happy sunday...

xoxo

Alexandra 

 

monday {menu}

 

Now this is what I'm talking about...

XOXO

Alexandra

happy sunday...

 

xoxo

Alexandra 

love is in the air

  Hello February 1st!

LETS PLAY A LITTLE GAME 

Everyday...

1. Do 1 thing special for someone.
2. Say something n i c e about yourself.
3. Smile & say h e l l o  to someone you've never met before.
4. Compliment a stranger & a l o v e d one!

Mini Chocolate Sheet Cake 

iNGREDIENTS

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup coffee
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FUDGE-Y CHOCOLATE FROSTING:

• 1 cup Countryside Creamery Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
• 4 ounces Happy Farms Cream Cheese, at room temperature
• 4 cups Baker’s Corner Powdered Sugar 
• 1 teaspoon Stonemill Pure Vanilla Extract 
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Food coloring gel, optional 

• Sprinkles of choice as garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

TO MAKE THE CAKE:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and line a 8x8-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, using a whisk, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Crack in the eggs, pour in the buttermilk, coffee, olive oil and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. The batter will be thin—that’s ok!
• Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the cake pan for about 5 minutes and then invert onto a cooling rack and cool until room temperature before frosting.

TO FROST THE CAKE:

• Scoop the frosting onto the top of the cooled cake and make a bunch of swoops, decorating the top how you like. Top with a handful of sprinkles
• Cut and serve. If you want nice, neat slice, transfer to the fridge to chill for about 15 minutes and then slice and serve.

NOTES

Tips and Tricks:

• The coffee should be brewed on the stronger side. No weak cups of coffee! The stronger, honestly the better. The coffee will bring out and highlight the chocolate flavor in this cake. 
• Be sure to line your 8x8 cake pan. I see this a lot: people are like, it'll be fine! And then their cake sticks to the bottom of the pan and they're all mad. Think of parchment like our insurance plan. 

xoxo

Alexandra 

monday {menu}

 

Winter Citrus Ricotta Bowl 

 ingredient 

• 1/3 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1-2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 blood or cara cara oranges or grapefruit, sliced
• 1 banana sliced
• passion fruit or berries
• granola | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/blueberry-muffin-granola-greek-yogurt-breakfast-bowl/
• honey or honeycomb
• toasted nuts/seeds or cacao nibs

instructions

In a small bowl stir together the ricotta, honey and vanilla. Top with citrus slices, banana, passion fruit and granola. drizzle with honey. Enjoy!

XOXO

Alexandra

keeping it real

 

Would you believe me if I told you this little clear glass vase is actually from Ikea & it’s supposed to be used as a toothbrush holder... I just knew it would be perfect on my entry table! Love it! Keeping it real this Tuesday!

XOXO

 Alexandra

wake up, wake up, wake up

Wake up, Wake up, Wake up! Don’t you just want to lounge all day in bed! Truth... In my head I could for a little while, then I would get so bored. I have such a busy personality I couldn’t... My mind would insanely wonder & then I would get anxious to get things done. So let’s motivate on this Monday...

What are 3 things you do to motivate yourself on Monday’s? Here are mine...

1️⃣ I write a list of to-dos while drinking coffee.

2️⃣ Make my bed.

3️⃣ Walk the dog & listen to a motivational speech.

xoxo 

Alexandra 

1, 2, 3... go time

 

Not going to lie when my alarm went off this morning... Well, it hurt... It hurt real bad! 2 weeks off of enjoying family time, watching movies & episode after episode late into the night, cooking & baking fun new recipes & just doing really nothing! So fun, but it’s the 1st Monday of 2021 & back to work & school we go. So much to do that I’m actually excited to get back into my little office! 1, 2, 3 go time... OK Right after my first cup of coffee. By the way I’m on day 4 of just black coffee. Not bad... That’s 1 of my small New Years goals that I have. Stop putting heavy cream in my morning coffee.

Do you have any goals for 2021? Please share!

xoxo

Alexandra 

happy sunday...

 

xoxo

Alexandra

happy new year

{h e l l o} 2021... 365 days of a fresh start! So write your story the way you want it to be written! Remember no one else,  but you are in charge! As you sit down & start your day... Think of it as the best blockbuster movie of all times! Happy New

 Year!

xoxo 

Alexandra

oh 2020

OH 2020... You’ve been such a year! A definite year of change! Not just in my business, but in my life. I can sit here & give you a big drawn out speech of what 2021 will look like for me... But truth is I really can’t do that. I have no clue what it will be like. We are still in an area of unknown... So instead of putting all this pressure on me I’m going to relax & see what’s in store. All I know is I’m putting one foot in front of the other with a huge smile on my face. I’m looking at everything differently... Saying thank you for all my blessings, twist & turns & ups & downs. 

GOODBYE 2020... HELLO 2021

xoxo

Alexandra

last wednesday w i s h of 2020

If I could have 1 w i s h this Wednesday it would be to host a fabulous backyard New Year’s Eve dinner party! I’m definitely craving interaction with dear friends. Sitting across the table engaging in deep conversations & laughing the night away... Mask free! I know it’s not safe or practical right now... But hey a girl can definitely dream! One day, Hopefully soon! 

What do you w i s h for on this last Wednesday of 2020? 

xoxo

Alexandra

tuesday traditions

Every Christmas vacation we go back east to visit my family in Marblehead, Ma. Christmas night we stay in a hotel close to the airport so we can get up early & jet off quickly to Boston. My kids love it! I actually love it as well! Our last trip we decided to call it a family tradition since we’ve been going religiously every break. Seeing my kids experience the east coast & love it just like I do truly melts my heart. Of course this year we couldn’t go... I’m ok with that right now because when we do go back we’ll appreciate everything so much more when we go again... I believe patience is key here! By the way I have ZERO patience... So I’m digging deep. Definitely a 2020 goal for me! lol 

Question... Did you have a family tradition that you needed to put on hold for 2020? Would love to hear all about it! 

xoxo

Alexandra 

last monday {2020}

It’s the last Monday of 2020... WOW, I have so many thoughts going through my head. What’s 2021 going to be like? Better or worse?  I do know one thing... It’s going to be a year of regrowth for me & I believe for a lot of other people as well! In business, family, friends... & in life! 

I feel that if we sit in one place for too long we will never grow... We will never change. Change truly is a good thing. 

•If it means getting healthier... Do it! 

•If it means calling that loved one... Do it! 

•If it means changing a career... Do it! 

•If it means taking a trip alone... Do It! 

•If it means saying goodbye to toxic people in your life... Do it! 

•If it means accomplishing something you’re scared of... Do it! 

•If it means cleaning up your home... Do it! 

We’re all scared of the unknown... But one lesson in 2021 someone very special to me taught me is... Why not try! What do you have to lose? You live once go forward & make it happen. You are stronger than you know!  Watch & see yourself grown from the smallest action. Do it for you & no one else. 

•Face the fear... Do it! 

So on this Monday, 12.28.20 I’m going to sit & reflect. Write down a few things I want to do in 2021 that scare me... 

Remember this journey is for you... & only you! Do it! 

What scares you... Share if you would like! 

xoxo

Alexandra

next coastal alley s a l e

 

happy sunday...

 

xoxo 

Alexandra

twin bed {for sale}

Truth... I'm absolutely in love with this twin bed. It's in perfect condition & looks absolutely fabulous in my sons room. But... Of course their is always a B U T...  My son doesn't want it in his room. He's hit the age where he now wants a bigger bed. I get it! I thought I could slide this one by him one last time. lol 

So I'm selling this twin bed for the cost I got it... $200.00. It has the headboard, footboard & side rails all together. I even had wood slats cut that were super strong & solid so the matters wouldn't fall through. Please e-mail {alexandra@rusticrooster.com} me if you're interested.

t w i n   b e d 

      $200.00 

39" Wide

77" Length

40" Height of Headboard

 

happy sunday

 

friyaaaaa

 

..all images from rustic rooster pinterest..

This is all I want... Really! I don't want pumpkin spice & everything nice! I want a blueberry cheesecake, new balance runners from J-Crew, a long sun dress and an adorable cottage on Nantucket. That's it! These images bring me joy. I feel like we get so caught up in the wrong things now a days that we don't take a moment to relax and enjoy the moment with yourself, friends or even family. Its hard because all we want to do is plan into the future, but doing so we forget to look at whats in front of us. So when I saw these pictures while I was designing a family room I just stopped and smiled. So with that said...  These images are my Friyaaaaaaaa!  What brings you joy.... Tell me! 

la jolla update

So I need to tell you all something... Mom & I pulled out of the Girard Avenue Market place in La Jolla. Oh Man that was a hard one to say good bye too. I thought it was going to be easy. It really was, but the fact that I was putting so much pressure on myself to make everything perfect and pretty wasn't going well for me. All I needed to do was drop off furniture and  everything was going to look great all the time & life is good right. Nope... Unfortunately, I was in a little bit of denial. We were selling like hotcakes, but my time to get down to replenish the space wasn't as open as I thought it was going to be.  Running around town with kids and then still meeting with clients I was starting to get super anxious. I tried,  I really did try! The space was absolutely adorable. Being at Girard with other fabulous creative people was wonderful! I loved that we all had our own style and complimented each other very well. Such a great mix. But The guilt and anxiety was taking a toll on me... and I dreaded getting a call that I needed to come in and replenish furniture & accessories. I was more mad at myself I couldn't be there all the time... So with that said, We are not at Girard Ave. Market place anymore. We will be having more Coastal Alley S A L E's... Stay tuned for our next S A L E date. Thanks for understanding...