23rd

Yesterday was my golden birthday and it was fantastic!  The kind of fantastic where you almost want to cry because the people in your life are so great.



Birthday flowers from Mom

 My mother sent me some gorgeous flowers at work and my sister Katie took me out for lunch (bagels of course, my one weakness).  When I got home my lovely room mate Lisa Ann had arranged a collection of fun little gifts on my newly refinished  nightstand,  it was like Easter when I was a kid!  For dinner I went with some choice individuals to an Italian restaurant in Huntington called Mazara Trattoria.  Yay for yelp because it was life alteringly good!  I got the rigatoni alla vodka and sampled most of the other dishes, all of which were exemplary.  Then we all went back to the apartment where Lauren served one of her glorious pieces with an "under the sea" theme.  It was a solid evening, complete with everyone telling me why they liked me (always a fun game). 

My goal before turning 24? Get into PA school.  This one's going to be a good year.  I can feel it!



FINALLY!!!!

So,  after considerable effort and multiple months of work my dresser is now officially refinished!!!  

I'd like to thank the academy.  My room mates Lauren and Lisa Ann for being patient with me through all of the dust in our apartment and junk left around to dry.  My loving sister Kate for the use of her sander which surely shaved a year off of the time it would have taken me.  And finally, pinterest, for inspiring me to want to be cooler in my spare time.


BEFORE

Here's what I spent, roughly. 

Original dresser: $50

Sander: borrowed from a lovable and patient sister

 Sand paper: $10

Watco Danish Oil in dark walnut: $22

New hardware:$30

Time: ...let's not talk about that one shall we?



AFTER

Which brings us to a grand total of around  $110 and a few realizations: 1) Furniture should be refinished outside or in a garage 2) nail polish remover will get oil finishes out of carpet (mostly) and 3) sometimes it's worth it just to buy what you wanted in the first place!



 

 

 

Here's a closeup of the hardware, just for fun.