Date Night

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!

Top 5 Summer Date Ideas

Looking for summer date ideas? As the summer days stretch longer and longer there’s more daylight to spend together as a newlywed couple! What better way to celebrate the arrival of Summertime than with a date night or two? Here are our top 5 summer date night ideas:

Drive-in Movie – There’s something both romantic and nostalgic about a drive-in movie date. Instead of dealing with crowds of teenagers at the mall or sitting in your living room, you’ll be sharing a movie with your spouse in the privacy of your own vehicle (be sure to pack some fun snacks). Here’s a drive-in locator if you need help finding a venue nearby.

County Fair – Not sure what to do this weekend? Go to a local county fair! Let your spouse win you a fuzzy bear or goldfish and then take a ride on the Ferris Wheel. There’s something about heights and your love that causes spontaneous kissing!

Outdoor Patio Dining – Light some candles, pour a cocktail, and enjoy a meal with your spouse al fresco. What better excuse to wear your new sundress and no shoes? Here’s a great recipe to try.

Paddle Boating – Looking for something unique yet fun to do one weekend afternoon? Find a local park or lake that offers paddle boat rentals. You’ll be exploring, exercising and enjoying each others company all at the same time! Don’t forget to pack some sunscreen and beverages for the trip.

Ice Cream Social – Looking for a sweet way to treat your spouse? Find an old fashioned ice cream shop and split a sundae. Sharing a dessert is such a fun married couple perk…all the taste and half of the calories!

What are your favorite things to do with your spouse during the summer? We’d love to add to our list of Summer date night ideas, so please leave a comment!

7 Debt-Free Newlywed Date Night Ideas

Looking for debt-free newlywed date ideas? The holidays take a lot out of us (physically and financially), but that doesn’t mean that we should forego Date Night all together, right? I say absolutely not! Try one or all seven of these budget friendly Date Night Ideas:

1. Go bowling: It’s fun (even if you need to use the bumpers) and it doesn’t cost nearly as much as going out for dinner and drinks. Heck, you could bowl 3 or more games for the price it costs you to eat out.

2. Prepare a romantic dinner (at home): Head to your local grocery store and pick up all the necessities for your home cooked meal. DivineDinnerParty.com has a collection of romantic dinner recipes that will surely sweep you both off your feet! You can light some candles, open a bottle of wine and listen to your favorite love songs while enjoying each other’s company.

3. Dance the night away: Set up your iPod to play your favorite guilty pleasure songs or dust off your CD’s and you could sing and dance in your family room. It sure beats paying a cover charge to enter the club and then for drinks too!

4. Rent a movie: They are so cheap ($1.00) to rent using RedBox (typically located at grocery stores and gas stations). You can choose your movie and snuggle up on the couch and enjoy it together.

5. Bath Time: Who needs a hot tub when you can fill the bath tub with hot water and bubbles?! Light some candles and you’ll have yourselves a relaxing, romantic evening for two!

6. Watch the sunrise or sunset: When was the last time you did something with your spouse without distractions? It’s so beautiful to watch the sun come up or go down. Just sit there (enjoy each others’ company) and stare as the beautiful colors appear in the sky (and it’s FREE)! Click here to find out what time the sun will rise/set in your area: calendar-updates.com.

7. Looking for some slight physical activity and entertainment: Head to your local driving range or try mini golf (it’s always a good time)!

Do you have anything to add to this list? What budget-friendly Date Nights have you and your spouse enjoyed?

Newlyweds: 6 Tips to Bring Your Marriage Back to Life

Do you need a few tips to bring your marriage back to life? There are so many responsibilities in life that keep piling on your plate as you grow up, and may begin to interfere with your “alone” time with your spouse. Schedules can be so hectic that your marriage unintentionally is put on the back burner, causing frustration and tension to grow between the two of you, and your daily schedules may naturally become somewhat of a routine, and you simply go through the motions. If you have transitioned into parenthood, then you surely know that your life becomes kid-centric, as your attention, your emotion, and your everyday activities are focused on your little one now rather than each other.

If you’re experiencing this, you’re not alone, but the important thing is to recognize when your lifestyle is hurting your marriage, and then do something about it! Just as all things in life, it’s good to find a ‘healthy balance’ in all that you do.

Here are a few ideas to help keep your marriage alive and healthy:

*Surprise your spouse- who doesn’t love a surprise?! Sneak a note in your spouse’s lunch, or their brief case, just letting them know how much they are appreciated and loved!

*For parents – have a dinner date one night a week (after the kids are in bed) to relax together and enjoy one another’s company. Not a parent yet? You and your spouse could go out on a date once a week or as your schedules and budgets allow. Try going to a movie or dinner at your favorite restaurant.

*Day time chat- if you don’t normally communicate with your spouse during the work day, call, text, or write a quick email just to let the other one know that although you’re busy, you are still thinking of them, and while you’re at it you may want to even throw in some naughty comments that you wouldn’t say in front of the kiddos (however, keep the freaky emails to your personal email account, not your work email—otherwise you could find yourself in the HR Office or worse)!
*PDA’s – need I say more?

*Go for a walk with your spouse and hold hands. You will both benefit from the exercise, the physical connection and the uninterrupted adult conversation that distractions such as children, TV, internet, blackberries, iphones, etc. don’t permit!

*Think about what the two of you would do when you first got together…do it again! Sure you’re older and wiser, but you’re still a couple in-love…now show each other (and have some fun doing it)!
What have you done to rekindle your relationship? Our readers would love to know your tips and tricks to a happy and healthy relationship, so please leave a comment.

Date Night Spice

Do you need some date night spice? How many times do you and your spouse find yourselves attending the same restaurants, and maybe even ordering the same meals!? Sometimes you may find your marriage and your life in general to be some-what of a routine… and routine is GOOD, but once in awhile you need to spice-it-up a bit! When you have a night to yourselves and are pondering over one of your select favorite restaurants to have dinner, instead… plan a date night with spice!

You say, well I’m married now, we don’t “date” – sure you do! Pick a theme, dress accordingly and go out for the evening! Here are just a few ideas for you! Discuss them with your spouse and get them all pumped up about it—they will appreciate a change from a nice dinner and bottle of wine!

Mini Golf and Ice Cream– its casual and a fun summer evening activity, or instead hit the driving range; it’s a great aggression reliever. Here’s a mini golf locator!
Pizza and Comedy– this too can be a bit more casual and you can enjoy some spontaneous laughter together either at a comedy club or at the movies (or if you’re on a budget—in the comfort of your own home)!
Beer, Wings, and Pool– visit the bar on the corner that you wouldn’t normally frequent for a nice evening out, make sure to dress accordingly, and bring some cash for the jukebox- this will be something you’ll do again!
Outdoor Stroll – enjoy the beautiful summer nights, and check out the local events in your area, this is the time you will find outdoor festivals, shows, and concerts. Hey, you might even get to know your neighbors, strolling around the block a time or two!
Bring on the Romance– Decide to try a new restaurant tonight, and get all dressed-up! It’s even more fun if you get ready in a separate room, meet him in the car, and just see where the night takes you!
At-Home-Date– don’t feel like leaving the house? Turn on some tunes, set the table (not the coffee table) or have a backyard picnic and let him cook for you—and if that doesn’t work, pizza always does!
Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away! So enjoy your fabulous married life, and do so happily in love!