The coast called next, and we found ourselves trying to maneuver our not-so-tiny bus through beach towns along the 101 and Highway 1. Pro tip: Hermosa Beach wasn't designed for school bus navigation! In Torrance, I got to see one of my favorite retailers, Dr. Amy Kramer at Beach Animal Rehab – I love watching their team work their magic getting pups healthy again. The conversations about their success stories and watching them geek out about ingredients reminded me that I'm not the only one obsessed with getting things just right.

Of course, to keep things real, we promptly broke down that evening! But then came something magical – crossing Terminal Island at night. America's biggest port was spread out below us, massive ships and cranes all lit up against the dark water. Not exactly something I thought I'd ever want to see, but sometimes those surprise views are the best ones!

We wrapped up December swapping the bus for a tiny cabin in Joshua Tree. The dogs had mixed reactions: Blanca appointed herself Chief Hole Digger of the Desert, while Harper perfected the art of luxury lounging. Me? I was in absolute HEAVEN with our outdoor soaking tub fed by hot springs – pretty sure stargazing while soaking is my new favorite thing in the world.

Now we're pointing east toward Florida, with some wonderful stops along the way (special waves to The Noble Beast and Bark'n'Luv in Arizona!). Looking ahead to 2025, we've got exciting new products coming and we're finally getting our social media presence up to speed – because apparently doing cool things without telling anyone isn't the best business strategy! Who knew?

To all of you who've supported us this year – thank you. I read every story and note you send, and it truly makes my day to know we've helped make a difference for your four-legged family members. Here's to an exciting 2025!