I’m writing this from a hotel lobby in Colorado where—thanks to its dog friendly policy—my productivity is low, but the joy factor is high. In this past hour alone, I’ve achieved almost nothing thanks to a terrier, an Australian shepherd, and a nine-year-old basset hound named Franklin.

Welcome to the last Inside Sunshine of the year. December always feels like a magical month—equal parts reflective and celebratory. It’s a time for wrapping things up (metaphorically, literally) and indulging in nostalgia traditions.

October has drifted into Los Angeles, marked mostly by our collective decision to drink pumpkin spice in everything and squint up at the occasionally overcast sky. LA fall is more of a mood than a season—but we’ll take it, along with the sweaters.