baking goodness

I know we're all trying to do our best in these trying times. As I sit & write this semi boring blog post {wink}... I'm in my PJ's looking at my hands. WOW they look so bad... Red and rashy and they hurt! Ughhh I know I'm not alone. But we will all survive...   

Enough about my hands... I wanted to just let you all know I've yelled at my kids a few times, I've done a million loads of laundry, had mini panic attacks that this is the new norm... Then I've come to my senses and realized I just need to bake good things and calm down! Thank Goodness for pinterest, because I found the most amazing chocolate chip pumpkin blondies to make. Best of all, I have had 2 big cans of pumpkin puree in my pantry... Hmmmm maybe 2+ years now. Its all good... A little expiration won't hurt anyone. They're amazing! So if you have some old pumpkin puree laying around go do it... Make this baking goodness. They won't disappoint! My hips on the other hand aren't too happy with me... HAHA But life is definitely about a happy balance.

directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a piece of parchment paper. Place parchment paper in a 9×13″ baking dish and set aside.
2. Sift together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer and then add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Then mix in the egg, pumpkin puree and vanilla. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and then pour into the prepared baking dish.
4. Bake pumpkin blondies for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean. Allow pumpkin chocolate chip bars to cool for 20 minutes in pan and then remove from pan. Cut into bars and enjoy!

INGREDIENT: 

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin spice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
• 2 Tablespoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

happy st. patrick's day

I'm so envious for this little girls room. She wants something new & all grown up... But, she wants nothing to do with the color pink! Absolutely Nothing!  Stripes, checks, textures and prints are only on the radar. Well, I think I achieved just that and I'm so G R E E N with envy! 

Happy 

Saint Patrick's Day 

everyone!

shop... rustic rooster

VINTAGE

Whale Cutting Board

$36.00

{+ tax and ship or local pick up for FREE}

e-mail me {alexandra@rusticrooster.com} 

if interested in this product. 

shop... rustic rooster

 SOLID BRASS

Scallop Door Knocker

$ 62.00

 A024.20

{+ tax & ship or local pick up for free} 

Approx... 5" Wide x 5"High

e-mail me {alexandra@rusticrooster.com} 

if interested in this product. 

introducing {h e l l o}

h e l l o...   Miss Molly Malone

 

For those of you who don't know... I was blessed with lovely allergies to cats, dogs, horses, guinea pigs and bunnies... Actually I'm pretty much blessed with every outdoor allergy known to man kind. Yup... Dust too! You think it, I just might sneeze it. I think I've pretty much made Claritin and Sudafed rich with my little problem. lol If someone told me to drink a milkshake and stand on your head I would have done just that to get rid of my allergies. So when I tell you this... You might definitely think I've lost  my marbles. I grew up with 3 dogs, 2 cats, bunnies... and yes mice.  They were all outdoor animals and I loved them all!

It was hard growing up with them because all I wanted to do was play with each and every one of them. Unfortunately, my kind of playing was a little more touch and go and lets run outside in the grass... Just don't get too close. But we did play and have fun! My dogs knew they couldn't roam the house at all and my cats just chilled outside. No one made it a big deal that they were outside animals. Truth they really loved it!  Every morning my cats left us presents on the back porch... Dead birds, tailless lizards to even yummy fur ball throw up. So sweet! I'm sorry but, who doesn't want that every day!  So when I had kids I had this dream that we would get a dog and it would be outside and do all the same things my dogs did... Play and be dogs! Well, I never got them a dog... Until now! I saw this lady walking a golden doodle and fell in love! I asked her a million questions, got her number and then scheduled a play date. Had to see if I was going to react to this breed. Nope so far so good, I was in the clear!

After discussing all this heavily with my mom I new we needed to go forward with getting a dog from this breeder. Not going to lie I was still very hesitant because I like a clean house, I don't like dogs in bedrooms or on furniture at all {still don't}... Plus, I get up and go all the time. So this was a huge decision to make. Bottom line I was scared. I knew I needed to just do it and not look back. My kids will love it and in the later years my mom will have a companion as well. So everyone was winning. We did it!

For all of you on the fence, go look at   Sunnyside Goldens {here} Oh My Gosh! The most adorable family, breeder, dogs... Everything! I could sit and tell you a million horror stories of breeders that I went to and No Joke called my brother to let him know where we were and if we die he knows where to get us. So bad and beyond gross! Not knowing the dog world I thought all breeders must be just weird and super dirty... Then I saw Larisa's website. Her  style, taste, family and presentation of these puppies are absolutely fabulous! Maybe its the interior designer in me, but she's nailed this part of the business. Then to add to her cute business her instagram is i n s a n e l y amazing. Go  follow here at @sunnysidegoldens {here} Everyday you follow her to pick out your dog and then you watch them grow. We were in love. So if you want a Golden Doodle or a Burmese Doodle or a Golden Retrever go get one from her. 

Our little Molly is so socialized, fun, sweet, semi potty trained and even semi crate trained. In a packet Larisa gives you when you get the dog she has everything explained {to a T}... To even introduce the dog to 50+ people a week. Well, Miss Molly is getting so much attention and loves it. The only thing she wants to do that she can't do just yet is go in bushes, dirt and play with other dogs. Soon she will! I'll Keep you posted on our new little family member, Miss Molly Malone!

happy sunday...

write this down

 

happy sunday...

monday {menu}

{cookie recipe from... here}

L O V E Cookies

Ingredient... 

- 1 box of cake mix {Duncan Hines Devil's Food}

- 1/2 cup {1 stick} unsalted butter

- 2 eggs

- 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp. of flour

- 1-2 tsp. vanilla or other flavoring {optional}

Instructions...

Add all ingredients to a bowl & mix well. Use a cookie scoop to drop evenly sized portions of dough onto un-greased cookie sheets & bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for at least ten minutes. Makes 2.5 dozen

happy sunday...

in the name of l o v e

{all images off rustic rooster pinterest... h e r e}

Hello everyone!

It's l o v e month... Happy February 1st! Some see this month in just red as some like to see this month in just pink. I like to mix it up & use both colors, but for today I'm sticking with soft & subtle pinks. Seriously, how beautiful are all of these images above. Very romantic & sweet... Finished off with a grapefruit cocktail! Perfection! 

All month I hope to post happy, inspiring & positive posts! We've had so many tragic losses around us, that my heart hurts. I  really can't handle anymore negativity & sadness. I need to only be around beautiful & inspiring things. I know God puts these tragedies in front of us to challenge us to be better people & help others... or just to open our eyes up & make us realize what we're not accomplishing in life. So with that said... Lets do a few challenges all in the name of L O V E!  Hope you stick with me as I chug-a-long here! 

I challenge you to do something very very sweet today!

For Example...

Write a l o v e note.

Say, "I l o v e you" to someone.

Buy chocolates for someone random.

Give your kids extra long hugs.

Just give love to all & be aware of it...  Oh, I have another great idea, Go get some fresh pink or red flowers for your home. Set them out for all to see & enjoy with you! 

Hope you have a great day... I'm off to a rugby tournament in San Clemente this morning with Ryan. Happy Saturday! 

  

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