Here’s hoping all of our readers made it through Hurricane Sandy okay. The constant media coverage of impending doom likely scared most people on the East Coast and ruined many peoples’ plans/yards/cars/homes. I’m here to help you find a few silver linings of the storm:
5. Your wedding wasn’t ruined or delayed by Sandy. Just think of those poor other girls and their families this coming weekend.
4. If your basement flooded you can finally replace the carpet down there (with the help of insurance dollars)!
3. Years from now you can regale your children with stories of Frankinstorm and how “Grandpa” kept you safe.
2. The power may be out, but you have love and someone to cuddle up with to stay warm. Here’s hoping you have a bottle of wine too!
1. You & your spouse are alive! Seriously. A massive natural disaster happened and didn’t affect the most important relationship of your life.
I encourage you to take a minute to realize how fortunate you are in surviving this storm as a newlywed. If you don’t have to go into to work today, consider using that feeling of gratefulness to motivate yourself to volunteer somewhere where you can make a not-so fortunate person’s life a little easier post-Sandy.
Newlywed Needs
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!
Love Is Spoken Here
Love Is Spoken Here. Every newlywed out there should hang this print near the entrance to their home as a reminder of how important love and loving words are. So much time and energy goes into day to day living (hello 60 hour work weeks), that it can be easy to forget the simple things like saying “I love you”.
Even if you don’t decorate your home with this quote, place it towards the front of your brain. The next time you’re crabby it can keep you from lashing out at your spouse and might even motivate you to engage in some random acts of love.
Get To Know Your In-Laws: 4 Tips You Need Now
Curious how to get to know your in-laws? One of the most important and potentially tedious relationships you’re likely to have, is with your in-laws. They’re not your parents, but now they’re family and very important to your spouse. Taking the time to get to know them as individuals (not just your in-laws) will help your relationship with them and your relationship with your partner for years to come.
Be Considerate
Everyone likes to be appreciated, so take your mother-in-law out to lunch for her birthday. Don’t forget a card and/or flowers on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. While technically your husband should keep up with his family and you should keep up with yours…you may end up responsible for all parents appreciation. Better to be the one sending cards than letting your spouse forget and make both of you look bad! There are a number of creative ways you can show your respect, so take advantage of each one of those.
Think Outside the In-Law Part
Sure, they’re your partner’s parents, but you should think of them as your friends and/or mentors. Try to get involved with something they enjoy (like gardening or golf). Having a common interest will give you things to talk about during family dinners and holidays. The relationship you have will be an important part of your marriage, and a cue for how your spouse should treat your parents…so keep that in mind the next time you visit your in-laws.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
There are bound to be differences between you and your in-laws, but if you don’t keep an open mind, you may not really see them for who they are. So maybe your mother in law has a few decorating opinions that aren’t in step with yours, just smile and try to understand her viewpoint. You aren’t obligated to make any of the changes she suggests. Listening will win you more points than arguing. Keep in mind that it takes some time to develop a relationship and understand each others boundaries. Proper communication will help you build a lasting relationship.
Time Will Tell
Rome and relationships weren’t built in a day. Try to give things a bit of extra time to gel, particularly if your new spouse was very close to his family. The closer they are, the more threatened they may feel by your presence, so be sure to be respectful and friendly, but try to give your in-laws a bit of extra space too. The relationship you build is essential to a happy marriage, so even if you don’t start off on the right foot, keep at it.
What tips do you think are the most important when getting to know your in-laws? We’d love for you to share in a comment.
TSA Tip For Newlyweds & Honeymooners
If you do nothing else, follow this one TSA tip for newlyweds! After all of the thought and planning that goes into creating the perfect wedding, most newlyweds are more than ready to set off on a carefree honeymoon! Can you imagine how upset you would be if you couldn’t hop on that plane to your exotic destination? It happens to newlyweds….and it’s horrible.
ALWAYS book your honeymoon flights and travel reservations in your maiden name. And be sure your fiance knows this. We know you and your spouse can’t wait to for you to use your new name. But, if you have your married name on your tickets and your maiden name on your passport…it’s a no go.
Simply wait until you return all tan and relaxed from your first trip as newlyweds to file for your new passport in your new married name. Your new picture will be that much better. If you’ve had your U.S. passport for less than 12 months it’s free! When you receive your new passport, they’ll include your old one. So, you can use the page with your travel stamps in a scrapbook or momento.
Now that you know our TSA tip for newlyweds, tell your other engaged friends the scoop so they don’t miss their dream honeymoon. Should you or your friends need help changing your names, the MissNowMrs app or online name change service can save you hours of hassle!
Do you know anyone that had trip issues right after their wedding? We’d love to hear from you in a comment.
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!