Category: WOW

Craft beers are hugely popular and wine tasting is fun, but the effects of alcohol can be seriously detrimental to one’s health. When consumed in excess, it can lead to a host of health issues, including liver failure and brain damage. Although those results are from repeated alcohol abuse, there are smaller signs of too much drinking—like bloated, puffy skin and a dull complexion.

Tired of the physical and emotional ramifications of too much alcohol, some people abstain from it entirely. Whether it be on their own or through a support program, many brave individuals have shared photographs of before and after they got sober. The differences are staggering—many of these people made incredible physical transformations in less than a year. They’ve lost significant amounts of weight, got fit, and have glowing skin. Best of all, they look genuinely happy to be alive.

Check out their personal victories, below.

7 months sober
Photo source: ghostbackwards

6 months sober
Photo source: size16french

8.5 months sober
Photo source: brittsuzanne

1.5 years sober
Photo source: @luscrib89

Two years sober
Photo source: silverladder

1.5 years sober
Photo source: dr_dan_is_sober

Six months sober
Photo source: Caudebac

3 years, 5 months sober
Photo source: Tonya Raleigh

300 days sober
Photo source: Meatteo

6 months sober
Photo source: MyMorningBender

via [Bored Panda, Little Things]

As the temperatures continue to dip, it’s prime time for cozy knitwear to take the edge off winter. Last year, we marveled at Ohhio’s ultra-chunky creations that are fit for giants (but make perfect blanket for humans). While they still sell the luxurious blankets and scarves, they just launched their newest product, known simply as Braid.

Braid is a versatile craft material you can use to produce these same knits. “Braid is light, soft, durable, and machine-washable, too,” they tell us in an email. It’s the brainchild of lead designer Anna Marinenko, who had the idea when she and her team realized just how many people wanted to start arm knitting—in which your arm replaces traditional needles—but found their merino wool difficult to work with.

To make Braid easy to use (and suitable for those with allergies), it’s constructed as a seamless cotton tube with a pillow-style filling. Plush and pliable, the strands can fold around your arms into blankets, pet beds, and more. The product has been in development over the past 11 months, and to bring it to life, Ohhio will soon be launching a Kickstarter campaign.

Braid comes packaged like this…

…and can create things like these:

Ohhio: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted to use photos by Ohhio.

Known for its coat of candy-colored paint and its sleek, streamlined design, the Vespa scooter is an undeniably iconic vehicle. Proudly made in Italy and particularly popular in Europe, the Vespa has hardly changed since it first hit the roads in 1946. Now, however, the two-wheeler will be receiving a bit of a modern makeover, as Piaggio, Vespa’s parent company, has announced plans to roll out a much-anticipated electric model.

Piaggio shared the exciting and electrifying news in the days leading up to the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan. While the model, named Eletricca, is still in its preliminary planning phase, it is predicted to emerge on the scene in late 2017. As an environmentally friendly and sustainable transport option, Eletricca will be an obvious leap forward for the Vespa brand; intended to “redesign the mobility of the future,” the new model will inevitably add a contemporary touch to the classic company. However, this does not mean that its retro roots will be forgotten. In a preliminary conceptual photo, the Eletricca prototype appears to retain Vespa’s signature silhouette (specifically, that of the Primavera model) and standard steel body, which has been covered in a coat of shiny silver paint and features futuristic pops of florescent blue.

In addition to the Eletricca model, Piaggio unveiled another socially-minded product: the Vespa 946, a striking special-edition scooter whose proceeds will benefit (RED), a non-profit dedicated to fighting AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis through crucial research and increased awareness. Like Eletricca, the Vespa 946 still retains the qualities of the timeless model we all know and love—just with a bit of a charitable twist.

The Vespa has always claimed to be “not just a scooter, [but] a way of life,” and, with its recent focus on designs that are environmentally friendly, sustainable, and even lifesaving, it’s a way of life we can all get behind.

Vespa: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 
via [Inhabitat]

All images via Vespa.

For years, the Kinseiken Seika Company has been perfecting the sugary-sweet art of making desserts. Located in Hokuto, Japan, the shop is renowned for its experimental approach to mochi, a sweetened rice cake. In 2014, the company’s popularity soared when the sweet-toothed Internet discovered its mizu shingen mochi, Japanese water cake. Based on the classic shingen mochi dish, mizu shingen mochi is a gelatinous cake that bears a striking resemblance to an oversized dewdrop. Inspired by the delicate dessert, Twitter user @mithiruka has recently recreated it—but with a fun and fancy feline twist.

Like shingen mochi, the Japanese water cake is composed of three main ingredients: a gyuhi base (a softer and more delicate breed of mochi), a sticky-sweet brown sugar syrup coating, and a dusting of kinako soybean powder. Unlike the traditional rice cake, however, mizu shingen mochi has an additional additive: crystal clear water collected from Japan’s Southern Alps. The extracted water has been solidified <emjust enough to give the mystifying, melt-in-your-mouth mochi its bouncy shape—which means that, if not consumed quickly (around 30 minutes), the quirky creation will begin to liquefy. Even with its strikingly short shelf life, however, @mithiruka has opted to craft an edible work of art out of the ephemeral treat.

Unlike Kinseiken’s water cake, @mithiruka’s reimagined version no longer resembles a simple, spherical bead of water. Instead, it looks like a curled up, crystalline cat. Using a recipe from Cookpad and a silicon mold of a slumbering cat, the dessert-loving Twitter user managed to put a unique spin on an already inventive sweet.

Here is the original, non-feline-looking water cake:

@mithiruka: Twitter
via [Rocket News 24]

All images via @mithiruka and Kinseiken.

You’ve heard of the three-piece suit, now meet the three-piece ring set. Jewelry design shop Mary Lou has created multi-section rings that are made with animal lovers in mind. Sloths, cheetahs, flamingos, foxes, and more are crafted out of brass and enamel, charming us with their detailed likeness as well as practicality—each of these pieces are adjustable and can be worn in multiple ways.

The playful accessories can be displayed as a stack, fostering the illusion that an entire animal is grasping your finger. Alternatively, the rings can occupy separate fingers as if the creature is lying horizontally across your hand. But no matter how you choose to wear the jewelry, one thing is for certain: their quirkiness will add some delightful whimsy to your everyday attire.

If these accessories look familiar, it’s because you might’ve seen them on My Modern Met Selects, our website that celebrates creative goods from makers around the world. Be sure to follow us for great products throughout the week!

Mary Lou’s rings are available through Etsy.

Mary Lou: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Etsy
via [My Modern Met Selects]

No one enjoys getting a dreaded flat tire while cycling. Patching and pumping can help, but if you’re stuck without the right tools, you may find yourself in store for a long walk home. A company, based out of Utah, is looking to solve the issue with two new airless and tubeless tire options—Nexo Tires and Ever Tires. It isn’t reinventing the wheel—pun intended—but rather developing a model that is a product superior to the current airless options, which haven’t caught on due to poor stiffness and shock absorption.

The founders were running a cycling shop, changing out thousands of tires, when they began developing a durable and eco-friendly solution. “Nothing ruins a bike ride or commute faster than a flat, and flats can cost between $15 and $30 to fix, so to save our customers money and the frustration of a flat, we created a better solution,” shares Dave Ballard, Nexo Tires and Ever Tires co-founder. “We believe Ever Tires and Nexo Tires will be something every cyclist will want once they hear about them.” Aside from cost savings, the puncture-proof tires can make a dent in to 10,000,000 bike tires and tubes discarded every year. They are also made using a one-step injection process that drastically cuts down on the energy used to produce regular tires—which typically require an 8 to 9 step manufacturing process.

Two different tire sets will be produced at the end of their already successful Kickstarter campaign—one to be mounted on existing wheels and one that replaces the entire wheel set. Durability tests have shown the existing wheel mount (Nexo) to last 3,100 miles, while the wheel set replacement (Ever) will get you 5,000. As an added bonus, the tires weigh as much as a regular tire tube and liner and are even available in different colors.

Nexo Tires and Ever Tires plan to make its first shipment within the United States in January 2017, with the Nexo DIY kit available for a pledge of $75 and Ever tires sets ranging from $76 to $105, depending on tire size. Soon, you’ll never have to worry about a stray thumbtack or nail putting your bike out of commission.

Nexo Tires: Website |  Kickstarter
Ever Tires: Website | Kickstarter
via [Bored Panda]

All images via Nexo Tires and Ever Tires.

The next time you take a stroll through Las Vegas’ Boulder Plaza, your footsteps may help power newly installed, clean energy streetlights. The city has teamed up with New York-based EnGo Planet to install their kinetic and solar powered street lights in the city’s Arts District. As cities across the nation begin using renewable energy to bring down their net emissions, EnGo Planet’s smart streetlights are aiding in a battle toward efficiency. Combatting more than 100 million tons of annual carbon pollution generated by more than 300 million traditional streetlights globally is the first step.

The concept is quite simple. Kinetic pads are installed in close proximity to the streetlights, which are also fitted with solar panels. As pedestrians step on the pads, kinetic energy is stored in a generator. One footstep produces between 4 and 8 watts. When combined with solar energy gathered during the day, it produces enough to power the LED streetlights. All of this would be innovative enough, but EnGo Planet has added some smart features that amp up the lights. For instance, each streetlight has a WiFi hotspot and mobile charging station fitted with a wireless charging pad and USB ports. Going a step further, integrated smart sensors monitor temperature, air quality, and humidity, and the entire system can be monitored by online software that allows you to check the collected data, see the battery status, and even dim the lights.

With this recent initiative, Las Vegas is looking to do more than simply cut down on the light bill. “We want to provide the highest service levels while also looking to the future and ensuring that we are sustainable,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman declared. “Through our LEED certified buildings, solar projects, water reclamation, alternative-fueled vehicles and sustainable streetlights, Las Vegas continues to lead the way.”

EnGo Planet’s next goal is to bring their smart streetlights to 10 rural areas in Africa, where streetlights are missing and people often pay high fees to simply charge their phone. Through their Indiegogo campaign they are looking to fund the production, shipping, and installation of at least 60 units in order to do their part in bringing light to some of the 1.4 billion people worldwide who do not have access to electricity or public lights.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHnuH_gUcRw?rel=0&showinfo=0&w=750&h=422]

EnGo Planet: Website | Facebook | IndieGoGo
via [Inhabitat]

All images via EnGo Planet.

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Freelance photographer Rita Kluge treats the world as her oyster. Based in the beautiful beaches of Sydney, Australia, the German transplant travels the planet, committed to “capturing the ocean and all it has to offer; be it surfers, swells or marine wildlife.” Each bathed-in-blue, fascinating photograph offers a gorgeous glimpse into life below the surface. In a recent series, Kluge gets up close and personal with whale calves, documenting their playful personalities and exploring the unbreakable bonds they share with their mothers.

Kluge has dedicated much of her life to literally diving into her subject matter, boldly entering the unknown and coming face-to-face with whales, dolphins, sharks, seals, sea lions, and other marine life. Her underwater inspirations comprise a beautiful portfolio, which. Despite her multifaceted lifestyle and eclectic background, in which she doubles as a physiotherapist and has experience as an instructor of Wing Chun King Fu, snowboarding, surfing, and waterskiing, she calls photography her “great passion.” Lately, the zealous photographer has exhibited a focus on young whales

In 2015, Kluge traveled to Tonga. Having arrived in the winter—the South Pacific’s humpback calving season—she was treated to picture-perfect interactions with newborn and baby whales. Eager to capture their unique personalities, she shot a variety of photographs, from close-up, expressive portraits to mother-baby scenes from a wider angle. Though the calves she photographs are undeniably majestic, they’re also quite simply adorable. “I had a totally unreal moment when a 4 meter humpback calf, about 2-3 months old, was going straight towards me,” she shared with The Guardian. “I thought, wow, that’s cool! Then he stopped right in front of me and I started to giggle. He was standing upright. He looked like he was asking: ‘Hey will you play with me?’”

While her trip resulted in stunning, award-winning shots—she received multiple accolades from National Geographic and The Weekend Australian—her interactions with the gentle giants were worth so much more. “To look into a whale’s eye is life-changing and humbling,” she says. “You stop photographing and wave to them just to say thank you. It’s emotional, maybe like a blessing. You just have to go and see yourself.”

And, through Whales Under Water—a company that offers whale swimming tours—you can! (Kluge even collaborates as a special guest host.) Until then, you can check out her under-the-sea Instagram.

Rita Kluge: Website | Instagram | Facebook

All images via Rita Kluge. 

Looking for a little levity? Dave Pollot‘s clever oil paintings have always brought a smile to our faces. Pollot scours thrift shops for used paintings and prints, which are then transformed into humorous art pieces under his deft hand. He’s mastered the art of finding just the right place to insert pop culture figures and references, blending them seamlessly into the pre-existing scenery. His work doesn’t take itself too seriously—the aim is simply to put a smile on the face of his audience.

Based in New York, Pollot’s use of old artwork came about for practical reasons—his short attention span called for something he could complete quickly. “Repurposing old thrift art has become something of an answer to this problem,” the artist shares. “I take abandoned prints and paintings found at thrift stores and garage sales and carefully use oil paints to make new additions into the old pieces. Part of the challenge is not only taking some piece of pop culture and putting it into a place where it might not belong, but also making it blend in so well that it actually seems that it belongs.”

Pollock’s work brings these discarded pieces out of dusty attics or grandma’s living room and gives them a second life. His world creates an escapist fantasy that catches us off guard, forcing us to play a fun game of “one of these things does not belong.”

To proudly display one of Pollock’s creations on your wall, the artist has made his original artwork and prints of his paintings available through Etsy.

Dave Pollot: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
via [Laughing Squid]

All images via Dave Pollot.

Last week, actress and activist Emma Watson treated a handful of lucky Londoners to some unexpected Underground surprises. As a “Book Fairy” for Books on the Underground, she gifted London’s Tube with hidden copies of Mom & Me & Mom, the final installment of Maya Angelou’s moving memoir series. Intended to be “taken, read, shared, and most importantly, enjoyed” by commuters, each railway read featured a handwritten well-wish from Watson. While the actress has completed her duties as a London-based Book Fairy, she has not completely shifted gears. Now, in the wake of a particularly polarizing presidential campaign and an undeniably alienating election result, Watson has arrived in New York City to give its subway riders a reason to smile.

Not unlike her role as Book Fairy for Books on the Underground, Watson’s sneaky stint for Books on the Subway is rooted in her impassioned activism. At just 26 years old, the actress is a UN Global Goodwill Ambassador. She is also celebrated as a contemporary champion for women’s rights, and is applauded for her wide-reaching feminist platform. Given her inspiring girl-power persona, her gravitation toward Angelou’s work is not surprising. And, given the current climate following the victory of Donald Trump—a controversial candidate who has isolated and offended many women on his way to the White House—her journey to New York isn’t, either. 

On the day that the seemingly never-ending election’s unexpected result was announced, Watson, with an air of great determination, posted her plan on Twitter: “Today I am going to deliver Maya Angelou books to the New York subway,” she declared. “Then I am going to fight even harder for all the things I believe in.” Following her inspired and empowering message, she shared an Instagram photo portraying her plan in action.

As she clutches two copies of Mom & Me & Mom in New York City’s 23^rd Street Station—poignantly, the site of a recent attack—Watson is shown cleverly tucking one into its new hiding place: a not-so-obvious nook in an ordinary beam. Since sharing the photo, which has now been “liked” over 1.2 million times, Watson hasn’t divulged any additional hints or clues about the whereabouts of the other literary treats. But one lucky commuter has found one in Clark Street Station, so all New York-based bookworms should continue to keep an eye (or two) out.

If you’re not based in the Big Apple but still interested in leafing through Mom & Me & Mom and other Watson-selected literature, be sure to check out her feminist book club, Our Shared Shelf, a refreshing safe space where all are welcome to read along. 

Emma Watson: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 
Our Shared Shelf: Goodreads | Instagram
Books on the Subway: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
via [The Huffington Post]