summer olympics {2016}

Did you all watch the Opening ceremony in Rio last night? OMG I did and I got the chills! Despite all the negativity surrounding the topic of Rio hosting the 2016 Olympics... It's the 2016 Summer Olympics people and this is a time where we are all brought together as one for 16 days. Yaaaaaa Seeing athletes in all their glory and at their lowest moment. You watch in awe and are motivated to become a track and field  sprinter for the day {wink}! My point is... Enjoy and soak up every moment that you can!  These athletes are a.m.a.z.i.n.g and have pushed themselves to a limit that is unimaginable! I forget which country it was, but one woman trains by herself in a park with the public around her. No bling bling facilities... She does it because she wants it! Now that's a true athlete! We all can do what we want, when we want too! So go write that book, strut your stuff like Gisele and swim like Phelps! Yaaaa the Olympics are on! I do have to say one last thing...
    

 ..Go USA..Go USA..Go USA..

east coast adventure {2016}

Traveling truly fills my soul... Especially when you have the best little travel partners ever to share the adventure with! This summer we decided to take a trip back east to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Marblehead, Massachusetts.  OMG we sure had an amazing time!

Wheels up! Here we go...

We took a red eye to paradise... 

  ..H E A V E N.. 

Every chance I got I took tons of pictures...  And tried my hardest to get the kids in them as well. It's getting harder and harder as they get older.  

The cousins looked for shells... As I looked for houses. OMG I wanted this home so bad. The story was it was purchased I believed for around 250,000 and then sold at an action for around 450,000. The investment to get her up and running again due to water damage and age would be around 400,000 extra. Hmmm I totally can swing that. Couldn't you see me just standing on the porch calling my littles in for dinner?!?! Done!   

I swear I would love to move... My kids and I talk about it all the time! We love the East Coast so much! No joke we say, We feel at home here! Everything about Massachusetts is perfect {ok except for the winters}! 

Kayaking became the kids passion as I studied window boxes every chance I got... {obviously Massachusetts isn't in a drought}! 

There's a local pirate {dive} bar in town that has the best food and drinks ever. Just close one eye and forget that you're sitting on ducktape tape. Maddie's Sail Loft is a must when you go to Marblehead! 

Dogs greated us at garden shops and rocks crushed under our shoes as we walked! 

All the boys cousins rough housed like they were entering the WWF... I prayed and yelled a lot! Just keeping it real {wink}!

We did the Boston Duck Tours! Definitely a fun way to learn about the history of Boston! 

 I would highly recommend it to everyone...

I pushed myself and ran. I shouldn't have because my hip still hurts {totally different blog post about that... ugh}, but missing an opportunity to run with my cousins on the coast in Marblehead wasn't an opportunity that I was going to pass up!

Boats and graveyards for day. I took this water shot hoping to paint it when I got home. 

 

Seriously how cute is my family... By the end they L O V E D my signature selfies and kept asking for more!  My boy... He's getting so big and so handsome! Crazy! 

We walked secret paths as butterflies chased us to the ocean... The cousins swam till they were physically exhausted. 

 Trying to capture a moment with 16 people was definitely tough... But when I did I knew we would cherish these memories forever! 

With all this said...

Travel as much as you can

Love. Love. Love.

Kiss your children everyday

Smile till your cheeks hurt

Enjoy life

& 

Be kind to all! 

cool breeze

{all images from here}

I'm craving simplicity and calm from all my craziness that's starting to take place in my job right now! Just looking at these images makes me want to go on a vacation. Shhh can you hear the waves crashing and the bird chirping! HaHa a beach vacation would be nice!  I love finding a design that can bring peace to your home... And your mind! How do these image make you feel?

    

{scully style}

{all pieces from here}

It's Scully Style time... Seriously that sounds too funny! Almost like when you ring a bell and scream to your kids... It's dinner time! Can't you just picture me now sitting at a table discussing fashion with other fashionistas! Ha Love it! So with that said, about two weeks ago I walked into J.Crew to try on the new ruffle white shirt that I saw in the catalogue. I was beyond excited to try it on. Unfortunately, I was informed at the store that it was only available online. It was so cute... Why did they not have it in the store. Why!?!?! Well, I decided to just order it. I figured if it doesn't look good I can just return it... Last Friday it arrived. O. M. G. it is unbelievably adorable! I love everything about this shirt. I think I'm going to order the blue and white top as swell! Here's a little bit of advise... Go into J.Crew to order your purchase because you will get free shipping.  That definitely helps out... And order that top!!!

I put this outfit together to show you can take casual jeans and dress them up with a fun ruffled top, heals and some beautiful jeweled earrings. Add a casual cardigan, fun bag and some flats and you have a day outfit... My mom always taught me buy staple expensive pieces and then you can always mix in fun in-expensive pieces. You will always look fabulous... Promise! 

r u kidding me

{recipe here}

FIG ALMOND TEA CAKE W COCONUT-HONEY GLAZE

YIELD: ONE 9X5 LOAF

INGREDIENTS:

Fig-Almond Filling

• 8 ounces dried figs, Mission, Turkish or Calimyrna, stems removed, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brandy or water
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tablespoons slivered almonds, chopped
• 1/2 cup almond paste

Tea Cake

• 2 cups (8 ounces) cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2/3 cup canned coconut milk, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 14 tablespoons (7 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons (11-3/8 ounces) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• Coconut-Honey Glaze, recipe to follow

Coconut-Honey Glaze & Assembly

• 3 tablespoons canned coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon coconut rum
• 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
• 6-8 fresh mission figs for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

FIG-ALMOND FILLING

1. Roll almond paste into a 1/2-inch diameter rope, cut rope into 1/2-1-inch size pieces.

2. Bring figs, sugar, brandy, and water to simmer in medium saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and figs are very soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Stir in chopped almonds and almond paste pieces and cool until ready to use.

TEA CAKE

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position. Grease and flour 9×5 loaf pan. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Whisk coconut milk and both extracts in measuring cup.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of coconut milk mixture. Mix on low until smooth, about 30 seconds.

3. Remove mixing bowl, add fig-almond mixture in chunks of various sizes. Using rubber spatula, fold until mixture is evenly distribute throughout the batter.

4. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Place cake in cold oven. Adjust oven temperature to 325℉ and bake, without opening oven door, until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 65- 80 minutes.

5. Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack, right side up, and cool completely. (Cooled cake can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.)

COCONUT-HONEY GLAZE & ASSEMBLY

1. Bring coconut milk, honey, rum and salt to a simmer over in a small saucepan over medium heat. Turn off heat and whisk in white chocolate until fully combined. Add cream cheese, one tablespoon at a time, whisk until glaze is smooth and creamy. Cool for 20-30 minutes until thickens.

2. Drizzle glaze over top of cake and let it drip over the sides. Decorate with fresh figs (if use) and serve.

project clean out {sale}

Once again... We're selling some good pieces of furniture for amazing prices!!! If you're interested please mail me {alexandra@rusticrooster.com} or call {760.436.2171}. Tell all and please share... 

1.) Small blue drop - leaf side table {$55.00  + tax}

31" W x 26" H x 26" D - When opened

13" W x 26" H x 26" D - When down

Perfect for a child room or even in a cottage living room...

A N D . . . 

2.) Vintage original worktable {$197.00  + tax}

5' W x 2' D x 32" H

I could see this used 2 ways... a bar & buffet...