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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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How Our Family Mealtime Habits Have Changed

  • Food, Parenting, Personality Insights
  • Aug 26, 2026
  • 0 Comments

Growing up, my family had very structured eating habits. Breakfast was eaten together. After we finished, we’d read the Bible and a little devotional, pray together (we had a list of different people and situations to pray for on a rotating basis each day of the week), and then sing—usually a Sunday School song with…

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I’m on Best of Both Worlds! Let’s Talk Extended Travel to Europe with Kids + Work

Apparently August is my month for podcasting?!

Last week, I was on The Reframe with Kathleen Paley, talking about our 110-day family adventure in Europe—why we decided to do it, what a trip like this…

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  • Euro Adventure, Guest Post, Podcast, Travel
  • Aug, 25, 2026
  • 11 Comments

Never Have I Ever… Part 20.

This is a momentous day! Today’s Never Have I Ever brings us to an even 200. (I published the first list back in April of 2024.)

Never Have I Ever:

Ridden a mechanical bull.

Attended a…

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  • Never Have I Ever
  • Aug, 24, 2026
  • 30 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 21 August

Friends, at various points this week I was pretty sure I was going to collapse to the ground like a ragdoll! Nothing objectively hard happened, but it felt like a perfect storm of busy…

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  • Happy Things Friday
  • Aug, 21, 2026
  • 38 Comments

Kathleen Paley on Early Retirement: Life After BigLaw

I am so excited to welcome today’s guest.

Eagle-eyed readers might recall that Kathleen Paley has actually visited here before!

Last year, Kathleen joined me for a conversation about gratitude, minimalism, frugality, and financial independence….

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  • Guest Post, Frugality, Minimalism, Time Management
  • Aug, 20, 2026
  • 34 Comments

11 Recent Frugal Wins

I cut Indy’s hair and trimmed Belle’s. He wanted a taper fade and he got… a haircut. But it doesn’t look half bad, he’s content with it, and it saved me both a trip…

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  • Frugality
  • Aug, 19, 2026
  • 24 Comments

What Long-Term Family Travel in Europe Was *Really* Like

Long-term family travel sounds like an extended vacation, but our 110 days in Europe included plenty of ordinary life alongside the adventures.

There were extraordinary adventures (so many of them!!)… but there were also groceries,…

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  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Parenting
  • Aug, 18, 2026
  • 23 Comments
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    • How Our Family Mealtime Habits Have Changed

      August 26, 2026

    • I’m on Best of Both Worlds! Let’s Talk Extended Travel to Europe with Kids + Work

      August 25, 2026

    • Never Have I Ever… Part 20.

      August 24, 2026

    © 2026 Freya Theme by Sparrow and Snow | Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy