Published in the New Era

Published! Yes!

This illustration almost looks like me, mopey and all. Shocking . . . and a little scary. Hispanic/Polynesian sixteen-year-old-me with smooth hair. You know--pretty close!

Here it is: Waiting Faithfully, in the January 2009 New Era.

About a year ago I was in a writing adolescent lit class at BYU and we were required to write a New Era and a Friend article as assignments. We were encouraged to submit them, so I did, and both my articles were purchased! The great thing is, they buy the articles and put them in a little file by subject, and then you never know when or if they'll actually use them . . .

So I went to pick up my friend Angel for a girl's night sleepover, and when I walked in her parents were like, hey, we read your article! And I was like, hey, what are you talking about? Cool! And then when we got to Maggie's house, her parents were like, hey, we read your article, and I was like, wow, how many people above the age of 50 both subscribe to AND read the New Era?

Just for a little background, the New Era is a magazine published by the LDS Church. The Friend is for little kids, the New Era is for teens, and the Ensign is for adults, all with inspirational messages from the general authorities (the prophet and apostles, etc.) and your everyday Joes and Janes, like me! It's like Chicken Soup for the Mormon Soul, which sadly, I think is a real book. What can I say. There's just a whole culture out there, ready to pull you in. That's what happened to me.

And, even after 5 years at BYU, I still love it. It's true. No pun intended.

The Ear Series: Paintings for Paul

Rotate clockwise! Rotate clockwise! Rotate clockwise!

Merry Christmas, Paul!

I drew Paul's name in the present drawing this year. I feel deeply that Paul, Sam's older brother, is a very stylish individual and I wasn't sure what to do. I contemplated. I thought. I stewed. I knit. I made many a scarf for Sam's family this year, because most everyone in my family has at least one of my scarves, and I had a whole new family this year. But anyway, as I knit, I wondered. I wondered as I wandered through rows of yarn.

Anyway, this is what I came up with: EARS!

I know the leather bag Paul got is truly the eighth wonder of the world. It really is. But I hope the ears will help with his ability to sing on pitch.

So although I used to paint a lot in high school and wanted to go into art . . . that didn't happen. At least not in the scheme of higher education, which is A-okay! I may not be very well trained, but it's a hobby that happens usually around birthdays and holidays for those on my good list. Too bad if you're on the BAD list. No ears for you! Ha!

The Smizzle Papers: A Year in Review

Merry Christmas!What a great day. Sam and I are at the Lambson home in Highland, having a wonderful holiday with all the kids here. This is our first Christmas together as a married couple, and also my first Christmas away from my family. Festivities have been exceptional. We began with hanging our socks on the fireplace (just normal . . . socks) and they were filled with goodies and oranges like magic. As I was dumping out almonds and chocolates, I realized I hadn't washed the particular sock that I hung up since I wore it last . . . mmmm.

Presents were opened, breakfast was eaten, sleds were sledded, family was visited, and so on. Great day.

Sam and I raked in the plenteous, bountiful bounty today. Some highlights for Sam included the Live Scribe Pen (he can give you a one hour spoken presentation on it if you ask him about it. Three hours if he shows you the actual product), pheasant pants, winter boots, an Italian cookbook, socks, a Sam Payne CD, and a nose hair trimmer. All very useful and exciting items.

Some of my booty (mostly from Sam) included black leather driving gloves, a soft bath robe, fuzzy socks, pajamas, my first grown up wallet (to replace my $5 wallet from Claire's), a Marc Jacobs Stinky Rat satchel and keychain, THE WONDER YEARS ON DVD (so pirated and awesome!), new knitting needles, photo albums, a fuzzy chair, and more. I'm assuming that new wives are traditionally spoiled in this first Christmas, and I definitely was. Yo ho ho. Merry Christmas!

Well, what I really wanted to do was post our Christmas newsletter for those who didn't receive one by mail. Here's our year in review:

The Smizzle Papers

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the newest chain-link of Lambsons! As this is our first Christmas together as a signed, sealed, and delivered couple, we wanted to share with you the deep secrets of what it’s really like living the Lambson life according to Sam and Liz. Or you can just read about what we’ve been up to. Choose your own adventure. That’s how we see it, anyway.

Let’s start with January 1^st. To kick off 2008, Sam proposed to Liz—nice start to the year, don’t you think? Kudos to Sam for proposing during that part of It’s a Wonderful Life where everything in George Bailey’s life goes wrong. But, not to ruin the plot or anything, but it has a great ending . . .

As you know, engagement often leads to marriage (for warm-footed types), and we tied our happy knot on April 26th. The engagement was jam packed with excitement and to-dos, as it should be, and for those who couldn’t make it, it was a beautiful wedding. During our engagement we took a few trips out of town: 1) Seattle, where Kali (Sam’s sis) made a beautiful wedding dress), 2) St. George, to warm up mid-winter, and 3) Colorado Springs, Liz’s hometown, for Sam to meet Liz’s pops.

Other great trips this year:

Liz’s visit to NYC for her sister Janet’s graduation from the School of Visual Arts in photography (Janet was also recently hired as the associate photographer for Food Network—very exciting!)

A visit to the Rexburg, Idaho LDS temple open house

Liz’s Yurt-to-Yurt cross-country skiing trip with her Wilderness Writing class

Our honeymoon in Heber, Utah

Our open house in Gilbert, Arizona

Our move to Orange County for Sam’s summer internship at Capital Group

The annual Lambson family vacation to Lake Powell (sadly, Sam had to work and missed out)

Our visit to Dayton, Ohio for a mini-Rhodes-reunion with Liz’s Aunt Toni, cousins, and Grandma

The move back to Provo, Utah in the fall

Our camping trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons

Sam’s trip to Madison, Wisconsin for a recent job interview

As you can see, it’s been a hecka-crazy year. Liz graduated the day before the wedding with a BA in music with an English minor, and after a week of honeymooning, we moved to Orange County, where Sam worked for Capital Group, an investment firm. Liz tried out being a stay-at-home-not-mom-yet and quickly tired of folding laundry, thus signing up for two months of work at the local McDonald’s on Tustin Ranch as sort of a socio-anthropological study. Needless to say, it sucked, and she quit . . . but it was some great material for a mini-ethnography on the Lambson’s blog: samandlizzy.blogspot.com (Liz’s on-and-off obsession).

Sam’s experience with Capital Group, however, was great. In sunny CA we had many fun trips to the beach, great food, and fun with the locals (you know who you are). We visited the San Diego Zoo, Hollywood, Malibu, Tustin’s Concerts at the Park, and more. We went sea-kayaking around Balboa Island, biked on the boardwalk, and hung out with Sam’s Aunt and Uncle Parker and fam. After 4 months in Hotel California, and after a lot of contemplation, we turned down the offer to return to work in the OC next year, feeling that we would find a place that resonated more with us in the future, that foggy horizon ahead.

We moved back to Provo, Utah and lived for one month in the Lambson Sr.’s basement before we found our cozy 2-bedroom apartment in Provo. Currently, Sam is finishing his last year at BYU, working on his Masters of Information Systems Management (MISM), planning to finish in August, 2009. Sam is still involved with his BYU extracurriculars, including ASM and the Italian club. Sam also moved on from his part-time BYU job in project management to working as a research and database assistant for both the BYU Honors Program and a humanities professor specializing in 18^th century Italian ballet and libretti. Isn’t it thrilling? Yes, yes it is!

After finishing up at the BYU Instrument Office early in the year, Liz continued to teach guitar and bass lessons through the summer. Liz started her first full time job ever in September, which has been a great blessing because . . . 1) Sam and Liz aren’t starving, and 2) she gets to write! Liz loves to write. She’s a writer/editor for a web development company, interviewing small business owners, editing, and writing text for custom websites. She has a little cubicle with a rolling chair and is head of the party planning committee, like Angela on The Office. Sam and Liz also watched 4 seasons of The Office in the span of two weeks. They love it.

Sam and Liz joined Gold’s gym this year with a commitment to be healthier (i.e. Liz got chubby in Cali). Liz goes several times a week, and Sam has gone several times since we joined. Liz is seeing great results. Sam likes to eat pasta. “I feel like a blob,” Sam says, sinking into the couch. But when finals are over, Sam promises to go to the gym more with Liz. Scout’s honor!

Liz continued her involvement in the music community playing the bass, doing freelance studio work and playing again with the Orchestra at Temple Square and Mormon Tabernacle Choir as a musical missionary. She’s playing the Nutcracker season this year in Provo for the first time, which should be a great point. Get it? Point? Ballet? Ho, ho, ho.

Sam and Liz continue to be involved with the LDS church. This year Sam served as a secretary to our bishop before we got married, and Liz taught a guitar class once a week to Hispanic teenage boys in our sister ward who learned how to rock out with Deathcab. Sam and Liz served together on the activities committee in the Tustin 4^th ward in California, really giving karaoke night all we had, and also chaperoning a church dance and being mistaken as high schoolers.

We have great plans for 2009, especially as Sam graduates and we see where his career will take us. Liz is thoroughly enjoying her life post-graduation working, reading, crafting, arting, and musifying as she loves to do. And as far as marriage goes, we are loving it, growing closer together and even happier each day together.

This Christmas season, we are grateful for you, our family and friends, for being the greatest blessings in our lives. We wish you a Merry Christmas and an exciting, adventurous, and hope-filled New Year. Keep in touch, and may the Lord bless you with peace and goodness in your life.

With Love,

Sam and Liz Lambson

Criminal Behavior: Poinsettia Thievery

I am a thief. On Sunday after Music and the Spoken Word, I snuck out of the Conference Center with a large poinsettia. I hid it behind my back and discreetly exited the building.

But don’t worry. I left an I.O.U. I owe you one large poinsettia, I said. And now I know how to spell poinsettia. I didn’t at the time I left the I.O.U.

More on Christmas to come. But check out our tree: we have one ornament off on the left, but the flower makes up for everything we lack.

And I mean everything.

A Community with Myself

This week at work, I got to write the text for community database examples that are coming out with my company for the new year; i.e. myspace-like [cough cough rip-offs] communities, forums, and online stores. Anyway, I created more than a dozen different characters and made them talk to each other.
Hey, Charlie, did you TP my house last night?
Gertrude, what are you talking about?


But my favorite was the dating website. This was a blog post my Peter-character wrote, based on a great voicemail I once heard:

I'm not joking around here. I'm seriously looking for companionship, and if you want me to call you back, I hope you meet the following criteria. If we're going to be together, you'd better follow my rules . . . or I'll show you to the door.

I only date very beautiful women. If you are homely, sickly, or plain, please do not respond.

If you have any psychological problems like my own, I don't think this is going to work out.

If you are not between the height range of 5'4" and 5'10", please do not respond.

If you do not have fine taste in art, I don't want to hear from you either.

And . . . that should do it!

Faux Antiquing: How to Antique Furniture

Welcome to an online tutorial on Faux Antiquing: in other words, do-it-yourself instructions for restoring and refinishing old furniture to look antique. Here's a step-by-step guide to faux antiquing for beginners . . . like me!

It's like magic.

From this . . .

. . . to this! Bam!

Materials:
- old piece of furniture
- plenty of sandpaper (coarse enough to strip old finishing)
- steel wool (coarse)
- 1 candle/chunk o' disposable wax
- ink/permanent marker (optional)
- 1 can paint (base coat, latex)
- 1 container glaze
- 1 paintbrush (and little roller, helpful for bigger items)
- screwdriver
- rags

Step 1: Removing Hardware & Prepping Workspace
Remove knobs, handles, screws, hinges, etc. from the piece and set aside. Set your piece in a good working space where you can paint and make a decent mess. Clean up for us was super easy; we spread out an old bed sheet in the room over some plastic tarp/tablecloth-type stuff and threw it all out when we were done.


Step 2: Protecting Unpaintable Areas
Cover up any mirrors or places you don't want to paint. I didn't have masking tape or anything, so I tucked some saran wrap into the corners of this mirror and it worked beautifully:Step 3: Sanding
Remove the old finish/varnish. With this piece, I wanted the dark stain to show through, but I took off the shiny varnish layer so the paint would stick. This took a while, but it was a pretty big piece. After sanding, vacuum up the sawdust and wipe down the wood with a damp rag for a clean painting surface.


Step 4 : Inking Corners (Optional)
I brushed some indian ink around the corners so show through. It was an experiment, but it looked pretty cool in the end. You can also use a permanent marker to add some black touches on the finished product, but I think that looks better on carvings and more intricate designs. This piece didn't have much flare in the woodwork to accent, so I just focused on edges.
Step 5: Waxing
Because you'll be removing paint from certain areas to give the piece a worn, antique-ee look, you use the candle to rub on the corners and areas where you want the paint to come off easily. This step was really helpful; once the paint dried, it took a lot of elbow grease to scratch it off again, but you could tell where the wax was--it really worked.
Step 6: Painting

The fun part: painting! I got a whole gallon of paint, but I didn't even use half the can for two coats on this massive piece of furniture. I chose a shade of humble gray and a taupe glaze, which really warmed it up in the end. I painted in the morning and scraped some off at (see the next step) night, and that was enough time for the paint to dry.

Coat 1

The saran wrap was a go! Worked like a charm.Coat 2Don't forget the doors!

Step 7: Getting that Worn Out Look
Use the steel wool to scrape off your base coat where you want the piece to look worn out--corners, around hinges and handles, etc. It looked kinda lame with such new-looking paint, but using the glaze really helped. I hated it at this point, but I loved it when we were done . . . so don't give up yet!

Step 8: Glazing

This is when Sam finished his homework, so he was able to help me glaze. Sam went around painting the glaze on, and I followed him with a rag. We used the rag-rolling technique, removing the glaze and texturing with a rag. I used an old towel with a good cotton-y grain to it.

And let it dry!

And viola!
The finished product: a new place for books.

So that was that. On the Monday before our Saturday housewarming party I picked up two halves of a large piece of beat up furniture ($15 per half) at Savers. I bought paint and materials on Tuesday (for about $60), sanded on Thursday (4 hrs), prepped and painted and glazed on Friday (8-10 hrs), and it was ready to put up on Saturday morning (although it wasn't totally dry for the party).

A really fun project. Totally recommend it.

The end.

The Great Steak on Utah Lake

Sam has been chosen. He ascends. Goodbye, Sam. Enjoy the next life . . . tell me what it's like.

j/k.

Sam and I regularly frequent the Great Steak, a great burger dive off Center Street in Provo on the way to Utah Lake. Utah Lake, as much beef as it gets, is one of my favorite spots, and I go there regularly. I was appalled that Sam had never been out there before, so we had to fix that.

In the winter, I used to drive out and walk across the frozen water (probably not a good idea for a solo excursion), and Sam and I took some of our engagement photos on the frozen Utah Lake (wedding.lambsonfam.com). It's a trippy experience, until you fall through the ice, which I did on the way off last time around, so I can't say I've tried it since. But Utah Lake is just one of my favorite things about Provo--some of my best memories involve driving, running, picnicking, and biking on the paths around the lake.

So if you're looking for a great picnic spot on a warm evening, grab some Great Steak, and you're in for a great evening. I mean, look. This could be a postcard:

The Tetons & Yellowstone

I did it! I'm swimming!Cold!Hot!Wild!
Waiting for Old Henry. Or . . . Old Faithful? Whatever it's called.