Newlywed Needs

Looking for name change advice or some tips for newlywed life? The MissNowMrs experts have created state-specific name change articles and checklists for you. We’ve chronicled our recommendations for how to travel while changing your name AND how to handle voting during the transition.

We’ve also compiled our best guidance for how to handle difficult sister in laws, holidays as newlyweds, the ever-annoying baby questions, and much more. Why? Because, while we are name change experts, we’re also newlywed wives, moms, and sisters.

We hope our name change advice articles help smooth your transition to your new name, and a whole new phase of life. Congratulations and best wishes from the entire MissNowMrs team!

Newlywed Easter Dress Success

Unsure of your Easter dress success? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. One of the best parts of Easter is the excuse to shop for one more Spring dress or ensemble. Can you remember how excited you used to get before Easter as a little girl? The dress, the hat/bow and of course new shoes! Whether you are a newlywed meeting your spouse’s extended family for the first time or simply going to brunch with close friends, here are a few of our favorite outfits that are festive but won’t leave you looking fussy.

Fashionably Floral – Look for a dress that has just enough flowers to be attractive, but not enough to make you look like Great Aunt Susan’s couch! Add a colorful pump and you’re ready for any Easter occasion.

Best Brunch Bet – Going to a family brunch and not sure what to wear? Shop for a dainty ship dress that can be accessorized dressy or casual (as your event calls for).

Meet the Family – Did your fiance wait until this Easter to introduce you to his extended family? Don’t stress. Look for something in a solid color, something elegant, tasteful and still very young and pretty (like you).

Easter Egg Hunt Elegance – Maintain a stylish holiday appearance AND your ability to forage for eggs with classic linen pants. Add a floral blouse or light weight sweater and you’re good to go hunt for some eggs!

Whatever your Easter plans may be, isn’t it wonderful to be a women and have a chance to dress up? Do you have any suggestions for Easter dress success? We’d love to hear from you.

Easter with the In-Laws As Newlyweds

Are you spending Easter with the in-laws this year? If so, you might be a little worried about how things will turn out. One way to start the holiday off on the right foot is with a hostess gift for your mother-in-law. It shows that you appreciate her hospitality and that you have excellent manners (never a bad thing). Here are a few gift ideas to help you position yourself in the best way possible with your new family members:

1. Easter Colored Chocolate Strawberries – You can make them yourself with this simple recipe or order them from Shari’s Berries. Everyone loves holiday candy, and chocolate covered strawberries elevate Easter treats to a new level!

2. Robin’s Egg Soaps – Help your mother-in-law celebrate spring with this adorable soap collection. It’s a simple, sweet and practical hostess gift, all at the same time.

3. Seasonal Shakers – If you’re completely stumped on what to bring, consider these pewter rabbit salt & pepper shakers. They’ll add a bit of holiday charm to your family Easter brunch or dinner.

4. Upscale Eggs – Indulge your spouse’s family with chocolate truffle filled eggs! No need to wrap, the container is perfect on its own and perfect for Easter with the in-laws.

5. Flower Power – Give a sure-fire Spring gift, a lily of the valley bulb garden. The site and scent will fill the house with Spring and Easter cheer.
Hostess gifts aren’t just reserved for non-family members…so consider taking something to your mom if you’re headed to your family’s house for Easter this year. Every hostess deserves a little thank you goodie.

Those are our best gift ideas for Easter with the in-laws. Should you want to surprise them with your name change, the MissNowMrs app or service can help!

April Showers: Part II

April showers do bring May flowers, but rain isn’t the only kind of shower happening this time of year. As we continue into April, the number of bridal and baby showers on the calendar tends to rise. What’s a newlywed girl to shop for when she’s attending an absurd number of these events? We’ve compiled the best gifts for both types of showers to make this Spring a little simpler for you.

Baby Showers
If you don’t have a baby these parties can make you feel a little awkward. What ARE you supposed to buy an unborn child? Fortunately, you can usually look on Babies R Us or BuyBuyBaby for your friend’s registry. Still uninspired? Here are the Top 5 Baby Shower Gifts:

1. Little Lamb Swing – Chip in with a few friends for this amazing piece of baby technology. It rocks a cranky little one to sleep in 2 different directions, buying your friend some much needed down time as a new mommy. My son used it until he literally couldn’t fit into it anymore!

2. Video Monitor – Being able to flip a switch and make sure your bundle of joy is still breathing is priceless (especially since you won’t wake him/her up)!

3. Boppy Pillow – It may sound like a ridiculous item, but these pillows keep your friend’s arms from falling off. The Boppy allows the new parents to feed/hold/cuddle their child hands-free.

4. A Prenatal Massage – While it’s great to buy goodies for the newborn, your soon-to-be mommy friend could probably use a little something for her. Purchase a gift card at a local spa, but be sure that they offer pregnancy massages. You friend will never forget how thoughtful you were when she feels 40 pounds lighter and can actually sleep after her treatment!

5. Customized Anything – Seeing your little angel’s name printed on something is precious. Red Envelope has a ton of great personalized baby gifts to choose from…the baby keepsake kit is one of the the best.

Bridal Showers
You should be a pro at bridal showers since you just had one! However, if you’re attending several showers it’s nice to have a few extra gift ideas up your sleeve. Here are our Top 5 Picks:
1. Anything On Her Registry – Plates may seem boring to you, but your friend took the time to register for them and will probably end up buying the remaining ones for herself post-wedding if you don’t purchase them. Creativity usually gets kudos, but a completed registry is awesome for a bride!
2. Bridal Lingerie – When you’re paying for a wedding, little things like cute honeymoon undies can seem frivolous. Help a gal pal (and her soon-to-be-hubby) out with a gift from Victoria’s Secret. *Please note who will be in attendance at the shower before you present your gift. It might be wise to give it to the bride before or after the party.
3. Candle Poem Basket – If you’re looking for a very personal gift that scores high on thoughtfulness and low on price, this is the perfect idea for you.
4. A MissNowMrs.com Gift Card – Make the bride in your life’s name-change a snap. She’ll save 13 hours of hassle and research by using this amazing online service!
5. Cash – It might seem a little tacky to give a check as a shower gift, but you can be sure that it will get used! Consider writing a message on the memo line that says your gift is for something fun on the honeymoon or a pedicure before the Big Day.

What were your best bridal shower and baby shower gifts? Do you have a gift that you always give to a bride/mommy-to-be? We’d love to know!

Newlywed Disaster

Have you ever thought about newlywed disaster? Imagine that you and your fiancé spend time and money planning your dream honeymoon/vacation. After countless conversations and daydreaming about how you’re going to have the time of your lives, it doesn’t go as planned.

Well, that’s just what happened to a newlywed couple. An article about a newlywed couple from Sweden who survived their honeymoon. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t that the goal for everyone/don’t we all survive our honeymoons? Well, yes, but most people’s biggest honeymoon nightmare is rainy weather, not a major snowstorm, a tsunami, 2 earthquakes, catastrophic flooding and a cyclone!

Can you imagine it? You set off on what you think will be the trip of a lifetime (a 4 month long honeymoon) with your love to Germany, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan only to be hit with just about every natural disaster known to man! YIKES!!!

While a bad trip is hardly the worst thing that can happen in life, it made me think about marriage and how my husband and I, like all brides and grooms dreamed that married life would be perfect. There’s NO WAY that Swedish newlywed couple thought their honeymoon would be anything less than blissful!

Newlyweds can be naïve or as I like to put it…overly optimistic! There’s nothing wrong with a positive attitude or outlook on life; however, you want to prepare yourselves for when something in your life doesn’t turn out as planned. If not, any negative situation will feel overwhelming like a ton of bricks on you and/or your marriage.

We all go through things in our lives that are certainly not what we planned or hoped, but we make it through and often times come out on the other side stronger, more passionate and better people.

That happens in all marriages too! I’m sure you know at least one couple and have heard unpleasant stories about something that happened in their marriage or to someone they know (i.e. constant fighting, gambling, debt, illness, drug/alcohol problems, infidelity, or divorce).

It’s a known (and unfortunate) fact that not all marriages last forever, but that doesn’t mean that you and your spouse won’t have a long, happy and healthy marriage. You will have to work for it, letting your spouse know each and every day that he/she means the world to you (most importantly…be thankful for the little things).

In our marriage vows we state that we will love one another “in good times and in bad,” so just remember that always. However horrible the bad times may be (whether it’s a bad honeymoon, an illness, loss of job, etc.) think about what brought you together in the first place and remind yourself of the love you shared on your wedding day. Reminiscing about the days you had butterflies in your stomach just being around each other and how far you’ve come will help you get through anything.

Do you have a newlywed disaster story…Or a tough marriage moment? How did you make it through? Share your thoughts with us…

Hot Newlywed Sex: Yes Please!

Let’s hear it for newlywed sex! I just read a reporter’s request for feedback from women who have tried the “new trend” of having testosterone pellets implanted under the skin of their backs to increase their libidos. Who does that?! As newlyweds, we’re a blessed segment of the population when it comes to hot sex and its frequency. That being said, who doesn’t want a little boost in the bedroom? Here are few non-surgical ideas to try out the next time you’re looking for inspiration.

Steamy Movie Scene – Pick a favorite steamy scene from a movie you’ve both watched and try it out. Need some suggestions? Choose something from Jerry Maguire, Unfaithful, Pretty Woman (if you’re a die-hard romantic) or Eyes Wide Shut. I’m sure your hubby might be able to help select a scene too!

Body Paint – Get in touch with your artsy/sexy side with a chocolate body paint kit. You can decorate each others bodies and lick it off, or decorate your own bodies and surprise each other with the results. Arrows pointing to certain places can act as a sensual guide for your amour.

Raincoat Moment – This is a risky maneuver, but if you pull it off it will be something your spouse talks about for the rest of his life. If your man has his own office (with a lock), show up to take him out to lunch in a raincoat, a pair of heels and nothing else. Obviously you’re not going to actually have lunch! Please weigh the possibilities of being caught in the act and possible unemployment before trying this one.

Somewhere Different – You know how vacation sex is always a little more fabulous? Part of that has to do with “doing it” in new surroundings. Book a room at a boutique hotel or set up a romantic scene in your attic as a surprise for your mate.

Wig Out – This suggestion might not work for everyone, but consider purchasing a wig that is radically different from your normal hair. If you’ve got short black hair go for long and blonde and if you’ve got long brown hair, go for short and red. You’ll get to feel like a totally different woman and your husband will get to experience sex with a totally different you!

What are you steamy secrets for keeping newlywed sex hot? Share a PG-13 comment with our readers today!