Ms. Yale: Travel. Food. Fitness. NYC.

Happy December friends! Not only does the holiday season feel like it’s in full swing, but today is also the first day of #FitDec.

What is #FitDec, you ask?

Two years ago, my friend Bridget asked if I wanted to join her in working out for the entire month of December.

Why would we do such a thing? To get a head start on resolutions, to ensure health remains at the forefront throughout the holiday season. 

December is the new January, after all. 

Thanksgiving break has been an absolute delight. I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed and content. 

It feels like it went from being fall to the holiday season overnight. I can’t wait to spend more time with friends and family, drink hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps and test out a few new paleo baking recipes.

Five holiday inspired things that are making me happy right now: 

Loving this mantle piece, inspiration for a future apartment. 

Is that you, Dasher? 

Cozy snuggles fireside. 

Time to deck the halls. 

What’s new gangeroo? It’s been awhile. Things have been busy, that’s for sure, but I’ll be back in December.

Hope your Thanksgiving was just as good as mine- full of love, family and friends.

10 things I loved this week:

Taking my photo booth obsession to the next level: Oversized photo booth prints.

5 genius Thanksgiving leftover hacks.

20 Instagram accounts to fuel your creativity.

Speaking of leftovers, does it get any better than stuffing waffles?

Essential for a holiday party or dinner: DIY metallic dipped taper candles. 

Next-level paleo baking, so excited for Every Last Crumb to hit the shelves.  

These take-home pie containers are the cutest.

Macaron sprinkles on glazed doughnuts? Be still, my heart.

The past few weeks of training have been zero fun. But, I just keep telling myself- Don't give up: Failure, discomfort and discouragement are merely signs of effort.

10 things I loved this week: 

Instagram introduces caption and location edits.

THIS: “If I’m not saying ‘Hell Yeah!’ to something, then I say no.”

New blog discovery. Friends, get ready to eat lots of cake.

Taking paint to the next level: Loving these 13 creative wall ideas.

Made for sharing, a centerpiece that tastes as good as it looks.

Weekend habits of highly successful people.

I’m gonna need these for New Years. 

How to put together a cheese plate.

This strawberry donut cake is everything.

Say IIIII if you're already planning for the holidays and excited for all things Christmas: IIIIIIIl. Relishing in the last bits of fall and resisting the urge to pull out the holiday decor (for at least another week!). A few things I'm loving, sharing and pinning this month:

Toasty texture. 

This month's DIY: Jingle bell wreath. So simple, so chic. 

Colors. 

Already gift planning, you can't go wrong with booze and hot chocolate.

Dance party underneath the Manhattan Bridge last night, your standard Thursday.

Little by little, it's starting to feel like the holiday season in the city. This weekend, the New York Festival of Light is happening in DUMBO. Last night, we checked out the light installations. It was the perfect Little Friday activity, and even though lasers are a bit different from Christmas lights, it still felt festive. 

10 things I loved this week: 

The top 20 catchiest songs of all time, according to science.

When adults and kids were asked what they would change about their bodies, they had very different responses. 

With fall football in full swing, already planning a Superbowl watch party. Loving this Dip Party fabulousness.

5 simple ways to save money this holiday season.

A how-to guide for choosing the right cocktail glasses.

21 signs you’re addicted to Christmas music.

Not the biggest marshmallow fan, but I could get behind frozen hot chocolate popsicles.

Social marketers: 15 browser extensions to make your life easier.

What kids around the world eat for breakfast. 

Confession: I'm already planning for the holidays. Fall has begun melding into winter, the leaves are turning and falling onto the ground, and temperatures dipping a little lower. And, even though it still feels like fall, I know winter is right around the corner. 

I always look forward to a new month because it feels like a clean slate, a time to look back and reflect, but also plan for the weeks ahead. This month, I'm focused on training, working hard and making time for friendship.

The above quote is so true, really at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is if what you're doing today gets you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. 

Take more steps this month than last month (hit 10k+ every day in October for a total of 434,386 steps).

Yoga. Repeat after me, Nicole: yoga. I've been pretty sore after some training workouts lately, so stretching and resting has to be a priority in coming weeks.

Drink 80z of water daily (11/7 onward). 

Stick to the budget I map out (with the holidays and a few trips coming up, I'm trying to make more conscious decisions when it comes to finance).

Continue training for the Glass Slipper Challenge (no matter how much running in the dark sucks). 

My morning runs are chilly now, and I’m loving almost* everything about the changing seasons (*looking at you, rainy windy days). It’s my favorite time of the year, and this past October was one for the books. All my favorite fall activities with great people. What more could you ask for? 

I’m not looking forward to even colder weather, but I am excited about the upcoming holiday season (guilty of already starting to plan!).

1. Changing seasons // I've always felt fall foliage helps set the stage for new beginnings. Not to mention that the pops of red, yellow and orange are gorgeous and make it even easier to appreciate being outside. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, haunted houses, leaf peeping, so many opportunities to soak up the beauty of nature before winter settles in. 

2. Racing season // Autumn is my favorite time to run. This racing season was made a little sweeter with a trip to Disney World for the Tower of Terror Haunted 10 Miler. Such a fun race, and loved spending a weekend in Orlando catching up with college friends. 

3. Pumpkin everything // Confession: I'm one of those people. I love the infiltration of pumpkin spice, even if it's not actual pumpkin (as marketing would suggest). This month was full of so much pumpkin baking (pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes!). We also squeezed in one last alfresco brunch, complete with apple cider mimosas and pumpkin table decor.

4. New beginnings // There was so much to celebrate this month- from my birthday, to fall fun with friends, to a new job. :) November, you've got some big shoes to fill. 

Happy Halloween Witches! Better than your ordinary Friday, today is Halloween, which of course calls for a lil sexy pumpkin dance action. Here's hoping your night is ghoulishly fun (and safe!). 

10 things I'm loving this week: 

The key to a productive to-do list.

21 emoji comebacks you should start using.

New favorite Etsy shop alert: Liquorary (vintage glassware & barware for all your cocktail needs).

Love this DIY spin on classic pumpkins: Malachite pumpkins.

Halloween party essential: Candy corn pinatas.

Things are about to get super sweet in my apartment this weekend: Stoked to make these caramel brownies.

Things we should stop doing so we can be happier.

10 things to do the first 10 minutes of your day.

You’ve probably been cutting pineapples the wrong way. 

Fall is my favorite season, always has been. It's not always easy loving fall though, especially when the transition from summer to winter sometimes happens overnight. This weekend, I celebrated my birthday and caught up with girlfriends in Rhode Island, and we really lucked out- it was the perfect fall weekend. 

Fall, as much as I love you, I can't handle the windy, rainy, chilly weather and there's been way too much of it this week. This weekend I'm looking forward to some much needed sunshine, birthday festivities and catching up with great friends in Rhode Island. There will be apple picking, a few martinis and pumpkin festivals. Have a good one! 

10 things I loved this week: 

12 Halloween treats so delicious it’s scary.

Butternut squash always seems like a good idea, until you try to chop it into a million tiny pieces. The ultimate tutorial to chopping tricky fall vegetables. 

Cue drooling: The 30 most Instagrammed restaurants in NYC. 

A handy guide to choosing the right kind of apple.

This innocuous Vine account is actually a horror movie. 

Oreo cookie butter coming right up: How to make homemade cookie butter (with any cookie!).

This guy makes the scariest pumping carvings ever. 

10 things to do the first 10 minutes of your day.

In the absence of scarcity, content isn’t king. Attention is king. Why an algorithmic Twitter feed may not be a bad idea.

Proven fact: Sugar doesn't count on your birthday. 

This weekend, I’ll be celebrating my 27th birthday with a few of close friends. We’re venturing up to Rhode Island for a couple days of fall activities and I’m seriously stoked about the fall foliage that awaits. 

Looking back at this past year, I probably pushed myself harder than I needed to, which I realize now. In retrospect though, I’m glad I went for it. From fitting in a lot of trips to new cities, countless adventures and some big life decisions (starting a new job!), it’s been a good year. 

I never talk much about my age. Most of the time when people ask how old I am, I either subtract a year or add a year because it’s simply not top of mind and I honestly forget. I’m here. I’m doing what I love and it’s working, so why worry about a number?  I’ve been reflecting on things a lot lately. Maybe in those 2-3 years before you turn 30, you start really thinking about what you’ve done and what you want to do. To help commemorate this birthday, I decided to make a list of 30 things I want to do before I’m 30. In a few years, I think it’ll be fun to look back and see what I accomplished and what may still be in progress.  30 things before I’m 30: 

Learn to be in the moment. 

Have more patience. 

Take more photographs of my life.

Eat healthier, regularly.

Workout regularly.

Train for (and I mean seriously train) and run the Disney Princess half marathon and Tinkerbell half marathon.

Take up knitting. 

Go back to Europe. 

Spend an afternoon skiing. 

Buy and stock a bar cart. 

Take an international weekend trip (Iceland, Mexico, all relatively quick trips from NYC).

Learn to meditate. 

Read more books.

Decide on a signature drink to order and one to make for others. 

Fight for a cause. 

See more live music and concerts.

Learn how to change a tire. 

Learn to Tango.

Visit one new city in the US yearly (lots to check off here, Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Minneapolis).

Run a 5k for time.

Ride a motorcycle (briefly, and with a helmet).

Treat myself to a spa day.

Become comfortable saying no.

Aprender Espanol (learn Spanish).

Learn the art of cocktail-making.

Own stock in a company I believe in.

Be irresponsible.

Start and tend to an herb garden.

Have a moonlit picnic.

I know it’s somewhat of a cliched quote, but I’m so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers. With fall in full swing and Halloween only a week away (eek!), I’ve been offline more than usual lately. 

Spending more doing fall activities (apple picking, pumpkin carving, baking from scratch), I’ve been stalking Instagrammers to help streamline things that aren't second nature (read: cooking). 

Five Instagram accounts I’m loving this month: 

Healthfest: Just a girl on a journey to a healthier self, one whole meal at a time. So much healthy food inspiration. She's also a fellow wannabe runner. 

Bon_appetit_paleo: Mom Instagrammer living the Paleo life and a frequent Whole30er. In my never ending quest to eat more whole foods, I check her feed weekly for cooking hacks. 

Bonnietsang: Bonnie is a commercial and editorial photographer. I enjoy her clean cut style, shot arrangements and glimpses into what her life is like in LA (read: lots of sunsets and palm trees). 

Whole30: Still not sold on Whole 30, a little concerned it’s too restrictive for a vegetarian allergic to nuts. But! I love checking out the fan creations and success stories they share on Insta- super motivational.   

Chelsea Market is one of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat in NYC. Located inside a building that was once used to make Oreos, the market is in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. 

The original factory floors and exposed brick walls provide a great atmosphere for shopping. It's really the perfect place to visit whether you're a local or visiting the Big Apple, you'll find delicious food and great speciality shops. 

My favorite places to eat: Ronnybrook Milk Bar, Friedman's Lunch, buonitalia (bruschetta!), Amy's Bakery, the Lobster Place, Num Pang, the crepe stand and L'Arte del Gelato. 

If you're up for a drink while visiting, check out Cork Buzz or The Tippler (speakeasy-ish bar located outside the market). Pro tip: Beside having a great selection of wines, The Wine Vault also offers Weekend Wine School workshops, often themed to the season or upcoming holidays. We attended Weekend Wine School last Valentine's Day and really enjoyed it. 

And with fall upon us, a trip to the market pairs nicely with a walk along the nearby High Line. 

It's been a busy week, friends. Things to know about life: “No” is a complete sentence. It does not require justification or explanation. 

And while we're on the theme of "life knowing things," Georgetown Cupcake's Halloween menu is frighteningly delicious. Recommended: Pumpkin cheesecake. 

10 things I loved this week: 

The case for not getting married in your 20s.

I’m outdoorsy in that I like having a drink on a patio, but really digging this shopper sporting challenge from the NorthFace. 

Making it easier to be a little more zen, 5 minute morning meditations.

I could look at photos from above all day. Loving these stunning aerial views of a colorful beach town. 

How you make decisions says a lot about how happy you are. 

Ghoulish sweets for Halloween: Blood spatter cookies.

Noted: The secret to learning a foreign language as an adult.

Loving Target's attempt to take trick-or-treating to Instagram.

Why is it so hard to detect emotion in emails and texts? Selfishness.

I'm never surprised when Pittsburgh makes headlines for being a great place to live or visit. Growing up in a suburb 25 minutes north of downtown, we traveled into the city a lot, and even more so when I was in high school and college.

Pittsburgh may have a reputation for being a blue-collar sports town, but there's so much more that makes it an awesome place to spend a weekend. 

You’ll usually find me in: Southside, the Strip District, Squirrel Hill, Oakland

Get outside: Frick Park, Schenley Park, Strip District (Saturday mornings!), Duquesne Incline, Point State Park

Not your typical museum/tour: The Mattress Factory, Andy Warhol Museum, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Carnegie Museums of Natural History & Art, Just Ducky Tour (did this as a native and loved it)

For a refresh: Beehive Cafe, Te Cafe, Coca Cafe, Espresso A Mano, Big Dog Coffee 

Restaurants I dream about: Primanti Bros, Nakama, Church Brew Works, Fat Heads Saloon, Las Palmas, Burghatory, Wingharts Burger & Whiskey Bar, Butcher and the Rye, Eleven, Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room, Salt of the Earth, Smallman Street Deli, The Original Hot Dog Shop (Oakland), Pennslyvania Macaroni Company, Wholey's 

The best breakfast: Waffles Incaffeinated, Peace Love and Little Donuts, Pamela's, DeLuca's

Kick back with a good drink: James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy, Local Bar + Kitchen, Acacia, Harvard & Highland, Hofbrauhaus

Raise a glass at happy hour: Houilhan's, Hemingway's Cafe, Carson City Saloon, Kaya, Mario's, Peter's, Sing Sing (dueling pianos)

Spend an afternoon: Kennywood, PNC Park, Station Square, shopping on the Southside, checking out the Waterfront 

Treat yo self: The Cake & Cookie Spot, The Milk Shake Factory, The Cheesecake Factory 

Fun day trips: Frank Lloyd's Falling Water, Ohio Pyle State Park for thrilling whitewater

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature has been saving up all year for the grand finale.” -Lauren DeStefano

Fall, like any other season, just seems better in New York City. To try and most of this wonderful season, I've put together a list of some of my favorite activities:

-Admire the foliage (Central Park, Prospect Park, and plenty of easy day trips from the city- Long Island, the Palisades, etc.)

-Go apple pickling 

-Pick and carve a pumpkin 

-Drink pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin chais and pumpkin iced coffees

-Savor pumpkin everything 

-Throw a Halloween-inspired brunch, Broomsticks and Brunch (thinking: pumpkin cinnamon rolls, fall vegetable frittata and apple cider mimosas) 

-Spent a Saturday being the ultimate foodie at Arthur Avenue (the original Little Italy)

-Revert back to childhood for Halloween (candy, costumes, haunted houses...basically, perfection) 

-Break a sweat while channeling my inner spider monkey at Brooklyn Boulder or while checking out a new cycling class (hi, Peloton) 

-Cross a few restaurants off my ever-expanding Foursquare lists (Di Fara Pizza, Mimi Cheng, Emmett’s, Berg’n, Church Street Tavern, Upland, Almanac, White Street, Westville, Northern Spy Food Company)

-Cozy up with a drink at: Clover Club, the Nomad Bar, Hudson Malone, Belgian Beer Cafe, The Dutch

-Make the most of a rainy day at: New York Public Library reading room, the Tenement Museum, the Frick Collection, the International Center of Photography 

-See a show at Bowery Ballroom and laugh like it’s my job at amateur night at the Apollo 

-Go dark with a mani and pedi