Relationship

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!

Newlywed Disaster

Have you ever thought about newlywed disaster? Imagine that you and your fiancé spend time and money planning your dream honeymoon/vacation. After countless conversations and daydreaming about how you’re going to have the time of your lives, it doesn’t go as planned.

Well, that’s just what happened to a newlywed couple. An article about a newlywed couple from Sweden who survived their honeymoon. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t that the goal for everyone/don’t we all survive our honeymoons? Well, yes, but most people’s biggest honeymoon nightmare is rainy weather, not a major snowstorm, a tsunami, 2 earthquakes, catastrophic flooding and a cyclone!

Can you imagine it? You set off on what you think will be the trip of a lifetime (a 4 month long honeymoon) with your love to Germany, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan only to be hit with just about every natural disaster known to man! YIKES!!!

While a bad trip is hardly the worst thing that can happen in life, it made me think about marriage and how my husband and I, like all brides and grooms dreamed that married life would be perfect. There’s NO WAY that Swedish newlywed couple thought their honeymoon would be anything less than blissful!

Newlyweds can be naïve or as I like to put it…overly optimistic! There’s nothing wrong with a positive attitude or outlook on life; however, you want to prepare yourselves for when something in your life doesn’t turn out as planned. If not, any negative situation will feel overwhelming like a ton of bricks on you and/or your marriage.

We all go through things in our lives that are certainly not what we planned or hoped, but we make it through and often times come out on the other side stronger, more passionate and better people.

That happens in all marriages too! I’m sure you know at least one couple and have heard unpleasant stories about something that happened in their marriage or to someone they know (i.e. constant fighting, gambling, debt, illness, drug/alcohol problems, infidelity, or divorce).

It’s a known (and unfortunate) fact that not all marriages last forever, but that doesn’t mean that you and your spouse won’t have a long, happy and healthy marriage. You will have to work for it, letting your spouse know each and every day that he/she means the world to you (most importantly…be thankful for the little things).

In our marriage vows we state that we will love one another “in good times and in bad,” so just remember that always. However horrible the bad times may be (whether it’s a bad honeymoon, an illness, loss of job, etc.) think about what brought you together in the first place and remind yourself of the love you shared on your wedding day. Reminiscing about the days you had butterflies in your stomach just being around each other and how far you’ve come will help you get through anything.

Do you have a newlywed disaster story…Or a tough marriage moment? How did you make it through? Share your thoughts with us…

Hot Newlywed Sex: Yes Please!

Let’s hear it for newlywed sex! I just read a reporter’s request for feedback from women who have tried the “new trend” of having testosterone pellets implanted under the skin of their backs to increase their libidos. Who does that?! As newlyweds, we’re a blessed segment of the population when it comes to hot sex and its frequency. That being said, who doesn’t want a little boost in the bedroom? Here are few non-surgical ideas to try out the next time you’re looking for inspiration.

Steamy Movie Scene – Pick a favorite steamy scene from a movie you’ve both watched and try it out. Need some suggestions? Choose something from Jerry Maguire, Unfaithful, Pretty Woman (if you’re a die-hard romantic) or Eyes Wide Shut. I’m sure your hubby might be able to help select a scene too!

Body Paint – Get in touch with your artsy/sexy side with a chocolate body paint kit. You can decorate each others bodies and lick it off, or decorate your own bodies and surprise each other with the results. Arrows pointing to certain places can act as a sensual guide for your amour.

Raincoat Moment – This is a risky maneuver, but if you pull it off it will be something your spouse talks about for the rest of his life. If your man has his own office (with a lock), show up to take him out to lunch in a raincoat, a pair of heels and nothing else. Obviously you’re not going to actually have lunch! Please weigh the possibilities of being caught in the act and possible unemployment before trying this one.

Somewhere Different – You know how vacation sex is always a little more fabulous? Part of that has to do with “doing it” in new surroundings. Book a room at a boutique hotel or set up a romantic scene in your attic as a surprise for your mate.

Wig Out – This suggestion might not work for everyone, but consider purchasing a wig that is radically different from your normal hair. If you’ve got short black hair go for long and blonde and if you’ve got long brown hair, go for short and red. You’ll get to feel like a totally different woman and your husband will get to experience sex with a totally different you!

What are you steamy secrets for keeping newlywed sex hot? Share a PG-13 comment with our readers today!

Newlywed Life: Unplugged

It’s high time for newlywed life: unplugged. You planned the big day using all of the best online tools, jetted off to your honeymoon (booked online of course) and sent an e-blast announcing your return home and new address. You’re one high tech woman and we at MissNowMrs salute you! That being said, there are times when you can appreciate life and your spouse more without the use of technology. Our challenge to you? Spend a day unplugged with the one you love.

Turn off your phone(s) – While your phone can keep you connected across the miles, it can also constantly distract you from the moment you’re living in. Make a pact to turn off your phones on Friday evening and don’t look at them again until Sunday morning. You’ll be amazed at how much more time you have with your beloved and how much more you will actually listen to what they have to say when you’re not being interrupted by various calls and texts.

Leave the ipod/ipad at home – We all love music and entertainment, but spending time solely focused on each other can do nothing but boost your relationship. You can take a walk and listen to each other and the sounds of nature around you or have a picnic at your local park. The result? Feeling more connected to each other and more at peace in your world.

Lose the remote – Picture this: sitting on the couch with your hubby and not watching television. Without the distraction of reality television or ESPN you can spend time together the old fashioned way…talking, playing a game or planning something fun to do over the weekend. You may find out that your husband is a lot more interesting than the re-run you would’ve watched and that you share one more thing in common (like being terrible at Scrabble).

Will you take the newlywed life: unplugged challenge or have you done something similar? We’d love to hear your unplugged results and personal revelations!

Living Up to In-laws’ Expectations: Common Mistakes

Are you concerned about living up to your in-laws’ expectations? One of the more stressful parts of getting married for many women is making a good impression on the in-laws. In some cases, these new family members have been known and well received for years. That sort of head start is certainly advantageous, but it does not always work that way, especially in this day and age when parents often live many, many miles away.

There are a few things that recently engaged individuals and newlyweds frequently do that can make this transition to becoming a member of the family more difficult. To learn more about what you shouldn’t do when seeking the approval of your in-laws, read on.

Avoid Venting It is not uncommon to remain very close with certain members of the family – whether a parent or a sibling – even after moving to another town or another state. Venting, or the act of voicing concerns, complaints, and problems to that person can be very therapeutic. After all, it is someone that you know that you can trust and who will love you regardless of the mistakes you make in life.

However, there is a time to vent and a time to use restraint. When it comes to your spouse (or soon-to-be), the latter is definitely the way to go. Discussing relationship issues with a family member can lead to severed and hard to repair ties that will undoubtedly make your spouse feel like an outcast.

Too Much Hype Okay, so you don’t want your spouse to tell his mother, father, sister, or brother all of your faults in life. Perhaps you don’t want him sharing any of them, but there is some danger that lies in telling only the good or overplaying talents. If you do not see your in-laws often and they are led to believe that you are the ‘perfect wife,’ then surely there will be more room for criticism when visits do occur. Remind your husband that though he loves and cherishes you for everything you are, you want to be able to live up to the image he creates in the minds of his loved ones.

Preparation Craze A final mistake made by many newlyweds is the act of over-preparing for the arrival of their parents. It is very common for people to feel the need to tidy their living space, their personal appearance, and their lives in general whenever parents come into town. Stressing yourself out before your in-laws show up will only put you even more on edge and make it more difficult to maintain your normal cool, calm, collected composure during the shared time. Let them see what your life is really like (no, you don’t always wake up and bake muffins at 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays). It will lead to a better understanding in the long run.

What advice do you have for our newlywed blog readers who are stressed about living up to in-laws’ expectations? Any major “don’ts” that stand out in your own in-law experiences? We’d love to hear from you in a comment!

Music and Marriage: A Montage for Life

Choosing the right music for your wedding can be a very important step in the planning process. After all, these are the moments that will be remembered for a lifetime and the perfect song is sure to amplify the experience for your special guests. Yet, it isn’t just in those few treasured hours that melodies will play an important role in the relationship with your spouse. In fact, music can be a sort of mortar that holds two people together.

When choosing the right harmonies for your big day, keep in mind the moments you have shared together thus far. Most often, the songs with the greatest meaning are those that are a reminder of something that has already occurred. Even if you have decided on ‘the song’ chances are that at some point during your relationship a song played as the two of you danced, kissed, or otherwise enjoyed each other’s company. Maybe there was a song that made you both laugh while riding in an elevator. Perhaps one served as a backdrop the first time you ate in your favorite restaurant. Was there music playing when he proposed? These are the types of special moments that cement a relationship between two people, so using the music from them will pay homage to them before all of your family and friends.

As your marriage blossoms, don’t forget to listen to those special ballads or upbeat melodies from time to time, as a means of rekindling the love that existed on your wedding day. Also, leave room in your life for many shared songs in the future. If you hear a song that makes you think of your spouse while driving, then take down the name of it and the artist so you can share it with him or her later. In intimate moments, let music play in the background or get up and dance when a favorite comes on the radio.

Music can serve as an emotional trigger to the brain. It can carry the person through time and space to recall, in near perfect detail some long forgotten moment in the past. It doesn’t even have to be a momentous occasion like your wedding day. It can be something as sharing in a silly little dance in your very own kitchen or changing up the lyrics with each other while seated among millions.

Through the magic of music those moments will be remembered forever. So use that to your advantage and make many lasting memories with music as you grow old together. Who knows how many songs will make you smile as you celebrate your golden anniversary!

What was your favorite wedding song? Do you have a tune that always reminds you of your newlywed days? We’d love for you to share via a comment.