30th Anniversary, Logo, & Love Song Playlist
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Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things:
The Anniversary Logo
The Love Song Playlist
The Ever-Expanding Bouquet of Roses
The Fancy Schmancy Dinner
The Getaway
Kara’s Valentines Decorations
1. About this year’s logo:
It’s our 30th Anniversary!
I custom-designed the number. The 30th-anniversary gift is pearls. Kara didn’t want pearls, though, so I made sure she got one anyway—the big pearl under the number 30. Instead, I did give her a ring she wanted.
I asked my artist daughter, Molly, to help me decide on the background color, which we picked from within the pearl.
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 30th Anniversary Playlist (33 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.
What Is Love? • Haddaway
I Feel the Earth Move • Carol King
And I Love Her • The Beatles
Like My Father • Jax
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man • Aretha Franklin
I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You • Leon Haywood
Time We Made Time • Watchhouse
The Air That I Breathe. • The Hollies
A Sunday Kind of Love • Etta James
Love You Madly • Cake
I Love Your Lovin’ Ways • Nina Simone
Little Bitty Pretty One • Thurston Harris & The Sharps
Nothing With You • Jack Tempchin
Strawberry Letter #23 • Brothers Johnson
The Sweetest Thing • JJ Grey & Mofro
La Vie En Rose • Cristin Milioti
Jersey Girl • Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Cornbread and Butterbeans • Carolina Chocolate Drops
A Woman • JJ Grey & Mofro
Best of My Love • Emotions
Who Loves You • Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Treat Her Right • Roy Head & The Traits
I Love You • Climax Blues Band
I Just Want to Be Your Everything • Andy Gibb
You Make Loving Fun • Fleetwood Mac
Fame and Fortune • Elvis Presley & The Jordanaires
Movin’ On Up (The Jeffersons Theme Song) • Ja'Net DuBois
Budapest • George Ezra
Those Sweet Words • Norah Jones
Day By Day • Frank Sinatra
If You Need Someone • The Field Mice
Is This Love • Bob Marley & The Wailers
Waiting for a Girl Like You • Foreigner
3. Bouquet of Roses
One red rose (30) 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
Fleming’s Steakhouse. A dear client couple said we simply had to go here. They are a couple of foodies and swear they have the best steaks in the state.
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 go to Disneyland, Hawaii, a Cruise, and New Orleans 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, the Escalante Yurts, and another year we took our vintage 1965 Roadrunner Camper to Goblin Valley State Park.
This year for our BIG 3-0 we wanted to go to the Mayan pyramids in Mexico or to Hawaii. However, due to the uncertainty of trips being canceled due to Covid, we will postpone a big celebration trip for later in the year.
So instead, we did a staycation in Salt Lake City, UT.
Stayed at the Marriott at City Center.
Visited Clark Planetarium, viewed science exhibits, and watched a documentary on Angkor.
Went dress shopping for Kara.
At dusk, drove around the State Capital building and looked at old houses in The Avenues.
Tried non-dairy vegan ice cream at The Monkey Wrench… expected to not be impressed. Was VERY impressed. So tasty.
Went to the Natural History Museum
Flemings Steakhouse
Saw the Broadway play Hamilton at the Eccles Theater
Lounged around in our hotel room.
Enjoyed just being together and hanging out.
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.
