Hailey's Helpful Hints

Got a sudden urge to have people over? Maybe you've just decided that a little Super Bowl gathering this Sunday is a must. These are two top rated, easy speedy dip recipes from Food Network magazine that are sure to keep the guests hovering around the appetizer table. Avocado? Hummus? Pizza? Yes please. ~Avocado Hummus~ Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas, drained 2 avocados, sliced Juice of 1 lemon 2-3 teaspoons minced garlic 1/4 cup water Salt and pepper to taste 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon paprika Directions: 1) Place the first five ingredients in a food processor (chickpeas, avocados, lemon juice, garlic, and water). Pulse until blended. 2) Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking, pulse to combine. 3) Begin drizzling in the olive oil until the hummus gets to the right consistency, it should be nice and creamy. 4) Blend until smooth and serve topped with paprika and garnish with chopped cilantro (optional) and a drizzle of avocado oil (optional). 5) Place one of the avocado...

Sit down and eat dinner as a family. Life is busy. We get it. But this is important. Studies have shown that kids who eat dinner with their families do better in school, feel more socially connected to their parents, have better peer relationships, and are less likely to try drugs and alcohol," says Grace R. Freedman, Ph . D., executive director of eat dinner .org, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing awareness of the benefits of family meals. "Research also suggests that working parents feel like they're better at balancing their work and personal lives when they find time for family dinner, and families that eat together tend to have healthier diets. Sadly, a 2010 Pew Research poll showed that only about half of families make dinner a daily ritual, and roughly one in five families eat together only occasionally, or never. The bottom line: Work as a team, make a commitment, start small, and don't get discouraged. Do it once this week. Try two times the next. It's ...

Need a little summer in your long winter days? This S'more Cobbler combines all the ingredients that remind you of sitting at the beach around a bonfire with friends wedging those perfectly golden gooey marshmellows between graham crackers and chocolate. Ahhh, those days can't come soon enough. ~S'more Cobbler~ Recipe courtesy of chef-in-training.com Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk 1 (5 oz.) package "cook and serve" chocolate pudding mix 6 whole graham crackers 1/2-3/4 cup mini chocolate chips 1 box chocolate cake mix 3/4 cup butter Bag of large marshmallows Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350 F. 2) Combine milk and chocolate pudding package. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and spread evenly. 3) Break graham crackers in half so that you have 12 squares. Place the graham cracker squares on top of the pudding leaving space between each square. 4) Sprinkle on the mini chocolate chips. Add a little more if you love as much chocolatey-goodness as you can get! 5) Melt butter...

Wondering what tickled my fancy (aka; something I enjoyed, adored or was satisfied by) this week? Hands down the Chicken Taco Chili I made in the crock pot. Similar to last week's " Meal in a Can " recipe but with a little more kick and ingredients. This is so freakin' easy. Beyond delicious on a chilly evening. High in protein and fiber and of course low in fat. Would I make it if it was any other way?!? Nada. And if you're a Weight Watchers guru, it's low in points too! Bonus. Having a Super Bowl gathering at your house? Whip up a big batch of this with some corn bread and you've got yourself a crowd pleaser. Great for the kids too! ~Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili~ Recipe courtesy of skinnytaste.com Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped 1 16-oz can black beans 1 16-oz can kidney beans 1 8-oz can tomato sauce 10 oz package frozen corn kernels or 1 16 oz. can of corn 2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes w/chilies (mild or spicy depending on your tolerance) 3-4 boneless ski...

I get asked all the time - If the "fat burn" and "cardio" setting on exercise machines both torch calories, which one is better? My theory is as long as you are moving you are burning calories. But the harder you work, the higher the number of calories burned will be. To explain it in real easy terms; the preset cardio programs on most stationary bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals shed calories by working with intervals - sandwiching challenging periods of training between easier ones. Fat burn sessions, on the other hand, typically keep you moving at a consistent pace and exertion level but for a longer period of time. That can be helpful if you're just starting an exercising routine or trying to improve endurance. To get the biggest bang for your buck, I personally believe the CARDIO option is the best bet. The highs and lows of the intervals will get your heart rate up and keeps it there - even during the short stints. The bursts of speed and intensity streng...

WASH YOUR BED PILLOW. Not just the pillow case. The entire pillow. Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings. Gross. According to HGTV & Good Housekeeping, you are supposed to put your pillow through a spin in your washing machine every three to six months. My guess is that this is something you've never done. If so, this is the week so hop to it! How to : Always wash two at a time and read washing instructions on pillow label. For synthetic filled pillow - wash them two at a time, with detergent, on the gentle cycle with hot water. An extra spin cycle will remove excess water and keep bacteria and hold at bay claims Lisa Shives , M.D., a sleep expert in Chicago. Tumble dry on low, fluffing pillows every so often. When drying the pillows you can also add a new tennis ball or dryer ball to help the pillows retain their shape. For pillows filled with down or another natural filling - follow washing instructions. Some mig...

Is it Friday already? Man did this week fly by despite the fact that I was dealing with not one, but two, sick kiddos. Definitely not something that tickled my fancy this week. One thing that did however is the 2012 Spring/Summer Pantone color trend report that had me jumping for joy with all the rockin ', eye-popping vibrant colors that we have to look forward to. Whether you're an event planner, a designer, fashionista or just the average girl that likes to stay current, this palette promises brighter days ahead with lots of energy and optimism. Something we all are hoping for after the dreary, cold winter days. Leading the pack is Tangerine Tango, an enticing juicy orange, while Solar Power provides a jolt of energy that radiates warmth and cheer. Bellflower and Cabaret keep the purples and pinks in the center of attention. Quieter hues include Sodalight Blue and Cockatoo, a tactile blue-green that adds a whimsical touch to the palette. Margarita lifts spirits with its ...

I didn't have these with Chase. I did with Lance (thanks Jodie!). Definitely a MUST HAVE. Babies don't need shoes anyway so save yourself the money and buy your 'lil peanut a pack of Trumpette socks. I get stopped all the time by people saying, "Oh what cute shoes!" Then they quickly realize they aren't shoes but socks. How clever. There are so many cute patterns from sweet maryjanes to Van's inspired skater ones. They even have an adorable collection of tights for little girls. These make for a fantastic baby gift especially for the mom & baby who have older siblings and seem to have everything. They retail for $26.50 for a pack of 6. What I love is you can mix and match with different outfits instead of always having the same one or two pairs of shoes. My personal favorite are the ever-so-popular Chevron print (pictured above). They go with every little boy's outfit. You can purchase online at http://www.trumpette.com/ or can find them in your...

From the kitchen to your entryway closet, fill your home with over-the-door shoe organizers without actually splurging on footwear. Designed for vertical storage, their multiple pockets make them a must-have companion for organizing an endless number of items while maximizing space. You can use the linen/fabric shoe organizers but I prefer the clear, plastic ones. You can easily see what's in each pocket and are easy to clean. They are also nice because you can see when you need to stock up on something. Eight ways to use a shoe organizer for budget-friendly, functional storage: 1) Bathroom essentials and medicines - Hang on the back of your linen closet or bathroom door. Great place for your hairdryer, flat or curling irons, toilet paper and a functional way to keep medicines up and out of the children's reach. 2) Cleaning products - Bottles, brushes, sponges, and rags all in one spot. Remember to keep the most toxic in the upper pouches to keep out of children's reach. 3)...

Before giving your kids another cup of Kool-Aid, read this quick tip, found on Apartment Therapy , that is quite disturbing: Quick tip: Clean your toilet bowl with orange Kool-Aid. Come again?? You mean a product meant to pass through our digestive system is being recommendeded for the same use as an industrial cleaner? Yep. They claim that all you have to do is sprinkle the contents of the package in before you head to bed, swirl it around with a toilet bowl brush, and let the citric acid sit over night. The acid in the drink mix will go to work cleaning away tough stains and build up if you don't have tough water. Not that I buy Kool-Aid to begin with but you better believe it's now never making it's way into my cupboards or my toilet bowl.

Pencil in a car de-junking day. Is your car full of old coffee cups, kid's socks, and crumpled water bottles? If so, it's time to conquer the chaos. It's amazing how quickly the car can get filthy when you're running from school to soccer, PTA meeting to music lessons. Snack (both the snack itself and the wrapper), changes of clothes, balls, school papers. It all seems to float from front to back and everywhere inbetween. If you're embarrassed to open the door or are constantly making excuses for your dirty car, these six steps are going to help you tremendously; 1) Carve out 30 minutes to empty the entire car and vacuum inside . Sort stuff into two piles - what belongs in the car (registration, maps, napkins) and what doesn't (bubbles, hair brush, screwdriver). 2) Buy a "car-bage" bin. Don't get debris get too comfy . Besides being dirty, it's germy and certain things can become moldy and toxic. Outfit your car with a functional trash can. Thi...

Moist. Heart-healthy. Fiber-filled. Satisfying. Start your day off with this yummy Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas from skinnytaste.com and never leave the house hungry. Which if you're on the weight loss kick after the New Year you know that to jump start your metabolism for the day, you must never skip breakfast. And there's nothing better than old fashioned oatmeal. Doctor'd up of course. You can make this with any combination of fruits and nuts you like - the possibilities are endless. This also makes for a great after school or mid-day snack. Pop in the micro for a few seconds and ~Baked Oatmeal~ Ingredients: 2 medium ripe bananas, (the riper the better) sliced into 1/2" pieces 1 1/2 cup blueberries 1/4 cup honey (or agave) 1 cup uncooked quick oats 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 1/2 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp cinnamon pinch of salt 1 cup fat free milk (or any milk you desire) 1 egg (or 1/4 cup egg substitute) 1 tsp vanilla extract Directions: 1) P...

Hello readers and happy Friday. It's that time; where I tell you about something that tickled my fancy during my week - aka; something I enjoyed, adored or was satisfied by. This week it was Costco. I love me some Costco. I'm that bi-weekly repeat shopper whose list always consists of the same few items; frozen chicken breasts, broccoli , lettuce, strawberries, apples, grapes, bananas, oatmeal, raisins, tuna, diaper wipes, paper towels, SprayWay glass cleaner, toilet paper, gum, garbage bags. Ok , clearly more than a few but hey, the price is right. I usually don't veer away from my list but Tuesday was an exception. The Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips just sounded oh so tasty. Note to self; don't go shopping while you're hungry. Besides the delicious taste, what I love about these particular apple chips is: 1) 100% Organic 2) Baked and dried 3) No preservatives 4) Gluten Free 5) Low calories, no fat 6) Made with only two ingredients - apples and cinnamon 7) No a...

My quick and easy answer: Nope. Nada. No way. It just blows my mind that these are $175 at Tory Burch . I'm sorry but these do nothing for me. Am I missing the boat? Tory is usually on top of fashion forward trends but these look like a shoe my grandpa would have worn. How on earth would you describe these anyway? According to Tory -- "Topsider meets espadrille in the Metallic Blanton Espadrille, our witty, tomboy take on two summer staples. Wear it with jeans or a feminine dress for an unexpected twist." Unexpected? Yeah - unexpected like, "wow, I expected her style to be better than that!" I do agree that the metallic shade can be fun, and a cute little boat shoe is super easy to slip on and pairs beautifully with dark jeans or a pair of cutoffs. But if you're set on a shimmery boat shoe, why not save a few bucks and get something alittle cuter like these slip on Sperrys for $90.00....

After complaining about what to make for dinner, my little sis introduced me to the EASIEST meal on the face of the earth. I call it "meal in a can" because it's essentially just that; canned chicken, corn, black beans and diced mild tomatoes with green chilies. It literally takes 3 minutes of prep work and 10 minutes on the stovetop. There are so many variations of dinners you can make with this concoction. We use it as filling inside tortillas and top it with lettuce shreds, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa and a dollop of guac. I love it over a bed of lettuce with quac and sour cream as my dressing. You can also put over rice with the same toppings. Never tried it over guinoa or couscous but I'm sure it would be just as tasty. If I remember correctly, my sister said this was a Weight Watchers meal or a similar variation. Good news for all you on the weight loss kick. This meal is packed with protein, fiber and low in fat and carbs. ~Meal in a Can~ Ingredients: 2 ...

Have you ever found yourself putting laundry into the washer only to find some serious stains that you have no idea how to get out? Or, pulled laundry out of the dryer only to find it still has a stain on it that you were sure would come out on its own? If so, then you’re in some serious luck! Thanks to Laurie from Tip Junkie and GreatCleaners.com , here is her Stain Removal Guide complete with common types of household stains and how to get them out. The printable is so handy and helpful that it's pretty frame worthy. See? Now you don’t have to try to remember what works best for which stain when doing laundry, the information is right there! This makes for a great gift as well. Pair the framed list with cleaning products from the list in a laundry basket. Print FREE Stain Removal Guide here. If you don't want to frame, simply print it out and use this Stain Removal Guide as a quick reference for when you’re doing laundry. Here are the suggestions on how to treat these commo...

Stop OVERcommiting. For busy women — and who isn't busy these days? — daily life is a constant negotiation between the things that need to be done and the time available to do them. That means we're always on the lookout for shortcuts and time-saving strategies, but often those don't go far enough. We wind up stressed out and disheartened, feeling as if time manages us. This past year I made a personal commitment to stop trying to be here, there and everywhere. It hit me one day when my biggest priorities - my husband and kids - were suffering at the expense of me saying yes to something I should have never committed to doing. It was there that I learned it was time to say no. I see so many women - moms especially - being pulled in too many directions. I've had numerous conversations with my mom who agrees that being overly busy is a generational thing. When she was raising our family, she never felt the pressure to volunteer on every committee. Have us kids in 3 overla...

Ahh the Crockpot; aka - the Slow Cooker. In 2012, my goal is to utilize my crockpot more. Maybe a dinner once/week? No set goal, just making a more conscience effort to use it. Why? There are some serious benefits to crockpottery; 1. You can set it and forget it. Nuff said. 2. It’s almost impossible to put something in the crockpot that won’t come out yummy. 3. Your whole house will smell deeeeelicious as your meal crocks it up in there. I thought since it's still January - you know the month 90% of you have set a resolution to eat healthy - that something light and fruity with no added sugar would be a perfect Sweet Sunday post. So without further ado, here’s the deets on apple butter in the crockpot. And yes, you can make more than soups and casseroles in your crockpot. ~Slow Cooker Apple Butter~ Ingredients: 7 cups applesauce, natural/no sugar added 2 cups apple cider 1 1/2 cups honey 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground cloves, optional 1/2 tsp Allspice Directions: In a slow co...

If taking charge of your finances is one of your New Year's resolutions, then this post is for you. Anymore it's naive to think you have to stand in line at the bank or be near a computer to take care of your money. It's 2012 people - managing your money from a mobile device is legit and has many advantages. In fact - Carl Scheible, managing director of PayPal UK, claims that by 2016 you'll be able to leave your wallet at home and use your mobile as the 21st century digital wallet. Crazy huh? Seems alittle Jetson'ish but I guess it's the sign of our digital times. So if you're pressed for time, want to feel more organized with your accounts and/or feel like you need to become more current with how you do your finances, give these mobile apps a try; Pocket Money -- Allows you to track unlimited accounts (checking, savings, etc.), make deposits and transfers, and much more. Sync with certain desktop expense programs for easy data tranmission. ($4.99, iPhone ...

Ahhhhh - I'm back!!! Sorry for going MIA. Wasn't my intent but it was sure a nice break away from the computer. Miss me? Probably not. Actually I hope not. The holidays should be devoted to family and close friends. Taking time away from this addicting cyber -world was very refreshing and it was a good reminder that there is more to life than blogging and having Facebook suck the life out of me. With that said, I do plan to still blog. I love it. And I hope you do too. So with no further ado, here is the first blog of 2012 -- It's a new year. Maybe a new you. Maybe you've decided it's your year to actually become "trendy" or at least attempt. And by trendy, I don't mean you have to become a Hipster. Or wear blue lipstick. Let's be reasonable here. I encourage you in 2012 to do a few things here and there that make you feel special. Glamorous. Current. To get you going in the right direction, here are three upcoming trends in 2012 according to Gl...