The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Beyond Their Cover — Judging Books by Colour and Height

After getting home from the library last week, I made a beeline for my closet to put away the newest additions to my reading stack. A few minutes later, I realized I’d been rearranging…

You Asked, I Answered: Chores, Choices, and My Childhood

When I asked for blog topic ideas recently, many of you mentioned parenting — both my relationship with my own parents and how we raise Belle and Indy.

Here goes…

Q: “You seem to have a…

Ask Me (Almost) Anything, Home, Parenting, Personality Insights
May, 21, 2025
51 Comments

Never Have I Ever…Part 6

Watched an episode of Bluey.

Travelled outside of Canada over the Christmas holiday.

Been in a row boat (though I’ve spent countless hours in canoes).

Permed my hair.

Learned how to tie a bow tie.

Made or received a…

Never Have I Ever, Personality Insights, Random
May, 20, 2025
56 Comments

Best Runner-Up Nova Scotia Beaches (A-H)

There are too many “runner-up” beaches to squeeze into a single post, so I’ve decided to sort things alphabetically.

Some of these locations rank far higher in my mind than others but they’re all worth…

Happy Things Friday: 16 May

We’re at the point in the spring where All The Things start happening. My American friends talk about Maycember and I tend to roll my eyes…but I’m coming to realize Maycember is really more…

Top Five/Bottom Five: Smells (The Household Edition)

It’s been a long while since my last Top Five/Bottom Five post — so long, in fact, we were still talking about winter (praise be, ice is finally behind us). Tobia recently mentioned that…

Why Not Make the Little Things Beautiful?

In the comment section of a recent post, mbmom11 mentioned how much joy her $9 (purple, sparkly!) phone case brings her — and it got me thinking about the surprisingly big impact small aesthetic…