The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist -

Visiting St Fagans in Cardiff: The UK’s Best “Free Day Out”

Red shopfront of Gwalia Stores and general ironmongers at St Fagans

Believe it or not, I still have more European recaps to write. Better a month late than never, right? You’re in for a treat today because we spent part of our final Welsh weekend exploring St Fagans with Rachel and her two oldest kiddos and it was awesome. (The official name is St Fagans National…

Another Day in Cardiff: Penarth Pier, Cardiff Bay + City Center

I mean… why not turn This Time One Month Ago into a little series, right??

Here’s how Friday, 19 June shook down in Cardiff, Wales, for our little family.

A Slow Morning

First up, a walk…

Saturday Naps + One Month Ago in Cardiff + A Keeper

There are several dozen things I could be doing right now, but I’m basking in the delight of watching France get thrashed in the first half of the France-England match.

Harumph. It took me…

Happy Things Friday: 18 July

And just like that, the month is over half gone. I’m not sad about it; summer (and by summer, I mean school vacation) always feels like a week too long. Even still, I’m astounded…

9 Recent Frugal Wins: Simple Ways to Save Money This Summer

I have completely dropped the ball on recapping frugal wins from our time in Europe. I wanted to post at least a few times a month. Oops.

I did manage to share Europe on a…

Frugality
Jul, 16, 2026
16 Comments

50+ Foods to Try in Europe: What We Loved (and Didn’t)

I thought it would be fun to do a culinary wrap-up from our European adventure. I also thought: this is going to be such an easy, fast post to write.

It. took. so. long!!!!

We aren’t…

Food
Jul, 15, 2026
21 Comments

In the Spirit of Full Disclosure…

Off and on, readers comment or e-mail me asking for links to things I mention on the blog. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly a walking billboard for clothing and makeup.

(Belle was…