The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

One Day in Bristol: A Day Trip From Cardiff by Train

For months, I’ve had a seemingly endless backlog of stories to share from our trip to Europe. There was always another city! Another museum! Another train ride! Another set of pictures waiting to be…

How Our Family Mealtime Habits Have Changed

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…

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…

Euro Adventure, Guest Post, Podcast, Travel
Aug, 25, 2026
15 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…

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…

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….

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…