Gone Fishing

Hi friends!

You may have noticed that we've been negelecting Suburban Zen for a few months. We've been working on something new and exciting that has been distracting us.

Mosey on over to Greenhouse, read our new blog or friend us on facebook to see what we've been up to.

See you there!

I Love my iPhone

It seems lately that much of my family life is spent outside of my home. Our calendar is packed with sporting events, performances, volunteering and dining out. We've reached that point where all three of our children are old enough that we can leave the house without a lot of planning, and we've been doing that. A lot.

As a result, my iPhone has become an essential tool for keeping myself and my family moving, entertained, informed, and connected. I rarely make calls on it, but I have it loaded with apps that make my life easier. My top ten for a busy mom with a house to run are:

1. Sit or Squat -- locates the nearest public restroom with features, ratings, and reviews by users.
2. Around Me -- locates the nearest coffee shop, grocery store, gas station, Target, or whatever else you're looking for, and gives directions to it.
3. AniMatch -- a concentration type memory game to keep Katie busy during down time. We've had Furber family AniMatch tournaments while waiting for Jack's basketball game to start. (BTW -- Mom's the reigning champ.)
4. PhotoShop Express -- allows you to edit a photo on the spot and send it off. Great for keeping grandparents in the loop on our many events and activities.
5. CameraBag -- allows you to change the lens on your iPhone camera for super cool effects.
6. Hipstamatic -- a retro camera with multiple film, lens and filter choices.
7. Dirty Dozen -- a list of 12 foods you should always buy organic because they require the most pesticides when grown. Also includes the Clean 15, a list of 15 foods you can buy conventionally grown because they require the fewest pesticides.
8. Seafood Watch -- Monterey Bay Aquarium's list of fish they recommend based on farming methods and environmental conditions.
9. FoodSpotting -- a compilation of user generated restaurant reviews. Shows photos and restaurants closest to your current location. Great for finding a lunch or dinner spot between events. We found our favorite restaurant (The Sideboard in Danville) this way.
10. Vintage Video Maker -- Transforms your iPhone videos into retro 35mm looking film.

With all those tools at my fingertips the Furber family doesn't miss a beat. We research, record, and document every event outside the house, just like we do when we're home.