Valentine’s Is for Lovers 2025

This year, Valentine’s Day looked a little different for us—and in the best possible way—because we got to celebrate with our darling baby girl.

Alison still had a regular workday, but things shook out a little differently for me. Work has been hectic lately, so my team decided to take a half day on Friday to enjoy an extra-long weekend. That meant my Valentine’s Day workload was light—just a few hours in the morning—which gave me a little extra time to soak in the day.

Like always, we started our morning with the usual routine. I got Madeline dressed and ready for school, but this time, it was an especially fun task because it was Pajamas All Day day. Lucky for her (and for me, who had been planning for this moment), I had picked up the cutest Valentine ’s-themed pajamas just for the occasion. Mads loves pajama days—she’s all about that cozy life—so she was extra content heading off to school in her festive jammies.

With my light work schedule, I took the opportunity to check off a few lingering projects on my to-do list. First up: building a bookshelf for the loft, which is just one small piece of a much bigger project we’re tackling. Meanwhile, Alison was able to step away from work briefly to pick up some rock wall panels—another key element of Project Playroom, which we’re hoping to wrap up (at least phase one) in the next couple of months. We’ve got big plans for that space, and slowly but surely, it’s coming together.

Alison and Tex providing moral support and feedback while I work

By the afternoon, it was time to pick up Mads from school. She had a great day, but as soon as we got home, she immediately had a blowout. So much for pajamas all day! Since a wardrobe change was now mandatory, we went with a classic: a cozy knit sweater that made her look like an absolute Valentine’s Day angel.

Once everyone was freshened up, we headed out for our dinner reservation.

For our Valentine’s meal, we picked Porch, a restaurant on Soda Row that we hadn’t been to in years. It’s just a quick 5-10 minute walk from our house, which made it a great choice for a low-key but special night out.

This was Madeline’s first time “officially” tagging along to a fancy dinner, but we’re sure it won’t be the last. And honestly? She nailed it. We brought a couple of toys to keep her entertained, and she was perfectly content sitting in my lap and playing while we ate. The food was solid, the service was great, and the whole evening felt easy and enjoyable.

After dinner, we walked home and wrapped up the night with something sweet: a coffee toffee cookie from Levain Bakery, which is currently our top pick from there. It was the perfect way to end the evening—simple, delicious, and shared with my favorite person.

Valentine’s Day might look a little different these days, but honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.