Happy new month, everyone! 

Can you believe it’s already September? Honestly, this year has been running fast, but here we are. And today marked back to school — officially day one of the school year.

I have to say, it went surprisingly well. No rush, no stress, no pressure like in previous years. I actually woke up before my alarm this morning, and the first thing I noticed was the rain. Now tell me, why is it that on the very day school starts, the rain decides to fall both in the morning when you’re supposed to drop the kids off and in the afternoon when you’re supposed to pick them up? 😂 For the past weeks, it’s been mostly just dull weather with little to no rain, but as soon as school resumes, here comes the heavy showers. Only God knows why it happens this way every year.

Looking back at last month, it was all about preparation and anticipation for school. And I have to admit, this time around I felt different. Rested. Ready. Even excited. Last September, I wasn’t prepared at all for the early mornings and daily back-and-forths. But this year, I feel more balanced, with a little more energy to handle it all.

So today was a good start. The school runs went smoothly, and I got to enjoy some quiet time in the morning. That silence felt new again — the house without the kids has its own kind of peace. I actually sat there and thought, yes, I’m going to like this.

Of course, it wouldn’t be me without a little kitchen story. I decided this morning to cook Khoki before I start work for the day. I wanted to at least put it on the fire and work while it cooks since it takes at least two hours to get ready. The last time I made it, I messed up with too much oil. This time, I told myself I’d do better. Well, guess what? I ended up putting too much salt instead. 😂 So now, my Khoki has become my personal little back-to-school disaster. Hopefully, next time I’ll get it right.

All in all, day one went well. The rain was annoying, and the Khoki didn’t come out well, but the peace, the fresh start, and the feeling of being ready this September made me smile.

Happy back-to-school to all the parents reading this. Hope your first day of school went well too. 

Here’s to a smooth school year ahead, early mornings we can handle, and finding little joys (and lessons) in each day.

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

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.

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.