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!

Perfect Newlywed Stocking Stuffers

Looking for newlywed stocking stuffers? We’re officially in the home stretch for Christmas…hooray! Hopefully your presents are purchased, your stockings are hung by the chimney with care and you can relax and enjoy the holiday festivities with the love of your life. If you’re still frantically scrambling for last minute gifts for your spouse, read on for some quick ideas to stuff those stockings!

For Him:

Tools. Men just love to get gadgets in their stockings, and Home Depot makes it so easy by having inexpensive items on each of their end caps during December. Confused about what to get? Just ask any man standing next to you for his opinion…he’ll be happy to tell you what he hopes his wife gets for him!

Gloves. You may have a matching pair of gloves for all 13 coats that you own, but chances are your man doesn’t. Surprise him with nice leather gloves, and he’ll be wearing them for years to come.

Sausage….yes, I’m serious. For some reason all men we’ve encountered love the mini summer sausages that come with the holidays, so wrap a few up and add them to his stocking. The man in your life will be pleasantly surprised at how well you know him and his tastes!

Hobby-related items make ideal stocking stuffers. Golf balls, fishing lures and sports team paraphernalia are always good bets. Just be sure to pick something you know he’ll use, not something you wish he would.

Something silly. Guys love a good joke and will appreciate your efforts to amuse them. Try to reference some inside joke that the two of you have or go for something really off the wall like a screaming monkey sling shot. Your man will be entertaining your neighbors and his co-workers for the next month with it!

For Her:

OPI minis are a fantastic little beauty treat to find in a stocking. They’re fun, festive and will last until summer! She’ll smile every time she looks at her post-holiday manicure.

Chocolate, there’s simply nothing better or more indulgent to receive! Check out the Godiva Stocking Stuffers page chock full of chocolate treats for the ladies in your life. Our favorite is the Milk Chocolate Truffle Gems Tube!

Holiday scented candles are another fun goodie to get. Try to find a scent that you know the recipient will enjoy.

Something romantic, like Reasons I Love You Stones. This little pouch of metal pieces reminds your loved one how special you think they are all year through.

Bath products are always a great stocking addition. Anything from bath salts to hand cream works. Check out Philosophy’s whole holiday line.

We hope these few tips will help you fill your love’s stocking full of things they’ll appreciate and use! Do you have any go-to newlywed stocking stuffers for your spouse? We’d love for you to leave us a comment about it!

Tips to Becoming a Healthier You in the New Year!

Looking forward to a healthier you in the New Year? If you’ve already come up with your New Year’s resolution and decided on the ever-so-popular goal to drop a few pounds in the New Year (such as my hubby and I have already made a pact to do together), here are some ideas to think about and a few tips to help you stick with, and accomplish your goals!

Grab a partner…A.K.A.– get your spouse on board with you! Not only does the extra motivation help when it comes to incorporating work-out time into your weekly schedules, but if you are both focused on weight loss and healthy eating, you will be less likely to give into that amazing smell of fast food on your way home from work!

Don’t wait till the clock strikes midnight! Okay, since I’ve already faced the fact that yes, the cookies, pies, fudge, and our favorite holiday cocktails have already taken over our routine meal plans, I’ve switched my focus to portion control management! If you’ve already decided on losing weight, don’t wait until Jan.1 to really get the ball rolling, it’s just going to be that much harder if your 15 pound weight loss goal, somehow overnight turns to 20! Regulate your intake on sweets, and stick to you English muffin for breakfast, the pie can wait for dessert!

Rid your house from the junk! When it comes to a healthy diet, some people like trying out different diet meal plans, diet pills, etc… and sometimes you can find one that actually works and makes you feel great, and loose the weight quickly! For some of us diets, work for a few weeks, then we go off and the weight pours back on. The best diet method I have found to really work is… if I don’t see it, I don’t eat it!

So on your next trip to the grocery store, skip the chips, cookies, and any other unhealthy food weaknesses, and you will gradually notice that your desire to snack on these items has diminished. Not to mention, once the daily after-dinner bowl of ice cream is no longer, the morning squats won’t be necessary anymore when putting on your skinny jeans! Also, if you’re not sure of how to shop healthy, did you know that the healthiest foods are found in the outside aisles of the grocery store (processed and unhealthy foods are located in the middle aisles)?

If you are not into the gym thing and Denise Austin on your television is just not working for you anymore you must check out the Wii Fit! The good news is, there is still time to add the Wii and a few workout games to your Christmas list, but hurry! This is the hottest revolution in home fitness, and is great for those who enjoy the privacy of their own home, and also for those that have a little one at home to tend to—this is perfect!

If you are still looking for an extra push and something to really get you focused and goal-driven with your New Year’s fitness plan, hire a personal trainer! Fitness and nutrition is their specialty, and they will offer you drive and motivation, a new work-out plan, and often times much quicker results from your new work-out and nutritional regimen! Even if just for a month, it will be worth your while!

Please share your New Year’s Resolutions with us, and if they are fitness related, tell us what you’re doing to ensure a healthier you in the New Year.

Top 10 Things to Do In Bed This Christmas

Don’t miss the top 10 things to do in bed this season! Now that Christmas is right around the corner, you may be a bit frazzled from shopping, baking and wrapping. What could be better than climbing in bed for a long winter’s nap? Well, we’ve come up with a list of alternative bedroom activities to put you in the holiday spirit!

Top 10 Things to Do In Bed This Christmas

10. Play a Christmas themed board game in your pjs
9. Open tiny surprise Christmas Eve gifts
8. Cuddle up and watch the snow fall
7. Play naughty Santa
6. Drift off to sleep with visions of sugar plums dancing through your head We weren’t sure exactly what a sugar plum was, so here’s the scoop so you know exactly what you’re dreaming about.
5. Give and receive a sugar cookie scented massage
4. Watch Holiday Specials and Movies. Here’s a guide to help you find the perfect flick to put you in the holiday spirit.
3. Have Christmas Morning Mimosas and breakfast in bed. What better way to kick off your first Christmas day as newlyweds!
2. Make love with your favorite Christmas music and a fire crackling in the background
1. Dream about the fabulous Sleep Number Comforter that you’ve entered to win on the MissNowMrs.com newlywed blog!

Sleep Number has teamed up with MissNowMrs.com to offer one of our newlywed blog readers the chance to win a completely customized Create Your Perfect Comforter (A $280 value)!

The Sleep Number Create your Perfect Comforter is the ideal solution for couples who disagree on bedroom temperature as each side of the comforter can be customized. You get to choose the fill, customize your warmth level and then relax with your perfect comforter. Say goodbye to sleepless nights and blanket wars!

Ready to win our cozy December giveaway? Leave a comment on this, or any of our Newlywed Bed Posts on Mondays this month and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Tell us all about why you and your spouse should win this custom comforter. We’d love to know what lengths you’ve gone to to solve your temperature differences.

The randomly selected contest winner will be announced on December 31st!! 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 prize!

Also, if you’re in the mood for newlywed bed giveaways, you can win a memory foam bed, a Flexfit adjustable base, and $500 in Sleep Number bedding through Sleep Number’s holiday sweepstakes at: www.sleepnumber.com.

Name Change Service 3 Day BOGO Sale

It’s time for a BOGO sale! MissNowMrs.com is ecstatic to announce our 3 Day BOGO Sale starting today December 15, 2010 through December 18, 2010! It’s our first ever SALE coming to you in time for the Holiday Season.

You have two incredible purchase options:
Purchase our Complete Online Name Change Package for $29.95 using the promo code: MNMBOGO and receive a FREE MissNowMrs.com Gift Card for a friend. That means you will change to your new married name without the stress and hassle AND have the perfect gift for your newly engaged or newly married friend. She will LOVE you forever!
OR
Purchase one MissNowMrs Gift Card and Get one FREE! That’s right, you will have the perfect bridal shower gift for not one, but two of your friends!

This amazing offer lasts 3 Days ONLY, so make your purchase today and you will receive your FREE gift card via mail in time for the holidays.

Don’t have a friend or family member getting married soon, no worries! MissNowMrs.com gift cards are valid for 2 years after the date of purchase. Since we’ve attended 10 weddings this year, we figure we can’t be the only ones! So shop now and be pleased with your savvy self!
*There are no refunds on MissNowMrs gift card purchases.

Holiday Parties – Ho Ho Ho!

‘Tis the season for corporate and family holiday parties. Now let’s talk about not looking like a Ho, Ho, ho as a newlywed or newly engaged lady! There is definitely a way to look attractive at events, without raising any in-law eyebrows or causing the CEO’s blood pressure to spike.

Here are a few tips to keep you looking your best during the holiday season:

1. Choose to accent your upper body or lower body with an outfit, not both. A great mini dress that has sleeves or a or a high neckline will allow your legs to take center stage without causing catcalls. If you’ve got killer arms or cleavage, choose a longer dress or pants and then show A LITTLE skin up top.

2. Leave the leave-em-on boots at home. Don’t get me wrong, some boots are appropriate with dresses. But, if you have patent leather over the knee boots there are certain call girl connotations that will enter most people’s minds when they meet you. Frankly, you don’t want to be that girl, especially as someone’s wife or fiancé!

3. Get your hair done! Now’s the time to touch up any roots or split ends that you have showing. A quick trip to the salon or some do-it-yourself tricks will have you looking polished and presentable wherever you go. It will also ensure that you’ll love the way you look in holiday photos and not kick yourself for that hair. If you already have a few photos you regret, you can use this cool root touch-up software to erase any hair color mistakes.

4. Go easy on the make-up. Choose to do a smoky eye and neutral lips or play up your lips and do very muted eyes. This tactic allows one feature of your face to stand out and keeps you from looking like you were hit by the paint truck!

5. Smile. You’re a newlywed or newly engaged and the world is your oyster. No need to be serious or nervous, just be yourself and let everyone get to know the real you.

With these few tips you should be able to focus on having fun at the flurry of holiday parties you attend. You can rest assured that you’re presenting yourself in a wonderful way and everyone that meets you will be impressed.

What are you wearing to holiday parties this year and what are you avoiding wearing? We’d love to hear about your outfits and the dreadful ones you saw last holiday season, so please leave a comment!