public static function encrypt($message, $key)
    {
        $md5Key = md5($key);
        
        $encrypted = mcrypt_encrypt(
            MCRYPT_RIJNDAEL_256, 
            $md5Key, 
            $message, 
            MCRYPT_MODE_CBC, 
            md5($md5Key)
        );
        
        $encoded_encryption = base64_encode($encrypted);
        return $encoded_encryption;
    }