reviewing my pins

I don't know about you, but every time I pin something part of me wonders..."will this really work/taste good/be easy/save me time?"

Recently I've tried a bunch of pinned items and meals and wanted to let you all know how they came out so you can try it yourself {or avoid it completely...}

First up, a couple recipes. I've been pretty bored with our usual go-to meals and decided to try a few new ones from my now we're cookin' board.

Blackened Chicken and Cilantro Lime Quinoa

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This was so great! It was really easy to put together and I loved that it involved a dry rub, rather than a marinade. All too often time gets away from me and I forget to get the meat marinating in time for dinner. This needs no lead time. We didn't find it to be too spicy at all, so I didn't bother making the cream sauce for on top. Even Asher liked it and that's really saying something.

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

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Yummm - I've been having major buffalo chicken cravings and this totally satisfied me and baby. Really easy, really tasty - another winner. Make it, you won't regret it.

Honey-Lime Chicken Skewers

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I'm sensing a chicken theme here - oh well. This one, too, was delicious! It does involve a marinade, but I managed to get it on in time to let the chicken pieces soak it all up before grilling. I cut up the chicken into skewer sized pieces before plunking them in the marinade and I think that really helped the flavor soak in.

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

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Hey, it's not a chicken dish! I actually posted about this awhile back when I first made it. It's delicious, but lasted us nowhere close to the week that the original author mentions - we loved it too much! It is also a little too much work for me on a busy morning, but on a Saturday it would be great.

Bacon Ranch Slow Cooker Chicken

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This one I'm going to have to give a "just ok". The flavor was nice, but despite following her alternative directions to avoid the yogurt curdling in the sauce mine still did and that was a major turn off. Not awful, but I probably won't make it again so I guess that makes it a deal breaker in my book.

We've been trying to eat healthier, so I actually haven't tried many of the desserts I've pinned. Fear not - we won't be able to hold out much longer.

I have also tried out a few cleaning tips.

Towel Refresh

{1} wash towels in hot water with 1C vinegar
{2} wash again in hot water with 1/2 C baking soda

Either my towels weren't that bad or this just doesn't make a huge difference because I really didn't notice much change. Maybe someone else had more luck? It certainly didn't hurt them!

Shower Cleaner

1 part Dawn dish detergent + 1 part vinegar in a spray bottle

I used this on my shower walls and especially on the glass surround. It worked great! I will say however, that a little goes a looong way. Dawn is super sudsy and the first time I really doused everything and it took me forever to rinse away. The vinegar smells a little, but once it's rinsed the smell left immediately. I give this one an A+. It will be a new bathroom staple for me.

Do you have any pins that are amazing {or lackluster?} - I'd love to know about them!