👋🏽 Hello there

Honestly, me starting a newsletter, how did we get here? I’m not sure but whether it’s at work, with friends or family I often introduce people to something new, whether it’s a type of butter or a lesser known fashion brand.

People I know have said, why don’t you become an influencer and share these things, etc. but I like privacy and gatekeeping. I know it’s a bit taboo but I will be gatekeeping things slightly so people can learn to research on their own too. I feel like sometime between 2020 and now, people really forgot Google exists but that’s a conversation for another time.

Ideally, this newsletter will give me a creative outlet and share some of the many tabs I have open between my computer and phone with you all. Plus the countless places saved on Google Maps (it’s gotten a bit crazy). There will also be cool guest columns too. ‘mewd. by mikala’ won’t be about me per se but helping you set the ‘mewd’ in your life whether it’s something big or small. Thanks to BM & RP for helping me come up with the name for this newsletter!

With that said, I started the first draft of this newsletter a little more than a month ago and felt the need to tweak it a bit. As it would be inauthentic to me as a person, if I didn’t take a moment to acknowledge that the world is upside down and inside out.

To be honest, I feel at a loss on what to do that will be impactful and lead to meaningful change that protects and advocates for innocent civilians no matter where they are in the world. There isn’t one perfect solution as issues can be complex. So, personally, I’ve started by making a charitable donation and will go from there. Now onto why you’ve really opened this email.

TRAVEL NECESSITIES (according to me)

It’s almost the holiday travel season, so I thought I’d tell you about my small travel pouch, well one of them. I love traveling but I hate packing and the prep work of it too (and British Airways but will speak on that at a later date).

Until, recently it felt like I was always rushing to be ready for a trip. Luckily, I’ve started to become more organized by having various pouches. I made short video on TikTok explaining more about my small travel pouch but see below for a quick snapshot. How do you stay organized when traveling?

IN THE ‘MEWD’ FOR..

FASHION

• These are items that fall under the various categories ranging from will purchase to if someone else was buying I’d like this too. Also, good options to give as gifts to me, I mean for someone else in your life too!

  • Clothing - Zara has this soft over shirt (3046/263), that I plan on buying to wear post pilates. I’ve always been into ballet flats, and am glad to see they are trending again. Love these by Aeyde and the black satin pair on Free People’s website. This L. CUPPINI jacket is perfect to me for a fun night out but $$$$. If you’re a guy or like wearing men’s clothing like me, Yitai is a brand that makes these eye catching sweaters I haven’t seen on anyone yet

  • Bags - Osoi (Folder Brot leather shoulder bag), The Row (Half Moon bag), Bola Ocho (bubble bag), and so many vintage bags on Ebay

  • Jewelry - Marla Aaron (really into the locks collection), Carat London, Mayamar, rings by Simuero - kind of remind me of the YSL artsy rings stylistically but at a better price point and Electric Picks has a necklace I’m not going to share just yet haha

BEAUTY

• The Sephora sale wraps up today and somehow with my latest purchase, I’ve become Rogue level. Not sure how that happened but nonetheless wanted to share some items to check out

  • Make up: Patrick Ta for blushes (I own She’s So LA, She’s Blushing and have She’s Flushed on the way). Also, have a lipgloss by him (too lazy to get up and find it to tell you the name though), Danessa Myricks (I hear all her products are amazing so not saying anything specific - I have a pallet on the way to me, will report back), Haus Labs & Hourglass for setting powder, Summer Fridays lip balm & Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil are a top tier pairing. I’m currently loving both Nars Radiant Creamy and Dior Backstage for concealer depending on if I’m in my winter or summer color (lol)

  • Skins care: Before switching to Elta MD, I loved Dr Jart+ Sun Fluid for sunscreen. Also a fan of Supergoop Unseen Lipscreen SPF, Nudestix Lip Primer SPF, Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream, Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum (it’s been a staple ever since the first time I used it like five/six years ago)

• I went to Bloomingdale’s with my sisters post Din Tai Fung 😋 (baby sister is visiting us in LA) and one of them wanted to see what a new Maison Francis Kurkdjian smelled like and it was divine! If you are in LA stop by the Century City location. Ask for Darian or Darren (to me it sounded like his name could be either so lo siento for not having his exact name) in the beauty department as he was so sweet and helpful

FOOD

Some of these places, I’ve been and others are on my ever growing list. If you do check out any of them please let me know what you think.

• USA

  • Los Angeles, CA - I went to Quarters Sheets Pizza, and this might be controversial. I thought the food was goodish but if you aren’t in the area then I don’t feel like you need to make the trek across town. Ladyhawk is a new Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant that just opened in LA. It’s been added to my list recently along with lorenzo California. Also, I’ve been trying to get a pizza from Mievé but no luck yet!

  • Vegas, NV - I went to Zuma at Cosmopolitan and it was everything I needed that night, not too light or heavy. Based on what we ordered, just right! (Thanks to CD and KA for making my first trip an amazing one!). Kassi is another fun breakfast/brunch spot

  • New York, NY - Can someone go to Roscioli NYC for me, I want to know if it lives up to hype as I’ve seen a couple of videos and people were raving about the food. In July, I went to Cipollini at the Americana Manhasset, which was a good time plus great shopping

• EUROPE

  • London, UK - I had a very very fancy dinner with my friend at Héléne Darroze. If you are in London and want to celebrate something big or just life in general (like we did), the service and food were incredible

  • Cavtat, Crotia - Leut was the first place ZC + AB’s Friendsmoon group ate at. I thought this dinner was the perfect start to the trip along with this sunset

• ASIA 

  • I haven’t been to Asia..yet but plan to go in 2024 or 2025! These are some places that I want to check out and have on my list, thanks to TikTok. Hutong (Hong Kong), Tsujihan Zeitaku Don (Tokyo), and A Noodle Story (Singapore)

SOMETHING REALLY BOUGIE AND COULD BE RIDICULOUS

• When the budget is limitless, I’m really into the idea of doing an around the world trip for my honeymoon for like a month or three haha

READING

• Think Anna Delvey + Tinder Swindler = this story that I first found out from Stanza newsletter

• Recently finished reading Wildflower by Aurore James (TY EB for the recommendation!) and have started reading If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga, enjoying it thus far

I appreciate you taking the time to read this volume of mewd. by mikala! Feel free to reply and let me know your thoughts, and what you would like more or less of etc.

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