Hailey's Helpful Hints

Guess what today is?? It's my birthday! 32. Nothing special. You better believe I've already devoured 4 tasty pieces of Funfetti Pop Cake , which at this rate means I'll eat 11 by days end. If you didn't catch that Sweet Sunday post awhile back and have never had pop/soda cake, you're truly missing out. It's definitely on my love list. Dying to know what else is on my love list? Did I hear a yes? Ok. Since you insist, here are 31 more love list items (in no particular order) that come to mind as I type. I'll keep out the obvious; family, friends, God, sunshine, the beach... 1) BRAVO television network 2) Pinterest.com 3) Fuji apples 4) SHAPE magazine 5) Gummy worms 6) The television show, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" 7) Running 8) Turkey sandwich on wheat with Sweet Onion sauce from Subway 9) A "Shandi" - 3/4 beer, 1/4 Diet Sprite 10) The song by Kanye West & Rihanna, "All of the Lights" 11) Dark Grey anything 12) Zout...

Fall is soon upon us. Tear. And yes, boots are back. But of course, the style is slightly different from last seasons. Shucks, looks like you'll have to buy yet another new pair. The Equestrian riding boot is a must have for Fall 2011. There are dozens of great options hitting stores now. As always some affordable and some so outrageously expensive that I wonder who really buys them. I came across these riding boots the other day at Target and thought these would be fantastic for a DOUBLE TAKE post. So here ya have it; an expensive pair of Ugg's Australia "Channing " boots in Chestnut for $294.95 at Nordstrom vs. Merona's "Manette " tall boot in tan for just $39.99 at Target. Can you tell which one is which?? I don't know about you but I personally like the look of the Target boot (LEFT) better. And the $255 savings!

...DISINFECT YOUR CAR. If you're like most people you spend at least a few hours a day in the car - whether it's commuting to and from work, running to the grocery store or picking up the kids from a soccer game. Sometimes, the car is an office and sometimes, a closet. With two kids, for me, it's often a dining room. But though you might think twice before touching the seat on a public bus or holding the rail on the subway, you probably don't think too much about your car's cleanliness. Sure, there are coffee stains from a few weeks ago on your cup holder and an inch of dust coating your dashboard. But it isn't hurting anybody, is it? Studies show yes and no. The germs aren't necessarily going to cause serious health concerns but the germs lurking in one's car interior is enough to raise an eyebrow. And hopefully gross you out to the point that you will make time to disinfect and clean out your car this week. Here are some shockingly gross stats: Resear...

In a perfect world, we'd all be able to spend each morning browsing the farmers' market for the ideal seasonal produce, then spend the afternoon making a nutritious meal that would bring a tear to Martha Stewart's eye with its flawless presentation. But in reality, sometimes you don't even have time to make do with what's in the fridge. You might even have to resort to what's hanging on your doorknob or stuck in your windshield wiper, the scourge of diets everywhere: the delivery menu. Ah, the delivery menu. A full meal (or more) brought to your door in 30 minutes or less. No cooking. No cleaning. It's like going to a fine restaurant—in your pajamas. A dream come true. But it can be a nightmare for your figure if you succumb to some of the common pitfalls of deliverable cuisine. Here are some things to keep in mind so you can order your dinner in without having to let your pants out. What to watch out for: Good things come in small packages. Unfortunately, ...

These are a must make before summer winds down. My mother-in-law made them last week and they were the perfect meal for a warm night when you're not super hungry and you're looking for something 'light.' She used frozen Tilapia fish fillets from Costco to make it super easy. She baked them for 10 minutes while she made the deliciously fresh coleslaw topping. Talk about a super simple (and healthy) meal in minutes! I personally liked the combination of the coleslaw topped with the Peach Mango salsa from Costco but the Cucumber Ranch dressing was a hit as well. ~FISH TACOS~ Serves 4 (2 tacos each) Ingredients: 8 Tilapia (fish) fillets - or fish of choice 8 Corn or Flour tortillas 4 cup sliced cabbage 1 cup chopped Roma tomatoes 1/3 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup cilantro 2 TBS. lime juice 1 TBS. olive oil 1/4 tsp. salt Sour cream, Kraft "Cucumber Ranch" Dressing, or Salsa Directions: Combine the cabbage, tomatoes, green onions and cilantro. Toss in the lime ju...

PLAN A DATE NIGHT WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER. Does going out on a date sound inviting, but the reality of actually doing it is overwhelming? Are you so disconnected from your spouse that you fear you'll have nothing to talk about? Finding a reliable sitter isn't always easy, and paying for a sitter can be even more painful. Plus, after dealing with work and kids all day, who has the energy to stay up late enough to go out? Alright that's it, stop right there! When Dave and I got married we made a pact that our relationship is #1 no matter what. Yes, we love our children and they will always be a top priority but they come second to our marriage. It always kills me when I hear people say they haven't gone out with their spouse in months. Months??? Are you kidding. I'd kill myself. Dave and I are very intentional about going out once per week without kids. Usually Saturday night. Whether we have plans or not. I always get asked, "what do you guys go do?" So...

GET WALKING. With your dog. Around a track. Through your neighborhood. While you travel. If dieting, or better yet eating "right," isn't your thing, it is believed - based on a study conducted by Cris Slentz, Ph.D of the Duke University research team involving sedentary overweight men and women (aged 40-65 years) - that the minimum daily requirement of exercise to prevent weight gain is 30 minutes a day of walking, 3 times per week. A control group of non-exercisers all gained weight and fat during their 8-month study. Given the increase in obesity in the U.S., it would seem likely that many in our society may have fallen below this minimal level of physical activity required to maintain body weight. This is sad. You must take time for yourself and walking is one of the lowest impact, aerobic activities you can do that has fabulous health benefits. Wondering what are the top 10 reasons to walk? 1. Walking prevents type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed th...