In lieu of Friday Faves, I wanted to share the absolutely stunning photos that my dear friend Jen of J Wiley Photography took of Mike and I. It only seems fitting since one year ago today Mike and I went on our very first date to see The Melodic at the Bootleg. We chatted with the band afterwards who asked, "This isn't your first date, is it??" after Mike told them he was trying to impress me - they nailed it! Mike and I have been inseparable ever since. There's really no way for me to write about this without getting personal or overly sentimental, so you'll have to bear with me. I'll be honest - I really hadn't planned on getting into a relationship at that time, but it's my belief that you should never say no to an opportunity - especially the opportunity to love. I'm so glad I didn't say no, because my life has been full of incredible joy since that day.

Mike has boundless optimism, determination, and kindness. He believes that anything is possible and encourages me wholeheartedly to pursue my photography dreams while he pursues his own ambitions. The two of us share a mutual love for music, exploring new places, and for finding happiness in the little things life has to offer. He's always game for anything, be it a three hour trip to a random roadside attraction with brand new friends, a drive up to Santa Barbara just to see one of our favorite bands, a late night dance party, or a 1:00am taco run. He has truly helped me unleash my sense of adventure!

I'm so grateful to Jen for taking these photographs and for so beautifully capturing Mike and my relationship and how much we love to laugh! Oh, and from a photographer's standpoint, this was awesome professional development. Being the subject of a love session isn't nearly as easy as I thought it'd be (especially since I'm not camera shy in the slightest), but Jen did an amazing job at putting us both at ease. Here are some of my favorites!