CHIKA CHAKA CHATTER: YOUR WEEKLY UPDATE FROM MIKE & MEL: VOL. 1, ISSUE 6

 

Weekly Update 01/11/25 – 01/17/25

 

A Personal Note and Exciting Updates from Chika Chaka

 

Looking Back, Moving Forward – from Mel

Our hearts are with Los Angeles 💔 As wildfires sweep through the Los Angeles area, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted - families, first responders, and communities facing unimaginable challenges. Having lived in Los Angeles for many years, Mike feels this deeply. With friends still in the area, we are keeping them and the entire community in our prayers for safety.

To those who have been displaced or are enduring loss, please know that you’re not alone. To the brave firefighters and emergency personnel risking their lives, we are endlessly grateful for your courage.

Let’s come together online and off to support one another during this time of need. Every act of kindness makes a difference.

As of January 18, 2025, the Los Angeles wildfires have resulted in at least 27 fatalities, forced over 200,000 residents to evacuate, and destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures.

Current Status:

• Palisades Fire: Burning since January 7, it has consumed approximately 23,713 acres and is 39% contained.
• Eaton Fire: Also ignited on January 7, it has burned around 14,117 acres with 65% containment.

During disasters like this, misinformation can run rampant. This can include false claims about the cause of the fires or the effectiveness of firefighting efforts. It's important to note that negative comments are not representative of all social media reactions. Many users express sympathy and support for those affected by the fires.

Here’s what we’ve been up to recently and what’s ahead for Chika Chaka…

 

 

Team Wins: Good bye,TikTok ? 😕

If you’ve never seen the movie Singles, there’s a memorable scene where Linda (played by Kyra Sedgwick) falls head over heels for Luiz, an exchange student. She’s having the time of her life, but it’s bittersweet—Luiz must return to Spain in just a few days due to visa issues. That’s kind of how we feel about TikTok right now! We’re just starting to gain momentum and really enjoy the platform, but there’s this looming uncertainty that it could be taken away at any moment. 😭

Hopefully, TikTok will stick around. (Unlike poor Linda, who later spotted Luiz those couple of days later cozying up to another woman at a bar... yikes!)

 

Project Updates:

We’re still refreshing our animation skills in Adobe, as well as checking out some other animation options. There are a lot of animation videos out there and it’s not a matter of just making it and throwing it on YouTube. We’re doing research to see what works and what needs tweaking. We want to bring our audiences the best content we know how to produce and represent our brand well. Stay tuned…

Chika Chaka is now available on Amazon! 

 

You can always find Chika Chaka on TikTok Shop, Whatnot, our website Chikachakatoy and limited specialty toy retailers. Our goal is to serve as many markets as possible while still supporting small businesses like us. If you’ve already purchased Chika Chaka, we’d love for you to leave a review on Amazon. If you haven’t purchased it yet, what are you waiting for? We’d love to have you as part of the family. 😍

 

We posted a meditation video for you to get your zen on! It's called You Are Unique & Beautiful 7-min. Guided Meditation. Our passion for getting people moving and our own love of mindfulness, yoga, and healthy habits inspired the resurgence of LēLa, our lifestyle brand that has been sitting on the shelf for almost ten years. Our mission is to help you achieve higher energy without disrupting your daily routine. Watch for more relaxation, meditation, and positive affirmation videos from us as we build it into the M&M Funky Stuff family. If you have an affinity for all things “namaste,” please give us a try. ☮ 🧘‍♂️

 

New Opportunities:

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis—consistently ranked one of the top museums in the country—will host a Chika Chaka event this February! 🎉 We’re beyond thrilled for this incredible opportunity and so excited that you can find our game in their gift shop!

We’re still working out the details with the museum’s amazing team, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as everything is finalized. We’d LOVE for you to stop by and join in on the fun!

2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year as we explore new ways to expand our reach. Stay tuned for more exciting events like this one! 💥

Got ideas for similar opportunities? Send them our way at mmfunkystuff@gmail.com. Let’s make it happen! 🚀

 

 

Looking Ahead:

Lots of big plans…

 

 

In Closing:

Thank you for your support. We appreciate you. Let’s make 2025 the best year ever!

 

 

Weekly motivation:

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we’re proud to share one of his many memorable quotes,

 

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”