GeekSugar

Daily Tech: Remember the Milk Adds Push Notifications

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:02:58 PDT

Never miss an appointment or task thanks to Remember the Milk's iPhone app with push notifications. - Lifehacker
MythBuster's Adam Savage gets reimbursed for the $11,000 bill AT&T sent him for web surfing in Canada. - TechCrunch
Instead of standing in line, you can now just check Apple's site to see where there's iPhone 3GS availability. - Engadget
Wired compares the Palm Pre, the G1, the BlackBerry Storm, and the iPhone 3GS. - Wired
Here's how you can post videos to Twitter with the iPhone 3GS.- Mashable
Log in for your chance to win the hot new iPhone 3GS. - geeksugar

Nine Geeky Tools to Make Your Life Easier

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:00:00 PDT

This week, I heard the sad news that one of my favorite online tools, Kwiry, would be discontinuing its service. Before freaking out, I realized that there's already a number of tools and applications that can help keep me organized and on top of my to do lists. Click through my slideshow to see nine helpful tools which are guaranteed to simplify your life.

And in case you missed it, check out 10 gadgets that will make your life easier and three helpful photo sites to make your life easier also.

Remember the Milk Hits the App Store!

GeekSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:15:05 PST

One of my favorite sites (and lifesavers) has been Remember the Milk. I've raved about the text messaging reminders, and the fact that you can create custom lists and share them with others, which has made my life so much easier. Especially since I have trouble remembering when to take the trash out. Well . . . sometimes.

So my relief hit an all-time high when Remember the Milk came to the iTunes App Store. And the best part? If you're a proud Pro account holder, it's still free! Free to get organized, free to manage my time, and free to share my tasks with my BF - cause you know, that grocery shopping won't get done on its own.

Website of the Day: Remember The Milk

GeekSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:00:58 PST

If you or your significant other have a tendency to forget basic to-do tasks like picking up the dry cleaning, check out remember the milk.com. Remember the milk is a free on-line to-do list management service which basically acts as your personal nagger! Never forget the milk or anything else again. Here are some of its great features:

manage tasks quickly and easily
receive reminders via email, SMS, and instant messenger
prioritize your time
create lists and organize tasks the way you want them
share, send and publish tasks and lists with others
access to-do lists on your web-enabled mobile device
use the map to see where your tasks are located

Do you have a great website you want to share with geeksugar? Submit it to my Website of the Day group!

11 Rules to Dramatically Increase Your Productivity

Wise Bread — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:35:04 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

There's a problem with a lot of productivity advice out there, and it's this - your "rules" for personal productivity are often going to be different than mine. Sure, sometimes there's overlap. Sure, you can always learn from others.

But if you want to see a dramatic increase in your productivity, spend less time reading and memorizing other people's rules, and more time figuring out what your own rules are. You'll be more productive and in a way that works with who you are.

So I'm sharing a few of my personal productivity rules. Maybe some of them will work for you or inspire you to think of your own.

1. Small Daily Movements Become Big Accomplishments

I tend to think that I must have big blocks of time in order to get any forward movement. So I hesitate and procrastinate, waiting for that "open time" when I can really push and get a lot done on whatever the current project is.

Turns out, that's a waste of time. Small daily movements add up. It's just that the movements or steps themselves are so small, I think they don't count. They do.

I have to constantly remind myself that I don't need a whole day or a whole week to devote to some project. I just need to take the 10 or 20 minutes I have here and there and use them. I need to achieve a little bit of forward movement every day. That adds up, and it builds momentum, and pretty soon there's been quite a lot accomplished.

For more rules, read after the jump.

18 Ways to Save (at Least) $1 a Day

SavvySugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:28 PST

It's true: the little things add up. As anyone who ever had a piggy bank knows, small everyday actions can help you save big. Hoping to create a financial cushion for yourself this season? Follow these 15 easy tricks to help you save at least a dollar a day:

Hold the milk. In your coffee, that is. If you regularly stop at the coffee shop on your way to work, order it black to avoid any extra costs.
Go generic. At the grocery store, pick the generic variety of different foods to save big on pantry staples.
Keep the change. Sure, sometimes it's annoying to have change littering your purse or jangling in your pocket, but you'd be surprised by how quickly those nickels add up.
Swap soda for water. If you can't give it up altogether, vow to sip water instead of soda during at least one meal each day.
Trade CDs with a friend. Hoping to add the latest Rihanna song to your workout playlist? Reach out to a friend and burn CDs for each other to gather new music for free.
Fuel up for less. Unless it's required for your specific car model, nix the premium gas habit and use gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest gas in the area.
Find free WiFi. Work in cafés or libraries with free WiFi. Not sure which spots offer Internet? Use the Free Wi-Fi app to scope out local places with wireless access.
Practice your sewing skills. Skip a trip to the tailor and learn to do the simple adjustments yourself, like shortening a hem or taking in a blouse.

Keep reading for more tips to save $1 a day.

7 Ideas to Save on Your Morning Coffee

Emily Co — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:14 PST

The Latte Factor is very real - the average American worker spends $1,092 on coffee, The Consumerist reports. Citing data from Accounting Principals' latest Workonomix survey, the site goes on to say that the average worker is apparently spending more than $20 a week on coffee. The amount is comparable to other expenses like commute, which were mentioned in the study. So how do we start saving on this big budget drain? Here are some ideas:

Try low-end. New York Magazine did a coffee taste test and food critic Adam Platt found that coffee from Dunkin' Donuts actually tasted better than Starbucks. If you're craving coffee, opt to get a cup of joe from a lesser-known chain.
Cash in on freebies. Keep your eye out for freebies and remember Starbucks gives customers a free birthday beverage as long as you register your Starbucks gift card and use it once. And if you're a loyal Starbucks customer, you can attain gold member status and receive free coffee for every 15 drinks. Remember that Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, so there should be plenty of coffee freebies then. Earth Day generally offers a lot of coffee freebies as well.
Find Starbucks recipes. Find out how to make drinks just like Starbucks by doing some research online. Personal finance blogger Squawkfox was able to mimic a tall Starbucks frappuccino ($4) for only 32 cents. The secret is actually xanthan gum ($16), a food thickener that keeps the texture smooth and the drink together. There are also plenty of other sites that have copycat recipes of all the Starbucks drinks.
Go instant. Instant coffee isn't too bad if you dress it up with these recipes. Add cocoa or spices like nutmeg, blend it with ice, douse it with milk, or add honey.

Read on for more ideas.

10 Tips For Keeping the Truth About Santa a Secret!

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:59:01 PST

There's no Christmas like one when a child believes in Santa! Years ago, St. Nick showed up at our family gathering and pulled a red trike out for my cousin. The then-preschooler leaped from the floor with an expression so priceless I can still picture it. We all remember the moment we found out that truth about Santa Claus. (I was 7 when a classmate told me she found a red suit in her father's closet.) And then as parents, we have those close calls with our own offspring. If you want your tots to be believers, here are some helpful hints for keeping the jolly old fellow's spirit alive. . . at least for a little longer!

Don't play Santa at school or family events. Kids know their parent despite the padded suit, white wig, and stick-on beard.
Shop solo - children notice when you try to sneak items into the cart.
Figure out a really good hiding place to stash your loot. Lil snoops will find gifts in obvious places (and perhaps even open, peek, and rewrap them).
Have Santa gift your kid an item you would never purchase. It throws even the most curious child for a loop.
Wrap gifts from Santa in a special wrapping. If mom uses the same patterned paper for her presents or a roll is laying around the house, it can raise suspicion.
Disguise penmanship on gift tags. If you normally use cursive, print or write with your opposite hand.
Excited kids can be restless. Make sure they are really asleep (hand test, breath test, etc.) before you cart out the Christmas loot. And have a backup plan if your wee one wakes!
Consume the child's offerings for Santa. Nibble the cookie and sip the milk. Putting the full glass back in the fridge or returning baked treats to the cupboard can be a big mistake.
Even if the house is heavy with mistletoe, don't let your lil one catch mommy kissing Santa Claus!
There's nothing like a report of reindeer prints on the roof or a little soot left in the chimney to confirm that Santa was indeed on the premises.

And, if your child still figures it all out, ask them to be your elf and assist in keeping the magic alive for younger siblings.

5 Products to Help Work-at-Home Moms Actually Work at Home

Natasha Dantzig — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:16:31 PST

Work it, girl! Working from home can sound like an ideal setup for a mom; until one actually attempts to say, write an article, or make an important call with an attention-craving toddler trying to destroy any expensive electronics that are getting between him and the park. Working from home has its challenges, but the pros are pretty amazing. The following products will help mama get her work done, and keep her sanity.

A good to-do list is essential for today's multitasking mamas. Remember the Milk ($25) is a top-rated option thanks to its ease of use, and accessibility from multiple devices.
What mom doesn't need an extra hand? Being able to have a (brief) phone conversation while throwing a tennis ball back and forth with an energetic toddler might not be the least stressful option, but at least with a device like the Hands-Free VTech Phone ($100), it is possible to do both.
Most agree that when choosing a work-from-home schedule, it's best to have distinct times for work and times for play. Great goal, but sometimes that one last email can't wait for naptime or the babysitter. A stand-up desk, like this adjustable height Safco model ($237) is not only great for the back, but it will keep curious lil hands at a safe distance from expensive laptops.
Don't underestimate the power of the humble Crock-Pot ($44). The ability to throw dinner fixin's in at noon and not think about it again until 5 p.m. is a major time-saver.
The less paper, the better when it comes to staying organized. Swap Post-its and random scraps of paper for Dry Erase Boards ($44) to keep track of lists and notes.

What's your best tip for working at home with kids?

Happy Birthday, Tyra Banks - See Her Style Evolution!

Hannah Weil — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:39 PST

As the first black model to grace the covers of GQ and Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue, Tyra Banks solidified her legacy early on. With countless runways, print campaigns (remember that sexy milk mustache for Got Milk?), commercials, and a turn as one of Victoria's Secret's ultra-sexy angels under her belt, there's no arguing the fact that Tyra's supermodel status is well deserved. Now, we know her best as Top Model-turned-talk show host and author - and of course, the woman who taught us all how to "smize" like a pro. In honor of the utterly fierce Miss Banks's birthday, we're celebrating with her stylish evolution. Click through for 50 of her most memorable fashion moments, and join us in wishing Tyra a very happy birthday.