fall must-haves...

 

  

vest/clutch/scarf/watch/boots/pants/pearls

Are you with me... I love the classics with a touch of wild. Natasha asked me to pull a few pictures together of what I love for fall... Well, this is what I came up with. Do you think I need to add anything to the list? Please let me know...

xoxo

Alexandra

just something little to do...

herringbone throws...

Yes... These beautiful throws are here  at the rustic rooster! I can't tell you how excited we are {ya}! On my recent trip back east to Marblehead, Massachusetts we couldn't help but notice how many people swore by them and used them for everything... Well, we bit the bullet and ordered some! They're so cozy and soft. I love a fabulous throw on a chair or a couch... Truly anywhere!   It's all about the quality... Stop by to see our new throws!

 

xoxo

Alexandra

rustic rooster {the challenge}

Good morning...  So my last weeks challenge {here} was slightly {just a little} difficult for me. I know you all are saying, really 7 days and you couldn't do it. I'll be very honest with you... My little guy stayed home with a fever for 2 days so I got super bored & craved my creamer. I'm know it was boredom... Pure boredom. Sorry! OK You all might think I'm weak. No I'm really not... I just had a slight breakdown. Just a little weakness entered in my body and I said yes {shoot}. So this challenge didn't really do any thing for me. It left me with bad breath and wanting my creamer even more. I didn't feel like I lost weight or felt better. I felt the same... No change. I wish it did change me... Hey one less grocery expense would have been nice. Kind of like when you get to stop buying diapers. Ahhhh financial freedom!  Now I need a new challenge for he week. Hmmmmm What should it be? Smile at 5 new people a day? Say hello to 5 new people on the street? Help 5 strangers out... Done, done and done! All of those  little challenges I already try to do on a daily bases. That helps my heart and my soul when I do that. Got it, This weeks challenge is to work out for 7 days straight! This time I will document my workout challenge everyday with a photo! I generally workout 3 to 4 days a week {on a good week}. Hope you all can join me and get active... Please tell me what your workout routine is. I would love to hear what you do... I might want to try something new. Have fun!!!! We can do this! 

xoxo

Alexandra

happy sunday

 

come on in...

   

And see what I'm feeling right now... 

High gloss red Dutch doors.... 

 

Freshly baked pumpkin spiced donuts with a hot cup of coffee...

 

 

Antique secretary filled with tons of family history and love...

 

 Large leather tote bag with deep midnight blue paint...

 

Classic fall inspired fabric...

 

And warm wool clothes!

 

xoxo

Alexandra

rustic rooster {the menu}

I really should say... Just add it to my hips not my lips! But, you know what we only live once... So go for it! Make these bad boys! Yes, your lips will thank you! 

pumpkin s'mores recipe

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup pure pumpkin puree
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 chocolate bars - 1.45 oz each, chopped
2 graham crackers, broken into chunky crumbs
1 3/4 cup mini marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9 x13 inch baking pan with foil. Leave a bit of foil over the edges to help with removal of bars after baking. Lightly spray foil with non-stick spray. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt; set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars on medium-high speed until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low and gently add dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.

4. Spread mixture in prepared baking dish and top with crushed graham crackers, chocolate bars and mini marshmallows. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool completely before removing from pan.

5. Use foil flaps to gently lift bars from baking dish. Cut bars and serve.

xoxo

Alexandra

color

Do you believe color should be in your workspace? I go back and forth with this... I tend to gravitate towards the simple calm monochromatic pallets, but I always think that color adds excitement and fun in a workspace. I'm the first to raise my hand to have a good time in the office... What's the point of working if you can't laugh and get silly.  Does color over stimulate your brain too much? I wonder if my office would turn into a loony bin and nothing would get done!  Hmmm what's a girl to do... Color or no color? Calm is what I truly need in my life... Simplicity and organization. Have  I answered my own question... By golly I think I have! Go simple and classic then add in color through my spice for life! Don't laugh... Which I know most of you are {wink}! Plus, I can add a big bouquet of colorful flowers in the room. It's settled then! My fabric samples and personality will stand out with the bouquet of flowers... & the rest of the room will be calm and collect. Done! Thanks for the chat everyone...

xoxo

Alexandra     

pretty pretty nails

 

This is my safe color... Perfectly Classic! 

{butter london * pink ribbon}

This is my wild card color... Daringly Dramatic!

  

{chanel * rouge noir}

Hmmm I've never used this color before... 

{scotch * hot toddy}

What's your feeling on this color?

xoxo

Alexandra

weekend getaway...

Really... You think you look so pretty! You think you can help me relax! You think your food is yummy! You think your market is as pretty as my market? Really!!!!! 

OK my bags are packed... Yes, you're all of the above and more! I'm coming Napa. Can you hear my engine revving up... I'll be there soon!!!!  I need a fabulous vacation... How wonderful would it be to go here.

http://www.thecarnerosinn.com/

If you've been here... Please tell me how it was! I would love to know.

xoxo
Alexandra

rustic rooster {the challenge}

OK... Here's the challenge... I can only drink black coffee for one week straight! Do you think I can do it?  No milk, half and half, sugar or creamer... Nothing! Straight up Black!  I love my hazelnut creamer! I truly do love it! It's my little slice of heaven in the morning. I actually dream about it right before I go to bed at night {yes, i'm a weirdo}. OMG I'm crazy for doing this. I'm sure some of you are asking yourself... Why? Why? Why? Well... I'm really trying to eat right and exercise more so of course when that happens you start to cut out the bad stuff. Sugars, fats... Etc. I want to really to see if my body recognizes and rejects the bad things... Plus, I want to see weight loss results. Hey, it's only for a week... I can do this! Bring it on!  Who's with me on the rustic rooster challenge! 

Are you IN? 

or

Are you OUT?

XOXO

Alexandra

happy sunday...

rustic rooster {the menu}

{blueberry crumble muffins}

    Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canned blueberries, rinsed and drained (or fresh!)
• 
  
• For the crumble topping:
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into cubes
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a muffin tin by lining the cups with paper muffin/cupcake cups and/or lightly spraying with a non-stick cooking spray (I do both).

   Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a muffin tin by lining the cups with paper muffin/cupcake cups and/or lightly spraying with a non-stick cooking spray (I do both).
2. In a large bowl, beat the milk, oil, and egg until well mixed.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until a batter just forms (it will be lumpy). Gently fold in the blueberries using a large rubber spatula.
4. Divide the batter even among the 12 muffin cups (a scant 1/4 cup of batter in each).
5. Prepare the crumble: use a fork, pasty cutter, or your hands to "smush" together the flour, butter, and brown sugar into a crumbly mixture.
6. Sprinkle the crumble over the batter in each muffin cup.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before unwrapping.

enjoy,

Alexandra

bow tie... love

Bow Tie's for men... Yes, please!!!! Secretly I want every man to wear a bow tie... Isn't it adorable?!?! I know we're not supposed to call a man adorable, but OH they're so handsome in one! It just adds a touch of refinement. I hope my son will appreciate what I'm doing for him... Making him a very distinguished and dashing little dresser! 

xoxo

Alexandra

try try try

Do you ever sit and wonder if you should try something new in your life? Be adventurous! Do you have that list of wishes and wants? Hidden in your nightstand... For only you to see it {smile}. Well, I sure do.  I consider myself a pretty happy go luck lady who likes to try new things. I've made the mental list and tried to make the written list. Well, lately a lot has been happening to me in my life. Of course you all know my father passed {here}. So as my therapist says, and yes I have been going to one {adore her} ... Grief comes in stages... More like waves to me. Three months, six moths and so on... I'm in the six month wave right now. Oh my it's rough and I'm raw!!!! I'm feeling the pain... But that's a good thing! I've started to realize that I need more in my life... So I want to try new things. It's a good thing. We get stuck in the same old routine day after day and to be honest with you it's not healthy for anyone... Having a tragedy{s} occur in your life can really open your eyes up to a lot. I want to try new things... I want to do new things... I want to try, try, try! It's scary what my future holds... But if I don't try I will never know what's out there... I feel positive and excited for what's to come. So on that note... This is what I would like to try! 

{paddle boarding}

I've heard so many fun things about paddle boarding... How easy, exciting and fun it is! It looks relaxing. I say that now... I'll tell you later when I do it {wink}!

 {shooting range}

I've always wanted to go to a shooting range. I want to know how to shoot a gun. Lock and load it... For me and myself only! What if I was in a situation where I needed to make sure a gun was disarmed and locked... Or I did need to defend myself. I want to try it. Plus, I heard it's the most liberating and freeing experience ever! 

{painting class}

I want to school for Interior Design. I took many many art classes... I just feel so out of touch with painting. I want to take a class to feel organic and free again. Plus, I don't want to get a grade on it {haha}. It's for me and only me. I never have took a real relaxed out of school oil painting class before...   Never! Ahhh to be free again! 

{kickboxing class}

In college I used to go with my roommate to kickboxing classes. I loved it... I loved the end feeling. It was powerful and thrilling. So if you see me at a kickboxing class... Throw me a fist pump. 

I do have many more things I would like to try... But, I didn't want to write a novel and bore you all. One piece of advice.. Get out and live life to the fullest! Try new things and laugh your heart out!!! Believe me you'll feel like a whole new person... 

xoxo

Alexandra

seeing orange

How do you feel when you see the color orange... Extremely warm? Comfortably cozy? Traditional? What? I have a rush of feelings that take over me when I see the color orange... I want to sit in a small room by the fire and read a romance novel.  Put on my boots and wear a wool sweater. Family does come to mind heavily...  I want to create traditions and lasting memories for my little ones. Can't you picture yourself falling in a pile of orange leaves... Baking a pumpkin pie with your grandma. Changing out all your hardware in your home to brass... Yes, please! Ahhh a hot cup of Joe is calling my name... Orange you happy you read my post {wink}! Help inspire me  with your  feelings and ideas on orange. Would love to hear...    

xoxo 

Alexandra

fall inspiration...

 Are you ready for Fall...  We sure are!

I can feel it in my bones!  The weather's changing... The need for a sweater,  

the desire to wear boots and I  can hear the wind whistling throughout the day!

Oh last but not least... I'm dreaming about Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes! Yum!

Fall we welcome you with open arms... Hello! 

xoxo

Alexandra