Relationships

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!

Summer As Newlyweds: 5 Things To Do

Spending the summer as newlyweds? The season is full of so many golden opportunities to make memories as a couple and with friends/family. It also has the tendency to be the season that flies by so quickly we all look up and it’s already fall. Take my advice and make a list of summer to-do’s together…right now! This allows you to understand each other’s ideal summer activities and the list can be referenced any time you have a free evening. Below are five newlywed summer ideas to get you started.

1. Pack a Picnic – Pick an afternoon to picnic and be serious about it. Whether you go the fancy route with wine, cheese and crackers or something as simple as fried chicken and lemonade it it the idea of eating together somewhere out of the ordinary that makes this a moment to remember…not just a meal. Leave your phones at home and take time to enjoy each other’s company and the outdoors. You’ll be glad you did!

2. Go to a Theme Park – Revel in being big kids who don’t have kids (yet). Screaming as you ride roller coasters and laughing as you get drenched on a log luge will do wonders for your relationship. Spending a carefree adrenaline filled day together is one of the best ways to celebrate summer as a newlywed. Don’t forget to take a commemorative photo or two.

3. Host a BBQ – Time to break out all of the fun entertaining items that you received as wedding gifts. Make a big pitcher of sangria, put together a salad, throw a few things on the grill and invite your friends over. Good times are guaranteed. You can up the fun factor by lighting sparklers as the light fades.

4. Plan Pool/Ocean Time – Make plans to plunge into a pool or the ocean (or both) this summer.. You can hit the community pool with a bag full of sunscreen and pool toys or get away for a weekend at the beach. There’s nothing better than cooling off in a big body of water with your spouse. Should you be flying to the beach. Don’t miss our travel tips for newlyweds!

5. Attend a Local Concert or Festival – Look for a concert or festival in your area. Groupon and Living Social tend to have discounted tickets to a variety of events from music to wine in the woods. You don’t have to go alone either, coordinate a whole group of friends to come enjoy the festivities. You’ll laugh, dance and enjoy each others company.

What are your summer plans? Did making a list work for you and your spouse? Let us know in a comment!

Newlywed Mother’s Day: Moms & Mother In Laws

Handling your first newlywed mother’s day? Hopefully wedding planning and newlywed life has improved your relationship with your mother as you now share even more life events in common. Newlywed life has also provided you with another mother to honor on Mother’s Day, your Mother-In-Law. Below are a few tips for incorporating your Mother-in-Law into the holiday.

To avoid any disappointment on either side of the family, it is wise to chat with your spouse about their traditions for Mother’s Day. Some families may simply send a card, while others plan elaborate weekends together. Understanding expectations before the holiday will help you plan a way to make both moms happy and prevent hard feelings between families.

For your first married Mother’s Day, it may be easier to celebrate separately. This is especially helpful if your mother’s live in different states. If both of you plan to spend time with both of your moms, you’ll need to schedule times in advance or see if both mothers would want to celebrate together.
This may sound like a great deal of planning for a single day, but happy in-law relationships can only help your marriage. If you’re planning a family in the future, it will also lay the ground work for your mothers to be flexible when it is your first Mother’s Day.

How are you spending Mother’s Day as a newlywed? Did you have to juggle family traditions or are you celebrating your own first Mother’s Day? We’d love to hear from you in a comment.

Spring Fling Newlywed Style: 3 Ways to Make the Most of the Season

Here are three ways to make the most of Spring Fling newlywed style. After what seemed like an endless winter for most of the U.S., Spring has finally arrived! The sun is shining, birds are chirping and love is in the air. As newlyweds, there is no better time to shake off the “winter blahs” and reconnect as a couple.

1. Take a walk and hold hands. Enjoying the warm sunshine and blooms is good for your soul and your relationship. You’re making Vitamin D, lowering your stress levels and physically connecting on a very sweet level.

2. Plant something together. Whether you stop by your local nursery and plant already blooming bulbs or select a tree or bush for your yard, working together on a project that beautifies your yard or community is a great way to enjoy Spring as newlyweds. Added bonus: you’ll get a sense of satisfaction and nostalgia each Spring when you see your handiwork in full bloom.

3. Follow nature’s example. Birds do it, bees do it….and so should you! Shave your legs, put on a sundress and make the most of Spring Fling newlyweds. If you’ve been contemplating starting a family, this may be the perfect season to get started.

Whatever you do to enjoy Spring Fling newlywed style, be sure to take time as a couple to enjoy each other and the season. We’d love to hear what your favorite Spring activities are as newlyweds, so please leave a comment.

Newlywed Love Is Being Stupid Together

Newlywed love is being stupid together! Most weddings I attend (including my own) have a reading from First Corinthians “Love is patient, Love is kind…” While this scripture is very true, I feel that the strongest newlywed couples understand that love is also being stupid together.

In a world that emphasizes and idolizes “perfect couples”, it’s freeing to know that being goofy is okay. In fact, silliness and inside jokes helps cement your relationship. If you haven’t laughed or been stupid together in a while, here are a few suggestions:

Rent a Comedy – Plop on the couch and reconnect as you laugh at actors antics. You may even pick up a movie quote that will make you both laugh for years to come.
Play Charades – This game is guaranteed to have you both laughing hysterically as you try to guess what your partner is acting out.
Play With Small Children or Animals – There’s nothing like little kid laughter or puppy antics to make you smile and have a good time.
Have a Squirt Gun or Water Balloon Fight – Who can keep a straight face when they’re chasing or being chased by their mate armed with liquid ammo?

How do you enjoy being stupid together with your fiancé or spouse? We’d love to hear them in a comment!

Would You Could You In A…(5 Unique Newlywed Dates)!

Are you looking for unique newlywed dates? It’s busy being a newlywed! There’s the whirlwind of post-wedding thank you, possible moving/merging of your stuff and lives as well as your jobs, families and friends. You may find yourself going on fewer dates and recycling the same restaurants or activities over and over again. The solution? Try something new!

I was inspired by Dr. Seuss’s book Green Eggs & Ham….what better way to keep your dates interesting than adopting the mantra “Would you, could you in a…”? Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a weeknight meal start asking that question. Below are a few ideas:

1. Would You, Could You In A Tent? I think it would be incredibly romantic to drink wine and watch the sun set in a hanging tent. You could enjoy a trip to the circus or even plan a camping trip/date.

2. Would You, Could You In A Train? Imagine hopping a train for a weekend getaway in New York, Cape Code, the Grand Canyon…the adventure would be something you’d share and tell friends about for years! Check out a list of romantic train rides at vacationsbyrail.com. If that’s a bit much for you, consider looking for a train museum or a restaurant built in a station or train car.

3. Would You, Could You On A Roof? While it might be dangerous to picnic on your own roof, consider having cocktails at a bar with a roof top deck or find a restaurant on the top floor of a building. The views will be lovely and will help you feel far away from everyday life (unless you’re a roofer).

4. Would You, Could You In A Library? Channel your inner sexy librarian for a date night at a library. The older, bigger and more interesting the library, the better. I recommend a college library if you live near one. Snuggle up and share a saucy book of poetry or pass each other notes as you read. You can whisper about your all time favorite books…and connect on a new literary level.

5. Would You Could You In The Mud? There are two drastically different ways this idea can go. First way: train for a tough mudder together. You’ll burn calories, build a closer relationship and end up with some amazing muddy finish line photos! Feeling less than thrilled about dirty athletics? Book a couples mud massage at a local spa. You can relax and let the mud remove toxins from your body…together.

I challenge you to sit down with your spouse and make a list of “would you could you” unique newlywed date scenarios. It will be entertaining at a minimum and could result in your most memorable date as newlyweds. Please post comments with the dates you end up trying!