1. Mother’s Day
Photo (poorly) edited to hide the wardrobe malfunction that was about to happen. Hello!
I had no idea how much Mother’s Day was going to mean to me once I had a child, and the answer is: A LOT. I think it’s because it’s a day dedicated to celebrating the thing I’m the most proud of and the thing I work the hardest at–being a mom. And I’m a damn good one if I do say so myself. “World’s greatest” according to the card my daughter/daycare provider made me. Yeah, that’s right–I just took over the #1 spot from Kate Gosselin. The paparazzi are setting up camp in my cul de sac as we speak.
Have you seen baby clothes theses days? All those bright bold prints on white fabric? Sure they’re cute and all–but what a laundering nightmare! If you want to keep your baby’s colorful clothes from bleeding like an ER patient on Grey’s Anatomy, I’ve discovered you need Color Catchers. They look like little dryer sheets, but you toss them in the washer to work their magic. Just one sheet sucks up all the excess dyes while your clothes are being washed, so your white clothes with bright red trim stay white–not pink. Genius.
3. Sunless Tanner
Most of the year I look like I could be an extra from Twilight. But when the weather heats up and I’m forced to wear something other than pants, my glow-in-the-dark legs need a little help. Which is why I love self tanner. I use the “gradual” kind that you apply daily and it builds up to a natural looking, nice light tan. Nothing too dramatic, which is good for me since the rest of my body tends to keep its pasty white hue.
4. The Swagger Wagon Video
Some of you have already seen this on my Facebook page, but I just had to post it here, too. This video is HYSTERICAL. I’ve probably watched it a dozen times already and it still cracks me up. Ain’t no shame in owning a minivan for this family!
5. My iPhone 3GS
It all started when I got out of a meeting, discovered I’d missed an email update from our daycare provider about Kate, and burst into tears. I NEED INTERNET ON MY PHONE was my hissy fit to my husband that evening.
“If it’s that important she would call us,” was G’s reply.
But that wasn’t good enough for this control freak. “No Greg. I need the updates the second she sends them. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON INSTANTLY.”
(You’re surprised our daycare provider hasn’t given notice yet, aren’t you?)
Once I made the financial leap to add internet to my cell phone bill, I decided to go all the way and get the iPhone. Of course G had to lay down some ground rules first:
G: If you get this thing you have to promise me you won’t be glued to it 24/7.
D: Um…what do you mean? Like, give me specific times I can’t use it.
G: Like when we’re out for a nice dinner.
D: We don’t go out for nice dinners anymore. We’re parents.
G: Okay then, when we’re eating.
D: No iDining. Got it. Anything else?
G: When you’re driving.
D: What if I’m stopped at a red light?
G: No.
D: How about a stop sign?
G: No.
D: What if I’m stuck in traffic and we’re not moving AT ALL and I’m super bored.
G: Dusty.
D: No iDriving. Got it.
I’ve had my new toy for about two weeks now so I’m still learning my way around, but wow this thing is neat! I’ve already downloaded a few apps that I’m pretty sure will be life-changing, although I’ve yet to find that apps for “folding laundry” and “we lose the weight for you” but I’m convinced they’re out there somewhere. So while I wade through the overwhelming sea that is the Apple app store, I was hoping my fellow iPhone owners could help me out–what are your favorite apps and why? I’m specifically looking for apps to manage my grocery list, Target list, and other to-dos. And maybe one that does my hair and waters the plants, too. That’d be great. Thanks!
Try Evernote…you can manage it on your computer and iphone! I also downloaded the Target app!
LMAO That conversation sounds exactly sounds exactly like the ones I have with my husband!
I have that same tan lotion…love the faux tan..the smell? not so much. And sadly I only have a Blackberry : / no fancy apps for me. You might wanna get the level app…it’ll help when you’re hanging that painting of you and Kate.
I have an android so I don’t know if they have this app for the iPhone but I use Grocery iQ for grocery/target/etc lists and it also has coupons!
Hi D! The hubs finally allowed me to have a cell phone with email too. I begged for a blackberry to compromised with the Verizon NV. It’s pretty cool but certainly no iPhone!
Thank you for posting the Swagger Wagon video, I haven’t had a chance to see it yet and it is hilar!!!!
Take care
Karen
My fav apps –
Lose It! – tracks your food for the day with awesome charts
Grocery iQ – SOOOO F’ing worth it. You can even take a picture of the bar code to scan the item you need to add to the list and it adds it…awesome awesome.
To Do’s – to do list
TipCalculator – enough said
and of course – Bejewled 2 – you need something to eat up dead time.
My favorite game is Diner Dash. Be careful—it’s addicting. Glad you had a great first mother’s day!
–Natalie– http://www.pocketofpresh.blogspot.com
SO awesome you got an iPhone! I’m about to make the get-internet-on-my-phone-because-I-can’t-stand not-having-it-anymore leap as well. Wish me luck.
You probably already know about this one, but my stepmom has RED LASER and loves it (put iPhone’s camera over any barcode and it will search for that product and tell you where you can buy it most cheaply). http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/redlaser/id312720263?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
BUMP – share contact info, photos, become facebook friends, etc. in seconds. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bump/id305479724?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
I don’t know if there’s an iPhone version of this, but the Android app Key Ring sounds really cool (keeps track of all of your rewards cards instead of having to carry them in your wallet or on your keys): http://htcevoapps.com/page/43
Being a new mom to a 10 week old, I definitely had the same feelings towards mothers day this year!
…and I may just have to invest in some of that self tanner. New mommy’s do not get much time to sun bathe
You need this — I saw it in person in Amsterdam and fell in love — then I found out it was Kate Spade and I thought of you
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TX904ZM/A
My hubby uses To-Do List by Concrete Software for his work calendar.
Also have a friend that uses Lose It. It’s a weight loss program where you track your food and activity. So if you haven’t posted by 8pm it will remind you to enter what you ate. You can also link it to Facebook. I love seeing his updates!
I also love the Lose It app. And I think Shopper is aaaamazing for shopping lists and it has a barcode scanner and local flyers. It’s pretty much a lifesaver for me – with a baby, I can’t remember ANYthing without a list.
What fun things loved in May. Swagger Wagon was pretty funny. And thank you G for enforcing the no iDriving rule. There is nothing worse. But hey, for when you’re not driving, there’s a Bananagrams app. F-U-N!
jbhat
Thanks for posting the Swagger Wagon video…I just watched all of their commercials and loved them.
Here are some of my most-used apps – and almost all are free:
– Evernote – Great for keeping lists and “clipping” internet photos and such, where it automatically stores the source. I love that you can access from both your computer and phone.
– Feather = Fashion + Weather
– ShopStyle – App version of the website, I love being able to search for whatever I’m looking for across multiple stores when I’m on the go. When I’m bored, I’m usually here adding clothing, shoes, and home goods to my favorites.
– PopSugar – App version of the website, where I get my daily dose of everything. For straight-up celebrity gossip, I sometimes turn to the E! Online and TMZ apps.
– CraigsPro – Craigslist app; I use the free version. Great because it returns thumbnail images with the posting, and you can save up to a number of searches.
– Slacker Radio – Free streaming radio, somewhat tailored to your tastes. Another app that does the same thing is Pandora, but I’m partial to the Slacker interface and stations.
– Zillow – Look up house prices as you drive around neighborhoods. Trulia has an app as well.
– Yelp – Great for finding good restaurants in areas you’re not familiar with. (Or just to find restaurants you haven’t tried!) Another app that does something similar is Urban Spoon.
– Flood-It! – A game I periodically delete off my iPhone because I’ve been known to play it too much.
– CardStar – Store all of your frequent-shopper card numbers on here, and the clerk can scan your phone instead of the card.
– WhiteNoise – I’ve heard this is good for babies.
lol that i’m not the only adult who likes playing Diner Dash
I also have LineUp2 in the way of games.
ShoppingList is what I use to manage grocery/target lists. I’ve tried just about every free app out there (hey, i’m cheap). this one is $1 or $2 but I really like it. simple & customizable without being ridiculous.
Words with Friends is a must. I play with lots of my mama friends (they frequently make their move in the middle of the night)
PS Mobile – photoshop mobile for all those way too dark photos
Shazam – the one that used to be in commercials that you can hold up and it recognizes the song being played. I don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned above but everyone i know loves it!
Oh and Yelp & Urbanspoon.
I can’t get over how much little Kate looks like her mama.
Both of you are so pretty!
Hi, my name is Lauren, and I am an iPhone widow.
My beloved uses a bunch of news apps (boring) and these others:
– Cardstar for the store cards
– AroundMe to find businesses, restaurants, etc…around you. shocking.
– Take Me To My Car – when you park, you load the app & it records your location (like a GPS). Then, when you’re trying to get back, it maps it for you. It’s helpful when we park in random places in Manhattan.
– Sleep Cycle – you set a time frame when you want to wake up (this would work more pre-Kate, I assume). Then you leave the phone on your mattress next to you. It records your movements and rouses you during the portion of the selected time frame when you’re most awake. It charts your sleep cycles, too. Cool stuff.
My favorite iphone apps are:
Simplist: for keeping random lists that I can check off
ShopShop: I have a list for the grocery store and another for Target. It remembers your items so you only need to type a few letters and then choose your item. Then you cross them off as you shop and shake it to erase.
TV Forecast: 99¢ – for keeping track of the (too many) shows I watch.
Total Baby: $4.99 – I used this for keeping track of all my pumping, and I still use it for all feedings, diaper changes and baths. (1,135 diapers since 1 week old!)
Target: for checking the weekly ad. Plus it’s just awesome.
P Tracker: 99¢ – for tracking monthly… girl events
I have been using Color Catchers for years. I have a little collection of ones that have drastically absorbed colors.
As for Mother’s Day, it was also our son Frederick’s baptism, so the day was all about baby (4 months old now). My husband finally remembered when we were all standing in the church parking lot and I got a peck on the cheek. I was crushed, absolutely crushed! He felt so bad he went out after dinner and got me a card and bar of chocolate. Oh well, maybe next year.
I’m sorry but “Swagger Wagon” is definitely the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time! I LOVE those commercials! Good post!
This post made me tear up and laugh hysterically all in one.
I love Zenbe lists, Women’s Calendar, Photobucket, Flickr, Quicken, Starbucks (you never know when you need a Starbucks and you aren’t familiar with where you are), Fandango — buy and look up movie times whenever and wherever you are (just in case you get that chance), skobbler (gps that talks to you like a garmin but is free) and I love many more but I will stop here.
Enjoy your new iPhone. I am completely reliant on my phone now for about 2 years or so! I LOVE IT!