Holidays

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!

Newlyweds, Time to Brunch it Up!

Are you ready to brunch is up as a newlywed? Easter and Passover are coming soon, making it the perfect time to host a brunch for your families or friends. As newlyweds, you probably now have enough plates to serve a medium to large group and plenty of kitchen gadgets to try out! I thought I’d share a few of my favorite brunch recipes to make the planning process easier.

If you’re hosting a combined family meal, consider dietary restrictions. Is anyone allergic to nuts or keeping kosher for the holiday? If you’re hosting friends, you’ll need to juggle everyone else’s family obligations and meal times.

Once those details are understood you can start planning your menu. I am a huge fan of frittatas to feed a group. They’re fun, fancy and not very hard to make. Here are a few links to my top 3 frittata recipes: Baked Potato Frittata, Leek Potato & Gruyere Frittata, and a Spring Pea Frittata.

Not feeling the frittata? My other suggestion would be an Egg and Wild Mushroom Tart or a Strata. The advantage of these is that you can prep most of their components the night before.

Once you select a main recipe, you will need fruit (I suggest raspberries and black berries in a bowl) and a bread of some sort to round out your menu. Muffins, a coffee cake or croissants are great choices. Add a pitcher of juice and or mimosas and you’re brunch is ready for rave reviews from family and friends!

Are you hosting a holiday brunch for the first time as a newlywed? What’s on your mind and menu?

Top 3 Newlywed Gift Ideas For Hard To Buy For Spouses

Hard to buy for spouses are the worst during the holidays. While there is so much anticipation to spend the holidays as a newlywed, there is also the feeling that you need to create the perfect moment/buy the perfect gift to treasure always (thanks Hallmark). Looking back at my first Christmas, there was definitely a good bit of (self inflicted) pressure to find just the right gift for my husband. I trolled the mall, braved Best Buy and even flipped through the seemingly thousands of catalogs that kept coming in the mail.

Are you feeling freaked out about what to get your spouse this holiday season? As the woman married to the man who has everything, I feel capable of giving you some ideas.

1. Hobby Subtlety: Does your spouse have a hobby? If so, don’t buy him the obvious (fishing flies for the fly fisherman)…go for something special like a monogrammed case to hold his fly collection or a special gear bag designed for his specific sport.

2. Photos: If you’re newlyweds, this is the one time you can give him an amazing photo of you two without being lame. This acrylic photo block is really cool and would look nice on any desk in any office.

3. Adventure: If you’re totally stumped on what to give him, consider some sort of adventure activity. Often Groupon or LivingSocial have local deals for skydiving, kayaking and race car driving. Can’t you hear him telling the guys at the office..”Oh yeah, I didn’t get a golf club this year. My wife got me passes to race Ferraris!”

So what did I get my husband for our first newlywed Christmas? This is terrible…I can’t remember! What I do remember was deciding to open our gifts for one another on Christmas Eve instead of during the big family hubub of Christmas Day. It has become a tradition to light a fire, pop a bottle of champagne and open our gifts privately.

Moral Of The Story: No matter what you end up buying your spouse, the time you spend together will end up being what you remember. Try not to over emphasize the gift…emphasize the love!

What are you all getting your hard to buy for spouses this year? We’d love to hear from you in a comment.

Holiday Married Name Change & a Cyber Monday Deal

Are you contemplating holiday married name change? Thanksgiving is over and whammo…it’s Cyber Monday. Married name change can easily get back burnered over the holidays, but as you begin to receive and send holiday cards it may feel like the right time to make the switch. I remember my first Christmas signing cards as “The Tates”…it was a silly little thing that made me feel very happily married and grown up!

If you are considering changing your name, you can painlessly make the transition from Miss to Mrs. with MissNowMrs. Here’s our Cyber Monday Deal: use MRSNOW to save $5 off our easy online name change service or app! You could even surprise your spouse with your name change by keeping it a secret and putting your new driver’s license in an envelope in his/her stocking this Christmas.

Whatever your holiday and name change plans, be sure to savor this time as newlyweds. It’s your first Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa together, so be sure to take time for yourselves during the mad rush.

Your Holiday, My Holiday, Our Holiday?

Your holiday, my holiday, our holiday? These are questions all newlyweds face. Passover and Easter are right around the corner. Do you know what your holiday plans are? Hopefully the answer is “yes”. As a newlywed couple it’s really important to discuss the holiday, who you’ll see and what the expectations of each family are. Communication and prior planning are the best ways to avoid disappointing both families and your spouse. Below are a few of the most common holiday scenarios and some suggestions to make them successful!

In-Law Holiday

Are you spending quality time with your in-laws this weekend? There are a few things you can do to make the holiday go smoothly. First, get the scoop from your spouse. What does his family typically do (it helps to know if you’re expected to play flag football or croquette) and pack accordingly. Also, email or call his mom to ask if you can bring something. If she says no, be sure to bring a hostess gift of flowers or chocolates! You can also score family bonus points by bringing something for your new nieces and nephews.

The Holidays with Your Family

Preparing to spend time with your folks? Talk to your spouse about what your family traditions are and ask what his favorite part of the holidays are. You can ask your parents to add a favorite dish or activity to make him feel included.

Holidays at Both Family’s Houses

If you live close to both sets of your parents and they can be flexible on meal times, this may be the best way to begin your holidays together. Brunch with your family and dinner with his gives you the best of both worlds and satisfies both families, but be aware that you may be setting the expectation that you’ll do double holidays for eternity!

Combined Family Holiday at Your House

Hosting a holiday as newlyweds is a great way for your families to get to know each other post-wedding. Just be sure to talk to both sides and make sure that they’re okay with spending time as a group. The first celebration will be the biggest adjustment for all of you (especially if you are a mixed religion couple), but if you can incorporate traditions from both sides and let both moms bring something for the meal you’re on the road to a successful event. Don’t forget to add a tradition or dish that is totally yours!

Just the Two of You

Too far away to spend Passover or Easter with your families? Consider the weekend as a great way to spend time together as a couple and create a memorable holiday and possibly some traditions. You could go out for a meal or make your own elaborate feast. Making Easter baskets for each other can also be fun!

Party of 2 + Friends

Spending the holidays away from family and know a few other people who are too? Host a holiday brunch and have each guest bring a component. You’ll all bond over a meal and not feel like you missed out on the holiday hubbub that families share. Feel free to be creative when planning your holiday event, I often host an Easterita (pastel colored margaritas) party in the evening for friends and neighbors to unwind after time spent with their families!

However you spend the coming weekend, be grateful that you have a loving spouse to share the holidays with. We’d love to hear your plans in a comment!

Buying Holiday Gifts for Your In-Laws

Holiday gifts for your in-laws… where do you start? Whether it is the first holiday with your spouse or the tenth, it can be intimidating to pick out gifts for your in-laws. If you have felt uncertain when shopping, then rest assured that you are not alone. With the many fun, but scary things that come when saying ‘I Do’, there are a whole host of new holiday-related questions to be answered. But, shopping for your in-laws doesn’t have to be intimidating. Consider these few pieces of advice before you head out to the stores.

Find Out What They Like The first step to finding the right gift this holiday season is to determine what things are most likely to be well-received. In order to do this, you might have to a little covert investigation. Carry a small notebook with you next time you are with your in-laws. Take note of things said or noticed around the house. Is there something missing in the kitchen that one of them would surely love to have? Did someone mention something seen in a catalog, online, or in a store? You might even be able to start a conversation that leads down this path. Mention a cool commercial you’ve seen recently or talk about your own shopping adventures.

Set a Budget Once you have some ideas in mind, it is time to sit down with your spouse and talk about the financial end of the holiday affairs. How much can your household afford to spare? This number, whatever it happens to be, needs to be split between all gift-receiving individuals. To avoid hard feelings, it is often best to spend the same amount on each parent. Some couples decide to pay for their own parents gifts, respectively.

Shop Smart & Be Creative If you, like many Americans, are feeling the financial pinch this holiday season, don’t worry. Everyone is aware of the economic status and the vast majority of people will understand if you have to cut holiday spending down this season. Even those with little or nothing to spend can afford to create fantastic gifts. Consider baking cookies or biscotti. If you have an artistic talent, use it to make something personal for your in laws. Small, inexpensive tokens are often better received and more meaningful than impersonal ones that cost a small fortune.

What holiday gifts for your in-laws are you purchasing this year? Do you have a tried and true system that works? We’d love for you to share in a comment!