tuesday {truth}

So I have this goal in 2020 {like I always do... year after year}... To clean up all my paperwork. Which includes pictures, award certificates to artwork and much more. I'm pretty organized, but this is one area I've been pushing aside. I see it and walk away. Its not out of control, but in my mind I think it is. So this year I'm tackling it! Everything has to be simple! No fuss... Just make everything easy and plain old simple! I want to be able to walk into my storage unit or house and say, Oh I need my home sale documents, to I want to look at my dads memory box and much more. No questions asked where it is. Seriously, don't you all want that!? I know you do... Its just finding the time and figuring how to do it. 

Here's how I got started on my adventure...  I was trying to figure out what series to watch while running at the gym and it came to me... Watch that Marie Kondo show... Tidying up. Well, I did and its fascinating. Clothes, books, shoes and accessories I'm good with, but she did help me go the extra mile in that department. Then I kept intensely watching how she organized paperwork, etc... {this is what I got out of it}

1.) Go through your documents. Eliminate things you do not need or want. Then create a pile that needs to be filed and then create a pile that you have questions on and will get to the next day.

2.) Eliminate all bad pictures of you. Then  get rid of duplicate pictures or the same or slightly different posses. Keep only one of those pictures.

3.) For artwork... Pick the ones you love! Then throw out the ones you don't like. The ones your questioning just keep in a pile. You can review them the next day. 

I then made a list of important names and events {divorce, home purchase, college, each family member name... etc.} Then I went to Walmart and got big plastic bins that all match. 

I got labels from Office Depot and labeled each bin. That makes a huge difference. I can see each box nicely and I'm very pleased. 

So If you want to start your journey... Go watch her show. Take what you need from it and start. My family thinks I'm crazy, but truth in the long run they'll thank me because its all simple for them and they don't have to deal with clutter and chaos! 

I do believe we think and function better in a clean environment. So if you're struggling in work or life, try to de-clutter and see what happens. Good luck and just have fun! 

i wish

I wish this was my little beach house... I could just get out of town and disappear here! No questions asked!  Isn't it adorable. The cedar siding to the wrap around parch and of course the gorgeous hydrangeas! A definite must one day in my life! Whats your dream beach house look like? Please share with me...  

monday {menu}

{recipe from... h e r e}

..SAUSAGE LENTIL SOUP..

Ingredients

• 1½ tbsp. olive oil
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 1 large carrot, finely grated
• 1 stalk celery, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ lb. hot Italian sausage (uncooked)
• ⅓ c. ham, cubed
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 2 c. water
• 4 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 c. dry lentils
• 1 tbsp. fresh basil, minced
• 1 tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp. paprika
• ¼ tsp. thyme (heaping)
• ¼ tsp. oregano (heaping)
• ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven set over medium-low heat, saute the onion in the olive oil until tender. Add the carrot, celery and garlic, cook for 1-2 more minutes. Add the sausage and brown, braking it into bits as it cooks.
2. Add the chopped ham, tomatoes, water, chicken broth, vinegar and bring the soup to a boil. Pour in the lentils along woth the remaining seasonings/spices and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the lentils are tender and the liquid reduces, about 40-45 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and serve immediately.

happy sunday...

tuesday {truth}

Lets be real here people... Real talk in 2020

I would love to share a little story about me and how I got started in my design career! I’ll make it short and sweet!

I was finishing up my design internship with @jeffreymarksinc and was about to graduate from @sandiegostateuniversity. Like majority of students I started to panic about my future. What am I going to do? Then I had an idea!

Growing up with an entrepreneurial father and seeing his success I knew I didn’t want to work for anyone! I wanted to open up a furniture store, showcase my design style... Then get design clients from doing that. Easy right?! Yes and No! 

So I sat at the kitchen table and; discussed my idea with my parents... My father looked at me and said, OK I have a plan! You and your mom start the business together. I’ll give you $10,000. That money will be for everything. Rent, furniture, accessories... no joke, Everything! Do this for 2 years with your mom and work your tail off... We'll review everything in 2 years.

I sat at the kitchen table for a bit, got up  and said OK! I graduated and started hunting for a storefront. Found it and things were beginning to fall into place.  

2+++ years later my mom and I were having a blast and enjoying our venture together. Plus, I couldn't imagine my mom stopping and not working with me. She was more the rustic rooster storefront than me. She was 100% the rustic rooster!  

I bet you all were wondering about the $10,000 my dad gave me. Genius on his part! Now a days entrepreneurs take tons of loans out to get a business started and then have tons of debt to pay off... Such an awful cycle. They don't know how to budget, what to spend their money on wisely. They just spend and spend. Well, I didn’t and succeed. I was ahead of the game... I had a very savvy mom that was another genius with numbers. So our partnership was perfect! 

My mother and father pushed me in a way I don’t think students are pushed nowadays. I had to realize what’s important in my business. F Y I I never took a business course ever. I observed my father. That was my business school. My dad wanted to see if I truly had what it takes to do this. So I had to do the work! I had to paint the store,  I had to deliver furniture to customers, clean the storefront and office, be the best sales girl ever and much, much, more! 

Fast forward 20 years... I now work with design clients all over... and ♥️ it! I bring a classic east coast style to the west coast. I’m traditional and timeless all wrapped in one. 

I’ve realized working with a small amount of clients at a time is the key to my success. I can focus on each client without spreading myself to thin. We all can have fun and enjoy the project! 

We did close the storefront because of a few unfortunate life events, my father and grandmothers death and my divorce. Mom wanted a break to relax and I knew I needed to focus on my kids. Plus, I knew if my mom wasn't 100% in with me at work, I could handle it all on my own. So we shut everything down and I started working from home doing interior design. 

As I look back that was the best decision to do... Close the storefront and focus on my passion, interior design completely. Life is interesting... But everything does happen for a reason and is a true blessing in the long run!  

Dreams do come true if you work hard! Thanks dad for pushing me and thanks mom for being the best partner ever! If you just slow down you will see all your blessings you have!   

E-Mail: alexandra@rusticrooster.com for design inquiries in 2020