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!

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.

Keeping The Weight Off After the Wedding

Need some pointers for keeping the weight off after the wedding? When you’re dating, you want to look your best because you know that’s one of the easiest ways to attract Mr. Right. When you’re engaged you put even more effort into your looks so that you can ensure that you look fabulous on your wedding day. And, of course, you want to look awesome on your honeymoon as well (hello bikini pictures). But what happens when you come home? Studies show that once the wedding and honeymoon are over, newlywed couples start to gain weight.

While your spouse may love you no matter what size you are, it’s very important to make sure that you keep nutrition as an important focus of your life. It’s far too easy to put on a serious number of pounds in just a few years when you’re not making an effort to keep the weight off. One of the best things about being married is that you’re in everything together, and together you can make a plan to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight.

Good nutrition is a vital step to making sure that you keep the weight off and stay healthy. This can be tricky when you’re married, especially if your spouse is a meat and potatoes or take-out kind of guy. But don’t let that deter you from eating healthy. Sit down together each week and discuss what you’d like to eat. If you find that you’re craving something, like wings or pizza, work together to figure out how you can make that specific meal a healthier dish. You can substitute baked chicken with buffalo sauce for wings, and pizza can be made over with low fat cheese, whole wheat crust and the addition of veggies. Here’s a site with several other great ideas for healthy substitutes for junk food.

Would you believe that exercising together can be a great deal of fun? It can! Especially if you find something that the two of you enjoy doing together. Ladies, it may be difficult to get your new husband to try out that dancing workout DVD that you just bought, and guys need to realize that not all women love to lift weights. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t work out together.

A few times a week why not find some aerobic activity that the both of you enjoy doing, like running or playing basketball, and making a date of it. Not only can you have fun playing together and working out, but all sorts of fun things can also happen when you’re showering off!

Have you and your spouse put on a few pounds since the wedding? What changes have you made as a couple that are making a difference in your health and the numbers on the scale?

Summer In February

You’ve heard of Christmas in July right? Well, what about a summer day in February? As a massive storm spread snow across the Northern half of the United States, I think we could all use a way to channel summertime. Here are a few ideas to help you create your own summer day in February.
Simulate a Beach Day – Crank your thermostat, break out the coconut scented sunscreen and blast some beach tunes. It might sound crazy, but you’ll feel much better after you’ve broken out a sundress and danced around the living room with your hubby.

Buy a Bikini – Now’s the time to score a great new swim suit before all the stores are picked over. You’ll feel that much closer to summer as you look through different styles and prints. I recommend shopping online to minimize the fluorescent light shock that can happen in dressing rooms. If the concept of trying on a swimsuit makes you squirm, consider finding a great new beach bag or cover-up.

Break Out the Blender- Whip up a Tropical Smoothie or a boozy beach beverage such as a Pineapple Daiquiri or a Mango Margarita. You’ll be in vacation mode in no time, no matter what the weather is like outside.

Host a Luau – Invite a few friends over to beat the winter blues with a Hawaiian themed dinner party. Here are a few appetizer ideas to get you started on the endeavor. You can also purchase a few inexpensive accessories such as grass skirts and leis to amp the fun level for your guests.
Read a Book – Pick up a book with a storyline set in the tropics or based on a summertime adventure. The Beach House, Summer Island or The Beach Book (which is even water proof) are great reads to put you a summertime mindset.

Whatever you choose to do, indulging in a summery activity in the middle of Winter can do nothing but boost your spirits and put you one step closer to warm weather.
Have you come up with any summer fun ideas to try out this February? We’d love for you to tell us all about them in a comment.

From Boyfriend & Girlfriend to Husband & Wife

Couples tend to think the transition from being engaged to being married is as simple as 1-2-3, but most married couples will tell you that it isn’t always that easy. With marriage, comes expectations (from both husband and wife…and even from In-laws too) and sometimes those expectations are set quite high. What’s the reason for this? It’s often times pressure to be like another couple, fantasies of a fairytale life or even media influences (i.e. magazines, books, TV shows, and celebrities). Try to put that aside and focus on what’s best for you as a couple by nurturing your relationship.

Love Individual Differences: When you’re dating it’s easy to miss how different the two of you really are, not to mention if you didn’t live together prior to your wedding you’re definitely getting to see a whole other side of your spouse now. It’s important to understand and appreciate your differences. It can be very difficult to live in the same household with someone who doesn’t wash the dishes or do the laundry the way you were taught to as a child, but remember that just because it’s different doesn’t make it wrong. Open your heart and your mind to the person that you vowed to share your life with and laugh about your differences as much as possible. After all, this is what makes you, YOU and the same goes for your spouse!

Invest Time in the Relationship: Dating is easy…you get to see each other when you want to and make plans with friends or family when you need a break. Now that you’re married it’s important to spend quality time together alone. You can plan date nights (i.e. out for dinner, happy hour, attend a sporting event or go to the movies). You should also spend time at home being intimate and talking about your goals and ideas for your life together. They say marriage takes work and it’s true, but it is the most rewarding work you’ll ever do for yourselves!

Make Me Time Important: This was probably the easiest part of dating, as you could plan to have a day or two in between your dates leaving you both time to do what you want on your days “off.” In a marriage it’s not only important to spend quality time together, but is equally as important for you both to have time to yourselves too. Some people like to enjoy a drink and read a book or attend a yoga class, while others like to play video games or peruse the Internet for new hobbies or interests. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, make time to do it even if it’s only once or twice a month.

Learn Together: Dating is all about learning about each other and about relationships in general. Marriage too is a learning process that should continue to grow both inside and outside of your relationship. Knowledge is food for your brain and it’s important to keep learning throughout our lives. You could take a class together on something you both want to become better at (i.e. cooking or dancing) or learn a new language together.

Have a Marriage Idol: Whether it’s your grandparents, parents, a family friend or a couple from your church, you should always have someone you can talk to about marriage. Seeing a successful marriage and always aspiring to be like them is healthy as long as what you are aspiring to be is happy and in love like the other couple.

What has been the most difficult transition for you and your spouse? How are you working through it?