Me and My OMies

If you don't know this about me, I am a true believe in yoga. I started practicing yoga after I graduated college and moved back home about 5 years ago. I remember thinking how I liked yoga -how hard it was - but also a little weirded out about the spiritual aspect of it.

After practicing yoga more regularly, I started to really understand the meaning and the power of yoga. And I am totally hooked more than ever. I started to go to a "real" yoga studio and not just 24 Hour Fitness. Let me tell you, it makes a big difference.

Bala Yoga Owners Mike & Gabriella

My yoga studio is definitely a community. You get to know the instructors and the "regulars" who practice with you. You definitely become a part of something bigger. I watch other people in the room make progress as well as reflect on my own progress. 5 years ago I could barely call down dog a "resting pose" and those scary arm balances where I thought I was going to snap my wrist... well they are some of my favorites now and I consider them "play time." I love yoga. I think it is so much fun and I love how my body surprises me every time I practice. I feel stronger than I have ever been in my life.

Warrior 2 Pose & Tree Pose Cookies

My yoga studio, my tribe, my community, celebrated their 5th anniversary. They had an awesome DJ jamming the flow with us, a dance party in the middle of class (stay light hearted friends) and a potluck afterwords to celebrate!

Find Balance in All Things

I made my gluten free sugar cookies in honor of yoga and the studio I practice at. The owner actually sent me the link to these AWESOME cookie cutters and I will share it with you! Check them out by Yummi Yogi  I chose just a couple for the party even though they are all so cute! Warrior 2 and Tree pose are a couple of my favorites.

Be Fierce Little Warrior

Fire within Me

Me & My OMies <3

Yoga Cookies

OM Shanti Shanti OM

Zen Out

Balla Tribe in the House!

YIN & YANG

DO THAT YOGA

Yoga is a journey. I have come to understand that now more than ever and I can't wait to see where the journey continues to take me. Sometimes its a love-hate relationship with our bodies but yoga we can honor those loves and honor those hates and send them love and patience. Thanks for "zenning" out with me. Sending yogi love to everyone!

Vegan Sugar Cookies with Vegan Buttercream * Nautical Themed Cookies

I often get asked for alternative solutions for treats for people who had special dietary needs. I recently solved the issue a Gluten Free cookie options. But recently I was out to brunch with my girlfriends when one asked if I had a Vegan option for sugar cookies. This was the second time I had been asked about vegan specific desserts.

I know Gluten Free and Vegan desserts are "trendy" right now but it got me thinking. I know several local bakeries around town that have vegan desserts. One of them also does a sugar cookie but it is made with ROYAL frosting which is actually derived from eggs. Personally I still love my fluffy buttercream frosting look, so I scoured the internet and by that I mean Pinterest and found a recipe for the sugar cookies.

Vegan Sugar Cookies 

If you want to recipe from Sarah Bakes HERE it was super easy. I did modify the recipe slightly. Instead of using coconut oil I used Earth Balance, Vegan Soy-Free "Butter" you should be able to find this at any super market. Yes it is more expensive I will admit.

After making the dough, I placed it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes and honestly next time I don't think I will at all. It made the dough a lot tougher to work with and so my forearms got a workout. 

Ok so I rolled them out and used my cute new nautical cookie cutters, the anchor, a sailboat and a starfish. The recipe made exactly 10 of each, so 30 cookies. 

So now I have my cookies and it is a question of how to make the "buttercream" WELL my friends I will tell you! 

Vegan Buttercream Recipe 

1 cup (2 sticks) Earth Balance Vegan Soy-Free "Butter" at room temp. 

4 cups Powdered Sugar 

2 tsp vanilla

1-2 tbsp So Delcious Vanilla Coconut Milk creamer also at room temp.

Place butter in electric mixer and cream the "butter" for about 2 minutes, until it is smooth. 

Add in about 2 cups of the powdered sugar. Add in vanilla. Gradually add in "milk" and alternate with the powdered sugar. 

If the frosting is really stiff continue to add more "milk" until it is soft enough to pipe. 

Add decided food coloring and you are ready to frost! 

Vegan Sugar Cookies

Nautical Themed Vegan Sugar Cookies

Starfish Vegan Sugar Cookies

Sailboats!

AHOY! Anchors away!

Hip-hip- HOORAY for vegan sugar cookies! These cookies are free of nuts, dairy, soy, gluten and eggs! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!  

Thanks for stopping by my blog! 

Happy Mother's Day 2015

Mother's Day is quickly approaching and the age old question of "what do I get my mom" is on my mind. What do you get for the person who brought you into this world, raised you, fed you, supported you...a Mom is a big roll to fill.
I feel fortunate to be close with my mom. She is such an awesome mom and I know I can always count on her no matter what the situation may be. She will drop whatever it is that she is doing if I need help.

So to help celebrate the special mom's in our lives, I came up with some pretty special cookies just for her. Now I feel like as ladies there are some things that moms just naturally love - Coffee and Wine. So if your mom is a Vino Diva or a Latte Queen , check out these special cookies.

Happy Mother's Day Cookies

Thanks A Latte Cookies for Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's in our lives! We wouldn't be where we are today without you, your love and support. Here's to you and your special day!

Hippity Hoppity Easter

Spring has sprung finally in Seattle and I could be more excited! We have had a warm winter this year and an early spring!

The Easter bunny was making his rounds in my kitchen helping me cook up some yummy treats for good little boys and girls!

Hopping Sparkly Easter Bunny

So cute I can't decide which face I like more?!

Quack Quack Cheep Cheep

Easter Crosses

New to the Easter celebration line up this year were crosses which are an important part of the reason we celebrate this joyous holiday. I was actually raised Catholic. What did you give up for Lent? I hope it wasn't cookies!

Colorful Daisy Cookies

My daisy cookie cutter is one of my favorites. The possibilities are endless and I love to add them in to my assortments for a pop of color.

Hopping Easter Bunnies Everywhere!

Hopping Easter bunnies waiting to HOP into a special easter basket. And more bunny faces too!

Easter Themed Cake Pops

Of course Easter wouldn't be complete without fun and festive cake pops. These remind me of died easter eggs which I used for my inspiration. 

Mini Cookies

I forget what store I was at but I stumbled across a set of mini Easter cookie cutters and I thought they were just so cute! I had to have them. They were identical to some of the "BIG" easter cookies I had. I was hoping to make cupcakes and use them as cupcake toppers but that plan fell through this year because Easter fell during Spring Break and a lot of my family was out of town. Instead I put them in tiny cake pop bags and stuck them inside the easter eggs which worked out perfect and was a fun surprise for the kids. I am definitely going to remember to do that next year. 

Easter Egg Cookies

And last but certainly not least, it just wouldn't be Easter without some Easter eggs now would it?! These too were my favorite.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and I hope everyone had a wonderful and Happy Easter!

Welcome Home Cookies

Hello Bake Me Happy Fans! I am so sorry I have been MIA from the blog for a while. Life has been pretty busy and I think it is time that I finally caught up on some SERIOUS baking I have been doing.

I had a wonderful opportunity to team up with a Real Estate agent who is a friend of mine for some cute Open House themed cookies. These also could very well be welcome home cookies too. But I just thought they were too cute not to share.

Open House Cookies

This is what your dream house looks like right?

For Sale Sign Cookies

Key shaped Sugar Cookies

House For Sale cookies

Open House Cookies assorted dozen

My husband and I are in the process of hunting for a house ourselves and the market has just been nuts. But hopefully one day I will be making cookies with a SOLD sign just for us.

The cookies at the open house turned out to be a hit for my friend, which I am always happy to hear! 

Thanks for stopping by!

50 Shades of Grey Cookies

Sorry blog fans I have been lazy on writing on my blog! I actually find it easier to post pictures on my facebook which you should check out and like me if you haven't already HERE! I am also on instagram @schaferk12 

Ok back to the blogging. Let's talk dirty. Let's take GREY. Are you a fanatic? I mean this is probably the most anticipated pop culture movie since...Twilight? But WAY naughtier :) And what a more perfect day to release the film than on Valentine's Day. 

I am going to be perfectly honest, I am probably one of the only people on the planet who have NOT actually read the books. Quite frankly, I am a little scared... but that did not stop me from helping some ladies out with their premiere party! Check it out and let me know how I did. After this little project I think I might have to give in and read them before I go see the movie. 

50 Shades of Grey Cookie Platter

50 Shades of Grey - Let's Talk Dirty

Lingerie Cookies

50 Shades of Grey Lingerie Cookie

Mr.Grey's Ties

The grey lingerie cookie was my favorite one I made. These cookies were so much fun to make. Now I am inspired to go read the books for sure! 

Have a custom cookie idea? Email me and let's make it happen!

Follow Me on Facebook!

Happy New Year! 2014 was a roller coaster of a year. I am honestly glad this year is over because 2015 is looking so promising and I can't wait to see what is in store.

At the end of this year, I finally decided to start my Facebook page. I realized that I am bad at taking photos and blogging about them, especially when it is just a cute little cookie here or there and not something I really have a lot to "blog" about it. Therefore I decided that the best way to follow all the latest baking creations would be on my Facebook page.

So...drum roll please....FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK!
https://www.facebook.com/BakeMeHappy425?ref=hl

HAPPY NEW YEAR!