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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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On My Shelf: Books I Read in May 2025

I read lots of great books last month. Let’s discuss!

BOOKS I READ IN MAY – THE SHORT VERSION

The Yada Yada Prayer Group — Neta Jackson ★★★★☆

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot —…

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  • Reading
  • Jun, 03, 2025
  • 54 Comments

Best Runner-Up Nova Scotia Beaches (I-Z)

I’m back!

Here’s my final — admittedly incomplete — rundown of Nova Scotian beaches that are worth checking out.

LAWRENCETOWN BEACH

Just outside Halifax, this beach is most famous for its surfing! While you can catch…

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  • Beaches, Nova Scotia
  • Jun, 02, 2025
  • 31 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 30 May

While it’s not unusual for me to slap a disclaimer on a Happy Things Friday post, this one is definitely an extra-large cup of coffee affair. If you love long, meandering reflections, sit down…

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  • Birthday, Happy Things Friday, Thrifting
  • May, 30, 2025
  • 52 Comments

Top Five/Bottom Five: Small Talk Topics

Some people are pure magic with small talk. (Joy, this is your cue to take a bow.) These people could talk to a doorframe and somehow get a response. I, on the other hand,…

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  • Personality Insights, Random, Top Five/Bottom Five
  • May, 29, 2025
  • 58 Comments

From Cheesecake (Obvious) to Cicadas (Less Obvious): 38 Things I’m Grateful For Today

Today’s my 38th birthday — and for someone who is objectively terrible at keeping things brief, I had absolutely no idea what to write about.

But if this blog has taken on a singular theme…

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  • Birthday, Gratitude, Holidays
  • May, 28, 2025
  • 71 Comments

An Extra Special Gratitude Guest: Let’s Talk About Joy (Literally)!!!!!

I am beyond delighted (and grateful) to have my best friend, Joy, guest posting on the blog today. She first appeared here a few years ago, but then my blog had the audacity to…

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  • Friendship, Gratitude, Guest Post, Joy
  • May, 27, 2025
  • 57 Comments

A 3-Day Trip (with Kids) to Cape Breton: Lighthouses, Louisbourg, and the Cabot Trail

I’ve been fielding more and more questions about Nova Scotia lately (keep them coming – I genuinely love my role of de facto, pro bono travel advisor for Tourism Nova Scotia). And, it seems…

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  • Lighthouses, Nova Scotia, Travel
  • May, 26, 2025
  • 36 Comments
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Hi! I'm Elisabeth...

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