Next year is my 10th anniversary. Mostly happy, a few rough spots and hardships, and lots of love. My husband and I have moved all over the world and now we drag our kids along, too. Well, until they reach school age, then we may have to settle down and pick one location. When we got married, my husband gave me a gorgeous but petite, 'estate' diamond cocktail ring from the 20's. I love that ring. For the birth of our first child, he sweetly gave me what is often called a 'push present' although I simply think of it as the 'ice-ing' on the cake.... a couple of years later I decided I wanted the solitaire pendant necklace to be an upgrade on my wedding ring. So I designed this, and couldn't be more thrilled. Except, I like to keep the darn thing clean and as the mother of two kids under 5, it is constantly getting caked with all kinds of gunk.

I kept searching for a way to get it as disco-ball shiny as the jewelry shops do, when I go in and get it cleaned. They have some fancy machine, and a steamer and whatever secrets they perform in the back of the shop. I had a toothbrush, and someone told me to use toothpaste. It worked, but just ok. And who can seriously justify buying a professional grade cleaner? The cheesy Walmart one I got, where you add the solution and turn it on, so it can basically 'jostle' the rings around was really not cutting it.

Recently, I was getting my once a quarter manicure (who has time anymore to go sit and get pampered... I come away feeling guilty for spending the hour away from family and work!) when my manicure gal suggested I use detergent! I was skeptical, to say the least. But I listened, stored it away for another day and promptly forgot it.

So one day, who knows how many weeks later when I remembered her tip, I tried it. Easy enough, take a spoonful of Tide or some other laundry detergent. Add to a glass or cup (if using glass, make sure it is tempered so it won't break) then add boiling water. Drop in the rings, swirl around with a spoon or whatever you have laying about thats handy (not your finger, kinda hot. ouch) Leave to sit for about 10 minutes (3.8 minutes works too if you are short on time...)

Remove with the spoon (yes, the water IS still hot) and rinse. Now, use common sense here woman and make sure the drain is NOT open so that you don't drop your gorgeous "disco ball" down the pipe! Cool water, towel dry (you can use that old toothbrush for extra special detail attention but why bother?!) and slip that gorgeous bling back on your finger! I promise it will be a lot cleaner than you usually get it when you clean your engagement ring at home.

Also, please always take your ring in to be checked about every six months. Your jeweler will test the stones to see if they are loose and give your baby a spa treatment. Then make sure you head to the nail salon and jazz up those fingernails. call the babysitter and drag your hubby out to a nice dinner so you can celebrate the real reason you have that sparkler on your left hand!