christmas vacation

 

{all pictures from my personal and my business instagram accounts}

We played, we shopped, we had dinner parties, we baked christmas cookies, we snuggled, we loved, we slept in, we went to church, we fought, we took selfies, we ate good food {shhh we ate bad food}, we were lazy, we worked out,  we cried and we laughed a lot on our little Christmas vacation. Spending time with my family is the greatest gift that I can truly ask for. Ok not going to lie a tropical vacation would have been nice,  but I'll take this any day!  I feel so re-charged and I truly love it. Taking time away from my business and spending it with the ones who really give me a true reality check  in life... Is priceless! They tell me what I should and shouldn't do... They wake me up to what I'm doing wrong and what I'm doing right. I need to hear these things so I can make my own decision on how I need to improve myself and go forward in life... A nice reality check is what we all need! I sure know I've been dished {reality check} one in the last 2 and a half years... haha I hope you all had an amazing Christmas vacation with your family and friends. I know 2016 is going to definitely be the best year yet... 

cheers

Alexandra 

cheers

Merry Christmas from my little family to yours... 

xoxo

Alexandra, Taylor and Ryan Scully

- 2015 - 

dinner is served {yum}

{recipe here}

Balsamic Chicken Salad with Lemon Quinoa

Author: Karina - Cafe Delites

Serves: 6

Crisp and juicy pan fried chicken in balsamic, garlic and olive oil, mixed into an incredible loaded salad with Kalamata olives, Feta, Lemon flavoured Quinoa and sweet grape tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS

Lemon Quinoa:

• ½ cup dry quinoa
• 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock (or water mixed with 1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder)
• Pinch of salt to season
• Juice of ½ a lemon

Chicken:

• 6 boneless chicken thigh or breast fillets, trimmed of fat
• 1 tablespoon garlic (or plain) olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Juice of ½ a lemon
• 1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder/granules or 1 clove garlic, crushed

Salad:

• 6 cups (200g | 7oz) cos lettuce, washed and shredded
• 200g | 7oz grape tomatoes, halved
• ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 100g | 3.5oz pitted kalamata olives
• 50g | 1.7oz reduced fat Feta cheese
• ½ cup continental parsley

Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons garlic olive oil
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS

For Lemon Quinoa:

1. In a small saucepan, combine quinoa, stock and salt together. Bring to the boil; reduce heat to gentle simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes or until broth has absorbed and quinoa is soft. Remove from heat and set aside while still covered and allow to steam. After about 2 minutes, fluff with a fork. Allow to cool slightly and add the lemon juice.

For Chicken:

1. Add the chicken fillets in a large skillet or nonstick pan with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, stock powder and garlic powder/granules. Saute the chicken until nice, crispy and golden on both sides, and cooked through. Remove from heat; allow to cool slightly, and slice into 1-inch strips.

For Dressing:

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl/jug, and whisk until mixed through.

For Salad:

1. Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, olives, Feta and parsley together in a large salad bowl. Top with chicken slices and quinoa, and drizzle with the dressing. Toss to combine. Serve with lemon wedges.

yum

Alexandra

christmas spirit

{rustic rooster pinterest}

So are you getting into the holiday spirit yet? Have you hung your christmas lights? How many glasses of eggnog {spiked} have you had? Are you eating to many cookies... Truth!?!? lol Sorry, for all the questions. I just   wanted to find out if we were all on the same page here... {wink}!  I'm a little slow on that holiday train right now, but it's starting to move forward! My Christmas cards arrived on Wednesday so that has definitely pushed me one step forward into the spirit! I had a few too many eggnogs on Saturday night at a christmas party... So fun! So I guess I am starting to get into the groove of Christmas. Shhh I did wear a holiday sparkle vest. Let's just say it was unbelevaibly amazing {see it here}! I've realized lately the only thing I need and want this Christmas season is tons of love and laughter!  As I hit my 40's my mind set had definitely changed... In so many different ways! Maybe I'm getting more mature. hahaha  So get your pretty holiday outfits out... Mail your christmas cards... Tell a joke... Drink some eggnog... And hang those lights and wreaths asap! We can do this! Just call me and I can tell you a joke and help you hang your Christmas lights!

hohoho

Alexandra  

happy sunday...

xoxo

Alexandra 

CANCELED {sale}

Due to the rain, rustic rooster's Christmas "alley" SALE will be CANCELED. We will need to re-schedule... Please stay tuned!