happy sunday...

good list

{all images from rustic rooster pinterest... HERE}

OK Mr. Claus! Lets get something straight! I've been on the nice list for the past 5+ years straight. Yes, with minor little slip ups, but nothing to alarm you. No embarrassing mom moments or wild moms night out... So Take that Santa! Ha So what do you think... All of these fabulous gifts should totally be under my tree this year... I'm crossing my fingers and toes. I would cross more if I could! Seriously, everyone how cute are these shoes and that bag... Oh My I love them all! Are you on the good list or the naughty list?

friday christmas f u n

{image and recipe if from rustic rooster pinterest... HERE}

HOLY SMOKES these cookies are way too pretty to eat. I think If I made them I wouldn't let anyone eat them... A lot of swooshing would happen... And yes me yelling NO NO NO, Find something else to eat {get out of here}! This truly is some serious artwork. Ahhhh I would love to make these. One problem I need some piping bags and tips or something like that to paint each cookie perfectly. I think by the time I finished the cookies they either would be 1/2 eaten or so sloppy. hahaha OMG look at Santa he so cute! 

I'm game if you're game? 

HO HO HO 

Game on... Lets bake these cookies this tonight! FYI You would totally score extra brownie points with Mr. Claus!!!! 

he's back!

OH Mr. Jingles... I absolutely love and truly hate you all at once! I don't really remember the moment you entered into my families life, but I know you've definitely touched us all one way or another... Positive and Negative. Some nights you have scared my kids to death and others times I've caught my children talking to you with words of kindness {trying to give Santa Claus messages}!  But I do know without fail my kids look for you e v e r y  s i n g l e morning in the the month of December. I don't get a hug or kiss per usual in the am... Until Jingles is discovered.Its so cute to see this... They wonder what he's done or where he is. Some weeks he's creative others  he very still {totally forgot to move him} and stares! But now I have a helper {thank God}... Taylor has discovered that Mr. Jingles is created for little kids. She has moved out of the elf on the Shelf stage. I never told her it wasn't real, she just put two and two together on her own. Maybe friends or Instagram influenced her on it, but I still say, "If you believe then it's real and magic will still happen! Believing  with all your heart and soul will keep him alive... Forever!" I will never discourage my children in believing in Santa Claus, The Elf on the Shelf, The Easter Bunny... Or anything! I don't care if they're 21 and still believing... HaHa I hope so {wink}!  I will ask any question they have, listen so they can come up with their own discovery. I remember when I stopped believing as an older kid and to be honest with you Christmas that year was never the same for me. I was kind of sad. So I want to keep the magic alive in my house and keep their heart and soul in believing in Christmas! Happy December everyone... I hope you put a little more magic spice in this month! 

monday {menu}

{recipe}

pumpkin spice glazed cake bites

ingredients:

• 1 box spice cake mix

Water, eggs and oil according to cake box 

instructions:

• 8 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

cooking instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 50 mini muffin cups. (you can make in 2 batches if you only have one pan)

   
   
2. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.

   
   
3. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about half full).

   
   
4. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Remove cakes from muffin cups to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

   
   
5. Place cooling rack on cookie sheet or waxed paper to catch glaze drips.

   In 3-quart saucepan, mix all glaze ingredients. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.

   
   
6. Dip a cake into glaze and remove gently with a fork, place top side is down on cooling rack. Top with sprinkles immediately. Repeat till all cakes are coated. Let stand until glaze is set, about 15 minutes.

   
   
7. Store loosely covered.

   

   
   

happy sunday...

dinner is served

Wouldn't you just love to step outside and sit at this table. Oh My I sure would! I guarantee at night with the garden lights glowing its just magical... Almost a little romantic as well. Happy Wednesday everyone! 

monday {menu}

{recipe from...  here}

PERFECT PANCAKES

2 cups flour

5 tsp baking powder

4 T sugar

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

2 cups milk

Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, and whisk with a fork to combine. Mix eggs, oil, and milk together until well combined. Add to dry ingredients, and mix with a fork until mostly combined, with some small lumps of flour remaining. Lightly butter the preheated griddle and pour the batter by 1/4 cup scoops onto the griddle (I always use a measuring cup so they're all the same size). Cook 3-4 minutes or until there are bubbles throughout the top of the pancakes, and the edges of the pancakes look dry. Flip the pancakes and cook for another minute or until lightly browned on the bottom. Serve warm with butter and syrup or (my favorite!) with fresh strawberry sauce. Makes 20-24 pancakes.

happy sunday...

happy thanksgiving

{all photos are from rustic rooster pinterest... here}

Today is a day to reflect and truly think about what we are t h a n k f u l for...  Have you thought about what you are t h a n k f u l for? Have you taken a moment to think about all of that? Truly, there is so much we are t h a n k f u l for... "life, food, family, our children, mothers, nature, fathers, pets, our beds, the sky, makeup, clothes, money, computers, education, coffee, our freedom".... The list can go on and on and I think you get my point right now! So take that moment and think about what stands out for you! 

I have a little job for you all... Get a timer {of course if your not using it to cook your turkey} and set it for 5 minutes. That's it 5 minutes! Then get a piece of paper and pen... Sit down and start thinking of everything that you are t h a n k f u l for! I think you can spare 5 minutes on your own to do this. I guarantee you will open your eyes wide and realize so much... Plus, you will be rejuvenated after this little quiet time! Now,  I'm going to add a challenge to your 5 minute little job... Text, make a phone call, write a hand written note or say thank you in person to those you are t h a n k f u l for! 

Happy Thanksgiving all my blogger friends... I hope you have an amazing day!  I truly want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me all these years... I'm very t h a n k f u l for each and everyone of you! 

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

gobble gobble

A L E X A N D R A

monday {menu}

{mini pumpkin pie slice cookie recipe... HERE}

happy sunday...

all the "good" feels

{all these pictures are from rustic rooster pinterest... HERE}

OH my I have all the "g o o d" feels with these 3 pictures.  Simplicity at its finest! I'm still deeply and madly in love with blue and white pottery and of course a classic New England shingle sided home will always have a place in my heart. Hmmm Does that mean I'm meant to live on the east coast? I do wonder at times. But back to the pictures... They just evoke happiness to me. Everything comes off as soft and light. What evokes happiness in you? Do you like pops of color or are you very monochromatic? Tell all... I love hearing what suites you best! Happy Saturday everyone!   

{e-mail alexandra@rusticrooster for interior design inquiries} 

smokin good deal {s a l e}

￫ {PAIR} Coastal Blue Lamps ￩

{for sale}

Gorgeous Coastal Blue lamps for s a l e! In perfect Condition! {fyi} No animals or smokers have been around these 2 lamps. Just need to unload a few pieces in our rustic rooster garage space to make more room for new products... Lucky for you {keep watching   for more deals}  T R U T H... This is a SMOKIN GOOD DEAL! Local pick up... Please!   

$95.00 {pair}

..plus tax..

E-mail me at 

alexandra@rusticrooster.com

O R 

text me at {760}436-2171 

{rustic rooster work number}

veterans day

Those of us who have not served will never fully understand the sacrifices you've made both in time of peace and of war!

We will never fully understand what you were required to do or how you were able to do it! 

We will never fully understand the depth of your scars!

But what we can offer you is this:

  WE SEE YOU  

We recoginze your humanity!

And we send you love that is gentle, patient and healing!

With Blessings and Gratitude, we ask that you remember you are loved!

Thank you Veterans!

happy sunday...

coastal alley s a l e

serious envy

I have s e r i o u s house envy/goals right now! This house just has it! It has everything! I know that sounds weird, but it has all the strengths that a house should truly possess! A strong beautiful presence, simplicity at its finest, tradition to the max and true old school classic character. I find it hard to live here in San Diego sometimes because of its lack of character in homes{ughhh}. Its just different here... Please understand that San Diego is stunning {weather}, but for me it just doesn't have the  wow factor in its architecture. All the houses either look identical which they call cookie cutter homes or they have a breakaway home that was built brand new that's beyond random and really stands out in character... A little too much. I love everyone being different that's what makes us so great, but sometime I just wonder what are people really thinking. I know we all judge, that's in our nature... So I don't feel guilty. You shouldn't either. It's OK to express your opinion in anything in life... I only have one thing to say about that do it with class and grace. Got it {wink}!  Back to the house topic, I can't really explain San Diego architecture {stucco boxes} unless you've been here. I spoke with another fabulous designer who left her area because of the lack of character in homes. I give her 10+ points in my book verse complaining about it.   So with that said... My goal is to help build and design  more houses like this or get out of dodge!!!! With character, style, grace, and tradition! Who's with me? Lets design and build away! 

go v o t e

Whatever side you are on... 

Today is your day!  

monday {menu}

{recipe from... here}

Dried Fig, Millet, and Flaxseed Granola

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups cooked millet (hulled or unhulled)
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup oil (I used sunflower)
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons liquid sweetener such as honey, agave, maple syrup, or palm syrup (or a combination)
• 2/3 cup dried figs, stems removed and cut into pieces

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and warm 1/2 cup of chosen liquid sweetener, in a small saucepan or microwave safe bowl. Pour into a large bowl and stir in oil, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add millet, oatmeal, and flax and toss to coat everything well. Spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 to 15, until the granola is almost crisp. Remove from oven and carefully pour back into bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons sweetener and dried figs, then stir to coat everything. Pour back onto tray and bake for 5 - 10 minutes until crispy.
2. Remove tray from oven again and use a rubber spatula to press the granola down as if to make bars.Return pan to oven and turn off heat. Allow to cool with oven, try not to open oven for at least 1 hour even though it's tempting. 
3. Once cool, gently break apart granola into clusters. Store in an airtight container.

happy sunday...