Metallic Dresser Refinish Project

I was on the search for furniture for the baby's nursery and I was able to get a set of antique dressers from my Grandmother, which were nice wood and in decent shape but needed refinishing badly.

So, I started by removing the handles and doing some test painting.  I knew I wanted a metallic finish, something with some sparkle!  I tested the Rust-Oleum Metallic Accents paint from Menards (by the way, they sell small sample jars of the colors which is great to test with before committing to a color) as well as the Ralph Lauren Candelight Finish Metallic coating from Home Depot.  I also tried them with some primer options and brush/roller options, until I came up with my favorite look.

 I decided on the Rust-Oleum Metallic Accents paint from Menards in the color Metallic Sea Shell.  I would also do some antiquing on top of the paint as well.  I also chose not to use a primer.

Rust-Oleum Metallic Accents Paint in Sea Shell

Then, it was time to start the sanding.  I started with a very rough sandpaper to remove the extra shiny finish on these dressers.  I then, used a 150 medium grit sanding sponge.  I followed that with a fine grit sanding sponge.  Lastly, I used an extremely fine sand paper just to make it very smooth.  I wiped the dressers down a lot and got rid of all of the dust that the sanding made, make sure they are very clean.

Now, to start the painting.  The paint calls for a 1/4" nap roller for a textured finish or a brush for a smoother finish.  I also tried a foam roller which gave a bubbly finish, and a Ralph Lauren Rag Roller.  I chose the Ralph Lauren Rag Roller (pictured below).  It gave a very nice texture which made the metallic paint stand out.  I did 4 coats, letting it dry thoroughly between coats.  I needed all 4 coats since I did not use a primer and I did not want the wood to show through.

Ralph Lauren Rag Roller

After the 4th coat dried, I used a small stencil brush to add some dimension and antiquing.  I used Rub 'n Buff in Antique Gold and Silver Leaf.  I applied them separately around the edges of drawers, any indents, and corners and then rubbed them with an old soft washcloth until they appeared soft and blended.  I kept working it around the piece bit by bit until I was happy (note: do small sections at a time).  I then added a thin 5th coat of the metallic paint on top of the Rub 'n Buff in order to make it appear even softer of a finish.

Stencil Brush

Close up of finish.

Then, I had to work on the handles, which were marked brass.  I soaked them in some warm water with dish liquid first and got them clean and let them dry thoroughly.  Then, made a mixture of the Rub 'n Buff with mostly gold and a hint of the silver and applied with the stencil brush to the handles and rubbed and buffed it until they shone beautifully.

Rub 'n Buff

Close up of handles.

 I then screwed the handles back on, and was so proud of how they turned out.  I loooooooove them!  A perfect amount of shimmer and shine (pictures do not do it justice).

After

After

Freezer Friendly Meals for After the Baby Comes

Well, I have started making plans for the baby to arrive, even though she isn't coming until early May.  I like to have as much set as possible, to make it an easier transition.  I do remember that one the of the hardest things was having a hot meal ready for dinner every night after feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and this is my 1st pregnancy with having 2 other children to care for.  So, I started making some freezer-friendly meals.  I make myself a cooking day where I prepare a few meals, and I also have certain dinners where I just double up on the recipe so I can freeze half.  I find it takes the same amount of time to cook twice as much, just a bigger pot or pan is needed.

I have already prepared and frozen family sized portions of:

• Spinach and Sausage Manicotti
• Stuffed Green Pepper Soup
• Bean Soup with Smoked Pork Butt
• Beef Chili
• Chicken Chili

I am in the process or planning on making:

• 2 batches of sausage corn chowder
• 1-2 batches of baked ziti pasta
• 2 batches of my famous Southwest Chipotle pasta sauce (a spicy roasted red pepper and garlic cream sauce) along with frozen chopped veggies so they are ready to prepare in minutes.
• 2 batches of taco meat already seasoned and I will have taco kits ready in my pantry.
• I will be purchasing 4-6 par-baked ponza rottas (like calzones) from our favorite place Jimmy's Grotto in Waukesha.  I freeze them, then let thaw in refrigerator for a day, bake for 30 minutes or until heated through and done!
• Frozen Gyro kits (all I need is some fresh cucumber and tomato and about 10 minutes to make).

I have also frozen some smaller batches of lunch-sized portions of some of the items where I had a little extra.  These make easy, quick lunches for my husband to take to work, since he usually eats the leftovers from the night before.

One thing to remember is to cool the items properly and quickly, I use an ice bath for my freezer bags, then put them on the patio or in the cold garage for a bit to cool off (in the winter).  I lie them flat so they freeze that way, and store much easier.  I also mark the bags with what is inside plus the date I froze it, since they typically taste best within 3 months.  For items like the Manicotti, I freeze in oven-ready pans so I don't have to transfer them and make a mess.

If anyone wants any recipes or suggestions, just ask!  I'd also love some new recipes if you have any great ones to share.

Irritable Uterus?

For all the pregnant mommies, in case you experience anything like this, I wanted to share what I know about Irritable Uterus.  I must admit that I had never heard of such a thing until I was 22 weeks pregnant (I am 27 weeks now) and was having very regular fast coming contractions for an entire weekend, although the hospital advised me against coming in since it was too early in my pregnancy and it would be considered a miscarriage at this point.  I tried resting on my left side, walking, taking a hot bath, drinking a ton of water and nothing worked.  I went in to see my OBGYN the following Monday, where they checked my cervix which was nice and thick still, ran some tests to check for infections and dehydration, that might have brought on contractions and found nothing.  They then told me it is probably an irritable uterus. What? I said.  They explained that some uterus from stretching or over growth can become irritated and cause contractions that feel very real.  They do make you have a slightly higher risk of pre-term labor, but it is typically not the underlying cause.  I was put on strict bed rest until I reached 24 weeks, viability of the baby.  I still rest quite a bit because if I do too much, they do come back, and they have started hurting my back lately as well, getting more painful each time I get them.  They are very different from Braxton Hicks contractions, which I know very well after 3 pregnancies, which are milder and much more sporadic. These contractions were less than 2 minutes apart and lasting over a minute long.  They lasted almost a full 2 days, progressing on the 2nd day.  You feel them over your entire belly rather than just a portion.

One thing I do remember, is that since the beginning of my pregnancy my uterus has measured 3-5 weeks ahead of the baby's gestation age/size.  At my 24 week ultrasound, my uterus was at 28-29 weeks, they just keep saying it is an enlarged uterus and nothing of concern, as the baby will grow into in, but the baby never has, I am consistently every month ahead.  I wonder if it is enlarged since my last child, my son was a 8 pounder.  Or, is my baby actually older but measures smaller, since my due date was detected by a measurement ultrasound, as I did not know when I became pregnant.

I would love to hear your stories or information on this subject.

For more information, check out the wesbite dedicated to Irritable Uterus or check out BabyZone.

My Ultrasound from December 2011.  It's a Girl!