👋🏽 Hello there

In honor of receiving an unexpected but expected check in the mail, I decided to dedicate the email subject in this newsletter to that #iykyk. I haven’t decided what I’m going to spend the extra money on yet but am thinking about splurging on a pair of fancy shoes. A more responsible me would add this check to my savings account but it’s been quite a year so I think I’m going to treat myself. Obviously more than once because winter sale season is coming up. 🫡 

I did already buy the cream and brown sambas from the Adidas x Wales Bonner collaboration. These don’t count though for my fancy shoe purchase haha. Lot’s of sizes are available but it took me two days to find my size since they are technically men’s shoes, and the smaller sizes went quicker #dedication.

Side note, I went to Trader Joe’s on a slightly rainy day in LA and why was the parking lot overcrowded? I went at 11:25AM, so my first thought was shouldn’t people be at work/working? I have special circumstances where I can go to Trader Joe’s at that time but doubt everyone in Silver Lake is in the same situation, lolz. If you haven’t already, make sure to try to the seasonal mushroom soup, it’s cheap (~$4) and delicious.

VINTAGE

As prices for clothing and other materials goods become more costly than they should be, I’ve leaned into learning more about vintage items. Here are some of my favorite sites or people to follow.

• Watches - Mike Nouveau (recently had a NY Times feature)

• Bags - Sign of the Times, Fashionica, EBay (no seriously, it’s not like it was in the 90s or early 2000s), Break Archive

• Clothing - Studded Petals

I have my eye on a vintage watch but won’t mention it until I pull the trigger as the watch went up in price from when I first discovered it (so annoying). Fashionica also had a bag I’ve been trying to find but of course it was in the one bag drop I didn’t pay attention to. Timing and luck seems to be the key to any vintage purchase.

IN THE ‘MEWD’ FOR..

FASHION

• Otrium - I purchased this brown sweatshirt/sweater from Proenza that I saw someone purchasing at a 260 sample sale but couldn’t find onsite. Click here if you want 25% off your first purchase. I will admit I was a bit worried if I would actually get the item and I did (lol)!

• Men’s Textured Linen Blend Jacket from Zara is an option that could work for both men and women depending on your vibe

• I like this Sanne London jacket, it’s cool but the price tag doesn’t make sense to me for denim at this point in my life (or maybe ever IDK)

• A Katso Paris leather jacket is still pricey but makes much more sense

• Mum Made Made It Boxer shorts

• Can’t wait for these UNIQLO X ANYA HINDMARCH sweaters to drop. Cute twist to basic sweaters

• Here’s a holiday dress option that is a dupe of this haute couture Schiaparelli dress

BEAUTY

• Sugardoh - There is a learning curve but once you have it down, waxing is pretty quick and easyish with this

• I will report back on my Sephora sale purchases next month

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• I’m prone to keeping tension/stress within my back and shoulder areas, so I started cupping and acupuncture about five years ago. Last week, I graduated to a more deeper/intense version of hot cupping and I was like WOW/WHOA. It was a bit intense though the results were worthwhile since I feel loose and limber after. Highly recommend if you hold stress in your body similarly to me.

• Has anyone tried the tea bath blends from Inoki Bathhouse?

ART

• Hammer Museum - “Made in LA 2023” (ends Dec. 31st) — It’s interesting to see the various mediums and you can explore everything within an hour or so. A few artists stood out to me more than others but I liked what I saw overall. The last room left a lot to be desired and felt haphazardly put together though

• MOCA - “Long Story Short” (ends May 5th, 2024) - Every time I go to the MOCA, it always has a great show. I throughly enjoyed my time and had a pleasant surprise when one of the works I loved was gifted by someone I know IRL. #newlifegoals haha

• UTA Artist Space - “The Sound of Our Souls” (ends Dec. 9th) Curated by Adora Mba, Founder and Director of ADA Contemporary Art Gallery based in Accra, Ghana. Comprised of 15 emerging artists from the African continent, all showing in California for the first time. — The exhibition was full of life and vibrant, each artist has different techniques that are their own but also reminded me of some of my favorites like Kerry James Marshall and Tschabala Self. Highly recommend you drop by and then go to Sur le Vert after. So many other options available too like Cheesecake Factory or Tatel Beverly Hills

TRAVEL

• Four round-trip tickets to Tahiti, Paris, Auckland, and Tokyo for $1525 via Air Tahiti Nui - departure from LAX or SEA only

HOME

• Estelle Glassware is a black owned brand selling hand blown glassware made in Poland in unique and fun colors

• Sabre Paris cutlery for cool prints and colors to spice up your cutlery for those special occasions or everyday

• Goodies - EVERYTHING IS $25 (I have two stone items that I bought three years ago and they look almost brand new still)

FOOD

• I ate really well when I was in Ohio recently, here are some of the places I went to

  • Columbus, OH - The Guild House (loooved) and Bristol Republic (good food and I was so full after). I also did some true bar crawling for the first time in like a decade. I went to the following places for a good time - Varsity Club, The Stubs (old school bar vibe), Horseshoe, Little Bar and Out-R-Inn

  • Cleveland, OH - Yours Truly - no frills and big portions of diner style food

FUN

• Glazed Fire - I came here with my baby sister and we spent around two hours painting our ceramics. It was tedious (because I made it that way lol), fun and a bit therapeutic too

• Movies:

  • The Marvels - TBH I don’t get the hate, I thought the movie was a good time and fun. It’s a Marvel movie, I don’t expect much but a good time while eating my Kid’s Pack (which it was)

  • Priscilla - I feel confused about this one. It was nice but I felt like I learned nothing about Priscilla Presley. Both the leads did well and it was a beautifully shot movie too

  • The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (this movie title is so long, makes no sense) - Really good movie. I thought it was the perfect popcorn movie. Definitely will go to see the sequel we all know is going to get made

SOME READING

• I mentioned this book previously but have now finished. A intriguing and enjoyable novel with a different way of storytelling broken into three parts. First part is like a journal, with the second written like a traditional novel and third in play format

• Short & Sweet - University of Miami student charged by DOJ in $3.5 million fraud scheme

• Long Form - Erewhon Secrets, The Hero Gen Z Needs, Three Paths Towards the Meaning of Life and Behind the Gates of a Private World for Only the Wealthiest New Yorkers

GIFT GUIDES

• Haven’t decided if I’ll do my own but here are two gift guide options if you have already started your holiday shopping - @eloisedufka & @ladydianamay

SOMETHING REALLY BOUGIE AND RIDICULOUS

• Formula 1 Grand Prix - I watched the Vegas Grand Prix, it was a more interesting/good race than I expected. When I first started working at Nat Geo, I remember saying to a co-worker “I want to attend Cannes Film Festival and then head to Monaco for the Grand Prix”. So I guess I should make that happen, huh?

• $27K for a bag of your face? If you had the bank account of Oprah or Jeff Bezos, would you purchase one?

Thank you for taking the time to read this volume of mewd. by mikala!

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