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

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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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Happy Things Friday: 6 March

  • Happy Things Friday
  • Mar 6, 2026
  • 21 Comments

OH MY WORD, FRIENDS. THIS IS MY LAST DAY IN CANADA. (I know some people dislike all caps, but I have a feeling I’m going to be leaning on this technique heavily in today’s post.) IT IS GO TIME. (Almost.) I’m… mostly ready. All the dithering about what to take, all the strategizing to use…

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On My Shelf: Books Read February 2026

Books definitely took a backseat for me in February.

I was living in a low-level state of continual panic. There were lists EVERYWHERE: things to pack, things to buy, chores to do, people to call….

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  • Reading
  • Mar, 05, 2026
  • 23 Comments

Fresh FIGs: Gratitude Collective Week #4 + 2026 Wrap-up

Full disclosure: I’m writing this while emerging from 24 hours spent in a fairly deep pit of despair. Friday involved a deluge of hard, non-bloggable stuff, and it took the wind out of my…

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  • FIG Collective, Gratitude
  • Mar, 04, 2026
  • 22 Comments

Frugal Things: Travel Edition

I decided to split my frugal thoughts into two posts this week. Yesterday was all about using things up; today, I’m shifting gears to travel frugality.

TOILETRIES

I’m decidedly low-maintenance when it comes to toiletries. I’ll…

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  • Frugality, Travel
  • Mar, 03, 2026
  • 24 Comments

Frugal Things Lately: The Use It Up Edition

Hi, I’m Elisabeth, and I love to finish things.

Gretchen Rubin talks about “starters” and “finishers.” And while I love eating the first spoonful of peanut butter out of a jar (so does Indy!) or…

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  • Frugality
  • Mar, 02, 2026
  • 35 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 27 February

It’s Friday. Already? The days are evaporating and I’m of mixed opinion on the whole thing.

On the one hand, I feel like I might very literally go crazy from all the last-minute details…

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  • Life
  • Feb, 27, 2026
  • 58 Comments

My Hack for Picking Outfits for a Carry-On Only Trip

This is my process for choosing clothes to take for a carry-on-only trip. (We’ll be in Europe for 3.5 months—March through June—which means preparing for a pretty wide range of weather.)

Now, when I say…

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  • Organization, Personality Insights, Planning, Travel
  • Feb, 26, 2026
  • 38 Comments
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Hi! I'm Elisabeth...

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    • Happy Things Friday: 6 March

      March 6, 2026

    • On My Shelf: Books Read February 2026

      March 5, 2026

    • Fresh FIGs: Gratitude Collective Week #4 + 2026 Wrap-up

      March 4, 2026

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