Woods Walk, New Direction

My office closed early yesterday, and Andrew was enjoying a day off. It worked out wonderfully, because I feel like lately, I never see him when the sun is out. So we ventured out to do our favorite daytime thing together, which is hiking (technically these are mini hikes, but it still totally counts). We come to this preserve in Rocky Point all the time. It's pretty special to both of us. Whenever I'm having a blah day, I come here for a walk and I feel a million times better.

Andrew carved our names into this tree a while ago. I didn't think I'd come across it again!

The beach was so beautiful about an hour before sunset. The weather here has been so mild. It's hard to believe we're approaching January. I'm definitely okay with it! I wasn't cold in the slightest by the water.

My little Goldsworthy. Andrew is creative in really special and original ways. Whenever we're exploring, he's making sculptures out of rocks or leaves or something. He found some driftwood to play with. He made the beach and the sunset even prettier.

So, today marks the end of the year. I'm planning some fun personal goals for myself for 2012. One of them being my blog focus. I've been doing some research, and found it's best to have some real direction when blogging. I've been pretty scattered, but that's because I have so many interests! This was supposed to start as a food blog, and that was fun for a while but I wasn't very passionate about it. My real and most long lasting passion has always been photography. With the experiences I've already had with Rob, and our plans for the upcoming year, I really feel that I'll benefit most from sharing my photos, real photos as apposed to my previous iPhone photo posts. Whether they're from adventures like yesterdays or from studio experience, Nitemare Hippy Girl has become Brilliant Nature, a photography and adventure blog. Also, it's possible that you'll see a lot more personal style posts from me. And music. And some interesting little things I find here and there. Like me, my little corner of the internet will always be multifaceted. But now with more direction! Hooray!

Until next time,
Corinne.

Red Velvet

from my new thrift store flats (which andrew coined as 'italian lady house shoes') to my sister's headband. i'm obsessed.

the thrift score was especially exciting because it almost sort of satiates my desire for the wine velvet lita's. some day, jeffrey campbell. some day.

also, how pretty are the words 'crimson' and 'incarnadine'?
found my winter power color.

Santagram

had myself a merry little weekend.

family means more than ever lately, and i know everybody feels it since we lost two of our main characters within this year. i had a great time with my loved ones. we had some sad moments, but i like to think we do a great job of celebrating life, even lives passed, and looking back fondly. it's always so comforting to have everybody in one place also, since we've become scattered across the map. we really had a lovely time, and we're looking forward to what the upcoming year will bring. (also, i'm so spoiled. did you see all of my great gifts?! really excited for what's to come creatively now that i have my speedlite. not pictured are cake pop and mini cupcake makers by babycakes. also the milo goes to college LP, pablo neruda's love poems, amy sedaris' simple times: crafts for poor people. FINALLY, i'm UNDERSTOOD!)

speaking of main characters, i just noticed the absence of my dad in
this little documentation.
well, here he is:



big head app for the win.

hope everyone who celebrates had an equally sweet christmas weekend <3.

Top 11 of 2011

I wanted to put together a mix of my favorite songs from the past year. About half of them were actually released this year. Some are oldies but goodies. Either way, they're songs I listened to over and over again on repeat at some point during 2011. Hope you enjoy!



Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Weekly Recap

hey guys, let me tell you about my week!


friday night, andrew and i went to starbucks for a gingerbread latte (mine) and a chai latte (his). then we drove around to look at christmas lights. our first stop was this great house he took me to last year for the first time. you drive up, tune into a certain radio station, and the house lights flash along with the music you're hearing! their mailbox also serves as a donation center for st. judes. it's pretty special. afterward we went to a new thrift store on the island and i bought some really rad boots for future hikes and also just because they're gonna spruce up some outfits of mine.




on saturday, i drove my friend james to the backtrack record release show. we left early enough to adventure around sea cliff (i'd never been!) and shop a little bit at unique thrift (another first time experience). our pre-show festivities were fun.


obviously james felt just as enthusiastic about our day trip. here he is olding our stella's at kc gallagher's.

i didn't have much luck at the thrift store, apparel wise. but i did find two johnny cash records and janis joplin's greatest hits. all for under $2! my vinyl collection has grown significantly in the two years since andrew bought me a record player. james bought some really rad aztec print blankets to turn into clothing for his etsy store. he's a really talented designer.

we got to the show and i was really happy to find out that some of my other friends decided to go also. compound played, and i really enjoyed their set. it was andrew's first time playing a show with them! i was really proud of him. his first time playing guitar live in a band. i saw turnstile play for the first time right after that, which was really fun as well. sometime after their set, meghan, matt and i snuck off and split a six back of blue point winter ale while playing games and listening to christmas music. maybe the highlight of the night? no no the music was of course..


this work of art is titled "raining inside: tons of sweaty bodies in one venue"


backtrack.
i always manage to find a way on stage. not because i feel that's where i belong, it's not. but because i'm twenty four and at this point, having my nose broken via bodies flying into it doesn't really appeal to me. i've always been more of a spectator in the long island hardcore scene. by always, i mean this has been a part of my life for about ten years. but i've never really had a key role. for those who do, this turned out to be a really special night and i'm glad i got to be a part of it.




icy mornings / festive nail art / snowy boat yard print


i finished catching fire: book two of the hunger games the other night. i still feel queasy thinking about it. i'm ready to dive right into book three, but last minute shopping and wrapping and also much appreciated quality time with andrew has been preventing me from it. i'm also okay with prolonging this experience, since these books are so good and i'm going to be sad when i've completed the trilogy.


yesterday i had a bad day. flat tire on the way to work and my first stressful day at my job since i started (once i actually got here).
a make over and winter beer helped me cope.


and it helped a lot! here i am, hamming it up this morning while i brewed my coffee.

a talk with my favorite boss, rob, this morning really helped the situation. he had my back all day yesterday when it was looking kinda rough for me, and i came in this morning to a bagel on my desk and more moral support. we discussed how life is so short, and can become even shorter. this was brought on by a news story from last night, how somebody got out of their car because it broke down and was run over by a drunk driver. we were saying that you never know when the time is going to come for you, and how you really do need to appreciate every single day. every last minute. we've also been talking about a documentary called life in a day, about families from all over the world who don't have running water or even adequate shelter, but they survive and keep pushing on. a lot of the time with smiles on their faces. and we have access to everything we could ever need. much more than we could ever need. a bad day for us could be somebody else's best day. and we should never take anything for granted. so! keep pushing forward! keep smiling! because it could always be worse, and it could be over in a second.
life is a wonderful thing.

Music Monday v.1

I've seen this around, but I want to join in on Music Monday. It's something really important to me, it's always been. And I'm constantly discovering more and more, on top of an arsenal of old favorites, so why not share?

This week I'm sharing a new (to me) artist, Lana Del Rey.
She's a 25 year old New York City native and I really like her voice.
Her music is really catchy, too. Video Games is my favorite song this week.

Blog love

KT Kieltyka is a really awesome chick who I've known for a while. I've been frequenting her blogs this year. The Hodge, which is a really incredible account of her day to day life since being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Strong girl. The other is called Singular Ladies and it's hilarious but also sometimes informative. I came across this really funny story of true holiday family antics she wrote for The Hairpin on the latter. Check it out! It really warms the cockles.

Good good things

winter hikes, long island, the beach / animal hats / hand me down
hand made blankets / christmas cookies made by toddlers

Linked v. 2

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Waking up kinda late, saying goodbye to your nice warm bed where you can still see an imprint of your once snuggled resting body and stumbling out the door to work without giving your car any time to warm up or giving yourself any time to scrape down the frost on the windows. This trick (a mixture of 2/3 Vinegar 1/3 water in a spray bottle) will help expedite your winter morning routine. (Watch what you can do with cooking spray and hand sanitizer!)

How cool is this vase shelf? Fresh cut flowers make any gloomy day brighter. Even regular days.

Manual Photography Cheat Sheet. Photo 101 made really simple.

Opposite of cheating, how to recreate instagram filters using real cameras and real film. (i.e. real work.)

No Bake Oreo Truffles. whaaaaat!

You wouldn't think so at this point, but i've never had much of a sweet tooth. But it's winter, and it's easy, and it has to be god damn delicious. Nutella Hot Chocolate. Add marshmallows (just guessin')

Gracious Rain's sweet acorns went over so well with my family on Thanksgiving! I made extra and ate them for days.

Want. Want. Want. I'm only shopping Ruche for undergarments from now on. Or any garments. Such beautiful stuff.

Can I live here?

And finally, dancing Gandhi! What a beautiful human.

Celebrate us

I can't believe I've been dating this fella for two awesome years already.
We celebrated the other night at our favorite restaurant, Painters.
(which I've referenced before, here!)

We ate pulled pork nachos, fish tacos, and chicken marsala. Seriously delicious food.
And then I came across this magnificent thing,
apple cider sangria. I really loved it.

We had a really nice little low key anniversary, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

<3