merry christmas!


Merry Christmas to you and yours!
We can't help but feel so grateful for the birth and life of our Savior,
and we hope that your holidays are happy and bright!

Love, Ben & Lex

i swear the holidays revolve around food.


// My work had an As Seen on TV themed white elephant Christmas party. This Perfect Polly was too good to pass up, even though the Walgreens cashier judged me the whole time I was checking out.

// Peppermint cheesecake!  Recipe here.

// Cheesecake, again.

// We attended ward temple night last night and loved the holiday lights on the trees!  It isn't Temple Square by any means, but it's a good substitute for now.  :)

Not pictured, but we went to PF Chang's with some friends over the weekend and holy cow.  I didn't remember how delicious that place can be!  (I don't know if it's a local thing or what, but they gave our friends who had never been there before each a giftcard.  Maybe go see if your local PF Chang's is doing the same thing?)  Run and get some lettuce wraps and Mongolian Beef.

And happy holidays! :)

a Christmas cookie exchange.


Dinner and a cookie exchange with friends during the holiday season?  Too perfect, I tell you.  These ladies came over with plates of brownies, and cookies, and toffee, oh my!  (I have 3-4 dozen leftover cookies/treats sitting at home in ziplock bags on my kitchen counter, if anyone's interested??) 
I just love Christmas, and cookies, and these fabulous friends of mine.

9 gifts you shouldn't be buying in sincerity for loved ones this holiday season.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

Atrocities like these shouldn't be wasted.  Please, folks, go to white elephant parties and spread some holiday cheer with these bad boys.  Brought to you by the internet and some very creative individuals out there.

a post about Christmas and how great life is.



So good news over here... we have heat again!  Both furnaces went out last Saturday and we've been snuggled up in blankets and heating up rice bags constantly.  Our downstairs thermostat read 39 degrees at one point, so that was fun. ;)  

On another note, Christmas decorations are up (all 5 of them, ha) and Christmas Pandora stations can be heard at all hours of the day!  Hot chocolate has become a regular, and you can find a Christmas movie on the tv every evening over here!

A few days ago we got together with some friends to watch the live Sound of Music on tv.  (Which was fabulous and wonderful in every way possible, so go watch it now if you missed it!)  As Ben and I were walking home hand in hand, it was snowing, and eerily quiet and peaceful.  The alleyway behind our house was beautiful with all of the powder covered tree branches, and it was undeniably one of those moments where you can't help but stop and think "Man, this is the good life!"

I hope your holiday season is peaceful and not too hectic.  :)

infinitely more.


Yesterday in my Primary class we talked about a group of people in the Book of Mormon who had a mighty change of heart. Ultimately, this people chose good over evil, and were blessed by doing so. It got me thinking about how we're really more than the mistakes we make, and definitely more than our limitations--both of body and spirit.

I took a psychology class in high school and was taught about Carl Rogers and his humanistic approach to psychology.  It basically boils down to the belief that people are inherently good.  (Don't judge me if I have that wrong. ;)) I remember sitting in my seat listening to the teacher and thinking "Hey! That's basically how I think about humanity."  I guess little by little over the past few years, I've become more critical of humanity in general and developed the habit of assuming that (most) people are driven by selfish reasons.  And maybe it's because my eyes have been opened as I've grown up and had more life experiences?  I'm not quite sure.

The above quote is pulled from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk from this past general conference which focused on mental and physical illnesses; however, I believe the quote is multifaceted.  I love the words for the fact that it can apply to our human nature and life circumstances, and I love the simple reminder it provides me.

Here's to trying harder to see past the imperfections of others, and trying harder to see people for their potential.  Fitting for the holiday season, isn't it?

xoxo