As a little girl, all I wanted to do was become a mom. I would daydream about what it was going to be like.

I was going to have it allllllllll together.

I would never, ever, wear yoga pants to drop my kids off at school. My house would always be clean and organized. I would make a homemade dinner every single night. (One of my favorite lies I told myself – my kids would NEVER eat a hot dog, HA!) My marriage would be exactly the same as it was before we had kids. I would have a fulfilling career. I would make creative and handmade Halloween costumes every year.

And above all, I would never yell at my children or lose my patience. All while wearing skinny jeans, stilettos, and a full face of makeup.

Are you laughing yet? I am!

I guess you can imagine how that turned out.

Many years later, my dream of becoming a mother did come true. I gave birth to three of the most amazing little people. They are my everything. But the perfect mom? Not. Even. Close.

I try really hard, but let’s be honest, I’m a work in progress.

If I am not in yoga pants, there’s a good chance I have flour on my face. My house is pretty cute, and on the surface appears clean (just don’t look too close.) I do make dinner most nights, but there is a good chance that my kids aren’t going to eat it. (They are super picky.) I’ve been married for long time, and while we have for sure had our ups and downs, we are very happily married. But not without a lot of hard work. I have a fulfilling and creative job that I love, but like all jobs there are things that I don’t like about it. I don’t even like Halloween, so homemade costumes aren’t even on my radar. Why was that even part of my definition of being a good mom?

These days I’m juggling raising my three babies, being a wife, working as photographer and blogger from home, and trying to not embarrass myself in public.

I started Baked Bree in February of 2010 to document my life in my kitchen. I said that it was a love letter to anyone that has ever come to my house for a meal. That part is still true. Over the years it has evolved into so much more than that. Now you will find lots of recipes, but you will also find inspiration and encouragement for other areas of your life too.

My life is about more than cupcakes and cookies, so this space is going to reflect that. Motherhood, marriage, military life, travel, photography, kids, house, and home. We are going to talk about it all.

My tagline is live light, be happy. Living light means that life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time. We can get rid of the things that weigh us down and change the things that aren’t working. That can mean food, relationships, things – we have a lot of power over our happiness. I live my life with the focus on being happy. Obviously I’m not 100% happy all the time, I’m not a robot, but I believe that being happy is a choice. I make being happy a priority.

The fact that you choose to come here makes me incredibly happy. I know that your time is extremely valuable and I can’t thank you enough for stopping by.

If you are new to Baked Bree, welcome! A good place to start is the recipe index. (Just don’t do it if you don’t have a snack nearby, you’re gonna get hungry.) You will find a little bit of everything – things to cook for dinner, desserts, appetizers, snacks, and obviously cookies.  

I also like to travel and share my favorite things to see, eat, and do.

Every Friday I send my Happy Mail newsletter, is my favorite thing to write each week. I share inspiration and some of the coolest things that I find around the Internet for that week.

I also take pictures of people (not just tacos and desserts). You can check out my portfolio here.

Some Random Facts About Me:

1. Bree is actually my middle name. My first name is Lauren. The only time anyone calls me Lauren is if I am in trouble with my mom or you are a telemarketer.

2. Right now we live in Cape Cod, MA. But we have also lived in Elizabeth City, NC, Nova Scotia, Canada, Sacramento, CA, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and Alexandria, VA. My husband and I met in Charleston, SC and I grew up in Linwood, New Jersey.

3.  My favorite smell in the world is my children after a day at the beach. They smell like sunscreen, salt, and sunshine. If that smell could be bottled, I’d wear it every day.

4. My favorite show of all-time is Friday Night Lights. Followed closely by The West Wing. I’m not finished Parenthood yet, but that might be on this list soon. It makes me feel all. the. feels.

5. I’ve never had a glass of milk in my entire life. Not a one. Not even as a baby. (I love dairy, but milk is just not my thing. My kids drink enough that I should keep a cow in the backyard.)

6. Without question, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. (I even wrote an e-book about it.)

7. I’m a HUGE reader. I’ll read anything. Classics, mysteries, paranormal romance, kids books. You name it.

8. I’m a big klutz. If it is sharp, I’ll cut myself. If it’s hot, I’ll burn myself. I trip over everything, I have zero coordination. I’m a mess.

9. I went to College of Charleston and consider myself to be a belle by default.

10. I’m a genetic anomaly. I still have a baby tooth, am left-handed, have a widow’s peak, 0 negative blood, and green eyes.

11. My favorite flavor is lemon. So much in fact that it is part of my logo. Followed closely by caramel and vanilla.

12. I went to college to become a teacher, but my true love is photography. I started years and years ago shooting film. I was had a portrait studio for 4 years before I started Baked Bree. I still on occasion take pictures of people, not just cupcakes. 

13. I collect signed cookbooks, my most prized is a signed Julia Child that my husband bought me for Christmas a few years ago. I also buy a local cookbook one on every trip I take. I write a note inside with the date and what I was doing. I’m going to give them to my daughter when she has her own home.

14. I’m an INFP. I consider myself to be an extroverted introvert.

15. I love a granny sweater. Despite how much my husband doesn’t.

Want to be friends?

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My official bio:

Bree studied as an undergraduate at College of Charleston, graduating with a BS in Elementary Education. She received her nutrition training and certification from Bauman College.

Bree is the founder of bakedbree.com and was named a Top 100 Food Blogger. She is a regular contributor to Simple As That. Her work has been featured on Oprah.com, Pinhole Press, Martha Stewart Weddings, Apartment Therapy, Parents.com, Yogalife, Philadelphia Magazine, Babble, and The Huffington Post.