Thursday Helpful Sites

Feedly keeps me up to date on my favorite blogs.  This week, the last of this kind for a while, is under the heading "Inspiration", for me. I appreciate the authors and their topics.

1. I love Life by Kal Barteski has wonderful inspiration for the eyes and the mind. I appreciate her point of view tremendously.
2. I found this blog, Keeping Tabs, through someone who knows the author. She suggested her friends read about this Ohio girl who has/is traveling the world. She often posts wonderful pictures, too.
3. I began following Lisa Leonard when some women in the scrapbook community suggested it. First, her jewelry was beautiful and connected with the one little word concept. But her faith and life story keep me reading.
4. I'm not sure how I stumbled across Lisa Russo, but once I did, I fell in love with her art. Her photographs speak to my heart and style. I have been changing some of the design, here at my house, cleaning out spaces in our home, as well as extraneous decor and am dreaming of the day when I can add her work to our home. I haven't, yet, but I will. Once I fell for her art, I continued to read her blog and appreciate how similar we are. 
5. Vicky and Jen: "What Really Matters"-I originally found them via their podcasts. I appreciated their home/mom advice as I listened. Then I began to follow their blog. There is some overlap, but not always, with the podcast. Two down-to-earth moms who work at bettering life.
6. The next two blogs don't have posts too often, as they are busy people, so I can relate, but I appreciate glimpses into their family lives-their real life. They inspire me, both in different ways. The first is It Matters by Darci Dowdle, a mom of 5 kids and a woman journeying with her faith.
7. Jenny Meyerson: Learn with Jenny-I first saw a video of her through a scrapbooker's blog-dancing. An amazing lady on a journey through life as a mom and wife.

Do you have blogs that you read because they inspire you? Hope you are well, Reader.

"There's An App For That"

Since I am still reading the same books as the last few weeks, I found a magazine article in Scrapbooks Etc.-which is no longer being published and that is sad- August 2012 issue (page 80) with a topic I wanted to share. I have posted about all the apps and games I have on my phone but here are some I'm interested in learning more about. *Side note-yes, I just found this article in a 2012 issue... I was cleaning out my craft room/office-yes, I organize it, but I really worked on purging and cleaning out again, recently-and found this issue.

The article is called "there's an app for that": "Here are a few of our favorite image-editing applications" {I haven't typed every bit and bob from the article, just linked the apps they listed. I linked them to their itunes page because itunes provides good information about each image-editing application.}

1. 100 Cameras in 1 Here is some info about it via itunes
2. Instagram I have posted about before here on my blog.
3. Adobe Photoshop Express
4. BeFunky
5. Camerabag
6. Camera Zoom FX
7. Diptic
8. ImgEdit-only available for blackberry
9. Lightbox Photos-available only for android
10. Pano
11. Photo Editor-available for blackberry
12. Picoli
13. PicSay-available only for android
14. Radical Draw with Photo Editing-available for blackberry 
15. Snapseed
16. Thumba Photo Editor

Thursday's Apps

Usually the apps I link here are Thursday's "Helpful" Apps. However, the category I am placing here today is "Time Waster" Apps-these are games I play in down time, like while waiting at the doctor's office or in the car when my husband is driving and my eyes are too tired to read. I actually have a segment on my phone labeled "Time Wasters" with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and some of the games listed below. Sometimes it helps to remind me that I will look up again in a few minutes and realize time has disappeared... Also, every so often I can find a fun game to try and it will be free, but as it gains in popularity prices appear/rise. Some below are still free, as well. So, I didn't pay the full price for all the games below, fyi. ;)

1. Angry Birds-I have loved almost all versions of this game since it first came out. However, the one I play right now is seasons. I like to play the season we are in. I have played them all and achieved three stars on most on our ipad, but that was long before I got my iphone. Now I get to work on them on my phone. With multiple seasons for three different years, it feels like new. I wonder if they will update those this year... I don't care for the Star Wars or Space versions as well, but I don't have those on my phone right now.
2. Another game/app I enjoy is Ski Safari. I played it quite a bit last year on the ipad, as well. Then, with winter approaching, I was in the mood to play this again and started on my phone. itunes has this to say about it: Ski Safari is where Animals, Avalanches and Action come together to create a new casual gameplay experience.
   
   Our deep sleeping hero has to stay ahead of a relentless avalanche that threatens the local mountainsides. Sven, as we like to call him, can use animals to aid his escape from an icey end. Each of the hillside animals have different attributes to make a speedier escape. Penguins glide further, Yetis are tougher, Eagles soar to great heights, each of these can provide useful advantage for Sven. Sometimes on the slopes Sven can find fast Snowmobiles which can ferry multiple animals a maintain a very high top speed.
   
   Staying ahead of the avalanche has its advantages and perks. Completing objectives can 'level up' Sven and increase his score multiplier. Riding animals, performing backflips add to the score and with an increased score multiplier Sven will rocketing up the highscore table with ease.
3. I also play a variety of "with friends" games. They sync with Facebook and your opponents can be your facebook friends. I play Words Free/With Friends, which is like Scrabble, Scramble With Friends which is like Boggle, and Hanging Free which is like hangman. All are word games and I usually try to get to a game of each every other day or so since I'm playing against my friends. You can play them via facebook, too, I think.
4. Tiny Wings is a fun game my girls and I enjoy every so often, too. Cute and simple. 
5. I have other games that I don't play regularly, but every now and again I am inclined to try a game or two. These games include: Plants vs Zombies (I don't like zombies or the zombie craze that is popular right now, but this is a cute game involving some strategy, which a lot of the games I like to play do.) Bejeweled Blitz, which I can also play via Facebook with friends and family, Triple Town, Link That Gugl, Little Things which is a search and find game with great graphics, Search 60 which is also search and find but all in 60 seconds, Word Ladder and Cribbage Lite.

Thursday's Helpful Apps

This week's apps are Reading and Reference apps. I just have a few, but I do use them.

• First, my Bible App. It is the You Version app. You can read certain passages, look up verses, highlight/flag your favorites and save passages you want to come back to. itunes says this: On more than 100 million devices all over the world, people are reading, listening to, and sharing the Bible using the #1 rated Bible App—completely free. Hundreds of Bible versions, hundreds of reading plans, dozens of languages. Add your own highlights, bookmarks, and public or private notes. Customize your experience for easy reading. Access everything when you’re connected, or download specific versions for offline use. And many other things!
• Second, I use the Dictionary app from Dictionary.com. Here's what itunes says:  Top-rated app with trusted reference content from Dictionary.com & Thesaurus.com. WORKS OFFLINE - no Internet connection needed when searching words. 
  
  Features:
  
  • English Dictionary and Thesaurus - over 2,000,000 definitions, synonyms & antonyms
  • Offline access – no Internet connection needed for most content
  • Daily content, including Word of the Day, slideshows & the blog 
  • Audio pronunciations 
  • Example sentences 
  • Word origin & history
  • Voice search (five free searches included) 
  • Medical Dictionary with over 35,000 medical words & definitions available as a premium upgrade
  • Science Dictionary with over 23,000 science definitions & illustrations available as a premium upgrade
  • Translator with over 30 languages, perfect for ESL and reliable translations into English
  • Modern, up-to-date English definitions & content
  • Customizable font sizes for better readability
  • Favorite words 
  • Search history
  • Spelling suggestions
  • Popular & local trending searches
• I have the ibooks app, too, although I don't use it very often. It can be used like any other ereader, purchasing books and then reading them on your device. At least thus far, I enjoy the traditional, paper form of books. The itunes description states this: iBooks is an amazing way to download and read books. iBooks includes the iBooks Store, where you can download the latest bestselling books or your favorite classics – day or night. Browse your library on a beautiful bookshelf, tap a book to open it, flip through pages with a swipe or a tap, and bookmark or add notes to your favorite passages.
  
  Download books
  • Download best-sellers and classic books from the iBooks Store
  • Find fully illustrated books, including children's picture books, designed art books, photo books, cook books, and more in the iBooks Store
  • Experience gorgeous fullscreen Multi-Touch books designed for iPad. These books are filled with interactive features, diagrams, photos, videos, and more
  • Read a free sample of any book on the iBooks Store before making it a part of your permanent collection
• Last, I have the app called Newstand. It came on my phone and can be used to read magazines or newspapers. I don't use that too often, but like that I can. I would really like it if I traveled, I think. 

Do you have any apps that you would recommend, Reader? 

Last Thursday's Helpful Apps

I got behind, sorry! Catching up! Today's Helpful Apps Category is Miscellaneous. This is a jumble of different types of apps I like. Next week will be Time Wasters, I mean games, that I enjoy when I have a few minutes to kill. However, since we have covered organization, health and fitness, listening, photography, social interaction, and the basics, I have some apps that just don't fit into another category. Enjoy!

https://itunes.apple.com/CA/app/id300048137

• One thing I used quite regularly was the flashlight app, but, as you know, I updated the iOS to 7 and it now comes with a flashlight app so I deleted the old one. I love that I can click it on quickly as I am trying to get the dogs to come back in the house after I have let them out. ;)
• I mentioned in my last post that I use an app called Vivino for cataloging wines. I have used it about ten times, so I'm not totally into a great habit with it, and, for that matter, I'm not always trying new wines. I do use it to keep track and I like the ease with which I can use it.  Here is the itunes description, and the app is free! • Take a photo and get to know any wine in seconds.
  • Remember wines and explore more of them
  • Get personalized wine recommendations
  • Share experiences and be inspired by friends.
  • Find the best rated wines in nearby shops.
  
  Vivino simplifies your path to enjoying great wines.
  The app helps you remember your favorites, know more about wine, and which one to choose for next occasion. Snap a photo of any wine, and while you have a sip we automatically recognize it from our database of more than 1,000,000 wines. If the app doesn’t match it immediately, our team will do it for you as quickly as we can.
  
  Discover all you want to know about wines, explore friend’s ratings and get personal recommendations based on your taste, simply browse wines in nearby stores or locate the ones on your Vivino Wish List.
  
  Best of all: It’s free!
• I use the Starbucks app, too. I, at most, am drinking Starbucks every other day. Usually less, these days, since I'm not working. I don't mind coffee at home, but I do love the ease of this app. Here is some information posted on itunes about the Starbucks app, which you can also get via the Starbucks site itself. The official iPhone application from Starbucks! In addition to paying from Starbucks for iPhone, you can now add a Starbucks Card to Passbook. It’s the fastest way to pay at Starbucks – just scan and go!
  
  With Starbucks for iPhone, you can manage your Starbucks Card balance, reload your card, track your Stars in the My Starbucks Rewards program and send an eGift to a friend. And there’s more!
  
  Our easy-to-navigate store locator points you to the closest store and lets you search by amenities. You can also explore our whole bean coffees, find nutrition information and build your own perfect drink. And if you feel like being social, you can share your location or favorite drinks through Facebook and Twitter.
• I use the app for my bank, too. I won't share which one I use here, but I do like that I can deposit small checks without having to leave my house. I like that I can check my balances in the palm of my hand, too. I checked most local banks and they all have a safe, secure app for your account.
• I have a few weather apps. I cannot ever decide which one I like better. I like them each for different reasons. While searching for information for this bullet point, I came across this article: Comparing iphone Weather Apps at a Glance. First, in my apps, the "weather" that came with the phone. I can't delete it and it gives me a nice, quick peek at the current conditions pretty well. I have found that I like the radar view the best via The Weather Channel (or TWC) app. Then, if I feel like one more point of view, I use Accuweather. Each itunes link has more information about each one, and these are just blurbs for information. They often have other types of apps for other types of devices. I just used itunes because that is what I know.

That's all for today! Hope these help!

Thursday's Helpful Apps

Today's Thursday Apps are under the heading Organization for me. They help me organize my data, my schedule,  and my thoughts and ideas. Do you use any of these apps, Reader? Which do you like best? Or do you use something different altogether?

1. I have some apps to organize my to-do list, and notes. I previously noted the Notes app that comes on the iphone. It used to look like a yellow legal pad of paper but since the iOS7 update, it looks a white lined pad of paper. It is just a place to jot down things. I have put addresses in there, foods to look up a recipe for, lyrics to songs to look up or even t-shirt sayings I liked from cross country meets. Again, it's not a fancy app, just a place to jot things down to remember or some people to use it as a to-do list and jot down plans for the day.
2. I also use the Reminders app quite frequently-actually more since the operating system update. On this site, they mentioned these notes below about the app: With Reminders, you can: Create and organize multiple lists, Use Date/Time or location-based notifications, Search for specific reminders, Reorder to-dos, View your reminders by list or scheduled view, and Automatically update all your devices and calendars using Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud.
3. I have a wonderful journaling app, DayOne, also. I had heard about it on someone's blog where they touted its wonderful qualities, but I didn't want to pay the price. Then, I saw where they had a try-it-free promotion, which is when I downloaded it and have been using it ever since. You can add tags to things, for example I have my daughters' names as tags so if I'm looking for a journal note about them I can search by tag. You can also put in pictures, places, links. You can also set reminders. I have one set at 8:00am each day. It reminds me to journal each day then. You can also sync between devices. 
4. Another favorite is GoodReads. I have the app and I use it frequently. I'm pretty sure I've blogged about it before, but I was just telling a friend about it recently and was surprised she'd never come across it before. It is worthy of blogging again. ;) It you are on it and would like to share book information, let me know, Reader! :) I often like to look for books I like at the bookstore, scan their bar code into my app and then I can look them up at the library. It's a nice way to see what I have read, what I want to read and books I have liked so I can look up similar books. Here is itune's description: Keep track of what you want to read, review the books you've read, and organize your reading history by adding books to your shelves. Find new and interesting books by looking at what your friends are reading, and comment on their reviews. No other app combines the power and depth of the Goodreads community with an enormous catalog of books and reviews. Use our barcode scanner the next time you are in a bookstore. Add the book in your hands to your "to-read" shelf and easily view its reviews before buying.
5. I have also mentioned Pinterest, here, as well, I think. I love it. It is also a website, but I think the iphone app is even easier to use than the site. Such a good place to organize ideas for all areas of my life, like organization, gardening, teaching, Bible verses, and so much more. I can get lost on it before realizing how much time has passed. :) It is also nice to use the app from my phone sometimes to send a funny meme to my daughters. A nice, quick, simple way to share our interests and sometimes a laugh. Here is itune's description:Pinterest is a tool to find your inspiration and share it with others. Use it to collect things you love, organize and plan important projects, and more.
   Features
   • Pin images from around the web
   • Explore pins and boards you’re interested in
   • Get inspiration from DIY, Travel, Food and other categories
   • Pin with your camera
6. I used to use Google Reader until it was no longer up and running. I loved having blog posts I read from several different blogs and websites in one place. I chose Feedly as my replacement. I like the website better than the iphone app, but they are making nice changes to it over time, as their user base continues to grow.  "Feedly is a better way to organize, read and share the content of your favorite sites."
7. Last, an app I have and go in phases with. Some phases I love this app, Evernote, and some phases I don't open it for days. I'm sure it could be a wonderful tool to organize so many things, but I haven't gotten into the habit of using it. I could probably use this app for all 6 of the items above, or at least 4 of them. I may, still, but not today. Their theme is "remember everything". Here is the description from itunes:Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders--and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go. 
   
   New York Times ‘Top 10 Must-Have App’, Winner: TechCrunch Crunchies, Mashable Awards and the Webbys. 
   
   Key Features:
   • Sync all of your notes across the computers and devices you use
   • Create and edit text notes, to-dos and task lists 
   • Save, sync and share files 
   • Record voice and audio notes
   • Search for text inside images
   • Organize notes by notebooks and tags
   • Email notes and save tweets to your Evernote account
   • Connect Evernote to other apps and products you use
   • Share notes with friends and colleagues via Facebook and Twitter
   • Works with Evernote Business: Capture, browse, search, and share Business Notes and Business Notebooks from your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
   ◦ Premium feature: take notebooks offline to access them anytime 
   ◦ Premium feature: allow others to edit your notebooks
   ◦ Premium feature: add a PIN lock to your Evernote app
   
   Evernote is free to download and use. Evernote Premium adds the great features above and is available through an auto-renewing subscription.
   
   Two subscription options: 
   ◦ Evernote Premium monthly for $5 
   ◦ Evernote Premium annually for $45 
   
   Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. You will not be able to cancel a subscription during the active period. Manage your subscriptions in the Account Settings after purchase.
   
   Here are some ways to use Evernote for your personal and professional life:
   • Research smarter: snap photos of whiteboards and books
   • Take meeting and class notes, draft agendas and research notes
   • Plan a trip: keep track of travel plans, plane tickets and passports
   • Organize and save recipes; search by ingredients later
   • Create a grocery list or task list and check things off as you go
   • View web pages saved in Evernote on your desktop
   • Capture ideas and inspiration on the go
   • Access files and notes you create on your phone from your desktop
   • Keep track of products and prices for comparison shopping purposes
   • Keep finances in order: save receipts, bills and contracts
   • Reduce paper clutter by taking snapshots of restaurant menus, business cards and labels
   • Use Evernote as part of your GTD system to help you stay organized
   • To get the most out of your Evernote experience, download it on all of the computers and phones that you use.
   
   Evernote is available for: Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Web
   Web clippers available for: Evernote for Web; Web Clippers for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer
   
   Learn more: http://www.evernote.com/about/getting_started/

Thursday's Helpful Apps

Today's apps I have chosen to write about are the Health and Fitness apps.

1. MyFitnessPal is a helpful app for me, and several of my husband's family members. It is a free calorie counter where you can input your exercises (where you are burning calories) and account for the calories you are putting in. You can set a goal of losing one pound per week, two pounds per week, etc and that gives you a goal amount of calories. Our daughters were running so much over the summer and burning so many calories for their skinny selves, that I had them do this with a goal of gaining a pound and a half per week. ;) I use it to keep track because I "run so I can eat what I want", but the truth is that I was eating too many calories even though I was running. In the evenings I was still snacking, but the calorie total was still sitting in my mind. It's even just a good tool to make you aware of what you are eating. Here is their itunes link with more information.
2. MapMyRun and MapMyWalk are good apps to keep track, like my GPS watch, of my times, splits, courses and details on my phone. I just have the basic version, but I do like it. I use the Running app and I use it when I walk, bike or run. It's nice to hear my split times, sometimes, in my ear, especially when my watch isn't charged. Here's the description: Real-time fitness tracking, at your fingertips, on your iPhone, no extra devices required. Our apps use your smartphone's GPS to record every detail of your workout. Follow your route on an interactive map while logging time, distance, speed, pace, elevation and calories burned.
3. I recently picked up one of the "free app of the week" cards at Starbucks. It is called Yoga Studio. I haven't tried it, yet, since I'm working on resting my injury for Sunday's half marathon, but am excited to try it during yoga practice at home. Here's their description on itunes-they have a lot more detail on the actual site, which I linked here, also: ★ Recommended by: Mac|Life, 148Apps, iMore, Gizmodo, Fox, MSN, The Guardian, Huffington Post, and many more
   ★ Featured by Apple in "New and Noteworthy", "What's Hot" and the "Get in Shape" Essential App Collection
   ★ Voted runner-up in "Best App Ever" Awards 2012 (Health category)
   
   Introducing the ultimate yoga app: Play, create, customize and schedule easy-to-follow HD video yoga classes.
4. I have had this Pocket Yoga App for a while, but also have had this injury for a while. ;) I have seen several good reviews on it, also, and am excited to start back into a regular yoga practice again after this half marathon. Here are some of the listed features: The practice of yoga becomes beneficial when done on a regular basis. With Pocket Yoga you can keep up with your practice at your own pace and schedule in the comforts of your own home. Simply set your iPhone, iPod or iPad in front of your mat, start a practice, and Pocket Yoga will guide you through your entire session.
   
   Choose between 3 different practices, 3 different difficulty levels and 3 different durations. A total of 27 different sessions!
   
   With the Pocket Yoga store, you now get even more from practicing yoga. Unlock up to 10 beautiful environments simply by doing the routines you already love.
   
   Practices in Pocket Yoga are the unique and original creative design of the world-renowned school of Gaia Flow Yoga.
   
   Features:
   
   • Detailed voice and visual instruction guides you through every pose, including each inhalation and exhalation. 
   • Over 150 beautifully illustrated pose images with correct posture and positioning.
   • Dictionary of poses containing descriptions and benefits of each pose.
   • Unlock a series of serene environments by practicing yoga.
   • Quickly preview a practice to see if it's right for you.
   • Maintains an ongoing log of all your yoga practices to track your progress and promote consistency.
   • Practices designed by experienced yoga instructors.
   • Ability to play music from your library in place of the default music.

Do you have any apps you use for regular health and fitness, Reader?

Top Ten Favorite Podcasts

In my Thursday's Helpful Apps post earlier today, I mentioned the podcast app and I wanted to share some I like. A few of my favorites are: 

1.  The Alton Browncast via nerdist. Alton Brown does a great podcast where he talks with chefs and shares his culinary knowledge.  
2. Travel with Rick Steves is a good podcast, although I haven't listened to many, I loved his Italy book when we traveled there two years ago. I do enjoy his show, as well, and these podcasts are often full of information.  
3. NPR's Ask Me Another, which is a trivia game show for the ears. I love it! 
4. The Nutrition Diva's Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous shows you "simple and painless" ways to change your eating habits to head to a healthier you. 
5. Stuff You Should Know Podcast tells you lots about things you may not know. They discuss a variety of topics and I have found many of them interesting. 
6. NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is a show where they quiz you on current events-or quiz the guests. It is very funny! 
7. The Paperclipping Roundtable is a show about scrapbooking where they often talk to people about inspiration, creativity and educate you in the process. I often like the episodes with mainstream scrapbooking artists that I've seen online or in magazines the best.   
8. Stuff You Missed In History Class   This has long been one of my top favorite podcasts. I love listening to historical stories made interesting. I would often let my students listen to a podcast or make it "bonus" if they did so on a weekend, to supplement their learning about topics from our class. The topics range in areas and time periods. 
9. What Really Matters with Vicky and Jen "Each weekly show offers candid, entertaining and informative interviews with a wide variety of guests: professional organizers to chefs, parenting experts to doctors and television personalities to best-selling authors. Join us as we learn, laugh and grow together. And make every day matter." 
10. Another Mother Runner Podcast is a podcast where the authors of the Another Mother Runner book are "engaging and encouraging you to run like a mother"

I hope you find some to listen to, that you would like, Reader! They are a lovely way to pass the time when you aren't in the mood for music. On long driving trips, when I am the driver, and even when I am not, they help me pass the time.

Thursday's Helpful Apps

The apps I'm linking today are the apps I listen to. I listen to music or podcasts on them, normally. 
Those apps are:

• itunes- With iTunes, it’s easy to get all your music organized. Any song or album you purchase from iTunes goes straight into your music library. And when you import your CDs, iTunes automatically adds the album, artist, and song names, along with the album art. Then, with your whole collection to choose from, you can create the ultimate playlists for rocking out, working out, or chilling out. You can also rate your songs with one to five stars, so it’s easy to find your favorites later.
• iphone's app: "music" which plays my itunes songs-This is essentially itunes on my phone. It just lists it as a "music" app. However, it is organized the same as my itunes/music from my laptop. 
• podcasts-this is similar to the music app-but it is strictly for podcasts. Podcasts are so enjoyable for me to listen to! They are sometimes radio shows being replayed, sometimes stories, sometimes facts-whatever you'd like to listen to or learn about you can most likely find a podcast about! And quite frequently they are free to download. I listen to my favorites and then delete them when I am done. I will be posting my top ten favorite podcasts in another podcasts later today.
• Shazam is a fun app because it can tell me what song I am listening to. I can be in the car, hear a song I like and the radio personalities might not let me know the song or artist. While it is playing, I can hit the Shazam button and it will listen and promptly tell me both! It can't always, such as if there is too much other noise or a very new song, but it is often correct with its response. You can then, if you want, order the song from itunes or tag it for later.
• ESPN radio app-In the mornings, I often like to listen to the Mike and Mike radio show. Sometimes I want to work in the yard, especially in the summer, and I will listen to Mike and Mike from this app. Good sports information on some radio stations. This isn't a daily used app, but it it helpful when I want to use it. 
• Pandora-Here you can like or dislike songs on a radio-like station. Eventually, it will try to discover songs you like and play those streaming like a radio station. Here is what it tells you on itunes: Great music discovery is effortless and free with Pandora. Just start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs, genres or composers and we will do the rest. It’s easy to create personalized stations that play only music you’ll love.
  Tap into an entire world of music, including almost a century of popular recordings - new and old, well known and obscure. Create up to 100 personalized radio stations with your free account.
  Not sure where to start? Create a free account to explore hundreds of music and comedy genre stations.
  Already a Pandora listener? Even easier. Just log in and enjoy the same free radio service. Your Pandora is the same across the web, on your TV and in your car—access your free personalized radio wherever you want to hear great music. Enjoy all your existing music and comedy stations - and create new ones right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.
• and itunes Radio-which is Apple's answer to Pandora and Spotify, where you can listen to a radio-like station to the genre of music of your choice, "liking" or "disliking" music so it will play more of the songs you like: "Check out iTunes Radio on your iPhone, iPad,iPod touch, Mac, PC, or Apple TV. You’ll have access to more than 250 DJ-curated and genre-focused stations — including everything from Hard Rock to Doo Wop, all with crystal-clear sound quality. Your stations evolve based on the music you play and download. So the more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more iTunes Radio knows what you like to listen to — and the more it can play music you’ll love."

Thursday's Helpful Apps

Today I will be listing my favorite/most used photography apps from my phone. I love to take pictures of my family, my yard/flora/fauna, my pets, many things, actually. I primarily use my iphone5, now. I have a nice Canon camera that I used to love-it has a wonderful zoom! However, it's large and to take it in my purse to capture everyday moments is just too much. I only bring it to special occasions, now. Granted, my iphone can't capture everything as well as a regular camera, but it does a pretty good job. And, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the new iOS7 update for the camera has some nice features.

• Like I said, I use the "camera" app-just the basic app that came on the phone-quite regularly and its new updates like the swipe from regular camera to video or panoramic are much easier to use.
• Instagram, I have also mentioned before, is a good way for me to take pictures and instantly apply an easy filter and post it. I can also have it share that same post to Twitter or Facebook from the instagram app. Via itunes, they mention "Over 150 million users love Instagram! It's a simple way to capture and share the world's moments on your iPhone.
  
  Customize your photos and videos with one of several gorgeous and custom built filter effects. Transform everyday moments into works of art you'll want to share with friends and family.
  
  Share your photos and video in a simple photo stream with friends to see - and follow your friends' photos with the click of a single button. Every day you open up Instagram, you'll see new photos from your closest friends, and creative people from around the world."
• Picstitch is a fun app that will take two or more pictures, and like Instagram, you can apply filters to the photo, but you can also put multiple pictures into one picture. Their info on itunes says, "Quickly combine multiple photos into one beautifully framed picture.
  
  Pic Stitch packs a simple design with a powerful editor to give you everything you could possibly want to make your photo's simply amazing.
  
  Share your masterpiece on your favorite social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Or order prints from your local Walgreens for in-store pickup.
  
  Use Pic Stitch to create a before-and-after sequence, combine great photos of each of your kids, or produce a photographic series."
• Beautiful Mess is a cute app that can put symbols, words, etc. onto the picture you've taken and then it can be shared. It is cute and fun! I have enjoyed playing around with it thus far. Some info from itunes states, "Add new life to your favorite photos with custom filters, fun fonts, and hand-drawn doodles by Elsie and Emma, creators of the award-winning lifestyle blog, "A Beautiful Mess". Then share your creations with friends through email, or by publishing them directly to popular social networks — Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (hashtag: #ABeautifulMess).
  
  Whether you're sharing personalized snapshots with friends and family or broadcasting your life's most beautiful moments through social media, the photo app from A Beautiful Mess makes it fun and easy."
• Ceiva is an app I use to upload pictures to a digital frame. My husband's grandparents have the digital frame in their apartment connected to wifi and it will upload pictures we send them so they can see the latest shots. They both have really enjoyed it! 
• Also, I just recently saw this article from How Stuff Works on the "10 Great iphone Camera Apps"

Do you have any camera/photo apps you love, Reader? I have heard of a few others, but haven't brought myself to purchase them, yet. Do you have any suggestions?

Thursday's Helpful Apps

Today I will be sharing apps that I frequently use for social interaction. Before I do that, however, I have to note that my iphone got it's iOS7 update this week. It is an adjustment, as with any change. There are just little things I've noticed so far, such as graphics (which really didn't bother me, at all), the method you use to close in-use-apps, camera features (which I love!), which are easier to find, the swipe-up control center has nice organization, itunes radio (which is like pandora), better swipe-down notifications, changes in the weather app makes the others I had downloaded unnecessary, and sadly, the fact that it seems to drain my power more quickly than it did before (BOO!) I have found a few sites to share, here, that discuss the new iOS7 features:

• My Crazy Good Life has iOS7 tips and tricks here.
• Independent.ie (business/tech article) about "hidden features" here
• BuzzFeed's "Send This to Your Parents to Explain iOS7" article

Next, my "social" apps that I use regularly (I have provided links so you can click on the app name and read more about it):

• Facebook-I get frustrated with all Facebook's policy changes, but when I consider getting rid of it altogether I hear from my grandfather, who lives in another state, and he messages me. He says he likes my pictures or comments on an update, lets me know how he is. That is a BIG deal! I love it. I have the app for my phone and it is on the short list of things I check at the beginning of my day.
• Twitter-I love checking it. I follow a variety of people-athletes, tv stars, family, friends, and news outlets. I do not, however, have the hang of dropping hashtags (#s) into my text as the younger set do...
• Instagram-I also love this. I love taking pictures and sharing them with my family and friends. Instagram has features that I can use to edit those pictures and then post them. I will talk about this again in a few weeks when I discuss my favorite photo apps! I also like this way of sharing photos and seeing what my family and friends are sharing, as well.
• Skype-This app lets me connect with my nieces in another state. I can see and hear them, and vice versa. I love that I can even read them books, and I can point things out on the pages as we go. We can interact pretty well! It has been helpful with our oldest daughter off to college, as well. So nice to see her face as well as hear her voice.
• Last, Facetime-This allows me to do the same things as Skype, but lately the connection has been better. 

Do you have favorite social apps, Reader? Or have iOS7 features you like/dislike?

Thursday's Helpful Apps #1

I decided to try posting a weekly segment about apps I use on my phone. Today I'm starting with the basics. I have an iphone5. I didn't have an iphone before this, but when we upgraded the girls' phones we upgraded mine, as well. I didn't think I needed a phone this "fancy", but I sure do appreciate all it does, now! In the weeks ahead I will visit topics such as photography, social media, health, music, etc. Today, the basics:
*Phone: I use the phone-yes, I actually call and talk to people. ;)
*I use mail-I can connect to my gmail and retrieve all my email at once. I used to have gmail for my school email and received it on my phone, as well, which was nice to have it all in one location.
*I use "Messages" for texting. It is so nice to be able to text my family. Silly, I know, but for my daughter to text and say "Practice is over, please come get me" or "Ready" instead of finding a pay phone, calling collect using the name "I'm ready for a ride". ;)
*I use the "camera" tool. I use it a lot! :)
*I use "settings". This enables me to set the many options my phone offers, such as ring tones, notifications, and wallpaper.
*There is a "notes" app that was on my phone when I bought it that looks like a yellow legal pad. It is just a quick way place to jot down thoughts to come back to later.
*Clock-I use this a lot. I can set alarms with it, naturally, but I also use it for a timer or stopwatch. Very simple to use.
*Calendar-I also have this set to my home calendar and can see all my upcoming appointments. I receive notifications as things are about to show up, as well.
 *There is an "App Store", as well. Not only can you download items from there, as well as purchase them, this notifies me when a new update is available, such as when a company has a bug fix for an app you use. Those are all my "basics" they are apps or tools that came on my phone that I use regularly. Check in next week for others!