1 year baby!

Well folks, we have survived the first year as Mr. and Mrs.

It is funny how when you get engaged, everyone comes out of the woodwork to share about how happy you will be, telling stories of their fairytale marriages, waxing poetically about how beautiful love can truly be.

After the wedding, suddenly all of the, "but you know it is going to be a LOT of work" people begin to circle (ugh, those people!). 

And you know what, our experience of marriage IS work, but we wouldn't rather be working harder at any thing else.

Tyler & I are extremely similar, but somehow very opposite at exactly the same time. While I am still trying to get him to read about my Love Language, one year of wedded bliss has taught me that he speaks the "actions speak louder than words" love language, while I speak the "I need personalized compliments every 5 minutes" love language (that reference is around the 2:30 mark in the linked video - hilar!). We certainly don't have it all figured out (how boring would that be) & I am so excited I have this human to study for the rest of my days!

My 1 year of advice (so take it with a huge grain of salt):

- Communicate. About everything! Getting to know someone at this level is just fun. We still play the question game (we try to think up as many questions as we can - about anything and everything - going back & forth until we can't think of any more!)

- Talk about your past 1 time, get it all out, and then move on. Enough said - you are creating a new life together after all!

- Make a budget. For us, sharing all of our finances works, but we still have a budget so that everyone feels like they are equally contributing, & also equally reaping the rewards.

- Carve out time for each other sans phones/computers/TVs. We have spent too many nights on the same couch but not actually hanging out. It is nice to unplug!

- Enjoy each other's hobbies, while also letting some things be just for you. Tyler and I have been pretty successful about merging our lives, without totally losing our sense of self. We do stuff together, but have our own plans as well. It is fun to spend separate time, because then you have more to look forward to when you come back together. 

- Enjoy the moment, but don't be afraid to dream big. Ty & I love our life in Nashville - our 2 pugs, the tiny apartment, our favorite restaurants, & even our itty-bitty salaries. It is where we are NOW. But we also have a healthy love of painting what our future will look like together. New city? Kids? More pugs? A house? Who knows!

{ What I Wore: J.Crew sundress (shop my favorite white dresses under $100 below) // Nisolo sandals** // Ray Ban aviators }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo

**Get 10% off your next Nisolo order using this unique referral link: http://nisolo.refr.cc/JXVHV36 

(I also get $10 for each person that uses my link)

This outfit is a mix of what I wore for our two engagement sessions last year: Part 1 // Part 2

How do you cultivate your relationship?

What are your deal breakers when it comes to a partner?

{shop} My favorite white dresses under $100!

slow down, you're moving too fast

Tyler,

Today we celebrate 3 years of dating - where has the time gone!? You are the man that I have built a life together with here in Nashville, traveling to new and familiar locations, finding our common interests (live music, craft beer, Doug the Pug, riding his motorcycle, watching Sunday night TV), cultivating close friendships, getting to know each other's family... and being taken in as family members ourselves.

Best friend - I couldn't imagine being on this crazy, wild ride with anyone else!

xxoo

{ Travel }

Hawaii Vacation, 2010

Chicago, IL

Atlanta, GA

Oregon fishing

Kentucky Derby, Louisville, KY

See more of our adventures after the break

baby blogger

Good Morning! It is my 6 month blogging anniversary, and yesterday I hit 150 followers!
Thanks y'all! (At the bottom is my "THANK YOU" giveaway!)

When I started Here&Now at the end of October 2011, I knew NOTHING about how to blog. Sure, I had read hundreds of blogs, and had a healthy habit of reading amazing fashion blogs daily, but had never considered how to actually go about the DOING and the behind the scenes work required to run a "blog". I dove right into starting my blog because I had a passion for fashion, and was so inspired by the Glamourais,  Jessica Quirks, Anna Janes, and Leandras of the internets. I didn't know anything about HTML, comment moderation, blog-link ups, or SEO friendly words (to name a few). I didn't own my own domain name, have a fancy camera, or stacks of money in the bank to use towards clothes. I was naïve.

I still have a long ways to go, but have learned so much over the past 6 months. One of the motivations for starting Here&Now was to have a creative outlet that would allow me to learn and refine new skills... this definitely is that and more, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. 

While I am no expert, I would like to share with you some of the resources that have helped me sustain and grow my blog (content, design, you name it) so far. I hope you can learn something new, and if there is a resource that has been beneficial for you, I do hope you will share it with me (I sure could use it!)

{The Basics}

1. How to get noticed (by Google, and readers)
Google/search words

2. Social Media
- On increasing traffic
- Making Pinterest work for you
- Displaying Instagram photos on your blog, and Instagram tips

{ find me here on Pinterest }

3. How to make money (if you are ready & want to)
- Getting referral commission (Reward Style)
- Making a Media Kit (& here)
- Attracting companies (& here)
- IFB tools (<-- if you are a fashion blogger, this is a MUST join site!)

Find more IFB tools here

4. So I just bought this fancy camera... what button do I push first?
Digital Photography School

 {Content}

5. I have a blog, now what do I write about?

Blogger's workout plan

6. Get inspiration

- Online magazines (Matchbook)

- other beautifully curated sites (Kirtsy)

7. Give credit

Link with love

8. Follow what you love, not the "rules"
- Sustainable Blogging

{Design}

9. On making things pretty

{ Seriously, this site is AMAZING }

10. Making a boring template yours

here, here, here, here (to list a few)

{Everything Else}

11. Networking
- Conferences (Alt Summit, Blissdom)
- people who went to conferences (1, 2, 3)
- local "meet-ups" (but haven't found a good one close to Nashville yet...)
- link up (Friday's Fancies via {long distance loving})

12. How to make it a business
Listen to the advice of others who have successfully made the transition to a full time business venture

13. Getting is ALL done
- Productivity

I want to seriously thank each and everyone of you for supporting my blogging efforts over the past 6 months (can't believe it has already been half a year!). 

I do this blog for me, but I couldn't be doing it without you!

I hope to bring you new and exciting content, and bring about some fun changes to my little spot on the internet. If there is any constructive criticism, or suggestions you have please leave them in the comments for me!

And now as a huge THANK YOU, I have a small token of my appreciation in the form of another giveaway. This time from the lovely Etsy shop that is Diament Designs.
For a chance to win, please let me know how you follow Here&Now
Bloglovin'
Twitter
Google Friend Connect (left side bar)
and your email address in the comments

A winner of a $25 gift card to Diament Designs' Etsy Shop Will be announced next Friday (May 4th) at 9am (entries will be counted through May 3rd at midnight)
In the mean time, the wonderful Libby has graciously provided Here&Now readers 15% off everything in her shop with the code HELLO (get to shopping!)

These are my favorite picks (from 100s!) from her shop, most of them being $10-14 (which means you could certainly get 2 fabulous pieces with your gift card)
I definitely picked up the "Gigi" bracelet
(so what if it is weird that I am the one perpetuating my self given nickname!)
What would you use the gift card for if you won!?