This Morning’s Little Self-Care Moments

Breakfast

I did a lighter pink on my fingernails and a bright orange on my toes.

This morning, I felt like treating myself to something a little special. Breakfast in bed. Nothing too fancy, just something that would make me feel good. I made myself an avocado salad, added some boiled eggs, and had it with a slice of bread. Interestingly, I didn’t even finish one slice—and that made me happy because it means I’m staying on track with my weight loss goals. Small wins, right?

With school resumption stress in full swing, I needed this. Just a quiet moment to remind myself that it’s okay to relax and breathe. Sometimes I forget, and I pile on too much, but being intentional about self-care is really helping me.

Related: Mini Breakfast Haul + Breakfast Idea (What I Ate) | Life In Cameroon

Speaking of self-care, I finally did my cornrows! By myself! The lines are not the neatest, but honestly, it turned out so fine, and I was so proud of myself. There’s just something about doing your own hair that makes you feel accomplished. Another big thing I’ve been paying attention to is sleep. I’ve realized I need to rest more, and I’m slowly teaching myself that rest is not a luxury—it’s part of taking care of me.

Related: Self-Care Morning | Spaghetti, Pedicure and A Nollywood Throwback

I used it often in my twenties, and it worked well for my skin, but somewhere along the way, I stopped using it. I think it was during pregnancy—I became sensitive to strong smells and perfumes, so I switched to things like olive oil, which felt safer and gentler at the time.

Later, when I had my babies and slowly started going back to using body creams and lotions, I still didn’t think to return to glycerine. I was using good lotions, but something was still off. My skin would feel soft after applying, but a few hours later, it would go back to looking or feeling dry—especially on my arms and legs.

Hydrating body creams helped a bit, but I had to use a good amount of product to stay moisturised. That’s when glycerine came back into my life.

How Glycerine Found Its Way Back Into My Skincare Routine

It Started With a Small Bottle

One day I went to the supermarket and saw a small bottle of glycerine and just picked it up — more out of curiosity than anything else. I mixed a small quantity into my body lotion and started using it again.

And let me tell you, the difference was clear.

My skin felt hydrated and softer, and it didn’t have that dry, stretchy look I sometimes get after a few hours. So when that first bottle finished, I bought another one—this time a bigger size—and I mixed it more generously into my lotion. Right now, my mix is almost 80% glycerine, and I’m honestly loving the results.

What Glycerine Does for My Skin

• Hydration: My skin stays moisturized for longer, even when I don’t apply a lot of cream.

• Softness: My skin feels smooth to the touch—especially on my legs and arms.

• Gentle exfoliation: Glycerine somehow helps dead skin cells come off easily. For example, when I use blended tomato as a body mask (yes, tomato—I’ll talk more about that in another post), I notice that my skin peels gently and glows afterwards.

• Fades dark spots faster: When skin is dry, it's harder to treat or fade spots. But when it’s well moisturized, the healing is faster and the spots clear out better.

The Sticky Truth (LOL)

Let me not lie—sometimes my skin feels a bit sticky after applying it, especially if I use a lot. It actually reminded me of how it used to feel back in the day when I first started using it. But it’s not a bad kind of sticky—more like that feeling you get after applying something rich and nourishing.

Why I Think I Stopped Using It

At one point, I heard someone say glycerine wasn’t good for your skin as you age. I don’t even remember who said it or where I read it, but I took it seriously and just stopped using it. And you know how sometimes skincare “gurus” don’t mention it much? That kind of made me feel like maybe it wasn’t a good idea to go back to it.

Instead, you see them recommending hydrating lotions, which are great but not always affordable. And honestly? Glycerine does the job. It’s simple, available, and effective. It's okay to have a hydrating lotion, but glycerin is also a very hydrating product.

How I Use Glycerine Now

• I mix it into my body lotion—generously.

• I apply it on my face before and after using drying products like Sivoderm pommade or Kojie San soap. This helps keep my skin hydrated while the product works.

• After washing off those products, I hydrate again with glycerine before applying any creams or oils.

These products (especially Kojie San and Sivoderm) are effective, but they dry out the skin, so glycerine helps balance it all out and protect my moisture barrier.

I feel like I’ve returned to something that always worked for me—and honestly, I’m glad.
Not everything that works has to be trendy. Sometimes, it’s the simple products that have stood the test of time that your skin loves the most.

If you have dry skin or you’re using products that dry you out, try adding a little glycerine into your routine. You don’t need much, but your skin will thank you.

And if it feels a little sticky? Just smile—that’s how you know you've applied enough. 😊

Sometimes the most unexpected hauls give the best meals. 🥑🍞💜

Related: Self-Care Morning | Spaghetti, Pedicure and A Nollywood Throwback

White rice with tomato stew. Jellof rice with the little vegetables we had left in the fridge. Rice with eggs. And these have been repeated. Honestly, it’s been fun until it got boring lol—almost like a mini food challenge without even planning it.

Of course, there were days we switched things up. The day I made Khoki was a highlight—no rice in sight. Just that beautiful pudding that we ate with cassava. Another day, I paired cabbage with fufu and meat sauce with baton de manioc, and it felt like a proper break from the rice streak.

The Budget Tip That’s Helping Me Stretch My Money During Tight Financial Periods

What this does for me:

• Saves money—I’m not spending on things we don’t urgently need.

• Reduces waste—I’m actually eating what I’ve already bought.

• Boosts creativity—I end up trying new combinations I wouldn’t have thought of.

No-Tomato Meat Sauce | Cameroon Recipe

Ingredients 

Preparing the ingredients 

Cooking

Note to Self—You’re Not Stuck, You’re Shifting

You didn’t even notice it, but you’ve been moving.
Not loudly. Not quickly. But steadily.
You’re not stuck—you’re just in a soft transition.

It’s that in-between space where nothing feels fully clear, but everything is quietly realigning.

You’ve been:

• Reaching for small routines that make you feel good

• Editing your thoughts without even realizing it

• Letting go of the things that don’t fit anymore

• Following gentle nudges back to yourself

This season might feel foggy sometimes. But you’re not lost.
You’re repotting.
You’re making space.
You’re reconnecting.

You’re learning that clarity doesn’t always shout — sometimes it whispers.
And when it does, all you need to do is listen.

So keep showing up, even if it’s slow.
Keep trusting your rhythm.
And remember —
Even misty mornings still move you forward.

So I’m dropping these here — not as a perfect recap, but more like a gentle photo dump with a few reflections along the way.

Getting Back to Moving My Body

One thing I’m proud of this past month is that I started working out again — not perfectly, but consistently.

I’ve mostly been doing what I enjoy: dancing, and lifting weights, I made myself using sand, wrapped in plastic and cloth. Homemade, but effective. It feels good to move again. I’m not chasing a perfect body. I just want to feel strong, light, and more in tune with myself.

Meals That Made Me Smile

I cooked some meals in July that honestly made me happy—and my kids too.

• I made cornchaff, one of my favorites.

• Then came stewed cabbage, which surprised me because the kids loved it more than I expected.

• And maybe my favorite of all — khoki in teacups. I didn’t have leaves, so I improvised, and the way those cups looked sitting in the pot? Just beautiful. It made me feel creative and grounded at the same time.

😋😋 This Khoki was so good.

There's a recipe for Khoki on the blog, but that recipe was made in leaves. The process is the same, just that I put this one in cups. Please refrain from using plastic cups or any other plastic items for this. It's not healthy.

How to Cook Your Own Khoki Beans

How To Cook Khoki Beans Recipe With Cocoyam Leaves In It

I just had to share this picture of the cups before I put the plantain because it looked so good.

Cornchaff I made from fresh corn, by the way.

Related post: Cornchaff (Corn and Beans) Recipe | Cameroonian Recipe

Stewed cabbage and plantain

I didn’t bake a cake this month though. The kids asked for one a few times — and yes, the guilt came in small waves — but hopefully I’ll bake one in August. Sometimes, you just don’t get to everything. That’s okay.

Back to Simple Beauty Product

Something small but special I reconnected with in July was glycerine.
I had almost forgotten how good it is for my skin. I started using it again a few months ago, and in July I bought a second, bigger container—and it just reminded me how well it works for me. Hydrating, simple, and effective. I’ll write more about it in another post, but it felt worth noting here.

It’s funny how sometimes your old routines are the ones that still serve you best.

Snake Plants Having Babies

My snake plants have been growing—they’ve had babies. New shoots are coming out of the soil like little green signs that something underneath is doing well.

It feels so good to see more babies sprout from the pot. My plants must be happy.

My Phone Bugging

Another small but meaningful thing — my phone started acting up. It got really slow. Notifications stopped coming through. I’d get messages hours later. It was frustrating.

It all started after I downloaded a lot of YouTube videos to watch offline. I’d been downloading so much but barely deleting. And suddenly, my phone was just… tired.

But I’ve started deleting. I had to actually delete a lot of things and back up photos and videos. That way I don't lose much in case of anything. I've had this phone for five years, and I think it's time to get a new one.

August Started on Quite a Note

Now this part technically happened in August, but since it’s part of the flow, I’m adding it here.

The new month started with a bit of activity. I repotted my snake plants, especially because they’ve been growing new babies and needed more space. It felt like a small reset—like helping something thrive by giving it just a little more room.

But here’s the twist—while I was busy doing that, my snail escaped.

I had temporarily moved it out of its usual container while I used it for the plant, thinking I’d figure out a better home for it later. Before I could, it was gone.

I felt bad at first. But then, strangely, I felt… relief.
I didn’t realize how much energy I was putting into taking care of that little thing. It wasn’t heavy, but the moment it was gone, I could feel a little space open up in me.

I still love snails, and I might keep one again. But for now, I’m okay with the break.

Lessons From July I’m Holding Onto 

• On Clarity, Fog, and Moving Anyway

  One thing I’m learning lately is that clarity doesn’t always hit like lightning.
  I used to wait for those big “aha” moments — a full vision, a full plan, a loud sign. But I’m realizing that clarity often comes quietly.

  These days, it’s showing up in little pieces.
  A passing thought.
  A journal line.
  A random idea that makes sense later.

  Some days still feel foggy. Like I’m moving but not exactly sure where it’s all leading. But I’ve stopped fighting that. I’m learning to move with the fog — to trust that I don’t have to see the full picture to take the next small step.

  Even misty mornings still move you forward.

  And that’s what this season feels like for me — not stuck, just slowly shifting forward. Quietly coming back to myself, my work, my voice. Little by little. Bit by bit. And that’s more than enough right now.

• On Love, Boundaries, and Choosing Myself

  Another thing I’ve been thinking about is love. Not in a dramatic way—just quiet lessons I’m picking up on.

  And one thing that’s become so clear is that men are so good at choosing themselves.

  If something doesn’t sit well with them, they don’t overthink it. Even if they love you, the moment the situation doesn’t feel right to them, they can drop it, walk away, and move on.

  Women? We tend to hold on longer. Try harder. Compromise more. Even when we don’t feel comfortable, we try to adjust. We want to make it work.

  But this month I told myself—no more of that.
  If it doesn’t feel right, I’m allowed to choose me. Fully. Without guilt. I’m allowed to walk away from love if that love doesn’t hold me gently. That’s the kind of woman I’m becoming. And I’m proud of that.

So yeah, July was…

Simple.
Quiet.
Not rushed.

There were no big highlights, but there were moments that mattered.

If you’re in a season like this too—peaceful but not perfect—I hope this reminds you that life is still happening. And it’s okay if your photo dumps are full of soft, small things. That’s where so much of the beauty hides.

**

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