Perhaps It Is Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Image of Sydney Australia's Tree-Cycle via derrrenbrown.co.uk

I feel a lot better about this Xmas tree than the Xmas decorations that started popping up before Halloween (which isn't in the spirit of the holiday, it's just Xmasploitation).

Contest #2 Extended and A Deal Discovered !

When I tried to win two Chalk Chalk prints on another blog and came up empty, I was quite disappointed so I'm extending this contest. The contest will now close on Friday with the winner announced on Saturday. I know there will be people who will surely kick themselves if they miss this opportunity to score some cool artwork. Despite the bonus time there will only be one winner, so if you don't win, take advantage of Chalk Chalk's great deal and get those stockings stuffed early!

Click for enlarged view.

Contest #2

Hyggelig For The Holidays

See more Chalk Chalk prints.

For me, bicycles will be forever associated with the word, "hyggelig," because of the blog My Hyggelig and because Danish people always look so comfortable on their bikes. As a means of truly bringing bikes into the cozy atmosphere of your home, I give you Chalk Chalk. These wonderful chalkboard prints featuring "wheeled, human powered transportation devices" are handcrafted by Spencer Star. All the rage among lovers of chic decor, I was charmed by Mr. Starr's prints last year when he participated in a giveaway on the Bright Side Project. I didn't win and I can't win this one either, but you lucky folks out there have a chance to beautify your homes with 2 pieces of unique bike portraiture by answering one question.

Where will you put your prints if you win?  

Bonus points for pictures or fine illustrations.

Contest closes Monday, November 29 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 30.

Contest #1 Winner

Congratulations Shenais!

My grandmother was a sweet potato devotee and she lived to 99-years-old (maybe older because she creatively adjusted her age at times). She ate sweet potatoes three ways: candied, souffled, and baked. It's great to see a really different way to enjoy this super healthy vegetable so that people can get a little bit more of it into their diets. Here's the recipe for Sweet Potato and Sage Gratin.

Contest winners have one week to contact me in order to claim their prize. Out of a desire to avoid confusion, I've dispensed with my blog nom de plume and made my e-mail easier to find so just drop me a line at courtneecycleschic@gmail.com.

I'm A Hungry Cyclist

I like the unique recycled packing materials.

Shiny, new, and untested.

It put a nice sear on the roast.

It held a lot Chicken Tikka Masala.

I like the idea of being a pretty good cook because I want to eat good food as often as possible--after all I am the "engine" of my bicycle. The first thing standing between me and culinary proficiency was the terrible twosome of poor knife skills and dull knives. Once I got that taken care of, I started to look at stocking a functional kitchen (even if my very own kitchen only exists in my imagination). How providential is it then that I would get an e-mail from CSN Stores offering me a gift certificate in exchange for a product review? I bought (because I owed a little balance) the Emerilware Stainless 5 Quart Saute Pan because it looked like it could be a real workhorse in the kitchen. My review is here as well as additional information about the pan. This little adventure is also how I came about the idea for the Sweet Georgia Brown Grand Giveaway and a sponsor for contest #1. I hope the winner is as happy with his/her score as I am.

Style Will Save Us

Another new lifestyle mag called Style Will Save Us is featuring cycling which comes as no surprise given the title and the fact that they're into all things super-stylish, organic, ethical, fairtrade, eco-friendly, vintage, recycled and sustainable. The current issue contains an article about the Brooks Select line of saddles launching in February 2011. Did I mention how much I like the turn of phrase "peachy green lifestyle"? I might have to borrow that.

The Sweet Georgia Brown Grand Giveaway

I'm certainly not Oprah, but I figure I can host a giveaway too. And while companies compete to have Oprah giveaway their products, I've been pleasantly surprised by how many makers of cool bike-related items have agreed to participate in my little giveaway just because they appreciate what I'm doing at Sweet Georgia Brown. It's been quite the lovefest over the past few weeks. I hope that mutual admiration continues and even more crafty, chic folks decide to get in on this giveaway.

So let's get started with Contest #1

One Good Feast Deserves Another

sponsored by

CSN Stores is an online retailer made up of over 200 shopping sites that sell just about everything you need for your home--they even have a site to help you find the perfect suitacase for when you want to leave home! With the holidays upon us, I thought a $75 gift certificate from CSN Stores was a great way to begin my giveaway. That's a small kitchen appliance, or some nice serveware, or enough "good" towels to allow your family to use them even when you don't have company! Only those who will be celebrating Thanksgiving as a national holiday next Thursday and their maple-loving neighbors to the North are eligible for this contest. (Don't fret my international friends. Way more of my contests are global rather than not).

Now all you have to do to win this contest is to tell me what you plan on having for your special holiday meal(s). Bonus points for including actual recipes because sharing is awesome and blessed are those who actually do the cooking during the holidays! The contest will be closed on Tuesday, November 23* and the winner announced the next day. I'll also have prize claim details on Wednesday. Good luck everyone!

*That means you have until 11:59 PM EST Tuesday!

Bleep!

                         @*%$#%

No, the title does not refer to the sound of a bicycle bell. That is the safe-for-work/children version of my sentiments when I accidentally deleted the original template for this blog (and all the colors I'd chosen for it) using Blogger's template designer. Who says I want to redesign my whole freakin' template? I just wanted to make the body of my blog wider without have to get down into the HTML of it like a spelunker, but the joke's on me because I had to do it anyway to get this baby halfway back to normal. I'm sure all of the colors aren't right and my bloglist is missing 20+ blogs. I'll be getting to the remaining repairs tomorrow. I've been sitting here for quite a while and, frankly, my butt hurts. Also, my feet are cold (I'm in the basement). It rained heavily all day so I didn't get to ride. I need a hot cup of tea and some cookies. Lots of cookies.

On the brighter side, I have a sweepstakes in the works for the holidays! It was around this time last year that I got a great gift--Brown Betty--and I want to give back to the biking blogosphere. So far many cool Etsy vendors have signed on; now I just have to reach out to some fat wallet wielding manufacturers. More details coming soon!

Will Shanghai Be Forever Cycle Chic?

Despite all the nurturing and attention American bicycling culture needs, I can't forget that--from an environmental standpoint--cycling culture in places like China and India are hugely important to the world. I remember a bit of an article printed around the time of the Beijing Olympics that stated that particulate matter from Beijing (or it might have been Hong Kong) can be found in the air in Los Angeles. They certainly don't need any more pollutants in LA--and I say that as someone who's lived under the "heat dome [of smog]" over Atlanta. That's why I'm happy to see that cycling is making a comeback in Shanghai.

The iconic Shanghai bicycle manufacturer, Forever, has launch a new brand called Forever C. Apparently, Forever is one of China's oldest bicycle manufacturers producing "old tanks" much like the Flying Pigeon's available stateside. Under the Forever C brand, a bunch of young bike-loving designers have teamed with the company to create slick, modern bikes for their Shanghainese counterparts who have disregarded the bike culture of earlier generations.

The most popular model is based on a Chinese postal worker's bike. It has a simple elegance and is available in black, cream, mint, or red. Other models bring the fun with brightly colored frames or a touch of color from the rims.

Peishan

Wuyuan

Iho

Liuyin

Tanshui

Teddy gives his approval = one fun bike!