When I registered NOMI & YOU in late May last year, it wasn't an impulsive decision. It was the result of years of thinking, discovering, and a deep personal connection to what I believe in — certified organic beauty that truly works.

But no matter how long you've thought about it, nothing prepares you for becoming a real business owner. For all those moments when you solve problems by yourself, when you eagerly await a delivery, when you write a product description at 11 PM and think you're the only one doing it.

But there are also moments no one warns you about — and which are, in fact, the most beautiful.

I remember the feeling when the first package arrived. Not just the products — but the boxes, the paper, all those details that seem small from the outside, but mean everything to you. You stand there looking at it and can't believe it's real. That it's yours. That you're doing this.

And when new products arrive — that's a story in itself. The impatience while waiting for delivery is almost like waiting for a gift. Opening, checking, and then — testing. That's my favorite part. To try them myself, on my own skin, before introducing them to anyone. That joy is very difficult to describe, but it's completely real.

And then the order comes. Someone has chosen, paid, trusted. I pack each item by hand — with paper, with care, with a thought of who will open it. I stick labels, check twice, three times. It's never just a package. It's always something more. And the DM messages — questions about ingredients, skin type, whether a product is good for sensitive skin — those are actually my favorite part of the workday. Because behind every question is a woman who wants to make a better choice for herself. And I am here precisely for that.

And then something came that I wasn't prepared for at all — social media. I don't mean posting pictures. I mean Reels. Filming myself. Standing in front of the camera and speaking directly into the lens, when every instinct in you fights, saying — don't, you look cringe, and at the same time you sweat a hundred times over. I am exactly that person. Stage fright, insecurity, after a dozen filmed and deleted versions before one remains. But somewhere in the middle of all that, I realized something important — no one else can convey what I believe in with all my soul. Not an algorithm, not text, not someone else's voice. Only me. And that was enough reason to continue. I filmed. And then another. And another. Stepping out of my comfort zone doesn't mean the stage fright disappeared — it means I decided to film despite it.

This first year wasn't just an online store. It was stepping out into the world — literally.

In December, I was part of a pop-up event in collaboration with Bela - Urma, where our MUA Darko showed attendees what INIKA Organic truly looks like on the skin — applied by hand, live. To see a woman look in the mirror and smile — that's something priceless.

In February came the Wedding Expo — my first real face-to-face contact with a wider audience. You stand behind your booth, presenting the products you deeply believe in, and watch how people react when they touch them, smell them, read what's written on the box. That moment is something no online sale can replace.

Then came the Beauty Expo in Skopje in April — bigger, more intense, with people from the industry. There I met makeup artists and influencers who understand the language of beauty in the same way I do. Some collaborations were born right there, naturally, without forcing — simply because the values aligned. Our MUA Marija Najdoska showed on stage how organic makeup can look and feel luxurious, and the wonderful Charna perfectly carried off that glamorous look.

This year and last year also brought something I didn't expect to happen so quickly — an interview for Portrait magazine. To talk about what you believe in, to see your name written in the context of something beautiful and meaningful — that was one of those moments when you realize things are moving in the right direction. That's why I want to thank the entire team from Portrait Digital, especially Ružica!

But what filled me the most this year — above all events, interviews, and orders — are the women who found me and stayed. Women who have long read ingredients, who know why certification matters, who don't want to compromise when it comes to what they put on their face. When one of them writes to me or comes back again — that's confirmation that NOMI & YOU exists for a real reason.

This year also brought NOMI Club, a new website, collaborations that inspire me, and daily work that confirms the same thing to me every day — I chose the right path. But behind all that are things that aren't seen on Instagram. Sleepless nights over a laptop when a bug refuses to be fixed. Hours spent connecting systems, setting up the website, translating content into three languages. Moments when you think everything is done and then something stops working again. But also moments when it finally works — and that quiet joy when everything connects and functions as we imagined is worth every minute spent troubleshooting. These words are not mine — my husband often retells them :) The man who a year ago didn't know how to distinguish serum from cream, and today can confidently tell you that INIKA Organic has a certified organic formula :)) Unintended, but thorough education :))

And in all that — him. Who learned to eat dinner next to boxes of INIKA and RAWW, who silently accepted the fact that the dining room would occasionally look like a small warehouse, and who never asked "why are you working late?" — because he's even more awake than me :)) That part isn't written on any box, but it's part of every order.

We blow out the candle with the number "1" with INIKA cream in hand. Next year we welcome an even bigger pyramid. 🎂

Thank you to everyone who was part of this first year — with an order, a word, or just by following. It means more than you can imagine!