Hailey's Helpful Hints

  I was fed up. And I mean FED up with my cosmetic brushes. They were MAC. And always shedding. Anyone else annoyed with loose bristles stuck to your face? If so - you need to check out Ecotools make-up brushes. Getting gorgeous, going green, and giving back is what Ecotools is all about! I am smitten over their Domed Bronzer Brush . Super dense. Never sheds. Incredibly soft. Totally affordable. I got mine for under $10 and now after using it, I would have easily paid 3 times as much seeing how flawless it applies the powder. And did I mention - it NEVER sheds!! And all their brushes are environmentally friendly, 100% Cruelty-Free, 100% vegan, made of bamboo + recycled aluminum. They have an entire line of beauty products not just brushes; eyelashes, bath products, cosmetic bags. Make sure to check out their 6 piece starter kit for $12.99 that was awarded one of 'In Style's' 2013 Best Beauty Buys. You can find Ecotools at Target , Walmart,...

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...

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...

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...

Talk.About.Brilliant. I'm obsessed. Gorecess.com makes finding a fitness class and scheduling a time to exercise so much easier. Tired of your workout routine? Interested in taking a class such as Barre or Mat Pilates but your gym doesn't offer it? Moved to a new city and are unsure of where to workout? GoRecess helps you find the best class of the day, where you want, when you want, so you can be your best every day. Maybe you're in the mood for a certain type of workout. Maybe you want convenience and something that fits your hectic schedule. Maybe you want variety and the flexibility to try new places. Or maybe you just need the motivation of a good instructor and others around you to inspire you to push yourself. From spinning and yoga to pilates and boxing and more, GoRecess will help you find exactly what you're seeking.   Say goodbye to boring runs on the treadmill, mindless strides on the elliptical and excuses to skip a workout. Now get off yo...

I can't even begin to explain how flippin' excited I am about this post. My intention of Hailey's Helpful Hints is to bring you daily tips, tricks and product picks that are useful (and helpful) in your everyday. This post is the epitome of that. Hands down, one of the best products I've come across in a long time. A very long time. Why? Because EVERYONE wants to look their best! If you want to tighten up your mid-section (or anything from your chin down)...You're tired of looking at that post-baby bulge, beer gut or last year's Christmas dinner...You want to get your sexy back - not that you lost it, just sayin...You want to get healthy, naturally ...keep reading. If you personally know me or have been following my blog for some time you know I am a health & fitness guru. I've been an athlete my entire life. I'm all about calories in - calories out. That you need to get your butt to the gym. Or outside. Just get moving. I was adamant that there was ...

Almost everyone loves ice cream. Recent reports show that the average American eats almost five gallons a year! The biggest problem with ice cream, however, is that it is loaded with fat and sugar. Yonanas is offering a unique alternative that means a healthier alternative for you and your family. If you want a healthy alternative to ice cream, you've got to buy the Yonanas Mixer. Dr. Oz loves it and it gets 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon reviews . Forget running to the store for a $6.00 tub of full fat ice cream. For only $50 , you can have a refreshing, healthy snack at your finger tips anytime. What is Yonanas? Yonanas instantly churns frozen fruit and other flavorings into a delicious and healthy soft-serve treat. Simply peel and freeze any fruit that you want made into the end product of deliciousness. Place frozen fruits into the yonanas maker (works similar to a juicer), and fruit will magically transform into a ice cream like consistency. The combinations of flavors you can m...

Whether you hand wash all your dishes or just a few pots and pans, it's time you toss the tacky plastic rack and head over to Bed Bath and Beyond for the "The Original Dish Drying Mat." This was one of the under $5.00 favorites party gifts given by one of my girlfriends last week (thanks Jodie!) and we've used it everyday. An instant favorite in our household. It's 10 times more absorbent than a dish rag and takes up far less space than the dish rack sitting on your counter. It's clever design has a loop so you can hang dry when not in use and it's machine washable. For $4.99, I recommend buying two to rotate when washing. And while you're there - pick up a few as Christmas gifts. They're practical, unexpected and inexpensive.

If you hate to iron or just don't have the time, The Downy Wrinkle Releaser might be your answer to prayer. What is it? Downy Wrinkle Releaser is an easy-to-use spray that smoothes out wrinkles in seconds and leaves clothes with a light fresh scent. Just spray, tug, and smooth any time you need to quickly reduce wrinkles without the hassle of an iron. Its unique formula relaxes fibers to help release wrinkles. Although I'm notorious for ironing just about everything; sweatshirts, jeans, sheets and actually enjoy ironing, it can be a total time suck. So when I came across this product at Target ($6.99), I had to give it a try, especially since there is nothing but rave reviews on Drugstore.com and Amazon . My thoughts: This stuff is pretty spectacular. It's perfect for those shirts that are a crinkled mess from sitting in the dryer too long or have been shoved in the closet for some time. But I do need to set your expectations - it won't get them perfect. For deep crease...

While the holidays are still a few months away, it's best that you start thinking about what you need to do now to prepare your homes for company. Whether you're having out-of-town guests for a long period of time or just a party for a few hours, there's nothing more embarrassing than having a guest stand up from your couch only to find them covered in your dog or cat's hair. If you've been searching for the best way to remove pet hair from their floors and upholstered furniture or need to replace your ineffective vac for something with a little more umph, I think I might just have the answer... The DC34 Animal. The Dyson DC34 Animal is the perfect handheld vacuum cleaner that has twice the suction power of any other handheld on the market. Powered by the new Dyson digital motor, it is ideal for pet-hair pick-up, tight hard to reach corners in furniture, inside your car and high dirt areas. How it works: First you must charge it for about 3.5 hours to get the full r...

The product: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional "One Sweep Eyeshadow" The concept: Three shades of contrasting eyeshadow and a one sweep brush for application to create an easy, simple, fuss-free eyeshadow look! It’s basically a single contrasting shadow look in a single compact sans the need of major skills for application. I think L’ Oreal had in mind that this would appeal to a market that isn ’t quite sure of proper application but still wanting a fabulous eyeshadow look. Granted, not everyone can blend well, apply eyeshadow, and create an overall fantastic eye look (I know I can’t) and the idea behind this was to make it happen with as little fuss and application know how as possible. How does it work? Pretty simple. L’ Oreal provides you with a large curved sponge applicator. The sponge is designed in a way that it’s supposed to mimic the curve of your lid and eye area. You simply swipe the applicator onto all three shadows (upwards for your left eye and down...

If there's one thing that you'll never find my refrigerator without it's Spray Butter. Zero calories and zero fat...of course it's in my refrigerator. I recognize it's probably the most processed item on the grocery shelves but I figure a few squirts here and there, isn't going to kill me. Plus I did some research and there is nothing on the Internet claiming that it's harmful to your health. Recently "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" came out with a few new products. One being the "I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray Made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil." Although they claim it's great for roasting chicken and vegetables and it's got the added benefits of the EVOO, this product, in my opinion, is hands down DISGUSTING!!! The olive oil taste is repulsive. I give this two thumbs DOWN. While we're on the Spray Butter topic - Vons/Safeway grocery stores have recently come out with their own generic brand of Spray Butter. Wh...

My mother-in-law was recently raving about her new best friend - the "Green Bag," a food storage solution that claim they are capable of keeping produce fresh for up to 30 days. Every heard of them? You may have seen them at Bed Bath and Beyond or your local grocery store. You can't miss the circa 1972 packaging. It's almost enough to make you NOT want to buy them. Regardless, both Debbie Meyer and Evert-Fresh are two companies that have a handle on marketing this plastic bag that contains zeolite that absorbs ethylene gas which they claim to be the major cause of fruits and vegetables going bad. Without getting too scientific, plants use ehylene as a hormone. One of its actions is to ripen fruit so if you can reduce the concentration of ethylene around an apple, for example, it shouldn't get over-ripe and mushy as quickly. So do Green Bags really work? According to my mother-in-law, yes. But I was still a little skeptical. After doing some research on the interne...

If you haven't tried the CLOROX BLEACH PEN you must put it the list to buy. I love love love this handy little cleaning pen. I first learned about this product by another mom at the park. We didn't know each other but got to chatting as our sons dug in the sand together. Naturally we started talking about "kid" stuff. She told me of this great new product, similar to the Tide 'On the Go' stick, that has saved several of her son's stained shirts. She raved about the Clorox Bleach Pen as if it was the best thing that every happened to laundry. Being the clean freak that I am, I was shocked I hadn't tried this yet so during my next Target run, I bee-lined to the cleaning aisle with excitement. Kids or no kids - we all have stains. BBQ sauce from your favorite pulled pork sandwich. Chili from last year's 4 th of July Chili Cook-off. Pasta Sauce that splattered as you set down the plate. Red wine that accidentally spilled after a 'few too many...