: Valerie Bertinelli says she’s “happier than ever” after marrying Tom Vitale

Shortly after the couple tied the knot, Bertinelli described herself as “happier than ever” during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. “I could have spent the rest of my life with Tom and not be married, but I wanted to call him ‘my husband,’ ” she said. “I really wanted to reseГ±as de christian filipina share how I feel about Tom with the people I love.”

: Valerie Bertinelli says it “feels appropriate” to call Tom Vitale her husband

During an appearance on The View shortly after the wedding, Bertinelli revealed her favorite perk of marriage: getting to call Vitale her husband. “I think I got tired of calling him ‘my spousal equivalent,'” the actress said. “It’s nice to call him my husband. It feels appropriate.”

: Valerie Bertinelli describes her bond with Tom Vitale

In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Bertinelli discussed her and Vitale’s deep connection and love for each other. “He has unlocked some things in me that I usually like to keep buried,” she said. “He unlocks a lot of the stuff I don’t have to hold on to anymore. I love him. I adore him.”

: Valerie Bertinelli describes her and Tom Vitale’s shared love of food

After losing weight with Jenny Craig and becoming a spokesperson for the brand, Bertinelli published her first cookbook, One Dish at a Time. She spoke to Prevention about how cooking and romance were tied together for her and Vitale. “A lot of love goes into making soup,” she said. “The first time I made gazpacho for him, I thought I was going to be made love to the entire night!”

: Valerie Bertinelli describes life at home with Tom Vitale

The couple opened the doors to their Los Angeles home in 2018 and gave Food Network Magazine an exclusive tour of the space, which they shared with their dog and five cats. Bertinelli revealed that her favorite place in the house was her library, where she would relax with her pets and find inspiration for her cookbooks and cooking show Valerie’s Home Cooking.

“It’s my favorite room in the house after the kitchen – it lets me take care of myself for just a couple minutes a day,” she explained.

Vitale, on the other hand, loved the grapevines the couple planted in the backyard, which allowed him to bottle his own wine.

: Valerie Bertinelli mourns late ex-husband Eddie Van Halen

Though their marriage didn’t last, Bertinelli and Van Halen remained close until the Van Halen frontman died from throat cancer in . The ex-couple had even attended each other’s second weddings.

In her memoir Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I am Today, Bertinelli called Van Halen her “soulmate” and revealed that she and her son were by his side during his last moments.

“‘I love you’ are the last words Ed says to Wolfie and me,” she wrote. ” And they are the last words we say to him before he stops breathing. I loved Ed more than I know how to explain.”

: Valerie Bertinelli files for legal separation from Tom Vitale

After 10 years of marriage, Bertinelli filed for a legal separation from Vitale, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The court documents also stated that the couple would adhere to their premarital agreement.

: Valerie Bertinelli says life is “too short to waste”

In her book Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, Bertinelli opened up about her struggles with self-acceptance and self-love. “I cover a lot,” the actress told PEOPLE ahead of its release. “But ultimately it’s about growing older, with the emphasis on growth, learning lessons and reminding myself – and hopefully those who read the book – that life is a gift and too short to waste.”