Sadie bakes with daddy!

Tonight Sadie and her daddy baked lemon bars together. It was pretty precious!

Making memories, not perfection

If you know me, you know that I have OCD. Literally. It can be very difficult. Everyone said, "oh once you are a mom you won't be a germaphobe anymore." That SO did not happen. I am still a germaphobe and still have panic attacks sometimes. However, I have learned to be ok with the fact that my house will simply not be spotless at all times. In fact, it is RARELY spotless. I clean, and as soon as Sadie walks back in the door it is a tornado in her room again. In this Pinterest and HGTV world that we live in there is such an expectation that you house will be perfect, you will workout every day, and cook an amazing meal, all while finding time to craft. Let's face it, that is NOT reality. 

Tonight we got home from work and Sadie begged to make cookies. I had recently bought some snickerdoodle mix to make with her so pulled it out. She wanted to do everything herself. She cracked the egg, mixed the ingredients, and formed the cookies without much assistance from me. I demonstrated how to roll the cookie into a ball and then put it in the cinnamon sugar mixture. She wanted to take it from there and I reluctantly agreed. She did a good job overall, but started spilling everywhere. I started to get onto her about it and then realized it's not about me and the fact that I don't like messes. It's about making fun memories with my daughter.

Bruschetta Chicken Salad!

As many of you know, I love cooking and trying new things in the kitchen. One of my favorite foods is bruschetta, and one day I thought, " I bet I can make a salad that takes on the flavors of bruschetta without all the carbs." It is SO good that I had to share on here!

Start with raw chicken and cook in the oven with some garlic and red wine. I cook covered at 350 until done. After it is done chill in the the fridge.

Now for the actual salad part:

I like to use a spring mix and then some spinach as the base. Cut up some roma or cherry tomatoes, a little red onion, some fresh basil leaves (if not available use dried) mozzarella cheese, the chicken cut into little pieces, then top with fresh grated pepper. For the dressing I like to use just a TOUCH of olive oil (I have basil flavored that I picked up in Italy 2 weeks ago and it is amazing!) and lots of red wine vinegar. It really does taste like you are eating bruschetta! 

Here are a couple photos, please forgive that they are cell phone pics!

Cooking with Sadie

So this is my first blog post! I figured that since I have been blogging photography for years it is time that I finally make one for my little family. I typically have posted all my photos on facebook but realize that many of my family are not on there. I think this will be a great way to keep everyone up to date with daily life here in Texas. Today Sadie and I are having a girls' day. This included doing some baking. I love Fall. It is overcast today so it is perfect baking weather. I got some gingerbread cookie mix and little winter cookie cutters. Sadie wore her apron from Great Grandma Elaine and had a blast helping! Enjoy these photos! Love, Marissa



Mixing the batter
Making a snowflake
Checking to see if they are ready yet
This is what she does when I tell her to say "cheese"
"Mmmmmm, good!"