Hailey's Helpful Hints

  As we eagerly anticipate the season of fun and frivolity, it's time to prep our closets with some of summer's biggest fashion trends. Thanks to Glamour's online fashion section (author- Avery Matera ), here are 11 summer fashion Do's and Don'ts: DO go girly with a white lace top You can dress up a white lace top with a skirt and heels or dress it down with denim shorts and sandals. Even try pairing it with moto boots and a leather jacket to turn the feminine piece into something more edgy.   DON'T underestimate the power of a T-shirt dress The throw-on-and-go T-shirt dress is perfect for summer. Wear yours from day to night by transitioning into slightly fancier footwear and some fun accessories. Bonus: T-shirt dresses are easy to travel with - they rarely wrinkle and don't have to be dry-cleaned! DO try a new sunglass silhouette Whether it's round, cat-eye, oversize, or aviator, try a sunglass shape you've never tried bef...

Can you believe Labor Day has already come and gone? I'm in disbelief that summer is over but to be honest, today when I walked into the silent house after dropping both boys off at school, I did a happy dance. Entertaining these rascals all day long is exhausting, especially while my body is an incubator for two others. (Yes I am pregnant with identical girls!) While fashion isn't at the top of my list these days, I can't neglect you all of what you need to know. And I know y'all are dying to know if it's really safe to wear white after Labor Day. And the answer is, according to Glamour magazine -- YES! As a matter of fact, there was just as much white as there was gray on the fall '13 runways, so go nuts with your snowy brights well into the winter. Wondering how to pull off white into the winter? Layers, longer lengths, and heavier knits will keep the hot white look seasonally appropriate. Fall-ready accessories, like a belt with dark deta...

...that certain colors influence your spending? Thanks to Real Simple magazine, I came across this article that I thought was too good not to share. Marketing experts agree that people subconsciously associate specific social or cultural messages with color. Next time you walk through the mall, look at the rainbow of colors on signs, labels, doors, and shopping bags. These colors are usually always strategically placed in an effort to get you to loosen your purse strings. Below explains how 10 different shades affect your purchasing habits; BLACK: The signature color of sophistication (hello little black dress), it dominates high-end makeup packaging and can even make inexpensive blushes and lipsticks seem more upscale. Insert: MAC cosmetics. BLUE: Most people like blue. No wonder it connotes trust and dependability and is a favorite logo color for financial institutions seeking to make people feel more secure. Insert: My husband's company, Deloitte & Touche. Blue can im...

  While some of us have our shopping completely done, others haven't even started so here's a quick tip to avoid spending more... Retail stores have a clever way to get you to spend more: "the decoy effect." Behavioral research conducted by Dan Ariely, Ph.D of Duke University, has shown that when customers were given a choice between two products, one of which is priced lower and is lower quality (say an MP3 Player that holds fewer songs), they'll often choose the cheaper one. BUT when a third (decoy) item is introduced at an even higher price, shoppers are more likely to opt for the mid-priced-one. Meaning - adding another product nudges shoppers up the price scale instead of making them stick with the bargain buy. Bottom line: Think carefully when you see a display of products at varied prices, and hold steady at the price you can afford.

  Super Saver Sales this weekend! Lululemon : Express FREE shipping. Ends 12/17. No promo code. Anthropologie : $25 off every $100 you spend. Online & In-stores. Ends 12/16. Promo code: MERRYMERRY Urban Outfitters : FREE shipping. No minium. Ends 12/18. No promo code. Lacoste : Up to 40% off (Semi-Annual Sale) & FREE shipping. Online & In-stores. No promo code. Splendid : Up to 40% off (Winter Sale) & FREE shipping. Online & In-stores. No promo code. GAP : 30% off Online only. End 12/15. Promo code: GAPGIFT Banana Republic : 30% off. Online only. Ends 12/16. Promo code: BR30LIST J-Crew : 30% off. Online & In-store. Ends 12/17. Promo code: WISHLIST Old Navy : 30% off. Online & In-store. Ends 12/15. Promo code: ONGIFT American Eagle : 40% off. Online only. Ends 12/23. Promo code: 23815931 Justice : 40% off. Online & In-store. Ends 12/16. Promo code: 740 Children's Place : 30% off & FREE shipping. Online & In-store. Ends 12/16. Pr...

  Want to stretch your dollar a little further this weekend? If you're headed to the stores to finish (or start) your Christmas shopping, be sure to print these coupons off before you go! Aeropostale - $10 off $50 Exp 12/24 Banana Republic Factory Store - 15% off purchase Exp 12/16 Barnes & Noble - 25% off one item Exp 12/16 Bath & Body Works - $10 off $30 Exp 12/16 Bath & Body Works - Free product w/$10 purchase Exp 12/24 bebe - $20 off $125 Exp 12/19 Carter’s – Facebook Exclusive 15% – 25% off purchase Exp 12/19 Children’s Place - 30% off purchase Exp 12/16 Dressbarn - 15% off regular priced purchase Exp 12/24 Express - $25 off $75 Exp 12/13 Famous Footwear - 20% off purchase Valid 12/15 – 12/24 Gap Outlet - 15% off $75+ purchase Exp 12/24 Goody’s - Various Coupons Hallmark Gold Crown Store – Facebook Exclusive $5 off $10 Exp 12/20 Hobby Lobby - 40% off regular priced item Exp 12/15 Kirkland’s - $25 off $75 Exp 12/14 Kohl’s - 15% – 20% off purchase Exp...

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...

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale starts TODAY!! It's the perfect time to get your back-to-school shopping done. Next season's newest styles are marked down for a limited time. Shop early for the best selection. Prices go up August 6 . From July 20-22, Fashion Rewards members EARN DOUBLE POINTS. See details . SHOP ANNIVERSARY SALE: WOMEN'S APPAREL  | WOMEN'S SHOES  | HANDBAGS & ACCESSORIES  | DESIGNER COLLECTIONS | BEAUTY EXCLUSIVES  | MEN'S | JUNIORS' | KIDS' | HOME & GIFTS

Use less - of EVERYTHING. If you’re looking to save money, there are some obvious solutions; you might want to track your spending, avoid impulse buys or try going cash-only. But have you ever thought that you might be throwing savings down the drain, literally? Do you know how much you really need of things of consumable goods like like shampoo and dish soap? Sierra Black of Get Rich Slowly recommends  using half of what you normally would. The idea is to reduce half the amount of these things you use by doling out smaller portions. Normally use a quarter-size dollop of shampoo? Try cutting back to a dime. There’s no need to stop at half, actually. You can keep scaling back your usage gradually until you hit a point where you actually don’t have enough, and then creep back up to the last place it felt good. Maybe that dime-size drop of shampoo isn’t enough for your hair, but a nickel-size portion gets the job done nicely. This approach  - he calls the 50% solution...

Stumped on what to give? On a budget? Tired of giving the same'ol same'ol? Here are some resourceful links if you need alittle inspiration and budget-friendly ideas. Check them out! From Hailey's Helpful Hints: Last year's post worth the look through. 2010 "Banging Bargains under $25:" http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/2010/11/banging-bargains-under-25.html From The Tomkat Studio website: My absolute favorite gift guide that I've seen this year. Fantastic ideas for all the special people in your life; newborns, dads, baking enthusiasts, beauty queens, photographers. The list goes on. Check it out even if you already have all your Christmas shopping done. It's fun to drool. All I Want For Christmas Gift Guide: http://issuu.com/tomkatstudio/docs/giftguide From Glamour: Gifts Under $100: http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2011/10/holiday-gift-guide-give-great-gifts-under-100#slide=1 Men Approved Gifts for Guys: http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2...

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 &...

Are you a Black Friday junkie? I'm not and never will be. I'm all about a good deal but this just seems excessive. I'd definitely be throwing some elbows amongst that crowd. If you like the thrill of it, that's one thing - I guess. But if you're looking to score bigger deals than what's online, you might just want to stay in bed and shop till you drop in the comfort of your home. Experts agree that it's marketing at it's finest and you shouldn't give into the hype. "[Early sales] are media events more than anything else," says Steve Schaffer, CEO of Offers.com. "You don't need to get to a store at midnight to find good deals." In fact, the only thing the early bird may actually be getting a jump on is holiday debt, as the longer hours decrease a consumer's odds of actually scoring the limited number of doorbuster deals retailers use to hook them. "Stores seem to be just pushing the early envelope to create an urgency,...

It's time to get your shop on!! The Nordstrom 1/2 yearly sale for Women & Children is going on now through November 13 th . Use your Nordstrom card between November 2-5 and earn double rewards points! This is the perfect time to get some of that holiday shopping checked off the list! Start shopping NOW !

Did you hear that Nordstrom is now offering FREE online shipping and FREE returns all the time for orders of any size? Loveth! As if Nordstrom wasn't already the leader in making your shopping experience as easy as possible. It used to be that the free shipping minimum was on $200 or more. While usually too steep for my one or two TBD shirts, I did find their in-store pickup option extremely convenient. But since having two kids, it's hard to find the time to swing by customer service to pick it up. Hence why I'm loving this great news that I had to share with you!

It's my favorite time of the year - when the sun is shining and getting dressed becomes a no-brainer. Casual dress + Flip flops or wedges = cute and comfy for almost any occasion I walked into Target a few days ago to get diapers and a gift card. And sadly I walked out $300 later with six summer dresses (all under $18.00), four tank tops, three bathing suits and a pullover hoodie. Shhh don't tell Dave. Before I hung the dresses in my closet, I tried them on again and began to second guess my purchases. Buyers remorse or just not the right fit? Right color? Right style? Sadly it looks like I'll be returning a few. If you're wondering how to make summer dress shopping easier and return free, read on for the latest in dress trends for 2011... Color : While white is a perfect color to wear in summer, you can't be afraid of color. Vibrant colors like yellows, blues, reds, corals, pinks, mint green and lavender are showing up all over department stores. Ethnic prints as w...

The Giveaway results are in and the top store amongst readers is...drum roll please...TARGET!!! Every one of the readers who entered the giveaway listed Target in their top three stores except for one. To be honest, I wasn't shocked. What person doesn't love a one stop shop?!? Besides Wally-world, there aren't many other places where you can pick yourself up a bathing suit, a kid's birthday gift, laundry detergant, a new hairdryer, inexpensive picture frames and bread. I think all you Target shoppers will be happy to know that new reports indicate that although Walmart has built its entire retail brand around the proposition that it "always" offers the lowest prices, Target is now the lowest priced powerhouse!! According to a recent comparison that consisted of 22 common grocery goods such as milk, cereal and rice; 10 general merchandise products such as clothing and home furnishings; and three health and beauty items, Target's prices are now lower than th...

I couldn't be more happy to see that the upcoming trend as we head into Spring is STRIPES ! I {heart} stripes in a major. way. Stripes aren't just for the preppy Ralph Lauren "I'm going sailing" type. Spring 2011 shows that color is back bigger than ever so don't be afraid to make a loud statement with bold, bright stripes. Stripes, yes, can be hard to wear depending on your body type but if you read Monday's " Shop your Shape " post, you should be able to find a striped piece that flatters your figure. Some frugal finds that you can bet I'll get my hands on: Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Halter B ikini : Available in Multistripe:Sizes: XS-L : $29 top / $25 bottom Old Navy : R u gby- Stripe Pocket Tee : Available in 5 colors : Sizes: XS-XXL : $14.50 Old Navy : Hooded Roll Up : Available in 4 colors : Sizes: XS-XXL : $17.50 Target : Xhilaration Striped Open Cardigan Sweater : Available in 4 color : Sizes: XS-XXL : $24.99 Nordstrom ...

If I could, I would live in jeans, a hooded sweatshirt and Converse all day, everyday. I'm all about basics. Flattering basics that is. And basics that can be mixed and matched. Worn alone or layered with multiple outfits. An essential everyday staple for me is a simple camisole. I'll admit - I'm a cami snob. I'm very particular when it comes to how they fit. I do not like built in bras. I do not want to fidget with adjustable straps. It needs to keep its shape and not fade after multiple washes. Silky - no thanks. Stretchy - yes please. And lightweight and seamless is a must. Although I have several items in my closet that I love for different reasons, my #1 wardrobe have to have is the Nordstrom BP stretch cami . Every woman should own this cami . Definitely in black and white if nothing else. In addition to having the characteristics above that are so important to me, the BP cami has the perfect blend of cotton and spandex and will hug your body nicely - neve...

Happy Monday! In response to last week's weight loss posts, I got to thinking there are probably a handful of readers not concerned about losing weight or working out. Maybe it's not your body - it's your CLOTHES. Perhaps in 2011 you want to get out of your wardrobe funk and stop buying clothes with no personality. Or maybe you're sick of hiding behind your clothes and you're ready to buck up for some flattering pieces. I am by no means a fashionista but I promise you - there is life after elastic waistband yoga pants and tennis shoes without breaking the bank. I know a lot of women who try and try to get out of their fashion rut only to fall back into what's comfortable. And usually that's not the most flattering. I believe a lot of women fall victim to this because either 1) a shopping spree is not in the budget (understandable), 2) they don't want to come face to face with the voice in the mirror screaming "hippo," (hate that) and/or 3) the...