wake up wednesday

I absolutely l o v e d  working with this client in La Jolla! Her love for color was absolutely inspiring and beyond contagious. At every meeting she would say, Go B I G or Go H O M E! Well, we sure went B I G! I don't know about you but, but these images of her bedroom radiate happiness to me! I definitely would love to wake up in a happy room like this!  Remember... Don't be afraid to bring out colors and mix patterns. If you coordinate and blend everything it all will work out wonderfully!  

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

tuesday {truth}

I kind of feel smaller is better... Sometimes homes that are too big, are just way too much {for me}! I like when a small home has every inch thought out and used to max. I think when you do have a big home you just tend to fill it up with stuff {junk} and then you keep filling and stuffing closets and drawers. Truth, you know you never really even use 1/2 of what you own.

Do you think you could go 3 months with just the bare minimum of stuff and even track what you really use with less stuff. I would love to do that! Who's with me? lets track together... lol 

How adorable are these two little cottages and that backyard pool. I'll take them! 

monday {menu}

Peach Bruschetta with 

goat cheese, basil and rosemary-infused honey

{recipe from... here}

ingredients

• 1 baguette, sliced at a diagonal into ½ inch thick slices
• Olive oil for brushing bruschetta
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 4 oz cream cheese
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper
• 3 ripe peaches- sliced into wedges
• 10–15 basil leaves – cut into ribbons
• honey (to infuse, see note)

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. Slice baguette into ½ inch slices at a diagonal. Brush both sides with olive oil and place on a sheet pan in a 400 F oven for 15 minutes, or until crisp. Or alternately, grill on a bbq. Set aside.
3. Place cream cheese and goat cheese in a bowl and either warm in a microwave until just barley soft enough to combine easily with a fork. (I place the bowl in my toaster oven on low). Mix with a fork until smooth. Set aside.
4. Assemble: Spread a little goat cheese mixture on each bruschetta and top with a peach wedge. Garnish with a few basil ribbons, then drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with cracked pepper.
5. It’s really nice to serve when the goat cheese is still a touch warm.
6. Serve on a white platter, or a rustic cutting board.
7. Note: To infuse honey, place a cup or so of honey in a small pot on the stove, add a few sprigs of rosemary ( or thyme, sage, or lavender) and warm on medium heat. Once it comes to a gentle simmer, add a couple teaspoons of water, gently stir, turn heat off and let the herbs marinate in the honey, at room temp for a few hours, or overnight. Place in a squeezy bottle. Once cooled, if honey seems to thick, rewarm and stir in little more water.

happy sunday...

g i v e a w a y {rustic rooster}

G I V E A W A Y 

1 very lucky person will win a classic small Blue & White ginger jar! Yippee 

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To Enter:

• Like the photo on instagram {@rusticrooster}
• Tag a friend on instagram
• Post giveaway on your IG stories with #rusticrooster
• Comment why you want & need this Blue & White ginger jar in your life on instagram & on the blog!

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Ending Date: 

• Friday, July 26th - 12:00pm 

you pick

I'm going to close my eyes and have you all pick my kitchen stove. So many positives and negatives on all of these stoves pictured above. I love the industrial pro look... Love, Love, Love! Nothing delicate in my kitchen! I want a timeless look... I want to look back at my kitchen and say, thank goodness I didn't get something too delicate or too bright and shinny {too many bells and whistles}. I'm not into trends... I absolutely love to cook and  need a s t o v e that's mean and strong! ha  Money is a huge factor in the remodel... Remember we're on Phase 3 now... {1 - was my master bedroom, bathroom, closet/laundry room/pantry, 2 - kids bathrooms and new windows in Ryan's room}... And stage 4 is next right after the kitchen {adding a dining room and a California room}! This remodel is HUGE to me. We spend pretty much 24/7 in the kitchen.    I just want to make a good decision that will last a very long time. This home will never be sold... If anything it will turn into a rental property. So as you all can see I need your help!  

monday {menu}

{recipe from here}

Banoffee Parfaits

with dates and caramel

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large, ripe banana
• 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt, (a mixture of half Greek and half regular yogurt)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 recipe of 2/3 cup of granola of your choice
• 1 recipe of cooled date caramel - see recipe below;

* Put 1/3 cup of pitted, chopped dates (see notes), 1/3 cup of milk, 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into a blender, blend together until smooth. Pour into a saucepan and heat whilst stirring over a low flame for 5-10 minutes, until thickened and reduced down to ~1/3 of a cup in volume. Set aside to cool.

INSTRUCTIONS:  

1. Slice the banana into 1/4" thick coins. In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt and vanilla extract. 
2. In 3 small, clean glasses or jars, layer the ingredients like this: 2 tsp granola, a few banana coins, 1 tsp date caramel, 2 tbsp of Greek yogurt. Repeat. Do this for all the jars/glasses. To finish, top with any remaining granola, banana and caramel.

happy sunday...

summer sparkle... {last pair}

Guess what... I have one pair left of this fun earring in the color {grass}. E - mail {alexandra@rusticrooster.com or text 760.436.2171} me if interested in purchasing. I can ship or local pick up is great too. 

before & after master bath {interior design}

I've been having a really good time scrolling through my phone looking at all my new and old interior design projects. Laughed, drooled and even questioned a few things I did... Hey, we all grow from our positive and  negative mistakes. These pictures of a bathroom I did back in the day really stands out in my mind! I love the process and the final outcome! Its so classic and simple... I wouldn't change a thing! Yes, maybe the shampoo bottles and shaver, but over all I really love what I designed! 

  First off, I had the best time working with this family. Super easy and willing to try any thing I suggested. Love that! 

Well, this beauty was fully gutted! Say "good bye" to the 80's! 

I know you all loved the original tile and overall look!  Hey at the time this was a hot bathroom design... I'll give it that, but man it sure didn't last. 

Taking down all the walls and gutting everything was fun and definitely exciting to see what I had to work with!  Seeing the potential of the space was amazing... This room was huge!

All of my selections were perfect for the overall look. My client wanted the 3 C's... Calm, Classic and Coastal. I think that was achieved... This bathroom will last for a very long time. Timeless!  

I designed this vanity so it had dimension.   I selected 2 old matching mirrors to fit over each sink. The antique looking mirrors {reproductions} added a little texture to the room.   

Of course what room wouldn't be complete without rustic rooster's classic Blue and White pottery. A coastal classic in my book... {huge smile}

My client really only had one request besides the 3 C's... It was a claw foot tub. Well, her wish was granted! By adding a claw foot tub in the room we add more of an architectural dimension to the room. This bathroom appears long and lean so we need your eye to move around. We didn't want the room to be boring and flat... I like how all the little details really make a statement throughout. We didn't leave anything unfinished. 

Would I design another bathroom like this... YES in a heart beat. Its 100% my style and a lasting style... When I create a room I don't create from a hot trend. I create a space that will last hopefully for a very long time...  Enjoy!

elegant

Oh My I can't stop staring at this dress. It's absolutely gorgeous! For those of you wondering, no I'm not getting married again... Yet! But this dress just stopped me in my tracks last night as I was browsing through pinterest. By the way, I get everything on my feed... food, tanning creams, make-up tutorial to outdoor tree living lofts {what the heck}. I get it all! So somehow I got wedding dresses...

Seriously, this is beyond elegant! I know when I get remarried again I would definitely add this look into my musts for my big day. Ok ladies don't even say, that you've never had a book of items you wanted for your big day. From the perfect dress, shoes... Hair and make up to the band. You so did! I did for my 1st and it was fabulous. Truthfully my 1st wedding was so much fun... From beach ceremony {gave everyone flip flops to walk on the beach}, drinking and dancing {Martini Ranch}, magician {yes an amazing jaw dropping magician} and not going to lie, I wish I had added 1 more thing for my big day... Hula lessons! lol For those who came would understand... Never know maybe at my next one {wink wink}!

What fabulous thing's did you have at your wedding? What would you do differently? Did you love your wedding dress?

winning

 

If you put this wallpaper in your home... You are totally winning! Well, I at least I think so. A beautiful Bowood would definitely put a smile on my face all day long. I think as I get older I've really gravitate back toward the  classics. I can't do trends... I can't do what's HOT right now. It never lasts and once again I go back towards the classics... So back to a classic Bowood for me!

 

before and after {home}

Warning these "b e f o r e" pictures might burn your eyes... Or temporarily blind you! lol Just kidding, but man, they are bad. Actually embarrassing bad.  As I said before, this property before us, had 3 rentals on it. The main house, the garage turned into a studio rental and then the upstairs studio rental. Each rental had their own entrance/exit... But they did share 1 laundry room. Oh My gosh! It was small, gross and did I say, gross. Of course this space was hidden away so thank god you didn't see it. After adding a hall to my room which was the garage rental and a pantry we made a separate laundry room space... Well, here you go. Its simple and just perfect. Nothing fancy... We still have to add a few hooks and pictures, but right now I like having it with noting. Before their was so much junk {storage} in the room that I dread putting more back into it. My modo is... Less is best! Enjoy!

monday {menu}

{recipe from... here}

Mini Dutch Babies with Lemon Curd and blueberries

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• ½ cup (60g) flour
• ½ cup (115g) milk
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest (1 small lemon)
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Confectioners suger for dusting (optional)

For filling:

• ¼ cup homemade lemon curd (or store bought)
• ½ pint blueberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425º F (220ºC)
2. Add eggs, flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and lemon zest together into a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Place butter in heavy skillets (or a single skillet) and place in the oven until butter has melted (just a few minutes, don’t wander off). Pour half the batter into each pan, return them to oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the pancakes are puffed and golden. Lower oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake five minutes longer.
4. Remove pancakes from oven, serve individually if using mini skillets, or cut larger Dutch Baby into 
5. wedges and top with a dusting of confectioners’ 
6. sugar, a spoonful or two of lemon curd and blueberries.