Name Change Advice

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!

Green Thumbed Newlywed

Striving to be a green thumbed newlywed? One of my favorite things about spring and leading into summer is all the beautiful flowers that brighten up our yard and the yards of our neighbors! I have to admit, I’m not exactly the green thumb in my household…it is actually my husband who knows when to plant everything and how often to water it so it stays beautiful for the season(s).

He grew up with parents and grandparents that love gardening…seriously everything from flower beds to vegetable gardens to a pear tree growing in his grandparents’ backyard! I on the other hand grew up in a home where a landscaper took care of the shrubbery before we moved-in and the only flowers that we had were the ones we would purchase at the store and transfer into a pots that sat on our front porch and deck.

No matter how you grew up you could learn to have a green thumb…believe me, if I can learn so can you! Gardening is a great way to get back in touch with nature, be used as mild exercise or a way to relieve stress after a long day or week…so get outside this season and enjoy a new hobby!

Here are some gardening basics to help you become a green thumbed newlywed:

You’ll need some tools in order to be a successful gardener, including a shovel, pruning shears, a hose, a rake, a trowel, and a sprinkler (if necessary).

Annuals vs Perennials: Annuals for the most part don’t handle frost or cold weather very well, so it is best to plant them when the soil has had some time to warm up after winter. Perennials on the other hand can be planted in early spring or even fall and will do just fine! Find out more about the differences between annuals and perennials here.

Best Place for Flowers: Typically, flat ground is the easiest place to plant your flower bed and be sure that it’s in a sunny spot. Flowers need sun (some more than others) to live, so it’s very important to choose a place that the sun hits most of the day.

Tips for Beginners*:

Make Sure the Soil is Rich
Prepare and Loosen Soil
Plant in Warm Soil
Spray Soil with Water, Dig and Plant
Mulch (to protect soil from drying up due to sun)
Protect Plant from Insects and Disease (i.e. spray leaves with vinegar or other plant protectors)
Don’t Drown Your Plant/Flower

*Tips in detail at BasicsOfGardening.com.
What are your favorite garden flowers? What is your best tip for beginners? We’re not all green thumbs, so please help us out and leave a comment below!

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.

St. Patty’s Day Party – Get Your Green On!

Are you ready to get your green on? St. Patrick’s Day: The one day out of the year that everyone truly ‘goes green’ is just about here! Have you planned out your day’s festivities yet? We have come up with a few ideas for you to enjoy a full day, packed with green beer, some hearty Irish food, and of course a cute outfit!

If you haven’t checked out what’s going on in your neighborhood, now’s the time! There are so many St. Patty’s day activities that go on across the country, parades, festivals, 5K’s (if you’re feeling energetic), concerts, etc… Call your friends to see what everyone is looking to do, and if you live in the city, you may want to create your plan-of-action because it is most likely going to be packed at all of your local bars/restaurants.

If you’re planning to have some friends over to start the day off with you, visit your local craft or party store and pick up some fun decorations and some necklaces and hats for your guests! Onto the most important item of the day, finding a cute outfit!

If you’re looking to keep it casual, check out these cute St. Patty’s Day tee’s, or if you and your spouse have plans to go all out Irish, this is a super cute costume that you can find at Target!

Many bars and restaurants open up as early as 5:00am (from what I’m aware of!), so if you plan on starting early with the best of them, you will want to be sure to begin your day with a hearty Irish breakfast!

Next, if you have not received one of these from your wedding registry, you must invest in this amazing, lifesaving cooking device- a crock-pot! Your next menu item is the famous Irish stew, and if you can have it brewing all day in your crock-pot, it will be ready to dive into at the end of the day! If you’re not into stew, try another Irish fav, potato and leek soup.

Check out these recipes, make your list, and head to the grocery store the day before (and be sure to grab the green food coloring too)! Wait- let’s not forget about the most important part or your menu, desert of course! Check out this Irish Baileys Marble Cheesecake!

I personally do not have Irish genes, but since I married an Irish man, there are certain traditions that my spouse and I have started together to celebrate St. Patty’s day each year, and it’s a day that we really enjoy and look forward to!

Do you and your spouse have any traditions for St. Patty’s day? Please share how you plan to get your green on! Happy St. Patty’s day to you, and Cheers or Sláinte (to your health)!

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?

Handbag Winner Announced!!

Congratulations to Abi!! You left a comment on our newlywed blog and now the fabulous leather CYDWOQ giveaway bag is yours!!! CYDWOQ bag design has earned its place at the top of fashion leadership for the young, powerful and famous. They use only environmentally friendly materials, including vegetable died leathers destined to become even more beautiful over the years. So not only is the bag beautiful…it’s green too.

Abi, Please check your email for the details on how to redeem your fabulous prize from CYDWOQ! Best wishes for your upcoming wedding!