Hailey's Helpful Hints

Throw away (or donate) all your leftover Halloween candy! That means even your kid's candy too. Sure they might throw a fit. But you're the mom. You make the rules. You know what's best. It has been said that the average American gains 7 pounds between Halloween and New Years. Don't let those tempting calories linger around. They aren't good for your kid's teeth or your waistline. Have your children pick out five more pieces and then rid the house of the sweets. If it kills you to simply throw it away, most every city has a school or organization that has some type of candy donation. Chase willingly donated his to the Blind Children's Center in our city. On a side note; I can't believe it's been a year since I started Hailey's Helpful Hints! I set a goal that I would do this for one year and then re- evaluate how much I enjoyed it. Or better yet, how much my reader's enjoy it. I'm happy to report that I'm not going anywhere anytime s

Happy Halloween!! The United States might be in a tricky economic situation, but it won't stop Americans from buying vampire fangs or princess tiaras this year. And if the ghosts and goblins aren't scary enough, the health statistics and effects from all that candy might be. Get ready for trick-or-treating with these nuggets of information: *According to an annual survey done by the National Retail Federation, 7 in 10 Americans will celebrate Halloween in 2011 (the most in the surveys history), and spending will be slightly up. Yes even in the down economy! On average, people will spend $72.31 on costumes, candy, and decorations. Total Halloween spending: $6.9 billion. *According to CNN; The average household has shelled out $21.05 in Halloween candy alone. *The U.S. Census Bureau says roughly 41 million children ages 5 to 14 go trick-or-treating each year. *According to Nielsen Research, approximately $1.9 billion (or 598 million pounds) of candy is sold during the Halloween s

In case you need some last minute Halloween dessert ideas or are looking to do some fun baking with the kiddos this weekend, you must check out Glorious Treats . Drool. You can find the recipe for this Candy Corn Cheesecake Mousse here . Enjoy!

Friday already?!?! Thank goodness. My week was filled with nothing but medical crap. From my 6 month old pulling all-nighters because of Croup and countless tests to diagnose a stomach infection that hit me hard last Sunday. Despite the not-so-fun stuff, my fancy was still tickled - aka; to enjoy, adore or be satisfied by. This week it's LANTERNS. I was so inspired by the above picture I found on Pinterest . How fabulously simple is that front porch decor using lanterns and candles? Keep the pumpkins through Thanksgiving then swap them out for glittery ball ornaments or pine cones for Christmas and change the candles to red. I'm sold. Side-note: No, I do not have a personal Pinterest page. I think I might be the only girl on the face of this planet that doesn't. Why you ask? To be honest, I've deliberately stayed away from the monster. Now I know all you Pinners are thinking I'm totally missing out but for my addictive personality, it screams "Stay the hell awa

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a single color is worth a choice few. Just as red, yellow, and green rule the roadway, a home color-coding system can bring order to your living space wordlessly, providing information at a glance without a miscellany of labels. Put hues to work, whether you are organizing papers, preparing food, or outfitting your entryway. With these bright additions, your living space will be far from drab - and far easier to manage. Below are just a few places in your home where you could really benefit from a color coding system: ~Welcome Center~ Keeping clutter at bay starts the moment you walk through the door. A coordinated sorting station, with one color assigned to each family member, anchors household activities and the entryway's decor. Squares of Homasote fiberboard become vibrant pin boards when covered with linen fabric, which is secured with staples at the back. Personalized bins, made with linen-wrapped fiberboard that is slipped inside acryl

Similar to my "New Uses for Old Things" section, I thought this idea deserved some love. How crafty is this? Shutters for paper organization. Yet another brilliant idea from Martha Stewart. This particular trio hangs on the wall over a hallway console but you could do this in your office or area in kitchen. Their louvers are a perfect (not to mention plentiful) spot to tuck invitations, display artwork, or hang a message pad. Here is the link for the tutorial on how to make and hang this awesome idea. I personally would just go buy the finished shutters at Home Depot or Lowes, have your hubby put a little hook on the back and hang. What a great project for him this weekend right?!?! ;)

On Sunday Target launched celebrity favorite and British sensation Nip+Fab , a body-care line, that I'm pretty freakin ' stoked about it. Their price point is spot on with everything under $20 and I'm head over heels for their simplistically trendy marketing. Oh c'mon now, you can't deny that you too are swayed by pretty packaging. While Target has a few beauty lines, this is by far the most appealing. All 18 products target most every body part we're looking to hit. Frown lines . Yes please. Cellulite . Hell yes. Tummy Fix . Seriously. Stop. The products are crammed with breakthrough natural and technologically advanced skin smoothing, boosting and firming ingredients. Nip+Fab is the answer to achieve results quickly with minimum fuss and expense. Since several of you readers have asked about dark circles and puffiness under the eye, I think you'll want to get your hands on a bottle of the " Ey e Fix ." This is a 2-in-1 eye cream and concealer tha

Carrot, pumpkin and applesauce - three ingredients that scream fall! Thanks Lori for this deliciously easy recipe. ~Carrot Cake Muffins~ Ingredients: 1 box carrot cake (Duncan Heines super moist) 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce dash of pumpkin pie spice dash of cinnamon Directions: 1) Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and stir. 2) Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes our clean. Try this: Add raisins or walnuts to the mix for added flavor & texture. I hope this ends your weekend on a sweet note! xo

I was emailed this poem on Wednesday and I've read it over several times since then. It's funny how things fall into your lap when you're not looking but need them most. I am constantly struggling with "waiting" ie ; being still and patiently allowing things to work in my life the way God has planned. I want to solve everything. Now. I want things to happen. Yesterday. I want to be in control. Of everything. But if I'm a true believer, I need to wait. I need to wait for the Lord to work miracles in life at the time He sees fit. Of course I still ask why - Why aren't you taking away the pain? Why are you watching me suffer? Why is this happening in my life? It is in those times, I lean on my faith for guidance, perspective and strength. And I wait. And He always provides. WAIT by Russell Kelfer Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...And the Master so gently said, &qu

If you hate to iron or just don't have the time, The Downy Wrinkle Releaser might be your answer to prayer. What is it? Downy Wrinkle Releaser is an easy-to-use spray that smoothes out wrinkles in seconds and leaves clothes with a light fresh scent. Just spray, tug, and smooth any time you need to quickly reduce wrinkles without the hassle of an iron. Its unique formula relaxes fibers to help release wrinkles. Although I'm notorious for ironing just about everything; sweatshirts, jeans, sheets and actually enjoy ironing, it can be a total time suck. So when I came across this product at Target ($6.99), I had to give it a try, especially since there is nothing but rave reviews on Drugstore.com and Amazon . My thoughts: This stuff is pretty spectacular. It's perfect for those shirts that are a crinkled mess from sitting in the dryer too long or have been shoved in the closet for some time. But I do need to set your expectations - it won't get them perfect. For deep crease

Since I didn't get to posting a "Sweet Sunday" dessert recipe this week (or for the past two months that is), I thought I'd do a mid-week dessert so you can stop worrying about what you're going to bring to your child's classroom Halloween party. When I think Halloween, I think Candy Corn. Whether you love it or hate it, it's a Halloween staple. Did you know they now have caramel candy corn? Um yumm! Thanks to Our Best Bites , you can look very Martha Stewart'esk with these festive Candy Corn Cupcakes. ~Candy Corn Cupcakes~ Ingredients: 1 18.25-oz. white cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines) 1 c. sour cream 1/2 c. vegetable oil 3 large eggs 1 tsp. almond extract Yellow and orange Wilton food gel (about a heaping 1/2 tsp. of each) A double batch of Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 24-cup muffin tins with white paper liners (although you may not make it to 24 cupcakes). Combine all ingredients except for

A girlfriend of mine text last week with this fantastic idea to make bath time more fun during the month of October. I thought it so fabulous that I thought you should try it too... In the spirit of Halloween, Target is selling glow sticks in packs of two in their Dollar section (front of store right when you walk in). Go spend $5, fill up the bathtub, turn out the lights and throw the glow sticks in the water. The kids will go c.r.a.z.y!! Thanks for the fun idea Jodi!

If you're in the market for some fall/winter warm weather necessitie s ; adorable kid's rain jackets, beanies, winter boots for the entire family, you've got to peruse the Piperlime website. If you watch Project Runway you are familiar with the " Piperlime Accessory Wall." But don't let that fool you - they too sell clothing. Their Fall Sale is going on now until Oct. 23rd. They offer free shipping and returns on every order - no minimums. They have the latest styles and an amazing selection of riding boots for her, Hunter rain boots for the kid's puddle jumping fun and the most adorable rain jackets to match! Check it out! Jacket: $36 Umbrella: $15.00 Boot: $25.00

CLEAN YOUR CHILDREN'S TOYS. There may be a few surprises lurking in your child's stuffed animal, bath toy or train set. Think dust mites and molds that can trigger allergies and asthma, and infectious germs that spread viral illnesses. "We know that the majority of cold viruses are transmitted on objects and hands, for instance," says Dr. Clifford Bassett , medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York. "Your child can develop a rhinovirus within 12 to 24 hours of contact." Clearly, cleaning our kids' hands, house and toys is good for their health. Here's how to do it right and help keep allergies, asthma, colds and flus at bay: 1) Choose toys carefully. Look for washable toys and throw out items that won't come clean, says Dr. Bassett , who is also vice-chairman of public education for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology ( AAAAI ). Where possible, avoid porous, stuffed or otherwise difficult-to-scrub items. 2) Wa

Ok so you're going to learn a tid-bit of personal information about myself that may have you thinking I'm a total whack job but this is pertinent background information for this post... I detest body hair. And no I'm not just talking about nasty back hair on men. I'm talking about my own body hair. It started at an early age. My mom refused to let me shave until I was in 6th grade. She says she was protecting my youth. Yay-yay. As if the pre-teen years weren't the most self-conscious, awkward times in and of themselves, I strutted around with an excessive amount of glowing platinum blonde hair on my arms and legs. And peach fuzz like crazy. Ohhh how I hated that stuff. On my face, neck, earlobes, tops of my toes, small of my back, around my belly button. And no I didn't have a hormone imbalance. I can't tell you how bad I wanted to punch people in the face when they'd say - "at least it's blonde." {scream} You better believe the day before

Piggybacking on yesterday's post , I thought it would be helpful to give you a recipe that just might get you to embrace the "one vegetarian meal per week" idea. Packed with veggies and a powerful burst of flavor, this Vegetarian Tortilla Soup is one you could eat over and over again. Especially on those cold, dreary winter days when a colorful, warm soup might just brighten your day. The ingredient list looks long but most of it is spices. ~Vegetarian Tortilla Soup~ Ingredients: 2 tablespoons ground cumin
 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
 2 teaspoons chili powder
 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 3 tablespoons oil 1 large onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 1 red bell pepper, diced (*Or you can just buy a one pound package of frozen pepper and onion stir fry mix to make it easier) 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 (10 ounce) cans RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Lime & Cilantro 
 1 (15 ounc

MAKE ONE MEAL ALL VEGETARIAN. No I am not Vegan. Nor am I telling you to become one either. But one meal isn't going to kill you. In fact, do this and you'll protect your heart, help prevent cancer and if you can incorporate this into your weekly routine, you'll lose up to five pounds this year! To me, lunch would be the easier option to cut out the meat. If you're like me, you have a handful of standby lunch meals on rotation. Turkey sandwich at Subway. Grilled chicken salad. Instead of ordering the usual, do your figure a favor and add a veggie option to your repertoire. Veggies are low in fat and calories but high in fiber, which keeps you feeling fuller longer. Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D, director of the John Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore found that when people ate a veggie-based lunch, such as meatless chili, they took in 371 fewer calories and 28 fewer grams of fat throughout the day than when they had a similar meal made with ground beef. Studie

Gosh it feels like forever ago that I did a Fancy Friday post. Sorry. I know it's one of your favorite posts but I've been really trying to focus more on my family and being "present" with my kids. This entails not being glued to my computer. The result; less blogs but less stress. To refresh your memory; this post is about something that tickled my fancy (aka; to enjoy, adore or be satisfied by ) during the week. Something this week that tickled my decor senses was Urban Outfitters online home catalog . Most of you know Urban Outfitters as a funky, trendy clothing store. What you might not know is they carry an extensive line of home decor products ranging from kitchen and bath accessories to bedding and furniture. Just like their clothing, Urban Outfitters offers a home line that is a collaboration of vintage, bohemian, retro, and hipster. Curious what that all means? Check out their website under 'Apartment' and the items will speak for themselves. You wi

While the holidays are still a few months away, it's best that you start thinking about what you need to do now to prepare your homes for company. Whether you're having out-of-town guests for a long period of time or just a party for a few hours, there's nothing more embarrassing than having a guest stand up from your couch only to find them covered in your dog or cat's hair. If you've been searching for the best way to remove pet hair from their floors and upholstered furniture or need to replace your ineffective vac for something with a little more umph, I think I might just have the answer... The DC34 Animal. The Dyson DC34 Animal is the perfect handheld vacuum cleaner that has twice the suction power of any other handheld on the market. Powered by the new Dyson digital motor, it is ideal for pet-hair pick-up, tight hard to reach corners in furniture, inside your car and high dirt areas. How it works: First you must charge it for about 3.5 hours to get the full r