Happy Valentine’s Day!

We hope your weekend is filled with whatever makes you feel loved—whether that’s a big night out, a cozy morning in, a quirky tradition, or simply spending time with someone who matters. For us, Valentine’s Day is a mix of small rituals and a few reliable treats. Sherry and I will exchange a few thoughtful gifts over breakfast, then head out to one of our favorite local spots to continue a long-standing tradition: a photobooth session to capture the day in four candid frames. It’s a lighthearted way to celebrate and a tangible memory we can tuck into our collection of photos and keepsakes.

We’ve kept this photobooth habit for years, even before we included a booth at our backyard wedding. On anniversaries, birthdays, and other milestones, we head to the New York Deli here in Richmond to make our four-frame vertical strips in classic black and white. The results are always a mix of goofy faces, sweet moments, and those surprised “caught off guard” shots that end up being our favorites. Over time those strips have become little reminders scattered around the house—tucked into frames, stacked in a leather-bound album, or stored in a small cup on a shelf.

Our photostrip album is one of those unexpected conversation starters when guests visit. It holds more than a hundred strips from our wedding day alone, plus many others from years of celebrations. Seeing that collection reminds us that small traditions build a shared history—simple rituals that grow more meaningful with time. Whether your tradition is a nightly walk, a favorite meal, exchanging notes, or an annual outing, those repeated actions can become the things you look forward to most.

After this year’s photobooth stop, I promised Sherry a movie date to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic—comfort viewing for a Valentine’s outing—and later we’ll join friends for a group celebration. We enjoy mixing one-on-one time with social plans so the day feels balanced: intimate moments, playful snapshots, and laughter with people we care about. If you’re planning something different, that’s perfect too. The point is to make the day feel like yours.

If you have a special tradition or a memorable Valentine’s Day ritual, I’d love to hear about it. Many readers find joy in small, repeatable acts: a favorite recipe that resurfaces each year, handmade cards that grow more elaborate over time, or even an annual photo in the same spot to track the years. Those little threads add texture to life and become stories worth telling.

Wishing you a day where you feel noticed, appreciated, and pleasantly surprised. Whether you’re celebrating with a partner, friends, family, or enjoying your own company, may this Valentine’s Day include at least one moment that makes you smile.

And no, that isn’t another ceramic animal in the photo above—it’s a puffin candle we picked up on our Alaskan honeymoon. Sherry, however, has had her eye on a certain ceramic mammal, so you might see another collectible make an appearance soon.