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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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Top Five/Bottom Five: Small Talk Topics

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

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, tend to avoid small talk like the plague. When I do find myself in one of those conversations — waiting in…

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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
  • 66 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
  • 53 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
  • 32 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 23 May

What a week!

My father-in-law arrived Sunday; as always, he’s the easiest guest imaginable. We’ve also had a revolving door of kids’ friends, and most meals have included a few extra mouths.

Indy had a…

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  • Happy Things Friday
  • May, 23, 2025
  • 56 Comments

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…

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  • Personality Insights, Random, Reading
  • May, 22, 2025
  • 52 Comments

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…

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  • Ask Me (Almost) Anything, Home, Parenting, Personality Insights
  • May, 21, 2025
  • 51 Comments
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Hi! I'm Elisabeth...

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    • Top Five/Bottom Five: Small Talk Topics

      May 29, 2025

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

      May 28, 2025

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

      May 27, 2025

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