Eaten: Fruit Tarts

Fruit Tarts (as adapted from an old Betty recipe)

For Tart Crust
1 Cup Bisquick
2 Tablespoons butter (softened)
3 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 Tablespoons Sugar
For Tart Filling
¼ cup sugar
3 oz cream cheese (softened)
¼ cup sour cream
Lemon zest (optional)
Fruit: I love this with fresh berries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas, peaches, anything you want really

1. Preheat oven to 375* and spray 9” tart pan with non-stick cooking spray. You can also use mini muffin tins or mini tart pans
2. Make Crust: Combine sugar and bisquick in medium bowl. Add butter and cream cheese. Mix well to form dough. Dough will be crumbly but when pressed together will hold.
3. Press dough into pans
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly brown. Cool.
5. While crust is baking, mix filling. Combine all ingredients using an electric mixer. Add zest if desired, I like it because it adds a brightness to the dish.
6. Pour filling into cooled crust. Top with fruit. And serve. Keep in fridge.

And the Winner Is...

Well we finally came to a decision and we will be heading to the University of Georgia in Athens, GA for Steve's Ph.D program.

We're both really excited about the town and what the school has to offer. But it also means that we are leaving in a little under 3 months as Steve's orientation starts on August 9th. I'm trying not to stress out with all the things we have to do to get ready but I know its going to go by faster than I think.

Who ever thought I would end up in the South?

Reasons Why Today is the Best Day

1. Henry slept through the night
2. I fell asleep while watching LOST and got almost 9 hours of sleep which means I got to sleep in until 6:45 am
3. I worked out for the first time in months this morning
4. I am wearing heels at work
5. day 3 of Weight Watchers and still going strong
6. The sun is shining
7. I am wearing pants that last month I couldn't even get close to buttoning

I hope you're having a great day too!

115 Days Into Motherhood

One of my favorite talks from conference was M. Russell Ballard's about mothers and daughters. It said so many of the things that have been on my mind.

"Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children. This is where their love and talents can have the greatest eternal significance. Consider in this context President Harold B. Lee’s injunction that “the most important . . . work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes." This is true for all of us.."


Lately I have been thinking a lot about myself as a mother. A new role. One I am still trying to tackle and balance. Currently I work. I work 40 hours a week in an office. But I have never really wanted a career. Well career in the traditional sense of the word.

I remember specifically when I was in the 4th grade, we were supposed to write a journal entry about what our future home would be like. I think we had to draw pictures too. It was part of an on-going project that at the end of the year would be compiled into one portfolio of work. The projects were going to be typed by classroom moms. I remember saying that one day I would stay home with my kids, cook, and clean and my husband would go to work. The ladies misread what I wrote and they typed that my husband would do all of those things and go to work. They probably assumed what I had written was a mistake. How could someone want to stay home and cook and clean when all the other little girls wanted to be doctors and lawyers?

Today my idea has changed. I want to be a seamstress/ fashion designer, I want to be a baker, a novelist, a librarian, a quilter, a chef , a volunteer, a comforter, a teacher. I want to be a singer and a photographer. Only as a mother can I do all of these things. Its amazing all the facets that this role is going to open for me.

Home is where "talents can have the greatest eternal significance." As a cultivator in talents and hobbies, this phrase is thrilling for me. I know that I will always have something to do and some way to grow.

So as I write this, I am more and more excited to get out of Orem, leave my job and let my career begin.

Read entire article here

Easter 2010

(Peep banner courtesy of MADE. Click for tutorial, kind of late for this year but doable for next year. Also I did the lazy girl method and hot glued them together instead of sewing them.)

This year the Easter bunny came out in full force with croquet sets, Joanna Newsom vinyls and lots of books. We hard boiled eggs but never got around to dyeing them. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to hold onto that dye kit for another year. I bought it 3 years ago and have yet to use it.


(What the bunny brought. Rabbit puppet courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa, books from greatgrandparents and the lovely ladies at Scholastic* for Henry. Croquet set and Gentleman Broncos for me and Joanna Newsom for Steve. And way too much candy for all.)


(Henry smiling at 3 1/2 months)

We enjoyed a wonderful conference too. I especially loved the talk by M. Russell Ballard about mothers and daughters. He said so many of the things that have been on my mind. And of course its always wonderful to hear from the prophet and to make goals to be a better person.

(Henry and I at the Kerr's. Oh and we also went to DI and I scored 2 great shirts and a way cute dress for $13. Happy Easter to me! This is one of those shirts.)

We trekked up to Steve's aunt and uncle's house in Sugarhouse for Easter dinner and had a fun time catching up with family.

*When I got back to work I sent out a few emails explaining to my customers that I had been on maternity leave and was following up on outstanding issues. Well one of my customers, Scholastic, Inc. called me straight away, asked about the baby and then sent me a bunch of board books and a book from the series Henry and Mudge. Sweet, huh? I couldn't help but think of the episode of The Office where Jim and Pam use their baby to make sales.

Eaten: Yeast Doughnuts

Every conference weekend, Steve and I make doughnuts. Its a tradition that I started because I love doughnuts and I wanted to have more traditions in our family.

Last year we made these which were okay but weren't really the real deal as I was pregnant and tired. This year we used an Alton Brown recipe and they were fantastic. Yum.

See recipe here.

Dear Readers,

Tell me what you know about Missouri. Even if you think it is inconsequential. Even if your only experience is an airport. I want to know your thoughts.

And to make it fair I'll tell you what I know about Missouri: Its the "Show Me State."

love beckie

P.S. It snowed here again today and I am feeling very jaded. Isn't that such a 90's thing to say? Very Alanis Morisette but true. I feel like Dave Coulier dumped me. I also just realized that I forgot to put on deodorant this morning, we'll see how that goes. Cross your fingers for me.

p.p.s. your thoughts on Missouri will in no way effect our grad school decision so don't try to trash talk it

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny made the rounds this weekend. More pictures will come after we recover from our sugar overdosing.

Happy Weekend!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend. We'll be hanging out at home, watching conference, dyeing eggs, doing last minute Easter prep and spending time with family.

Before I sign out for the weekend, here are some thoughts:
Did anyone else thing Maya leaving was an April Fool's joke? I kept waiting for her to pop back in and yell "April Fool's." But I am super thrilled that Anthony is back and winning challenges to boot. Anthony makes me want to move to Georgia. I loved his black and white gown although I think the model's hair is sick. I am done with Mila.

Getting rid of Boston Rob? Dumb.

I signed up for Kelly McCaleb's crochet class and I'm really excited. Not only to learn how to crochet (because I need another hobby) but to meet her. I have been reading her blog for years and am a huge fan. Not scary huge, I'm just a normal fan...

I have big things planned in the near future for this blog (pictures, maybe tutorials as requested and even a giveaway) so be sure to check back often.

Oh and my Martha book came and I am drooling all over it. It is heaven. She assumes you have a small knowledge of sewing but everything is super helpful and of course, beautifully portrayed. She also includes lots of old, favorite projects, if you read the magazine or peruse her website, you'll recognize a lot of them, but there are new ones too. Trust me, there is a lot of crafting in my future and my to-do list is about maxed out.

Okay bye. Hi Mom-we'll be bbq-ing gallegos style for easter.

"And Captain Chunk says, 'Lets get the hell out of here.'"

Steve got accepted into the University of Missouri. I'm very proud of him.

Georgia, Missouri or Maryland. Hmmm....

Favorite line from Goonies?