6 app-tastic apps

Like my play on words in the title? Appsolutely, appmazing, apptastic, app...ok, I'll stop. Hard to think that just a few years ago, apps were not a part of our everyday lives. Seriously, there is an app for just about everything: from an app that allows you track your fitness regimen, you mess up and skip the gym, this app will send you a shameful message and blast it on social media

OR 

Ever thought about becoming a priest, get the app that gives you the "feel" of  being a man/woman of the clothe. I could go on and on and on but I won't, I'll let you do it via Huffington Post's list of weird apps.

For every weird app that's out there, there are very useful ones that come in handy for us busy bloggers. Here's my sampling of what I'm currently using to keep me on the up and up:



Here's the rundown:

Cozi is more than just a calendar, you can:

• create shopping lists
• create to do lists, all family members can access this list if you want. Everything is color coded in Cozi, when you create a list, you select who gets to see what
• have a spot for your weekly dinner plans, where you can store your recipes as well. I've used this feature in the past, really need to use it more because it truly is helpful. I've been using the shopping list to keep up with our weekly meals, need to stop doing that.
• send messages to your fam. Again, since everyone has their own special color, you can designate who sees what. 

Not sure what your beliefs are but, YouVersion is an awesome app for the Bible on the go. Long gone are the days of carrying thick bibles (unless, of course, you prefer that) now you can access the Bible on your phone or tablet. Open YouVersion and you are greeted with a scripture for the day, access to various translations of the Bible, Bible reading plans and a notes section. This app allows you to bookmark, highlight and make notes to scripture so that you can reference at a later date.

This has been one rainy summer here in Georgia, so I haven't really used Weatherbug that much. I pretty much know what the day is bringing, rain and more rain. I love the recent update for tablets, it's very interactive. With more dangerous weather, Weatherbug sends warning alerts. Again, the rainy Georgia weather has produced some crazy storms, which prompts those "why" questions from Hummingbird!

Ok, this next app occupies those moments when I need to zen out. This is my go-to app when I am waiting in the doctor's office, or when I need to step away from my desk at work. It's Pinterest. MonkeyMan says I am addicted. Ok. I get lost when I use this app by web, phone or tablet. Not gonna say much more about it here, except that you can get your great ideas here or just admire the great ideas from others. Don't feel like you have to complete each and every pin on Pinterest, it's ok just to admire somebody else's work.

Redbox dominates video rentals. I cannot pass up a dollar and some change daily rentals. From my phone, I can send reminders of new releases, then I can reserve them for pick up later. This is cool when I am having a kid free weekend and MonkeyMan is working or when I want to reward Hummingbird.

Alright, this next one has become my bedtime go-to app. I wasn't aware of Flipboard prior to getting my Google Nexus last year, but it is awesome. I can search for any topics that interest me and Flipboard will search the webverse and compile them into "magazines" for my viewing pleasure. That could be content from Twitter, NPR, anything, if it's been broadcasted over the web, you can get it in a magazine. Recent updates allow you to create your own magazines of your favorite articles. I have found some pretty cool blogs through Flipboard, which has added to my views and subscribers.

Whew, there you have it! Got any apps that you use to keep you productive, entertained or just plain sane?

ReShape Mondays

Sooo....it's Monday....again.


A Monday after a vacation week. It is truly amazing how you can be gone for a week and when you arrive back home, jump right back into your routine. I am very thankful that we have routines, my type A personality would have it no other way.

I have always been a routine type person, having that structure helps me to make sure I am tackling everything that needs to be tackled. I started the kids on routines early on. Routines cut down on anxiety because everyone knows what they should be doing at all times. For instance, Hummingbird knows that when we get home, it's homework. Because I am a working outside the home mom, she attends karate afterschool and she gets a chance to get a jumpstart on homework. By the time I pick her up, we get home, she has a chance to finish any uncompleted homework. MonkeyMan and I work different shifts, he works about 15 minutes away from our home. Hummingbird must have homework completed by 7 pm because that's when MonkeyMan comes home for his lunch, our dinner. When he returns to work at 8 pm, she has an opportunity to watch one of her favorite shows.

Speaking of dinner, that's another routine. It is very important for us to eat dinner together. I believe that provides a great foundation for a family and gives us a chance to talk and find out about each other's day. Now, don't get me wrong, it gets a bit chaotic. Everyone wants to talk at the same time. But I would rather have all that chatter than not have any at all.

So, yeah, routines. They provide structure and security for kids. Kids thrive when there is consistency. There are some things that I need to tighten up on that are affected by the ages and stages of kids. Yogli has the duty of cleaning the kitchen every night. Well, we have just reached the point where he does this without being told. We've both learned some things: he's learned a bit of responsibility, I've learned that he may not clean the kitchen perfectly. Yes, for the longest time, I expected him to clean the kitchen the way I would clean the kitchen. Part of that whole control thing, type A personality. Told you, I am working on this thing! So, MonkeyMan broke it all down for me. I finally realized that other people will not do things the way I would do them. And that's ok. So, Yogli still leaves food in the sink. And that's ok...I think, yeah, it's ok.

Don't forget, it helps to write things down, too! I have an app on my phone and tablet, Cozi, that helps with that. You can access from any phone/tablet/computer (wow, we have way too many gadgets). It's color coded, a color for each family member. You can also share calendars between family members and send text messages about anything on the calendar. And best of all, it's free! I don't believe in buying apps, if it's not free, I don't need it.

My love of routines helped me to have a great "welcome back" Monday from vacation. Now tell me, what great routines have you got going on?