The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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…

Travel, Euro Adventure, Helsinki, MayBloPoMo
May, 16, 2026
26 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…

Happy Things Friday, Euro Adventure, MayBloPoMo, Travel
May, 15, 2026
30 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…

Travel, Euro Adventure, Helsinki, MayBloPoMo
May, 14, 2026
13 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…

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…

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…

A Special Guest Post by Belle: Experiencing Europe as a Teen (+ My Favourite Travel Destinations)

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone celebrating—or being celebrated—as a special woman. Here’s to mothers who birthed us and, equally, to the women who have stood in place of biological mothers to love and nurture…