoindenver #denverblogger #denverlife

Choosing to focus your ✨energy✨ on the habits,
Choosing to focus your ✨energy✨ on the habits, rituals and relationships that make you feel like your healthiest, happiest self is one of the most valuable things to embrace as you get older. 💕 How are you choosing to focus your intention and energy right now? 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
{wellness, healthy lifestyle, healthy habits, routines, intention, mindfulness, self care, positive mindset} 
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#positivemindset #intentionsetting #healthyhabits #healthylifestyle #healthyliving #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #selfcare #selfcaredaily #morningroutine #motivationalreel #colorfulaesthetic #healthyandhappy #balancedliving #healthyroutines

Introducing… the perfect Spring sourdough for yo
Introducing… the perfect Spring sourdough for your next garden party (and yes, the paint is edible 😋)
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Major shoutout to my husband for baking this homemade loaf of bread for me to experiment on. The food coloring was a bit more runny than expected but nevertheless, I LOVE how this turned out and it might just be one of my favorite lil diy projects ever 🌸🎨 And bonus, we now have a yummy loaf of bread to eat for the rest of the week! 
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Painting is such a lovely mindful activity and I hope this inspires you to get creative with your next art session too 💕. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be giving this a go! 
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{ inspired by @lovealldesignco} 
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#paintedsourdough #springinspiration #springDIY #romanticizeyourlife #mindfulactivity #arttherapy #paintinginspiration #sourdoughbread #paintwithme #mindfulroutines #springideas #springflorals #springbaking

The votes are in from yesterday’s story poll and
The votes are in from yesterday’s story poll and no equipment core exercises won! If you’re tired of doing basic crunches these six variations are my favorite way to level 👏🏻 up 👏🏻! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
SAVE THIS POST so you can add them to your next workout! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you want to turn these 6 into a circuit, one way o do that is to do each one for 30 seconds with a 10 second rest in between for 3 sets. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I figured this could be a fun little #WorkoutWednesday series where I’ll share some of my favorite exercises, yoga poses, and stretches with you all based on whatever you vote for each week. 🔥
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If you have any specific requests drop them below 👇🏼 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#fitnessroutine #homeworkout #coreworkout #coreexercises #fitnessblogger #shapesquad #abworkout #fitnessmotivation #workoutoftheday

Coming in hot with 5 of my favorite simple, plant
Coming in hot with 5 of my favorite simple, plant based breakfast ideas! #ad 🫐🍌🍓This is how I remix my breakfast by swapping dairy products for @silk Almondmilk! You’re gonna want to SAVE this for later! 
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Most of you know that I follow a very plant-forward diet and swapping out dairy for plant milk, especially in recipes like the ones you see here, has been one of the easiest switches I’ve made. In fact, I actually much prefer almond milk in things like my smoothies and oatmeal because the consistency and taste are better IMO. 
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✨Pick up Silk AlmondMilk at your local Target and get 10% off with Target Circle between 3.19-4.1.23✨
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I’d love to know which of these breakfast ideas you’ve already made the swap for and I’d love to see how you remix your own breakfast with Silk Almondmilk by using the tag #silkremix! https://lnk2.io/wJWd5yF #silkalmond #silktarget

🌸 Happy First Day of Spring 🌸. If the endles
🌸 Happy First Day of Spring 🌸. If the endless winter has been affecting your mental health, here are a few ways to bring a little ✨joy✨ into your life and boost your mood as we welcome a new, fresh season. 
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Which one of these is something you’re focusing on or wanting to try? 
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{wellness, healthy habits, healthy lifestyle, well being, self care, positive mindset, happy feelings, self love} 
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#mentalhealthmatters #springselfcare #selfcareseason #selfcareideas #selfcaretips #selfcareinspo #positivemindset #healthylifestyle #wellnessblogger #wellnesslifestyle #wellbeing #happyandhealthy #goalsetting #mindsetmatters #moodboosters #mondaymotivation

EAT THE RAINBOW 🌈
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EAT THE RAINBOW 🌈 
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A #nourishing roundup of some of my fav quick & easy meals I had recently: 
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🍓Greek yogurt with berries, almond butter, chia seeds and granola 
🥬 Tuna salad lettuce wraps with cherry tomatoes
🍣 Salmon & Quinoa rainbow bowl with feta, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and Pearl peppers 
🍌 Green Smoothie with banana, frozen mango, vanilla protein powder, baby spinach, and almond butter 
🍅 Chicken & Quinoa bowl with feta, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes and tzatziki 
🫐 Creamy chia pudding with Greek yogurt, berries and candied walnuts 
Sidenote — what are your thoughts on “what I eat in a day” videos? I want to find more ways to share roundups like this but would love to know what format you find meal inspo the most helpful? 
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#melsmeals #healthyrecipes #healthylifestyle #mealprepideas #wellnessblogger #wellandgoodeats #wellnessinspo #balancedeating #simplerecipes #healthyroutine #colorfulaesthetic #eatcolorfully #eatyourveggies #healthymeals #weekdaymeals #happyandhealthy #healthyhabits

All green everything & a healthy spin on #stpattys
All green everything & a healthy spin on #stpattysday ☘️ 
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Not gonna lie, I could make Friday morning yoga sculpt & shamrock smoothie dates with friends a weekly thing because I am now in the ✨best✨ mood and totally weekend ready! 
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💚 Happy Friday, lovely friends 💚
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{wellness, healthy lifestyle, Morning routine, healthy habits, positive mindset, balanced living, yoga girl} 
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#morningroutine #healthylifestyle #healthyroutine #mindfulness #yogasculpt #morningyoga #morningworkout #colorfulaesthetic #healthyhabits #morningvibes #fridayenergy #wellnessblogger #yogawithfriends #fitnessjourney #fitnessfriday #makefitnessfun #healthandwellness

Our response when people tell us to start acting o
Our response when people tell us to start acting our age 🤪👯
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But for real, life is better when you stop taking yourself so seriously and just have fun. ❄️ #dancingduo #twinthings #skiday #breckenridge

NEW ON THE BLOG: 10 lessons from 5 years of entrep
NEW ON THE BLOG: 10 lessons from 5 years of entrepreneurship. ✨🪩 
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This month marks five years since I left the corporate marketing world and my position as a digital strategist in favor of being a full time content creator. 
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What started as a fun side hustle while I worked at a busy PR firm in NYC has transformed into a multiple six-figure business. Something that my younger self, the girl who grew up without wealth and worked several retail jobs to help pay for college, could never have imagined was possible. 
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In my blog post, I’m giving you an inside look at some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned while building this non-traditional career. From dealing with loneliness, creative burnouts, and crippling imposter syndrome, to the joys of hiring a team, dream partnerships, beautiful friendships, and connecting with over 150k people across multiple platforms.
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I know so many of you also have chosen a non-traditional career and I hope my learnings can be helpful as you continue on your path. If you continue to trust in yourself and put in the work, there is truly NOTHING you can’t accomplish. 
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I’m feeling all kinds of emotional so want to say a big thank YOU for your support 💕. Whether you’ve been here for a few minutes or since my @melyoga1 days, my only hope is that my little corner of the internet has brought you something of value or a tiny bit of joy. 
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I have no idea what the next 5 years will bring but for now, I’ll take it day by day and am grateful to be sharing it with all of you ✨


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It’s #workoutwednesday and the theme today is al It’s #workoutwednesday and the theme today is all about MOBILITY. (requested by @e__marie__ )🤍 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Mobility is the ability for your joints to move actively through their entire range of motion and requires a level of strength, stability and flexibility. Good mobility makes exercises (and every day life activities) so much easier and helps prevent injury. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are lots of different #mobilityexercises you can add into your routine but the ones in the video are some of my personal favorites that I’ve included in yoga classes 🧘🏻‍♀️✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Move SLOWLY through each one (the video is sped up) and repeat each movement for 30 seconds before moving onto the next. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Leave a comment with what you’d like to see next week! 👇🏼
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#homeworkout #fitnessroutine #shapesquad #healthylifestyle #fitnessmotivation #workoutoftheday #myyogalife #mobilitydrills #workoutroutine #warmupexercise #yogapractice
Recent happy snaps from my #cameraroll vol. 150 📸💕
Hey Denver friends! It’s been a hot min since I’ve shared a roundup of Denver favorites so if you’re searching for things to do in the #MileHighCity SAVE this post 💕✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Swipe to find my top five picks for coffee shops, fitness studios, wellness spots, scenic walks, experiences, vibes bars, and more 🥂 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I can’t believe I’m coming up on 2 years of calling Colorado home after moving here from NYC. If you’re new to the area as well and looking for friends, be sure to check out my women’s community group @denverfitfriends and join us for fitness/wellness events throughout the year.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I hope you all find this helpful! There are plenty more spots listed on my Denver Guide on Headstandsandheels.com 🌸
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#denverfitfriends #thingstodoindenver #denverblogger #denverlife
Choosing to focus your ✨energy✨ on the habits, Choosing to focus your ✨energy✨ on the habits, rituals and relationships that make you feel like your healthiest, happiest self is one of the most valuable things to embrace as you get older. 💕 How are you choosing to focus your intention and energy right now? 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
{wellness, healthy lifestyle, healthy habits, routines, intention, mindfulness, self care, positive mindset} 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#positivemindset #intentionsetting #healthyhabits #healthylifestyle #healthyliving #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #selfcare #selfcaredaily #morningroutine #motivationalreel #colorfulaesthetic #healthyandhappy #balancedliving #healthyroutines
Introducing… the perfect Spring sourdough for yo Introducing… the perfect Spring sourdough for your next garden party (and yes, the paint is edible 😋)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Major shoutout to my husband for baking this homemade loaf of bread for me to experiment on. The food coloring was a bit more runny than expected but nevertheless, I LOVE how this turned out and it might just be one of my favorite lil diy projects ever 🌸🎨 And bonus, we now have a yummy loaf of bread to eat for the rest of the week! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Painting is such a lovely mindful activity and I hope this inspires you to get creative with your next art session too 💕. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be giving this a go! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
{ inspired by @lovealldesignco} 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#paintedsourdough #springinspiration #springDIY #romanticizeyourlife #mindfulactivity #arttherapy #paintinginspiration #sourdoughbread #paintwithme #mindfulroutines #springideas #springflorals #springbaking
The votes are in from yesterday’s story poll and The votes are in from yesterday’s story poll and no equipment core exercises won! If you’re tired of doing basic crunches these six variations are my favorite way to level 👏🏻 up 👏🏻! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
SAVE THIS POST so you can add them to your next workout! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you want to turn these 6 into a circuit, one way o do that is to do each one for 30 seconds with a 10 second rest in between for 3 sets. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I figured this could be a fun little #WorkoutWednesday series where I’ll share some of my favorite exercises, yoga poses, and stretches with you all based on whatever you vote for each week. 🔥
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you have any specific requests drop them below 👇🏼 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#fitnessroutine #homeworkout #coreworkout #coreexercises #fitnessblogger #shapesquad #abworkout #fitnessmotivation #workoutoftheday
Coming in hot with 5 of my favorite simple, plant Coming in hot with 5 of my favorite simple, plant based breakfast ideas! #ad 🫐🍌🍓This is how I remix my breakfast by swapping dairy products for @silk Almondmilk! You’re gonna want to SAVE this for later! 
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Most of you know that I follow a very plant-forward diet and swapping out dairy for plant milk, especially in recipes like the ones you see here, has been one of the easiest switches I’ve made. In fact, I actually much prefer almond milk in things like my smoothies and oatmeal because the consistency and taste are better IMO. 
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✨Pick up Silk AlmondMilk at your local Target and get 10% off with Target Circle between 3.19-4.1.23✨
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I’d love to know which of these breakfast ideas you’ve already made the swap for and I’d love to see how you remix your own breakfast with Silk Almondmilk by using the tag #silkremix! https://lnk2.io/wJWd5yF #silkalmond #silktarget
🌸 Happy First Day of Spring 🌸. If the endles 🌸 Happy First Day of Spring 🌸. If the endless winter has been affecting your mental health, here are a few ways to bring a little ✨joy✨ into your life and boost your mood as we welcome a new, fresh season. 
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Which one of these is something you’re focusing on or wanting to try? 
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{wellness, healthy habits, healthy lifestyle, well being, self care, positive mindset, happy feelings, self love} 
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#mentalhealthmatters #springselfcare #selfcareseason #selfcareideas #selfcaretips #selfcareinspo #positivemindset #healthylifestyle #wellnessblogger #wellnesslifestyle #wellbeing #happyandhealthy #goalsetting #mindsetmatters #moodboosters #mondaymotivation
EAT THE RAINBOW 🌈 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ EAT THE RAINBOW 🌈 
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A #nourishing roundup of some of my fav quick & easy meals I had recently: 
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🍓Greek yogurt with berries, almond butter, chia seeds and granola 
🥬 Tuna salad lettuce wraps with cherry tomatoes
🍣 Salmon & Quinoa rainbow bowl with feta, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and Pearl peppers 
🍌 Green Smoothie with banana, frozen mango, vanilla protein powder, baby spinach, and almond butter 
🍅 Chicken & Quinoa bowl with feta, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes and tzatziki 
🫐 Creamy chia pudding with Greek yogurt, berries and candied walnuts 
Sidenote — what are your thoughts on “what I eat in a day” videos? I want to find more ways to share roundups like this but would love to know what format you find meal inspo the most helpful? 
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#melsmeals #healthyrecipes #healthylifestyle #mealprepideas #wellnessblogger #wellandgoodeats #wellnessinspo #balancedeating #simplerecipes #healthyroutine #colorfulaesthetic #eatcolorfully #eatyourveggies #healthymeals #weekdaymeals #happyandhealthy #healthyhabits
All green everything & a healthy spin on #stpattys All green everything & a healthy spin on #stpattysday ☘️ 
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Not gonna lie, I could make Friday morning yoga sculpt & shamrock smoothie dates with friends a weekly thing because I am now in the ✨best✨ mood and totally weekend ready! 
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💚 Happy Friday, lovely friends 💚
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{wellness, healthy lifestyle, Morning routine, healthy habits, positive mindset, balanced living, yoga girl} 
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#morningroutine #healthylifestyle #healthyroutine #mindfulness #yogasculpt #morningyoga #morningworkout #colorfulaesthetic #healthyhabits #morningvibes #fridayenergy #wellnessblogger #yogawithfriends #fitnessjourney #fitnessfriday #makefitnessfun #healthandwellness
Our response when people tell us to start acting o Our response when people tell us to start acting our age 🤪👯
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But for real, life is better when you stop taking yourself so seriously and just have fun. ❄️ #dancingduo #twinthings #skiday #breckenridge
NEW ON THE BLOG: 10 lessons from 5 years of entrep NEW ON THE BLOG: 10 lessons from 5 years of entrepreneurship. ✨🪩 
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This month marks five years since I left the corporate marketing world and my position as a digital strategist in favor of being a full time content creator. 
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What started as a fun side hustle while I worked at a busy PR firm in NYC has transformed into a multiple six-figure business. Something that my younger self, the girl who grew up without wealth and worked several retail jobs to help pay for college, could never have imagined was possible. 
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In my blog post, I’m giving you an inside look at some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned while building this non-traditional career. From dealing with loneliness, creative burnouts, and crippling imposter syndrome, to the joys of hiring a team, dream partnerships, beautiful friendships, and connecting with over 150k people across multiple platforms.
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I know so many of you also have chosen a non-traditional career and I hope my learnings can be helpful as you continue on your path. If you continue to trust in yourself and put in the work, there is truly NOTHING you can’t accomplish. 
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I’m feeling all kinds of emotional so want to say a big thank YOU for your support 💕. Whether you’ve been here for a few minutes or since my @melyoga1 days, my only hope is that my little corner of the internet has brought you something of value or a tiny bit of joy. 
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I have no idea what the next 5 years will bring but for now, I’ll take it day by day and am grateful to be sharing it with all of you ✨
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