Feature Friday: Trying to Heal

Friday night = time for another Feature Friday!! Tonight's featured blogger is....

Melissa, from Trying to Heal!

I've been reading Trying to Heal for about a year now, and always get a little excited when a new post pops up in my reader. What I love most about Melissa's blog is how much her personality and passions come through in her writing. She's made a career out of her love for the environment, which is something I truly admire, and she's always open about both her triumphs and her struggles. I love how honest and real her posts are- you can just tell that she's a cool person to be around.

Melissa is also a vegetarian, dedicated runner and avid baker, which I can all relate to! I was lucky enough to meet her in person first at the Healthy Living Summit and then at the Foodbuzz Festival in San Francisco, and she's just as genuine and kind in person as I'd anticipated.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Trying to Heal and say hi! You'll want to stick around, I promise :)

What blogs are you currently loving? What's the latest addition to your reader?

It's All Greek To Me

Friday afternoon- woo!! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

This morning, I attended the one-hour pilates class I mentioned in this morning's post. I have to say that I didn't really love it :( I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and the completely core-based session just wasn't really my style. I like yoga for the slow tempo and deep stretches, and I like classes for their high-energy strength exercises. Pilates kind of seemed like a fusion of the two- slow but strength-based. I'm thinking maybe I should try another class with a different instructor just to be sure, though!

My stomach was grumbling by the time class was done, so I hurried home to make lunch.

Lately, I've been craving Greek yogurt. I haven't really had any for over a year now, since I try to eat mostly vegan, but I've always refrained from putting labels on my diet and never want to deny myself something I enjoy or crave. It's probably not going to become a regular thing, since I don't eat non-vegan foods very often for a personal combination of health, ethical and environmental beliefs, but my taste buds were asking for Greek yogurt, so I obliged!

I sweetened a cup of Fage 0% with a little white sugar, just like the way I used to enjoy plain yogurt as a kid. Simple and tasty. (And no, this is not an April fools' joke, in case someone asks!)

Along with the yogurt, I had a peanut butter sandwich with Trader Joe's creamy peanut butter on Ezekiel bread, as well as a sliced apple and a few dates.

Speaking of April Fool's, has anyone played any good pranks this year, or in past years? I know a bunch of bloggers posted some pretty elaborate ones this morning...I'm always tempted to Photoshop myself with brown hair, but the people who know me well wouldn't be fooled for a second!

The only joke I've ever played was when I was in second grade and told my teacher she was so great that I was giving her a diamond pin....then gave her a ring box filled with a dime and pin. Clever, I know. I'm pretty sure I got that idea from American Girl magazine, too.

Hope you're having a great Friday!

Yogalates

Good morning, friends! Happy April!

The April showers are definitely here, though they're not at all spring-like: we've got "wintry mix" in the forecast for today. Blech. Sunday should be nice, though- right in time for the More/Fitness women's half marathon in Central Park! I've made the decision to walk/lightly run the race with a blogging buddy. I'm kind of excited to experience the differences between running and walking 13.1 miles!

Breakfast this morning was a bowl of Grain Berry cereal, raw rolled oats, wheat germ and a sliced banana swimming in almond milk.

Nice and pretty --> all mixed up:

I've been loving my switched-up breakfasts lately, but there's no way I can abandon cereal completely!

This morning I'm toying with the idea of hitting up a pilates mat class. I took a few classes in high school but barely remember them, and for some reason new yoga/pilates classes intimidate me more than cardio or weight based ones. Maybe because the faster you move, the easier it is to make your clumsiness go unnoticed? Oh well. Telling myself to suck it up and go, since anyone who's more focused on my awkwardness than their own workout can't really be concentrating all that hard anyway!

One thing I'd totally be up to try: Yogalates, a la OC. 

Yogalates? Yogalates.

Happy FRIDAY!!

Yoga or pilates? And do you prefer fast-paced exercise classes, or slower ones?