tuesday... truth {s a l e}

Want to get a little 411 on me...  I get so nervous right before a rooster Coastal Alley S A L E... Yup it's true! I'm not scared of having a sale or scared to see our old customers... I actually LOVE,  LOVE,  LOVE that part of the sale. Reconnecting with all of our old and new customers turned into dear friends. The excitement of seeing people shop is so fun to me, hunting for new furniture and accessories for you all to see is another added bonus... Plus I love chatting it up! But truth, I just get so nervous no one will show up. Is that weird? I'm sure it is... But its in my head and I hate it. Its like throwing a dinner party and all of a sudden you get a call, OH I'm sorry I can't make it or OH sorry Bobby Sue has a cold and I won't be able to come tonight. Ughhhh Well, people their you have it... You found out my fear {no one will show up}! lol Of course our Coast Alley S A L E {Saturday, May 4th} is always a huge success for a about an hour and a half... Then crickets. Thats why we do them so fast and furious. The rush is in the beginning... I'm ok with that. Fist off thank you all for coming! We love seeing everyone!  It warms our heart to see all of you who are instgram followers, facebook followers and old school walk in storefront followers! Love that! Seriously Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 

But I do have a question... Any creative tips to help spread the word about our sale? Would love to hear your suggestions?!?! Please share... Tell me this Saturday if you come by!!!!

getting ready

monday {menu}

happy easter

Happy Easter from my family to yours!

hippy hop

Alexandra 

tuesday... t r u t h

I adore a good c h i n t z... I've been craving it for a while now. Truth, the thing about this bowood you can really put it anywhere and on anything! For real! Its classic, simple and fun all wrapped in one. Hopefully, I can put this gorgeous chintz in my next clients home! Ahhh I'm in love!

monday {menu}

{recipe from... here}

Spinach and Artichoke 

P I Z Z A

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound of pizza dough 
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cloves large garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 ounces package frozen spinach thawed and drained, 10
• 2 cups marinated artichoke hearts drained, about two 7 ounce jars
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced thin or grated, about 1 cup
• 2-4 ounces blue cheese broken into chunks
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a small skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and the garlic. Cook for one to two minutes, until the garlic is fragrant (PLEASE - watch closely!! Dont burn the garlic.). Remove from heat and add the basil, lemon juice, pepper and salt. Set aside.
2. After the dough has risen, punch it down and place it back on the floured surface. This amount of dough yielded 2 pizza crusts for my 12-inch cast iron skillet. If you're using an 8-inch skillet, you may get 3 crusts. Divide the dough evenly in half (or thirds). Roll out your dough just a little larger than the size of your skillet. Place on a large sheet of parchment paper.
3. Place an oven rack directly under your broiler and preheat your broiler to the highest setting. Additionally, place your cast iron skillet on the stovetop burner, turning the heat on high. You want to heat the skillet for 10 minutes. If it begins to smoke a lot, you can reduce the heat a bit. But you want it HOT.
4. While the skillet is heating, begin placing your toppings on your dough. Brush half of the garlic oil on each pizza and then scatter the spinach (make sure you squeezed your spinach of any excess liquid) evenly among both pizzas. Top with the mozzarella cheese, then the artichokes, then scatter on the blue cheese crumbles and finish with a sprinkle of the pine nuts.
5. When your skillet is hot carefully lift the pizza (holding onto the sides of the parchment paper) and place it in the skillet. Let it cook for no longer than 25 seconds. After 25 seconds turn the heat off and grab the skillet and pop it in the oven, right under the broiler. Broil for 1 minute, then using the potholder, grab the handle and rotate 180 degrees, broiling for only 1 more minute. Remove immediately and place on the stovetop. Carefully lift or slide the pizza out and repeat with the other pizza. Top both pizzas with fresh basil. Slice and serve!
6. *If you prefer to make the pizza completely in the oven just skip the skillet and broiler. Instead heat your oven to 350 degrees and bake your pizza for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and top with basil. Let sit five minutes and slice and serve.

happy sunday...

wallpaper for the win

I could definitely get used to this entire look... Loving this blue and white print wallpaper by Sister Parish, Burmese Blue! Very charming in a masculine way. This wallpaper isn't too heavy for the room. A huge misconception is when you add a dark wall color it automatically makes the space smaller... Nope! It doesn't. It actually can add a bit of sophistication to a little room. SOLD... I'll take it this wallpaper! Sister Parish wrap it up! 

throw back thursday {interior design}

I'm realizing one thing right now... I'm definitely a classic style kind of girl! I continuously gravitate towards simplicity. I love looking back on older projects and seeing where the project ended and how I styled it! I always grow from older projects... And add more to the next and steel from the last. Sometimes when you change to much it ruins everything. I can't even tell you how many people called, emailed and messaged me about this bathroom when my clients put their house on the market. My town is actually pretty small and when friends, agents, future clients and past clients walked in they found out it was mine and I loved it! The overwhelming feeling of joy when you complete a job and everyone is happy is enough of me! 

But to get that overwhelming feeling of Joy you need a good team... A team takes you to the finish line! I love my cabinet maker who gets me. He knows my style... Of course adds his 10 cents and then I reel him on with a stare or I turn and hug him with excitement and say, YES I love that idea. He just laughs and we get the job done!

Then their is my carpenter who has been with my since I was pregnant with my 1st Child... Holy Smokes that's a long time! We so far have had a very good run together and still running. He 100 million percent gets me. Never asks questions just does it... I love that about him. After each job he says, wow this is amazing love it! Whats next... lol

So bottom line is having a great crew is #1 in this industry... You will always have your ups and downs, but over all your projects run more smoothly. I'm defiantly a believer in keeping things simple and having fun on a project... You will notice the difference! 

coastal alley s a l e

H E L L O

  HAPPY  WEDNESDAY  EVERYONE  

I wanted to let you know that our Next Coastal Alley S A L E {Saturday, May 4TH} is going to be a H U G E price SLASHER of a S A L E ! No joke... We're really going to almost give things away {big discounts}. I'm looking forward to this S A L E!  So mark your calendars and stop by... Bring a friend too!

book review {march}

OK lets get something out of the way first... YES, my Uncle Tom {my moms brother} wrote, St. Agnes' Stand, the book I'm about to review. I'm going to tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth... So Help me God! My uncles knows me, I call it the way I see it! So buckle up Uncle Tom here's my review {wink}... 

Well,  I picked it to read for my March rustic rooster book because I lied to the entire family years back and said I read it. Yikes... I did not! So I figured it was time and I needed to get it over with. Well, at first I thought, Hmmm this book is a little too descriptive for me. Who cares about gun holsters, leather straps... Horses or dried crusty sunburned faces. Oh Gosh a wild west... Really!?!?  I was struggling to get into it. So I did what every truly normal person does, looked at the last page to see how many pages this book was, took out my calculator and calculated how many pages I needed to read a day to complete it in the month of March. I put the book down... Walked away for a couple of days and then just jumped in again after heavy mind guilt! Then it happened... It was truly magical. The story came to life in my mind. I was sucked in. I wanted more... I wanted every detail. I didn't want anything to stop... The book was so smooth to read.  OMG his book was getting good, really good! I was blown away by his writing skills... His attention to detail was unbelievebly amazing! I became obsessed with each and every detail and couldn't stop wanting more... How did he describe everything that well?  Truth! He takes after me... His perfect niece! lol

I want to tell you everything about this book, but I don't want to spoil it for you. Here's a teeny bit that I'll give you...  It's about a man that actually had a heart and really was very good deep down inside. He lived an extremely hard, rugged and unbelivebly tough life so everything in his world was definitely not easy! Nothing was handed to him. His ability to calmly figure it out from his gut or observation was intriguing. Makes you want to listen to your gut more often... Hmmm!!! Yes, its about the wild west... A man and his dog, Apache Indians, a group of nuns and children. I bet right now you're trying to write the story in your head... Like an old country song. Nope its not going to work this time people.  Ha Ha you really have no clue... But The description of what the Apache Indians did to their victims is insane. I kept wanting to stop with every gruesome torture they inflicted, but I couldn't stop. Its history... Its fascinating! FYI we should never erase history from school {really from anywhere}... It's so important for kids to understand the good, bad and the ugly. My heartbreaks when I hear people removing things from our books, schools, parks... etc. Why?!  That was the "past"... Not our future. We all need to learn from our pasts to improve our future. OK sorry I had to just say that... Plus, if my uncle didn't have the facts on the Wild West, Religion and Indians who would want to read his book... Definitely not me! History Rocks {keep it in schools and everywhere}! 

Sorry, back to the book... This book might be small, but its definitely packed with a punch! I have left feeling so much love in my heart and wanting to dive into my faith and especially my family. Not to mention I want to learn more about American history and soak it all up! Helping others is the key ingredient  in this book. Life isn't always about you... Yes, in the long run you are the only one who can make your life go forward, but the choices we make can ultimately map out our future. I loved how my uncle tied so much together with morals and values. Just read it and see what i'm talking about.

The funny thing is... My April Adventures is to go to a shooting range. What a coincidence that my uncles book had shooting in it {wild west style people}. I'm thrilled to go to the shooting range and learn how to load and shoot a gun! Some might not believe in that, but thats OK. Guns aren't for everyone, but I do know one thing about them, I would rather know how to shoot one, load bullets and put the safety on than not no anything at all. I just want to be knowledgeable. God forbid, but what if something was ever to happen and I need to be prepared. Just saying! I could't be more ready for my April Adventure!  

So bottom line this book was truly my favorite of all of the ones I've started and finished this year {rustic rooster book club}... Actually better than any self-help book because "I" created what "I" wanted to take form this book. As I said before, I took history, love, morals, values, faith, choices in life, and my family out of this book. By the way, I finished this book on my sons birthday at a very stinky and loud trampoline park.

So what do you think, Are you going read it? If you do... Please let me know what you think!

monday {menu}

{recipe from h e r e}

TAHINI CAESAR SALAD 

WITH...

 OLIVE OIL BREADCRUMBS

INGREDIENTS

TAHINI CAESAR DRESSING:

• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese, or a mixture, plus more for sprinkling on the salad
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

SALAD

• 2 thick slices crusty sourdough bread, cut into cubes
• 3  tablespoons extra-virgin oil
• 2 or 3 heads Little Gem lettuce or hearts of romaine, washed and dried

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a blender or mini food processor until smooth. (Makes 1 cup).
2. To make the salad, heat the oven to 375 degrees.
3. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss until evenly coated. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the bread is brown and crisp. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop the cubes on a cutting board or in a food processor to make pea-sized crumbs (or crumble with your hands if you want stress relief).
4. Pull the green leaves off the lettuce and cut the inner core into wedges. If using romaine hearts, separate the leaves and tear into large bite-size pieces. Keep the inner core intact and cut into small wedges.
5. Put the lettuce in a bowl or serving platter and toss with about 1/3 of the dressing. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs and some grated cheese over the salad. Serve with additional dressing on the side.

happy sunday...

birthday to remember...

W O W...  My daughter is 13 now!  I'm not emotional or upset... O K yes at the fact, that I have more grey hair and need more botox to keep me looking younger than I am... Ha Ha I'm truly thrilled for her! This really is a time in her life that she can make more decisions and honestly try new and exciting things in life. I know she's growing up and changing, but this is an exciting time. I wish I had slowed down and really enjoyed growing up more. I hope I can relay that message to Taylor in a subtle way without getting her upset. Taylor does get mad, but then realizes her frustration and talks about it. Who does that!?!? Yes, Taylor does.. She is just an old gentle soul who deserves the world!  

So I decided to do something special for her once a day leading up to her BIG day. I started my little fun on a Friday. So when I picked her up from school, which was early dismissal, we went to her favorite sushi place... Then headed over to a cute bakery afterwards, called Susie Cakes in Carlsbad. No joke if you haven't been you need to stop by and try their baked goods. So decadent and divine! 

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to Sur La Table for a cooking class {march adventure}. Seriously, we had a blast! I signed us up for the eclair class. It was 2.5 hours. Just the right amount to create and bake... Then stuff your face with the end products.  Truth it was awesome... Taylor loved it! It was a great little bonding experience as well. A must with your kids as they get older {truly at any age}. Directly after that class we rushed over to get manicures and pedicures {here}. Ahh that was pure heaven. I think the relaxation after our cooking class made everything in the world just right... Now, if I was thinking one step ahead I would have made us wear sweat pants and really let us enjoy the moment. I guess next time we can... 

Then the day finally came... The BIG 13 day, March 24th. I took her to our favorite little treat... Supercuts for a conditioning treatment {30 min. under the heater} and then a blow out. She was in heaven! Her hair turned out glorious. One thing about Taylor, she has the thickest head of her that getting all the shampoo out is a struggle. So I try my hardest to help, but I'm not always able to. So going to have them cleanse her hair and help scrub the old shampoo out is a treat for her {and me}. Well worth the money! After supercuts, we had breakfast burritos watching the ocean...Perfect! The sky was so blue... Almost like the heavens above were happy she was 13 and I was getting older. Just kidding... But the day really was amazing! After breakfast... I took her to the Carlsbad Flower Fields. They were having an Indian Holi Festival of Color... It was pretty interesting! The music was so moving and everyones spirits were high. Of course the best part was the stunning flowers. Oh My Gosh... They are beyond beautiful. I highly recommend that you go. Definitely a memory we will never forget together... Especially as a 13 year old! 

The one thing about Taylor is... She doesn't care what you do, its the fact that she's with you and included. I know, I know, I know I've said this a million times... But this girl never has anything bad to say about anyone, she loves unconditionally... Her leg could be falling off and she would still walk the 10 mile race with you. Taylor is definetly a diamond in the ruff! I love this girl! Happy 13th Birthday Taylor Michelle... Mom loves you with all my heart! I will never give up on you {ever}, you are my entire world! Happy 13th Birthday Taylor!  

monday {menu}

{recipe from... here}

Pink Grapefruit Margarita

2 oz. Tequila
2 oz. Grapefruit
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. triple sec
1/2 oz. agave

Kosher salt for rim

lime wedge

garnish- grapefruit slice/lime slice

Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, triple sec and agave into a shaker with ice. Shake.

Take lime wedge and run around lip of glass. Place salt on plate and swirl the cup lip in the salt.

Add ice to glass. Strain cocktail shaker into glass. Garnish with grapefruit.