Adventures In: Christmas Cheer!!

We started our Christmas celebrations over the weekend. We have 7 all together. Yeah, crazy train right. But we've completed 3, and they were super!!

Saturday was celebrating with the boyfriends mom (Momma Bear), and his brother and his wife. Lots of fun, awesome gifts, and of course bored games!!!

Sunday we headed to Danville to celebrate with the boyfriends grandma (Mo). It was tons of people, gifts, and tons of awesome food. On the way home we pulled over and watched a fun light show that someone had set up, and it was all choreographed with music. So festive'n

Today (Tuesday) the boyfriendy and I exchanged gifts. He's the BEST Santa. EVER!!! I got some awesome stuff! Shoes, a charm necklace, skeleton keys, a couple of games, picture frames, a much needed new blow dryer, craft supplies, oh and some DIAMOND EARRINGS!!!! Are you freaking kidding me? Homeboy is amazing. I couldn't believe it!! My first diamonds ever!! I adore them. Oh and to be funny he got me a light up toy microphone called Magic Mic because I wanted Magic Mike ;) so not only is he incredibly sweet, but so silly! Boyfriendy I adore you.

I also got to Skype with my family today too!! It was great! My mom, sister, grandma, tons of cousins, uncle, Momma T. It was much needed, and fun!!! Technology rules!!

Oh oh. I also made my very first Christmas dinner!! It was a hit. Glazed ham, cooked apples, baked beans, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs. Yum town!!! I would have made even more, but it was just the boyfriendy, myself, and MommaBear for dindin!

My heart is so full of love today. I'm so blessed, and thankful for so many things. Love love to anyone reading this.

I'm gonna post a bunch of pics now from our various Christmas activities thus far. Including the adorbs gingerbread houses we made on Friday!


XO TaraPants

Adventures In: A Morning of Fails!

Hi kids, the word of the day is: FAIL!!!

Let's recap.
Rain rain rainy coldness. That's a fail on Mother Nature. A thunder storm woke me up mins before our alarm. No fun at all.

End up basically being a drowned rat by the time I arrive at work. Gross. No thanks!!


Decided today was going to be the day I started oil pulling. Yeah. Fail. The first time I attempted I got a solid 3 seconds in. Tried later with less oil, and holding my nose. I was able to do it a bit longer, but still super super awful.

Oil pulling is basically swishing oil in your mouth for 20 mins. Had tons of supposed health benefits, but I just can't get over that taste. So bad!! So add that to the list of fails for the day.

Next I go into the bathroom at work to brush me teeth. Then, SLAM. The super heavy door crushes my hip! It's for sure going to leave a nasty bruise! Fail again!

Then finally work calms down for a few seconds. I start to eat my bagel. Nope. Fail, again. There was a tiny spot of mold. In the trash it went.

So basically I'm cold, damp, empty stomached, hip hurty, and my mouth tastes like a just licked a bunch of bacon grease!!! Fun. Be jealous. Ha. Not

Thank goodness for tooth paste, and my co worker having an extra breakfast sandwich. Now if only I could dry off fully and warm up!!

Ok. Rant over. Bring on whatever else you have in store for me world. I'm still smiling, happy, and all that jazz!!

XO. TaraPants

Adventures In: Christmas Spirit. Or Lack Thereof...

I'm so proud of myself. I've got a majority of my Christmas shopping done already! I've got a few more things I'd like to get for Brad, and my mom and sister aren't done yet, BUT I'm not celebrating Christmas with them until January so I've got plenty of time! Oh and my bestie Sarah and her hubby Mark aren't done yet either. BUT I'm getting close! Jonathan and Addison are done, Brad's mom done, Webby's little guy done, I'm pretty proud of myself! GO ME!

I'm slacking on the Christmas card's though. I would have liked to have them out already, but I haven't decided what I want to do yet. We took some pictures for our first card together, but I'm not totally in love with any of them. Brad is off work this weekend, maybe we will try again! I need to get on it though! The great thing is I'll have plenty of time at work to address them!

It still really hasn't hit me that it's almost Christmas. Yes our tree is up, we are getting cards in the mail, presents are purchased and wrapped, we've been to a Christmas party, and have about 50 more to attend (or so it seems) but still I don't know. Maybe I need to do some baking/cooking and it'll feel right. I miss going to my grandma's with my family and baking/making candy/treats! I'll have to start my own traditions here. Hopefully I can convince the boyfriend to bake/decorate/make treats with me! It'll be fun, and remind me of home! I need a big dose of that!

We have done a few things on the Winter Bucket List I made. In those moments, I've felt the good ol' holiday spirit, but overall I'm like EH! Perhaps it's because I'm getting old, and Christmas/Winter break doesn't exist for me anymore. Or maybe it's because the Indiana weather has been NUTS and I've been able to wear flip flops some days in December.

Okay that's all for now pals. I have a few other bloggity blog topics in mind. I need to write more. But I know very few people are reading this so I'm like eh why bother, but on the other hand if I don't blog it they won't come! :)

Okay really I'm done now!

XO Tara Pants

Adventures In: Getting A Massage

I got my first ever professional massage last night. It. Was. Awesome!! The only issue was the chick was chatty the whole time. We all know I'm a very chatty girl, but darn it I just wanted to relax. I couldn't just stop responding though. She was really nice, and easy to talk to, but I really just wanted to zone out, and relax.

After my massage she mentioned that I may feel loopy or drunk. WOW. She was right. At first I almost didn't put my shirt back on. Then when I got home I found it was inside out. Then I couldn't stop giggling. It was strange. My mind didn't feel foggy, but I clearly was. Very odd feeling. Plus she said I'd go to bed really early. She was right. I was out by 9:30-9:45. It was glorious!

The massage was great overall.  I feel fabulous, sleepy but fabulous today. Thanks to the boyfriend for a super gift!! He is so awesome. I'm very excited for our first Christmas together. He already has like 15 presents wrapped and under the tree for me. I'm so spoiled by him.

Okay that's all friends. If you haven't ever had a professional massage go get one. Thank me later!

XO- TaraPants

Adventures In: Working On My Fitness. Kinda

Well pals, I'm getting a jump start on my New Years Resolution. I joined a gym yesterday. The only bummer is that said gym isn't scheduled to open until December 30. I couldn't pass up the deal. It was one dollar to join, 19.99 per month including free training, unlimited guest access, unlimited use of these awesome red light therapy booths/massage chairs/massage beds, and other awesome perks. I'm very excited. The boyfriends mom joined also. We tried to convince him to join, but he wouldn't. Bummer.

I'm excited to get into a routine of working out again. I miss Zumba. I miss going to the gym I always went to back a few years ago with my bestie.

It's really hard for me to change my eating habits. I don't know why, but it is. Adding exercise is much easier. I have done way better about eating breakfast. When I've tried it before I've always felt like I'm more hungry during the day. Now I feel fuller, and better throughout the day. Yay.

I'm excited to do this gym thing. I hope I stay this motivated. I wish it was open now. I'm pumped! I need to create my Gym Jams Play List!!!! Feel free to comment with your favorite tunes for the gym.

XO- Tara Pants

Adventures In: Being Crafty!

So I've blogged about a bit about trying new recipes. Some have been awesome, some just okay. No major flops. We've been able to at least eat all of them, but lately I've been focusing on craft projects!

Pinterest is to blame.

I've created tons of cute Christmas ornaments, wrapped Christmas gifts cuter than I ever have before, and have tons of ideas up my sleeve! I'll share some pictures in a different post. I'm writing this from my work computer, and don't have any pictures saved. Yes I already have some Christmas gifts purchased AND wrapped! Now I just need to convince the boyfriend to let me put the try up so I can have my adorably wrapped gifts on display! Also I must say it pays to watch for sales at Hobby Lobby, and to use their coupons. Crafting can get expensive, but I've been lucky so far, and haven't had to shell out TOO much money!

Crafting is such a good stress relief for me. Nice to just focus all of my energy into making something pretty. As I typed that though, I realized I don't really have much stress lately. It's been pretty fabulous. The boyfriend and I are doing great, work is going well, and things overall are pretty good. I'm so thankful for that. And when I do have my moments where I'm annoyed or frustrated the boyfriend is usually awesome about calming me down, and making me laugh.

The boyfriend and I are still loving exploring new things in Lafayette. That's been lots of fun. There are lots of cool stores downtown. Today on my lunch break I visited McCord's Candies. I've heard lots of talk about their homemade candy canes. They very much lived up to the hype! I'm not even a huge candy cane fan, these were so worth it though.http://www.mccordcandies.com/sshop/

I've been neglectful of my blog lately, but really I've felt just kind of boring. I want to write about my fun stories/crazy adventures, but as I'm getting older I'm having less and less of those. Maybe I'll have to write about my past crazy life. This new life I'm leading is actually more enjoyable though. Sure I miss my adventures like the time I stalked Taylor Swift for 4 days with my friend Emily, or the time I had a client almost taze me when I was doing social work, or the awful awful dating experiences that made for great stories, but really I wouldn't trade the life I'm living now for that life. I'm happy, safe, and loved. I couldn't ask for more. Sometimes getting older sucks, but sometimes it's amazing. This older version of me feels pretty amazing. I love living with a man I'm 100% crazy in love with, and wrapping Christmas presents in November, and improving my cooking skills. Maybe my blog needs a new name, or maybe just maybe I need to redefine what "adventure" real means to me. This whole living with a boy, being domestic, and sort of calmed down is a change for me. Adventure is all about trying something new. So while cooking, and exploring a new town might not make for good blog entries, they sure do make for a happy TaraPants!

That's all for now pals!
XO TaraPants

Adventures In: Starting To Like This Town

So I've been in my new city for a month now. I'm actually starting to like it here.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm still very much a proud Indiana University Hoosier. You'll never see me sporting those hideous Purdue colors. Barf. But I've discovered some cool places in Lafayette, and even West Lafayette, and I've started a job I really like downtown. I can't wait to meet new people, and have some friends from here.

The Internet has come in pretty handy in helping me with these discoveries. Apparently the boyfriend, who is from here, wasn't the explorer that I am. Now we have new parks, restaurants, and other new places to enjoy together. That's been a big part of the fun, these things I'm finding are new to him too.


Here are pictures of some of the places we have checked out.

I'll blog later this week about our Fall Fun weekend in Bloomington.

XO- Tara Pants

Adventures In: Loving Fall

Ok so I'm not even sure if it's technically fall yet, but I'm going to pretend it is.

I love fall!!! The boyfriend and I have been sleeping with the windows open, and enjoyed an awesome random drive with the windows down, music up! These are two of my favorite activities to enjoy in the cooler weather!

Last night the boyfriend and I had a date, and I meet him where he works. I didn't want to take 2 cars to dinner so I left my car there over night. I rode with him to work/pick up my car, and we stopped at Starbucks. I've seen so many people talking about the Pumpkin Spice stuff now at Starbucks to celebrate fall, and I felt so left out. I don't drink anything with a coffee taste, no frapps, mochas, lattes, etc BUT I did get a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin so I can share in the fall yummyness!! I haven't eaten yet, but it smells amazing!!!

Anyhoo. Here are some of the things we are looking forward to doing this fall. Please leave comments to add to the list of things we should do to enjoy the fall!!! (PS I'm gonna use iPhone emojii's in this post, if things look jacked up its because of some technical error with that, I'm still learning this bloggy stuff)

Fall Musts:
🍁Trip to Evansville for the Fall Festival. I've been ever year if my life, but one. The BF hasn't been. He needs to. End of story! Plus I need some apple cider in my life, and I only like getting it from the Fall Festival
🎃Pumpkin Picking. At the end of this month we are going to Bloomington to see my bestie and her family, and we are taking the kids to the Pumpkin Patch!!! However, I suspect I'll have just as much, if not more fun there than Jonathan and Addison!
🍁Bon fire! Who doesn't love a bonfire in the fall. Roasting hot dogs, making s'mores, wearing hoodies, drinking outside, what's not to love!!
🍂Covered Bridge Festival. This is something the BF is excited about. It's new to me, but I'm always up for new things!!
🎃 Fall Weddings. We have 2 weddings to attend in October. Very excited!

Ok. That's all I can think of now. I'm going to doze back off to dreamland. Laying here with the windows open and in our cozy bed is just too tempting. Sleep wins!

XO- TaraPants

Adventures In: Being a Professional Girlfriend

A professional girlfriend, that's what the bestie Webs and I decided was the best title for what I've been doing lately. It's like being a house wife without the marriage/kids part.

I've been here in Lafayette since August 28th, and I don't start my new job until September 24th. My last day at my old job was August 24th so I will have been off work an entire month!

It's been both fun and crazy boring being a professional girlfriend! The fun parts have been trying out new recipes I've found on Pinterest, visiting the boyfriend at work, relaxing, getting caught up on my bad reality TV, etc. However, it's also been super boring at times. I know very few people in my new city, and they a have jobs. It's made me miss Webs a lot, and even my old job. So yeah, it has been fun playing the roll of house wife I've come to the conclusion I will always be a working girl.... No, not that kind, but I need to have a job. Maybe my mind will change when I am married with a baby, but I'm thinking then I'll need at least something part time. I need to have interaction with adults, I need to earn money, and I need time out of the house!

One more week left. Let's hope I'll start my new job with at least a little sanity, and all of my hair!

Wish me luck!

XO-TaraPants

PS This crockpot rules!

Adventures In: Being a Bride's Maid

Last weekend the boyfriend and I ventured to Evansville (my hometown) because I was a part of my friends big day! Plus, on Sunday we had a cookout with my family so they could meet Brad. It was a really nice weekend. Oh and bonus, I got time with the bestie too!!!

Here are some pictures.

This blog isn't the most interesting one I've posted, but I want to share some pictures. I have another (hopefully more interesting) blog post in the works!!!

XO- TaraPants