Podcasts I Can't Stop Listening To

It's funny. I've never really been an auditory person when it comes to entertainment. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love listening to music. But sparingly. Like for short stints in the car, or during my warm up for my workout.

The back half of last year kind of changed all that though. A friend raved to me about a Podcast she was listening to and told me I had to give it a try. I'll be honest. I kind of placated her and said I would, but it was still another month or two before I gave it a try. I mean, when did I have the time to sit and listen to a Podcast?!

Right on the backside of that Carrie Beth called me one day and told me she started listening to books via Audible and loved it. She even used the words "life changing", and when she states those words I listen. She's never led me astray. I mean, me and my waist will forever be grateful to her for the "must have jegging jeans" I now own in three colors.  And I'm a few inches closer to our great maker thanks to "the most amazing root boost ever made". So when she said to give it a try and I would love it, I put it on my to do list.

In the same week I decided to give both Podcasts and Audible a try. I kept thinking I wouldn't enjoy listening, or that I wouldn't have the time to finish anything.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

I found myself instantly sucked in to both. I think it helped that I was given really great suggestions for both right off the bat. I also realized how convenient it actually was to listen to something. I found tons of little pockets in my day to listen. In my car, sitting at practices, while working out, doing laundry - just to name a few. Now I'm a huge fan and look forward to actively listening to both in my day.

PODCASTS I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO!

The first Podcast I listened to was Serial. My friend suggested this, and based on the description I didn't think I would like it. I listened to the first episode of Season 1 and could. not. stop. listening. Before I knew it was five episodes in. 

I finished the first season pretty quickly and then asked for suggestions on social media. You guys always give great advice! I was given a pretty lengthy list, and decided to listen to the most suggested Podcast next. The overwhelming favorite seemed to be Dirty John. 

I listened to the first few minutes and wasn't too keen on it. I tabled it for a week or so and then came back to it and oh my - it was also so good! It's so crazy to me that this Podcast is based on real life. I've also since learned there is a TV show based on it. I am going to have to check that out. I still have so many questions about Dirty John, but it was definitely an interesting listen. 

On a completely different spectrum as the first two Podcasts, I've really enjoyed How I Built This. Mr. Cute suggested this one to me. It interviews some of today's top business leaders and some of the interviews are really interesting. My favorite so far is Sara Blakely, inventor of Spanx. I mean its only fitting considering she's a fellow Atlantan and makes one of my all time favorite pairs of pants. 

Other notables so far are Rise Together by Rachel and Dave Hollis (Rachel is the author of Girl Wash Your Face, the book everyone fell in love with in 2018.), Cat & Nat (The infamous moms known for their hilarious mom car chats), and This American Life (The same producers of Serial, but each episode is its own story.). 

Podcasts Suggested By You!

Here is a list of other Podcast suggestions I was given that I haven't gotten to quite yet. I thought I would share in case anyone else was looking for something new to listen to. I would also love love love some suggestions to add to my list! I'm totally hooked and can't wait to listen to more! 

• Dr. Death
• Younghouselove
• S Town
• Armchair Expert
• The Mom Hour
• Babes & Babies
• Whine Down
• Goal Digger
• Mom Brain
• Alone - A Love Story
• Criminal
• Up & Vanished
• Don't Mom Alone

Happy listening! 

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Things We Love {Apple Watch}

A few years ago when the Apple Watch just came out I surprised the Mr. with one for Christmas and also got the kids VTech Smart Watches.  At the time I didn't think I would ever really be interested in having an Apple watch to replace my regular watches, but boy was I wrong.

Jen bought herself an Apple Watch as a Valentine's gift last year and kept telling me how much she loved it.  So much so that she named it her favorite thing to wear for 2017.

After seeing a lot of people around me start to wear them I decided I might want to give it a go.  I thought about asking for one for Mother's Day, but then my favorite Barrington Bag won out because I knew I would love it and just wasn't sure if I would love a smart watch.

Then the Mr. was at a golf tournament this summer and won an Apple watch there. He texted me to ask if I wanted it before he chose another gift and I replied with a big YES!!!  I started wearing it this summer and haven't looked back.

Now, I still wear my regular watches if I'm getting dressed up or wearing a nicer outfit, but I would say I wear my Apple watch more often than not.  I know there are probably a million things it does that I still am not aware of, but thought it would be fun to share how we use ours, some pros and cons we think about it and get some tips from some of you for how you like to use yours!

JEN 

 What I love: 
1. That it's waterproof.  I can wear it anywhere and not worry. I wore it in the pool, the lake, the ocean and even down water slides and not once did it mess up.
2. That my hands are free and I don't have my phone on me most of the day.
3. That I can quickly text a response without typing. It's way more accurate than my iPhone.
4. That I can ping my iPhone. I put my phone down so much or the kids take off with it and I have no clue where it is. I love I can use my watch to find it and I have used this a ton!

(For those of you who don't know how to do this. When you are on your home screen, just swipe up and press the little symbol that looks like a phone with parenthesis around it.)

5. That it keep me accountable. Love that I can see how many steps/calories/heart rate during my workouts.
6. That I can use my watch as a nightstand clock. This came in handy while traveling and we didn't have a clock in our room. We were able to just put it on the charger and use it in this mode as our room clock. A tiny one, but in the middle of the night it worked well.
7. That in an emergency I can pay for things through my watch. I've only used this once when I forgot my wallet, but it was so helpful!

What I don't love: 
1. Battery life - I wish it lasted longer.
2. The calories burned/heart rate sometimes is inconsistent.

CARRIE BETH 

I'll be honest, some of the stuff Jen told me I didn't even know you could do with it.  She taught me a thing or two, which was the whole idea behind this post in the first place, so hoping it helps someone else, also!

What I love: 

1. That I can set the face to show what I want to know. I have mine on Modular mode and customized it to see the things I care about. I love that I can see the time, date, temperature, weather and my activity levels all on the same screen! 

2. The timer built in on my wrist. I probably use this feature the most of all. If the kids have to read for a certain amount of time or practice math facts for 5 minutes I can set the timer on my watch and then let them know when they are done. Also, if I'm cooking and set the timer on the oven I can also set it on my watch so I can run upstairs to do laundry or something and know when the timer goes off so nothing accidentally burns!  I also set it so it reminds me when to leave for the bus stop in the afternoon. I get busy working on the blog or putting away laundry and then the time I am supposed to leave can sometimes sneak up on me!  

3. Being able to get texts on my watch, especially when I'm busy with the kids. I can quickly glance at it and see if I need to respond right away or if it can wait. 

4. I use my maps app for directions all the time and the directions show up on my watch. It notifies me when I need to get ready to make a turn. So helpful when I'm diving and don't want to glance down at my phone. 

5. Being able to keep up with my activity levels. Seeing how many calories I burn, time I exercise, etc. and trying to complete those little activity rings. It's eyeopening because some days I think I'm more active that I actually am and other days that just seem like a regular day I meet all my goals. 

What I don't love: 

1. I wish the range was a little better. Sometimes if I have my phone in the house and I'm outside playing with the kids it won't work.  Also, if I'm in the basement or far away from my phone in the house it won't connect. 

A FEW OTHER THINGS...

1. I really want to get some new bands for my watch. I think I'd like the navy, gray, black or tan and be able to switch them out.  

2. My white band gets dingy looking, but a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is the best way I've found to make it super white again. 

3. I also love this leopard one (and it is under $15)!!! This might be going into my Amazon cart!

4. Even though my watch is waterproof I'm afraid to get it wet!  Is that crazy?!  Jen uses her watch in the water all the time.  My mother-in-law uses hers at the lake a lot and it is so handy.  She can be in the water and her phone in the boat and she can see who is calling or texting. Maybe this summer I'll get brave enough to get in the water with mine. I don't know what is wrong with me...just don't want to ruin it! 

Do you have an Apple Watch?  What are you favorite things about it? 

Please share any tips or tricks with us!!!  

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Our Favorite Apps

Last month, Carrie Beth shared our favorite apps for kids. Now it's our turn! Today we are sharing some of our favorite apps. The ones we use every single day. The ones that help keep us organized. Fit. Sane. All of them!

At first we didn't think we used very many apps. Then after discussing it over lunch one day we realized how many we actually use. Soon we were exchanging favorites, and realized just how handy some of these were in our daily lives. From music to fitness to groceries - we have so many that we love!

OUR FAVORITE APPS

FOOD & SHOPPING APPS

• Chick-fil-a App - As frequent guests of CFA, when we stumbled upon the app a few months ago, we couldn't believe what we had been missing in our lives. Each time you scan your app, you earn credit towards free treats (And you can earn them fairly quick! We've noticed typically within 4-5 visits.). In addition to the free items you can earn, CFA will often send you free treats just because. Free CFA. How can you beat that?! Another favorite feature is that you can even pre-order your meal so that it's ready for you by the time you arrive, and pick it up in a special line so there is literally no wait time! As busy moms who typically are juggling multiple kids this feature is awesome. Definitely an app worth checking out if you are a fan of Chick-fil-a.

• Amazon App - This might be one of the apps we use the most. From birthday gifts to groceries and everything in between, we use the Amazon app for a lot of our shopping needs. We have a prime membership and can't even begin to state how worth it it's proven itself over the years. We also learned a neat trick that came in handy over the holidays when tons of Amazon packages were arriving, but we weren't sure whose they were and didn't want to open them in front of the kids or each other and ruin the surprise. If you order something and don't want anyone to see you can scan the packages bar code and the app will tell you if it is your purchase and which one. Genius!

• Shipt App -  This app is a HUGE favorite of Jen's! I discovered this app right after Baby Cute was born, and it was life changing. Shipt is a grocery shopping app that allows you to create a shopping list and then matches you to a personal shopper who will get your groceries and bring them straight to your doorstep. Yes, please! I can't even begin to tell you how many times this app has helped us. When I was sick, but we still needed groceries. When we arrived late to a vacation condo, and wanted to have groceries ready for our arrival instead of bringing three tired kids to the grocery store late at night. When we were out of town in the hospital with my father-in-law, but my parents were at home with our kids and I didn't want them to have to worry about, or pay for, groceries to feed everyone. When I wanted to send a meal to a friend with a newborn. And the list goes on and on and on. You can choose which grocery store you want to use (i.e. Publix, Kroger, Whole Foods, Target, etc.), and the app will store your favorite items, show you coupons and deals, and even gives suggestions of meals. It's slightly more expensive on the grocery side, but the convenience has been more than worth it to me more than once. 

(If you want $10 to try out the Shipt app let us know!)

HEALTH & WELLNESS APPS

• Barre3 App - We've both fallen in love with barre classes, but it isn't always easy to get to a class. The Barre3 app has an awesome set of mini classes and exercises you can do at home. If we only have ten minutes of free time we click on the app, pick something for that length of time and sneak in a mini workout session.

• WaterMinder - We know drinking plenty of water is super important, but sometimes we fall short on doing this day in and day out. Using the WaterMinder app is an easy way to keep track and help keep us accountable.  

ENTERTAINMENT APPS

• Reading Apps - As reading lovers having a few reading apps on hand is a must. Reading apps actually became a favorite of both of ours when we were nursing. We realized staying up in the middle of the night multiple times was tricky, and there is only so much social media scrolling you can do at that time of day. Reading a magazine or book in the middle of the night in the dark with only one hand typically free wasn't going to happen - so we would read books on our reading apps to help keep us awake. Now we still use them a ton.  We rotate frequently through the Nook, Kindle, and iBook apps. We also like to use the Overdrive app which lets you borrow digital books from your local library - we need to get better about this one though!

• Netflix App - Netflix might go down as one of our favorite purchases we made in 2017. We love being able to binge watch whole seasons of shows, and love some of the original series Netflix has for both kids and adults. We use this app while we are running on the treadmill, in the airport waiting for a flight, or when we are traveling and want to watch a little something before going to bed. We love we can see a show or a movie virtually anywhere with our app. 

• Music Apps - We've been long time fans of Pandora, but we've also recently discovered the NextRadio app. Both are very similar and you can listen to your favorite radio stations around the country as well as custom stations. 

PHOTOGRAPHY APPS

• Photoshop Express App- Sometimes we don't take the best of photos or they might need a little tweaking. A quick way we do this on the go is with our Photoshop Express app. It's free and easy to navigate. You can also make collages and has a few fun filters to use. 

• ColorStory App - This app is a fun photo editing app with a ton of filter options. The app itself is free and has a ton of fun filters to choose from. There are also some paid filters you can get or earn additional free filters over time. You can also add some fun overlays to your photos. 

• Over App - The Over app isn't one we use too often, but it is super handy at times, and can be fun to play around with. It allows you to write words over your photos. There are tons of fun fonts and different styles to choose from. It also has a ton of stock photography you can use, and each day they share some inspirational quotes you can use for social media if you like. 

• Shutterfly App - After taking all those awesome photos we have to put them somewhere right? We keep the Shutterfly app on our phone and can quickly upload the photos, order prints, put together albums, and make gifts. Because let's be honest, if we didn't have something directly on our phones taking the pictures off our phones the 30,560 photos we have on there would never be seen again!

Now that we have shared our favorites, we wonder how many other great apps are out there? What are some of your favorites to use? 

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Holiday Gift Guide: Coolest Tech Gifts for Kids

Yesterday we shared some of our favorite gifts for moms, and today we switch it back to the kids. Because let's be honest - Christmas is all about the kids. 

We know everyone has heard of some of the season's hottest gifts for kids already. You can't turn around without hearing about the craze that is The Hatchimals. 

And children of the 80's are rejoicing everywhere as Target has brought back the original Nintendo.

(Just another reason to love Target.) 

#dibsonthegoodcontroller

But we're here to share some of our favorite tech gifts for kids that you might not have heard about. 

Our kids absolutely love anything STEM or tech related. We've seen our fair share of toys, but these all pass their "will play with it more than once" requirement. Most of these we own already, and have already been huge hits with our crews. Others are on Santa's list this year. 

Here's hoping this list gives you a little inspiration. Especially, if you've already been running around frantically from store to store, while simultaneously brokering a deal on Ebay for the egg craze of 2016 - and it still might not happen. 

• 3Doodler 3D Pen - It took us a moment to wrap our minds around a 3D pen, but once we saw it in action it was amazing. The 3Doodler Pen brings littles ones imagination and art to life in such a fun and unique way. This gift would work best for children in late elementary school and even into middle and high school. 

•  VTech Smart Watch - Last year we both gave these fun kid friendly smart watches to our children - and they've loved them. They think it is so neat to message one another, take pics, and play games all from their wrist - just like dad's (sort of.)!

• Amazon Fire Kids - Speaking of smart things...the Amazon Fire Kids Edition is one of our favorite gifts. Think of it as the gateway tablet for your kids. It's perfectly geared for them in mind, from the case its enclosed in to the access and apps available. It has everything they need all in one without the worry of the features you don't need/want them to mess with. Coming in at under $100 it's the perfect kids tablet.

• Robot Animals - Last year when Cute asked for a robot dinosaur, we (1) didn't know such a thing existed (it does), and (2) didn't realize he would love it so much. This year robot animals are all the hit and we love the Paw Patrol ones for the younger set. They move, interact, talk, and provide hours of entertainment - which is key!

• Osmo Game Systems - Hands down this has to be one of the coolest toys we've tested this year. The Osmo Games are all STEM based activities that your little one can play on the iPad. Each interactive game is unique and coordinates with an app. We've been amazed at the level of personalized interaction this game provides our little ones and they absolutely LOVE them. Our favorite so far is the Creative Kit. 

• Drones - Your little one will get a huge hit seeing how high they can make their own personal drone go, and what they are able to capture with it's 360 degree camera. This easier to navigate and slightly tougher pint-sized version is perfect for gifting under the tree. 

• Electronic Reader Sets - These are the perfect little book sets for a young child or a beginning reader. Baby Cute received the Frozen set for her birthday this past year, and both the kids love reading these little stories. Each page is specially picture coded to a graphic on the reader, so your little one is easily in control and able to follow along. There are so many fun sets - from Spiderman to Eric Carle, your little reader will be covered. 

• Dash & Dot - We've already mentioned robots are a huge hit this year, now meet the adorable Dash & Dot. These cute little guys are fully functioning robots that your little one control and interact with. They do anything your little one programs them to - dance, sing, deliver messages. Quite simply the coolest coding toy ever made!

• V-Tech Digital Camera - All of our kids (minus Baby Cute) so far have owned one of the V-Tech Digital Cameras, and it just might be one of our favorite toys ever. They see us taking pictures of them all day long and want to get in on the fun, and this was a great way to introduce them to the world of photography. We love downloading their photos and seeing the world through their eyes. Such a fun toy, and a great toy to bring on family vacations too! 

• Smart Phone Printer - This is a gift we know we already know we are going to want to steal from the kids. The Fugifilm Instax Share Smartphone Printer is the perfect gift for the Tween or Teen who is already smartphone savvy (and lets be honest, already knows how to take a million photos and selfies). They will get a huge kick out of being able to instantly print their photos. Mommy might print one or two herself.

TAKE A PEEK AT OUR OTHER HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES
Southern Best Friend 
Teacher's Gifts
Babies 0-12 Months

What Moms Really Want

What tech gift is at the top of your child's list this year? 

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5 Tech Gadgets for Any Valentine

The greatest celebration of love is just around the corner, and we have partnered with our friends at The Avenue to bring you a list of some of this year's best gadgets that will be sure to have your Valentine swooning.

{Watch}

To check out our favorites, as well as some creative ways to take each gift a step further to show your Valentine just how much they mean to you, make the hop over to The Avenue blog HERE.

What gadget would you love to give (or receive) this Valentine's Day? 

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Gadgets for Every Kind of Dad

Father's Day is just around the corner, and what dad doesn't love a good gadget? We compiled a list of fun gadgets with a little something for every kind of dad. 

THE FIT DAD

Does the man in your life love to workout? Enjoys living a healthy lifestyle? Or even is just has a goal of becoming more fit this year? Then he will love this watch. This is the Fitbit Surge, a fitness super watch. Not only does it keep track of your steps, calories burned, and active minutes, it also has GPS tracking to log his routes (including elevation) and allows for calls and texts to be sent to his wrist as well as plays all songs contained on his smart phone. 

THE GOLF LOVER

Now that goal loving dad can play some of the world's best courses in his own back yard. The Optishot 2 is a golf simulator that allows golfers to connect through their PC or Mac to practice their golf game. It's compact and players are able to use their own clubs. Tons of fun and much cheaper than a trip to Pebble Beach!

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER

There aren't many men on the planet who haven't heard of a GoPro camera. The GoPro Hero 4 is coveted on many mens list. With the ability to capture anything from any angle (or height), this little gadget is a sure winner. Capturing an image will never be same for dad with the endless possibilities the GoPro Hero 4 offers. Get ready to say "cheese" morning, noon, and night. 

THE GRILLMASTER

This little gadget is life changing. The Talking Wireless BBQ thermometer will become dad's new favorite. Dad can use this wireless thermometer to ensure his status as king of the grill even when isn't standing right by it. With it's wireless (and talking) capabilities of up to 330, dad can now enjoy mingling with his guests, catch the big game, or grab a beer without worrying that the meat on the grill needs his watchful gaze around the clock. 

THE DIY GUY

If dad loves to tinker around the house, or do home improvements from time to time then he will love this little gadget. The Nest is the leading technology in programmable thermostats. Sounds boring right? Think again, this little guy can connect to any computer or smartphone and can be controlled from anywhere. It will remember your favorite temperatures, and will automatically turn itself down when you are out of the house. Dad will love this home improvement gadget as well as love the up to 20% savings on energy it boasts. He can use that savings for his next big project. 

THE MUSIC LOVER

Dad loves concerts, downloads iTunes daily, or entertains the kids by strumming on that favorite guitar. The Bose SoundTrue Headphones are the music lovers dream. With crisp clear sound, stylish look, and ability to adapt to different accessories, dad will love hearing his favorite songs in Bose comfort. 

THE MOVIE BUFF

Does dad love movies or shows? The Amazon Fire TV is the perfect gift with the ability to stream over 20,000 movies and shows at the touch of a button. Or even the sound of dad's voice! That's right...with the voice search feature, dad doesn't even have to lift a finger - he can just say the name of the movie and it will start in seconds! Time to get the popcorn ready!

What kind of dad will you be shopping for this Father's Day? Are any of these gifts on his wish list?

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#CityGems on Findery

A few weeks ago, our fabulous friend Andrea from Savvy Sassy Moms, asked us to help her with a travel project she was working on for Findery and Huffington Post Travel. If you have a few moments, you guys need to check out her travels on Wanderlust Living - amazing!

For those of you who haven't been introduced to Findery just yet, now is the time to check it out! We are addicted. It is a travel website that enables not only a major case of wanderlust, but also celebrates the landmarks that make your neighborhood special. You don't have to travel to France to find that perfect little cafe or Mexico for the most delicious burrito your tongue has ever experienced. Sometimes those little hidden secrets can be found right in your backyard. 

Andrea teamed up with Findery to come up with come up with a list of local city gems throughout several cities across the U.S., and now all we can think of is packing our bags, and taking a road trip this summer.  

We had the pleasure of representing our wonderful city of Atlanta, and trust us when we say we could have raved on and on and on. We love our city! 

To find all about Findery and the City Gems see these two articles Andrea wrote for Huffington Post Travel: 

City Gems - Part 1

City Gems - Part 2

Or you can visit the post on Savvy Sassy Moms HERE. 

To find our Notes on Findery, you can click HERE. 

We hope you join all of us on Findery, and share your city gems with us! Where will your travels take you this summer? 

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