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! 

happy sunday...

xoxo

Alexandra 

my job {baker}

{all recipes and photos are from here}

OK I've been given the responsibility of baker this year for our family Thanksgiving feast. I'm so excited, but so nervous at the same time. Why couldn't I have been appointed salad maker. That's easy right!?!? lol Well, this is what I'm saying... Bring it on! Bring on the butter, whip cream and all the yummy goodness that comes with baking. I've been scouring pinterest to see what I can make.  I will admit I'm buying a pumpkin pie. Not making that one... But the other ones I'm making myself. I've posted some of the top contenders on my list. What do you think? OMG I'm scared.! Baking is tricky... You make one false move and its over. You're done! Yes, I'm going to say it... Just just hang up your apron and walk away! You don't want your treats too dry... If you don't add real butter or sugar than you get that fake taste! I'm going in positive {wink}. I'm sure you would crack up if you saw me in the kitchen the day before or the morning of... I literally talk to myself and go really slow so I make sure i'm doing everything correctly. Believe me I'v had a few kitchen catastrophes that I do not want to repeat!!!!!! So what are you baking this year? Any fun suggestions? Would love to hear!

gobble gobble

   Alexandra   

crave

Why am I craving this look... What's it about this look that excites me? Is it the clean lines? Is it the simple elegance of this entire style... What? You don't see this style really at all here in North county San Diego. Kind of breaks my heart. When I do see it I no joke slam on my breaks and pull my car over. My kids know the drill... At first they scream and say, What? OMG what's going on... Then They sit back and let me do my thing {stare, drool and take a few snap shots and definitely talk to myself}. lol Hey, at least I'm open about my obsession! I know when I do buy another home it will have this vibe... What do you all think of a home like this? Yes or no?

xoxo

Alexandra  

happy sunday...

xoxo

Alexandra 

craving

{recipe from here}

* CHOCOLATE CHIP AND TURTLE COOKIES *

ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 7 chocolate and pecan turtles, coarsely chopped

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place sugar, dark brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla in a bowl and whisk together until smooth.
3. Add baking soda, salt and flour into a medium bowl and mix to combine. Add this mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
4. Fold in the chocolate chips and turtle pieces.
5. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls (or use an ice cream scooper) onto baking sheet approximately 2 inches apart.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheet for 1-2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

xoxo

Alexandra 

before and after {painting}

{before}

{after}

Now this armoire was a fun one to see from the beginning to the end...  I knew it had great potential. Everyone that saw the before armoire kept passing it by and laughing. I said, just wait! She'll be stunning after she's painted. I do believe I was correct... Look at her now! Standing strong and very elegant. A definite statement piece in any room. Stop by the garage to take a peek at her! Plus, don't forget we can take something old and forgotten and bring it back to life! E-mail me {info@rusticrooster.com} for a painting quote. I just need measurements and a picture.

xoxo

Alexandra 

sail away

{all photos from here}

Don't you just think... Mondays scream,  seashells and sailboats! I'm loving this entire look for a little beach cottage. Of course to complete the look I would be wearing that outfit as well! Sometimes I just sit and wonder what the perfect little beach cottage would really be like? Is there  one... I think they all have a special character that makes each one amazing! What does your little beach cottage look like...

Please share! 

xoxo

Alexandra