Danielle Tate

5 Fast Healthy Newlywed Dinners

During the weeknights, after getting home from a long day of work, the last thing that I care to do is cook. This has become like a second job, as I often times find myself running to the grocery store every night, grabbing what we need for dinner, and then throwing something together. More often than not, these un-planned dinners are not on the “under 500 calorie” menu either! In trying to eat healthy and maintain weight (which by the way is getting increasingly harder the older I get) I have realized these last-minute-meals are just not cutting it! Not to mention the fact that if dinner is not planned out, the drive-through on the way home looks very appealing and way too convenient! After deciding to try out a new approach and do all of the grocery shopping for the week, on Sundays, my husband and I are not only eating healthier, but we now have more time in the evenings to enjoy one another’s company. I wanted to share some of the simple weeknight dinner recipes that I have tried, that are not only delicious, but calorie conscious and time-savers as well! I believe you’ll love them too!

Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa – 30 minutes/209 Calories/29 g protein
Skillet Pork and Peppers – 5 Reasons to love this one: 22 minutes/380 Calories/18 g Fat/2 g Fiber/20 g Protein
Spring Chicken Salad – Make sure to let your hubby know that this salad includes meat and potatoes!
Chili-Rubbed Steak and Pan Salsa – 20 minutes/Serves 2/174 Calories
Fettuccini and Sweet Italian Sausage Alfredo – 20 minutes! This recipes give you alternatives for a healthier pasta- 27% less calories, 55% less saturated fat, 27% less sodium, check it out!

With Spring just around the corner, and dare I say it…. swim suit season approaching, it is important to keep up with your healthy living habits! Do you have any healthy, fast dinner tips that you and your spouse practice during the week nights? If you have some interesting recipes that you can’t live without, please do share!

Looking for more newlywed advice? Our experts are her to help

Newlywed Rainy Day Fashion 411

How are you set for rainy day fashion? With March comes the promise of Spring and usually a great deal of rain. Instead of letting the precipitation depress you, use the rain as an excuse to indulge in some cute accessories and outerwear! Here are a few of our rainy day favorites:

Cute boots- Every girl needs to keep her feet dry, so why settle for a boring pair of goulashes? Try a super cute pair of brightly colored boots, or even up the ante for a designer pair.

Umbrellas – Rihanna sang an entire song about these marvelous inventions and now you can own an umbrella with her lyrics on it! Not so into lyrical umbrellas? Then show off your personality with a mod monogrammed version.

Raincoats – What better excuse to purchase a new coat than the rainy beginning of Spring? Invest in a classic trench coat that will work over all of your business attire and still look fresh over an Easter dress. You can also keep dry and cozy with a floral number that reminds everyone around you of the benefit of all the rain…flowers!

Rain bonnets – Okay, so maybe only your grandma owns a rain bonnet, but it’s not the worst idea to have an emergency one to pull out of your purse during a surprise storm (as long as you don’t know anybody around you).

Hats – Great for keeping your head dry and disguising all the frizz that comes with high humidity. Look for a fashionable, yet functional rain hat that won’t break the bank or get you laughed out of the office. Feeling funky? Try this a retro 20’s hat to add some color and fun to a gray day.

What are your favorite rainy day fashion accessories? Do you have a great rain-related outfit to tell us about? Please leave a comment.

Family Getaways: Tips For Vacationing With The In-Laws

Thinking about vacationing with the in-laws? At some point in almost every marriage there will come a day when the family decides to vacation together. Whether with one set of parents or two, this can be both a fun and a stressful undertaking. Taking the right steps before leaving your home can make a big difference in how the vacation proceeds and how well everyone gets along.

Planning is Essential While this is the case, planning in the wrong way can lead to frustrations and hurt feelings. Don’t try to create the vacation agenda completely on your own and don’t dump the project on just one other person. This should be a shared task and each member of the group should have some input. Keep in mind that not all activities have to be done by the whole group. Allow for this in the planning. That also means understanding if not all members of the group want to participate in the things that most excite you.

Expect Some Financial Tension One of the most common occurrences in large family vacations is awkwardness over money. It is rare that all involved participants will have the same financial status at the time of the trip. This makes it easier for some to go off agenda than others. Be prepared for and discuss what the protocol will be when these awkward financial matters arise. It might be an uncomfortable conversation now, but it will avoid similarly stressful situations surrounding “who pays for what” while you’re on your group getaway.

Let History be Your Guide Are you unsure of what to expect while vacationing with the in-laws? Then, ask. Look at old photo albums together or ask your spouse to tell you stories of past excursions. These little insights will likely provide you a better understanding of what is being expected by the other members of your extended family. For instance, if all the best memories from your husband’s family trips are centered around adventures, you might want to plan something like white water rafting or deep sea fishing to ensure that they’ll all be satisfied with the trip.

Plan for Personal Time Even while on vacation, you will more than likely need an escape when traveling with others. It’s a good idea to pack a book, some of your favorite music, magazines, or some other form of personal entertainment, which can be enjoyed when you need to get away from the group.

Also consider scheduling time on your itinerary for couples to go off on their own and enjoy some private time. After all, this is your time to be away from the stresses of life and you will likely want to spend a few of those special moments alone with your spouse.

Have you been on a vacation with your in-laws? How did it go? Are there any tips you’d share with our readers to help them avoid potential pitfalls?

U.S. Passport Name Change Form Updates

There’s been a slew of U.S. Passport name change form updates! The U.S. Department of State has updated the forms available for U.S. Passport name-change services as of March 1, 2011. We want to be sure that our customers as well as our Newlywed Blog readers are in the know any time a State or Government Agency updates their forms. This way you can be sure that you will receive the most up-to-date forms via your MissNowMrs name-change account.

Below is a complete list of all the Passport Forms that have been updated:

DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport
DS-82: U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals
DS-4085: Application for Additional Visa Pages or Miscellaneous Passport Services
DS-5504: Application for a U.S. Passport (Name Change*, Data Correction, Limited Passport Replacement)
DS-3053: Statement of Consent or Special Circumstances: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor under Age 16

*This form will only work for you if you are changing your name and your current Passport was issued less than 1 year ago.

Trying to keep up with U.S. Passport name change form updates? Information can be found on the U.S. Department of State website.

Five Fun Ways To Focus On Your Girlfriends

As a newlywed, don’t forget to focus on your girlfriends. It was just Valentine’s Day, and that means St. Patrick’s Day and Easter are around the corner. As I think about holidays, I wonder why there isn’t a day to celebrate your best friends. Being a newlywed can be all-consuming as you figure out your married life, but don’t forget your buddies from before you tied the knot. Here are a five ways to brighten the days of the ladies that are always there for you.

1. Send a card. Whether it’s sentimental or downright silly, a card will brighten a best friend’s day for as little as 99 cents. It’s really nice to find a surprise envelope in the midst of all the bills and catalogs that come in the mail every day.

2. Give her a call. Do you struggle to keep in touch with long distance girlfriends that have insanely busy schedules? Make a standing phone or skype date where you alternate who calls whom and maybe even plan to pour a glass of wine while you talk.

3. Plan a pedicure. Make a mutual plan to catch up while you have your toes painted. There’s something intensely girly and luxurious about going to a spa with a friend and chatting during your treatments. Be sure to look to see if there are any 2 for 1 specials in your area before you make your appointments!

4. Surprise her with a bouquet. You could leave flowers that you purchased at the grocery store on your buddy’s porch or send a succulent to her office. Just a few blooms will let her know how much you value your friendship and she’ll smile for the entire time that they last.

5. Make a playlist. Do you have songs that instantly remind you of your friend(s) and the times you’ve had together? Compile a list of your favorite friend songs and then make a Spotify playlist for all of you. It’s a great way to walk down the memory lane of your friendship during your daily commute.

How are you planning to focus on your girlfriends? Do you have any fun ways that you keep in touch? Please let us know in a comment.