The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Happiest Thing Friday: Grace for the Outsider

Every Easter, I write about my faith here on the blog. And, every year, I feel nervous!

My life has been changed and I Peter 3:15 says: …always be prepared to answer anyone who asks…

Faith, Easter, Holidays
Apr, 03, 2026
15 Comments

Cool Bloggers Walking Club: Schedule of Events

Here’s a quick schedule of events for our upcoming month of walking! (For anyone just joining, get the full scoop here.)

I’ve organized things as follows:

Week 1: Wednesday, 1 April – Tuesday, 7 April

Week 2:…

Vienna Travel Diary: Our Second Week of Family Adventures (+ Some More Hidden Gems)

By the time I get around to posting this recap, our time in Vienna will be down to a little over a week.

That is mind boggling!

A whole month here seemed like an endless amount…

On My Shelf: Books Read March 2026 + Day #1 of Cool Bloggers Walking Club

Before I launch into my monthly book review… a friendly (excited!) reminder that today is April 1st… which means it’s the first day of our online walking club.

All the details are in this…

Reading
Apr, 01, 2026
26 Comments

Visiting Schönbrunn Zoo + Palace in Vienna with Kids

Full disclosure: I’m writing about a place I haven’t actually visited. John and the kids went on an adventure last Sunday… while I stayed back at our Viennese apartment and enjoyed my first few…

Top Five/Bottom Five: Germany/Vienna Edition

I haven’t done a Top Five/Bottom Five post in a while and I thought I might as well break the drought with something relevant to my current state of mind.

We’ve officially spent three weeks…

Top Five/Bottom Five, Euro Adventure, Munich, Travel, Vienna
Mar, 30, 2026
32 Comments

Bratislava Day Trip from Vienna: What to See in One Day

If you’re staying in Vienna and want an easy international day trip, Bratislava is one of the simplest options. Slovakia’s capital is only about an hour away by direct train, and the compact Old…