Reader's TOP store (& Giveaway winner revealed!)

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 the giant No. 1 retailer Walmart. This is the first time in four years that the Target's bullseye has had an edge over Walmart's happy face.

Moral of this post: Target is a fave for a reason. It offers the best "cheap chic" selection and it's truly a place where you can "Expect More. Pay Less."

For today's giveaway I thought it was only fitting to offer a TARGET GIFT CARD to the lucky winner. And that lucky win is.................................Lynnae Schneller!!! Look out for an email from me!

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!

GIVEAWAY - 2 FREE tickets to "The Vagina Monologues" in San Diego

Attention SAN DIEGO followers!!!! Hailey's Helpful Hints is giving away two (2) tickets - valued at $70.00 - to "The Vagina Monologues!" Dave and I saw this back in Seattle a few years back and loved it. Yes men will like it too! It's one I will never forget. Both hilarious and dramatic, I give it two thumbs up!!

Details~

When: Thursday, 4/7/11

Where: Birch North Park Theatre 2891 University Avenue, Suite 1 San Diego, CA 92104

Showtime: 7:30

What are "The Vagina Monologues?" What started as a play has become a national witty and compassionate phenomenon. Often coined "the Bible for a new generation for women," these monologues are heartbreaking testimonials from young women to stop violence against women. A poignant and hilarious tour of the last frontier, the ultimate forbidden zone, "The Vagina Monologues" is a celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery. Eve Ensler (Author) gives us real women's stories of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. The play addresses various global issues for women, such as abuse, rape, sex slavery, and cancer. It has inspired a dynamic grassroots movement -V-Day - to stop violence against women and raise money for organizations fighting to protect women.

***IN ORDER TO BE THE LUCKY WINNER OF THE 2 TICKETS, YOU MUST BE THE FIRST PERSON TO EMAIL ME @ HAILEYDAWSON@YAHOO.COM. TICKETS MUST BE REDEEMED BY TUESDAY, 4/5/11 AT 11:30 PM.***

FANCY FRIDAY GIVEAWAY

What tickled my fancy this week? For one, I was elated to hit the 10,000 page views milestone in such a short amount of time. Thank you for being faithful readers of Hailey's Helpful Hints. I can't tell you how much fun I am having bringing you daily tips, tricks and product picks!

Speaking of product picks - and the main focus of this Fancy Friday post. When I first started this blog, there were some topics I told myself I wasn't going to rant and rave about. Politics and religion being two at the top of the list. Today however I am going to break my "religious" commitment because I feel every parent should know about the "Will and Wisdom" series.

Chase was recently given a set of Will and Wisdom books and after reading them I am a HUGE fan. Each story follows the adventures of a strong-willed 10 year old boy, Will, and his best friend, Wisdom, who happens to be both a fun-loving guinea pig and Bible Scholar. The series features a timeless virtue {Perseverance, Honesty, Faith and Kindness} and highlights Godly principles for children of all ages. What excites me so much about the Will and Wisdom books are the impactful life lessons they teach. They are profoundly simple. Yet so insightful for children - even my 2.5 year old.

Another book I really like from the same authors is "Jesus A to Z." It is a perfect summary that helps simplify the truths found in the Bible for children. This book is a fantastic tool for parents eager to teach their children who God truly is but don't really know where to start. I highly recommend.

There's no denying that kid's are sponges - soaking in everything, good and bad. I feel it is my duty as a parent to try to instill positive Christian values with the hope that Chase will choose wisely when forced to make tough decisions. I also believe that reading to your children is one of the most influential activities you can do. Even if all you have time for is one book. The Will and Wisdom books are perfect for killing two birds with one stone - they are a quick read (written in both English and Spanish) packed with memorable, faith-based lessons.

For today's GIVEAWAY, I will be giving the first three readers a stack of books from the Will and Wisdom series - minus 'What About Christmas.' In the comment you must answer the question: WHAT WAS YOUR OR YOUR CHILD'S FAVORITE BOOK GROWING UP?

Please also include your email in the comment so I can reach out to your for your address.

Note: If you choose to order any of the Will and Wisdom books as gifts from their online Bookstore, a portion of the proceeds will go to children in need. Each book retails for $2.50.

Martin Luther King GIVEAWAY!!

Happy MLK Jr. Day!! It's GIVEAWAY time! For all your readers that have been with me since the beginning of time (three whole months now), you'll remember my "What's one item of make-up I could not live without?" post. To refresh your memory - MASCARA. For today's giveaway, one lucky reader will receive my secret to voluptuous, clump-free eyelashes; the combination of Jane's MaxLash Primer & Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara. With an added bonus - Sonia Kashuk's Full Glam Eyelashes for a night where you want your eyes to really pop! If you missed my Splurge vs. Steal post on Fake Eyelashes, this is a must-read.

To be eligible to win:

1) You must be a Friend/Fan on my Facebook page. If you aren't already, just click on the Facebook icon on the left toolbar and it will re-direct you to Hailey's Helpful Hints page.

2) You must answer the question in the comment section below:
WHAT IS ONE ITEM OF MAKE-UP YOU COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT?

Rules:

1) You have from 9:00 AM (PST) Monday until 9:00 AM (PST) Tuesday to post your comment.
2) A winner will be chosen at random and announced at 9:30 AM (PST) Tuesday both on Facebook and the side toolbar of this website.
3) The winner has until 9:00 PM Tuesday (PST) to email me your address @ haileyshelpfulhints@yahoo.com. If I do not hear from you, another winner will be selected.

Don't forget to spread the word about Hailey's Helpful Hints to your friends. Good luck and Happy Martin Luther King Day!

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."