Stella's Journal

As a mother of five, I know how chaotic dinnertime can get. Between school runs, activities, and managing a home, figuring out what to cook every night can feel overwhelming. That's why I've embraced a simple yet effective meal planning system that takes the stress out of dinnertime and makes grocery shopping straight forward. Here's how I meal plan, streamline grocery shopping, and use themed dinner nights to make family meals easy, enjoyable, and predictable.

Cape Town is a city with soul, and you’ll not only be kept busy throughout your stay (with endless options for outings and activities!), but you will find something for everyone in this city, both big and small. As a Mama of five, with ample years under my belt in Cape Town, I am here to share my Cape Town insider guide with children in tow.

We work hard at times in our marriage, and other times it all just feels easy. And that is normal! My husband, Robin, and I are 11 years married today (and nearly 18 years together), and as I am reflecting on our marriage (and on our bond as parents, as lovers, and darlings of each other’s hearts), I want to share some learnings, some reflections and some practical tips with you.  

Traveling with babies and toddlers is nothing short of an adventure. Yes, it can be exhausting and nerve-racking, but it is also the biggest joy. We did a total of 28 flights and 5 continents with our first child, before he even turned! We now have 5 children, and we still seem to be increasing our travel plans every year. Needless to say, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way which I’m excited to share with you. There is a lot of information that I want to share so I’ve broken it up into four sections: 1. Before Boarding, 2. On The Flight, 3. Arrival at Your Destination and 4. Packing Your Bags.

Before Noah’s birth (my first born), as most mamas do, I made 'nesting' my job. We had just finished building our home in Cape Town and I wanted his nursery and everything alongside it to be absolutely perfect. I researched...