Hi Radiants,

Hope you are doing well. 

We are in March, but let's talk about vision boards. 

There’s something I did differently with my vision board this year… and honestly, it completely changed how I see my progress. I didn’t realize how important this shift was until I sat down and looked at it again.

The Problem I Had Before

Last year, I had a long-term vision board. Using my long-term board, I wrote down a few goals for the year. But every time I compared it to my long-term vision board, I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. It felt like a very small piece of action.

The long-term board felt too big. Too far. Too wide. Compared to my efforts for the year.

What I was doing daily felt so small in comparison… like it didn’t even count.

What I Did Differently This Year

This year, I decided to create a vision board for the year. 

Now, I have two vision boards:

• A long-term vision board (for the bigger picture of my life)

• A yearly vision board (focused only on this year)

And the difference?

Everything feels clearer.

Instead of trying to measure my progress against a huge life vision, I now have something specific and realistic to work towards right now.

My yearly vision board is basically a zoomed-in version of my bigger vision.

Smaller. More focused. More actionable.

And most importantly… achievable.

Another thing I changed

The types of images I used. This time, I didn’t just pick “nice” or “aesthetic” pictures.

I chose images that actually feel close to my reality. Something that makes me think:

“Yes, this could be me.”

Because your vision board is not just about what you see; it’s about what you feel when you see it

When I look at mine now, I feel motivated. I feel connected. I feel what I would feel when I get that thing.

The Impact

Having a clear, realistic vision board has made decision-making easier for me.

For example, I was thinking about changing my approach to my eating habits for weight loss.

I asked myself: Should I relax a bit? Should I just reduce portions instead of sticking to structure?

Then I looked at my vision board. There’s an image there that represents how I want to look and feel. And immediately, I checked myself. Not from pressure… but from alignment.

It reminded me to stay on track. This is what you said you want.

That’s the power of having a visual reminder that actually connects with you.

If you take anything from this, let it be this:

• Don’t only rely on a big life vision—break it down into a yearly version

• Choose images that feel real and emotionally connected, not just pretty

• Focus on how the images make you feel, not just how they look

• Let your vision board guide your daily decisions, not just your dreams

Because at the end of the day…

It’s not just about having goals.

It’s about creating something that helps you live them out, every single day.

This post is an excerpt from my YouTube vlog, where I shared how I spent the first days of the year. 

🎥 Watch the full vlog where I talk about this and more below:

When money is tight, many people naturally focus on buying whatever is cheapest. But the problem with that approach is that cheap food is not always balanced food. A family can end up eating meals that fill the stomach without truly nourishing the body.

That is why it helps to think about food differently.

Instead of building meals around carbohydrates and then adding protein, which could be expensive, it can be more affordable to make meals that already include protein.

For example, in Cameroon, dishes like

• Koki beans with plantain or potato

• Beans with rice or plantain

• Ndolé with rice, baton, or plantain

• Groundnut paste and baton 

Meals like these already offer nutritional value on their own, which means there is less pressure to buy meat or fish every time you cook. Since meat can quickly drive up the cost of feeding a family, choosing natural, protein-rich meals more often can make a big difference.

Another smart habit is keeping basic cooking ingredients in the house at all times. Things you would use to cook most meals.

Things like:

• Oil

• Seasoning

• Basic spices

• Eggs

These may seem simple, but they make everyday cooking much easier. When the basics are available, it becomes easier to improvise meals without stress. Eggs, especially, can be very helpful because they can replace meat in many dishes and make simple meals feel more complete. And they are affordable.

It also helps to buy staple foods in larger quantities whenever possible.

Items like beans, koki beans, rice, spaghetti, and eggs can serve as the foundation of many meals. Having these basics at home creates stability. It means there is always something to cook, even when money is low. Then, whenever there is extra money, more variety can be added gradually.

Seasonal foods can also help reduce costs.

When certain vegetables are in season, they are usually cheaper and easier to find. That is the best time to cook them more often. Okro, leafy vegetables, and other local produce can stretch a food budget while still adding important nutrients to meals.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is to create a system that works.

A good food budget is not about buying everything at once or serving elaborate meals every day. It is about making sure there is always a base to work with, choosing meals that are both affordable and nourishing, and adding more variety when possible.

That is the heart of budget-friendly feeding:

Do not compromise on nutrition if you can help it, especially when children are involved. Focus instead on finding simpler, cheaper ways to serve balanced meals.

Even with limited money, it is still possible to feed a family well. It takes intention, creativity, and a willingness to plan around what matters most.

Hello, my Radiants ✨

Happy Women's Day 2026!