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My 9 Favorite iPhone Apps

06/10/14 | Apple, Instagram

I use my iPhone all day, everyday, and that should not be a surprise to anyone.  Since I upgraded to the iPhone 5 I have a charger in every place I spend more than a few hours because having a dead phone is not good for anyone.  However, only a fraction of the time I spend on my phone is actually using the call function – I would guess 5%, then email, then texting, but the majority of my time is spent using apps.  I love the preset and the traditional ones – Gmail, Facebook, calendar and weather – but then come my nine favorite iPhone apps:

(1) 2048 –  This game is dangerously addictive and after I wrote two weeks ago that I still had not beaten the game and hit that magic 2048 square a few days later.  Besides this game actually involving elements of strategy I love that you cannot die or run out of lives! Oh, and it is free!

Best iPhone Apps - 2048

(2) Afterlight – Erin of Two Thirds Hazel introduced me to this app which allows quick and straight froward photo editing and it puts Instagram filters to shame. It was definitely worth the $0.99 price tag and one of these days I will definitely use more that the clarify, brightness, contrast, and crop features. Until then…

Best iPhone Apps - Afterlight
(3) Heads UP! – I love this app for two reasons – first, because Ellen can do no wrong and second because this game is safe bet for laughs and at least an hour of entrainment.  I have played it on family game night and with friends after a few cocktails – both were great!

Ellen Degrenes Heads Up App

 

(4) Instagram – Honestly, who does not love Instagram? I love sharing photos and these square moments of happiness provide a quick snapshot into my life and through my newsfeed, peaks into my friends and want-to-be-friends  (Bey, Heidil, Lupita, )  lives. And honestly, I really hope this app does not need to be accompanied by a photo.  If you really want a visual head over to my profile!

(5)  InstaPic Frames –  There are times that sharing just one photo on Instagram is just not enough but I do not want to post four in a row so combining multiple shots into one frame / collage is the perfect solution!
Favorite iPhone Apps - InstaPic Frame

 

(6)  Open Table – One of my first blog posts from November 2012 was about how much I love the service that Open Table provides and how easy it is to make reservations to top New York City spots that are otherwise booked.  A year and a half later, I still concur and now I have gotten pretty sneaky. If I walk into a restaurant and there is a long wait or I know there will once I arrive I go on the app, make a reservation, and usually get seated far quicker.  Being a VIP helps too 🙂 (VIP status is given to those who make more than 12 reservations in one year.)

Best iPhone Apps - OpenTable

(7) Overdrive – This is how I listen to my audiobooks and is definitely one of my most-used apps.  I used to use Audible where I was hooked with the free trial and then went on to the one book per month plan and bought credits as they went on sale.  However, as I listen to books so quickly this became very expensive and my dad of all people told me about Overdrive.  You are able to sync up your local library card and borrow any ebooks or audiobooks from your library for free! The selection is somewhat limited but I love it.

Best iPhone Apps - Overdrive

(8)  Perfect 365 – The free, one-tap makeover app.  As an example or how it works here is before and after work selfie using the makeup feature.  Honestly, if my skin could look like that all of the time I would never put on makeup.  In totally other news – my hair looks blond and that makes me very happy!

Favorite iPhone Apps - Perfect 365
(9) Relax Music – According to their tag line they are the most popular sleep aid app and I would not disagree.  I use their “white noise” sound when I really need to concentrate or if there are too many distracting noises as I am trying to get to bed.

Best iPhone Apps - Relax Melodies

 

What are your favorite apps?

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Comments

  1. hiker salike says

    June 14, 2014 at 11:26 am

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    this great blog about the best hiking boots and learn how you can choose the
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    Hiking shoes reviews

  2. Jamie says

    June 13, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    I just downloaded 2048…I’m babysitting later tonight and they should be asleep pretty soon after I get there so I need something to waste time. I loved perfect 365 when I had my iPhone…my samsung S4 has a beauty filter for taking pics and it makes my skin look flawless everytime. Love it

  3. Chic Trends says

    June 12, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    The 365 app is tempting! Some great apps, will have to check them out! Xx

    chictrends.co.uk/

  4. Niki Caron says

    June 12, 2014 at 9:37 am

    Ohhh I need that Perfect 365 app! And I have to try 2048 now!

  5. Janna says

    June 11, 2014 at 11:41 am

    I love Heads Up! Such a fun game. Thanks for the heads up on Overdrive. Will was just talking about Audible, but he finishes the books too fast too!

  6. Natasha says

    June 11, 2014 at 8:53 am

    Great post sweetie! I adore Afterlight, only photo editing app I use for my Insta snaps. x

    http://girlinthelens.com/

  7. Laëtitia says

    June 11, 2014 at 2:16 am

    Haha same thing for me, I use so many applications my phone that ends up dead all the time ^^ I think I’ll download perfect 365 😉

    mynameislaetitia.blogspot.fr

  8. Lindsey Daniel says

    June 10, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    Thanks for the recommendations, I just downloaded some of these and I cannot wait to try them!

  9. Coffee Beans High Heels says

    June 10, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    love this apps! i use beauty365 all the time and 2048 is my favorite game! how did you manage to win?
    xo
    Orly
    coffeebeansandhighheels.weebly.com

  10. Sooae Lee says

    June 10, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    wow that makeup app is so cool! you look beautiful either way and i love this post! xO!
    http://www.thehautecookie.com

    -Facebook-
    http://www.facebook.com/TheHauteCookie
    -Twitter-
    http://www.twitter.com/thehautecookie
    -Instagram-
    http://www.statigr.am/thehautecookie

  11. Kate {Taffeta and Tulips} says

    June 10, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    That Open Table app sounds great! I need to give it a try!

    http://www.taffetaandtulips.com

  12. Taipei Style says

    June 10, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    I already knew some of them but all are very cool and interesting!

    TaipeiStyle
    Gemma

  13. Alyssa says

    June 10, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    Heads Up is my favorite! Sometimes my roommates and I will just play it at night instead of turning on the television haha

  14. Rachel says

    June 10, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Nice! I’ve never heard of Perfect 365… but nice for those times my face is breaking out and the regular Instagram filters can’t cover that up 😉

  15. Kasey Decker says

    June 10, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    I love Afterlight! I’m pretty sure I use it on every single picture before I put it on Instagram — I would also suggest Litely for more photo editing fun!

  16. Hi_D says

    June 10, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    I think apple gadgets are great.

    http://kintsugioflife.blogspot.com

  17. Lyndsay says

    June 10, 2014 at 11:50 am

    It’s ridiculous how addictive 2048 is, even after getting the 2048 tile, you just can’t stop, or maybe that’s just me? And Heads Up is so much fun! I love that game!

    proseccointheparkblog.com

  18. Rebecca {at} Preppy Panache says

    June 10, 2014 at 9:39 am

    You should also try snapseed. It’s a really easy photo editing tool too.

  19. Rachel says

    June 10, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Heads Up is the best- we played it at a happy hour last Friday!

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

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