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

Adventures In: Living With A Boy

We have survived one full week of living together!! Hooray! The boyfriend and I are doing great. This first week has been a learning curve, and has had a few rough moments, but all in all it's been amazing.

I'm on cloud nine waking up next to him every morning, and being able to kiss him goodnight with no deadline. Meaning I'm here for the long haul, not just a short trip. It's been amazing.

We were very lucky to have his dad and step mom buy us a couch and bar stools. His "mo" (grandma) bought us an awesome crock pot! I've never seen one with so many buttons! That was a huge help, and we are feeling very lucky!! His mom has been amazing too. I love her to death.

Being away from my family/friends has been rough. However, oddly somehow I feel closer to my mom than I have in years. I miss my bestie Webby, but I'll get to see her this weekend! YAY! And we have a trip planned for Bloomington to see my B-town fam in a few weeks!!

Anyhoo. I'm going to cut this short. I'll post tomorrow about my job status and other things. I just wanted to post a little something so my blog readers ok more likely READER no s could get an update lol and I'm laying her next to a man who loves me like crazy and just wanted to share how lucky/blessed I'm feeling!

XO
Tara Pants