Shiny Silver - hack that works!

You know those "life hack" memes you see all over Pinterest and Facebook?  Yeah, well, I saved one of them before I became a complete Pinterest whore.  

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Pinterest?!  Because I have... and I do!  I LOVE LOVE LOOOOVE Pinterest! 

Anyway, yesterday, in my "free time" (complete and utter sarcasm) I came across a life hack that I had actually BOOKMARKED on my computer.  How did I find such a creature?  Well, in my quest for complete and total organization (read that as "I am a complete OCD organization freak"), I spend about 15 minutes a day every few days decluttering bookmarks and digital files on my computer.  When I stumbled upon a bookmark, it was a broken link that I promptly deleted but I was able to ascertain what it was by the html address so... I started to Google the concept of what I had saved.  This led me to a science-based report that had evidentiary links which led to further theory-based proof experiments and yes -- my 15 minutes turned into a complete and total tangent that let me to this...

A photo posted by AprilD (@ardriggs) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:20pm PST

It is seriously the most amazing thing.  I don't put a lot of stock into many of those life hacks but this folks, is the real deal!

I have some jewelry that came in those BEEEEEEEEEUTIFUL turquoise boxes tied with white satin ribbons.  You know the ones I'm talkin' about!?!  

Tiffany & Co. jewelry is just the epitome of wonderfulness oozing with amazing and covered with special!  I'm not a girlie girl, but I luffs me some Tiffany & Co.  However, without proper and frequent polishing, like any silver, it tarnishes.  No one wants to wear Tiffany silver that looks like it's been dredged in suet from your fireplace.  Seriously, does this not look like your mom's cookie sheet?  Sad panda, ya'll.  It's been like this for several years.

But this simple process took it from bad to BEAUTIFUL!

So, you want to do it too?  Let me tell ya just how simple this is!

First you take some type of plastic basin.  I used an empty Rubbermaid container.  I lined the bottom with aluminium foil.  Shiny side up!  I got my trusty tablespoon and added two tablespoons of both salt and baking soda.  

I'm telling ya, this is really complicated! 

Here's the hard part.

Add your silver jewelry right on top...

...and then cover it all with boiling water... 

... and wait five minutes.  Oh... to be noted -- this part stinks.  Not the waiting... just the whole soda, salt and the idea that you're creating a chemical reaction to release the sulfur and oxidized film on the surface of your silver means that it literally STINKS!  

I rolled my foil so that it had little "handles" so that I could pull it out of the water bath, I transferred it to a bowl that had warm water in it (to rinse) it off... and then used a soft towel to wipe each off.

And look how it SHINES now!?!

Words are powerful

I posted a photo on Instagram and also shared it on Facebook that has prompted several friends to write me.  I think I may be more flattered, however, at the idea that I've inspired someone to help leave their children a legacy moreso than thinking that I deserve any kind of accolades for my idea.  My idea is nothing new.  



It all stemmed from back-to-school sales that started popping up last summer.  You see, I always love to walk down the aisles when school supplies start appearing on the shelves.  I love the colors.  I love new the smell of a new box of Crayolas.  I love crisp, white paper.  I love the rows of sharpened No. 2 pencils.  But one thing I've always had a soft spot for is journals.  I ***love*** journals.  I always have.  As the years go by it seems they get fancier and fancier.  It was then that an idea just hit me.  So, I purchased three similar journals (one for each kiddo) and started using it as a way to write to them... on a personal level... about their lives... about their challenges... about their interests... about their day.  There is nothing digital... if there's a picture, it's because I drew it.  If there's a compliment, it's because I wrote it.  It's paper, ink, heart and soul.  It's just a conversation between my boys and me.  I'm thinking it will be a gift at some point in their lives.... leaving for college maybe.  I'm not even sure it will ever be a significant thing to them... but it's a little something I can do to let them know just how much they mean to me... through my words.

Words, you see, are very powerful.  Once you say them... you can never take them back.  Words can make you shine like a dime... or they can break the very spirit that guides you.

And another way words speak to me is through music... I absolutely adore this song -- its message -- its words.  Take a listen.  I've included the lyrics below.  

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

And they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down

By the enemy

Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

Innocence, your history of silence

Won’t do you any good

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you.

That's some pretty powerful stuff there, huh?  I love people that aren't afraid to stand out... to be the change that they want to see in the world... to be brave enough to say the words that need to be spoken... for whatever reason.  Don't keep them in.  Be brave!  Share your words!

I've seen my eldest face this demon head on... and I saw how victorious he was when I wouldn't let him quit and made him face it... to be brave through encouragement.  He has learned words have power... 

Drew hasn't had to face this dragon yet... but the time will come and I hope he, too, is ready to be brave!

Benji... yeah, he's a WHOLE other can of worms... he will throw words at you... just be prepared to catch them.  They usually involve a body part, a bodily function and are followed by maniacal laughter.  

And, you know I have to deal with him on a daily basis.  Thus, I am brave.  

Snapshots from Instagram

I love social media.  As a stay-at-home-supermom (aka domestic engineer), it's my outlet, comic relief, long distance hug and sometimes the only way I can validate the feelings of wanting to choke out one of my kids. I don't do it, obviously.  I am not fond of orange jumpsuits, but that doesn't mean the incessant whining, hitting, instigating and trivial bullshit that can make your whole world feel as painful as a hangnail, doesn't make me want to duct tape little people to the wall!  Social media provides little moments of validation and reassurance from friends that get it... that get ME.  

That being said, I love Instagram.  It's like Facebook but without all the drama.  Where Facebook is you and your friends... Instagram is you... and the world.

I think I follow more Instagram accounts that are for Boston Terriers than should be allowed but they're SO DARN CUTE!  

I follow a lot of fitness and meal prep accounts as well.  You can never have too many clean eating ideas thrown your way!  Of this, I am certain!

I post some weird randomness on Instagram... so I thought I'd share some of my favorite Instagram posts with you.  

Oh, my feed is on the right hand side, you can find me there or on Instagram @ardriggs

10-08-13 Ben's visit to the ER to have his eye glued back together.

10-13-13 Bumblebee wears platforms in Vegas.

No, I didn't eat the poop shrimp.  Ewwww

Drew getting fit for glasses October 2013.

You get to see how my kids and I communicate.

Snapshots of daily life -- story time with Benji

My girlfriend's daughter said Josh looked like Zac Efron.  I looked him up and did a comparison.  It's close.  I wish I could get Josh to cut his hair that short!

Homecoming 2013.  Josh and his best friend (dates were in the next shot, this was funnier, though so it was blog worthy).

My kids bomb my grocery list.

Benji sleeps like a drunk.

And so does Moose

Trick-or-treating with the littlest Batman.

There are lots more fun moments in Instagram.  That was just a shapshot of last October.