MAKING A WISH

:source:

today is my birthday...
and i am blessed to be celebrating with the best family and friends all day!

here's to living everyday like its your birthday and being 
grateful for all the beautiful blessings in our lives! 

ANTLERS AND CAMO

BOOTS/ RING/ WEEKENDER/ TOTE/ EARRINGS (similar)/ CASE

so with tomorrow being my birthday...
i thought i would share with you a few things on my wish list!
yes, i still make a list. on pintrest!

as you know i have an antler/camo obsession- and the items on my list clearly reflect that!

the coolest thing on my list this year, i think, are the 'give back boots' from the Boot Campaign.
$50 go towards the boots and $50 go back to "Cultivating Awareness, Promoting Patriotism, and Providing Assistance" for men and women in uniform! i totally would wear these all the time!

SCRUMPTIOUS

this past week was all about food...and carbs didn't count:)
so my friend ellie and i decided we wanted to make scones.
we were both first timers to this, we went all out... streusel and all!

i dont bake, much, ever... but these might have to be made again soon!
these puppies were surprisingly easy to make and oh-so delicious. 

ellie- so glad we had this scone-date. it was delightful.

**side note: ellie plays in THE BENJAMIN'S. 
you should check them out NOW!!!

ROAD TRIP:: DAY 4

day four... and we finally crossed into the great state of TEXAS!

we left tennessee around 10:30am that morning and almost made it to texas at sunset, missed it by an hour. (i like to blame day-light savings time!)

a little over 1,700 miles, 4 days... what a trip!

we saw so much of america, got to spend time with some great friends... defiantly put spotify to good use and made it back in one piece!

welcome to texas, tess!

its the great state many of us call HOME!

ROAD TRIP :: DAY 3

day three.. we were getting antsy about sitting in the car... all.day.
but the hills and mountains of tennessee were so beautiful it was another great and breathtaking drive. we drove across the eastern continental divide, through the great smokey mountain national park, right through nashville, only to end up at sunset in the cute little town of brentwood. we stayed in the most adorable home with an even more darling family:)

with 'sandy' blowing through the north eastern states only a week before our trip, the foliage was almost non-existing. but by the time we made it to tennessee it was absolutely stunning!

i took this picture as we were leaving the next morning, on the iphone, #nofilter... just perfect! 

ROAD TRIP :: DAY 2

after an early morning of walking/touring DC we got back on the road...

leaving DC, through virginia and ending up in north carolina by sunset. 

only two states on day two made the day feel longer!!

we spent the night with good family friends of my families. we met them back in 1996, we were all living in germany at the time and have kept in touch and stayed close friends ever since! it was so nice to spend the evening with them, catching up over wine and a home-cooked meal.  having friends spread out can be difficult, but in times like these, it was nice to meet up with them on an unexpected trip across the US!

ROAD TRIP :: DAY 1

last week I was on a road-trip across the country.. 14 states in 4 days.
crazy? yes, a little. but fun and so beautiful at the same time!

this week i am going to highlight the states we crossed each day with a favorite shot and or state-line sign to map out the route we took!

day 1: we left boston, had breakfast in rhode island, then drove through connecticut, new york, new jersey (both of which took 10 minutes to get though!) then on to delaware, maryland and ended the first days trip in DC...DC deserves its own post (stay tuned)!!

HOW MANY STATES....

:source:

just wanted to keep you lovely readers posted:

no, i have not fallen off the face of the earth, or left the blogging world...

but i am on a cross country road trip with a dear friend of mine!

day one we crossed 7 states!

day two.. only 2. 

the further south your travel, the larger the states get. 

today will mark day 3 on the road. again only crossing 2 states. 

then tomorrow we will be on the home-stretch... 

3 states to make it back to the great state of texas!

follow me on instagram @thelane for pictures and updates along the way:)

THE PROJECT: REVEALED

it's finally here... THE PROJECT revealed and in its new home!

beck- i owe you big time. your talents need to come out more often. 

thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to all of my crazy ideas for the past months and helping me make them come to life! 

there is a prayer written around the antlers, its been hanging on my bathroom mirror for a few years now, and it was perfect for this project- i love the words and reading them everyday: 

May today there be peace within.

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.

May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content with yourself just the way you are.

Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, 

dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

This is my prayer.

THE PROJECT

this week it finally happened- crazy ideas and months of how-to chatter came to life!

above my bead and headboard was looking a little bare, so i've had this idea to incorporate antlers, and a prayer, along with beck's amazing talent... here is what we needed to make it happen:

**check back tomorrow for the BIG REVEAL!** 

along with the prayer we decided to use around the outline of the antlers. 

i could not be more happy with the outcome! its defiantly one of my favorite things in my apartment now- and i will cherish it always!!

thank you, thank you to my girl beck- you have mad talents- xoxo

supplies:
2x4 ft chalk board- pre-painted $10 @ home depot
15ft crown molding - $10 @ home depot
1 can spray paint - $7 @ home depot
chalk: around the house
chalk paint pen: $4 @ michaels 
tools:
saw/ angled edges 
heavy duty staple guy/ board to trim
clamps/ board to trim
sandpaper/ rough up the trim if you want aged look
gray paint stain/ if you want to antique the trim 

FALL INSPIRED

:photo taken with iPhone:

yesterday being halloween, my friend beck and i made dinner and desert inspired by all things pumpkin/ squash!

beck made dinner.. it was delish! stuffed acorn squash, hard to go wrong!

and i made these pumpkin-cholocate-chip squares!

for not being the best baker- i liked how easy this desert was to make! i like to toss in ingredients by what looks good when i cook, so baking is really hard for me.. all measurements have to be exact- its frustrating!

(actually there have been serval deserts that have just landed in the trash due to me not following measurements and exact directions... oooops!!)

the squares turned out to be super easy, mess free and the perfect mix of pumpkin and chocolate! even the non-baker in me was impressed!

*only thing i changed- told you i cant follow directions:) - i substituted cinnamon for pumpkin-spice.