I have a very minimalistic app style. For example, I do not use the Facebook app. I deleted it about 6 years ago and have never looked back. I don’t use the youtube app. I just never had a reason to! Therefore, the apps that I do have are very important to me. Here are 5 of my top 10 apps that I use weekly at a minimum and a few notes about each.
Please be aware, some of the links that follow may be affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Never will I recommend something I don’t use, love or trust. See the full policy here.
Paprika Recipe Manager
About 6 months ago, a coworker introduced me to Paprika. This is, at its core, a recipe storage app that will also allow you to create grocery lists, plan meals and add ingredients to your “pantry”. I was initially hesitant to spend the price of this app however since investing in it, I have NEVER looked back. You can add almost any recipe that you come across and they will be formatted in a beautiful arrangement, you can add those ingredients to a grocery list and add that recipe to a meal plan.
One favorite thing about this is that you can create specific menus. We’re working on making a master, quarterly meal plan. I have the ability to create a menu that consists of only those meals for that month.
Check out Paprika Recipe Manager - It will change your meal planning!
Stylebook
This is an app that I began using when I got my corporate position. I found that I was spending an exorbitant amount of time picking out my outfits and in addition, I was wearing the same things weekly.
Stylebook is like a virtual closet. Seriously. You invest some time in photographing each and every item in your closet (or save some time and find the photos online!) and then set up outfits or different style profiles. You can schedule outfits or log them as you select them. I found that I was able to create different outfits out of many different items that I had on hand. When I was in graduate school, my roommate was hyper-aware of making sure that she did not wear the same outfits each day of the week. In hindsight, this app would have been enormously helpful for her.
The initial time outlay is slightly similar to Paprika, but the benefit afterward is phenomenal. I would set-up my outfits a week in advance and it saved so much time each morning.
Check out Stylebook - it’s worth it to use all the items in your closet!
StitchFix
Who has time to shop when our schedules are already packed? When I would shop, I found that I was purchasing the same things over and over. I struggled to find unique pieces that fit and looked nice on my petite frame. Enter Stitch Fix.
Stitch Fix is essentially a personal shopper. You set up a style profile that is as simple as letting them know what you like and what you don’t like in addition to your current styles. You can indicate that you would like to receive jewelry and shoes or not. You can purchase add-ons such as shapewear. Each “Fix” comes at a flat rate of $20 which is then credited to whatever you might purchase.
When I would hear people talk about Stitch Fix I’d think they were incredibly indulgent and affluent. Then I found a job where jeans weren’t appropriate and I needed to look professional. I was also working more than 40 hours in an office setting. I signed up for ONE time.
I was hooked. The #1 reason I LOVE Stitch Fix is the absolutely phenomenally, extraordinary blazers. They fit, looked nice and were sooo amazing. If you end up purchasing your entire Fix (which I commonly end up doing!) you receive a 25% discount on the entire box!
I can’t say enough. I normally wouldn’t do this but if you sign-up with the link below, you get $25 off your fix! I will get $25 as well, but mainly, I want you to feel empowered to simplify your life and experience exceptional style and comfort.
I truly hope you enjoy the flexibility of this service and its corresponding app. You can take quick style quizzes via the app all the time and they help to constantly refine your style profile.
Audible
We spend SO much time in our cars. In my personal experience, I would drive all over the place and honestly, once I learned to go to a client’s home without directions, I would discharge the client. Seriously! I found I was struggling to listen to audiobooks while driving and pay attention to my directions.
Slowly, my attention span increased and eventually, I began working at a center and then a corporate office. I signed up for my Audible membership on New Years Day. I have not looked back. Even though I regularly have a large number of credits, I wouldn’t want to cancel my membership for ANYTHING!
As a member of Audible, you receive 1 credit each month for a low price of $14.95. Now, if you want to use credit for everything, you may end up overpaying for an audiobook. I will use my credits ONLY for books that cost more than $14.95. If it is less than that, I will pay out of pocket for it and save my credits. For example, I purchased 11/23/1963 by Stephen King earlier this spring. Have you read this??? It’s absolutely amazing!!!! It is regularly priced at $36.75 for the audiobook, but using one of my credits, I only paid $14.95 for it. That’s a steal.
Long story short, the opportunity to expose myself to new literature and consume it while commuting has been life-changing for me.
Libby
Libby connects to your library card. It is essentially, your library network in the palm of your hand. This will allow you to access ebooks and audiobooks that are available to be loaned electronically. You can instantly access hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of literature at any given time.
Libby allows you to put items on hold if they’re not available or to check them out instantly. One of my favorite things to do is check out the audiobook AND ebook version of a title and devour it at a rapid speed. I love to listen to books while driving or working on purely mindless tasks (like filing!) but then when I would arrive home, I’d crave my book hardcore. This allowed me to continue to “read” once I got out of the car.
Unfortunately, not every library is connected to Libby. Check to see if yours is and sign-up today! Your access to ebooks and audiobooks will be expanded instantly!
There is a handful of other apps I’d love to introduce you to, so keep an eye on that post!
In the meantime, what are your MUST HAVE apps?