This is your formal invitation to come visit the Lane! Gather a few friends, your most comfy PJ’s, a couple bottles of wine (totally optional), along with your favorite crafting supplies and head on over. I promise you won’t be disappointed! I know, I know, the house doesn’t seem like much on the outside. The porch and large windows are nice for a country house, BUT how does that really help your crafting addiction you ask!?! I’m about to show you!

The house is built on a hill and the entrance is actually on the second floor. As you walk in, you can see why we decided this house was perfect for the Lane! The entrance opens up into two large craft rooms filled with 15 six foot tables. (Of course we had to tear down three walls to get it open, but that is a completely different blog!)

It then spills into the dining room and kitchen with the BIGGEST ISLAND you have EVER seen! I wish I could cook their everyday!

Off the craft rooms there is a small sitting room with a Daybed (in-case guests have trouble with the stairs) and the big TV. If you ever stop to rest from your crafting fury (as-if) you can enjoy our chick-flicks and games. That room leads to the stairway which takes you to the lower floor of the house.

Because the house is built into a hill, it is SO quiet and peaceful downstairs! I have had several people ask me about the mattresses we have, because they sleep so well in our beds downstairs!

There are four bedrooms with 3 to 5 beds in each. Each with their own special theme and comfy colors. You can choose to stay in the Pink boutique and have a girly sleepover with hot pink walls and black accents, or you can get more of a vacation vibe in the beach room. If you need a calming getaway the subtle shades in the Book Nook will work. Many guests have their favorite spot that they return to at each visit.

I know it is really challenging to look at photographs and grasp a real perspective of the house and layout. If you are considering the Lane as your next crafting retreat we would be happy to give you a formal tour. In the meantime I had an Idea……
You know how you ask your husband for something in passing and have no real expectations of it actually occurring. (Am I the Only one?) Well, check this out, sometimes it does happen! I had the idea to draw up a floor plan of BBL. Well lookie here….. you can click on the photo to enlarge it!

My husband has a motto (I believe stolen from a TV show) that says “If women don’t find you Handsome, They should at least find you Handy” Well, he got a few points on this one. He proved he is Handy and Handsome!
I want to convey how homey and comfortable, yet clean and functional, we try to keep the Lane. You can visit our “Tour” page to see more photos of the house. It seems I meet so many people who have heard of us, but don’t really KNOW us. We want you to KNOW and LOVE the Lane as much as we do! So for those of you who know us, spread a good word, for those of you who have heard of us come get to know us!

Come. Stay. Relax. Create!

We can’t wait to get to know you!

I have a confession to make…. We like to sleep in. There I said it. I strive to be one of those up and at’em kind of mommas who has her act all together, but nope, that is not how I was wired. Honestly, I have never liked mornings. I’ve always been a late riser and I strongly dislike having a busy morning schedule. By some grace of God my son is the exact same way. He has slept through the night since he was about 6 weeks old. He loves to sleep in. He loves naps. He is just like his momma. He actually never had a fighting chance since his Daddy is a hard sleeper and dislikes any AM activity as well. I know all the sleep deprived exhausted Moms out in the world would like to hit me right now. I also know I’m going to pay for this routine once he hits school age (so technically I’ll get mine in the end) But for all you haters out there, I’m about to make it up to you with this stellar recipe, I promise!
Since we all like late mornings breakfast is often really an early lunch. On those days that we are forced to get ourselves together and leave the house I always find myself in need of a quick grab n’ go breakfast. Something filling, nutritious, quick, and yummy! I’ve tried to get my little to eat oatmeal since pre-teeth, but it is a big no-go. Even the super in-nutritious sweet flavored instant packets have never enticed him. So this easy oatmeal breakfast is a WIN for our household!

I introduce you to…drum roll please…. The B-Baw (or in non-two year old talk, The Breakfast Ball)

I stumbled upon this recipe on pinterest by cookingclassy.com and adapted it to my family. The original recipe calls for coconut which might be tasty for some, but it isn’t our fav, so out with coconut and in with ummmmm….. Sunflowers seeds. (Because they were already in my cabinet!) They work just fine, but this is a very versatile recipe and I challenge you to adapt it to fit your family! Oats, Peanut Butter, Mini Chocolate Chips, Flax seed, dried cherries, Local Honey, and Sunflower Seeds. Let’s be honest, most of my pictures really looked like this-                            

No-Bake Breakfast Balls
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats (raw)
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup ground golden flaxseed meal
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
– HAVE FUN! Add 1/3 cup additional “fun” ingredient! (i.e.- dehydrated fruit, raisins, Peanuts, chia seed, cheerios)

Prep time: 10 min        Total time: 20min          Bake time: 0                Yield: About 20

Place the oats, sunflower seeds, ground flax, and any dry fun extras (my photo shows dried cherries) in one mixing bowl .Then mix all the wet ingredients, honey, peanut butter, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Keep mini chocolate chips to the side.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet bowl and carefully fold in chocolate chips. When everything is mixed thoroughly place your mixture in the fridge to chill 10 minutes or so. This makes the Ball rolling easier and less messy! (I skipped this step the first time, and it turned into a sticky mess! Let me tell you from experience chillin’ is your friend!) After chilling, I use a 1in cookie scoop for a uniform size and then roll in my palm to form the ball. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or line the balls on a cookie sheet with wax paper and place them in the freezer. After they are thoroughly frozen place them in a plastic storage container and remove as needed.

That is IT! They are SO EASY!! My Kiddo LOVES them! How can I say no to his little voice asking for a “b-Baw”! They may not be super nutritious, but they are darn sure better than the breakfast sandwich or QT donut that we would have settled on if I didn’t have them made up!

I love that they are no bake snacks and you get the full nutrition of the raw oats, steel cut oats might be a good choice too. They would also be a great gluten free snack if you switched up a few items here is a link to some great Gluten Free options that are probably much healthier for you.

When I don’t have a batch made up he asks for them, when I do have a batch made up he begs for them, and when we are out and about he will cry to go home and get one. I’ve almost created a mini monster with these B-baws! A word of advice, don’t make them a car treat or you might have a chocolate apocalypse. This recipe is play worthy, We had a blast letting the kiddos create their own. They each got a bowl, a spoon, and their favorite ingredients. Remember that thing about perfect pictures from my previous post? Well, here is life, babies in diapers, cluttered counters, and silly kid faces!

Mix it up and try different things! Some fun ideas:

• Substitute Nutella for the Peanut Butter (YUMMO!)
• Used crushed Cherrios or a different favorite breakfast cereal as filler. (Who needs Coconut!??)
• Add dehydrated fruit, we love Craisins or dried cherries in them!
• You can add or sub Wheat germ, chia seeds, or finely ground oats for texture
• How fabulous would these be with Mini M&M’s? ha- I’m obviously NOT going for the heathy version!

So there you have it. My secret morning weapon! I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine!