Go from overwhelmed to organized with a few of my favorite tools and apps to help become a more organized mom and employee!
Let’s face it, we are ALL busy these days. Managing a household and keeping my career on track is A LOT to balance. But, in this modern age, I’m so very thankful for technology, tools and apps that get me through my day. I’m going to walk you through from the time I wake up to the time my head hits my pillow on the apps/tools that keep my sanity. I hope this post will help you as well!
Apps and Tools for Busy Mornings
Teach Me Time Clock. For those of you who have littles, I am telling you – GET THIS! This clock tells your kiddo when they are allowed to come downstairs by turning green when they should be coming down. My kids used to wake me up at 5:00 AM!!! Not anymore. This clock tells them when it is okay to come down. This saves YOU time so you can sleep in or have some quiet time before the day begins.
Tile. Where are my keys? Laptop bag? Where’s your jacket? Tile saves the day! If you have trouble finding your things in the morning, THIS IS THE BEST thing hands down.
Pepperplate. Pepperplate is a FREE meal planning tool that you can use. I wrote all about this amazing weekly meal planning tool here, but basically you can IMPORT all your recipes using a link, and then it’s basically a repository that has an associated app with it where you can start planning meals. It’s super amazing and easy to use!
Beats Headphones. Once the kids are 90% ready, I do let them use their electronics for a few minutes so I can tidy things up around the house. I normally let them borrow my Beats. They have their own, but this way, I remember to take them with me.
T3 Hair Dryer. This is on my WANT list. I heard that this hair dryer is serious about blow drying hair FAST. This is the Cadillac of all hair dryers.
Bliss Flat Iron/Straightener. I’ve heard nothing about good things. It’s also on my WANT list, as an upgrade from my 10 year old CHI that bit the dust a few weeks ago.
Apps and Tools While On the Go
Laptop/Diaper Bag. This bag has gotten so many compliments! It is so very functional. I love it! Ignore the bad reviews on Amazon, I give it 3 thumbs up! I use this one EVERY DAY to work and it fits my laptop bag as well as my HUGE Filofax wallet.
Filofax Personal Size. While this is a calendar, I use it mainly as a wallet. There’s actually an underground cult for these things. What’s nice is I can buy inserts for all my store cards, health insurance cards – basically things that I can’t scan into the wallet or Key Ring app!
Key Ring App. If I have a loyalty card or something I don’t want to carry around and potentially leave my Filofax at home, I’ll scan it into my Key Ring app, which I can pull up via my phone at the store to scan! It works brilliantly!
Silk Phone Case. I have this problem where I will take function over style. My phone case is black and has an insert for my driver’s license and debit card. It’s textured on all sides and makes it easy for me to hold as well as ring up stuff when I’m checking out!
Carabiner. These are amazing, especially adding it to my key chain! You don’t know how many times I’ve been able to attach my keys to my purse or around a shopping cart so I don’t lose it.
At Work and In the Office
Macbook Pro 15″. This will be my go to computer. I used to work at Best Buy in high school and throughout college. I’ve had fancy laptops (costing over $2,000 back in the early 2000’s). I will say that I had a Macbook Pro last me over 7 years. And it’s still going strong as a hand me down. BEST INVESTMENT ever.
MX Master 2S. You guys, this mouse is ergonomic and has tons of buttons and features that make your life in corporate (staring at a computer) way more efficient. I’m a huge fan.
Alfred (Mac App). I’ve converted from Windows to Mac OS at work, and I have a ton of apps that I use for efficiency once I’m in the office. Alfred allows me to create shortcuts for text I use all the time, helps me do math, hotkeys to open apps. This app is amazing.
Fantastical App. I use this app for my work, blog and personal calendar. I can set up views to see various combinations of those calendars in one click. I can also write in the appointment and it is able to sense the date, subject and location based on me freetexting it in. It’s pretty much the most amazing calendar app I’ve ever used.
Apps and Tools for Home Management
Xfi App. I bought a Disney Circle, and it didn’t work well for us. When I posted that I had purchased it on Facebook, one of my mom friends told me I could get it for free with Xfinity Comcast. This app is so amazing – I can set bedtime, wake time and max hours a kid can use their iPad. It’s pretty amazing!
Silhouette Cameo 3. You guys, I talk about my craft cutter a lot. I’ve literally used it on A TON of projects, especially when I want to be the awesome mom who makes something unique for my kids a few hours before they have to go to school with it. It’s amazing. Seriously, get one.
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