Saturday, April 7, 2012

Apps for the Tech Savvy Mom

I've been meaning to post this for a while. A friend of mine is considering buying a smartphone and so it reminded me that I had left this post on the back burner for a while.

My husband and I purchased smartphones this summer. I was incredibly resistant at first. Why do I need so much internet on my phone? I have a computer for that. Do I really need fingertip access to my e-mail? The answer was a very big no. However, Ken really wanted one, and we were lowering our minutes, so the data plan (with Ken's discount) had us breaking even with what were were initially paying. My husband is weird and won't buy himself things of that caliber unless I get something equal to it, so we took the plunge.

And,
I have to admit,
I love my smartphone.

It's so much more than having the internet and e-mail. (Although I use that too. I'm the queen of googling things I don't know, and my phone makes it that much easier.)

Over the last 9 months, I've stumbled over quite a few really useful apps that have made life, and motherhood a bit easier, and I thought I'd share my top five. (Did I mention their free? I have yet to buy an app.)

*ShopListFree

This is a grocery list app and I love it! I can add things that we need throughout the week and shop for them on our weekly trip to the store. I also always have my list on me at all times (and I won't loose it in the mess I call my purse), so if I stop at the store midweek, I know exactly what I need to pick up, without having to rack my brain too much. It allows you to check items off and get rid of them as you go. It also has different sections you can separate your items into, which makes getting in and out of the store quickly, really easy.

*MyFitnessPal

This app is a calorie and diet tracker. You can put in your weight and your goal weight, as well as how many pounds you want to lose and it calculates how many calories you should take in daily. You're also able to add in what you've done for exercise and it will subtract your calories burned from those you've consumed. At the end of each day, after you submit your entry, it computes what you'd weigh five weeks from that date if you continue to consume/burn that same amount of calories. I use this A LOT, not too say that it always keeps me inline when it comes to eating healthy and exercising, but it does put things into perspective.

*Cozi

This is a family calendar. Anyone in your family can sync to the same account and have easy access to dates and appointments that involve everyone. You can also set it to send texts or e-mail reminders. I just recently downloaded this app and haven't use it too much, although it's a great concept. I imagine if you have older kids with phones that this app could prove to be really helpful. For example, Fenix doesn't have a smartphone, but he can still get text reminders for events I have put into the calendar.

*LoveFoodHateWaste

This a great app for trying to figure out what to do with left over food. All you have to do is throw what you have left over into the "blender" and the app spits out recipes that incorporate those foods.

*BestBudget

One of my goals this year was to be better at writing and sticking to a budget. I think in categories. We spend this much on food, this much on gas, this much on utilities, etc. This app is organized in that same way. You create categories for how your money should be spent and saved. When you make a purchase, it subtracts it from the category you select. This app is easy and intuitive and runs without a hitch. The only thing I don't like is it doesn't synch to Ken's phone. I initially had an app called EEBA, where you had similar categories, called "envelopes", and that did synch. Unfortunately it was painfully and oddly slow.

*KitchenDial

This app converts measurements for you. It's quick, simple, and pretty handy.

Of course there are others I use as well, like Pinterest, the Idaho Statesman app (my smartphone has made it so that I am psychotically always up to date on local news), and WebMD, which I use to self diagnose myself with strange illness. But the ones above I can actually argue as being useful:)

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In a paragraph...I am a mom, wife, step-mom, teacher, daughter, sister, and friend. I am a believer, a daydreamer, a memory keeper, and an avid reader. I love teenagers, animals, bad reality t.v., coffee, and wine. I value my family, my career, my students, and my faith. And, as a warning...I most likely will be horrible at updating this:)