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!

Announcing Our Marrily Winners!!

We had the good fortune to give away 5 lifetime accounts with Marrily (a $100+ each) to readers who left a comment on our newlywed blog. Guess what?
Everyone that left a comment won a free lifetime account!!!

Planning your wedding can be fun, but it can also be frustrating (even if you’ve been married for years you can remember that). The list of to-dos seems endless and some doesn’t even want to remember about the pain they went through for the wedding. But there is a better way to stay organized and prepared for your big day. Marrily.com is a premiere online wedding planner that can help relieve your pre-wedding stress disorder or that of one of your best buds.
Winners, please check your email for the details on how to redeem your complimentary account!

Follow Marrily on twitter at @marrilyhappily, facebook at http://facebook.com/marrilyhappily, and check out their blog at marrily.com/blog

Spring Fever

Do you have spring fever? Today is the first day this year that we have seen 60 degree weather, so now I am super excited for spring! Seriously, I can’t wait until I can step outside and not have to look at or shovel anymore snow! Since we have been so infiltrated with bad snow storms this winter, who doesn’t have spring fever!?

My hubby and I have been stuck indoors due to the weather lately, and because of this we are beginning to push each others’ buttons! In positive strides to rush in the warmer weather and bring myself and my spouse out of this mental rut, I have made a list of to-do’s for myself this week! Here are a few things that I will be doing to ring in the spring:

-Spring Decorating! After this week we will be taking down the Valentine’s decorations to replace them with a few spring items! My hubby and I love spending time together at home and decorations are something that we can both enjoy (at least that’s my excuse when shopping)! I have already checked out Michael’s craft store and found some great ideas! Not so crafty, here’s a personal home décor favorite!

-Brighten things up! Dig out a few lighter sweaters and brighter colored tops, and rotate them to the front of your closet. Start incorporating your spring clothes into your outfits. Also, try picking up some new eye shadow, lipsticks, and nail polish in the new spring colors. I don’t know about you, but a fresh new look always helps naturally perk up my mood!

-Plan a Vacay! After dinner, grab a bottle of wine, your laptop/ipad, etc… and cuddle up on the couch while searching for your next vacation spot! Nothing makes me happier than thinking about the warm sun, my toes in the sand, relaxing by the water and having a fruity drink with my hubby!

-Get Motivated! Spring is not quite here but it is well on its way, so start getting your body ready for the warmer weather now! When short sleeve shirt and shorts weather is here you’re going to be happy you stuck with your New Years’ resolution to tighten and tone!

Are you also experiencing a bit of spring fever? Is there anything that you’re doing to help you and your spouse escape the winter weather rut? Tell us!

The Winners of the Youth Corridor Mini-Giveaway are…

Congratulations to Suzanne and Deanna! You are the 2 lucky winners of our Youth Corridor Boost Skin Serum mini-giveaway! You will surely look your youthful best once you try out this great product created by Dr. Gerald Imber (renowned Plastic Surgeon and Author). It works like magic, as it erases years of sun damage and age spots leaving your face looking years younger…something any one of us can appreciate!

So you’re not Suzanne or Deanna? No worries, you can learn more about this product and purchase it (and others like it) via YouthCorridor.com.

February: Time To Try Fun Things Together

Don’t forget to prioritize time to try fun things together. Now that you’re a newlywed, you may have noticed that you have more spare time than you did when you were planning your wedding and honeymoon. One great way to utilize those extra hours is to take some time to try something new with your spouse. A new experience adds instant spark to your relationship and may become a joint hobby or interest that you can share for many years to come.

Here Are a Few Fun Suggestions:

Take a dance class together. Your options range from ballroom, to salsa, to hip hop. We’re guessing your husband is going to be much happier with the latter suggestion. Is his dragging his feet? Offer a trade to make it worth his while…we’ll let you get creative with that!

Sign up for a bad-ass gym class like CrossFit. You’ll both be challenged by the class and can cheer each other on. The result? An awesome endorphin high and the bond of making it through together. If you keep attending the classes as a couple, you’ll both have rock hard bodies before beach season!

Consider attending a wine or beer tasting class . You’ll both enjoy yourselves and come away with a new appreciation for adult beverages. You can also use your new knowledge to create really cool food pairings at home and impress a few friends.

Join a recreational sports team. Ultimate Frisbee or rec soccer would be good choices. You’ll make new friends and foster a team mentality that can be very helpful in your married relationship.

Try a cooking class. Pick a genre of food that you both love to eat, but have no experience cooking and then find a class offered in your area. You’ll have a great time and end up with at least one dish that you can prepare as a couple.

No matter what you do, the point is to try something new together. The challenge itself will be exciting and give you something to talk about at the next party you attend. You’ll be the cool couple who learned how to Cha-Cha or make pad Thai last week!

Have you committed to try fun things together as newlyweds? Did they turn out to be fun or at least something to laugh about? Leave a comment and let us know!

Splitting the Chores, Newlywed Style!

It’s official: no one likes doing chores. You’d always find that strange kid in high school who actually liked to do homework, but show me one person who actually likes to do all the chores that have to get done around the house and I’ll be duly amazed. Chores are the most mundane part of being married, but believe it or not lots of couples have huge fights over chores. Before you begin to argue over whose turn it is to do the dishes or who has to take the trash out, it’s a good idea to split up the chores in a way that’s agreeable to the both of you.

One of the biggest deciding factors on who is going to do what type of chore is who is going to be home and who is not. Some couples have similar work schedules, but quite often, in today’s economy, one spouse is working much later than the other, or on days that the other spouse has off. Before you can begin to split up all the household chores that you have to get done, you need to make sure that you set realistic goals. You can’t expect someone to take out the trash every Saturday morning, for instance, if they have to be at work at 7 am on a Saturday. Take their work load into consideration before you even begin negotiating.

When you start splitting up the chores, volunteer to take everything that you truly enjoy doing. Do you like making meals? Do you not mind folding laundry? Put on the table everything that you actually enjoy doing. If you both like to do similar things, you can bargain for things that you dislike to do, like taking out the trash or sweeping the floor.

While some couples divide up each and every chore, others are more fluid in their division. For instance there are many couples where the wife is in charge of most of the household chores (with a few thrown in for the man), while the husband is in charge of vehicle and yard maintenance. Or vice versa. What works best for you is what’s important, and that you both agree on the division of labor. And remember: if you ever start to have an issue over the chores that you’re supposed to be doing, don’t get upset or passive-aggressive, actually talk to your spouse about the situation. Bargains and changes can always be made!

What deals have you and your spouse made about chores? We’d love to hear about your division of labor!