This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Columbia Bicycles, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RideColumbia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstVOne of my favorite things to do is ride a bike, there’s nothing like the wind in your hair. Plus biking is one of those activities that doesn’t feel like exercise when you are doing it.

We love to take our bikes when we are on vacation. Sometimes the best way to see a new place is on a bike. This slower pace allows for you to not miss fun details along the way. Really you can cover a lot of ground on a bike. and parking is never an issue.

A couple weeks ago I spent a couple days in Palm Springs with some of my blog friends. Sarah of Sarah Hearts, her husband, Kevin, and I decided the best way to take in Palm Springs’ mid century architecture and desert landscapes.The next chapter for Columbia has been written. Back in 1877, Columbia started selling bicycles before any other company in the USA. This company knows bikes, Columbia invented the tandem bicycle, a bicycle built for two, expertly capitalizing on their engineering superiority. And now they are rolling out a brand new fleet of beautiful bikes available at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Amazon and Dicks. 

This cute red bike is Columbia’s 1920’s inspired Archbar 700c Vintage City Bike, available at Target. It has a steel frame, 7-speeds, steel fenders and a retro inspired seat the hand grips. It’s a really smooth, comfortable bike to ride.

And if you are going to ride your bike, you are definitely going to need a snack along the way. You gotta fuel your body. These Homemade Chocolate Coconut Granola bars are jam packed with all the good stuff. They are gluten free and sweetened with just honey and dates (oh and a few semi-sweet chocolate chips). It’s kind of nice to know what you’re putting in your body. I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to eat a store bought bar again. I might have become a granola bar snob. Plus these require no baking, so they are quick and easy to make. Homemade Chocolate Coconut Granola Bars

• 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup dates, pitted
• 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 tbsp raw shelled hemp seeds (optional)
• 2 tbsp flax seed (optional)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/4  cup honey
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• pink of salt

In the bowl of an electric mixer place the rolled oats, pecans, hemp seeds, flax seed, coconut, and salt. Place the pitted dates in a food processor and blend until the dates come are one big ball. Place the peanut butter and honey in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds or until it is a liquid.  Add the dates and honey and peanut butter mixture to the oat mixture and mix with the electric mixer until the ingredients are well combined.

Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper.  Firmly pack the oat mixture into the pan.  Sprinkle with the mini chocolate chips and press firmly into the bars. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours. Remove from the pan and cut into 10 equal sized bars.

Wrap the bars in parchment paper and store in an airtight container for a week (if they last that long). For more about these fun new bikes check Columbia out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I’m back with another fun idea for Mother’s Day. On Monday I shared the garden rose blankets and FREE Printable gift tags I made for my mom. Now, I’ve got to have a fun gift for the other mother in my life, my mother in law. Mom’s need a little pampering, that’s for sure. So serving them a little afternoon tea with pretty Lemon Thyme Shortbead Cookies on a floral tray seems like a great idea.

When we were in Washington DC for Spring Break, one morning we went the Rose’s Luxury’s (probably the best food I’ve ever had) new coffee shop – Pineapple and Pearls. Oh my, if you can be smitten by a coffee shop, I was. They have the yummiest sticky buns in unusual flavors like Mexican Chocolate, Pineapple and Brisket and Horseradish. I also had an adorable latte with a panda on it.  My mother in law order a Lemon Thyme Shortbread, and it was soooo yummy. So, I decided I needed recreate this cookie for a little Mother’s Day treat.

Lemon Thyme Shortbread
1 cup butter
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. freshly thyme chopped
zest of one lemon
1 tsp. vanilla
small sprigs of thyme for the tops of each cookie

Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add the vanilla, lemon zest and thyme.  Add the flour and mix until the dough comes together.  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 mins.

Pre-heat the oven to 350F.  Roll out the dough to a little less then 1/4″ on a well floured surface. This is a very soft dough, that’s what makes them so tender when they are done.  Keep the dough cold and work with flour on your hands and on the surface.  Cut out desired shapes and top with a sprig of thyme.  Place on parchment lined baking sheets.  Chill the cut cookies for at least 20 mins. before baking (this helps the cookies keep their shape and not spread on the cookie sheet).  Bake the cookies for about 12 mins. or until the edges are just barely brown. Cool on wire racks.

These cookies freeze well in an air tight container.

Trays are one of those home decor accessories that you just can’t have too many of. Not only are they perfect for serving food on, but they are great on dressers and bedside tables for keeping all your little things organized. I have trays on my coffee table, dining table, and beside my kitchen sink.

I took a few more of my garden rose images and had them put on sleek lucite trays with Shutterfly. Shutterfly has beautiful, waterproof, durable lucite trays that you can customize. It’s really kind of hard for my to pick a favorite. They all turned out really pretty.

And once again, I’m sharing these images with you if you’d like to make a tray for yourself or for your mom. Here’s the links to download the images:

• Close-up Rose
• Black and White Roses
• White Garden Roses
• Pink Rose

This post is sponsored by Shutterfly, thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible. 

Before we know it, Summer will be here. I’m ready for dinners outside and having friends over for bbqs. And while the food is on the grill, I’ll be serving my guests this yummy and also very pretty savory tart. Creamy, tangy goat cheese, a little dill and sweet tomatoes make this fresh appetizer a crowd favorite.

Tomato Goat Cheese Tart

• Pie Dough (store bought or homemade – I like Martha’s Pate Brisee)
• 4 oz. Goat Cheese
• 1/2 tsp. dried and fresh dill
• zest and juice of one lemon
• 3 tomatoes (pretty heirloom tomatoes in a few colors)
• salt and pepper

Roll out the pie crust to a long oval shape.  With an electric mixer, beat the goat cheese, lemon zest, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and salt and pepper until smooth.  Spread the goat cheese even over the pie crust.  Bake for 12-15 minutes at 450 F until the crust in golden. Allow to cool completely.

Thinly slice the tomatoes.  Layer the tomatoes in rows and top with a bit more lemon zest, dill, salt, and pepper.

Cut into 2 inch pieces. Serves 6.

Happy Hump Day!  Oh and did you sign up for my newsletter?  I sent out my very first one yesterday.  Sign up with the form in the righthand bar of the blog.