In a Tizzy

  • 2025 by the numbers

    I have been meaning to write something outside the context of work emails and thought a very belated recap of 2025 would be a good starting place.

    I’ve also been meaning to take note of more positive things, so that’s what I tried to do with this list.

    2025 looked a little like:

    • 0 Dom Dolla shows (to be corrected)
    • 1 boyfriend
    • 2 bachelorette parties (at once)
    • 3 years back in Vancouver
    • 4 weddings (should have been five!!)
    • 5 addresses
    • 6 countries visited
    • 7 music festivals
    • 8 new wheels (i.e., I got inline skates)
    • 9 humbling months at work (Qs 1, 3, and 4 sure were something)
    • 10 days on snowboard or skis

  • 2 Years

    2 Years

    Years.

    Plural!

    So believable and unimaginable at the same time.

    At this time a year ago, I had just returned from Europe in the midst of an extended leave from work (the goal of which was still unclear) and I was feeling pretty unmoored.

    I was (am) very busy (all the time) doing fun things with beloved people, to be sure — some of my favourite memories were (are) being created in the process. But, the brief moments of stillness tended to allow a feeling of unease to creep in.

    “Are you having the best time of your life? It looks like you’re having so much fun.”

    I am. I have been. But – and friends have heard me say this – the highs have been high, but the lows have been some of the lowest. It has been tremendously difficult – more than I could l have imagined – to find my footing in what I keep calling, “this season of life” (ad nauseam).

    “When you stumble, make it a part of the dance.”

    This phrase was on a travel-size nail care kit that my mom gave me (a classic Joanne gift), and it feels like an apt sentiment for this past year. I have certainly been dancing, both in the literal sense, as well as the stumbling sense.

    Year 1 felt easy, in a way. Most people can immediately appreciate the challenging nature of a loss of this sort when the loss happened a few months ago, or just the year before. Perhaps especially so, if there are some bonus opportunities for character development happening simultaneously. For a year, my whole personality felt like it was characterized by two foundation-shifting events (thank you to those who have listened to me turn the same ideas over in my mind again and again).

    Year 2 proved difficult in ways I wasn’t prepared for. Without the emotional and psychological adrenaline of year 1, I was left to sit with how I’m feeling about where I’m going and what I’m doing. And, quite frankly, I didn’t know and it didn’t feel good, and it made for some pretty low lows. Some lows were heavy and slow — others, jagged and fast (if that makes any sense).

    A couple of months ago, life threw a wild curveball that, while certainly a “low,” provided unexpected clarity and recentring, and an opportunity to reflect on matters of life and death, relationships, energy outputs and inputs, values, priorities — everything. While I can’t say that this relegated the lows to my past, I do think this was a “meaning-making” low that connected me to some estranged parts of me (ew, cringey) and maybe even allowed me to catch my footing. If only for a moment.

    This reflection on two years without you (in the traditional sense) is pretty me-focused. But, I see my life as “pre-mom” and “post-mom,” with “mom” referring not to you, per se, but to the final moments with you on a cold, blue-sky Sunday at noon two years ago.

    Without the shock that permeated the first year, your influence has grown and been felt in different ways throughout the second.

    When I make a new friend or meet someone new, I can tell if you would like them (or that you’d at least like hearing stories about them). I have a lot of friends you would really like.

    I send copious voice notes of extreme length to friends when I go for walks, and I listen to their responses, and it reminds me of us calling each other while doing the same — just to have someone to talk to about nothing in particular while on the move.

    Your ability to hold so many people and their important dates in your memory (and comprehensive yearly agenda) is still unmatched. However, you have inspired a network of memory among the people loved by you, and we share the work of keeping everyone in mind (as best we can). I saw that a lot this year.

    It is hard to be another full year away from you — another year without new photos of you, or Bitmoji celebrations in our text chain, or a request to print a recipe that you found on Instagram and couldn’t (didn’t try to) locate the URL for.

    Your presence hasn’t lessened, though, evidenced through the thoughtfulness you continue to fuel in so many people carrying pieces of you through the world.

    XOXO

    Siri. Stop. Send message.

  • 1 Year

    1 Year

    In August, for the first time in over a year, I had the urge to call you and chat while I was walking home; 8 months after the chances of you picking up the phone were reduced to zero.

    I have tried to write about Mom many times over the past twelve months and never found that any of the attempts were fully realized; there have been at least a dozen beginnings since I reflected on eight days post-Mom and how I experienced her presence at Christmas time.

    Perhaps none of these ideas made it into writing because I’ve had one of the busiest years… ever?… only slowing down when forced to by sickness. Or, maybe, it is because it felt impossible to put into words a feeling that hadn’t (hasn’t?) set in yet: How can I reflect on the absence of someone who I’ve yet to fully process as being “gone”?

    Mom’s being gone feels both like something that has always been the case and something that hasn’t happened yet. Her birthday was on November 1st, and it surprised me as being the most difficult of all the “firsts” from the previous eleven months. Maybe this was because she didn’t like to make a big deal out of her birthday, making it harder for me to “fill in” for her as I have on other occasions and unable to channel her spirit and direct it toward someone or something else – because the subject of what I would celebrate was notably absent. Maybe it was also a painful reminder of last year, when she asked to celebrate her birthday again on December 1st, seemingly knowing that she would not be there to do it on her 63rd.

    “What would Mom think?”

    This is one of the recurring questions I find myself asking whenever I am navigating a moment that she would typically have a stake in (music and dancing, being single, changes at work, brand-new friendships she would embrace, existing friendships she would love to see deepening). Probably even more than the headliner events are the small moments where I want to share a mundane part of my day with someone who had a genuine interest in whatever might be crossing my mind in a given moment; I wish I could send her a message and receive a heart or question or phone call (because she was out for a walk) in response.

    She did not have a deep understanding of my field of work or what I studied in school, but she knew the ins and outs of my schedule and the actors in my life and the interplay between all of these things, and she would be sincerely glad to be informed if I was having Starbucks on a rainy day in a different province. I miss having that always-up-for-a-call-about-nothing-or-everything buddy the most, I think.

    I’ve also grieved the loss of getting to know her more deeply as a person beyond her being my Mom. I feel we were entering a period of our lives where that could happen, and I would come to understand more of what was beneath the curated version of herself that she shared. In the months immediately following her death, I felt like I didn’t know her well at all and it made me feel sick and lost. However, with time, I have come to see that I did know her – she just didn’t share certain parts of herself explicitly. These implicit parts were shown through her actions and relationships and what she chose (and chose not) to share with the world. I have also found it cathartic and informative to speak with others who knew her during different periods of her life. At first, I was nervous to do this for fear of discovering how little I knew about her, but it has been more of a dot-connecting exercise than a shame-inducing one, and I realize that I’ll continue to learn more about her by doing this.

    October of this year was characterized by visceral memories of what life felt like one year ago in October; stress, extreme fatigue, anticipatory grief, deep frustration, and a sense of having no control. This year, the month shifting into something darker and cooler along with these memories seemed to nudge my mind, “Hey, remember that thing that happened almost a year ago? Maybe you should start thinking about that.”

    So, here I am.

    It seemed fitting to cap off a year without Mom by fleeing the continent and wandering around a beautiful place by myself for a month. I caught my first flight on her birthday and then promptly got bumped from my second due to logistics issues, forcing me to wait until the next day to begin my adventure. While this was initially quite upsetting, the unexpected 24-hour layover granted me time with a friend I wouldn’t have otherwise had, ultimately adding something special to the journey that felt like a gift.

    I got one week of travel in before fracturing my foot, forcing me to reconsider my plans for the remaining 3.5 weeks of my trip and forcing me to slow down. While painful (physically and emotionally), I have had some truly lovely encounters with others as a result of this. Another gift that seemed to fit the year’s theme of, “I would rather that thing didn’t happen but I have gained beautiful things from it.”

    A (pop) philosophy book I read in 2022 said that to live a good life is not to live a life without hardship or pain, but rather to know those unpleasant things so that we may recognize what is truly good and to appreciate it when we see it: this is what makes a life “good.”

    I read this before Mom died and, at the time, I shared it with her as encouragement to reframe her thinking around the cards she had been dealt (and hopefully inspire some miraculous medical recovery as a result). It would be almost a year without her before I saw how it applies to my grief of losing her.

    The author also noted how most people, on average, are able to continue on with some semblance of normalcy just a few months after a loved one dies, and that humans are generally quite resilient in the face of this sort of loss. I see this in the news everyday, as entire countries rally and find strength in the most traumatic and challenging of circumstances, and I have been surprised to find it is true in my own little world, too.

    Losing Mom is something I’m still processing and probably will for a while (forever?) but, I feel that a few things have become clear. One, is that it has granted me a sense of freedom to get “lost” and explore who I am – something I didn’t realize I felt limited in. The loss would also be the first of a few things that would look very different about the next twelve months (ha).

    Another thing – and one of my favourites – is that it cracked my heart open and gifted me deeper, more fully-felt connections with so many people and experiences. My propensity for crying from gratitude for my friends or the sight of an awesome mountainscape is dangerously (but sort of beautifully) high now. My willingness to compliment or to offer to take pictures of strangers has increased. I’m definitely more annoying with the frequency and fervour with which I giggle. I have forged relationships with people I now hold dear that I may have missed out on if not for losing Mom.

    She had an unmatched ability to remain close to people and embedded herself in their lives in small and large ways. While this means encountering frequent reminders that her life ended prematurely, I know it also means that when one year becomes two, and then five, and then ten, and then more, that she will remain omnipresent through the relationships and emojis and Starbucks gifts and XOXO card sign-offs she imprinted on me and those around me.

    I have even noticed, for the first time, that we look alike; I’m sure it would irritate her that I am only observing this now (sorry!) but: I can finally see a resemblance as I near the age she was when I was born. It makes me feel closer to her.

    The day she died – December 4, 2022 – was a beautifully sunny and cold winter day. The atmosphere at home was intense with emotion, but the house was filled with people from all corners of her life (with more on their way), and that seemed on-brand.

    Mom was a connector; from her days as a travel agent to an entrepreneur to the Chief of Staff of our family’s life, she put other people at the centre of her world. She managed the most detailed agenda of birthdays, anniversaries, death dates, new jobs, tv shows with new episodes airing, and holidays. No one was to be forgotten, and I would always be reminded to touch base with someone if an important date in their life was coming up. So, it made sense that, regardless of what dynamics unfolded in their time knowing her, those years of her not letting her people forget that they were on her mind and in her heart would pull everyone toward her in those final moments.

    It also felt fitting to me that she left us right in the bustle of the holiday season (at almost precisely noon, no less), a time of year when her giving spirit probably shone the brightest (even with a spirit as sparkling as hers in this regard). Her ability to account for not only family and friends at this time of year, but also the partners and friends and children and doctors and dentists and receptionists and Starbucks baristas (“her kids”) and owners of shops she frequented, was undeniably impressive to anyone that witnessed “Santa’s workshop” in December.

    She had lists on lists and gifts galore that would find their way to almost anyone whose life had touched hers (or that of someone she loved); gift-giving was certainly a love language of hers. I would count yourself lucky if you were ever bogged down by an enormous Cadbury chocolate bar or received a Cookies by George delivery at this time of year.

    Now, whenever the season rolls around, she will be top of mind, and I’ll be able to think about and channel her as I go about my own holiday activities. Admittedly, I used to find her tendency to give gifts in a quantity-over-quality manner frustrating, because I would keep everything and carry it around forever. However, over the past couple of years, I think that I have come to understand that giving gifts (or disseminating information such as life updates, photos, birthday reminders) served to express her love in a way that she could not do with words.

    One year.

    I’m not sure that I have the words to put a bow on this reflection of this particular anniversary; it seems similar to how it’s tough to put a bow on grief and the complicated feelings and emotional fissures that arise from it. I think I’ll even grieve this first trip around the sun without her; it will be less poignant when I tell people it happened years ago instead of months, even though it will still be felt deeply in my body and heart.

    One year of roaming the world without one of the central figures of mine seems both like a very short and long time, but I think she did decent work in leaving me with the necessary tools to do it.

    Mom: It has been quite a year, and I wish I could have done it with you. In a way, though, I have, because you are present in all of my friendships and walks along bodies of water and sunbeams bursting through the clouds (“It looks like Heaven’s gates are opening up,” you would say). I’ve said it before, but you really are still everywhere. Love you more. ❌⭕

  • Christmas gifts from Mom.

    Christmas gifts from Mom.

    I’ll reflect on the new year soon, but I wanted to start it off with practicing a bit of gratitude (the scientists say it is good for your health).

    This Christmas, my mom wasn’t able to give gifts in her usual fashion. She loved to set up “Santa’s Workshop” each year, wrapping parcels for many people in “secret,” and preparing an overflowing stocking for each family member. On Christmas morning, we would survey these stockings while a “Wife Saver” dish, prepped by Mom the night before, cooked in the oven (highly recommend). Then, we would slowly make our way through the MANY small stocking stuffers, as well as the smaller number of marquee items. We would usually wear new pyjamas and watch dogs tear up tissue paper from the piles forming on the floor. Glitter would abound! Then, recycling. Soon after, dinner prep would begin, followed by a very early meal and then dessert with party crackers and Scratch n’ Win tickets.

    There is more I want to say on how those memories sit in my mind these days. However, I have been thinking about how, even without being there physically, my mom still gave me (and many of us) special gifts this Christmas.

    The gifts from Mom I have been mentally unwrapping:

    • A lot of time. I was fortunate to be able to spend more time with my mom and family this year than I typically would. It was not always the most pleasant of times, but I will treasure it forever.
    • A new appreciation for Christmas and the multitude of efforts that have gone into making it the time of year I know. And, a desire to do carry on many of these efforts myself. (Please take some time to acknowledge the people in your life who make occasions special for those around them through food, organizing, purchasing, and more.)
    • Relatedly, a new appreciation for my mom, and some of the values that guided her and how much WORK she did to be in alignment with them – especially in making the Christmas season and day spirited.
    • The most beautiful clarity around my friendships and family. They are so special.
    • I’m undecided on where I land with regard to my mom being fiercely private about her condition for so long. However, I believe she truly wanted to live and that she fought for this: I’m grateful for that.
    • Recognition that I prize simple moments in the day because my mom likes them. A sunset, a new clothing item, or a picture of me and Josh when we collect each other at the airport. I know I am not the only one that has counted on my mom to be interested in whatever small event took place in your day – she could always be relied upon to throw a heart or Bitmoji your way if you shared it with her.
    • A somehow more special fondness for Starbucks.
    • Sense of purpose – for what, I’m not completely sure.
    • Knowledge that I can make a decent-enough wife saver casserole. Need to work on large-scale meal management skills, but friends and family help with that.
    • A mom to sorely miss.
    • So much more, including those I know I can’t open until a later date because those life moments when they will become relevant haven’t happened yet.

    Thank you, Mom. Merry Christmas, and a thoughtful new year. xoxo

    (I encourage you to consider giving the gift of your time or other resources to a cause close to you this year. I’m focused on liver health, but there are so many people fighting battles we may not see or who simply need support.)

  • 8 days.

    8 days.

    It feels like a dramatic title, but I also can’t conjure something up that feels appropriate for a subject that is dramatic for me: My mom passed away eight days ago.

    My mom was extremely generous but also a bit of a mystery, keeping the cards life dealt her close to her chest – especially with her struggles. There are a lot of questions about her that I will now have to answer without her assistance. However, I feel compelled to share a tiny bit about these first eight days, and leave space for more reflection later on. I also simply wanted to let others know, because she touched a lot of lives.

    It is not lost on me that this is a time of year when my mom’s spirit often shines brightest: Giving gifts, preparing copious amounts of food, and hosting loved ones in her home. This both makes the time of year harder, because I don’t see her carrying out a concentrated number of traditional activities; but, it is also easier, because I can feel her spirit lingering with the season.

    I think I’ve been a bit numb so far, avoiding major triggers while noticing the regularity with which I hear her voice or consider her opinion: “Would she like that I used this Christmas mug?” “I want to share this picture of a mundane scene on my walk today.” “Would she try some of the matcha latte from my advent calendar?” “Is it going to bother her that I’m having dinner with a friend instead of at home again?” “She won’t send me any more Starbucks gift cards on a whim.”

    It is the impulse to share, or refrain from, something, followed by the empty void where her opinion should be, that is making me realize our dynamic was one characterized by a constant stream of small moments, more than large ones. I will miss this.

    However, I have found some peace – or at least, some relative emotional stability – in taking my high valuation of those many small moments, and finding new channels for them. By instead sharing a photo with a friend, or going for a walk with family, or sending a Starbucks gift card to someone I’m spontaneously thinking about – I feel her. And that helps.

    A quick couple of notes:

    • I would love for you to share positive memories or sentiments about my mom, but please bear your sad thoughts in private and not on this post, as I hope to curate a lighter atmosphere for myself.
    • Additionally, to quell immediate questions about what happened, I’ll simply share for now that my mom had an autoimmune condition that caused her liver to fail, and she kept this battle well-managed and very private. I hope that you take a few moments to learn about the myriad of ways our livers impact our overall health and take good care of yours and be a strong advocate for your own health. I recommend www.liver.ca as an initial resource.
  • (Re)Starting right here.

    (Re)Starting right here.

    I looked back at 8 drafts I began writing over the last 2.5 years, which told a somewhat funny story of looking ahead to the hope of a new decade with 2020, intention-setting for that new decade, shock over COVID, dismay at how the year actually unfolded, how to search for a job in the midst of a pandemic, and then trying to catch up after scrambling to keep one’s head above water for 1.5+ years of a pandemic.

    Now, the second half of 2022 is starting and I’m not sure where to begin. I think the best place to start is right here.

    There it is – that’s the post!

  • An overly-detailed and honest review of my Zenni Optical purchase

    An overly-detailed and honest review of my Zenni Optical purchase

    This post is in no way sponsored by Zenni Optical. When making my online glasses purchase, I relied on reviews by honest folks to help me find a quality pair, so I want to give back in a similar fashion!

    It is, however, an exceptionally long, overly-detailed description of my experience. I’ve emboldened the key takeaways throughout for you to find them more easily.

    A few months ago, my glasses broke for the second time. Not so badly that I couldn’t glue them back together, but enough that they were going to be even more fragile moving forward. Then, they broke a third time, and I decided it was time to find a new pair of frames.

    I ordered a pair of prescription glasses from Zenni Optical, a company dedicated to providing quirky and inexpensive frames and prescription specs and sunglasses.

    (more…)
  • Being cognizant: The job hunt (+ some tips)

    Being cognizant: The job hunt (+ some tips)

    A series about the ways I work towards being cognizant through decisions that make me more mentally engaged with various facets of my day-to-day life.

    Cognizance (noun): Awareness, realization, notice, knowledge, perception.

    ****

    It has been an interesting (and often frustrating) journey since I decided to get uncomfortable in order to see things more clearly.

    (more…)

  • Pumpkin Challenge 2018: Week 4/5 + FAREWELL!

    Pumpkin Challenge 2018: Week 4/5 + FAREWELL!

    A special month-long edition of #KTTeats: The Pumpkin Challenge is an annual tradition where I embark on a month-long journey of daily pumpkin consumption.

    Join me for my 8th annual challenge and the new treats that go along with it!

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    Friends… We have reached that bittersweet time when I am no longer obligated to consume pumpkin every day.

    While I love this challenge (and pumpkin, even after doing this for 8 years), it is always a bit of a relief to reach the end and realize that my daily search for pumpkin-containing food and beverage has come to an end. It does leave a pumpkin-shaped hole in my heart, though.

    Please join me in ringing in the final round of this year’s challenge and consider indulging in a feustin’s Peanut Butter Cup w of these goodies yourself!

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    Day 22: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Baker by Nature)

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    For this day of the challenge, my goal was to find a cookie recipe that would complement peanut butter well because I had plans to plop chunks of Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups into the middle of each one. This recipe from Baker by Nature did just the trick!

    I wanted these cookies to stand out because they were going to be my contribution to a cookie competition at work. I wanted to risk it for the biscuit (literally) and make a vegan cookie the winner.

    Despite my best efforts, I was not voted the winner by all, but I was voted the winner by one judge and by many non-judges! The saltiness was a deal-breaker for some and a deal-maker for many others. I, personally, would eat these all day. They were rich and didn’t feel too filling or sugary and had amazing flavour!

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    Day 23: Gourmet Pumpkin Seeds (SuperSeedz)

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    I was so very tired on this particular day and the idea of putting together or going out to find a pumpkin item was not appealing.

    Fortunately, I had these beauties from the Vegan Supply store! They were the perfect mix of sweet and flavourful while also packing a decent protein punch for their size. I quite literally laid down and ate them while horizontal and thought about how lucky I was that I had them in my life that day.

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    Day 24: Pumpkin Spice Bagel (What a Bagel!)

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    It has been awhile since bagels made an appearance in the Pumpkin Challenge. My first (and only other) experience was back in 2013 when I had the pleasure of being surprised with pumpkin bagels from Siegel’s Bagels in Vancouver!

     

    2013 pump

    I went a different route with these pumpkin spice bagels from what a bagel! and opted for savoury, rather than sweet. The combination of hummus and capers was questionable and possibly overwhelmed the pumpkin flavours, but I stand by my risk and enjoyed my strange lunch.

    Would try again… but with peanut butter.

     

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    Day 25: Pumpkin Crackers (Lesley Stowe)

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    These have made an appearance in previous pumpkin months, but this year I had the pleasure of spreading some vegan cheese by Zengarry on top!

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    Much like my bagel adventure, the herbs and flavours of the cheese made for an intriguing mix with the crackers, but that didn’t stop me from eating all of the crackers with all of the cheese over the course of five days.

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    Day 26: Pumpkin Green Smoothie (Simple Green Smoothies)

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    From the pumpkin challenge of 2014, I believe, came a few pumpkin green smoothie attempts. I was doing a green smoothie challenge at the same time (clearly had too much time on my hands as a student) and needed to double up on some days. Since enough time had passed since this month of duo challenges, I thought it was time to try a new pumpkin green smoothie recipe.

    Lucky for me, Simple Green Smoothies appeared in my inbox that week! I wished I had possessed a mango at the time to realize the recipe in its truest form, but all I had was a weirdly-ripe peach. It did not quite do the trick, but the smoothie wasn’t bad! Its quality was brought down due to its primary source of natural sweetness being sub-par.

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    Day 27: Pumpkin Spiced Whisky (Spicebox)

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    Ah, a classic for the pumpkin challenge for the last few years.

    While there are not actually any pumpkin ingredients in this whisky, I still find this to be a fun twist to a month of so many baked goods and lattes. It usually makes its appearance for whatever Halloween shenanigans are going on and is an exciting addition to the party for everyone who knows about the challenge. This year was no different! I was able to share this spicy treat with my eastern Canadian friends for the first time.

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    Day 28: Pumpkin Spice Waffles (Nature’s Path Organics)

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    These are, without a doubt, one of my favourite parts of the challenge each year.

    I can’t recall which year was the first one in which they made an appearance, but I can assure you they have been a necessity ever since.

    When you toast these delicious waffles, they get just a little bit crispy and fill the kitchen with the aroma of the season. Then, you melt some vegan butter on them and maybe top it with maple syrup and whipped cream. I like to go one step further and throw some chocolate chips on there so that they melt while the waffle is still warm.

    I feel happier just thinking about them!

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    Day 29: Pumpkin Pie Crepe (Cafe Crepe)

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    After one delicious pumpkin breakfast treat, it seemed only appropriate to have another one, but for dinner. On this Monday, we visited a Vancouver favourite – Cafe Crepe! They had advertised a pumpkin pie crepe outside the storefront and I thought it would be a fun way to start the week – it was!

    I found the crepe to be of an unusual chewiness, but the pumpkin pie filling was quite good and the espresso whipped cream would be enjoyable for coffee lovers, I’m sure. Overall, I was pleased with the flavours, but the texture didn’t win me over on this one.

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    Day 30: Pumpkin Soup (TastyThin)

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    While my focus in eating is not on things that relate to “thinness,” I do like to find food with a focus on tastiness, and this recipe satisfied just that!

    It definitely wasn’t as smooth as the recipe called for due to my not having an immersion blender. However, my potato masher accomplished the task well enough and I think that the texture left behind by half-mashed carrots actually made it even more enjoyable to eat!

    This was my first experience with Instant Pot cooking, and despite my fear of most electrical hot things, I found the experience quite painless and enjoyable!

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    Day 31: Chocolate Pumpkin Silk Pie (2018 Baking Calendar Recipe!)

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    This pie was a real treat to eat but did not stay in the form of a pie for long.

    Upon releasing it from its aluminum confines, it quickly transformed into something more like a cow pie:

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    Nonetheless, it TASTED great. Especially when topped with some Gay Lea coconut whipped cream! I liked putting it in a little bowl and eating it that way – kind of like a pudding parfait.

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    Thanks for tagging along for another one of my favourite times
    of the year! I hope you were inspired to introduce more pumpkin
    goodness into your own life and that you’ll be back next year.