for sale

So... We've finally cleaned out one of our storage units! Shut it down! {H A P P Y * D A N C E}  Now we're on the home stretch on getting everything organized and labeled in the one unit that we still have... A dream come true! Christmas in one section... Easter in another. Labeled perfectly! With that said... We've discovered tons of stuff that we don't need anymore. Actually haven't used in years... No joke years! So as they say, One man's trash is another man's treasure... So guess what,  we're selling tons of stuff!     Tons of furniture and accessories will be sold at the Coastal "alley" SALE this Saturday {April 2nd - 9:00 am to 11:00 am}. Here's a little preview of the glassware. If you're interested e-mail me at alexandra@rusticrooster.com. I can sell these before Saturday. Would love to not have to transport them to the sale... {wink}

{$100.00 for this entire Green Depression Luncheon set. In perfect condition... No chips!}
SOLD

 {$50.00 for this entire set of Pink Champagne Depression Glass. The rims have a few rough edges... Need to be polished and smoothed out}

SOLD

happy sunday...

coastal "alley" sale

happy birthday

{3.24.06}

I can't wrap my head around this... My daughter is 10 years old today. Oh my gosh! How did this happen... I just gave birth to her! I feel like crying and screaming from a roof top saying... NO slow down baby doll! Stop growing! This little angel has taught me so much... How to be honest, how to be truthful  and actually how to see kindness in others who aren't so kind back. She will make you think and understand that not everyone can be as fortunate as we are... You really do stop in your tracks because she is so pure! Our late night talks, our silly car rides and our "truth" sessions are mind blowing. What I learn from her {daily}... You can't learn anywhere else. I want to make better choices because of her... My children   will always {no matter what} be number one in my world! True love forever! I love taking time out of my day to look at her and listen to her! So fun!  I do believe she was sent to me from heaven for a reason... Thank you! Wait... Stop... Taylor has just entered the double digits. No! Ok moms you know what I'm feeling right now. Scared and extremely excited for her all at the same time! I'm not ready for Taylor to grow up. This girls love for life is insane. She will melt your heart in one sitting. I am so happy to call Taylor my daughter... Happy Birthday Taylor Michelle! Welcome to the double digit club {wink}... I love you with all my heart! 

monday {menu}

{recipe here}

INA GARTEN’S PASTA ALLA VECCHIA BETTOLA

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 medium (or a few small) Spanish onion(s), chopped to yield 2 1/2 cups
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (If you are sensitive to heat, just use a pinch and adjust at the end. The 1/2 teaspoon makes for a seriously spicy sauce.)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (optional — I didn't use. I love dried oregano, but I don't always love it in tomato sauce.)
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled plum tomatoes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound penne pasta or whatever shape you like
• 4 tablespoons fresh oregano (I used basil)
• 1/4 to 1 cup heavy cream
• grated Parmigiano or Pecorino

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
   
   
2. Heat the olive oil in a large oven proof sauté pan over medium heat, add the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the red pepper flakes and dried oregano (if using) and cook for 1 minute more. Add the vodka and continue cooking until the mixture is reduced by half, about 5 to 7 minutes more.
   
   
3. Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes through a sieve. (Save the strained juice. I stuck mine in the freezer. It can be used for future sauce-making days as well as for homemade bloody Mary mix, etc. Maybe you have more thoughts for repurposing this strained juice? Would love to hear.) Put on an apron and crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands — careful hear...you might make a mess all over your oven. Add 2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of black pepper. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and place it in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. 
   
   
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente. (Note: Ina adds 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to her pasta water. I did this, too, and found it really seasons the pasta nicely. There is no need to save pasta cooking liquid in this recipe, but if there were, I think the 2 tablespoons would be a little too much — the reserved liquid would be too salty. Just something to keep in mind.) Drain and set aside.
   
   
5. Place the tomato mixture in a blender or food processor and purée in batches until the sauce is a smooth consistency. Place potholders or dishtowels around the handles of your pot to prevent burning your hands in the next step.(Note: I puréed a handful of basil with the sauce at this step and didn't add anymore fresh herbs.) Return sauce to the pan.
   
   
6. Reheat the sauce, add 2 tablespoons fresh oregano (if using) and enough heavy cream to make the sauce a creamy consistency — start with a quarter cup; taste; add more as necessary. Add salt (if necessary) and pepper, to taste, and simmer for 10 minutes. Toss the pasta into the sauce and cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in a generous handful of grated cheese. Serve with an additional sprinkle of cheese and a sprinkle of fresh oregano (if using) on each plate.

 

happy sunday...

hello

{all photos from here}

Hi everyone... I know its been a little while since I've actually blogged. Man, Oh Man... Life for me has been a little busy. In a good way. Definitely no complaints here! First off, lets celebrate that my kids yard sale is done {yaaaa}. Thanks to all that showed up... WOW that was an awesome sale! Taylor and Ryan made much more than they anticipated. Plus,  I feel so much lighter and refreshed that everything is out of my courtyard and gone, gone, gone!  Weird, I know, but clutter and dis-organization makes me actually very upset and  frustrated. Ha ha I'm a therapists dream... {wink}! My concentration and functionality  goes down about a thousand percent. Yes, call me crazy... My mom already does. Hey, at least I can admit that... {huge smile}. 

But, work has been amazing for me. So my silence is because I'm in my little office creating plans, putting estimates and invoices together. The behind the scenes for a designer isn't unicorns and fairies... It's long days and nights and tons of research and paperwork! haha I'm all about the truth right now... Ask and you shall receive!

Don't you just love all these pictures... So cozy and comfy in my eyes. I'm excited spring is near! This winter hasn't really been that bad here in Southern California. I could handle it. Could you? I will leave you with one tip... Do small things with great love! In the end you will thank yourself. I used to spread myself so thin that I would get overwhelmed and my master {head} plan would crash and burn. So now I do little things and make them amazing! Try it... I think it might work for you! 

     

coastal "alley" sale

happy sunday...

yard sale {huge}

Good Morning Everyone! It's that time of year again, Project Clean out! As I said in my post {here}... My kids really wanted a yard sale! So they asked... And they received! Tomorrow's {Sunday, March 13th} the big day. I've asked a few friends to join in so this sale is bigger and even better. I will be selling furniture from the rooster as well.. Good deals {wink}! Oh did I mention we will be selling... A rabbit cage, bike, spindle bed with side rails & foot board, white vintage headboard,  white slipcovered headboard {king}, more rooster furniture, kids and adult clothes, books, CD's, jewlery... And much much more! 

-SUNDAY, MARCH 13th-

Please NO NO NO NO NO NO NO early birds!

* 8:00am to 12:00pm *

-CASH ONLY-

  

coastal "alley" sale

happy sunday...

coastal "alley" sale

for my kids {yard sale}

You know when you don't want to do something {at the moment}, but it's for your little ones so you kind of feel guilty... So you have do it {uggghhhhh}! My plate is above and beyond full with work... Which is an amazing thing {not complain about that at all}, but you just want simplicity in your life so everything in your perfect world will run smoothly... Ya that's not happening! So listen up people... My kids {and myself} with a few other friends are having a H U G E yard sale! Ok it's a good thing because we are cleaning out my families storage unit and getting rid of a lot of things {a lot}. Shhh it feels so good! I think you will want to come to this one! Hey, if anyone wants to participate and sell with us you are more than welcome too... Just contact me {alexandra@rusticrooster.com} and we can discuss the details... I do have some fun and silly rules that you must do if you do join in {like maybe wear a fur coat while selling your stuff... just kidding}.

* SAVE THE DATE * 

Sunday, March 13th 

 8:00am to 12ish 

backyard living

 {all images from rustic rooster pinterest}

Warmer weather calls for backyard BBQ's... Oh My Gosh I'll take this entire EVERYTHING! I'm really trying hard to make my backyard entertaining worthy. Slowly but surely it's coming together.  I have my kids garage sale coming up {Sunday, March 13th}...  Stay tuned for that one! It will be a really good one! Once my court yard isn't filled with stuff... I can focus even more. I do look forward to planting, fluffing pillows and lighting candles. Spring and summer I'm getting ready for you... We're going to have fun {huge smile}!