Music Mania.

I've been into the more upbeat songs of late... Here is one of my favorites to go driving around to. I hope you enjoy...

Die Young - Ke$ha





Kisses, Andrea.

Oops.

Tomorrow is my 19th birthday. Not having thought on it much until a day or so ago, this means that I have now had this blog for over a year! This is quite the special occasion!

You might remember that last year for my birthday I made a goal list for myself. Click here to check it out! This year, I will be doing the same thing for myself. Although my goals might change, or there might be a couple of repeats, I can't say that it was a complete fail.

"19 before 20"

1. Learn how to paint.
- This is something that I've always wanted to expand on. It takes so much more than brushes and canvas to know how to paint.
2. Drink less soda.
- Soda is way overrated nowadays. It's unhealthy and not needed in my life. I can live without it, can't I?
3. Make an Afghan.
- While this may have been on my list last year, I did not get to it. Here goes round two.
4. Be Positive.
- Just recently I have felt as though I haven't been as positive in some situations as I could have been. Negativity does not need to have a special home in my life.
5. Spend quality time with my family.
- Now that I don't live at home, I find that it is important to spend quality time with my family. By quality time, I mean time that actually means something to us.
6. Practice Photography and learn new techniques.
- You can never go wrong with practice and learning.
7. Open my mind to new things.
- Here recently, I have been somewhat closed minded on certain issues. I know this is wrong and I hope to work on opening my mind to new things whether it be culture, religion, etc.
8. Do well in my classes.
- This is basically self explanatory.
9. Try to be a better voter.
- Now that I am registered to vote, I feel like I am required to be more informed about politics than I have been previously.
10. Stay involved.
- I believe that staying involved at school is important. I don't want to start slacking!
11. Draw more!
- Art makes me happy, I don't draw as much as I used to. It's hard nowadays to sit down and find some time to just draw.
12. Continue to try and learn how to play the guitar.
- I got a start on it this last year. Maybe I'll make great leaps and bounds this year.
13. Strengthen the relationships with the important people in my life.
14. Be Informed.
- To provide a logical argument for anything you have to be informed of the facts. I'm going to try and not hold any arguments about anything that I am not informed about.
15. Change the oil in my car, by myself.
- I'm 19 years old, I need to know how to do this by myself.
16. Recycle!
- The world needs to be cleaner, don't deny it. Even if you think that the hole in the Ozone is a hoax...
17. Try new foods!
- I'm a very picky eater, I will be the first to admit it. I need to broaden my horizons, a lot.
18. Be more outgoing.
- Some may describe me as this already, I feel as though I've softened and I don't do as much as I used to.
... and last but not least...
19. Love myself.


For everyone else working on their own goals, good luck!

How do you guys keep yourself motivated whenever it comes to your own aspirations and goals?

Kisses, Andrea.

Special Offer!

This expires October 14th, at midnight but for now if you follow this link you will be lead to my Society6.com page. The benefit you may ask? Free shipping if you order two or more of my products.

Have fun darlings.

Kisses, Andrea.

WanderLust

Who doesn't love a day trip? When I was younger, my mother was prone to packing lunch, my brother and I into the car and then going on an adventure. As I grew older, we didn't do this as often but it has instilled such a sense of wanderlust into my heart that I sometimes wander around aimlessly on campus, content with having no planned destination. This weekend, tomorrow specifically, I'm going to ease my wanderlust for just a bit.

If you go to my Frequently Visited Websites page here and then visit the one on the tippy top of the list, you will see a pair, sisters in fact, that run not only their own blog but their own shop by the name of Red Velvet in Springfield, Missouri (which is roughly four hours away from Oklahoma State University [not including potty stops!]).

Tomorrow, at seven A.M. sharp (hopefully), my roommate and our friend will be on our own adventure to visit the lovely Springfield with Red Velvet as our main destination in mind.

For a little background, my roommate Abi introduced me to the wonderful pair of Elsie and Emma. Ever since I started reading their delightful posts about cooking, baking, crafting, photography and other things about two years ago, I never looked back. It was pretty much a match made in blogging heaven.

I hope that this day trip goes off without a hitch and maybe I'll get to meet a couple of my blogging idols. I can only dream, I suppose! Who else has been on day trips? Which was your favorite one?

My favorite usually consisted of going to Alabaster Caverns near Freedom, Oklahoma. For more information about Alabaster Caverns click here! It's worth the drive, and is a good summer destination because it stays under 60 degrees in the caves all year around! Also, there is a geocache located here.

Kisses, Andrea.

Mmmmmmm.

Here's another good one! Who doesn't love Mumford and Sons?


Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons



Enjoy!

Kisses, Andrea.

Rock Climbing

The wellness center here at Oklahoma State is a large one and offers many programs. Including a weekly "Ladies' Night" at the rock wall. Tonight I am going for the fourth week in a row. I have to say that I have fallen deeply and madly in love with rock climbing. It has become a work out for me, one that I enjoy and cannot wait for each week.

"Why only go once a week?" you may ask... I only go once a week because that's the only time they have staff available to belay climbers. The wonderful Mr. Bailey and I have decided to get certified in belaying so that we will be able to go climbing more often. Mr. Bailey has been unable to even climb at all because he is unfortunately male. He pouts every Thursday night.

I can't wait to get certified, it will open so many doors for me when I do. Rock climbing is the only exercise that I have found that I love and have consistently stuck to. I think having to pay for the certification will help with that also.

What is everyone else doing to stay in shape this year? What ways do you exercise without actually exercising?

Kisses, Andrea.

Book Review: Caged

It's been awhile since I have been able to even read a book, much less do a book review. I have finally got through a new book though and I'm more than excited to share it with my ever faithful readers!

This book is entitled Caged by Amber Lynn Natusch. It is available on your Kindle for $2.99.

I would recommend this book to 16 year olds and up. This is definitely a mature book, and not for the weak of stomach either for it can become a little gruesome at times.

This book is the story of Ruby. Although Ruby is blind, a terrible accident involving her parents, allows her to enter the seeing world. While Ruby is learning to cope in a new world, she has many other things to worry about other than learning how to drive. If you're interested in a book that always keeps you guessing, this would be the one for you.

This is the first in another series called Caged. It is said that there are seven books planned, but only three are currently available. It will definitely suck you in. I have already read the other two that are out and I'm chomping at the bit to get to the next one!

I would give this book a 9.9 on a scale of one to ten.

Enjoy!

Kisses, Andrea.

Goodies.

I can't help but jump into some old corners and pull out some amazing songs. This one is an oldie, but a very amazing goodie. I hope you all enjoy, for I have been jamming hard to this one for about a week now.

Zombie - The Cranberries



Kisses, Andrea.

Society6!

Andrea Caldwell Photography is officially on Society6.com! Although I'm not concerned with sales of my prints, I wouldn't mind if they did sell. This is more of a hobby, you could say. IF you are interested though in checking my profile out, you are more than welcome to here.

You must check out my prints and tell me what you think. I also encourage everyone out there to put their products on Society6 or other websites dedicated to helping aspiring artists. It's a way to get yourself out there without having to do much. All you need is a PayPal account!

If I think about it I might preview prints here with a full story and then link to it's Society6 page. Hmm... Much to think about, huh?

Anyways, I hope everyone out there is enjoying their Mondays. Mine is going splendid so far.

Kisses, Andrea.

Basement?

The elevators in my lovely building kindly tell you what floor you are. When you go down to the basement though, it sounds like the elevator is asking you if you are at the basement or not. It's an ongoing joke here in Wentz Hall that the elevator becomes confused when it gets to the basement. Anyways...

I have been in the basement for the better of seven hours. The laundry room is located in the basement. Although I did do laundry, I have been studying most of the time I have been down here. For some reason, this is the gathering place of those who study.

I have lots of studying to do in the next few weeks and I don't see the amount of studying needed slowing down anytime. Well, I just thought I would give everyone a quick update...

Kisses, Andrea.

Tunes.

I'm not really one for dubstep or anything similar but I have to say that this song is one of my favorites. The original is not one of my favorites though. Please enjoy this Music Video of the Week!!

Lights - Ellie Goulding (BASSNECTAR REMIX)






Kisses, Andrea!

New Music

Here is a song suggested to me by my roommate Abigail! I was going blank on videos to share with you and so I asked her. Here's to good friends and having them help you out! I hope you enjoy!

The Graveyard Near the House - The Airbourne Toxic Event




Kisses, Andrea.

Creativity

Here is my first attempt at sharing some personal things that I do at home (also know as Wentz Residence Hall) to make my life a little easier. The dorm life is the cheap life and you have to remember that.

I've been drinking tons of water here lately, like tons of it. I am on my second case of water now, and that doesn't count all the times I refilled the bottles or my CamelBak or the waters that I got from restaurants. I've decided that it would be a good idea to begin recycling. To recycle, I have to save all the bottles that I use. Makes sense, right? Space is limited though and it doesn't seem very practical to have about 30 water bottles sitting on my 2ftx3ft desk. It just won't fit. So here is my simple fix...

Using a hanger, and a plastic sack obtained from the University Bookstore, I managed to create a nifty bag that can hang in my closet, or from the bottom of my loft bed and not take up too much room. It holds the bottles perfectly. I even have done this to store my Walmart sacks (which I use in my trashcan).

Here it is:

Nifty, huh? I love it! Since I don't use much of my closet, it's a perfect place for it. I know that it will always be there and that I don't have to worry about the bottles taking up too much space. Makes me (and hopefully the Earth!) smile.

If you have any questions, just ask!

Kisses, Andrea.

Activity!

As my second week of college comes to a close I can't help but report to my readers all that has happened within the past week, which seems like a lot to me. Maybe once I type it all out it won't seem that way. I feel as though I have been keeping myself busy, not only with class, but with extracurricular activities, socializing, and even trying to be active.

So far I feel like I have done a decent job of becoming involved on campus. I recently ran my own campaign  for a senator's position for Wentz Hall government. If you don't know what that is, I will tell you! Hall government is basically like student council for big kids. Each building has their own government and government officials. Senators meet with the senators from other residence halls and participate in Hall Senate. I'm happy, and proud to say that I was voted to one of two senators for Wentz. The first session of Hall Senate isn't until September 10th, but I think I can wait that long.
Along with hall government, I'm also part of the Residential Leadership College. Tonight I actually participated in a campus wide scavenger hunt. Although it was hot, it was lots of fun.

I've also been trying to take on the role of having an "active" lifestyle. I'm doing this for myself, to make me feel better and to make my quality of life better. With resources like the Colvin Recreation Center here on Oklahoma State's beautiful campus, I don't see how you cannot be active (along with the fact that the campus is huge and you literally have to walk everywhere).
I've been going to Aqua Zumba classes and tonight I'm glad to say that my roommate and I participated in rock climbing! It was probably one of the most out there things I had done whenever it came to being active, and I loved it. I'm surprised that I am actually still able to type right now. I'm already feeling the burn and it makes me glad to know that there will be some results if I can motivate myself to continue rock climbing.

On another happy note, I bought a new shirt for the game on Saturday. I can't wait for Oklahoma State to kick some butt! The first game of the season promises to be a crazy one, for the rumor is that there is already people camping out over by Boone Pickens Stadium. I guess we will see.

For the other college freshmen out there, how are you avoiding the "Freshmen Fifteen" (my mentors keep reminding me that it is very real)?

Kisses, Andrea.

Moo-sic.

Here is a good one. I know it isn't an official music video or anything but I hope you can bare with me for a moment or two. Conan O'Brian makes an appearance here on Languid Lullaby today but also talks for a few seconds. I hope you enjoy!

We Are Young - Fun





Kisses, Andrea.

Football Season

The first full week of classes at Oklahoma State University. I've gotten away without having that much homework but the load continues to grow.

I went home the first weekend and saw my Boomer Football Babies play their second scrimmage. I also got to see lots of my friends from my hometown. It was bittersweet having to leave them again but I am glad that I am back in my new home.

The first football game of the season is this weekend. I can't wait to see the Cowboys play! I'm definitely living my dream.

What are your dreams? How can you make them come true?

Kisses, Andrea.

Some Music.

This somewhat weekly music video was recently iTune's single of the week (maybe it was actually like a month ago, I can't remember). I hope you enjoy!

Daddy - Emeli Sande

Kisses, Andrea.

The Basement

Today was the first day of classes at the loverly Oklahoma State University. My day was spent running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to make it to my classes on time (I was only thankfully late to one out of four).

Here is a quick recap of my day:

I woke up early so that I could bike (mostly uphill) to Parking and Transit so that I could register my bike.
I then rode over to the Student Union and got myself a healthy breakfast from Jamba Juice of a Pomegranate   Pick Me Up. It's my favorite, and I have to say it's delicious.
I went to my first class, which I already have homework in.
I then went to lunch with the wonderful Mr. Bailey. We waited in line for 30 minutes at Johnny Rocket's. A cute little burger joint in the Union that is delicious. (Did I mention that there are 33 dining options on campus alone? YUM.)
I then went to my next three classes which were back to back. I was exhausted after the last one but somehow managed to gather enough energy to go to Aqua Zumba.
Now that Aqua Zumba is over, and I have decided to run for Residence Hall Association Senator for my building, I am doing laundry for I am in desperate need of towels.

My roommate is nice enough to sit with me while I wait. She's so nice.

How is everyone else doing?

Kisses, Andrea.

Photofiltreeee.

This was a request that I took a long time ago. It makes the person in the end look like they're sunburned, but hey, if that's what you're going for... More power to you.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Kisses, Andrea.

Music Mania!!!

This song I first heard on the radio while roadtripping with my friend Abigail to IKEA.

Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye

Enjoy!

Kisses, Andrea.