my go-to iphone apps

This isn’t exactly breaking news, as my Verizon friends have had plenty of time to become acquainted with their new iPhones. When I started this post nearly a month ago, I thought it be helpful to put together a list of my favorite apps to help guide them through the learning curve. They are probably all more iPhone savvy than I am at this point, but figured I should finish what I started.

It’s not surprise that many of my most-used apps also happen to be everyone else’s most-used apps. But that just means they are so good they are worth mentioning again. So here is my list of my favorite apps, both the well-known and the less popular gems. All apps are free (I’m an app cheap skate) unless otherwise noted.

The Necessities
Facebook: Obviously.
Google and Google Maps: Again, obviously.
AroundMe: Looking for the closest dry cleaner around you? Need to find a bank? A sushi joint? Find it on AroundMe.
Yelp: The go-to for restaurant suggestions wherever you happen to be. The GPS map is particularly helpful when you want suggestions outside your neighborhood.
Skype: This free or low-cost (depending on who you are calling) internet phone app is a life-saver when the husband is traveling, especially when he is out of the country.
The Weather Channel: There’s nothing I hate worse than being inappropriately dressed for the weather.
Wikipedia: I hate not knowing something.
IMDb: I hate not knowing something about movies and the people who star in them.
Sirius XM: I can’t live without my Sirius Satellite Radio in my car, in my house, on my phone.
Alarm Clock Pro ($0.99): Keeps me punctual by gently waking me up to my favorite iPod playlists.
Nike+ GPS: Record every mile you run, get time and pace updates, even hear words of encouragement from your favorite running idols (like Tracy Morgan!). If I take a run without it, I feel cheated — like it didn’t even happen.
New York Times and NPR: Of all my news apps, these are the two I check the most.

bringing a little France back to Phoenix

We’ve just returned from our long-anticipated trip to France, and it was everything I could have hoped for. I absolutely fell in love with the history, the architecture, the arts and culture, the food and wine: I could go on forever. And though I was happy to return to the comforts of home — sleeping in my own bed, understanding the language — there are some things I really wish I could have brought back with me. Here are my top 6:

a perfectly tailored (and free) vegas getaway

Vegas and I go way back. I’ve been making the quick turnaround trip from Phoenix for about 15 years and have experienced just about everything that glittery den of iniquity has to offer. I’ve seen my share of seedy downtown casinos and dined in fancy restaurants run by celebrity chefs. And I love it all.

Our recent trip to Vegas was a spur-of-the-moment thing precipitated by a free two-night stay offer from the new Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. I had never even heard of the place but the web site was pretty impressive. We figured there had to be a catch, but it was worth a call. Turns out, there was no catch. I don’t know who these people thought we were, but they apparently mistook us for high rollers deserving of a free room. No matter, we’ll take it!