4 Applications to Help Your Memory

ZenHabits.com wrote a guest article on 4 different applications you can use in tandem to help remember everything you have to do.

Evernote for notes
Gmail and Gcal for email and calendar
Anxiety for tasks
Jott for notes on the go

All of the applications are available for both Mac and Windows, and are perfect for the mom who can’t get away from her computer for very long!

Why You Should Give Your Kids Their Own gMail Address

I use Google Mail all of the time (none of those pesky ads) but I wasn’t sure about setting up gmail for the kids… at least as young as the author at flagrantdisregard.com suggested. Until I kept reading. You see, he created email accounts for his 4 year old and 6 year old, but he used a handy little option to create multiple identities within his own email so his children could “feel” like they’re sending their own email. It also lets you control the spam that gets sent in. And it’s pretty simple:

Go into Settings, click Accounts, then Add another email address.
Now enter Johnny’s name and Alice+Johnny@gmail.com as the address.

I still think I’m waiting for my son to get out of Kindergarden before I get him his first email address….

Use Canned Email Responses to Boost Productivity

The folks at Gmail have done it again: an incredibly useful email hack. This one lets you send quick thank you notes, away from the office messages, it can even be set up as a personalized autoresponder for your blog. Read the article at the Official Gmail blog to find some more tips like the one below to improve your email productivity.

Create filters for your email based on certain words. Turn on Canned Responses and the filter can automatically generate a response based on the words it finds.

How to Find A Zip Code

Have you ever written a letter to send to your best friend back east but forgotten what her zip code is? If you know your friends street address and state you can use Google Maps to narrow down the zip code to finish sending that letter. The folks over at Digital Inspiration have taken it a step further… use their handy hack to look for a favorite restaurant based on a general area and then easily point and click for a street address.

Step 1: Use the search box to find an approximate location on Google Maps.
Step 2: Now click any point on Google Maps to see its address.

Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal with this Kitchen Gadget

Indistructables.com has come up with a clever new device: Wok-Fi. By using simple kitchen gadgets he will show you how to increase your wi-fi signal by using a wireless dongle and a kitchen strainer. I didn’t quite believe it until we moved into our new house and found out it had a dead spot. I tried this tip out and voila… no more dead spot!

Use your iPhone as a Parenting Tool

The iPhone is such a versatile device that it should be included in your purse as the ultimate parenting tool. At least that’s according to Mommy Poppins. In one of her latest articles, Mommy Poppins describes how no parent should be without this Swiss Army Knife of mobile units. From cell phone usage to kid distractor, this device comes in handy in a multitude of different situations:

Ooh, and the last reason the iPhone is the ultimate gadget for parents: the thing is basically indestructible — just don’t let them “hide” it in the toilet.

Clean Up Your Desk Space: Wall Mount Your Monitor

With monitors getting flatter and flatter it would be great to get the monitor on the wall and free up those last few inches of desk space. Thankfully, Will over at Unplggd has come up with just the solution. Read this article to learn step by step instructions on how to wall mount your flatscreen monitor.

Use Two Monitors to Boost Productivity

Unclutterer.com has a great article on using two monitors to boost your productivity. I’ve actually used multiple monitors quite a bit, during my day job as a 911 operator I actually have four running monitors at once. You’d be amazed at how many programs I can run at once. Here are some of the tips that I found helpful on how I can boost my productivity at home:

Use one monitor for time and goal oriented programs and a second monitor for working documents.

Reduce desktop clutter by limiting the number of cables you need to have at hand.

Teach Yourself Photoshop

I’ve toyed with the idea of teaching myself Adobe Photoshop a couple of times. I have some family blogs that I maintain, and I always thought it would be great to lean how to touch up photos or layer on a different background. The only thing holding me back was the lack of time. Afterall such a complicated piece of software must take months to master, right?

Not according to Elite By Design. They’ve put together a one week tutorial that will give you an understanding of the basics and then some. Now you can squeeze one more thing into your hectic week!

Streamline Technology - Streamline Your Life

I spend hours and hours every day on the computer. Sometimes I feel as if it’s attached to my hip. I was looking for a way to detach myself from the computer when I found this list of tips over at PCWorld. While I still work endless hours on my computer, I’ve streamlined enough to get some playtime outside with the kids.

Work Faster and More Efficiently Without a Mouse
Streamline your computer work by teaching yourself keyboard shortcuts for your common actions, such as Ctrl-S to save, Ctrl-T to open a new tab in Firefox, and Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V to copy and paste (see our list of additional shortcuts). Then, become a keyboard master with the help of a keyboard launcher such as the free Launchy (Windows) or Quicksilver (Mac). You can start programs, open documents, and even do advanced actions such as resizing images and moving files without moving your hands from the keyboard.

Trim Your Facebook Usage

It’s easy to get sucked into social media networking. Sites like Facebook and MySpace are highly addictive and can eat up huge chunks of time. But, as Risa Green from Tales from the Mommy Track put it, “do I really need to reconnect with the guy who moved to Ohio in 8th grade?”

Be aware of how much time you spend and what you are doing on Social Networking sites. While it’s great to stay in touch, or plan activities with other mommies, if you’re staying up late chatting and cranky in the morning you may need some time away from your Facebook friends.

Gmail - Perfect for a Forgetful Mom

I am a big fan of Gmail. Google just keeps adding in enhancements perfect for my life. For example, this latest innovation: A Forgotten attachment detector. It seems that Google will now search my email and if I wrote about an attachment in the body of the email but forgot to attach anything, it will send me a little reminder. Perfect for the mom who always gets interrupted! Read more about this new gadget at The Official Gmail Blog.

Things to Look at When Buying a Used Laptop

There’s nothing worse than going shopping for a big item looking for a great deal, and then arriving home with your new acquisition and it’s completely incompatible. That’s why, when you’re looking at buying a used laptop you should make sure to check your ports. Sustainablog gives us a great 10 step guide to buying a used laptop.

Step 1: The Decision - Finding The Best Used Laptop

Decide what computer you want and then change your mind. Like most people, you probably dream of the newest, hottest thing on the market—maybe a Macbook Air or Dell’s new Studio Hybrid? No. Instead, check out some of the best computers from last year or earlier this year. These are the laptops you should choose from in the used market—and generally, they’ll perform the same tasks that this year’s models do. As an added bonus, you can try to find a computer from 2007 with Windows XP installed instead of Vista!