Lucky Charm Treats

These were not my favorite all though I ate plenty of them but the kids loved them.  Having one of the favorite cereals mixed in with marshmallows and butter was the perfect mixture for the kids to be in heaven.  They were good and they were super easy to make, as easy as rice krispie treats.

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Original pin can be found: http://momspark.net/st-patricks-day-recipe-lucky-charms-treats/

Crock Pot Manicotti

When I saw this pin I have to admit I was really skeptical, seriously even manicotti can go into the crock pot and turn out good.  I thought for sure my noodles would be mushy but they were not at all, they turned out like perfect noodles.  I had read the hardest part was filling the noodles but I did just as the blogger said and it worked perfect.  Although I did need to double the batch to make enough to feed my family of six.  These did turn out really good and the whole family loved them.  I am a huge fan of crock pot meals, the easier the better!!!

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Original pin can be found here: http://momonamission.me/?p=5612

Glitter between Nail polish

This pin only works if you have a really, really thick glitter.  I had just a normal glitter and it did not work at all so I am assuming that if you had a thicker glitter it would turn out more like the picture.  I always love when I already have the products that a pin calls for so it is always a bummer when only a specific product will work for the pin which is what happened in this case.  For those reasons I am giving it a pins down.

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Cornbread

If this isn't the best cornbread you will ever eat, I am not sure what is.  This simple and easy trick to making your cornbread so yummy is the best.  You just add in a cake mix with the cornbread and then you have the best tasting cornbread ever.  I made this for an event and it was gone in 2 minutes, flat!! So yummy, easy, cheap and fast, all of the best elements for making something.

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Original pin can be found here: http://thesistersdish.blogspot.com/2009/04/boston-market-cornbread.html

Zebra Cake

This really works, I could not believe it but it really did and it was super easy!!!!  You just follow the directions as shown in the pictures just by layering white and brown and the cake turns out with a zebra pattern.  It was super easy to do, cheap, and fast!!! This is a fun twist on making the inside of the cake something different than the usual.

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Original pin can be found here: http://www.recipebyphoto.com/zebra-striped-cake/

Avocado Trick

I have always just squeezed my avocados to see if they were ripe or not, soft meant they were and hard meant they were not but this trick works so, so much better.  Often times when you squeeze them the soft ones are often too ripe and the hard ones are perfect but it is really hard to tell.  I have been using this trick for weeks now and it has not failed me, it works every time.  It is definitely something I will use all of the time when trying to choose out my avocados.

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Original pin can be found here: http://www.recipebyphoto.com/how-to-pick-out-perfect-avocados/

Peachy Keen Bars

I have to tell you, I have tried a lot of different peach cobbler recipes(this is very much like a cobbler), even Paula Dean and they all have not turned out and I have been so disappointed.  Let me tell you that I was not one bit disappointed with this cobbler.  Oh MY GOSH it was so, so, so, so, so, so(is that enough so's) GOOD!!! and it was dang easy to put together.  It only has a few ingredients, comes together really fast and is really, really good.  We all loved this and will definitely make this over and over again.

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Original pin can be found here: http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cake/peachy-keen-bars.html#.T2CUyHsx2zh.pinterest

Using Vaseline with Mascara

I have to say I absolutely hated this pin.  It states that if you use vaseline it will lengthen your lashes and that the mascara will not cake or clump. The reason I did not like this was that I had to have a whole other wand to use for the vaseline, it was super hard to get the vaseline on the wand and it was a mess plus it really did not make my lashes look that much different.  Baby powder works so much better and is so much easier than this pin.

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Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites

We made these for snacks at the super bowl and while they are a little difficult to put together they are YUMMY! We loved them and could not stop eating these little bites. They are a little difficult to put together but other than that they are good, cheap and pretty fast.

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Original pin can be found here: http://www.recipebyphoto.com/megans-ham-cheese-pretzel-bites/

Getting your towels fluffy

I always wonder how the same recipe or something ends up on Pinterest but with a totally different use.  This pin for getting your towels fluffy again is the same exact pin for getting rid of the mildew smell out of your towels and I am here to tell you that it does not work.  You are not going to get the results you are looking for with this pin.   Plus I am so weary of using baking soda in much else other than cooking ever since I used it to unclog my drains and it clogged them and to clean my shower head and it made it worse or to clean my stove and it left huge white streaks for months.  Baking soda is my nemesis and it does not work on things that have to do with cleaning.  There is a reason our parents quit using it and waited for something more advanced to come out for cleaning around the house, it's because it is the worst at cleaning around the house.  So if you happened to miss my point here, this does not work and you will not get the results you are searching for.

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EGG SEPARATION TRICK

IT CAN BE SUCH A PAIN WHEN YOU NEED JUST THE WHITE OR THE YOLK FOR COOKING.  THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN SEPARATE THEM BUT MOST OF THEM ARE SOMEWHAT MESSY.  I HAVE TO SAY I WAS SKEPTICAL WHEN I SAW THIS PIN SO I SET OUT TO SEE IF IT REALLY WORKED OR NOT.  THE FIRST TIME I DID IT, IT DID NOT WORK, IT WAS A HUGE MESS BUT THE SECOND TIME I TRIED, IT TOTALLY WORKED!!!! YOU JUST HAVE TO BE SURE THAT YOU SQUEEZE THE BOTTLE ALL THE WAY, LIKE YOU ARE SMASHING THE MIDDLE OF THE BOTTLE,  SO THAT WHEN YOU RELEASE THE AIR TO SUCK UP THE YOLK THAT THE BOTTLE HAS ENOUGH AIR TO RELEASE TO PICK IT UP.  THE FIRST TIME I DID THE TRICK I DID NOT SQUEEZE THE BOTTLE ALL OF THE WAY SO THAT IS WHY IT MADE SUCH A MESS.  I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE, IT WILL MAKE MORE SENSE WHEN YOU TRY IT.  GREAT TRICK, EASY, CHEAP AND FAST. THE ONLY DOWNFALL IS MAKING SURE YOU HAVE AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE WHEN YOU NEED TO SEPARATE YOUR EGGS OTHER THAN THAT THIS IS AN AWESOME TRICK AND TOTALLY WORTH USING WHEN YOU NEED TO SEPARATE YOUR EGGS.

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ORIGINAL PIN CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://thehousebythesea.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/the-most-brilliant-way-to-separate-egg-yolk-from-the-white/

Sugar Cookies Comparable to Lofthouse Cookies

For me saying that your cookie is comparable to a Lofthouse cookie is a huge claim and one that would be hard to fulfill since Lofthouse cookies are so dang good.  But when I went to this blog it is actually pinners that make that claim not the lady who made the cookies.  She does say that they are as soft as Lofthouse cookies but does not claim that they are better than Lofthouse cookies.  I have to agree with her, these were very, very soft but I was not a huge fan of the taste.  I think I did not like the taste of the white cake mix but when I gave these to others they loved them and thought they were really good.  So I have mixed feelings on them.  They were good cookies no matter what the claim was but, to me, they do not compare to the taste of Lofthouse cookies.  Oh, and they were super fast and easy to put together.  These are good for when you need a fast, easy and yummy sugar cookie put together.

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Original pin can be found here: http://homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com/2010/09/soft-and-thick-sugar-cookies.html

Sponge Balls

I made these for summer a few years ago and they were a hit.  They last for a little while but will eventually fall apart but you will get a lot of good use out of them before they fall apart.  They can get kind of spendy, even if you buy your sponges at the dollar store.  It all depends on how many you decide to make.  The kids have a lot of fun with them though and it is a fun alternative to a water activity for the kids during the summer.

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Original pin can be found here: http://innerchildfun.com/2011/07/sponge-bomb-bucket-toss.html

Cookie Dough Dip

Can I just say, YUM!!! This was so good and so easy to put together, it is awesome that it does not have eggs so you do not have to worry about eating raw eggs.  I made this for the super bowl and it was gone in a flash.


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original pin can be found here: http://addapinch.com/cooking/2011/10/14/cookie-dough-dip-recipe/

Cleaning stinky, mildew towels

This is a different method of cleaning your stinky, mildew towels and one I do not feel worked at all and after a week the smell was back. The other test I did on the towels with Lysol worked awesome! Enough so that I washed them with Lysol three weeks ago and the smell still has not come back. I still wash them every week just not with the Lysol.  This test requires you to run the towels through two washes and then the smell comes back with the lysol version you only run it through once and the smell does not come back.

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For the Lysol version click on this link: http://thecraftpatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/cleaning-stinky-towels-better-way.html

Chicken and Mushrooms

I found this yummy recipe and decided to give it a try.  Not only was it really simple to put together it was really good, also.  My kids and husband loved it!!! This is a great and easy recipe to try for any evening of the week.

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Original pin can be found here: http://featuredish.com/chicken-with-mushrooms-and-mozzarella/

Using White Shadow or Eyeliner as a base

This pin states that you can use white eyeshadow or white eyeliner as a base for your normal eyeliner and then it is supposed to brighten your normal eyeshadow.  So I set out to try this out and I have to say I love it.  It really does brighten your normal eyeshadow and bring your eyes out more.  I prefer to use white eyeshadow than white eyeliner just because it spreads better and provides a better base.  This is a great idea and one you should try if you want to add something to your makeup routine.

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Original pin can be found here: http://thebeautythesis.com/2012/11/12/awesome-tip-color-your-eyelid-with-white-eyeliner-as-an-eyeshadow-base-your-eyeshadow-color-on-top-will-pop-and-look-so-much-brighter-love-all-these-tips/

Just for Laughs

I love this pin, this is exactly why I do the blog and test things to see if they really work or not.

Homemade Banana Chips

I have to give this pin on homemade banana chips an
 "AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!!!!"
Seriously, this pin takes like 4 hours to make these banana chips and to me it is a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to just buy a pack at the store.

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Taking Charge of Cords

Ok, thank you to the smart person who just made my life a heck of a lot easier. Why do I not ever think of these clever solutions? This is why I love Pinterest, being able to tap into other peoples clever brains and use such smart solutions in my life.  This is such a great idea and makes it easy for you to maintain and take charge of all of your appliance cords and a solution for your computer cords. Keeps them out of the way and keeps them from getting stuck under the other appliances. Since you use a command strip you can change it out if you need to and take it off if you decide you do not want it there anymore and binder clips cannot be any easier to change out and remove if you need too.   Thank you to the smart and clever person who came up with this idea.

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Reeses Pieces/Chocolate Chip Cookies

I may never go back to just plain chocolate chip cookies.  These have become a favorite in our household and are a danger to have around.  They will get eaten in 10 seconds FLAT!  These are really easy to put together because they are basically chocolate chip cookies with reeses pieces added in.  Cannot get much easier than that!!! These are a must try if you are a reeses lover!!!

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original pin can be found here: http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2012/09/peanut-butter-pudding-cookies/

Using a Dryer Sheet on a Wet Dog

The one I tried on this list was using dryer sheets on your dog after they get wet.  I have to say I was hoping this would work because I really do not like the smell of wet dog.  We gave our dog a bath and then my husband looked at me, quite weirdly, as I rubbed the dog down with a dryer sheet. This did not work, I could still smell our wet dog just as strong and it ended up being a waste of a dryer sheet. So I think the moral of the story is not much can get rid of the smell of wet dog. 
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Removing a Splinter

So I got the worst splinter the other day, I was breaking skewers in half and a long sliver of skewer went right into my finger.  I had the hardest time getting it out so I thought I would try this pin that states, if you put a baking soda/water mixture on a sliver it will pull the sliver out.  It did not work, I put this paste on and nothing happened.  I ended up having to do a little minor surgery to get the sliver out of my finger.  Just to be sure, my mom, happened to get a sliver as well and I had her try the same thing and it did not work for her either.

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Chore Card

I love this idea for chores.  I have to say we have tried so many things in our house and they always work for the first few weeks and then die down.  This has brought a whole new motivation into our household to get chores down.  Seeing the punch card get punched and seeing it get closer to the end is enough motivation to get them to keep doing their chores.  I am not sure how long this will last but for now it has worked really well. I have to say I sort of understand, I love watching my punch cards from stores get closer to that one free thing, or that ten dollars off or whatever incentive it may be.

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Original pin can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/92267945/diy-printable-punch-cards-4-colors-chore?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools

Best Buttercream Frosting

I could not find the original source for this pin, so I found the exact same recipe on the internet.  This frosting was so easy to make and it was so good.  I loved the consistency of it and it was easy to spread onto cookies, cakes and cupcakes.  It was inexpensive to make since I already had all of the ingredients and most of you will have the same ingredients as well.  This had a great taste to it and was yummy on everything it was put on.

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original pin can be found here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gale-gand/quick-vanilla-buttercream-frosting-recipe/index.html

Writing on a Board

Ok, so maybe I have been spoiled, I have always had a cricut or some sort of machine to help me cut out the letters I wanted on a board and I have to say, good thing, because this did not work at all. It was hard to press the pen/pencil down to make the letter, it was a pain and it did not turn out without imperfections. I am guessing you have to have a really steady hand and A LOT of practice to get this one done in a way that looks nice.  It is still way easier to use stickers or a die cut machine to get the letters you want.

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Multi Colored Cake

How cute is this cake?? I love it!! My eight year old was turning nine so I decided to give the color effect a try. I was vey disappointed because my cake did not turn out nearly as pretty and vibrant as this cake did no matter what I did. Other than that, it was a cute cake and a huge hit, I just wish I could have gotten the colors more vibrant.  Just be aware that your colors may not turn out this vibrant even when using the jarred gels.

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Easy Cake Batter Truffles

These were so, so yummy and very addicting. I wanted to just keep eating them, so instead I made them for my Christmas treat platter that we give to all of the neighbors. They were a hit!!! They were really easy to put together and did not cost a ton, either.  YUMMY!!!

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Original pin can be found here: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/03/easy-cake-batter-truffles.html

How to clean your mildew towels

Ok, I thought this was crazy when I read this.  You are supposed to add lysol to your wash of towels and it gets rid of the mildew smell that you get in your towels.  Even after I did it and it worked I still feel weird putting lysol in my washer with my towels but it makes sense.  This was awesome, I had tried other pins to no avail and this  one totally worked.  You just add some lysol to your normal wash of towels and tadaa, the mildew smell is gone and stays away as well. Super easy, fast and cheap to do and completely effective.

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original pin can be found here: http://thecraftpatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/cleaning-stinky-towels-better-way.html

Tomato Tortellini Soup

This soup was so good, it definitely will be a new regular in our,winter, dinner rotation.  It was really fast and easy to put together and did not take long to cook at all.  We added this with a yummy loaf of french bread and it was a great dinner and all of the kids ate it, even the pickiest, without complaint!! That is a huge win in our family!

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Original pin can be found here: http://mrsschwartzkitchen.blogspot.com/2011/11/tomato-tortellini-soup.html