Waterproof Sticky Notes? (And More Gifts for Grads)

Graduation

Graduation (Photo credit: uonottingham)

It’s graduation season and although it’s been quite some time since my own college graduation, I still get excited. Thousands of fresh minds head out into the world to create the next best thing, make lives better and change the world. How inspiring!

If you’re heading to a graduation party and stumped on what to get the new grad — why not opt for something that will help boost productivity? I know it sounds nerdy but — even though money and gift cards always seem like a good option — there are many practical and productive gifts to create a long road of success!

Courtesy: Aquanotes.com

Courtesy: Aquanotes.com

1. Aquanotes: Never miss out on a brilliant idea again. Jot down ideas before they are washed down the drain! This waterproof notepad allows you to make lists in your shower without worrying about the paper getting crumpled or soggy.  ($7 for 40 sheets)  Read more

Add Fun to Your To-Do List With These Food Apps

Weekends are great for crossing off to-do’s, but you can’t forget to add fun and relaxation to the list.  Going out for a date night or hitting happy hour with your co-workers are fun ways to unwind from a stressful week. Here are some (free) dining and drinking apps to try out:

                                                             

                                                       Drinking Apps

Untappd: If beer is your go-to drink, this is a great app. Not only will it give you a list of the most popular local bars but you get to share and read beer reviews. Whenever you try a new beer, snap a photo with your phone, upload it, and review it. The app keeps track of all the brews you’ve tried and gives you suggestions.  You can also follow friends to see what they are drinking and you can earn badges for your beer tasting!

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It’s My Blog’s 3rd Birthday!

Happy BirthdayToday is my blog’s 3rd birthday, my “baby” is now a toddler! I can’t believe how fast the time has gone and I have all of my awesome productive followers to thank for making this such a success and supporting me.

For today’s post I thought it would be fun to go back in time and see where it all began! I started the blog after my husband Jay and I found our first apartment in Manhattan. We had a checklist of all the things we wanted in that apartment. Now three years later — we purchased our first apartment in Manhattan (also with a checklist!)

I’ve learned a lot through writing this blog and it has been through the good, the bad, and the ugly! So here is a look back at some of favorite posts, along with a few mishaps. You grow from mistakes as long as you learn from the, right?

Oldies But Goodies

Is Productivity Making Me Rude?:  In my never ending quest to be more efficient, I realized that perhaps I’ve become more short and rude.  This post is one of my favorites because I think it really addresses the things we miss when trying to do it all.  Check it out. Read more

List Of Fun Stuff For Weather Buffs

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(Photo credit: Shmector)

April showers bring May flowers. Emphasis on the SHOWERS this week in NYC! As this wacky weather continues I thought it would be fun to make a list of creative products and apps to get us through the rain, sun, cold, snow, and warm spring days Mother Nature keeps throwing our way.

DarkSky app: This is one of my all-time favorite apps! If snow or rain is heading your way this app will be the first to let you know! DarkSky uses your GPS location and can give you a weather forecast down to the very minute it will begin to rain. It will also send you an alert when a storm is approaching – even if you don’t have the app open ($3.99) (see more useful emergency apps here)

GustBuster Umbrella: If you’ve ever had a fight with an umbrella, had one turn inside out, or bust through the frame during a downpour — you need to buy one of these for yourself and a friend. I’ve had my current Gustbuster for 11 years! You can find them at most golf stores and online too. It’s much more productive to buy one umbrella that really works instead of going through one after another of those cheapy ones you can get on the street.

Hunter Rain Boots: I went through a ton of rain boots before I just gave in and brought the expensive ones. They are pricey but worth it! They have been amazing for the past two years, and you can choose from various colors and styles.

Tieks travel flats: Cold in the am, toasty by the afternoon? Swap out your winter boats during the work day for these on-the-go adorable flats. They are super comfy, and fold up to fit in your purse or drawer. You can take them with you in case the weather changes or store them in your desk for when the sun decides to peak out!

The Sole Mates: Have an upcoming outdoor picnic, wedding, or event to attend? Well, if you plan on wearing heels Sole Mates are a great buy. They keep you from sinking into muddy grass or falling into concrete cracks. Great way to save your heels (and your ankles).

Funny Doormats: Keep the pollen and mud away from your floors by adding one of these hilarious doormats to your front decor. They have a multitude of categories to choose from and they are great conversation starters.

2n1 Ponytail & Bracelet: Bad hair days are bound to happen with rainy or humid weather. In case your hair decides to friz up, disguise these ponytail holders on your wrist. They look like bracelets so you can still be fashionable yet throw up a sock bun in a moments notice!

Hoter waterproof, reusable bags: Instead of ruining your purse or briefcase in the rain you can use of these bags! They are totally waterproof to keep everything dry and they come in various colors and styles. You can use these for groceries, double as a diaper bag, or a tote for the beach.

Weather playlists: Be on the look out for this awesome new feature from The Weather Channel and Songza. They are teaming up to create music playlists that are “weather appropriate”!

Hope these help you enjoy the crazy weather! Happy April 🙂

Make Scheduling Appointments Easier

calendar year (12-30-08)

calendar year (12-30-08) (Photo credit: sun dazed)

Scheduling appointments and meetings can get confusing when there are multiple people involved. There’s always a few people who can’t meet the same time or day, and it can take multiple emails and phone calls to finally decide the best time.

With the help of technology, it comes as no surprise that there are tools out there that can help make scheduling important meeting and events a lot easier.

Doodle: This website is so simple and is perfect for scheduling anything from a hang out with the girls, to a business meeting. With the FREE version you select “time proposals,” which are just a few dates along with times for people to choose from. The site creates a poll, which you can email to your friends or colleagues to see what works for their schedule. The results will end up with a meeting time that everyone can make. You can also sync these to your calendar automatically. Doodle also has a premium account that will send automatic reminders, see who is missing from meetings, and more! (Basic plan = free. Premium = $39 a year. Free trial for 30 days)

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