Hailey's Helpful Hints

As if picking up the toys and dirty clothes around the house isn't enough, here's a few more items that need our attention. Thanks to Carolyn Forte, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute's resident cleaning expert, it's important we don't overlook these 10 areas if we truly want our homes to clean and germ free.  1. Kitchen sponges Soaking up bacteria is all in a day's work for your kitchen sponge, so unless you want to "clean" your dishes with a germy sponge, you need to disinfect or replace it regularly. The easiest way to disinfect - toss it in the dishwasher.  2. Between appliances There may only be an inch (or less) between your refrigerator and the countertop, but that crevice can trap a lot of dirt. Use a long duster or thin vacuum attachment to clean out all the nooks and crannies. Taking a toothpick and running it along any small creases is also a very good way to get the grime dislodged. 3. Reusable grocery bags Cloth groce...

Crock-Pot Smart Wifi-Enabled WeMo 6-Quart Slow Cooker  I've said this before and I'll say it again -- I love the crock-pot. Wait. I should rephrase that. I love the idea of the crockpot. For some reason, I just don't use it like I should. And I know a lot of moms that feel the same. But I bet you have no clue that there is a crock-pot that can be told via smartphone what to do, when to do it. Imagine being in a meeting or in the school pick up line and getting dinner started. Pretty rad if you ask me. With the free WeMo App you can adjust cooking time, temperature, turn on, shift to warm or turn off. Now that's how dinner should be done. If you're needing some easy and effortless crock-pot meals, I love these 33 three ingredient slow cooker recipes from Totally The Bomb . With the Superbowl (GO SEAHAWKS!!!!) on Sunday, I think a must try is the Rootbeer Honey BBQ Wings . Yum! As she says, "the crock-pot is a magical box that you put raw food in and wonderful ...

Recipes via SHAPE Throw on the table with a spread of veggies, pita wedges and blue chips and you've got a plethora of healthy options to munch on while the Seahawks crush the Patriots!

Hello from Idaho!!! The last six months have been absolutely nutty for my crew. As if four kids under six wasn't enough, I decided that it was time to move on from the everyday grind of Southern California. It was a fabulous eight years but after having the twin girls and being raised in WA, I desired something different for my family's future. I've got nothing but love for Southern California but it was time to get to a more affordable, slower pace of life. So here we are in Boise, Idaho!! The past three months have been such a breath of fresh air and everything we hoped it would be. Sadly there are a few drawbacks to living here. A big one for me: No Nordstrom. But heck right now, all I do is stay bundled in a big jacket waiting for my blood to acclimate to winter weather so there's part of me that could care less. But I am learning to make due with the stores they do have and am getting more and more comfortable with shopping online. Luckily in Boise, I don't fee...

  JOMO [jo-mo] n. 1) An acronym for The J oy o f M issing O ut. Guy #1: I had a great day, went on a hike and didn't check facebook. Guy #2: Good day? Guy #1: Yeah pure JOMO. I came across this article in Parents Magazine and thought it was fitting to share. As a backlash against FOMO - aka Fear Of Missing Out - the term is a rebellion against saying yes to everything, and is about giving yourself the space to think and experience things without freaking out about what you 'should' be doing instead. My hope with this post is that you will be intentional about embracing the here and now with things that make you happy. Don't get sucked into the devil'ish world of social media that makes you feel like you have to be busier than you are. You all know that feeling. Enjoy your week and try to embrace those JOMO moments. The header read, "#JOMO is the new #FOMO because #YOLO. The constant barrage of parenting humblebrags, pin-worthy pedicures and perfectly posed ...

  Why hello!!!!!! Gosh it's been a while. Again. Since June I believe. Whoopsy. Summer absolutely kicked my butt when it came to anything me. Instead I schlepped four kids under six to and from multiple states, tore down and assembled more pack' n' plays than most people do in their entire life, and attended to infant teething twins that refuse to eat anything but Legos and leaves. I can't promise I'm back consistently but I've been dying to tell you about this new cleaning tip so you got me today. I might be late to the party and I don't doubt this fab secret is old news on Pinterest but if you don't know about it, you're going to love it, especially if your kids brand new school shoes already look like they ran through the mud fields. The dirty part I'm talking about is the white part of the rubber sole and toe. My kids have converse so there's a lot of white rubber exposed and it drives this perfectionist bananas when it's grimy lookin...

  Stumped on what to give your dad or husband this Father's Day? All men loves tool and gadgets. And it's expected that all dads know how to fix everything. So it's only fitting that you buy him the most awesome pocket tool - The Leatherman Super Tool 300 Pocket Tool . This fun, efficient gadget has 19 tools in 1. And is currently on sale on Amazon . Orginally $87, now $65. And don't forget the protective cover - the Leatherman Sheath . Comes in brown or black for only $14.