The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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….

Reading
Mar, 05, 2026
27 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…

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…

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…

Frugality
Mar, 02, 2026
36 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…

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…

Organization, Personality Insights, Planning, Travel
Feb, 26, 2026
38 Comments

Fresh FIGs: Gratitude Collective Week #3

Is February zooming by for everyone else?? Just me? I know it’s a short month to begin with, but it feels like my life is currently on fast forward and I’ve lost the remote!

In…

On My Shelf: Books Read February 2026

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

Frugal Things: Travel Edition

Frugal Things Lately: The Use It Up Edition

Happy Things Friday: 27 February

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

Fresh FIGs: Gratitude Collective Week #3

Hi! I'm Elisabeth...

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