monday {menu}

{recipe here}

strawberry Watermelon  

{popsicles}

INGREDIENTS

• 3 heaping cups cubed watermelon
• 1 heaping cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• zest and juice of 1 lime
• 
  
• * Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until completely smooth. Pour into popsicle mold and freeze 3-4 hours, or until very solid.

happy sunday...

monday {menu}

{recipe here}

MICROWAVE S'MORES MUG CAKE

ingredients

• 4 tablespoons Butter, divided
• 1 graham cracker, crushed to crumbs
• 1 large egg, whisked
• 3 tablespoons Milk*
• 4 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
• 3 tablespoons Sugar
• 3 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• pinch Salt
• 4 large or 32 mini marshmallows

• preparation

  
  
  1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in one of the mugs for 20 seconds or until melted. Add the graham crackers and stir to combine. Transfer half of the graham cracker crumbs into the second mug and press down into the bottoms of each mug.
  3. Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a bowl in a microwave for 20-30 seconds or until melted. Add milk and egg and whisk to combine. 
  
  
  4. Add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into the bowl and whisk until smooth.
  
  
  5. Divide 1/4 of the batter into each mug, top with 8 mini marshmallows or 1 large marshmallow, top with remaining batter and finally 8 mini marshmallows or 1 large marshmallow. 
  
  
  6. Microwave the mugs for 1 minute to 1:15 watching towards the end to make sure they don’t overflow.
  
  
  
  
  

happy father's day

{greatest father ever}

This guy... Oh my you were A M A Z I N G! Best Dad ever! Happy Father's Day to one of the greatest fathers of all time. You inspire me everyday to be a better person {truth}! You help me stop and think about making a good decision in bad times. I can't even tell you how blessed I was to call you my father. Your love for your family and life was beyond contagious. I know I've said it before, but you would do anything for me. When you weren't feeling well, you still cared about others and were kind. I learned so much from you. OK I slightly have to release {my guilt}... For example I had a extremely miss-fortunate situation happen yesterday that is still haunting me today. I messed up on my sons hockey game. Went to the completely wrong ice arena. The sad part is, it was his last game of the season and that his entire family was coming watch his game. He was thrilled. Everything was packed and we were onetime.  I made the mistake. I can't blame anyone, but myself. Have you ever wanted to scream so loud and start crying and then curl into a ball and shut the door {not let anyone in}? Well, that's what I wanted to do... But, I had 6 little kids in my car so I had to lead by example fast and think of a positive situation.  My dad kept coming to me... It was like he was sitting on my shoulder in the car... Saying, Just relax! It's going to be OK! Just relax, Alex! So after my mental beat up I realized that beating myself up and freaking out wouldn't get me anywhere. My dad would say, Listen... In life things are going to happen and we need to go forward and not dwell. Dwelling will not get you anywhere. The fact that I owned up to it made me realize, I'm human and it's OK to mess up. Thanks dad for all your positive guidance... Showing me how to be calm in certain situations helped me handle things positively in front of my children. Your guidance was amazing! I know I need to lead by example more... Yesterday was miss fortunate but, you helped me show all the little ones how to react in a bad situation. You have lead by example to me and my brother your entire life. Your calm and peaceful demeanor has saved me in the last few years of my life! Truth, I have never  ever heard you swear, you never ever spanked or yelled at me.  Never! You sat me down and taught me what was right and wrong. Asked me to see how the other person felt and sit on the other side of the room. So today I sat Ryan down and apologized one more time and said, it was my mistake and I will do my best next time to never let something like this happen again. He said, mom I understand. I'm not mad at you. You saved yourself and we all had a great rest of the evening. Dad, I will never forget your teachings... Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I love you so much. I do believe your with me always! Thanks for listening! I love you with all my heart!

Happy Father's Day!  

project clean out

Still on "PROJECT CLEAN OUT" over here... I have  15 {opened 1 to take photo} un-used, in original packaging, bran new Keeler Brass K144 Power and beauty knobs - 1-1/4" size. They're beautiful, but I ended up ordering too many for a job.   E-mail me if you're interested {alexandra@rusticrooster.com}

originally $8.96

S A L E $5.00 each

project clean out

Still on "PROJECT CLEAN OUT" over here... I have 24 {opened 1 to take photo} un-used, in original packaging, bran new Martha Stewart Brass ribbon pulls - 3" size. They're beautiful, but I ended up not using them on a project. E-mail me if you're interested {alexandra@rusticrooster.com}

originally $4.49

S A L E $4.00 each

monday {meeting}

Ok lets talk Coastal Alley SALE... Our last POP up was a m a z i n g! After cleaning out the rustic rooster garage space {kicking myself we didn't do a before and after pictures} after 17+ years we discovered {some rat bodies, fabulous old treasures, massive amounts of old wood, spray cans and furniture} a fabulous Hampton style garage look! Sounds weird, but with the old wood vaulted ceilings and the rustic coastal vibe... It's wonderful! Mom and I just want to sit in there and drink coffee. We've even done more to the space since our last POP up sale... Painted the entire floor with a porch and floor finish in a grey so you don't see the old paint splatters everywhere and we put solid plywood on the back wall. That's still being painted a solid swiss coffee white to match out the other side of the garage. We want to keep improving this space so it's cuter and cuter for each POP up Coastal Alley SALE we have!   

My question to you all is,

"Do you all like the time we did the POP up Coastal Alley SALE?" 

"Do you think we should do the SALE once  every 2 or 3 months?" 

"Have it 2 days... Saturday and Sunday?"

So many questions! I'm just trying to figure out in my head a few things... I would love your feed back because you all are really my driving force in this operation! 

Mom and I got new selling aprons... Out with the OLD in with the NEW!{home goods for the win... $7.00 each}

 

As I've said before were going to be putting a select {6 to 8 items} amount of furniture and accessories on the new website section... SHOP. It's being designed at the moment, but I wanted to give you all a heads up. Of course you can go check out our new website  that I had done to close our old rustic rooster storefront chapter out. I felt bad because people still thought we had the shop  on Coast Highway 101. Plus, on the rustic rooster new site I'm adding another page... COASTAL SALE and we'll have the dates and times of the SALE's on it. So for all you planners and of course travelers who miss the rooster chicks... You can plan a head and schedule the rooster Coastal Alley S A L E in!

 Mom and I will be at another pop up in July that we've been asked to attend. I'll let you know that information the moment I get it. Stay tuned... Can't wait!!!

But in the mean time I would really L O V E all your wonderful feedback!

happy sunday...

vitamin d

{all images from rustic rooster pinterest}

The S . U . N . S out! I've been craving Vitamin D so bad lately... Just to see blue skies or feel a warm breeze on my face is really all I need or want right now. Well, Thursday afternoon here in Encinitas we were graced with blue skies! I can't even tell you how many people were out and about enjoying the sun. It felt so good! Of course all I want to do is plan backyard gatherings and lay by the pool.  Hope you all are enjoying this fabulous weather... Lets just pray it stay this way and June gloom hits the road! 

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

walking tour

So yesterday I joined my sons 3rd grade class at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School to do a historic walking tour of downtown Encinitas. Taylor did it, but I couldn't make it. So this year I jumped at the chance to get out and learn about our little beach town! Talk about fun! Ryan and I packed my backpack with tons of food, water and sunscreen... And we were off! 

Of course my child kept taking my hat throughout the field trip... And didn't care if people were looking or trying to take it off of him. He's definitely that kid that stands tall and keeps on walking! Not a care in the world what others think! I eventually got it back... Thank God! 

On one of our stops we went to the first Encinitas School House... Built in 1883. So adorable! I've always driven by it and have wanted to go in, but due to scheduling conflicts or truth an absent mind I just have't gone in.  It moved a few times and even was changed into a studio rental {walls and kitchen added}, but thank goodness for the historical society for saving it before it was to be demolished! It was moved to the old Pacific View school property. OMG That's a different topic. Talk about an adorable and perfect little beachfront school... My kids would have been zoned to go there. After seeing and hearing about that school it breaks my heart its gone.  Ok back to the school house... Kids walked far to go to this school, ages ranging from 5 to 12 years old. I was told on the tour yesterday it was the only school between San diego and Oceanside. 

Then we goofed off and played to get the crazies out. Gotta love this age, look at their teeth. So awkward! I crack up because we've all gone through that stage! 

 

We stopped by the Derby House... Now that house is definitely a character. Truth I want to clean it up soooooooo bad. Its kind of like hoarders gone wild. Just saying {wink}! On this trip the kids couldn't go inside because the owner was leaving for vacation and a few people were still sleeping. I had the privilege to go in years ago with the owners wife and was no joke paralyzed for words. You felt like some one ages ago got a call and then took off leaving everything exactly the same way they left it. Hot coffee on the stove and all... Interesting. Mom and I kept staring at each other quietly saying, "Do you think she would ever sell some of this furniture to the rooster?" hahaha No crime in thinking that! Go {here} and {here} to read the history of the Derby house.

{La Paloma history}

We saw so much more of our little beach town, but unfortunately I was busy corralling  3rd graders so I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked to... I would read {here} about the history of Encinitas, jump in your car and start exploring!  

Hope you all enjoyed my mini tour of our town!