Feather Fronds

Something about these blue shutters and all this folige had me hunting down a more unusual gift topper. I wanted to capture the breezy look of the palm fronds without using the green silk leaves I already used in a gift wrap post this week. Surprise, surprise, look what I found in my storage room.




These feathers are actually about 2 feet long, way too big for a normal size box. So I cut them quickly (and I mean quickly!) and wrapped the cut base with a silk ribbon before the cut feather edge started to float all over the room. I'm not sure I've used these two colours together before, but I am lovin the kelly green and turquoise blue.

Here's how the feathers look with ribbon wrapped base before tucking them into the bow. Done this way, it's a topper the recipient can display or regift. I have to think of a way to use up the other 1" that I cut off, but it won't be today. I'm back doing my outdoor cycling with my new Gary Fisher Marlin GT mountain bike that I picked up early this morning. My smokin new upgrade ( I earned it cycling last year) is gender-specific, designed specifically for women cyclists. Not only is a dream to ride, it positively makes me feel young again. The weather is gorgeous so I slipped in two rides today and got up to 9 miles total. My goal is 15 miles a day, but still....... I'm kind of lovin myself today.

Gary Fisher bikes are a great choice for women and available at all price levels. Their gender-specific frames are designed to tilt your pelvis comfortably and properly to reduce back strain. Women are built different so it's an important distinction when you are trying to trim those hips by clocking in lots of miles. I've shown you this bike before ........but I am absolutely lovin it today.

Have a wonderful, outdoor weekend. Take a bike ride, you might get hooked.

Top photo via Flickr/2nd and 3rd photo by Sande Chase ~ Oooh la la Cadeau/Bottom Photo from Gary Fisher.

Blogger Butt

Not that we're breaking up or anything, but I have to make friends with an old friend again. While I was busy making new blogger friends over the past month, an old enemy showed up by the name of Blogger Butt! I was never known for a love of exercise, the outdoors (or a petite rear) , but when you have a 26 yr.old son who seriously cycles and keeps telling you to exercise, sometimes you just give in to keep them quiet. Nobody was more surprised than me that I took to cycling outdoors last year on my cheap entry-level bike like a crazed roadrunner. "But I don't like exercising" I kept thinking, 1000 km later I not only liked it, I absolutely loved it. I wasn't completely useless before that point, I had walked and walked, tried aerobics (remember I am 55), but cycling did the most remarkable things to those hips, my weight, my outlook, my Ipod playlist, and I'm hoping to see that happen again. So if my posts are a bit shorter over the next few weeks, you'll know why, I just have to make BFF with Marlin GS, my new Gary Fisher upgrade. I'm only going to mention it once, I'm not one to preach, but cycling is cheap and it works like crazy. Hit the road ladies.......with a helmet ( they look awful but who cares?), those hips and butt are going to be loving you again.

If I cycle long enough could I make it to this rural road in France?

Top photo from Gary Fisher Bikes/Bottom photo from Flickr