Unsubscribe

I've been on a kick lately to unsubscribe from all the junk emails I get. And I really didn't realize how much I get until I started unsubscribing from it. Many people I know have an email account set up just for junk mail, but I do not. And I am that person that signs up for emails because it got me a discount at one point or entered me in a giveaway or something and I never go back and unsubscribe. And it has gotten out of control. The frustrating part is it isn't always easy to unsubscribe from emails. Some put their unsubscribe links at the top, most at the bottom. Some unsubscribe you as soon as you hit the link, but others make you take a survey and some even make you reenter your email address to get off their annoying list. Sure, none of it is hard exactly, but it takes time and when you are trying to get your name off as many lists as I am, it becomes annoying. But the other day that all changed.

I don't know how it took me so long to see this, but in gmail there is an unsubscribe button on most of the junk mail emails…right there on the top left, next to the email address of the sender. And once you click it, gmail does the rest for you. Some of the companies unsubscribe you immediately and you know because a window pops up in your browser letting you know that. Others take a couple days and you get an email when you have been removed from the list. But I love just having to click ONE BUTTON and not having to do any leg work. Seriously life changing for a girl like me.

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Kids Apps

I have to be honest, the real reason I am writing this post is I feel we are in a rut with apps for the kids, so I am hoping that by sharing some of our favorite ones, you will return the favor and tell me some of your favorite kids apps.

We don't have very many apps for the kids. I really never remember to search for them, so the ones we have usually come about via recommendation, though I have found a few by myself. I am cheap, so most of the apps are free.

These apps are listed in no particular order. I did try to rate what age I think they are appropriate for, based on how often my kids play with them. Connor seems to be outgrowing most of our apps, so I am on the market for some that are appropriate for 5 year olds, if you have any suggestions. But, here are our current favorites:

1. Lego Duplo Train (free) - This is a pretty simple app that allows you to build a train, then drive it around a track, pick up loads/people, etc. It's simple and basic, but fun for kids that like trains and duplos. It is good for ages 2-3.

2. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($1.99) - This app has memory games, puzzles, counting and more. I like how its educational and fun. But, expect to get some of the sayings stuck in your head. I would say it is good for ages 2-4. 

3. Despicable Me: Minion Rush (free) - What respectable Despicable Me fan would be caught without this app?! I must admit, Connor is WAY better at it than me and gets mad when he needs help and I do worse than him. Whoops! Isla is just starting to play with this app, but doesn't know how to use it. She usually just stares at the dancing minion on the main screen. I would say this app is great for ages 3 and up. 

4. Easy-Bake Treats! (free) - This is a fun app where you mix, bake, decorate and eat things like cake, cupcakes and cake pops. Both Connor and Isla like this app. This app is really great for all ages.

5. Bible for Kids (free) - I really, really like this app. If you want your kids to learn about the bible, this is the app for you. It tells the bible stories in book format and shows pictures. It tells the bible just like it is (and, well, the bible is rather violent) so be prepared for some interesting questions. This app is great for all ages. 

6. Little People Learning Market (free) - This is a fun app that helps kids match things (grocery shopping via a picture list) and also uses colors. It must be entertaining because both Connor and Isla like it, though Isla now plays it more than Connor. This app is good for ages 2-5. 

7. Little People (or Fisher Price) really has a few great apps, especially for young children. Two of our favorites when the kids were young were Animal Sounds and Laugh & Learn Shapes & Colors. Very simple, just tough the screen to make it do something. But, be prepared to have annoying little kids songs stuck in your head! These apps are good from the time you want to introduce electronics to your kid until about 2.  

8. Zoo Train ($1.99) - This app has a few different activities in it. There are simple puzzles, letter matching, shape matching in the form of building a railroad and train building. Isla really enjoys this app a lot. Connor did, but has outgrown it. I would say it is great for ages 2-4. 

9. Elmo Loves ABCs lite (free) - We have the free version of this on our ipad. There is a paid version for $4.99. As far as I know, this app is only for ipads. It is a really neat app though. It (obviously) focuses on the abc's. Kids can trace both uppercase and lowercase letters. There are little Elmo video clips that come on when the kid gets a letter correct. There is also is a coloring portion, like a coloring book for the ipad. Both Connor and Isla enjoy this app. I would say it is good for ages 2-5. 

What are your kids favorite apps?

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To Text or Call

That is the question. 

I'm not sure when texting caught on in my life. But it happened sometime a couple years ago. Sure I did it before then, but not with the zest that I do it with now. Much of my planning and conversation with friends and family is done via text message. Its just easier that way. 

However, it has been brought to my attention that some people find a text impersonal and others just don't text. No texting? Yeah, I don't get it either. I want to divulge further into a text being impersonal. Let me start off by saying, I would never do something crazy like fire someone via text message (of course I am currently no one's boss and I have never had to fire someone anyway, but you get what I am saying). I do think saying something serious like that via text is going too far. But, I will say a lot via text message. It is an easy way to let someone know you are thinking about them.

I was involved in a conversation the other day where people thought texting wasn't very personal and a phone call would mean so much more. I disagreed explaining that much of my day is filled with the noise of a toddler making it difficult to talk to someone on the phone. Also, if someone sends me a nice text, I can look at it over and over to remember the nice thing they said. I even have full blown conversations via text message. Many times for the same reason I mentioned before, toddler noise. Sometimes it is just easier to text.

Now let me talk about planning...One thing I LOVE about planning via text message is that I then have something to go back and look at to remember the date, time, place or address. You see, I don't have a calendar and I loose things (like pieces of paper where I write someone's address or phone number), so it is nice to have a text to go back and read to remember what I need to know.

So I wonder, what makes someone prefer texting over phone calls? Age? Tech savvyness? Cell phone plan? I really don't know the answer to that. I really don't think it is age. I do think tech savvyness, or really, what kind of phone you have will determine how often you text. But I wonder how certain people "fall behind" on technology while others stay up to date. And, I am sure for some out there their cell phone plan dictates if and how often they text. For me, I got the unlimited plan cause I just gotta text! 

And so I ask, 

Do you prefer to text or call?

Technology

With technology today, anything seems possible. Any information is at our fingertips. Long lost friends make reappearances into our lives, and we can read what celebrities are doing day or night. There is live coverage of Michael Jackson's body being taken from the hospital to the coroners office and every movie available, even if it just came out last night. But, I am not so sure this is a good thing. I am starting to find a lot of technology needless and annoying.

Take facebook, my first victim. Do I like it? Yes. I love that I can see what my friends and family are up to. I love that I can keep tabs on those that have moved far away (wait, I am one of those!) and can reconnect with old friends. But, I don't love the pressure to be friends with anyone and everyone I have ever known. A couple of months ago, I finally just stopped accepting most of the friend invitations I was receiving. I mean, honestly, I wasn't even close to most of those people. Just because you know who I am, doesn't mean you need to be my friend on facebook!

Then there's all those darn paparazzi websites. I am not going to lie, I like looking at celeb photos, just like the rest of you. But sometimes I think, enough is enough. Do celebrities need to be stalked in their homes, having helicopters flying from above? I was embarrassed for society when I saw pictures of Michael Jackson's children crying leaving the funeral home. I understand his family are fame whores and put the crying children on national television anyway, but some things just need to be kept private. And everyone deserves a chance to grieve over the death of their father without a camera in their face.

It just makes me think, when is enough, enough? When will we be able to put down our computers, blackberries, ipods and cell phones and actually focus on life that is right in front of us? When will we be able to enjoy being in the now and stop needing everything yesterday? When will we be able to enjoy the mediocre parts of life and not just wait for vacation to focus on those around us? For me, I hope this is happening every day. I don't want to get caught up in technology. I want to live in the present and enjoy every moment of it!

Please note...I do realize I say all of this from a blog. I am a hypocrite, I know. Technology is good, I just don't want to be overwhelmed by it.