- mewd. by mikala
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- VOLUME 4 - ISSUE 1: January 12, 2026
VOLUME 4 - ISSUE 1: January 12, 2026
mikala
January 12, 2026
Song for Volume IV - Issue 1: Cleo Soul - When I’m In Your Arms
👋🏽 Hello There
We are almost two weeks into the new year and I haven’t set any goals or anything. Well, I have an idea of my goals but I’m taking this month to truly figure out what I want to accomplish in a year and over time in general.
It’s a new year so a lot of things feel the same, so I’m not going to say new year, new me. It will be the same me just a better version by the time I look back a year from now. It’s interesting when setting goals because I think sometimes people forget (myself as well) things don’t need to be perfect and at 100% energy wise all the time but slowly making time to accomplish whatever your goal is. Some days you aren’t going to want to do something but if you can show up at 70% better that than not at all. Hopefully I’m making sense, if not that’s tomorrow’s problem lol.
If you aren’t aware already Instagram suffered a data breach. I’m pretty sure I am one of them as I received a request to reset my password that same morning this was annouced 🫠🫠🫠🫠.
Me to Meta right now:
Giphy
One thing that I’ve noticed, that may be an emerging trend is people bucking against companies to integrate AI into everything and wanting to spend less time online and more in an analog world with physical items to occupy their time. IMO overall AI is a tool and should be used to supplement whatever you are doing in life so you aren’t spending time doing monotonous things but its environmental impact is something to be very concerned about and hope companies address this promptly.
In more fun things, here are some brands I’ve discovered since December.
Oat Haus — big big fan of the birthday cake flavor (finished it in one week 😅) and have ordered more to try
Ground Up - tried this in Snickerdoodle flavor and I liked it but I am a fan of Oat Haus more.
I am trying to find a replacement for my favorite peanut butter that I can’t get in LA and I think Oat Haus is the replacement I’ve been looking for.
Vietnamese designer Đỗ Long
Xochilt's Desserts in Long Beach, CA
Yínká - florals in Los Angeles
  Price: 💵💵💵.5 - I didn’t see anything that was for a jarring price. I think the price range for most items is somewhere between Erewhon and Whole Foods Ambiance + Friendly/Knowledgable Staff: N/A. There wasn’t a lot of staff so I feel like I can’t really rate this category since interaction was minimal. When I checked out the guy was kind and polite Fresh & Organic Produce: 🌽🌽🌽.5 - there is a good selection of fruits, and vegetables but not a lot at the same time if that make sense. You will find the everyday items most people purchase in this category but not an over abundance of items in this category. Unique Selection of Items: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Some unique items but nothing I haven’t seen at other grocery stores either. Prepared foods/Hot Bar: 🔥🔥🔥.5 - From what I quickly saw, the hot bar seemed to have options but it was a smaller selection than what people may be used to. There is also an area dedicated to wine if that helps haha (Fun Category) Athleisure and Range Rovers: 🚙🚙🚙 - This area is a mixed area that is being gentrified so the customers will be from various backgrounds |   Tasty parfait at Kapé Lasita Los Angeles, CA -
Recommendations I’ll Share EUROPE Lisbon, PT - ZunZum Gastrobar |
 Articles The Verge - AI’s water and electricity use soars in 2025 The Economist - The rise of singlehood is reshaping the world FYI in case you didn’t know use archive.org if you need help reading |   Custom drink made at Bar 109 Going Out Los, Angeles, CA - Bar 109 Los Angeles, CA - Fotohaus Movies No Other Choice (In Theaters) - I won’t lie, I didn’t see the trailer so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into but I’m a fan of Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing On You and Something in the Rain) and Yeom Hye-ran (Uncanny Counter and The Glory) plus Lee Byung-hun so I wasn’t worried on whether or not it was going to be good. It has an intriguing premises and is dark and gory movie. With all that said, I did enjoy this movie and it stayed with me as I’m not sure what I would do in the same predicament. Wicked for Good (Peacock/In Theaters/VOD) - I don’t like musicals for the most part but when I saw this is theaters I was glad I did. I saw Wicked last year and was entranced by the costuming and the world they built without CGI etc. Both Ariana and Cynthia did wonderful in their roles (no surprise to anyone) so will be interested to see what roles they take in the future when it comes to musicals whether on stage or movie wise. Housemaid (In Theaters) - As I’ve told people in person, I didn’t expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did. I also didn’t know how talented of an actress Amanda Seyfried is. This is a movie based upon a book series so depending on how it does there could be a sequel or two. It also is a movie that can stand alone as it doesn’t end with a big cliffhanger etc F1 (AppleTV) - I liked this movie and at the same time to me it’s about 30 - 45 mins too long. It’s a cheesy popcorn movie with a comeback story plot but as a fan of F1 it was nice to see all my favorite drivers and how they intertwined the movie plot into what happens on and off the track in the world of F1. TV Emily in Paris (Netflix) - This is popcorn and mindless entertainment. Is this the best show ever, no? Did I enjoy watching and seeing the fashion (Emily’s clothing choices were so so much better this season) in the show, yes. |
  Albums Deadbeat by Tame Impala - The album reminds me of a lava lamp (hopefully you understand what I mean by this lol). If there is a movie about my life I’d want a few tracks from this album to play during my montage scenes. Overall the album is chill yet will get you excited about your day, that moment etc as well. LUX by ROSALÍA - I’m not sure if an album should remind you of a city but LUX reminds me of Sevilla,Spain. Sevilla to me is what you think of traditional Spain. ROSALÍA’s album is also interwoven with modern ideals and a smidge of Arabic in one song too. Songs I’m Enjoying Bruno Mars (Pop) - I Just Might, Diplo, D00mscrvll, & Kodak Black (Dance) - Loitering, Jay Versace featuring Scott Apex (Unknown) - WHEREVER U ARE, Amy Gadiaga (Alternative) - who knows, Sassy 009 (Electronic) - Someone, and Jill Scott (R&B/Soul) - Beautiful People |   Artwork by Alteronce Gumby Southern Guild’s LA location has closed as of Saturday but check my IG for some of the artwork for the final show in their LA space. Here are some other gallery shows I’ve checked out this month so far. Also, for those in Los Angeles, Frieze is at the end of next month. Hauser & Wirth (Los Angeles, CA) - Lee Lozano - Hard Handshake and Flora Yukhnovich - Bacchanalia are on view until January 18th. Jeffrey Dietch (Los Angeles, CA) - Gumby on Alteronce Gumby: Walk on the Moon on view until January 24, 2026 and Kohshin Finley: Still Life on view until January 31, 2026 |
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