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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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  • TRAVEL
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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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  • TRAVEL

Visiting The National Library of Finland + Helsinki University Library

  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Helsinki, MayBloPoMo
  • May 17, 2026
  • 5 Comments

I’m a sucker for libraries. Especially old, beautiful ones! Something about being surrounded by all those books just… makes me happy. It doesn’t necessarily have the same effect on my two kids. For the most part, where I go, they go. But I had no regrets about setting out solo one afternoon so I could…

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Some Interesting Tidbits About Finland

People seem curious about Finland!

I think part of the mystique stems from the fact it’s not a particularly common European tourist destination (it is cold), and also because it features prominently as the Happiest…

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  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Helsinki, MayBloPoMo
  • May, 16, 2026
  • 13 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 15 May

We’re in our final stretch of time here in Helsinki—we leave Wednesday evening for Sweden which feels impossible.

Maybe time keeps flying because life feels so busy. I managed to get sick again (for anyone…

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  • Happy Things Friday, Euro Adventure, MayBloPoMo, Travel
  • May, 15, 2026
  • 26 Comments

Visiting Linnanmäki: Helsinki’s Amusement Park

I guess we’re becoming amusement park people? There are a few amusement parks in Finland, but the most famous is Helsinki’s Linnanmäki.

Going even feels a bit virtuous because it’s actually a non-profit organization that…

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  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Helsinki, MayBloPoMo
  • May, 14, 2026
  • 10 Comments

I’M ON A PODCAST + Europe on a Budget Dispatch #3 — What’s Saving Us Money

Apologies for the caps lock in your feed reader this morning, but I was a guest on the fantastic podcast The Finance Girlies and I finally get to tell you about it because IT…

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  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Frugality, Guest Post, MayBloPoMo, Podcast
  • May, 13, 2026
  • 34 Comments

My Review of Big Time by Laura Vanderkam + A Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed… but if you didn’t happen to win, you should definitely find a way to get your hands on this book!*

For Mother’s Day, I knew exactly what I wanted: a…

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  • Reading, Blogging, Friendship, Giveaway!, MayBloPoMo
  • May, 12, 2026

Never Have I Ever…Part 17

Tried fresh sugar cane. (Jenny mentioned this recently and I immediately knew it would go on my next Never Have I Ever list.)

Gone skinny dipping.

Followed a vegetarian or vegan diet for an extended period…

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  • Never Have I Ever, MayBloPoMo
  • May, 11, 2026
  • 28 Comments
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Hi! I'm Elisabeth...

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    • Visiting The National Library of Finland + Helsinki University Library

      May 17, 2026

    • Some Interesting Tidbits About Finland

      May 16, 2026

    • Happy Things Friday: 15 May

      May 15, 2026

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