Be mine.

My favorite kind of Valentine’s Day isn’t over the top. The year we skipped a fancy dinner date in favor of going sledding and out for chili dogs remains one of my best Valentine’s Day memories. I prefer just being together, getting some fresh air, taking it slow, making a meal as a team, and appreciating each other. That’s exactly what yesterday was like.

I let John sleep in a bit while I made a simple (but yummy) dessert for later. When he awoke, he went out for bagels and a Valentine’s Day bouquet. We spent some time lounging in the sunlight, flipping through an amazing book I’d gotten for us both and debating where we should go hiking. We opted to go down the hill into the valley, where the weather would be warm and the trails would be dry. Apparently, being a holiday weekend and the weather feeling like April, everyone in Salt Lake City had the same idea. Despite the crowds (and my temporary annoyance at the steepness of the trail), we took in some spectacular views of the city.

After our hike, we had a late lunch at a favorite spot in our old neighborhood before heading home for a daytime hot tub soak. Decadent! After a little nap, we started piecing together the meal we’d be making together. We chose a classic dinner combo for people who don’t go out on Valentine’s Day: pizza and wine. We tried to emulate the incredible shrimp pasta with pistachio mint pesto we had at Cortona by putting those flavors on a pizza. I love few things more than an evening in the kitchen with John, a glass of wine in hand, the two of us singing along to our favorite tunes while we cook.

Our pizza feast was delectable, which we enjoyed by candlelight at the dining room table like grown-ups. We opened a bottle of wine we’d been saving from our first Betty road trip three years ago and clinked our glasses to a beautiful day together. Spicy chocolate pudding and homemade graham crackers fueled a little two-person dance party after dinner, and we ended the night snuggled on the couch watching a rock and roll documentary. Bliss.

When John and I got married, we’d known each other for over a decade. Days like yesterday make me realize how special it is to be married to your best friend, a person whose perfect day looks exactly like yours. Cheers to love.

Coming soon: I’ll tell you how I made the decadent Spicy Chocolate Pudding!