Cleaning Sterling Silver - Light a Candle Cause It's Gonna Get Stinky

I have been cleaning out my jewelry case as part of my Operation Simplicity and noticed that all my sterling silver pieces were getting tarnished.  Again, I had another repressed Pinterest memory pop up and tried it out.

This was so simple and quick and even though the pics don't show much detail on the jewelry pieces (I've got to get a better lens for close ups), I promise there was a big difference. 

I will forewarn you - this will smell TERRIBLE.  I mean Terrible Horrible.  Like the sulfury rotten egg smell at volcanos (I've been to a few).  It's because the silver is releasing the oxidation from it's "pores" - the stink means it's working.  Definitley light a candle and just leave the room for a few minutes.  It will work, I promise - you won't need to supervise. 

To get this going, bust out a Pyrex dish - I used a 9x13.  Then line the bottom with foil BUT make sure the foil is shiny side up (why? I have no clue).  Then place all your jewelry pieces on top of the foil like so:

I took a big Pyrex bowl and added in a half cup of baking soda and a half cup of kosher salt.  I popped it in the microwave until it boiled and then poured it into the 9x13 Pyrex container over the jewelry.  I probably let it sit for about 15 minutes.  Being a control freak, I sat and watched the entire time - don't do this.  Relax and run from the smell. 

After the tarnish "falls off" make sure to rinse all your pieces in water to help get the stink off them.  I did notice the first time I wore the necklaces after doing this that I could detect a rotten egg odor emitting from them.  But after the one wear I didn't notice it. 

After you rinse place them on a bath towel and make sure to get all the moisture off them (as moisture is what causes them to tarnish).  My jewelry looked tons better after I did this.  It's one of those things where you didn't realize how bad it actually was until you did something about it!

Fixing Broken Makeup Compacts - It Works!

I know - I've been ignoring you.  I've been a bad blogger.  In fact, this morning I was referred to as a "loser" for not blogging since April 5th - BUT, I have a few excuses which will make you feel semi-bad for thinking ill of me.

It started with the passing of my best friend from growing up's grandfather so I went home for a few days and was her "plus one" for funeral stuff.  Then when I got back it was Joe's and my anniversary (3 years and still going strong!).  Then one of my besties Courtney got married (in Dallas) and I went down a few days early for shopping for the house - and maybe some spa treatments.  Since then I will admit I've just been lazy. 

I've really been hitting the cleaning and decorating of the house pretty hard since Joe is all up on me again about baby #2.  I just really want this house done before I get all miserable and pregnant again.  I'm also designing Evelyn's big girl room - why does decorating have to be such a process!  The bedding is almost done and once I get that in the room I'll be able to better gage the rest of the items I need.

Now on to you - how is everybody?!  I've had one request to try out some wall art for a friend - after the last wall art I'm feeling a little experimental and might try mdf instead of canvas.  I'm so daring!

Anyway, while in Dallas I had a compact of powder break.  Instead of throwing it out I was just using it like loose powder and then I had a repressed memory resurface of something I saw on pinterest where you can fix these broken compacts.  So I did a little googling and did it!  It worked great - I had just bought a new powder and was pretty bummed when I dropped it in the sink and it busted.  Now, no money wasted!  I love the feeling of accomplishment. 

It's pretty simple - I took the busted compact and broke up the rest of the pressed powder into a loose powder.  This is what it looked like before I started breaking it down into a finer powder:

Make sure whatever object you use to break the rest of the powder up is clean - you don't want any inpurities to make it into the powder and then get on your face. 

I then poured in 91% isopropyl alcohol and mixed it together forming a paste.

Then I kinda slammed the compact on the counter to get the air bubbles out of the mixture.  I learned this during my 3 day failed attempt at making Macaroons last year for our anniversary (They tasted great, but looked horrific).  Hold the compact firmly while you just tap it on a flat surface.  Tap with some vigor though - I probably did it for a minute.  Since the paste is thick it took awhile to get the bubbles to float to the top. 

Then you just sit the compact out for a few hours and that's it!  The alcohol evaporates eventually and you are left with a pressed powder again!  It ain't the prettiest, but who cares! It's usable again. 

I will never again toss a broken compact again - I have some eyeshadows I need to try this out on now! 

I promise to post again by the end of the week.  I need to update you on my projects I'm working on so you can see I don't just sit here and watch soap operas and eat junk food all day.  I only do that one day of the week ;).