Danielle Tate

Newlywed: Not an Excuse to Let Yourself Go!

Feeling like you should let yourself go? If you’re like the majority of newlywed women, you’ve just finished a pre-wedding diet & exercise regime, beauty boot camp and planning the largest party of your entire young life. After all that, it totally makes sense to enjoy your honeymoon and let lose a little bit. Those are the key words: a little bit. Newlywed life can be a slippery slope of take-out, lounging around and basking in your newly married status.

Excessive “basking” can result in a shocking moment when you look in the mirror and realize it’s been a few months since you’ve seen the gym, salon or spa! The solution: Make some appointments…STAT!
We’re here to help! Are you dreading the trip for you next Brazilian bikini wax (but you know your husband loved it on the honeymoon)? We’ve got the solution for you! Extend the “honeymoon phase” a while longer with the help of BareEase & Cream. This kit includes a physician-formulated cream will not only erase the pain and discomfort associated with waxing, but its skin soothing components will leave your skin feeling soft, silky and sexy post salon visit! The cream is quickly absorbed into the skin underneath the cute pink panty made of latex, which keeps the cream where it’s supposed to be and not on your 7 jeans!

We want to make sure that our newlywed blog readers have the upper hand when going bare down there, so leave a comment on this post and be entered to win a free BareEase & Cream kit! The winner will be announced next Tuesday (November 2nd)!

Have any of you ladies used this product before? We’d love to hear your feedback or any crazy waxing experiences you’ve had…so leave a comment!

Last Week to Win a Custom Floral Preservation!

Ladies, this is the last week to enter to win a $460 custom flower preservation from Keepsake Floral! Imagine you beautiful bouquet adorning a wall in your newlywed home. What a cool way to commemorate your wedding day and the fact that you get to pick the background, frame and inclusion of your invitation makes this giveaway even better! There are only six days left before we announce the lucky winner, so be sure to leave a comment before it’s too late!

If you are/were the bride who spent hours dreaming up the perfect wedding bouquet and now can’t bear the idea of tossing it, this giveaway is perfect for you. Our friend Dana, of Keepsake Floral has provided this month’s Custom Floral Keepsake giveaway! Keepsake Floral is the Nation’s leader in special event flower preservation, having been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Modern Bride, Bridal Guide , L.A. Brides and Grace Ormond’s Bridal Productions. So you can trust them to preserve your wedding bouquet and flowers, creating a custom-crafted work of art you will treasure for years to come!

Overly excited to win our outstanding October giveaway? Leave a comment on this, or any of our floral keepsake posts on Mondays this month and you’ll be automatically entered to win! Tell us all about the flowers in your bouquet, if they have special meanings or significance. The randomly selected contest winner will be announced on October 31^st!! If we don’t hear back from the winner within 2 weeks, we will randomly select a new winner to make sure someone ends up with this great goodie!

**If you tweet this giveaway by clicking the green retweet button below, you’ll receive an additional contest entry!**

ME Time: Just What A Newlywed Needs!

What happened to me time? As we all know, newlywed life can be quite a balancing act at times, and you get so caught-up in your everyday responsibilities that you completely neglect to pamper yourself once in awhile! Before you know it, it has been weeks or months since you’ve last seen the inside of the gym, you have not had a mani or pedi in… you don’t know how long, your ends are splitting, your roots are showing, and you’re starting to feel a little less-than-impressed with yourself! Aside from being negligent of your appearances, if you have not been taking time to focus on yourself as an individual or spending time with your girls, you may find yourself falling down a slippery slope into pessimism, anger and maybe boarderline depression!

If this is happening, you can bet your spouse is noticing it too! So let’s make a promise to take time to do things for ME! Take control of your happiness and your well-being before you begin to make those around us unhappy as well!

Here Are 5 Quick Me Time Moments Every Newlywed Can Use in Her Life…

1. If not once a week, make it every other week- but look into the fitness classes scheduled at your local gym, and get in there, have fun, and sweat your butt off! This is for sure going to relieve any aggressions and stress built up from the day! Most classes are only an hour, and you will walk out feeling like a new woman, physically and mentally refreshed! If you don’t feel comfortable going alone, bring a girl friend, it will also increase your energy and enthusiasm during your workout!

2. Take a break during your work day, and instead of going out for lunch, go for a walk! Throw your sneakers into your bag in the morning, and pack a light lunch for when you return. This will give your mind a break from your everyday responsibilities. If you’re not feeling very energetic, bring a book instead and find a quite place outside to indulge!

3. Schedule your hair or nail appointment, followed by a dinner date with your spouse. You will pleased with yourself, feel better about your appearance, and furthermore, your spouse will notice how fabulous you look, and the tone for the remainder of the evening is already set!

4. Find a brand new recipe and give it a whirl! You’re not only setting perhaps a challenge for yourself, but you’re about to impress your spouse as well. Even take it a step further, and set the table tonight and dine by candlelight!

5. Call a girl friend that you haven’t spoken to in awhile, and see about making plans to get together soon! Segregating yourself from your girlfriends is not only unhealthy for you, but indirectly isn’t healthy for your spouse either! Besides, you just know there are plenty of stories and laughs built up, that are too good not to share!

We’d love to hear from you, so please share your Me Time moments with us by leaving a comment!

Easy Fall Newlywed Home Improvement Projects

Tis the season for newlywed home improvement. There are so many projects that need to be done around the house just as up-keep that you could probably do one-a-day for like a year, but where’s the fun in that?! Here are just a few (of the many) things that you and your beloved might consider doing this Fall to be sure that your home sweet home stays that way. We even split them up for you to make it even easier.

Spouse One Suggestions
Change Batteries: Check the smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flashlights, remote controls, etc. They are all equally (ok maybe not equally) important, but are indeed a must check off the to-do-list! There’s nothing more annoying than having the power go out and your flashlight doesn’t work sending you and your spouse rummaging around in the dark trying to find candles, matches, batteries for the flashlight…I’m picturing tripping over the poor dog, stubbing my toe on the corner of the couch or worse, falling down the stairs!

Update Medicines: Be sure to toss out expired medication from your medicine cabinet and your First Aid Kit…and replace it! What good is an empty First Aid Kit or expired Cold and Sinus medicine when you feel like your head might explode?!

Spouse Two Suggestions
Check Your Windows/Doors: There’s a nifty little *self-test you can try to ensure that your windows are doing their job to keep the cold outside air from coming in, not to mention the heat (you’re paying for) from going out! Try inserting a dollar bill in the gaps around your windows and doors. Lets just say this is one test you want to fail otherwise your windows are not energy efficient. You may need new windows or may need to caulk the windows/doors or install window/door insulating strips or plastic to bring your heating costs down.

Paint: Now is the perfect time to fix a hole in the wall or the scratches from furniture when you moved in! Fall is a great time to paint as it’s not too hot or cold. When you’re done with the paint, be sure to store the extra paint away from your furnace (a huge fire hazard).

Tell us about your fall newlywed home improvement projects and your secret tricks to save money! Leave a comment today.

Fabulous Fall Cocktails

Are you ready for some fabulous fall cocktails?! The air is crisp and the leaves are turning beautiful colors…two indicators that Fall is now upon us. Take some time to savor the season as a newlywed with a trip to a pumpkin patch or a romantic walk through the woods. When you return, what could be more fun than enjoying a seasonal beverage together or with a group of friends?

Our Favorite Autumn Cocktail: The Smore’s Martini – Get that festive Fall feeling with this toasted-marshmallow treat in a glass!
S’more Martini Recipe
• 8 ounces chocolate vodka (we used Stoli)
• 4 ounces chocolate liqueur (we used Godiva)
• 1 graham cracker
• 1 jar marshmallow creme
• 4 martini glasses
• 4 mini wooden skewers
• 1 bag mini marshmallows
Pour vodka and chocolate liqueur into cocktail shaker. Crush a graham cracker in a plastic bag & then pour the crumbs into a small bowl.
Lightly coat the rims of the martini glasses with marshmallow creme. Next, dip each glass into the bowl of graham cracker crumbs and shake the bowl gently to cover the marshmallow creme with crumbs.

Place three mini marshmallows on each wooden skewer and then roast over a fire, your gas oven burner or a large candle.
Pour about 3 ounces of the drink mixture into each of the rimmed glasses and then slide in the roasted marshmallow skewers for a delicious garnish.
Serves 4 (or 2 responsible adults twice)!

Here’s five other cocktails guaranteed to help you celebrate the Fall:

Ginger Pear Martini – A crisp and zesty way to relax after a day full of sunshine, fall foliage and possibly a roll in the leaves. Here’s the recipe!

Autumn Delight – This delightful combination of whiskey, cider and cinnamon will warm you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Here’s the recipe!

Caramel Appletini – All that amazing sweet and tangy taste with none of the gooey mess. Who could ask for more from a martini? Here’s the recipe!

Hot Chambord Cider: A chic twist on the classic fall mug of cider, certain to add a rosy glow to your cheeks. Here’s the recipe!

Ginger Snap – This delectable drink has a kick that goes well beyond Grandma’s cookies. Here’s the recipe!

Do you have a signature fabulous Fall cocktail that you’d like to share? Please leave it for us in a comment and remember ladies…drink responsibly!