Wander and Weave

Botox, Bullies & the Beast Called Beauty Standards. There I was, sitting on the train, trying not to cry and ruin my eyeliner (which finally winged properly today, by the way). The reason? One of my sweet elementary students had been crying during playtime. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me her classmates were teasing her because of the mole on her cheek. “They say I’m not pretty because people believe fairer, lighter skin is beautiful,” she whispered. Then she added, like a knife through my heart, that if she ever got money, she’d use it to remove it. Excuse me? A child already thinking about financing her first cosmetic procedure before she’s even finished multiplication tables? My heart just cracked into pieces. Of course, I told her the mole was a beauty mark and she should embrace it. But you and I both know that’s easier said than done when society’s megaphone is blasting the message: you’re only beautiful if you look like this one-size-fits-all template. And sudde...

The Obsession is Real: My Skort, My Heels, and My Saizeriya Growing up, my siblings used to tease me endlessly: “Jez, you have a whole wardrobe full of clothes, but why do we always see you in the same things?” And honestly? They weren’t lying. I have this slight (okay, major) habit of falling in love with one particular clothing item and then wearing it on repeat until it either fades, stretches, or literally begs for retirement. It’s not that I don’t love the rest of my clothes, but when something gives me all the vibes—comfort, style, versatility—I lock in like it’s a long-term relationship. Right now, my summer fling is… my black skort (or scooter skirt, depending on what side of the fashion world you’re on). This little piece of fabric has me in a chokehold. It’s giving casual when I throw on sneakers, chic when I pair it with flats, and elegant when I decide to strut in heels. It’s basically three outfits in one, and I’ve convinced myself that makes it practical, not obsessive. B...

Hupenyu: Following Curiosity, Randomness & Laughter Some people plan their lives in neat little boxes, graduate here, work there, marry then, and retire with a pension. And then there’s Hupenyu. He doesn’t follow boxes. He follows curiosity. He follows randomness. He follows whatever makes his heart skip like a Zimdancehall beat. He’ll tell you himself: “I follow my curiosity, my randomness, and what moves me. I can’t even trace the exact moment this all started because I’ve always been creative.” Childhood for him wasn’t just playing with toys, it was giving sticks and scraps their own characters, their own personalities. Imagine a small Hupenyu, holding a stick and saying, “Meet Mr. Chikwanha, the village headmaster.” 😂 The boy was already rehearsing for the stage. But of course, like many of us, society tried to stuff him into its one-size-fits-all uniform. He felt out of place, misunderstood, and outcasted, until he grew up and realized the secret to life: pursue what moves yo...

🌸 God Speaks in Flowers, Winds, and Waves 🌊 If you’ve known me long enough (or if you’ve just taken one scroll through my texts), you’ll know I’m obsessed with flowers. I mean, I sprinkle 🌸 emojis everywhere like confetti at a wedding. But here’s the thing—it’s not just because flowers are pretty. I truly believe God uses nature to talk to us, to comfort us, and sometimes even to call us out in the gentlest ways. I grew up surrounded by nature. Our yard was like a little pharmacy—trees, herbs, flowers, plants—you name it, we had it. I swear I could go a whole year without setting foot in an actual pharmacy because my grandmother’s herbs could cure just about anything. Ginger, aloe, mint, even that bitter herb you have to pinch your nose while drinking (if you know, you know). Gardening was my therapy long before therapy was cool. As a teen, when life felt heavy, I’d find myself watering flowers or digging in the soil with my grandfather. He always said, “Care for nature, and it will...

Vibes, Auras & My Accidental Degree in Energy Farming You know how some people say “your vibe attracts your tribe”? Well, I grew up in a home where that was less of a quote and more of a lifestyle policy. We were the “music on, doors open, dance floor in the kitchen” type of family. If there was a reason to celebrate, we were there — birthdays, weddings, graduations, someone just finished ironing all their laundry — we’d find a reason. And not the calm, “polite claps” kind of celebration. No. I’m talking full-on uncles with questionable dance moves, aunties holding plastic plates piled high with food, and me in the middle of it all — feeding off the energy like a sunflower in a summer field. 🌻 That’s the thing — I’ve always been that “fun girl” who thrives when the vibes are right. You could put me in a room where people are shy and quiet, and I’ll either start making jokes, or I’ll find that one person whose energy matches mine, and suddenly we’re planning our next hangout before...

🎂 Birthday Reflections: Another Year Older, Wiser… and Still Fabulous! Last Friday, August 8th, I turned a year older — and trust me, I’m still deciding if I’m ready to claim the “wiser” part. First things first: a big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who wished me well, sent me messages, posted me on their stories, spoiled me with gifts, or just sent love my way. You are the real MVPs. And above all, my deepest gratitude goes to the Most High, who has kept me safe and blessed me with another year on this rollercoaster called life. Now, here’s the thing — my life hasn’t exactly been a walk in a rose garden. It’s been more like hiking uphill in heels: challenging, painful, but oddly satisfying once you get to the top. I’ve fought demons (not the cute K-drama kind), broken barriers, and learned how to survive in a world that sometimes doesn’t hand out easy wins. This year’s birthday was bittersweet. I was celebrating life while still grieving my grandmother, a woman I loved deeply. I st...

Legend Eri: When Jewellery Becomes a Journey of Faith, Fire & Fierceness There’s something magnetic about people who create with purpose — people who don’t just make beautiful things but pour their soul into every bead, every wire, every clasp. Enter Erin, the powerhouse behind Legend Eri, a Zimbabwean jewellery brand that’s making waves and saving lives — literally. From the outside, it’s easy to admire the sparkle — the elegant bracelets, bold chokers, delicately wrapped crystals, and chic medical ID jewellery that you didn’t even know you needed until you saw it. But beyond the beauty is a story of grit, grace, and a whole lot of God. The story didn’t start with a million-dollar studio or imported gemstones. It began with second-hand fashion jewellery, a vision, and a fiery urge to create. Erin was upcycling before it became cool — turning discarded accessories into trendy chokers, breathing new life into forgotten pieces. What began as a passion project became a calling. And li...

🌹 The Unraveling of Rose – Part Two: “Degrees, Disguises & Dear John Letters” A continuation of heartbreak, healing, and hilarious plot twists If there’s anything Rose had learned from her A-level success, it was this: Success has a funny way of waking up long-lost relatives. Especially the ones who once gave her her “own plate and cup” — not for honor, but to remind her she was “different.” Suddenly, Aunt Royalty, the one who had barely lifted a finger to help when Rose’s life was falling apart, was smiling, hugging, and saying, “Ahh my child, I always knew you’d shine!” But deep down, Rose could see it now — that sparkle in her aunt’s eyes wasn’t pride. It was opportunity. The woman didn’t want to love her. She wanted to leverage her. After her exams, Rose took a 6-month gap year to breathe, reset, and map out her future. She knew what she wanted: Fashion. Textures. Fabric. Styling. Creating. But oh no — the family council had different ideas. “Fashion? That’s not a real career....

 🎌Wander and Weave Diaries: A Pop Culture Pitstop in Japan 🇯🇵✨ When Hello Kitty meets Harajuku and my students become my professors! Somewhere in the middle of June, inside a buzzing Japanese classroom, I found myself laughing, learning, and secretly taking notes—not as the teacher, but as the student. Our lesson topic that week, as per the ever-so-loyal New Horizon textbook, was Japanese Pop Culture. Now, I expected a few cute anime mentions, maybe a stray Pikachu or a sushi reference—but nothing could’ve prepared me for the full cultural whirlwind that my students unleashed during their presentations. These kids didn’t just read off slides. No. They performed. They glowed with pride, talked about their favorite pop idols and video games with the energy of international tour guides, and made me feel like I had been living under a rock that didn’t even have Wi-Fi. One boy started with “Sensei, do you know Attack on Titan?” I nodded with what I hoped looked like cultural confiden...