Valerie Bertinelli Says It’s 'Been Challenging’ to Keep Up the ‘Three-Week Rule’ with Her Boyfriend (Exclusive)

In her April PEOPLE cover, Bertinelli said she and her boyfriend Mike Goodnough would never go more than three weeks without visiting each other

Valerie Bertinelli (L) and Mike Goodnoughat the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Creative Arts & Lifestyle Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites on June 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Valerie Bertinelli and Mike Goodnough. Credit :

Stewart Cook/Getty

Valerie Bertinelli has learned that long distance is hard — but her “special” relationship with boyfriend Mike Goodnough is worth it.

PEOPLE caught up with the cookbook author as we she was promoting her adorably-designed spatula for Williams Sonoma’s collaboration with No Kid Hungry. She spoke about her romance with Goodnough and gave an update on their "three-week rule."

During her PEOPLE cover story interview in April, Bertinelli said they established the rule early on into dating. “We never go longer than that without seeing each other,” she said at the time.

Fast forward to July, “It's been challenging,” she tells PEOPLE now. “The summer has been booked full. It is challenging.”

In late April, the pair made it internet official when Goodnough, who goes by the moniker Hoarse Whisperer, confirmed he was “Valerie Bertinelli’s boyfriend” on his Substack called Hoarse Whisperings. Since then, Bertinelli has sung his praises on social media, and they even made their red carpet debut at the Daytime Emmys in June. 

Valerie Bertinelli and Boyfriend Mike Goodnough Go Instagram Official with Sweet Selfie
Valerie Bertinelli and boyfriend Mike Goodnough went Instagram official in late April.

Valerie Bertinelli /Instagram

After being so open early on, Bertinelli says she’s ready to keep her relationship more private. 

“A part of me is just like, it's been so public and now I'm trying to pull back and make it so much less public, and try to keep some stuff for us now,” she tells PEOPLE. “It's like, ‘Oh, but, yeah, I let the cat out of the bag.' I don't know. I would like to start keeping it between us and make it a little bit more special.”

“Even though I was so public with it, now part of me wants to just protect,” she says now, adding that her boyfriend is "terrific." 

Mike Goodnough, Valerie Bertinelli arrives at the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards at the Bonaventure Hotel on June 7, 2024
Valerie Bertinelli and Mike Goodnough at the Daytime Emmys.

Kay Blake/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Aside from traveling, the Indulge author has a busy summer ahead. Along with stars like Ina Garten, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black, Bertinelli is one of William Sonoma’s celebrity partners who created a kitchen spatula to support No Kid Hungry. As part of the “Tools for Change” initiative, Williams Sonoma donates 30% of proceeds to the charity for each limited-edition spatula sold.

“I have been wanting to do a spatula for Williams Sonoma since they started. I thought it was the most fun idea,” Bertinelli tells PEOPLE of the project.

Bertinelli said her design idea was a no-brainer. “Of course, I was going to put a cat [on it],” she says. The pet lover has six cats – Batman, Henry, Bubba, Tigger, Beau and Nelson – but she couldn’t just choose just one to put on her sketch.  

“I didn't want any of the cats to be jealous. It doesn't look like any of my cats,” she says.

Valerie Bertinelli William Sonoma Spatula
Valerie Bertinelli Williams Sonoma x No Kid Hungry spatula.

William Sonoma

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Her playful creation features a white cat with a heart nose peeking over the edge of the yellow spatula. 

“I absolutely adore it. I think it's the cutest thing in the world,” she says, adding that she’s “so privileged” to play a part in the 10-year anniversary of the charity initiative. “Because in America, no kid should go hungry.” 

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