Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things:

The Anniversary Logo
The Love Song Playlist
The Growing Bouquet of Roses
The Fancy Schmancy Dinner
The Getaway
Kara’s Valentines Decorations

1. About this year’s logo:

It’s our 29th Anniversary!
I custom designed the number. It is both a 29 for how many years we have been married, and a 92 for the year we were married in 1992. Clever, right? ;-)
Kara said it looks like us spooning :-)
I asked my artist daughter, Molly, to pick out what color I should use this year. She picked a chartreuse green. Kara really liked it.

Why these Anniversary Logos?

Many moons ago I once considered becoming a graphic designer. I became a therapist instead. However, I've long dabbled in graphic design and do most of my own marketing and design materials. It's fun. And I've designed all our anniversary logos.

I also teach a workshop called "Creating the GREAT Relationship Brand" on how to use branding, marketing, and customer service concepts from business in our own relationships. So, several years ago, I came up with the idea of creating our own brand for our relationship. And while I do a different logo each year, the actual brand aspect that remains constant in each iteration is the "I ♥ Kara".

I put it on the back windows of our vehicles as a vinyl sticker every year. Over the years, friends and locals have come to look for it and anticipate the next year's asking, "Are you doing a new one this year?"

Yep! Here it is :-)

2. Our 29th Anniversary Playlist (39 songs!)

Throughout the year I collect love songs specifically for our next anniversary. I especially prefer love songs that speak to commitment, dedication, and behavioral love, not just romantic or feeling-based love.

So if you're a romantic sap, like me, then enjoy these gems—some old, some new, some popular, some obscure. And if you like these, look for my prior years' playlists for many, many more.

Will Ferrell writes the sweetest notes to his wife
Here Comes My Girl • Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Consider Me • Allen Stone
That’s Why • Burns and Allen
Queen Bee • Johnny Flynn
We Deserve a Happy Ending • Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Ebudae • Enya
It Must Be Love • Madness
Happy Together • The Turtles
Back in the Day • Wayne Brady
I Feel You • Depeche Mode
Harmonize • Rising Appalachia
Red Hot • Billy Lee Riley
When You Love a Woman • Journey
Tupelo Honey • Van Morrison
Fly Me to the Moon • Frank Sinatra
Fly Me to the Moon (rap) • Going Spaceward
Till There Was You • The Beatles
Dream a Little Dream of Me • Doris Day
All I Want Is You • U2
Woman • John Lennon
Sea of Love • The Honeydrippers
Never Tear Us Apart • INXS
Grow Old With Me • John Lennon
Simply Beautiful • Al Green
Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I’m Yours • Stevie Wonder
This Will Be Our Year • The Zombies
Good Woman’s Love • Bill Monroe
It’s Grand to Have Somone to Love You • The Traditional Grass
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To • Dinah Shore
Crazy for You • David Hasselhoff
Lovers of Loving Love • The Aquabats
By Your Side • The Everybodyfields
Sweet Pea • Amos Lee
The Way You Look Tonight • Frank Sinatra
The Way You Look Tonight • Mouse Rat
Strawberry Letter #23 • Brothers Johnson
First Day of My Life • Bright Eyes
Keep Me • The Black Keys

3. Bouquet of Roses

One red rose (29) for each year we've been married, and one yellow rose for the coming year of friendship. We were friends before well before we ever dated and we've been friends through all the love, arguments, ups and downs.

Friends first and friends last.

4. Fancy Schmancy Dinner (not this year)

No fancy restaurant this year. Whatever diner we could find in small-town Escalante, UT was just fine. I didn’t expect to find THE best nachos I’ve ever had in this tiny pub. Wow!

Kara's fortunately easy to please and for many years we didn't have much as students and then even after I graduated I was the primary breadwinner working as a therapist for mental health agencies (which don't pay much), so the budget has always been tight. We often couldn't afford a fancy expensive dinner. I realized, a long time ago, though, that putting aside $10 each month means $120 I could spend on my baby once a year to take her to a really nice restaurant. So even though we were poor I found a way to splurge, too, and add a real exclamation point (!) to our anniversary. It's easier now, financially, thank goodness, but even then we found a way to make it special.

Kara's an amazing cook (aka "Culinary Wizard") and knows and appreciates fine food. When we do go out for fine dining it's fun for me to watch her enjoy an especially well-prepared meal by an amazing and talented chef. Her anticipation while reading the menu and taking in the ambiance is palpable. When the dishes arrive she exults in the presentation and flavors. She knowledgeably explains how the food was prepared. Her refined palate can distinguish the subtleties of the various ingredients. She teaches me what the terms and fancy words mean. It's a real joy to eat with her. It's well worth the expense.

5. The Getaway

When we were first married, we liked to just wander around, window shop, look at antique shops, sit in bookstores and read. We didn't have to buy anything (and often couldn't anyway). We just enjoyed "pal-ing around" together. When the kids were little and we couldn't afford an overnight getaway, we would still get away by getting a babysitter and taking the whole day off together. As the kids got older, with the help of our flight attendant friends(!) we were able to get some buddy passes and go to Disneyland, Hawaii, and a Cruise for our anniversaries. Those were especially fun anniversary trips. Some years we would do “staycations” and stay in a nice hotel somewhere local in Salt Lake City or Park City. We’ve gone to Utah’s beautiful parks: Zion’s National Park one year, and another year we took our vintage 1965 Roadrunner Camper to Goblin Valley State Park.

This year we went to the Escalante, UT

Escalante Yurts. Kara asked me, “Want to get a yurt this year for our anniversary?” I said, “Sure! Why not? A yurt can’t hurt.”
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Devils Garden National monument
Capital Reef National Park. We love the National Parks. Kara gets a Junior Ranger Badge at every park: Does the booklet and takes the oath and all.

No matter where we go, simple or fancy, cheap or expensive, that's the main thing: We just enjoy being together. That's all that really matters.

6. Kara’s Valentines last all month long.

Kara decorates our home beautifully for Valentine’s to make it special. I see each of these as thoughtful Valentine from my girl.

That's how we do it. But there's no "right" way.

Valentine’s All Year. I share all of this here as clients and workshop participants often ask for examples of how to keep the love alive. This is one example. I recommend a “Valentines All Year” mentality to keep the romance going throughout the year: weekly date nights, take the time daily to share each other’s days (and really listen), plan get-aways, find thoughtful ways to show you care that are meaningful to your partner, a brief call or text during the day to say, “I’m thinking about you.”

What works for each couple (simple or complex, cheap or expensive) is the right way. So what are some of your favorite anniversary and/or Valentine's traditions, memories, activities? Comment below.