Hailey's Helpful Hints

Guess what today is?? It's my birthday! 32. Nothing special. You better believe I've already devoured 4 tasty pieces of Funfetti Pop Cake , which at this rate means I'll eat 11 by days end. If you didn't catch that Sweet Sunday post awhile back and have never had pop/soda cake, you're truly missing out. It's definitely on my love list. Dying to know what else is on my love list? Did I hear a yes? Ok. Since you insist, here are 31 more love list items (in no particular order) that come to mind as I type. I'll keep out the obvious; family, friends, God, sunshine, the beach... 1) BRAVO television network 2) Pinterest.com 3) Fuji apples 4) SHAPE magazine 5) Gummy worms 6) The television show, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" 7) Running 8) Turkey sandwich on wheat with Sweet Onion sauce from Subway 9) A "Shandi" - 3/4 beer, 1/4 Diet Sprite 10) The song by Kanye West & Rihanna, "All of the Lights" 11) Dark Grey anything 12) Zout...

Fall is soon upon us. Tear. And yes, boots are back. But of course, the style is slightly different from last seasons. Shucks, looks like you'll have to buy yet another new pair. The Equestrian riding boot is a must have for Fall 2011. There are dozens of great options hitting stores now. As always some affordable and some so outrageously expensive that I wonder who really buys them. I came across these riding boots the other day at Target and thought these would be fantastic for a DOUBLE TAKE post. So here ya have it; an expensive pair of Ugg's Australia "Channing " boots in Chestnut for $294.95 at Nordstrom vs. Merona's "Manette " tall boot in tan for just $39.99 at Target. Can you tell which one is which?? I don't know about you but I personally like the look of the Target boot (LEFT) better. And the $255 savings!

...DISINFECT YOUR CAR. If you're like most people you spend at least a few hours a day in the car - whether it's commuting to and from work, running to the grocery store or picking up the kids from a soccer game. Sometimes, the car is an office and sometimes, a closet. With two kids, for me, it's often a dining room. But though you might think twice before touching the seat on a public bus or holding the rail on the subway, you probably don't think too much about your car's cleanliness. Sure, there are coffee stains from a few weeks ago on your cup holder and an inch of dust coating your dashboard. But it isn't hurting anybody, is it? Studies show yes and no. The germs aren't necessarily going to cause serious health concerns but the germs lurking in one's car interior is enough to raise an eyebrow. And hopefully gross you out to the point that you will make time to disinfect and clean out your car this week. Here are some shockingly gross stats: Resear...

In a perfect world, we'd all be able to spend each morning browsing the farmers' market for the ideal seasonal produce, then spend the afternoon making a nutritious meal that would bring a tear to Martha Stewart's eye with its flawless presentation. But in reality, sometimes you don't even have time to make do with what's in the fridge. You might even have to resort to what's hanging on your doorknob or stuck in your windshield wiper, the scourge of diets everywhere: the delivery menu. Ah, the delivery menu. A full meal (or more) brought to your door in 30 minutes or less. No cooking. No cleaning. It's like going to a fine restaurant—in your pajamas. A dream come true. But it can be a nightmare for your figure if you succumb to some of the common pitfalls of deliverable cuisine. Here are some things to keep in mind so you can order your dinner in without having to let your pants out. What to watch out for: Good things come in small packages. Unfortunately, ...

These are a must make before summer winds down. My mother-in-law made them last week and they were the perfect meal for a warm night when you're not super hungry and you're looking for something 'light.' She used frozen Tilapia fish fillets from Costco to make it super easy. She baked them for 10 minutes while she made the deliciously fresh coleslaw topping. Talk about a super simple (and healthy) meal in minutes! I personally liked the combination of the coleslaw topped with the Peach Mango salsa from Costco but the Cucumber Ranch dressing was a hit as well. ~FISH TACOS~ Serves 4 (2 tacos each) Ingredients: 8 Tilapia (fish) fillets - or fish of choice 8 Corn or Flour tortillas 4 cup sliced cabbage 1 cup chopped Roma tomatoes 1/3 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup cilantro 2 TBS. lime juice 1 TBS. olive oil 1/4 tsp. salt Sour cream, Kraft "Cucumber Ranch" Dressing, or Salsa Directions: Combine the cabbage, tomatoes, green onions and cilantro. Toss in the lime ju...

PLAN A DATE NIGHT WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER. Does going out on a date sound inviting, but the reality of actually doing it is overwhelming? Are you so disconnected from your spouse that you fear you'll have nothing to talk about? Finding a reliable sitter isn't always easy, and paying for a sitter can be even more painful. Plus, after dealing with work and kids all day, who has the energy to stay up late enough to go out? Alright that's it, stop right there! When Dave and I got married we made a pact that our relationship is #1 no matter what. Yes, we love our children and they will always be a top priority but they come second to our marriage. It always kills me when I hear people say they haven't gone out with their spouse in months. Months??? Are you kidding. I'd kill myself. Dave and I are very intentional about going out once per week without kids. Usually Saturday night. Whether we have plans or not. I always get asked, "what do you guys go do?" So...

GET WALKING. With your dog. Around a track. Through your neighborhood. While you travel. If dieting, or better yet eating "right," isn't your thing, it is believed - based on a study conducted by Cris Slentz, Ph.D of the Duke University research team involving sedentary overweight men and women (aged 40-65 years) - that the minimum daily requirement of exercise to prevent weight gain is 30 minutes a day of walking, 3 times per week. A control group of non-exercisers all gained weight and fat during their 8-month study. Given the increase in obesity in the U.S., it would seem likely that many in our society may have fallen below this minimal level of physical activity required to maintain body weight. This is sad. You must take time for yourself and walking is one of the lowest impact, aerobic activities you can do that has fabulous health benefits. Wondering what are the top 10 reasons to walk? 1. Walking prevents type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed th...

I was recently asked by a friend of mine what we do with old bills. I can't take credit for Dave's 3-ringer binder system but it's very effective in keeping paper organized. Unfortunately I don't have time right now to go into detail on how this system works but I think with any organizational project it's important to weed out the bad before you do anything good. The same principle applies when packing to move - don't waste time packing stuff that you know doesn't have a place in the new house. Toss (or donate) beforehand. With that being said, any good organizational project requires time to figure out if you really need it. So the big question is; what do you save and what do you shred? Keep for 1 month: Credit card receipts Sales receipts for minor purchases Withdrawal and deposit slips - Toss after you have checked them against your monthly statement Keep for 1 year: Paycheck stubs Monthly bank, credit card, mutual fund, brokerage and retirement account...

Are you tired of nagging your kids about chores - and hearing the same lame excuses? I'm not quite there yet but you better believe my kid's will have jobs to earn their keep around the house. I came across this magnetic job chart from Martha Stewart and although it takes some crafting, it seems relatively easy to keeps track of who has done what. The entire thing is designed on a computer, then printed on ink jet magnet sheets (found at your local craft store), which are thin and easy to cut. What I like most about this particular chart is you have the flexibility to change the child's chore each week without having to make a new chart. Job Chart How-To: Design colored rectangles with the names of chores typed inside them. If you like, color-code magnets according to level of difficulty or frequency (every day, once a week, and so on). Kids' photos can be scanned in or downloaded from a digital camera. Assemble chore names and photos on one computer page, then print on...

CLEAN OUT YOUR 'SPECIALTY' UTENSIL DRAWER. Not your regular utensil drawer, with forks, spoons, and butter knives. Unless that of course is a disaster too. I’m talking about my serving spoons, whisks, measuring cups, you name it. If yours is anything like mine, it's out of control! Do you know you use 20% of your utensils 80% of the time? And most likely you waste 90% of the time digging trying to find the one you are looking for because you have just a hodge-podge of thrown-all-in-one drawer miscellaneous utensils. I can almost guarantee that your drawer fits under one - if not all three - of the scenarios below: 1) You can't find anything. Okay, maybe some things, like those items that were just used, washed and placed on top the pile, but where was that black serving spoon we used to have? Or the whisk? 2) Even if you could see what you wanted, it's not always easy to remove. Take the rolling pin for example. You might have it neatly organized on the side of the...

Take advantage of the juicy flavors of summer fruit while you still can with this mouthwatering cake. The colorful, ripe plums make this delicious cake look as fabulous as it tastes. ~Plum Upside Down Cake~ Serves 8 Hands-On Time: 20m Total Time: 2hr 20m Ingredients: 1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan, at room temperature 4 firm, ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges 1/4 cup plus 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 large egg 2/3 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Directions: Heat oven to 350° F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the plums and 1/4 cup of the sugar and cook, tossing, until the sugar dissolves and the juices from the plums become syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Arrange the plums in the cake pan in slightly overlapping concentric c...

Walking through Nordstrom, I laid eyes on a fall makeup palette that I will be splurging on. Did I really just say fall? Sadly yes. The makeup and fashion world already have their sights set on the season of autumn leaves and pumpkin pie. From Ms. Bobbi Brown, the mistress of muted makeup, comes the new eight-piece Fall 2011 Tortoise Shell Collection with colors that look like they’ll be perfect to wear with cozy sweaters, tweed blazers, corduroy pants and knee-highs. Yep, we’re talking fall. Inspired by her own tortoise shell glasses frames, Bobbi Brown has created this new Tortoise Shell Collection to complement glasses, not compete with them. I personally only wear my glasses when I'm sitting in my jammies feeding my reality show addiction, but I can see my self wearing the shades of bronze, gold and espresso. Brown's two palettes serve up a mix of can't-fail neutrals and metallics that keep the focus on your eyes while still complementing your frames. And with a classic...

When it comes to the perfect fold, I fit into the freak bucket. I can't stand balled up, shoved in sheets and towels in your linen closet. Talk about anxiety attack. Ok . Not really but you get it. Once you know how to fold something correctly - and yes, there's a right way - you'll have a clutter-free closet in no time. First the extremely awkward FITTED SHEET: Yes, folding a fitted sheet may seem like one of life’s great mysteries, but this quick tutorial will have you creating a neat and hassle-free fold in no time. Say good-bye to those crinkly, balled-up messes. 1) Lay out the sheet: Spread the sheet on a flat surface, fitted corners up. 2) Fold in half and tuck in corners: This is the key step to a successful fold. Fold sheet in half horizontally, tucking the fitted top corners into the fitted bottom corners. If your sheet has gathered sides, tuck them into each other, too. Smooth the edges flat. 3) Fold lengthwise: Fold the sheet lengthwise so that all four fitted c...

It’s the age-old question for parents: How do we get our kids to eat vegetables? I get asked all the time. And to be honest - I didn't really have the answer. There’s bribery. There’s trickery. There’s all out war. But I’m not made of money, I’m really bad at lying, and going toe-to-toe with a three year-old is something I’m not emotionally or physically prepared for — Chase is freakishly strong. Thanks to Sarah Matheny aka Mama Pea , here are some of her tried-and-true techniques to get kids excited for dinner, peas and all. 1) LET THEM CHOOSE: It’s not a new concept that kids like to be in control, considering we’re usually the ones calling the shots. So it can be exciting to take a trip to the produce department and have permission to pick a new fruit or vegetable they’d like to try. The deal is: They get to choose whatever they want but only if everyone in the family agrees to try it. And yes, that means you may have to down a turnip or two yourself. 2) LET THEM COOK: Like with...

If this doesn't stop you from going through the drive thru - then we have quite a bit of work to do! "Mechanically Separated Chicken" is the actual name for this pink paste that looks nothing like chicken. Eventually this pink paste will be shaped into little boots, fried and placed in Happy Meals around the world! Clear explanation of Mechanically Separated Meat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanically_separated_meat Lets choose something else for lunch today shall we?

MAIL A CARD TO A FRIEND. Not an email. Or a text. Actual 'snail' mail. An unexpected card that says you took the time to tell them you are thinking of them. Anymore I feel like people are too busy to remember the "little" things that mean the most. Things that are so extremely simple and don't cost a lot. Remember the simple joy and excitement of receiving a card in the mail? You’d be sorting through the bills, brochures and junk mail, and there it was. A small greeting from a faraway place. The best cards are always the ones you never expect. Those little notes of joy that arrive out of the blue. It’s a small, but effective way to bring some happiness into anyone’s day. They are reminders that someone out there is thinking of you. Sending one is a way to tell someone else that you’re thinking of them. Perhaps you've been meaning to say thank you to a friend. Maybe there's an old family friend's relative that is ill. Or maybe you just want to tell an d...