Hailey's Helpful Hints

  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...

I love the idea of a lunch box filled with a few extra goodies as a Christmas gift. I'm especially obsessed with Frecklebox's personalized lunch boxes ($29.95) that have a chalkboard inside the lid for those "I love you notes" you want to include.   They also offer a  "look like me" box ($29.95) that allows you to customize the lunch box with the correct skintone, hair color, and their favorite activity. And if you want to take the lunch box to the next level, you can personalize a Yubo box  ($39.95). Incredibly functional with three built-in food containers and a custom built ice pack. All dishwasher safe and BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free. So much to choose from! Now fill it with little surprises and you've got yourself a super fun gift! Frecklebox also carries an entire line of personalizable items from chore charts, placemats, puzzles and binders. All so cute and affordable prices.

As I was fidgeting around the house this morning, picking up the same dang toys for the gazzillionth time, a random question popped into my mind - what's one item in the house that has given us the most bang for our buck? I honestly didn't have to hesitate. I've got two very curious boys and they always like to see what's going on, open all things by themselves, and prop themselves up inside the sink so naturally the best $7.99 I've spent is on the Ikea "Bolmen" step stool . Don't let the plastic fool you - it's sturdy. And I love that you can easily whip it down quickly and it's ok if left outside. Which is where I find it most days as the boys stand pulling on the fence gate string. Another reason I like the plastic is because it's lightweight. The boys can easily move it from room to room to get things without having to ask. Note to self; hide all candy and chemicals out of reach. The Bolmen step stool can be found in t...

Between now and the holidays you might feel more inclined to save magazines to be inspired, discover new trends and find the latest fab products. But I have a better idea - download the no-fee Google Catalogs app to your iPad or Android tablet device and say goodbye to piles of clutter while making catalog shopping more engaging, social and creative. The Google Catalogs app features digital versions of catalogs across many popular categories, including fashion and apparel, beauty, jewelry, home, kids and gifts. They’ve partnered with a variety of top brands including Anthropologie , Bare Escentuals , Bergdorf Goodman , Bloomingdale's , Crate and Barrel , L.L. Bean , Lands’ End , Macy’s , Neiman Marcus , Nordstrom , Pottery Barn , Saks Fifth Avenue , Sephora , Sundance Catalog , Tea Collection , Urban Outfitters and Williams-Sonoma , just to name a few of the over 400 catalogs. In addition they have over 100 top brands including; Barneys , Tory Burch and Trina Turk (Fashi...

If you do one thing before you get hit with the chaos of back to school, it's this - get a laundry system in place. Now. All you need - a few white laundry baskets. The el cheapo kind. It always kills me when people spend ridiculous amounts of money on trendy organizational products. Let's be real - chevron print does not guarantee functional. I'll admit, I'm guilty. But I've learned my lesson - stick to the basics. The patterns are pretty but they usually lack the key components for ruthless efficiency. And seriously, does anyone really see them anyone?!?! Phew obviously needed to get that off my chest. Back to baskets. The key to organization is finding a place for everything and keeping everything in its place. It's always best to find a system that works best for you but here's what I propose - train all family members to put dirty clothing in baskets. Place a basket in each bedroom closet, and in each bath if space allows. Place four add...

BRING BACK GOOD 'OL FASHION PLAYTIME. This week I encourage you to bring back the art of having fun without any electronic thingamajigs. Think about your week ahead and carve out at least 30 minutes doing outdoor activities that will have the young and the young-at-heart jumping for joy. My own personal observation is that parents nowadays don't partake in outdoor activities with their children like they used to. And should. I believe the majority of parents (some - not all) see their time shuttling the kids to and from practice, tutoring, music, etc as all they should do. Sure you are spending time with them but is it quality time? Through the eyes of a child, quality time spent is actually getting down at their level. Those moments that in five, ten, twenty years from now they will say, "Remember when we used to climb that big tree and pick the apples? That was so fun." Or "Remember when Dad used to throw the worst spirals?" Those are the times they will ...

N o M obile P hone P hobia. You have it? According to NBC Miami's article today there is a the growing number of people who admit they have an obsession of staying connected. According to a study by SecurEnvoy , a company that deals in mobile phone technology, the fear of being apart from your cellphone is on the rise. It's called Nomophobia, as in "No mobile phone phobia," and 66 percent of the people surveyed said they have it. {Do you?? If I'm going to be real with you, I probably would fit in that bucket} That number is up from a similar study four years ago, where 53 percent of people admitted to a fear of losing their cellphones. {Fearful because it's annoying to loose all your stored contacts} Dr. Mitch Spero, director of child and family psychologists in Broward County, said it was common to see problems arise because of cellphone use. "Cellphones are tools that should be used to enhance our lives," he warned, "not to destroy our interpe...

Saw this idea on Pinterest and became inspired. And no don't go searching for my Pinterest page. I don't have one. How does anyone find the time??? I think I'm a pretty ahh-mazing multi-tasker but the thought of adding a Pinterest page to my to-do list makes my head spin. And yes, pretty much everything I do gets put on a list to be checked off. Just how I roll. Over the top? Alittle. But highly effective. You should try it. Moving on. How cute is this personalized alphabet book ? If you've never checked out " Modern Parents, Messy Kids " blog, I highly suggest you do. It was named one of the top 50 Craft Blogs for 2012 by Babble.com. There are so many ideas for DIY projects and activities for the kids and organization tips. But don't you start reading that over HHH. I'm watching you. ;) The purpose of this alphabet book is to get your child excited about reading and to become familiarized with the letters of the alphabet with personal objects or expe...

Alright Jana, this post's for you - and all the other mom's that are pulling their hair out at the sight of their kid's toys and need a toy storage solution. Jana asked: Do you have any suggestions for toy storage?   Namely, do you prefer big baskets/ toy chests, etc. that hold a lot of toys, or do you prefer smaller boxes or bins that you can use to sort based in type of toy?   I would imagine that this would lead to more work when cleaning and putting away, but may be worth it for the organization? My response: I personally prefer smaller baskets or bins sorted by type. My observation with my two boys is that if it's too messy - aka a hodge podge of random toys all thrown into one big toy chest or closet - they won't touch it. It's too overwhelming and the toys don't look nearly as inviting. While the clean up might save you time in the short term with a big chest, it will cost you more time in the long run as they are bugging you to help them dig around...

FIX IT TOGETHER. Ok ok, I know I'm a little late on the post. If you're an avid HHH follower, I usually post this on Monday but I had guests in town since last Wed, my son's first birthday, Easter and then I got terribly sick. Enough said. What do I mean by fix it together? If you have somehousehold minor repairs say a leaky faucet, a furnace filter that needs to be replaced, a fence that needs to be painted, a tire that needs to be changed around the house, I suggest you never do it without your kids. Home improvements are a great way to spend time with them while teaching them about tools and life at the same time. The attic, basement and crawl spaces are wonderful classrooms for learning how things work and how to safely fix things. Hand them a flashlight and talk them through the job you are doing. As they get older, moments will be seen as bonus chances for time with your kids amongst their busy schedules. An added bonus -...

Thanks to the stomach flu this past week, Lance, my almost one year old, hasn't been eating. And I've been a complete s.t.r.e.s.s-ball. The no-eating thing just doesn't fly with me. As a mother, I feel like preparing healthy food and filling their bellies is one of my top motherly duties. And when they don't eat, I feel completely out of control. Chase my almost four year old eats like a bird. Always has. It drives me bonkers. One bite here. Another bite 15 minutes later after he builds an entire farm house with wooden blocks and places all the animals in their appropriate stalls. Then he'll mosey on back for a drink. No bite. And off he goes again. Come breakfast and lunch time, I sound like a broken record - "Chase come finish your food." Side note - that last visual is soooo not my parenting style. If you were to put me on the spectrum of hardcore, you will do what I say, I'm in control mom and the let's work this out together, tell me what y...

Chore chart not cutting it? Sick of the kid's never helping around the house? Try this: Get a pack of ping pong balls. Write different chores on each ball. Each family member chooses a ball, completes the task, then chooses another one. After 30 minutes, whoever has the most balls gets a prize - like a no-chores day, or gets to pick a movie. Such a fun, interactive way to get the whole family involved without all the nagging and whining. Genius in my book.

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 ...

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...

Ugh, toys are straight expensive. And go figure that Chase asked Santa for a "Choo-choo train." You know what that means; Thomas the Train everywhere. Gahl -- those are stupidly expensive. I refuse to buy any of them at full price. After talking to a seasoned Thomas the Train veteran mom, I was informed that the best deals on Thomas trains are either on Craigslist or discount stores like Marshalls or TJ Maxx. Oh and another place I found that has ridic mega sales is Kohl's. While randomly shopping there the other day, I scored a screaming deal for Chase. Originally $120. Got it for $35. I don't know how that store makes money. Click here for a 20% off coupon. Tangent. Back to the real deal. If you've got some shopping to do this weekend, Target has a BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF toy sale going on NOW that might help you save a few bucks. Promo details: Purchase 1 or more items from a select toy brand (Barbie, Little People, Disney Princess, Cars 2, NERF, Thomas &...

Something I love about the holidays are the family traditions that come with them. Now that I have my own family, there are several traditions that will carry on from my childhood into my own children's childhood but I do always keep my eyes and ears open for traditions we can start as just our own little family. One thing that tickled my fancy this week was this particular Thanksgiving tradition from Simply Vintage Girl (picture above) that is so simple to make and encourages dialogue amongst your family on what you are most thankful for. Call them what you like - Gratitude Tree. Thankful Tree. Thanksgiving Tree. Not a new idea but one worth starting. The idea is simple: Have each family member write heartfelt sentiments for the things they are most grateful for and during Thanksgiving dinner go around the table and have each person read their tag. It fosters communication, teaches gratitude and gets the room glowing with smiles. If you're bundled up inside this weekend, this...

What do you get when you try to buy Thanksgiving decor a few days after Halloween? A clearance table of picked through, half chipped miscellaneous decor hidden behind robust Christmas trees, reindeer ornaments and red berries. Obviously I was a little late to the party but c'mon I hadn't even sifted through the Halloween candy yet. So I got to thinking. Why are so many people quick to overlook Thanksgiving? What's the big rush to deck the halls? Don't get me wrong - I do enjoy Christmas but I personally consider Thanksgiving to be the calm before the storm, the last chance to breathe before the busy holiday season. It’s a time to celebrate our faith, family, and friends and meditate over the many rich blessings we have in our lives. Now that Chase (my 3 year old) is old enough to 'get it' (kinda), I figured it was time to teach him to savor 'giving thanks' for Thanksgiving’s sake. So in an effort to teach him to count those blessings, I let him choose a ...

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...

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