By: Adrianne Miller, Account Manager
It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . .according to the music streaming through all shopping centers, restaurants and waiting rooms. As soon as the Halloween costumes make their way to the clearance aisle, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, music and advertisements come flooding in. Tis the season for pumpkin spice lattes, turkey, scarves, the FSU/UF showdown and the stress that stems from familial obligations, heartburn (from too many green bean casseroles) and financial depression.
Before you turn into a Scrooge-Grinch and start spreading bah-humbugs this holiday season, reach into your pocket (or purse), take hold of your cellphone and take a deep breath. The apps are here and they’ve brought relief and holiday cheer to lift your weary spirit.
Refer to the list below for a cornucopia of apps to diminish your cooking, shopping, traveling and post-holiday stress:
Thanksgiving Menu Maker: Whether you’re responsible for pulling together the entire Thanksgiving spread, or are just responsible for one tasty dish, this free menu maker app will help you create a custom holiday menu from more than 75 gourmet Thanksgiving recipes. Thanksgiving Menu Maker goes above and beyond with tabs devoted to recipes, forming a shopping list, scheduling cook times, and cooking tips galore!
iGrill: Using the grill is not rocket science, but for some, it can be the difference between serving a char-coaled dish or poisoning your guests. Avoid both of these scenarios by downloading iGrill, an app-enabled wireless Bluetooth® meat thermometer that allows the grill master to monitor the food from 200 feet away, empowering everyone’s inner multitask-er.
PriceBlink: Imagine having a personal shopping assistant this holiday season as you pursue the perfect gifts for family. PriceBlink, the free browser add-on, is at your service to scour the Internet for the lowest prices while you shop online so you get more bang for your buck!
RedLaser: With family in town, and holiday planning in the works, there’s hardly time to shop, much less hunt for bargains. The RedLaser app uses bar-code recognition that can read nearly any bar-code. Shopping in a hurry? Don’t worry; this app allows you to shop faster and smarter by performing speedy price comparisons so you don’t waste your time. Plus, you can buy directly from your phone if you need to.
Waze: Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go. . . Imagine if all travelers combined forces and shared real-time traffic and road info to save everyone time and (gas) money during their vacation commute. With the Waze app, this is possible. Users have a personal heads-up from other drivers regarding road hazards, traffic jams, police stake-outs and more.
MyFitnessPal: When January first rolls around and New Year resolutions are back in play, resuming calorie counting may seem laborious after a short season of epic food intake. Thankfully, the MyFitnessPal calorie counter and diet tracker can do the hard work for you as you cut back. This app allows you to keep track of everything that goes into your mouth and alerts you when you’ve reached your daily intake; based on the amount of pounds you’re hoping to drop.
Now that you’re equipped for any festive obstacle, get out there and take on the holiday season. As you gather around the table and share what you’re thankful for, remember to mention your smart phone, tablet or iPad.