Story Teller

 Dear Me, I know you're tired. Tired of trying, tired of starting over, tired of pretending you're okay when you're not. I want you to know something — I see you. I see how hard you've been trying, even on the days no one noticed. I see the nights you cried in silence because you didn't want to worry anyone. I see the strength it takes to get up when your heart feels heavy. You have been through so much, and yet you are still here. That alone is worth celebrating. I want to say thank you. Thank you for not giving up when things felt impossible. Thank you for loving people who didn't always love you back. Thank you for staying kind in a world that tried to make you bitter. Thank you for choosing to grow, even when growth was painful. You don't need to have everything figured out right now. Life is not a race. Some seasons are for resting, some are for rebuilding, some are for dreaming again. It's okay to pause. It's okay to start small. It's okay ...

  Let me be honest with you. Dinner time is not the time to be fancy. It's 5pm, the kids are hungry, the electricity is playing hide-and-seek, and your bank account is looking at you funny. I know this feeling because I live it every single day as a busy mom trying to feed my family on a budget. After years of trial and error, I have finally found 7 dinners that cost under R100, fill the whole family, and don't taste like we are suffering. These are my real Sunday to Saturday lifesavers — no expensive ingredients, no 2-hour cooking. 1. Monday: Samp and Beans with a Twist Samp and beans is a South African classic for a reason — it's cheap, it's filling, and it lasts. My trick? I cook a big pot on Sunday and keep it in the fridge. For Monday, I just add a little bit of curry spice, onion, and a spoon of soup powder. Serve hot. Cost: About R35 for the whole family. 2. Tuesday: Pap and Chakalaka This is our "no meat Tuesday" trick. I make soft pap (or phutu) and p...