Hailey's Helpful Hints

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!

Want to add a pop of color at your next gathering? Don't want to spend a fortune on decor? Solution: Paper Napkins. Make an easy, inexpensive table runner for your next get-together with assorted, patterned paper napkins. Lay out napkins (lunch size seems to work best but cocktail size would also work) in desired design, tape the edges together and flip over. Add a mason jar of fresh cut flowers and you've successfully designed on a dime! You can find a great selection of napkins HERE .

With summer officially underway, there are many more opportunities - lounging poolside, backyard bbq's, beach vacays - that can sobotage your diet. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you should all know by now that I'm a huge advocate for not drinking your calories. But - and a heavy but - I am all about enjoying a few cocktails. While I'm not a big beer drinker as I don't like the stomach bloat that comes after and red wine on a hot day does not sound appealing, I stick to a "skinny" cocktail. Knowing that traditional umbrella drinks can contain 400-1,000 calories per drink, I've found other ready to pour, yummy, summery picks besides the boring 'ol vodka soda that will get your swigging alittle smarter on a hot day: Skinnygirl - Pina Colada ($15) Coconut cream usually takes this rum treat into waist-widening territory. But testers of this coconut and pineapple juice concotion didn't seem to miss it. So put on grass skirt and sha...

Citrus meets creamy sweetness in this refreshing dessert. A low fat summer hit around my house courtesy of Shape.com. ~Lemonade Mousse~ Serves: 12 Prep time: 10 min Ingredients: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, crushed 1 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp light butter, melted 1 14-ounce can fat-free sweetened, condensed milk 3/4 cup (6 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed 2 cups frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed Directions: 1) Using a fork, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter. 2) Lightly press 3/4 of the graham-cracker mixture on the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan (or single serving cups). 3) In a large bowl, mix together condensed milk and lemonade. 4) Fold in the whipped topping. 5) Pour over the graham cracker crust. 6) Sprinkle remaining graham crumbs over the lemonade mixture. 7) Cover and chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Nutrition Score per serving: (1/2 cup) 183 calories, 73 g carbs(2.9%), 4.16 g fat(20%), 0.3 g fiber, 7 g protein(35.5%) I hope this ends ...

It never fails that if I stand long enough in line, I  will be suckered into buying something within reach. This week: Sweet Pea Apple Wine from Cost Plus World Market. Initially drawn to the adorable packaging (I mean c'mon, LOOK at it) and the name, it didn't help that it was on sale for $5.99. Intrigued by the whole "apple wine" novelty factor, into the cart it went. As I got to the front of the line, the cashier acknowledges that wine and says, "Oh this is sooo good. Not too sweet. Such a nice summer wine. It's been flying off the shelf." Well if that's the case - I grabbed the remaining five off the display. Nothing worse than wanting something you can't have, right? That night I took one bottle to a girl's gathering. Literally gone in four minutes. Hence why this made the Fancy Friday list. If you're looking for a new summer drink, give this a try. Even if you're a traditionalist who likes bold red wine, you might like this re...

Who doesn't love kabobs?! I mean seriously, this might just be the easiest summer dessert evah. No baking and ready in minutes. Plus they look cute too. You could even doctor them up with bananas or blackberries. Your call. And I like to serve with a dollop of whip cream for dipping. Perfect for a summer BBQ or 4th of July shindig. Or better yet - whip them up tomorrow for Memorial Day! ~Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs~ Ingredients: Serves 4 16 medium strawberries, hulled                                                  Angel food or pound cake, purchased at local grocery store                           ...

In need of a last minute Super Bowl dessert? This might just be your saving grace thanks to Cookiesandcups.com . This recipe includes a boxed cake mix which always makes baking easy peasy, four ingredients total and is ooey gooey. A dessert must in my book. ~Rolo Cake Mix Bars~ Ingredients: 1 box (18.25 oz) yellow, vanilla or white cake mix (I used Duncan Hines) 1, 5 oz can evaporated milk 1/4 cup melted butter 40 Rolo Candies, unwrapped and cut in half Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350°. 2) Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. 3) With your mixer, beat cake mix, evaporated milk and butter until combined. Mixture will be thick and sticky. 4) Divide batter in half and press 1 half into the bottom of the pan. 5) Bake until just set, approximately 8-9 minutes. 6) Remove base from oven and place Rolo candies, caramel-side down on top. 7) Drop remaining batter on top of Rolos in teaspoon sized amounts. 8) Bake for 20-24 minutes longer until top begins to golden. 9) Cool completely before cu...

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...

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...

Have a few holiday parties on the calendar in the coming weeks? Feeling pressure to look holiday fab? I sure am even though I'm learning in my wise old age that no one really cares - or remembers. But it's the holidays. It's a time to do up your 'do, slip on a sequins dress and dust off those high heels you haven't seen since you had kids. Not sure about you but when it comes to stepping out of my day-to-day make-up and hair routine (aka -- pony tail, mascara and a dusting of bronzer) I go absolutely brain dead. So when I saw this Glamour tip come to my email this week, it was like God was telling me, "Hailey, DO THIS. Don't spend all week stressing about how you're going to spice it up. Just do this." If you too are looking for a quick and easy way to take your look from drab to fab, DO THIS: 1) Line under your eye with black eyeliner pencil. 2) Swipe your upper lids with a liquid eyeliner. 3) Apply a gray shadow over the top to soften the dark bl...

Whenever the holidays roll around and I know we have family coming into town, I put this crazy stupid pressure on myself to want to change up the decor in my house. Above and beyond the festive cornucopia table centerpiece and gourds on the mantle. As if they remember what it looked like in the first place or even care for that matter. Regardless I lay in bed and think about what I can do differently to 'spice' up my predictable Pottery Barn'esk interior. You know - white couches, brown walls, floral area rugs, red accent pieces. If you find yourself in the same mental predicament but don't have a lot of time or money to be making drastic changes, here are a few ideas that make a big statement with little effort: 1) Change out your pillows: Mix in a wild or bold print - possibly zebra or yellow - to add some contrast to a simple couch and inject some personality. For $20, you can transform a boring, drab room with a few decorative pillows from TJ Maxx or Marshalls ....

Entertaining this 4th of July weekend? Tired of the same 'ol boring BBQ menu? Step it up this 4th of July with these delicious slider recipes. These are a sure hit and perfect when feeding a large group. Everyone loves finger foods. Everyone loves sliders. Just make sure to make enough. Everyone goes back for slider seconds. ~Chipotle Sliders~ Ingredients: Chipotle Mayonnaise: 1 cup mayonnaise 2 chipotles in adobo sauce (ask man at grocery store on where to find!) 1 tablespoon adobo sauce 1/2 lime, juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper Sliders: 1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck, 80/20 Salt and freshly ground black pepper Cheese slices, your choice Mini burger buns Burger Bar (if desired): Chipotle Mayonnaise Pickles Red onion slices Directions: Chipotle Mayonnaise: Add all the ingredients to a food processor and puree. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Sliders: Preheat grill over medium-high heat. Form the meat into 2 to 3-ounce portions, packed tightly. Season with salt a...

Looking for a new concoction to kick off your 4th of July festivities? Give this red, white and blue spritzer a try. ~4th of July Cocktail~ Courtesy of The Food Network Magazine Ingredients: 1 ounce watermelon schnapps 1 big splash cranberry juice 1 slice lemon 1 slice lime 1 1/2 ounces tequila 1/4 ounce blue curacao 1/2 ounce simple syrup Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional) Directions: Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass. Muddle the lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired. Cheers!

We do our fair share of entertaining and I can not for the life of me remember how to set the table correctly. I always have to stand over the table and think hard about what goes where. Maybe it's because I am out of practice. Nowadays the extent of my table settings consists of a truck fork, an Ikea animal placemat, a plastic divided train plate and a sippy cup. Regardless, these are things I need to know and remember even if I am sleep deprived and ready to pull my hair out come dinner/entertaining time. Do you know how to properly set a table? According to Emily Post's Etipedia (Etiquette + Encyclopedia), setting a table is not as difficult as it seems. The basic rule is: Utensils are placed in the order of use, that is, from the outside in. A second rule, with only a few exceptions is: forks go to the left of the plate, and knives and spoons go to the right. A third rule of thumb: utensils are placed one inch from the edge of the table. Here are some table etiquette rules...

Yesterday I received several texts and emails thanking me for the graduation gift idea post. I'm so happy I could help relieve some stress on that end. From that post another cry for help surfaced - the graduation party. What to serve? Decorations? If you're looking for a little party planning motivation, here are a few ideas and websites I personally love; For menu ideas and recipes; check out http://www.celebrations.com/graduationparty . This site is also a great reference for recipes, activities, and fun drink ideas. For tips on how to streamline your party planning; check out this article from Real Simple Magazine. Follow her advice and you might just enjoy the days leading up to the party! http://simplystated.realsimple.com/celebrations/2008/05/easy-party-plan.html My absolute favorite party planning website however is Hostess with the Mostess . This site is truly inspiring - and a tad overwhelming. It is though the ultimate website if you want to replicate a party theme o...

...my girlfriends. Period. Piggybacking on the whole idea of giving the gift of time, women need girl time. Time spent with girlfriends venting their life's highs and lows. Now I know finding time is easier said then done but if you're looking for a good excuse to get the girl's you love together, I suggest hosting a fun evening doing the following: 1) Accessory Swap : A spin-off of a clothing swap but with just accessories. If you and your girlfriends are all about the same size in clothes, you can do both but if you're all over the board, I suggest just doing purses, jewelry, belts and scarves. You can opt to have rules or not. I suggest to keep it fair that if you bring three items, you only get to take three items. They don't have to be like for like though. At the end of the night, you'll go home with fun, new accessories for FREE!!! 2) Favorites Party : I LOVE this idea! Invite an intimate group of your favorite girls over and have each one of them bring t...

Hosting a Super Bowl party and need some inspiration as to what to serve? Just as the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are revving up their engines for this Sunday's Super Bowl, it too is time to rev up your creative juices and start planning that menu. Best advice I can give when planning a Super Bowl party is to keep it super low key. It's football for God's sake. There's no reason to make it some fancy- shmancy event. Although it's easy to get wrapped up in finding matching plates and cute cupcake toppers, keep in mind that as long as you have chips, dips and unlimited beer, your party is a smashing success. It's also important to keep in mind that not everything has to be homemade. Major pet peeve of mine is the expectation that if you're having guests over it all has to be made from scratch. As if it qualifies us as being a better person. Get over it. Below I've put together five different menu options that won't have you slaving for ...