my true loves {throw back thursday}

OK I'm just going to say it... OMG these two little ones are my true loves! I will do anything for them 24/7. No joke! The minute I gave birth to them my world changed... For the good and the bad {haha}. Not going to lie... Having children isn't always easy... {FYI if you think having kids everything will be perfect in your life with your spouse... hahah... Nope}, but at the end of the day they warm my heart and bring a huge smile to my face! I realized that I was brought into their lives to guide them and teach them what not to do in this sometimes big and scary world we live in. I understand you need to let kids fall on their faces... Shhhh I'll just put a little pillow down so when they do fall it won't hurt so much {wink}! I love all these photos of my babies... They make me laugh because I remember each and every picture taken like it was just yesterday! Taylor and Ryan thank you for teaching me about life, love and happiness!!! Mommy is here for you always and forever!   

xoxo

Alexandra 

painting {before and after}

John's absolutely killing it right now with all of our painting jobs... Take a look at this before and after from last week. The transformation turned out beautiful. Not going to lie the table needed a little TLC, but that's not a problem at all for John! 

{before}

 {after}

{before}

 {after}

{after - close up}

If you're in need of a painting job... Don't hesitate to contact me! The rustic rooster is on a roll right now! 

info@rusticrooster.com
or
{760} 436-2171


xoxo 
Alexandra 

foot fetish

Once when I was in college my old roommate {hi tia} and I were scheming on how to make more money. Don't get me wrong... We were far from hurting for money, we were perfectly comfortable. I think we wanted to go on a trip and just needed extra cash... Tia looked down and noticed my feet. She said, Oh my Alex you have such nice feet. I started to laugh {very hard}! Well, that got us thinking... I could become a foot model and make extra cash. So we got the news paper out and started looking for foot modeling agencies or jobs that I could try and book {wish it was that easy}. Ok are you kidding me... I was laughing so hard I started crying, because I actually believed the scheme that was in our head. I called the number for one job or agency and yup... It was for, are you ready for this,  foot porn/fetiches. Hmmm I can't believe I didn't see that one coming.  After about an hour of OMG's and laughing again... My career was over {before it even started}. So every time I take a picture of my feet on a job site I can't help to remember my almost foot career... That never took off {hahaha}! Ahhhh what sweet memories! 

hahahaha

Alexandra 

boys room {interior design}

OK I can hear my brother now... Alex, why are you just showing little vignettes?!?! You can't do that... People want to see more!  I know, I know, I know! I just need to get Ryan's duvet made and then I will show everyone his adorable little room. Not gonna lie... His room had exploded with legos today and I didn't have the patients to clean them up for the pictures {wink}. Sorry! Ryan's room is turning out really cute. Just wait for my reveal... I think you all will really like it! 

xoxo 

Alexandra  

{To hire rustic rooster interior design team... Please contact us at 760.436.2171}

happy sunday...

 

xoxo

Alexandra

too cute {yum}

{recipe from here}

  

... Homemade Pop Tarts ... 

• 2 cups + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
• 4 - 5 Tbsp ice water
• 3/4 cup strawberry preserves, divided (or other preserve of choice)

Icing
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp half and half, plus more as needed
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

• In a food processor pulse together flour, salt and granulated sugar. Add butter and pulse mixture until resembles coarse meal (it won't really come together in pieces much at this point, so don't over-process, just pulse until butter is no longer in large pieces). Add 4 Tbsp water and pulse several times, if it doesn't come together in clumps add remaining 1 Tbsp water. Drop mixture onto a clean surface, gather dough into a ball then divide into two portions. Shape each portion into about a 5-inch disk. Cover each with plastic wrap and chill 1 hour. 

• Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with 1 disk at a time (keep other in fridge to chill), roll dough out onto a floured surface to about 13 by 11-inch rectangle (when edges start to crack a little when rolling, seal them and continue rolling), then trim edges to get a 12 by 10-inch rectangle (to even the edges). Then cut into eight 5 by 3-inch rectangles (cut in half through the longness then three cuts through the opposite).

• Arrange 4 of the rectangles, spaced evenly apart on prepared baking sheet. Spread 1 1/2 Tbsp of jam evenly down the center of each rectangle, leaving about a 3/4-inch rim on all sides uncoated. Top each with another rectangle, then seal edges with your fingertips, then reseal with a fork (I didn't seal with the fork, I just did a double seal with my fingertips because I wanted them to look more like the real thing, but mine might have seeped out a little less had I sealed with a fork also). Poke the top center of each tart about 4 times with a toothpick. Cover and transfer to freezer to chill at least 2 hours or up to one week. Repeat process with remaining disk of dough.

• Position one oven rack near top third of the oven and a second oven rack near bottom third of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake frozen tarts until golden, rotating racks once halfway through baking, about 25 - 30 minutes (some of the preserves may leak out, which is fine, just peel it off once it cools). Allow to cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 

• For the icing:
• In a mixing bowl whisk together all icing ingredients well then add more half and half about 1/2 tsp at a time to reach desired consistency. Spread over tops of cooled pop tarts, leaving a small rim uncoated around all sides. Sprinkle tops with sprinkles if desired and allow glaze to set at room temperature. Store in an airtight container.

enjoy

Alexandra

selecting fabric {interior design}

Picking out fabric for my clients has always brought me such joy. I love adding in so many textures that compliment each other! Layering one color with another color is a exciting challenge for me that I can't stop... Shhh it's kind of like an addiction. When selecting a fabric I like to start with one main dominating fabric... It's a piece that is bold and extremely likable. Then I generally add in a pattern... With the same colors.  A solid fabric is fun for stability in the group! After a few selections it does   start to flow... Heres a big piece of advise .. Walk away from your choices, come back and see if you have a winning combination. I do tho all the time. Shhh I do it with one eye closed, squint, and then do a few eye covers till I'm happy and confident with my selections!  Good luck on selecting... You can do it! 

xoxo

Alexandra

{To hire rustic rooster interior design team... Please contact us at 760.436.2171}

for sale

 

 

30" L x 18" D x 30" H

$ 249.00

This beautiful short dresser is available for purchase. Plus, you can pick a color from the rustic rooster {black or white} or bring in a color of your choice. 

If you have any question 

please do not hesitate to 

contact me... 

info@rusticrooster.com 

or

{760}436-2171

xoxo

Alexandra 

dresser for sale

72" L x 32" H x 20" D

$ 395.00

 

Guess what... We're still selling furniture! This beautiful low long dresser is available for purchase. Plus, you can pick a color from the rustic rooster {black or white} or bring in a color of your choice. 

If you have any question 

please do not hesitate to 

contact me... 

info@rusticrooster.com 

or

{760}436-2171

xoxo

Alexandra 

happy sunday...

 

 

 

xoxo

Alexandra

little birdie

Ok... For the last few weeks a little bird has been tapping on my window and my mothers. It's the most adorable little bird we have ever seen... It flies around the house and taps on certain windows then calmly goes away. He will look at you, tilt his head like he's saying hi & then flies away!  It's so cute!  I don't know about you, but I believe it's my father saying hello I'm here with you all. You have nothing to worry about... Ever since we closed the rooster's storefront he's been here. I know he comes in peace. At first I thought {omg} is here to take someone away to heaven... That thought quickly left my mind. I know he comes to just give us a sign that no matter what he will always be here through thick and thin. I believe I've told you all before, but through all the unfortunate things that have happened to my family in the last 3 years... We've actually gotten closer than ever. No one realizes how special a family bond really is... I cherish my family to pieces! Not going to lie we've had our moments {big time}, but if you have love in your heart you will come out as winners in the end and closer than ever! 

Today is the 2 year anniversary of my fathers passing. It's crazy how time flies by so fast... Question do you all believe in messages or signs from the departed? I sure do... I talk with my dad every night still. Hi dad {wink}! Like right now the little birdie is tapping at my back window... OMG!  I'll go over and say hi... He'll look at me and then slowly fly away. He did go in my office... My mom says thats good luck! 

Well, hello dad... I love your new wings! Miss you like crazy!  

xoxo 

Alexandra 

fun friday {interior design}

OMG... Now here's a really fun transformation to show you all! I can't stop staring at this old photo... You know it's a bad accident and you shouldn't look,  but you can't pull your eyes away from it. This little beach cottage had so much funky/weird kind of love poured into it that it made you itch {all over}. Talk about a hodge podge of styles. 

I love taking something old and adding new life to it... Plus, simplifying a style. It's all about coordinating everything!

{before}

I could just see the potential it had... So much potential!

{during}

We removed all of the exterior siding because of major termite damage... Plus, the house needed new windows. Everything had been destroyed from years and years of neglect and being so close to the ocean didn't help either.

 {during}

We put shingles {shingle hardibacker board} on the top and new board and batten on the bottom... We decided to add two different textures to break the long tall box look up. It looked very awkward before from the street.

 {during}

The next step was bringing more depth to the exterior. Adding the trellis and then classic coastal shutters with a front gate really tied it all in and made the house look complete.  

{after}

I absolutely love the finished results. It's so cute... Plus, I can't even tell you how many people stop and make comments on how beautiful the new look is. Shhh I think we need more beach cottages like this one!!! If you ever need to pull your homes exterior together... Call me! I do that as well {wink}. 

So what do you all think? A good before and after project? Please tell all! 

xoxo

Alexandra

{To hire rustic rooster interior design team... Please contact us at 760.436.2171}  

before and after {re-paint}

 

I absolutely love having "painting" conversations with John... He cracks me up! One minute I hear all about his passion on making each and every piece of furniture {big or small} perfect to the next moment I hear him trying his hardest to step up his customer service game and remember everyone's name. This is what is so awesome about John...  A very passionate individual!

 

So if you're interested in having a piece of furniture painted by John... Just email me at info@rusticrooster.com with a picture and a measurement and then we can give you a quote. 

 

Here's a  re-paint John just finished today...

 

 {before}

 

 {after}

 

{after}

 

xoxo

Alexandra

happy sunday...

Call me crazy but this just felt so right this Sunday... Saying good bye to the old chapter {bye bye bye}! 

Hello to the new chapter... 

{insert HUGE smile}

xoxo

Alexandra

new and old {interior design}

I don't know about you... But I love adding something old and something new to an interior space. It's definitely different and out of the box for me... So why not {wink}! I had the pleasure to work with a fabulous local family here in Encinitas. My client has the love for anthropology mixed in with the classics. Such a great combo. So I designed a simple traditional old farm table for the space and then added some modern metal Tolix chairs. Put two classic vintage captains chairs at either end to continue the pine  wood feel in the room. The combination actually was smooth and extremely comfortable for me. I do have say, I would try this in my home! Trying something new is a good thing! Do it... You just might like it! 

xoxo

Alexandra 

{To hire rustic rooster interior design team... Please contact us at 760.436.2171}