Hailey's Helpful Hints

Here's to the NEW YEAR ... May it bring you more joy and success, And less grief and regret. To our dreams ... May we never stop believing in them And taking the actions that will make them a reality. To our friends and loved ones ... May we take the time to let them know How much it means to us, To have them in our lives. To new beginnings ... Let us start fresh, right now, To make this year the very best. In 2011, my hope is we can encourage more and criticize less, give more and need less. A very happy, healthy and safe New Year from me to you! xo

If you're thinking of glammin' up your make-up for NYE, you can't go wrong with flirty, luscious fake lashes. They are the perfect special occasion accessory and they are now easier than ever to apply and remove. What I love about lashes is that even if you can't decide what you are going to wear - slap on some fake lashes and let your eyes do the talking. At that rate, no one will even notice if your socks match. For the few hours that you're actually going to be wearing them, there is no need to splurge on a fake pair from MAC at Nordstrom priced at $14.00 (Glue sold separately for $8.00) when you can pick up a pair of Sonia Kashuk's Full Glam Eyelashes for $4.99 (Glue included) at Target. Hellooooo frugal find!!! Tips & tricks to applying: 1: Before applying lash adhesive, make sure the length of the lash band will fit your eyes so that your false lashes will be comfortable. You don't want your lashes to start too close to your tear duct (inner), or

Asked to bring an appetizer to a New Year's Eve par- tay ? If so, stop rummaging through your cookbooks or Recipes.com and give this sensational shrimp recipe a try. I can not for the life of me remember where I got this recipe but I changed it so much I might as well give myself the credit. I personally am a big fan of bringing shrimp to a party. Along with about three other people usually. Luckily everyone loves shrimp and it never goes to waste. This recipe however is an unexpected twist on the boring ol ' shrimp and cocktail sauce. Every single time I've made this concoction, you hear a low moan of " mmmmm's " across the room. The original recipe called for a million ingredients and far too much prep work - slicing and dicing is not my thing. So instead I hit up Costco and did a little improvising. I bought the 3 lb. tub of Rojo's All Natural Pico de Gallo and saved myself about 45 minutes. Unfortunately I don't have the original recipe so I can

Thanksgiving and Christmas bring about food, family and excitement but New Year's Eve brings out the best dressed and well planned parties of the year. It's not the time for ordinary pieces. Wondering what the latest trends are for NYE 2011? Think short dresses, metallic, ruffles, shine, pizazz. Anything sparkle goes. Within reason. Last thing you want is to look "be-dazzled." Although it's not nearly as exciting as buying a new outfit and sometimes a painful process, I am all about trying to piece together things I already have in my closet. In case you're stumped on what to wear, here are a few outfit ideas that are probably in your closet waiting for some love: Outfit 1 -- SASSY SPARKLE Black leggings or a short black skirt Sequin top Black cardigan or wrap Glitter clutch (purse) Large flower ring Earrings that go "bling" Ankle boot or something unexpected Outfit 2 -- GIRLY GLAM Tutu inspired dress Wide belt Classic black heel or a pair of flirty

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to start wiggin' out (if you haven't already) on what to wear to the upcoming New Year's Eve partyyyyy! And don't act like you aren't. Who doesn't?? I am guilty of it every year. It's just one of those days that warrants a grand entrance. Before you head out on a rampage, here are a few tips to consider ahead of time: Figure out the dress code for the event you'll be attending. Is it a formal party? Semiformal? Casual? Check the weather & ask the host if the party will be indoors or out. That scoop back dress might be hot but there's nothing worse than possible hypothermia. Keep in mind that wherever you're going, there will always be other guests who are more and less dressy than you. Your goal - don't be the most undressed. Avoid wearing brand-new, never been worn shoes. Considering that New Year's Eve is a time to start anew, you don't want to start it by being miserable and in pain be

Faith makes all things possible, Hope makes all things work, Love makes all things beautiful, May the miracle of Christmas bless you with all three on this wondrous day. From our house to yours - Have a very merry and blessed Christmas!

Need a last minute gift idea for either a man or a woman that won't have you searching high and low? If so, bee-line to your nearest Nordstrom, Macys or even Target and pick up Dolce & Gabbana's LIGHT BLUE perfume/cologne. This is a scent I've been wearing for years and it never fails me. It smells delicious. I get compliments left and right and eight times out of ten I'll get asked what perfume I am wearing. It's very light and crisp and stays on all day long. It's floral/fruity smell is one that can be worn both day and night. The men's "Light Blue Pour Homme" is equally as yummy. My husband wears it and you better believe, he has to 'fend me off. :) Usually going with the Gift Set is the best deal but you can pick up the Women's Eau De Toilette Spray for $62-85 for a 1.7 or 3.4 oz. bottle or the Men's Pour Homme for $57-73 for the 2.5 or 4.2 oz. bottle. So if you've been procrastinating, luckily with this gift you still have

This is a crowd pleaser any time of the year but I thought since it was red and festive, it would be the perfect time to share - especially since this week is so hectic that you need an easy meal to slap down on the table. CRANBERRY CHICKEN Ingredients: 4-6 boneless chicken breasts 8 oz. Catalina Dressing (I use Kraft's Fat Free Catalina) 1 package of Lipton's Dry Onion Soup Mix 1 - 1 lb. can of Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dressing, soup mix and cranberry sauce in a bowl. Trim chicken of any fat and place in a 13x9 inch baking dish. Top the chicken with cranberry mixture. Bake in oven for 45-60 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts. My family loves this meal served over rice with a side of broccoli. This meal tastes great as left-overs and freezes well.

I don't know why I didn't blog about this sooner but I guess it's better late than never. I've been in several conversations lately with other moms asking about fun family traditions they could start. My family definitely has some traditions that have been around for years that I thought I would share with you in case you are looking to incorporate some new in with your old. 1) Advent Calendars : Sorry this one you'll have to add to the list for next year. Ours were never fancy. In fact they were the cheap boxes of chocolate. You start on December 1st and open a new flap each day until Christmas. This year Chase and I would say something we were thankful for before we opened a new chocolate flap. If you're like many of my talented girlfriends, you could get crafty and make your own or head over to Pottery Barn and pick up this awesome burlap sack calendar. You can fill each day's sack with a new surprise - one day could be a treat for the kids; the next day

Is your significant other or child begging for a pet this Christmas? Are you torn on what to do? You've got a few days left before Christmas to decide what you should do. Of course you want to surprise them and make their wishes come true but the question is - can you afford one? The amount of money we spend on our pets has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, rising to more than $38 billion, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. That figure dwarfs the toy business ($23 billion) and candy industry ($24 billion). It’s not just the purchase price of a pet that costs money; it’s the feeding, grooming, vet bills, and boarding that can really add up to a lot. Before you bring that lovable critter home for the holidays, there are a few things you should consider. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with something you realistically can't afford. The following is a list of expected annual costs for your new member of the family thanks to the non-p

Here's a last minute must-buy if you are traveling this holiday season with small children. Or are stumped on what to get your world traveling relatives. The Gogo Kidz Universal Car Seat Travelmate converts your car seat into a stroller. No more having to lug a bulky car seat through the airport while trying to maneuver a stroller (and the kid who keeps dropping his juice every 50 feet). Talk about GENIUS. The Travelmate is super easy to use - it has a quick-release strap that allows the Travelmate to be attached or removed within seconds to the backside of the car seat. What's even more convenient; you can just release the handle down and strap the seatbelt around the Travelmate if you bring your car seat on the airplane. No detaching or finding a place for it in the overhead bin. Although I am not a huge fan of bringing the car seat on the plane, the FAA actually recommends that all children under 40 lbs. sit in a car seat during a flight. The Gogo Travelmate can be attached

Do you realize there are only nine...yes 9...days left until Christmas?!?! Gulp. If you haven't finished all your shopping, NOW IS THE TIME! This Friday - as in TOMORROW 12/17 - some 1,500 stores/merchants have joined together to offer " Free Shipping Friday " - a one day, online shopping event offering free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve . This deal is good for shipments made in the continental United States. This is a no brainer for y'all that haven't finished (or even started) your shopping. How nice will it feel to go into the weekend with it all done?? Some participating merchants are Macy's, Nordstrom , Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Barnes & Noble, Sephora , Apple Store, Champ Sports, Victoria's Secret - to name a few. To learn more and see a list of the participating stores, click here . Happy Shopping!

Ok these are nothing new but they have become my 2010 holiday obsession - EYESHADOW PALETTES . And I'm not even a make-up junkie. Like I said in my "Banging Bargains Under $25" post, I love to pair two smaller gifts to make a cute package. These palettes make for the perfect pair to a scarf or earrings for your mom, sister, friend or babysitter. If your budget allows, you could pair the palette with an eye brush set. Oooooh now that I would love. I'm always looking for the right brush to work it's magic. :) Oh which reminds me - quick sidenote - I was talking to the cosmetic gal at the Nordstrom 'Mac' counter and she informed me that although the holiday brush sets are a screaming deal, they are made with synthetic fibers so they won't last nearly as long. Maybe a no- brainer but I found it interesting. Check out Sephora's collection of brush sets here . They have some great steals for all budgets. Detouring back - if you're stumped on a

Last week the topic of "holiday tipping" was suggested by a reader (Thanks Janice, I love suggestions!). My first reaction was - is holiday tipping different than everyday tipping? As I got to doing my research I quickly learned that holiday tipping is a big deal. Hmmm . Where have I been?? I personally believe you should tip because someone exceeded your expectations and provided outstanding service, no matter what time of the year. Some believe that during the holidays you should absolutely, no question about it, tip more. I do agree that the holidays are a time to say an extra special thank you to those that worked hard for you throughout the year. Where I have a problem is when those service providers begin to expect it. Tipping should come from your heart. Something you want to do, not something you feel pressured to do. I was raised to shower the people who provide year round service with gifts - not money - during the holiday season hence my naivety on "holiday

I received an email from a girlfriend who knows we travel a lot asking if during the holidays we ship or check our luggage? Her concern was that with all the stuff they have, they would get dinged by the airline's ridiculous baggage fees. Thanks to the massive amount of traveling my husband does for work and his MVP status, we do not incur any fees (assuming I stay under the 50 lb weight limit which isn't always easy to do) therefore we always check our luggage but in my attempt to help my friend, I set out to a little research on what makes more financial sense - to check or ship? Ironically, as I compiled my statistics, I came across an article in Real Simple magazine that was exactly what I was looking for. Below is the article that will shed some light on what to do come packing time -- Article from realsimple .com: "You probably assume that checking your luggage is the cheaper option, even though you’re stuck paying the airline about $25 for the first bag (each way) a

If you're like me, you head to Costco to stock up on staples - say, paper towels and cleaning supplies - but you walk out with three halibut filets , 208 diapers, a mondo pack of fruit snacks, a 18 pack of gum and a ream of printer paper. Why? Because it's Costco. There's no way to describe what takes over you once you walk in the store. Reality is most of us are notoriously poor at assessing a true bargain, says C.W. Park, professor of marketing at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, and editor of The Journal of Consumer Psychology. Seduced by the prospect of saving money, we give in to impulse buys. Eventually, we regret the purchase or throw much of a past-its-prime product away. It's called the Costco Effect, and it's actually part of the store's incredibly successful retail strategy. But the effect on your wallet is that you spent more than you would have if you'd never seen that "bargain." According to

Pigging-backing on last week's savvy shopper posts, I am going to continue for a few more days with the hope that I can save you a few more bucks here and there this holiday season. Today's and tomorrow's post will highlight two of my favorite, 'I can't live without' stores; Target & Costco. I remember when Target started out - it was borderline K- Mart'esk (kinda dirty, products seemed cheap, selection was hideous) and personally it didn't do much for me. Ask me now how I feel about Target. Hands down, a life changer. Ok maybe I won't go to that extreme but I would be lost without it. Target, in the last 5 years, has cultivated an image as a great place to buy “cheap chic” clothes and housewares designed by the likes of Zac Posen , Jean Paul Gaultier , and Michael Graves. It has grown to be the nation’s second-largest discount chain which offers everything from the mundane staples to fresh groceries. And if you aren't buying your grocerie

If anyone loves a good deal, it's me. I will scoure Craigslist before I even think to buy new. But knowing what's a good deal vs. a not so good deal is an art. Although scoring a great deal on Craigslist and Ebay is satisfying and exciting, many second-hand purchases are actually terrible deals. A lot of the time the financial or safety risk outweighs the savings. In my companion piece, "10 things you shouldn't buy new," I listed lingerie and make-up as two items for which you'd best pay retail. Below is a list of 10 more items where the cost savings don't justify the risks of buying used: 1) Laptops : You're taking a chance when you buy any used computer, but the math really doesn't work when you're talking about a unit that's as prone to abuse and problems as a laptop. They're more likely to be dropped, banged around and spilled on, simply because they're out in the world while a desktop computer sits (mostly) safe at home. That&#