CHIKA CHAKA CHATTER: YOUR WEEKLY UPDATE FROM MIKE & MEL: VOL. 1, ISSUE 11
Weekly
Update 02/15/25 – 02/21/25
A Personal Note and Exciting Updates from Chika Chaka
Looking Back, Moving Forward – from Mel
It’s been a quiet week for us. Creating last week’s vlog on
meditation and relaxation made us think about “doing”…is it necessary to always
be creating and producing to be able to say you accomplished something in a
particular time frame? I come up with ideas in moments of silence. For example,
my husband and I meditate and do yoga almost every day. During those sessions,
I may unintentionally try to problem-solve instead of letting thoughts flow in
and out. When I do that, I get ideas – some good, some that need tweaking
(there are no “bad” creative ideas, really); feels forced instead of natural.
Later in the day, when I take screen breaks, I may close my eyes and listen to
my husband’s mouse and keyboard clicks; the dog’s nails sliding across the wood
floor; the airy sound of the fireplace fan blowing in the living room.
Suddenly, something pops into my calmness – the “a-ha” moment. It’s so
invigorating. It revs up my energy and keeps me going!
So, let’s take Depeche Mode’s advice and “Enjoy the Silence”
more. It may be the recharge you’re looking for.
Here’s what we’ve been up to recently and what’s ahead for
Chika Chaka…
“When
life hands you lemons, make lemonade” was the theme of this week too. We had a lot of technical
difficulties that threw us off schedule and we’re still off schedule. We’ll
need to make some changes to our recording schedule to get ahead of the issues.
For those of you who look for our new podcast and vlog on Wednesdays, we
finally released them today. Go check them out on your favorite podcast
platform and the vlog on YouTube/@MMFunkySutff. Be sure to leave a comment. 🗣️We’re working to get back to
Wednesdays.
A
HUGE thank you to
Mary Couzin of People of Play and The Toy Association for publishing our
meet cute in The Bloom Report this week! 😍 Here’s the link to the article
if you don’t know my and Mike’s how we met story: https://s.mtrbio.com/grntasjbfb
If
you haven’t heard of Mary, you’re in for an inspiring story! A visionary in the
toy industry, Mary’s journey began with a deep passion for invention and a
mission to bring joy and innovation to others. In 2003, she founded the Chicago
Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG), determined to create the largest celebration of
play in America. Her impact only grew from there—her organization, People of
Play, recently joined forces with The Toy Association, the powerhouse behind
the iconic New York Toy Fair (North American International Toy Fair®),
solidifying her legacy as a true leader in the world of play and innovation! In
addition to that, she’s just a great person. Always a delight to converse with.
But beyond her
incredible achievements, Mary is simply a wonderful person. Always a joy to
talk to, she brings warmth, enthusiasm, and genuine kindness to every
conversation.
Project Updates:
Still learning the tricks of the
trade…
Animations are still in the works. We’re excited about bringing them to you. If
you have any Adobe Illustrator tips and tricks, be sure to drop us a line and
share.
Here’s an awesome one for
Whatnot. The creator even goes live to show how easy it is. Sold his item in
less than 15 minutes with ZERO followers. 😲 https://youtu.be/pUE3fC-ABFw?si=c8egGHBKfAUqRFn6
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. 😍
✨ **Feeling Stuck? Find Your
Path.** ✨
Sometimes, we don’t know which
way to go. This meditation will help you calm your mind and listen to your
heart. The right path should feel exciting, not heavy. 💛
🎧 Start now: https://youtu.be/QcD_VK2xutM
Exciting news! Lelabrands.com is now live! 🎉
It’s also on Instagram (@Lelabrands). While our website is just getting
started, our relaxation, meditation, and positive affirmation videos have
already been available on YouTube. We’re starting to post them on IG as well. Check
back often as we continue to expand, and if you’re all about that “namaste”
life, we’d love for you to be part of our journey! ☮ 🧘♂️
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!
M&M
Funky Stuff
may have a booth at Kids’ Day - We’re gearing up for one of the most
exciting family events in Indianapolis, the Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase
500 Festival Kids’ Day! 🎉 Indy’s largest free outdoor festival
for kids takes over Monument Circle on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 11:00
a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Families can enjoy interactive exhibits, educational
activities, and plenty of hands-on fun in a carnival-like atmosphere. It’s perfect
for kids of all ages and abilities. Stay tuned for updates. We’d love to see
you there. 🚗💨
Got
ideas for similar opportunities? Send them our way at mmfunkystuff@gmail.com. Let’s make it happen! 🚀
**New Newsletter Feature**
For a Laugh 🤣:
Thank you for your support. We
appreciate you!
“How lucky I am to have
something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~Winnie the Pooh
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