Organization

How I Use My Intel Tablet to Stay Organized

November 16, 2014 by Sandra 6 Comments

#sponsored: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel. This could include the Intel Corporation providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

If it’s not on the calendar, it’s not REAL.

This is a saying I heard earlier this year, and it made a huge impact on my thinking. How so? Well, now I schedule as much as I can on my Google Calendar. Getting ready for the day, homeschooling, cleaning, blog posts, reminders to schedule blog posts, recipe testing, photo shoots, social media reminders, emails, exercise and on and on.

I schedule it.

I’ve stopped using a paper planner and instead plan out the important and even mundane tasks on my Google Calendar. It’s made a world of difference, and I don’t see myself ever going back to writing out my schedule again. One huge reason is because Google Calendar allows me to block out time for each task, and that makes it easy to see when I’ll have time for something and when I’m over scheduling myself and need to make a change.

How I Stay Organized

I’m not able to sit down at my computer as often as I’d like to (kids, you know 😉 ), so I’ve been relying mostly on my smartphone for Google Calendar reminders throughout the day. I’ve also loved using my smartphone to quickly create short notes or lists that I can come back to when I need them.

Honestly, this way of getting things done works for me.

But… when there’s an opportunity to make staying organized even easier, well, I say try it! And that’s exactly what I did when Intel sent me an Asus MeMO Pad 7 Intel Tablet to review.

As you can see, the Intel tablet is larger than my smartphone, but it’s still small enough to carry around the house and not feel like it’s a burden. It has a 7-inch screen and is quite thin and lightweight which makes it easy to slip into your purse.

The display is AMAZING! Whoa. I wasn’t expecting such a high-quality display from such a budget-friendly tablet! I’m so impressed. 😉

By the way, electronic devices are difficult to photograph well, but trust me, the screen display is crisp and clear.

Asus MeMO Pad Apps and Organization Tools

Besides the great outward features, the Asus Intel tablet is equipped with its own apps. One of my favorites is the “Quick Memo” app. In a flash, this app allows me to create a note or list like the one I made in the picture below.

I can then pin that list to the home screen of the tablet, so that I can see it and tackle whatever it is that needs to be done.

There are a lot more Asus apps on this tablet. I’m personally looking forward to understanding the Asus “Do It Later” app very soon! 🙂

Google Calendar on the Asus Intel Tablet

I still use Google Calendar every single day. I would be a mess without it. But it’s bigger and better on the tablet than it is on my smartphone. It’s so much easier to see my schedule and move things around. And calendar reminders go straight to my tablet as well.

So, for staying on top of everyday life and so much more, I love this Asus Intel tablet! 🙂

What are some of your favorite ways to stay organized?

A Tablet That Fits into My Work-at-Home Mom Life – The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

November 23, 2013 by Sandra 2 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper
insights study for Collective Bias® and their client.

I’m a work-at-home mom.

Technically, I also work from the library when I need to get away and write or design without a baby on my lap or a little person needing me. Those days, I’ll go to the library and check out a room, so that I can have peace and quiet and just write, return emails, check social media, and do the other things I need to do to keep this little online business of ours moving forward.

Even in the midst of all that’s going on with David, I still have to work, and I’ve been lugging around my crazy-heavy laptop bag filled with everything I need to work while I’m sitting in the emergency room again or spending time with David during another hospital stay.

Decisions, decisions…
I finally decided to stop the madness and get a tablet (for myself), so that I don’t always have to lug around a cumbersome laptop bag.

We trust Best Buy and have made several device purchases there in the past (plus I’m a fan of their warranty program), so we headed there to check out tablets. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 caught my eye. It has a powerful Intel processor (just what I need), and it’s sleek and lightweight, which I love.

The Best Buy Experience
The employees at Best Buy were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable when it came to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. They answered all of my questions, and explained the benefits of owning an Android tablet. They made me feel confident about my decision, and I walked away a happy customer.

How I Use the Tab 3
Now that I’m officially a tablet owner, I’ve stopped lugging around my laptop bag every.single.time. we go to the hospital. David had 8 appointments (yes, EIGHT) to go to this past week, and instead of bringing my laptop with me, I left it and simply slipped my tablet into my purse to take along on our adventures.

Whether I’m at home or in a waiting room, I can write posts and manage my blog on my tablet.

I also use it to check email and social media, listen to my favorite radio station, take pictures, and I even allowed my kids to install ONE game app on it. 😉

In the past, I’ve ever-so-carefully placed my laptop on the treadmill, so that I could walk and work at the same time. I love that I can now easily do the same things I did with my laptop on the treadmill but instead use my lightweight and portable tablet.

Across-the-board, I feel like this tablet is just what I need to be more productive as I juggle being a work-at-home mom with all of my other responsibilities. I know I’ll be using it a lot over the next few months, and I may even use it to create videos to share with you when David is in the hospital next month.

Yes, I do think this tablet will become my new supertool.

Have you ever used a tablet? In what ways do you think it could streamline an area of your life?

Learn More & Be Social
You can learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 at Best Buy & receive Best Buy updates when you follow them on Twitter.

You can also stay up-to-date with Intel when you follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

A Day in the Life (and how I use the Moto X Smartphone)

November 15, 2013 by Sandra 2 Comments

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Sprint.
I received product samples to facilitate my review.

Life isn’t easy these days.

No, not at all. But even with the unpredictability that’s present in my life right now, I still have a few tools that help me to stay organized and on top of my to-do list.

The Moto X Smartphone
A smartphone is one of the tools that I use every single day to stay in the loop, check and delete email, keep on top of what’s going on with my blog, and take pictures of my kids. I also use it as my only alarm clock and to send myself daily reminders to read my Bible — you’d be surprised how effective this is.

When my last phone decided to develop a mind of its own (people who know me in real life know what I’m talking about…), I switched to using the Sprint Moto X Smartphone. And it’s been awesome.

Incredibly Useful New Features
Besides being able to use this phone in all the ways I did with my old phone, there are new features that come along with the Moto X that have proved valuable in so many ways.

First, there’s the Touchless Control. With this feature, I don’t even have to touch the phone to get directions, check the weather, ask Google a question, etc… The Moto X knows my voice, and when I say, “OK, Google Now,” it responds. So far, I love using this feature to get directions quickly and easily.

Because people who know me in real life also know that I get lost easily. 😉

My second favorite Moto X feature is the Active Display. I use this feature A LOT.

It looks like this:

With this feature, information quietly appears on your screen, and with one touch of the finger, you can get more information and decide whether or not you want to swipe to unlock the screen and check that email or text message or whatever it may be.

A Day in the Life
Besides going over the cool features of the Moto X smartphone, I thought it would be fun to share what a somewhat typical day looks like for me at the moment.

Here goes…

A somewhat typical day:

Around 7:46 AM: I check the time on my phone, and then I sneak out of bed before Elisabeth wakes up (we co-sleep) and start getting ready for the day.

Around 8:00 AM: Elisabeth wakes up crying, so I grab my phone and lay back down with her. I nurse her and read my Bible using the app on my phone.

Around 8: 25 AM: Elisabeth has fallen back asleep, but instead of continuing to get ready for the day, I decide to sit at my desk and return an email.

Around 9:00 AM: I finally head for the shower. David wakes up shortly before this happens, and he’s in a great mood. But he has lots more pin-point red dots (petechiae) on his face and body. I know this means his platelets are low, and I start contemplating whether or not he’s going to be able to make it to his appointment on Monday before he needs a transfusion.

Around 9:50 AM: I head downstairs with the kids to eat breakfast. I bring my phone, laptop, and schedule with me, so that I can look things over and plan my day.

10:22 AM: I start preparing a spot at my kitchen table to take pictures of products I’ll talk about in an upcoming blog post.

11:01 AM: I’m finally finished taking pictures for my post. It takes a little longer because the kids decide they want to play outside, and they keep thinking they hear a loose dog.

11:05 AM: I sit down to nurse Elisabeth, who is very upset because she didn’t get to go outside with Nathan and Isaac. While I’m nursing her, David gets close and as I look at his face, I wonder whether or not I should call the doctor. He has so much petechiae. 🙁 His energy level is great, though, so I decide to wait until he sees his nurse this afternoon and go with her recommendation.

11:16 AM: Elisabeth is still upset about not being able to go outside, so I go outside with her.

Around 11:20 AM: Ruben arrives home, and after coming back inside with Elisabeth, I start getting ready to leave for the library. I’ll spend as much time as I can there getting work done.

11:46 AM: I leave for the library where I can check out a room for a few hours to work.

11:55 AM: I pull into a parking space at our local library and head inside. I have less than three hours at the library today, because I need to be back home by 3:00 PM, when David’s home health nurse will stop by for a visit.

2:28 PM: I pack up and get ready to head home from the library. Before I leave, though, I check out the books Nathan has on hold and choose five videos for the kids to watch this week.

2:42 PM: I arrive home, say hello to everyone, and then start a cup of coffee.

3:00 PM: David’s nurse arrives. I go over issues we’ve been having with David’s prescriptions and the obvious petechiae on David’s face and body. She wants me to call the doctor’s office right then and there, so I grab my phone and dial the number. I can only leave a message and have to wait for a call back.

3:28 PM: David’s nurse leaves, and while I could go back to the library to get more work done, I decide it’s best to wait on the phone call from someone on David’s care team. They may want us to take David to the emergency room today.

3:50 PM: I open my computer and try to get work done from home.

4:27 PM: Still no word from the hospital, so I take Elisabeth upstairs to nap.

4:45 PM: Elisabeth falls asleep, and I work online.

5:20 PM: I head downstairs to make dinner.

5:28 PM: I get a call from the hospital, and we discuss David’s increased petechiae and meds. David’s doctor is okay with David not going to the ER today, and an appointment will be made for him to go to the infusion center on Monday afternoon after the appointment that’s already scheduled with his doctor for that day. If there’s another significant increase in petechiae or other symptoms, I’m instructed to call back.

5:50 PM: Elisabeth wakes up from her nap. I leave to help her get back to sleep while Ruben takes over dinner.

6:07 PM: David bursts into the room yelling that his leg hurts. I try to help him while I’m holding Elisabeth, but he wants me to put her down, so I do. Thankfully, Elisabeth stays asleep, and I rub David’s leg. He’s feeling fine shortly after this episode and hangs out with me for awhile.

6:16 PM: Dinner is ready, and David and I head downstairs.

6:56 PM: Dinner is finished, and I’m almost done cleaning the kitchen when Elisabeth wakes up again. I head upstairs to nurse her.

7:25 PM: Surprisingly, Elisabeth falls back to sleep, and I spend time chatting with Ruben and check email and Facebook.

Around 7:40 PM: Elisabeth wakes up (for real this time), and we head downstair to get dinner for her.

8:32 PM: I take time to read to the kids from their current favorite superhero book.

9:00 PM: I say goodnight to the kids and then get back online to return an email.

9:16 PM: I get off the computer to pray as a family and say goodnight to the kids again. They go to bed for real this time.

9:26 PM: I get back online to work, check email, etc…. Ruben and I talk about life and the kids, and I finally make it to bed around 1:30 AM.

How I’m Staying Active with the Fitbit Flex
In addition to using the Moto X throughout the day, I’ve also been wearing a Fitbit, which has been awesome because it reminds me to keep moving as the day progresses.

I’ve gained weight since life turned upside down with David’s diagnosis, and the Fitbit is helping me take it off again. I’m still not down to the weight I was at, but little by little…step by step…I know I’ll get there.

The Fitbit offers you the ability to:

Track your steps, distance, and calories each day

Track your sleep cycle and learn how to get better sleep at night

Set goals and view progress

Log food, weight, and more on the Fitbit website or app

There’s so much you can do with a Fitbit
Besides the obvious visual reminder that the Fitbit Flex offers, I also use a personalized Fitbit dashboard online to track things like my progress, weight, and calories. Both the online dashboard and the app for the Fitbit are super easy to use.

Overall, the Fitbit has been helping immensely, and it’s also available at Sprint.

Have you ever used a Fitbit? Is there a tool that helps you stay on top of your to-do list? Or, what does a typical day look like at your house?

5 Fun-tastic Bath Time Toys for Kids

October 5, 2013 by Sandra 2 Comments

A special thanks to Nuby for the fantastic toys I received to review and talk about.

When I think of bath time for my children, I can’t help but think of what really makes bath time fun for them.

Bubbles. They must have bubbles.

And toys.

Because what’s a bath full of bubbles if you have no awesome toys to play with? Toys turn regular ole’ bath time into fun time, and today I’m sharing five great toys that my little ones are loving.

Fishy Basketball
Elisabeth likes to play with the fishes that come with the Nuby Fish Swoosh Bath Time Play Set. It’s like playing mini-hoop basketball in the tub but with fishes that squirt water. I wish I had this toy when I was a kid. I love the bright colors, and the suction cups make it easy to stick the hoop to the bathroom wall.

The Octopus that Floats
The Nuby Floating Octopus bath toy is a great way to help kids learn a little coordination as they toss the rings onto the octopus tentacles. This octopus really does float, so it’s perfect for bubble baths because it doesn’t get lost at the bottom of the bathtub!

Use the Sea Scooper for Play and Storage
The Nuby Whale Pail Sea Scooper is adorable and functional. Not only is it a fun toy to imagine with, but it also doubles as storage for other bath toys.

The whale pail comes with a wall mount that allows it to conveniently hang from the bathroom wall. This makes drying bath toys (so they don’t get that icky film on the inside) a breeze.

For Kids Who Love to Squirt Water
The Nuby Squid Squirter is great for little ones that like to go wild and squirt water everywhere. I know I love it when my kids surprise me with water all over the bathroom. 🙂

Seriously, though, with a little instruction about keeping water off the bathroom ceiling (and floor), this could be a wonderful toy for your child.

The squid squirter is brightly colored and cute. And it comes with a long handle that your little one can use to pull water in and then shoot out. This toy will make bath time more lively and entertaining anytime it’s used in the tub. It’s the great toy for splashing around with in the pool, too.

Bonus: If your kids use the Squid Squirter in the pool, you won’t have to worry about water outside the bathtub.

Keep Soap Out of Little Eyes
Another Nuby bath time product that offers both play and function is the Nuby Tear Free Rinse Pail. You can use it to keep soapy water from getting into your little one’s eyes, and they can use it as a bucket to fill with water for playing!

Here’s a side view of the rinse pail:
The curvy shape helps to steer water away from a child’s face, and the handle makes it easy to hold.

Bath Time + Toys + Bubbles = Happy Memories
I still remember how much I loved using my imagination during bath time when I was a kid, and I still remember the bubbles and toys that sparked that imagination.

Do your kids have any favorite bath time toys or routines?

Organization

How I Stay Organized

Asus MeMO Pad Apps and Organization Tools

Google Calendar on the Asus Intel Tablet

What are some of your favorite ways to stay organized?

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