So, a weekend trip is sure worth it and here are the few pictures I managed to capture for you.

Khumo is a simple yet so complex being - sometimes I walk into a store and conditionally like something - 'oh if they had put the beads here instead of there it would be perfect' - with me it's almost always lacking something or a tad too much. So, a friend of mind got agitated with my shopping habits and told me if I'm gonna be picky, I might as well do it myself.

Can you call you a lingerie designer now?

Haha, God no. I work in fashion e-commerce and I love my job. But I love so many other things too like shoes, underwear and perfume. So no, I am still Khumo, no fancy titles please.

What's the name of your shop? 

Sultry Goddess - need I say more? Actually, it is more innocent than it sounds, most of my friends are either doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs or lawyers, it is always intriguing how the job requires an entirely different persona, so much seriousness is required but when we are altogether and the masks are off, we are the goofiest bunch, die hard romantics too. So Sultry Goddess captures femininity as a whole. And what screams femininity more than a lady curled up in her lace or satin lounge wear, buried deep in good book?

Interesting. So when can we start buying?

When everything is ready, which is hopefully soon. For now, you can just sort of enjoy the pictures and follow my IG so no one misses out :). Otherwise, if you can't wait, shoot me an email at khumo@quirkiiperkii.com - I'll try my best to get it to you no matter where in the world you are.

Which Coconut Oil Do I Choose?

I am not one to write down my wishes on a piece of paper, neatly numbered - maybe, I have learned that nothing ever goes as planned, a plan A needs a plan B, a plan B needs a plan C and it just does not stop. For this, I prefer not to take the fun out of surprises and just adjust my sails to the winds of life.

Besides, my Christmas wishes were all intangible, so Santa could not immediately surprise me.  Did I get it? Most of it.

1. Striving to be and give the best version of myself at all times

Now, if you know me, you will know I dance to the beat of my own drum, I am the girl who travels the less beaten path, the girl who expects the sun to shine brighter, love to be in its purest form, the truth to be just that and happiness, ecstasy. But somewhere, somehow, I almost lost my 'too much'.

In the past, it bothered me that I 'expected' so much from the world, people included - so much that I would apologise for being ME while trying so hard to blend in though it never quite worked.

I bit my tongue and spent too much time stuck in silence just in case I managed to utter something wrong that would change YOUR perspective of ME in a split second. That tiny voice that would always say: 'darling, you have got the words to make a difference, speak up and be heard', never really went away though I gave YOU so much power.

This year was different, a good different - the high walls tumbled down, the insecurities and need for approval faded; and there my friends is where I took my first taste of freedom in the longest time! This confident, content woman blossomed and only then can I say I got comfortable with my being 'too much'.

Friends gained, friends lost, I sleep well at night knowing I gave you the best of me. Achievements gained, failures endured, I rest assured knowing I gave it my best shot.

2. Taking a giant leap of faith

First ever proper rebellion: switching courses from medical bioscience to business management. That was an uncomfortable ordeal and from then on, I tried to avoid making such dramatic decisions.

Little did I know that that was just the beginning; as soon as I graduated, I jumped into the start up world and have not gone up for air since.

When you are in a room surrounded by smart, ambitious people, it is a double sword - you want so much to do better than yesterday, yet, you are always on your toes keeping up with your peers. You learn, you build, you grow - anything and everything becomes possible.

I never really was one to blow my own horn, I am terrible at accepting compliments, if I have done good, I get super embarrassed if the topic of the day revolves around that. At the same time, you want to be seen and heard. Actually, this was my constant battle: 'I don't want to draw attention to myself but I know I did good and I can do better - please silently notice me?'

I suppose that is why I went on when others were giving up - I needed some sort of acclamation that I am and can be good enough while still rebelling from the 'norm'. No, I do not suffer from self esteem issues, I am just a small girl with big dreams that scare me.

This year though, I got the sign I had been searching for.

Somehow, I was able to manage a team of which there was an occasional communication flop - together, we persevered, we conquered and we achieved.

I learned to say a hard 'no', the Fear Of Missing Out slowly left and before I knew it - it gets lonely but there is no greater reward than knowing you were only honest with your intentions.

The voice at the back of my head got louder and louder until I could not stand it anymore and with a heavy heart, I left my good job.
I yearn to make a difference, to leave a mark, to change a life or two. But from where I was standing, that was only a dream.
I believe life starts now, I can only hope I remember to slow down and breath, and I pray for a passion filled team to take the next journey with me.

3. My pillars of strength

So you see, all I wanted was to find myself, chase my dreams, love and be loved - and Santa did a good job! What are you grateful for this year? What does your heart wish for? Please don't be shy to share!

***WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS***