Resolve

 

 

So yesterday was a bummer, huh? I've been going through something. But I'm back today to shine a positive light on this blog, and my mind, and my life. It's only 5 days into the New Year - it's not too late. It's never too late to grow and improve. So here are some of my plans for myself, one of my favorite works in progress. HAPPY THOUGHTS, EVERYBODY.

1. Be more serious and have more fun. This might sound like a contradiction, but I mean it in that "work hard, play hard" kind of way. I let myself off the hook entirely too often and let a lot of my goals fall to the wayside. I will be more serious in these aspects: Physical and mental health, money management, deadlines. Things that I should just be doing as an adult. I will have more fun by making a lot more plans, making time for the friends that I've made here, meeting new people, and exploring new places.

2. Grow as a photographer. My 365 project is going strong as I'm still growing familiar with my new camera. I really need to start shooting and editing in raw image format. I literally just changed over to that setting on my camera.

3. Cook more. Especially clean meals. Too often I skip meals, don't eat enough, or eat quick and nutritionally devoid foods. I am really planning on putting a lot more thought to what goes into my body. Plus, I haven't tried a new recipe in entirely too long. That's gonna change! My new job is going to free up my nights, and I will be spending them in the kitchen.

4. Read more. It's a bummer that I feel like I'm always too busy to read. I own at least ten books that I've yet to open. My goal for 2013 is to read at least 7 books.

5. STRESS LESS. It's not worth it! It's really not! By applying resolution number 1 to my daily life, and taking time to just breathe, assess the situation, and realize it's not that bad, I can conquer this negative voice that still seems to creep up in my mind and completely blow my entire day. 

6. Adopt a dog. :) Maybe. When we feel we're ready.

7. Plan a trip. I don't know to where yet. Anywhere. I just want to go.

8. Drink more water. 

9. Save money.

AND BE HAPPY! Because life is way too short.

What are your personal goals?

 

I Believe In Nashville

Is it Friday already? This week flew by! I've been nursing some kind of gnarly upper respiratory infection though, so my days have been full of tea, soup and sleep. And I have a pretty full weekend of working at Free People ahead of me! I'd only been there for a few hours a week lately, but I miss the store and I'm picking up shifts like crazy. On top of my full time job.. grant me strength! Today is the best I've felt since... last week, though. And last week was really fun, so I wanna talk about it!

Andrew's birthday was on the 13th and he was very happy with his new bike, chocolate pudding pie and decorations :) That morning we picked our friend Terry up from the airport and had lots of fun for a few days! Terry enjoyed the Natchez Trace bridge as much as we do.
 
 
We went to Bongo Java near Belmont. Andrew got a chai latte, I got an iced pumpkin spice latte, and Terry was on a black coffee kick that day. Bongo Java was pretty rad and reminded me of one of my favorite cafes back on Long Island, so I enjoyed being there. Plus the lattes were delicious and we will totally be back. I was really pumped when we walked up to Bongo though, because next door was this cute little house turned vintage & handmade store, Local Honey which I'd already heard so much about. The boys went for a little walk while I browsed and inevitably fell in love.

We ventured downtown that night for some dinner and drinks, and Live on the Green featuring The Wallflowers! (90's, Bob Dylan's son, One Headlight, you know). That was a great time.

 
The next night, we ventured into East Nashville and did dinner on Eastland Ave. at The Wild Cow. It was SO GOOD. The Wild Cow is a vegetarian restaraunt, and the boys got sandwiches while I got the Far Eastland bowl with a side of the hummus of the day, which was jalapeno. Delicious. I can't wait to go back and try the buffalo grinder & the Philly.
 
Goes without saying that Terry loved The Wild Cow as well.
 
Mmmm.. I almost forgot about my ice cream cone appetizer at Jeni's. I'd heard people talking about the goat cheese & red cherry flavor and had to sample it, because I like to live on the edge, obviously. It was so good and I needed more of it immediately.

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key. We had a pasta night at home before Terry left and drank a lot of wine while watching Wet Hot American Summer. It was really great having him visit! It gave us an excuse to go out and eat, which is something we don't do very often because we try and save. The explorations were the most fun! I'm kicking that goal's butt!


xo, Corinne

Four Simple Goals Before 2013

Elsie over at A Beautiful Mess created a fun challenge for her readers! Four simple goals before 2013 is a fun way of staying inspired and on track during the upcoming season. I always feel these surges of energy and creativity during this season change, and I'm completely down for this challenge! Especially since they're "simple goals", things to make your life feel more full and happy. Here are mine!

1. Learn a new crochet technique - Right now I'm working on a gray circle scarf for myself, and when that is complete I'm going to take on crocheting beyond single and double crochet. Video tutorials on Youtube should definitely come in handy for this!

2. Eat 3+ vegetables daily - This should be easy, considering I eat a salad almost every single day. But seasonal vegetables like squash, brussels sprouts and yams are so delicious and will help me accomplish a bigger goal - learn more recipes.

3. Take a few yoga classes - It'd be great if I could get into a weekly yoga class, and especially bikram every once in a while. My schedule gets nutty, but I need to make more time for my mental and physical health. Yoga is perfect for reflecting, and releasing all of that negative energy.

4. Visit a new place every weekend - I'd start on this right now, if I weren't having an Arrested Development marathon while waiting for a special someone's birthday bicycle to arrive at our door. I've barely broken the surface of Nashville as far as exploring and adventures go. There are one million cafes and coffee shops and boutiques and parks just begging me to visit. I'm going to make a point to do this every weekend and fully immerse myself in my city.

If you decide to partake in this Four Simple Goals challenge, let me know! I'd love to read yours. And also share your links with Elsie, because they're going to select a few readers goals to feature on A Beautiful Mess! Which is one of my favorite, most inspiring blogs.

Here's to staying fulfilled and motivated this season!

Music Monday v.3 +

"We're gonna live in Nashville and I'll make a career
Out of writing sad songs and getting paid by the tear"
Silver Jews - Tennessee

I don't want to say too much and get way ahead of myself here, but what's concrete right now is that Andrew did book a February flight to Nashville and he is going in search of future housing for us. We've been saving for this since our Nashville trip last April. We're in love, we belong there, and if all goes according to plan - we'll be there by summer. I can hardly contain myself. I wish we were there right now to take part in the Full Moon Cycle starting at the Parthenon in Centennial Park tonight. I can't wait to just go. But, nothing is set in stone just yet. I'll try and calm these butterflies. I just really cannot wait to start the next stage of my life..

Okay so anyway!

Last night I made dinner based on a verbal recipe bestowed upon me by my friend Meghan. Figured it'd only be fitting to share it, since we are going to move and we are going to go through those "young couple off on their own financial struggles", we're prepared. More so with cheap and easy dinners like these home made black bean burgers!


You will need:
1 can of black beans (79¢)
1 egg (13¢ if we're gonna be literal about it)
Maybe ¼ cup of bread crumbs (3 bucks for a whole cylinder of the stuff)



Chop up your beans in a food processor. You could also mash them yourself.


Stir it up with the egg and the breadcrumbs in a bowl until it has a slightly gritty consistency (enough so it all sticks and forms "burgers").


I added a pinch of basil because I was feeling fancy, but it's not really necessary with all the flavor in the Italian bread crumbs.


Coat a large pan with some extra virgin olive oil.


Cook 'em.


And that's it!
We ate them on whole wheat flat bread with melted cheddar cheese, salsa and some mayonnaise.


This guy loved 'em, so that means they're good.

A cheap, easy, and healthy meal. I'm going to be making these all of the time, to top salads or for taco fix-in's. Another idea would be to use chickpeas, which I'm going to do, since chickpeas are my favorite of the legumes.

What are some of your favorite recipes? Bonus points for cost efficiency!

Blue Toad Photography

"Finding" my new job has seriously improved almost every aspect of my life in different ways. First of all, I'm happier. Like significantly and that's the most important thing, because I was feeling kinda hopeless for a while in my old position. I have a job that I enjoy, that allows me to get creative, and I'm thanked by my bosses after every day. I feel like I really fit in here and I'm motivated to do my job well and help improve the company. Secondly, it has allowed me to get to know the creative director here, Rob, who is an incredible photographer. We'd start out just talking about photography a little bit, since it's always been a hobby of mine. Something I felt passionate about and loved to do but never seemed to find the drive to push myself further. As time passed, we'd go more in depth and I'd learn more and more every day. He's given me copies of programs and Strobist tutorials, and helped me decide on my next piece of photo equipment. As of now we have a deal worked out, where I'll bring him subjects to add to his portfolio and in return I get free studio lessons. Just last weekend, I went and helped him set up all of the equipment and completely assisted him on a shoot. I'm feeling so much more fulfilled, and hopeful that my ten years of amateur photography will actually turn into something more. I mentioned my cousin's engagement shoot a few entries back. What a big deal for me, and what a sense of achievement that gave me. I'm super motivated to keep learning, and with the gift of a new flash, to keep expanding my horizons within the field by learning portrait photography and even outdoor lighting techniques. Basically, this entry is a big THANK YOU - to Rob, my job, and myself for making the moves I had to in order to become a happy, complete version of myself. Check out this beautiful portrait from Rob at Blue Toad Photo:

That model isn't half bad either, huh? ;)

There's a glimpse of the shoot where I played assistant. I set that stuff up! Gels and strobes and beauty dishes dance around my head at night. I'm definitely amped about diving right into this.

If you're interested, please visit the Blue Toad Photography website.
And "like" the Facebook page!
Word of mouth is huge in such a competitive industry.
You'll definitely be seeing more from us.

Anyone who lives locally (Suffolk County, NY) who would be interested in having portraits taken, feel free to email me at corinnegalvin@gmail.com.