Yarn Bombing in the Hood

On our trek to the store, we passed by this super awesome yarn bombed truck! Check out those wiper blades and that sweet bull's head. Whoever owns this vehicle is my hero.

Upcycling Idea #1: Old Bike Wheel

Last year, Chad had a minor run-in with a bridge that left his front wheel out of commission. I absolutely hate throwing things away, so I decided to reuse it as a picture frame. It's a ridiculously easy project.

All you need is a bike hook to hang it and a one of those little plastic hub guards so the axle won't bang up your wall. His new wheel shipped with a couple, but I imagine that any bike shop would have some on hand if you asked nicely. Once it's all hung up, you can start sticking pictures in the spokes and you got yourself an interesting (and cheap) picture frame!

Back in the Habit

I'm back! I might post some back-dated updates to share some of my travels this summer, but right now I'd like to write about a short life tip. Recently, I watched this TED talk about the merits of smiling:



In all honesty, I was probably doing laundry at the time, so I don't remember too many of the details. But I do remember the take away message: Smiling can actually make you happier.

I bike as my main mode of transportation, which means that I lament the irregular and reckless acts of drivers, pedestrians, and other bikers on the daily. As a result, I can get pretty worked up which only hurts myself.

Recently, I've tried to put the advice of the TED talk into practice. Whenever I notice myself getting angry on the road, I smile. It feels ridiculous and unnatural, but it prevents me from getting angrier and actually makes me feel better. For some reason, it seems a lot more difficult to dwell on the bad stuff while you are smiling, even if it's forced. Give it a try and see what you think.