Like any mom, I’m constantly juggling many demands: kids, work, feeding my family, volunteering at school, managing our household and so much more. Sometimes my head feels like it’s about to explode. Luckily, there’s an app for that. With a few clicks, I’ve turned my tablet into a digital command center for our family. Here are some of my favorite apps for staying organized.
*This post is sponsored by Amazon.
Time to Get Organized! 7 Must-Have Apps for Busy Moms
-
Cozi Family Organizer
It used to be that a huge wall calendar marked in bright red pen was the only way to prevent my husband from booking a dentist appointment at the same time as our parent/teacher conference. Now there’s a simple, digital way to share our family calendar with him and eventually our kids, when they’re old enough to wield smart phones. I can even color code items for each member of the family and send them text reminders for upcoming events. Cozi’s other functions, like shopping lists, are shareable too, keeping the whole family in the loop. Free.
More info
Photo: Amazon -
Key Ring
I love store rewards programs. I’m such a frequent visitor to my local frozen yogurt shop that I’m rolling in free scoops. What I don’t love is my 10 pound wallet, weighed down by zillions of punch cards for all these different stores. That’s why I was excited to find Key Ring, which allowed to me to save all my loyalty program information in one place—my phone. Using the phone’s camera, I scanned the bar codes and snapped identifying photos of the physical cards before chucking them in the trash. You can also store information from most major retailer’s gift cards, which is a great way to prevent loss or theft. Free.
More info
Photo: Amazon -
Remember the Milk
To-do lists are the key to my organization, but keeping them in Word docs on my computer has its limitations, like when my husband calls me at the playground begging me to DVR the playoff game. I always have my phone with me, so I just add any late-breaking requests to Remember the Milk, a to-do list app that organizes tasks by date and lets me cross them off as I go. Paper towels, purchased! Classroom snack, delivered! What a sense of accomplishment. Free.
More info
Photo: Amazon -
AllRecipes Dinner Spinner
Sometimes I’m at the supermarket restocking basics, like milk and bananas, when I realize I have no idea what to make for dinner. This clever recipe app allows me to make a game time decision. I can input ingredients (hey, chicken’s on special today), cook time (whether I need something ready in under 20 minutes or have all day to use the crock pot) and what kind of dish I’m hoping to whip up (entrée, salad, dessert, etc.) and the app instantly offers appealing recipe options. If I’m feeling lucky, I can simply shake my phone to generate random recipes, making a boring trip to the market feel more like playing the slots at a casino. Free.
More info
Photo: Amazon -
iRewardChart Lite
Recently, I tried to improve my preschooler’s behavior with a reward system: every time she was kind, polite or helpful, I put a marble in a jar. When the jar filled up, she’d get a present. Great plan, until my daughter decided she wanted to play with the marbles. A better system might be iRewardChart, a virtual sticker chart that lets parents track their kids’ good deeds (such as sharing, paying attention or not yelling) right on their phones. That way, if your child actually says “thank you” in Target, you don’t have to wait until you get home to update her progress. (Lite version is free. Upgraded version with more options is available for a fee.) Free.
More info
Photo: Amazon -
Password Box
In an age when hacking scares have us changing our passwords every five minutes, it’s almost impossible to remember all of them--especially when mom brain (or worse, pregnancy brain) is involved. Password Box stores all my top secret codes in a secure, encrypted vault, then auto fills those passwords into apps I use on my phone. It also features a wallet for storing credit card information, making online shopping all too easy. Free.
More info
Photo: Amazon -
Baby Connect
Though I generally prefer free apps (who doesn’t?), it was worth it to me to drop $4.95 on Baby Connect’s activity tracker app. I’m pregnant with my second child, and I’m already worried about how I will log my newborn’s diaper and feeding records when I’ve got my hands full with a preschooler. This app makes it so easy to track baby’s activities, including sleep schedules and medical records. And it’s simple to share with my husband or another caregiver, allowing for seamless hand-offs. (Free trials are available for download.) $4.99.
More info
Photo: Amazon
