The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Highlights From Our Extended European Trip (And a Few Lowlights)

A lot of the questions I got after our trip touched on the same general theme: what were your highlights, would you do it again, and do you wish you’d done anything differently?

To answer…

Euro Adventure, Ask Me (Almost) Anything
Oct, 01, 2026
17 Comments

The Cool Bloggers Walking Club STARTS TOMORROW!!

Popping into your feed with a reminder that tomorrow is October 1st, which means—*drumroll*—it’s time to start walking together!

This will be the SIXTH edition of the Cool Bloggers Walking Club.

For anyone new to…

I Need Your Suggestions for Keeping Warm!

Today’s post is going to be (relatively) short because I’m hoping you will do most of the work for me.

My number one problem with winter is being cold. After I read How to Winter…

Recent Frugal Wins: Pumpkin Soup, RESPs, and Toilet Paper

Maybe this is compensation for buying a new mug and tea towels?

FUN, NOT FRUGAL

But, no regrets.

FRUGAL (ALSO NO REGRETS)

I continue to do at-home manicures. Of course, the cheapest option would be to do nothing…

Frugality
Sep, 28, 2026
30 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 25 September

I am dragging to the finish line of this week.

There are a variety of challenging, non-bloggable things happening in our lives/the lives of people we care about lately. I’m a bit weary of…

Happy Third Birthday To Optimistic Musings

Three years ago today, I clicked publish for the very first time at my new home: The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist. (Here’s the first post!)

I’d had a fairly well-established blog that was accidentally…

Blogging
Sep, 24, 2026
43 Comments

Things I Know by Heart, Things I Don’t (And Things I Really Should) + Guest Post!!

A quick note: You can also find me over at The Frugal Girl today, where I’m talking about how intentional spending habits allowed our family to spend extended time (110 days, to be exact)…

Highlights From Our Extended European Trip (And a Few Lowlights)

The Cool Bloggers Walking Club STARTS TOMORROW!!

I Need Your Suggestions for Keeping Warm!

Recent Frugal Wins: Pumpkin Soup, RESPs, and Toilet Paper

Happy Things Friday: 25 September

Happy Third Birthday To Optimistic Musings

Things I Know by Heart, Things I Don’t (And Things I Really Should) + Guest Post!!

Hi! I'm Elisabeth...

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Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving

Happy Things Friday: 9 October

Cool Bloggers Walking Club: Week 1