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IN: Wellness

Summer Steps Challenge

July 28, 2022 By Melanie No Comments

Summer Steps Walking Challenge

Working out for 30 minutes every day can feel daunting and unrealistic for many people. But when that workout is as simple as going for a little stroll through your neighborhood with your dogs or walking to your local coffee shop with a friend, that movement suddenly seems way more doable… and may I even say, fun?

It turns out walking is the sneakiest and most underrated form of exercise of them all!

Walking for just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. (source: better health channel)

It’s so cool to see things like #hotgirlwalks (as annoying as that name is) and #mentalhealthwalks become a trending thing on social media lately. This wave of walking posts has led to more walk meetups popping up in various cities and it’s empowering to see people re-inspired to move their bodies in the most simple, functional way.

I’m Challenging You…

This is why I created the Summer Steps Challenge. During one of the hottest months of they year, we sometimes need a little extra motivation to get outside and move our bodies. So let this be your rally cry to prioritize your mental and physical health this August by lacing up your sneakers and walking for 30 minutes every single day this month.

But don’t worry, you won’t be doing this alone…

We have over 100 women from all over the world who signed up to do this alongside you! Even if you decide to remain anonymous, I hope you do decide to check in with our private Facebook community to cheer some people on and maybe even be inspired to meet up and walk with other participants who live in the same city as you!

In case you missed the newsletter link, we created a special playlist to accompany you on your daily walks and you can find it on Spotify!

I’d love to see you post your daily walk selfies, app trackers, walking buddies, or scenery!! Share to the FB group for the accountability or share to your IG stories to inspire your own circle of friends to do this with you! If you opt for the latter, be sure to tag me so I can see how you’re doing.

Let’s Meetup!

On Sunday, Aug 28th, I’m so excited to be hosting TWO walk meetups for you to have a chance to get together and do a little nature walk with friends! One will be held in Central Park in NYC at 3pm ET and will be led by my marketing assistant, KellyAnne. The other will be held here in Denver at City Park at 1pm MT and of course will be led by yours truly. Be sure to SIGN UP to get exact location details and so that we know how many people to expect.

I can’t wait to get stepping with all of you!

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. If you’re reading this, I just want you to know that you have changed my life, just simply by being here. Whether we’ve exchanged DMs, met in person, or you’ve found my posts somewhat helpful/motivating/inspiring, you are the reason I get to do what I love daily. And I’m so grateful for you!

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Meet Melanie

Meet Melanie

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

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#Ford_Ambassador Welcome back to “romanticizing
#Ford_Ambassador Welcome back to “romanticizing routines,” a mini series where I’m sharing different ways to find joy in the small, everyday moments. 💛

Today’s tip is all about leaning into seasonal joys and with it being early summertime that calls for gardening!🪏🪴🫜It’s times like these that I’m SO happy I have my 2025 @Ford Explorer® SUV because the cargo space is perfect for large hauls. 

The available feature back seats fold down with a touch of a button and it’s been a game changer for road trips and grocery shopping. In this case I was able to fill it with multiple bags of soil, a pot and lots of starter flowers, herbs and strawberries! 🍓🌼 

This is just the beginning of plenty more planting I plan on doing this season and I can’t wait to share more. I already know we’ll be spending lots of time out on our back porch, whether we are gardening, barbecuing, sipping coffee in the morning or hosting friends for dinner. 🍽️ 

Let me know if you want to see the start of my cut flower garden and maybe a full garden tour later this month!

2025 Ford Explorer® ST SUV shown with optional equipment.

#GardenGirl #RomanticizeYourLife #SmallJoys #HappyHabits

We made it halfway through 2025 and it’s the per
We made it halfway through 2025 and it’s the perfect time for a mid-year reset! Think of this as your invitation to check in on the goals you originally set for yourself, make small shifts to your routine and celebrate how far you’ve come

Be sure to swipe through all 6 wellness tips and SAVE this post to put this mid-year check into action!

✨CELEBRATE THE HIGHLIGHTS✨
This is an opportunity to practice gratitude and honor how much you’ve already grown & gained so far in the past 6 months! Pick your fav photos to be printed, write out your proudest moments and journal your favorite memories 

✨REVISIT YOUR GOALS✨
This is your time to reconnect with your purpose and let go of what’s no longer serving you. Whether that’s setting a new intention, adjusting your old goals, or brainstorming solutions to challenges you’re facing 

✨ REFRESH YOUR ROUTINES✨
June is a great time to refresh your daily routine to best serve this season of life that you’re in. Try letting go of habits that don’t bring you joy, help you grow or make your life easier 

✨RECOMMIT TO YOUR WELLBEING✨
Let this reset give you the permission you need to focus on your own wellbeing and realign with routines that support your mental, physical and emotional health 

✨RECONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY✨
Use this time as an opportunity to reach out to the people who light you up and make you feel supported. Make it fun by hosting a small gathering, joining a class or scheduling a fun outing with a friend 

✨GROUND YOURSELF IN THE PRESENT✨
Time moves quickly and it’s up to slow down and savor where we are right now. Take a mindful walk, try a meditation or journal practice, and maybe take a little screen time break to give yourself a chance to just be and reflect 

Let me know if you’ll be doing any of these this month as you set yourself up for whatever success looks like for YOU for the remainder of the year 💕

Mondays are for matcha and I’ll be having this b
Mondays are for matcha and I’ll be having this blueberry iced #matchalatte all summer long 🫐🩵

It’s so easy to make and tastes sweet & refreshing! Here’s a little step-by-step of how to make the BEST matcha at home: 

✨ sift 1 tsp ceremonial grade matcha powder to remove clumps 
✨ Pour 1/4 cup of hot water, ideally between 160-175 degrees Fahrenheit, over matcha 
✨ Using bamboo whisk, whisk vigorously in a W shape until microfoam forms 

For the blueberry portion, muddle fresh blueberries with blueberry syrup (or make a homemade blueberry syrup by heating blueberries with sugar, lemon juice and water over the stove)

Pour blueberry syrup in glass, add ice, pour in milk of choice and top with matcha for a beautiful layered effect 

Swirl and enjoy! 💙🦋

#matcharecipe #matchamonday #matchalove #matchalover #matchamoment #blueberrymatcha #healthylifestyle #healthyliving #healthyrecipes #summerdrink

June is in 🌸𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮🌸

#lifelat
June is in 🌸𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮🌸
 
#lifelately #sundaymornings #weekendvibes #romanticizeyourlife #farmersmarket #happysnaps #lifeisbeautiful #summervibes


Spend a morning with me and my two little pups, Ni
Spend a morning with me and my two little pups, Nina and Chip! 💕🐶 Many of you know we adopted both of these cuties years ago and even though our (human) baby has changed up our daily routine, these pups are always along for the ride and have adapted to our new family member beautifully. 

Since wellness is obviously super important to me, you know that means I take EXTRA care with what I feed my pups! 💚 Luckily @crumpsnaturals makes such a wonderful line of all-natural, premium dog treats made with simple ingredients and no artificial
flavors, colors or preservatives! Nina’s fav are the duck mini trainers. 

Chip also really loves their Fish & Superfood Greens meal topper – I just sprinkle it on his food every morning for extra vitamins to help his skin and coat! 

I’m just grateful that it makes caring for my furbaby’s wellbeing super easy and one less thing this busy mama has to think about every day!  #ad ☺️

#morningroutine #healthylifestyle #healthyhabits #morningvibes

Because life is too short to not have a million ho
Because life is too short to not have a million hobbies, right? ☺️🦋💕

#healthylifestyle #romanticizeyourlife #cozyhobbies #hobbiesarefun #smalljoys #happyhabits #balancedliving #wellbeing


Where are my #balancedlifestyle girlies at? 🙌🏻🦋💕☀️

#healthylifestyle #morningroutine #healthyandhappy #healthyhabits #romanticizeyourlife #mindfulroutines

When you ✨grow✨ you can’t help but create a
When you ✨grow✨ you can’t help but create a beautiful life 

#healthylifestyle #romanticizeyourlife #iamwellandgood #healthyhabits #happyandhealthy #mindfulroutine

When you let your mood dictate what you do, you’
When you let your mood dictate what you do, you’ll never be able to stay consistent with your goals… especially when it comes to your overall wellbeing. Completing that very first task always starts a chain reaction — it’s getting started that’s the hardest part 💕

If you’re ready to start building a #morningroutine filled with #healthyhabits, comment WORKSHEET and I’ll send you my free printable Mindful Morning template to help you get started ☀️🙌🏻

#healthylifestyle #iamwellandgood #mindfulroutines #healthyandhappy #wellnessgirl #selfcarequeen

A little bts of my very first Mommy & Mini Garden
A little bts of my very first Mommy & Mini Garden Party I hosted in my backyard yesterday! 🦋🌼🍓

June is my FAV month of the year and this was such a sweet way to kick off the summer season ☀️. I’ve always loved hosting and having an excuse to create magical moments for my baby girl adds an extra layer of joy to it all

Tbh we had a rough week last week so having all the mama friends together and seeing them with their little ones was just what I needed to lift my spirits ☺️💕

Let me know if you have q’s about anything you see here and I’m happy to share! And of course a big thank you to all my mama friends who came out despite it being the hottest day of the year so far 😅

#mamaandme #gardenparty #backyardparty #romanticizeyourlife #smalljoys #happymoments #summerhosting #hostingideas #summervibes #gardenpartyvibes

I’m back with another round of #HealthyHabits th
I’m back with another round of #HealthyHabits that will change your life (scroll further down my feed to find pt 1 if you missed it). 

Building a stack of habits that change the way you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically for the better is one of the best things you can do for yourself 🥰

If you need some tips on how to get started, here are 5 habits to add to your repertoire:

1️⃣ Schedule alone time: carving out time alone is essential for your wellbeing (even if you’re an extrovert like me). Find ways to make your time feel more special like taking yourself on a solo date 

2️⃣ Clean your space: a clear space = a clear mind, and one of my favorite ways to do this is to allot 30 min each evening for a “closing shift” where you do dishes, tidy up and prep your space so that you can wake up to a clean house

3️⃣ Make time for hobbies: it’s too easy to get caught up in the productivity hustle but making time for things that are just for fun can be the BEST thing for your creativity and mental wellbeing 

4️⃣ Go for a walk: getting in the habit of going outside to get your steps in and breathe in the fresh air is such a great way to reset for the day. There are lots of fun ways to make your walks more interesting, whether you listen to a new podcast or make it a mindful color walk 

5️⃣ Practice presence: the act of noticing your surroundings and fully immersing yourself in the simple moments is a life long practice. If tuning in to yourself is challenging and you find your mind wandering, try slowing down and being intentional to not multi-task and instead focus on one thing at a time 

Be sure to comment WORKSHEET below 👇🏼 if you want me to send you a copy of my free printable Mindful Morning Worksheet that can help you track your healthy habits and set goals for the week ahead 💕

#healthylifestyle #healthyliving #healthyandhappy #romanticizeyourlife #wellbeingtips #wellbeing #wellnessguide #habitsthatwork #wellnessgirl

Who else is excited for life to look like this aga
Who else is excited for life to look like this again 🌸🦋☀️🍀

#girlgetoutside #mdw #healthylifestyle #healthyandhappy #happyhabits #summertime #summeriscoming


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#Ford_Ambassador Welcome back to “romanticizing #Ford_Ambassador Welcome back to “romanticizing routines,” a mini series where I’m sharing different ways to find joy in the small, everyday moments. 💛

Today’s tip is all about leaning into seasonal joys and with it being early summertime that calls for gardening!🪏🪴🫜It’s times like these that I’m SO happy I have my 2025 @Ford Explorer® SUV because the cargo space is perfect for large hauls. 

The available feature back seats fold down with a touch of a button and it’s been a game changer for road trips and grocery shopping. In this case I was able to fill it with multiple bags of soil, a pot and lots of starter flowers, herbs and strawberries! 🍓🌼 

This is just the beginning of plenty more planting I plan on doing this season and I can’t wait to share more. I already know we’ll be spending lots of time out on our back porch, whether we are gardening, barbecuing, sipping coffee in the morning or hosting friends for dinner. 🍽️ 

Let me know if you want to see the start of my cut flower garden and maybe a full garden tour later this month!

2025 Ford Explorer® ST SUV shown with optional equipment.

#GardenGirl #RomanticizeYourLife #SmallJoys #HappyHabits
We made it halfway through 2025 and it’s the per We made it halfway through 2025 and it’s the perfect time for a mid-year reset! Think of this as your invitation to check in on the goals you originally set for yourself, make small shifts to your routine and celebrate how far you’ve come

Be sure to swipe through all 6 wellness tips and SAVE this post to put this mid-year check into action!

✨CELEBRATE THE HIGHLIGHTS✨
This is an opportunity to practice gratitude and honor how much you’ve already grown & gained so far in the past 6 months! Pick your fav photos to be printed, write out your proudest moments and journal your favorite memories 

✨REVISIT YOUR GOALS✨
This is your time to reconnect with your purpose and let go of what’s no longer serving you. Whether that’s setting a new intention, adjusting your old goals, or brainstorming solutions to challenges you’re facing 

✨ REFRESH YOUR ROUTINES✨
June is a great time to refresh your daily routine to best serve this season of life that you’re in. Try letting go of habits that don’t bring you joy, help you grow or make your life easier 

✨RECOMMIT TO YOUR WELLBEING✨
Let this reset give you the permission you need to focus on your own wellbeing and realign with routines that support your mental, physical and emotional health 

✨RECONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY✨
Use this time as an opportunity to reach out to the people who light you up and make you feel supported. Make it fun by hosting a small gathering, joining a class or scheduling a fun outing with a friend 

✨GROUND YOURSELF IN THE PRESENT✨
Time moves quickly and it’s up to slow down and savor where we are right now. Take a mindful walk, try a meditation or journal practice, and maybe take a little screen time break to give yourself a chance to just be and reflect 

Let me know if you’ll be doing any of these this month as you set yourself up for whatever success looks like for YOU for the remainder of the year 💕
Mondays are for matcha and I’ll be having this b Mondays are for matcha and I’ll be having this blueberry iced #matchalatte all summer long 🫐🩵

It’s so easy to make and tastes sweet & refreshing! Here’s a little step-by-step of how to make the BEST matcha at home: 

✨ sift 1 tsp ceremonial grade matcha powder to remove clumps 
✨ Pour 1/4 cup of hot water, ideally between 160-175 degrees Fahrenheit, over matcha 
✨ Using bamboo whisk, whisk vigorously in a W shape until microfoam forms 

For the blueberry portion, muddle fresh blueberries with blueberry syrup (or make a homemade blueberry syrup by heating blueberries with sugar, lemon juice and water over the stove)

Pour blueberry syrup in glass, add ice, pour in milk of choice and top with matcha for a beautiful layered effect 

Swirl and enjoy! 💙🦋

#matcharecipe #matchamonday #matchalove #matchalover #matchamoment #blueberrymatcha #healthylifestyle #healthyliving #healthyrecipes #summerdrink
June is in 🌸𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮🌸 #lifelat June is in 🌸𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮🌸
 
#lifelately #sundaymornings #weekendvibes #romanticizeyourlife #farmersmarket #happysnaps #lifeisbeautiful #summervibes
Spend a morning with me and my two little pups, Ni Spend a morning with me and my two little pups, Nina and Chip! 💕🐶 Many of you know we adopted both of these cuties years ago and even though our (human) baby has changed up our daily routine, these pups are always along for the ride and have adapted to our new family member beautifully. 

Since wellness is obviously super important to me, you know that means I take EXTRA care with what I feed my pups! 💚 Luckily @crumpsnaturals makes such a wonderful line of all-natural, premium dog treats made with simple ingredients and no artificial
flavors, colors or preservatives! Nina’s fav are the duck mini trainers. 

Chip also really loves their Fish & Superfood Greens meal topper – I just sprinkle it on his food every morning for extra vitamins to help his skin and coat! 

I’m just grateful that it makes caring for my furbaby’s wellbeing super easy and one less thing this busy mama has to think about every day!  #ad ☺️

#morningroutine #healthylifestyle #healthyhabits #morningvibes
Because life is too short to not have a million ho Because life is too short to not have a million hobbies, right? ☺️🦋💕

#healthylifestyle #romanticizeyourlife #cozyhobbies #hobbiesarefun #smalljoys #happyhabits #balancedliving #wellbeing
Where are my #balancedlifestyle girlies at? 🙌🏻🦋💕☀️

#healthylifestyle #morningroutine #healthyandhappy #healthyhabits #romanticizeyourlife #mindfulroutines
When you ✨grow✨ you can’t help but create a When you ✨grow✨ you can’t help but create a beautiful life 

#healthylifestyle #romanticizeyourlife #iamwellandgood #healthyhabits #happyandhealthy #mindfulroutine
When you let your mood dictate what you do, you’ When you let your mood dictate what you do, you’ll never be able to stay consistent with your goals… especially when it comes to your overall wellbeing. Completing that very first task always starts a chain reaction — it’s getting started that’s the hardest part 💕

If you’re ready to start building a #morningroutine filled with #healthyhabits, comment WORKSHEET and I’ll send you my free printable Mindful Morning template to help you get started ☀️🙌🏻

#healthylifestyle #iamwellandgood #mindfulroutines #healthyandhappy #wellnessgirl #selfcarequeen
A little bts of my very first Mommy & Mini Garden A little bts of my very first Mommy & Mini Garden Party I hosted in my backyard yesterday! 🦋🌼🍓

June is my FAV month of the year and this was such a sweet way to kick off the summer season ☀️. I’ve always loved hosting and having an excuse to create magical moments for my baby girl adds an extra layer of joy to it all

Tbh we had a rough week last week so having all the mama friends together and seeing them with their little ones was just what I needed to lift my spirits ☺️💕

Let me know if you have q’s about anything you see here and I’m happy to share! And of course a big thank you to all my mama friends who came out despite it being the hottest day of the year so far 😅

#mamaandme #gardenparty #backyardparty #romanticizeyourlife #smalljoys #happymoments #summerhosting #hostingideas #summervibes #gardenpartyvibes
I’m back with another round of #HealthyHabits th I’m back with another round of #HealthyHabits that will change your life (scroll further down my feed to find pt 1 if you missed it). 

Building a stack of habits that change the way you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically for the better is one of the best things you can do for yourself 🥰

If you need some tips on how to get started, here are 5 habits to add to your repertoire:

1️⃣ Schedule alone time: carving out time alone is essential for your wellbeing (even if you’re an extrovert like me). Find ways to make your time feel more special like taking yourself on a solo date 

2️⃣ Clean your space: a clear space = a clear mind, and one of my favorite ways to do this is to allot 30 min each evening for a “closing shift” where you do dishes, tidy up and prep your space so that you can wake up to a clean house

3️⃣ Make time for hobbies: it’s too easy to get caught up in the productivity hustle but making time for things that are just for fun can be the BEST thing for your creativity and mental wellbeing 

4️⃣ Go for a walk: getting in the habit of going outside to get your steps in and breathe in the fresh air is such a great way to reset for the day. There are lots of fun ways to make your walks more interesting, whether you listen to a new podcast or make it a mindful color walk 

5️⃣ Practice presence: the act of noticing your surroundings and fully immersing yourself in the simple moments is a life long practice. If tuning in to yourself is challenging and you find your mind wandering, try slowing down and being intentional to not multi-task and instead focus on one thing at a time 

Be sure to comment WORKSHEET below 👇🏼 if you want me to send you a copy of my free printable Mindful Morning Worksheet that can help you track your healthy habits and set goals for the week ahead 💕

#healthylifestyle #healthyliving #healthyandhappy #romanticizeyourlife #wellbeingtips #wellbeing #wellnessguide #habitsthatwork #wellnessgirl
Who else is excited for life to look like this aga Who else is excited for life to look like this again 🌸🦋☀️🍀

#girlgetoutside #mdw #healthylifestyle #healthyandhappy #happyhabits #summertime #summeriscoming
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