Thanks for the replies (and so soon!). The nose pinch sounds like a good idea since it can't "fail".
To go outside and look at the sky was more of a 'something you must do in a dream' thing as it is usually very surreal looking. I've caught myself stepping outside and look up, to seeing a very deep blue or purple space, filled not only with stars but strange shapes and objects as well. More often than not it resembles a circuit board, only more feint with 'live' sparks following the pathways. The downside to this is that I can only enjoy it for so long before I wake up, so to find it completely normal this time freaked me out.