5 apps that make my days better

For my birthday this year, Mr. KB bought me the new iPad*.  And as I always suspected that I would, I LOVE IT.  It so fast, easy and fun to use.  Not a day has gone by since I received it that I have not used it – for fun, function or research.  LOVE. IT.

There are eleventy-billion apps out there.  Each one promising to do more, make my life easier, funnier, prettier or smarter.  But this girl has a budget.  And while $1.99, $2.99, or even $3.99 do not sound like a lot of money to spend to get all of the aforementioned perks, it adds up quickly and I am very committed to not spending our money frivolously or thoughtlessly.  So, I haven’t purchased a single app.  But I do have tons of them anyway.

FREE APPS.  Two loverly words.  Music to my ears.  It is right up there with FREE KINDLE books.  Most awesome shopping.  Ever.  Honestly.

Since receiving my iPad, I have EARNED $25.00, learned how to grow a pineapple plant and checked out library books without leaving my house. (Ok, I had to leave my house to shop for the groceries which resulted in the $25, but I leave the house for that purpose regularly anyway, so no special trips or added expenses were incurred).

These are a few of my favourite apps – maybe there will even be one here that will help make your life go smoother, funner, or prettier *grin*  (Yes, I am taking a hiatus from grammar today)

 Checkout 51 Rebates on everyday groceries.  They list 10-14 deals each week.  The week runs from Thursday at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday night at 11:59 p.m.  If you purchase the item listed, you take a picture of your receipt, upload it to them (using the app).  They review, approve and add the rebate to your account.  Rebates on items run from $0.50 to $3.00.  Sweet!  Once you have accumulated $20 in your account, you request a cheque and they’ll mail it to you from their Toronto-based office within 7 business days.  My $25 cheque will be here any day now – hoorah!  Check them out here.

Pinterest. Yes, we’ve all heard of the site, but before the iPad, I never really went on it.  It wasn’t a site that I could sit in front of my laptop and surf.  But on the iPad, I LOVE Pinterest.  I can peruse it for five minutes here or there quickly and easily.  Follow The Keswick Blog on Pinterest here and see some of the wonders, wonderfulness and wrongness that I have ‘pinned.’  I was never a Martha Stewart fan (ok, I’m a life-long scoffer), but seeing all of the things on the Pinterest app really make me wish I was less ‘Roseanne’ and more ‘Martha’ *grin*

Evernote.  Clip it from the web, on your tablet or computer.  It syncs so no matter where you’re accessing your account, all of your ‘notes’ are there.  Organize your notes into separate ‘Notebooks.’  It is almost too easy.  This is great for grabbing recipes and the like off the ‘net.

WeatherEye HD has proven to be very accurate in telling me what weather systems to expect and when.  I love the hourly breakdown and the long term forecasts.

 Overdrive Media Overdrive makes it possible for me to search, order, and read and/or listen to a bazillion books from the library.  They don’t have ALL the books that the brick and mortar library offers, but it’s an excellent alternative.  I mean really though, nothing could replace the feeling of an actual book in my hands and turning the pages, but since I have read using my iPad, Overdrive makes it much easier (and cheaper!!).

Honourable Mention goes to the Kindle App.  I have downloaded a ton of free Kindle books from Amazon.ca.  I used to spend obscene amounts of money on books.  Now I can’t bring myself to spend .99 for an eBook, but I sure to appreciate the books that I can get for free :).

Refusing to pay for apps does limit me somewhat, but I really did not want an iPad to have one more way to spend money.  So I haven’t let it become that.  So far.

What are your favourite apps.  Are you a Playbook, Android or iPad person?  Or could you care less about the whole tablet craze and prefer your laptop/desktop set up and the rest can go and get stuffed?

*Because I was equally excited and it touched my heart so much, I have to mention that I also received a Pandora bracelet, which I love, love, love, for my birthday last month from Mr. KB and the kids.  I am definitely taking my time choosing charms to adorn it that hold special meaning to me (and yes, I have the Pandora app too, but it doesn’t thrill me as much as the bracelet and my other apps, so it didn’t make the top five list).  And filling it with charms that symbolize what means the most to me is why I really wanted the bracelet to begin with. 🙂  I am very blessed and very thankful for all of wonderful people in my life.

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