monday {meeting}

Ok lets talk Coastal Alley SALE... Our last POP up was a m a z i n g! After cleaning out the rustic rooster garage space {kicking myself we didn't do a before and after pictures} after 17+ years we discovered {some rat bodies, fabulous old treasures, massive amounts of old wood, spray cans and furniture} a fabulous Hampton style garage look! Sounds weird, but with the old wood vaulted ceilings and the rustic coastal vibe... It's wonderful! Mom and I just want to sit in there and drink coffee. We've even done more to the space since our last POP up sale... Painted the entire floor with a porch and floor finish in a grey so you don't see the old paint splatters everywhere and we put solid plywood on the back wall. That's still being painted a solid swiss coffee white to match out the other side of the garage. We want to keep improving this space so it's cuter and cuter for each POP up Coastal Alley SALE we have!   

My question to you all is,

"Do you all like the time we did the POP up Coastal Alley SALE?" 

"Do you think we should do the SALE once  every 2 or 3 months?" 

"Have it 2 days... Saturday and Sunday?"

So many questions! I'm just trying to figure out in my head a few things... I would love your feed back because you all are really my driving force in this operation! 

Mom and I got new selling aprons... Out with the OLD in with the NEW!{home goods for the win... $7.00 each}

 

As I've said before were going to be putting a select {6 to 8 items} amount of furniture and accessories on the new website section... SHOP. It's being designed at the moment, but I wanted to give you all a heads up. Of course you can go check out our new website  that I had done to close our old rustic rooster storefront chapter out. I felt bad because people still thought we had the shop  on Coast Highway 101. Plus, on the rustic rooster new site I'm adding another page... COASTAL SALE and we'll have the dates and times of the SALE's on it. So for all you planners and of course travelers who miss the rooster chicks... You can plan a head and schedule the rooster Coastal Alley S A L E in!

 Mom and I will be at another pop up in July that we've been asked to attend. I'll let you know that information the moment I get it. Stay tuned... Can't wait!!!

But in the mean time I would really L O V E all your wonderful feedback!

happy sunday...

vitamin d

{all images from rustic rooster pinterest}

The S . U . N . S out! I've been craving Vitamin D so bad lately... Just to see blue skies or feel a warm breeze on my face is really all I need or want right now. Well, Thursday afternoon here in Encinitas we were graced with blue skies! I can't even tell you how many people were out and about enjoying the sun. It felt so good! Of course all I want to do is plan backyard gatherings and lay by the pool.  Hope you all are enjoying this fabulous weather... Lets just pray it stay this way and June gloom hits the road! 

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

walking tour

So yesterday I joined my sons 3rd grade class at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School to do a historic walking tour of downtown Encinitas. Taylor did it, but I couldn't make it. So this year I jumped at the chance to get out and learn about our little beach town! Talk about fun! Ryan and I packed my backpack with tons of food, water and sunscreen... And we were off! 

Of course my child kept taking my hat throughout the field trip... And didn't care if people were looking or trying to take it off of him. He's definitely that kid that stands tall and keeps on walking! Not a care in the world what others think! I eventually got it back... Thank God! 

On one of our stops we went to the first Encinitas School House... Built in 1883. So adorable! I've always driven by it and have wanted to go in, but due to scheduling conflicts or truth an absent mind I just have't gone in.  It moved a few times and even was changed into a studio rental {walls and kitchen added}, but thank goodness for the historical society for saving it before it was to be demolished! It was moved to the old Pacific View school property. OMG That's a different topic. Talk about an adorable and perfect little beachfront school... My kids would have been zoned to go there. After seeing and hearing about that school it breaks my heart its gone.  Ok back to the school house... Kids walked far to go to this school, ages ranging from 5 to 12 years old. I was told on the tour yesterday it was the only school between San diego and Oceanside. 

Then we goofed off and played to get the crazies out. Gotta love this age, look at their teeth. So awkward! I crack up because we've all gone through that stage! 

 

We stopped by the Derby House... Now that house is definitely a character. Truth I want to clean it up soooooooo bad. Its kind of like hoarders gone wild. Just saying {wink}! On this trip the kids couldn't go inside because the owner was leaving for vacation and a few people were still sleeping. I had the privilege to go in years ago with the owners wife and was no joke paralyzed for words. You felt like some one ages ago got a call and then took off leaving everything exactly the same way they left it. Hot coffee on the stove and all... Interesting. Mom and I kept staring at each other quietly saying, "Do you think she would ever sell some of this furniture to the rooster?" hahaha No crime in thinking that! Go {here} and {here} to read the history of the Derby house.

{La Paloma history}

We saw so much more of our little beach town, but unfortunately I was busy corralling  3rd graders so I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked to... I would read {here} about the history of Encinitas, jump in your car and start exploring!  

Hope you all enjoyed my mini tour of our town! 

cozy as can be {interior design}

Having the feeling of peace and quiet mixed in with relaxation and simplicity is sometimes hard to achieve in todays crazy world we live in...  So when we do have that moment we savor it and try our hardest to not let it go. I've discovered for me to achieve that feeling in this industry is when I, {one} choose the selection, {two} my client approves the selection and {three} when everything is installed and the client is beaming with pure joy! Now that's why I do what I do... So I can achieve that feeling for each and every client {and for me too}!  

{before}

I was given the task to change a bonus room, turned storage room {not intentionally} into a relaxing tv/reading room. My client had remodeled her home and was h o t on the clean-out/de-cluttering train when we started designing this extra room off their master bedroom. I could see the end result and was beyond excited to complete this room. It sure had potently!

  

I love how my client wanted to start pretty much with nothing... She was so over the clutter that giving the green light on this room was easy for her to do! She did keep one of her wingback chairs and an old gorgouse pine chest. By just slip covering her wingback it looked like she had a brand new chair for half the cost! The pine chest was perfect for the room... Not to big and it added extra storage. A win win in my books! 

I asked her to close her eyes when it came to the final accessories and she gladly did so... That's when the real magic happens for me. Everything arrived and I installed in one day. This room install went so smoothly because I could see myself living here!  

{after}

I added in my signature wild card... Do you all think you know what it could be? Would love for you to comment... 

So when your gearing up for a room re-do... Truly de-culture and start f r e s h! Get rid of things you don't want or need anymore. This process can be hard, so if you feel that you will struggle have a friend or a spouse help you. But you do need some one that's tough and able to get you to release extra clutter. Then the process starts to flow easily... Good luck!    

{if you're interested in rustic rooster design services,  please email me at alexandra@rusticrooster.com}

monday {menu}

{drink from here}

Candied Grapefruit Cocktail 

Ingredients

• 1 ounce gin
• 4 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• 2 candied grapefruit peels
• dash of cayenne, depending on how spicy you like it {optional*}
• grapefruit wedge and sugar for rimming {optional*}

*Mix cayenne and sugar, rim glass with a grapefruit piece then dip in sugar mixture before filling with ice.  The touch of cayenne compliments the gin nicely.  In a cocktail shaker, add ice, grapefruit juice, agave and gin. Shake several times. Pour over a 4oz glass filled with ice. Slide two candied grapefruit peels onto a wooden skewer {cut in half} and place on the rim of the glass.   Now be prepared to taste one of the best drinks you have ever had!

happy sunday...

nantucket love

Do you think if I lick the front door and yes I will lick it twice... Then this house would be considered mine? I think that's totally fine and very reasonable to think! Oh my gosh I'm in love with this home. It's so quaint and just perfect. I know if I lived here my boxwood hedges would look exactly like that forever. I promise!

So what are your thoughts on this shingle sided home? 

Yes or No?