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Health & Fitness

Tools, Tips and Tricks I Couldn't Live Without

Simple yet effective tips, tools and tricks I use to keep life running smoothly. I hope you will add to the list!

In talking with a friend this week, I was shocked (okay, merely surprised) to learn she didn’t know about Scoutmob. I LOVE Scoutmob and admit I’m a little addicted to it. They have clever write-ups, great deals, and best of all, you don’t have to buy anything! That’s right. They often have the same or similar deals to all the other “group-coupon” sites, but you just flash your smart-phone or print the deal and bring it along and the merchant honors it!

So, I got to thinking – what are the tools I use on a regular basis to help make my life run smoother? And, even more importantly, what is out there that I don’t know about yet? (Please leave your ideas in the comments below!)

Here is the list of my must-have tips, tools and tricks and I hope that you will add yours in the comments so we can all benefit!

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iPhone (or any smartphone): I don’t have the latest, greatest version, but I do run my life and my business when I’m on the go from this fantastic creation. It syncs all calendar items and contacts wirelessly with my desktop computer helping me know where to be when and what I need to do on the way there. I was taking my daughter to a birthday party this week and was thrilled to see I’d put the address in the calendar reminder so when it popped up all I had to do was click on the address which opened Maps and showed me two choices of routes to my destination.  Amazing.

Scoutmob: for all the reasons mentioned above. The app allows me to sort by “new,” “expiring,” or “nearby.” Near me in Smyrna right now are:

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  • $25 off , formerly Lime Taqueria, in West Village.
  • $50 off at fab’rik in West Village (an amazing store anyway where very few items – except premium denim – cost more than $100)
  • $10 off at
  • $20 off at (off S. Cobb Drive at Highlands Parkway – don’t let the name fool you)
  • $10 off at
  • $15 off at Westside Bar and Café
  • $10 off at
  • $15 off at Buckhead Pizza (new place at the Galleria)

And that’s just the first few! There are more around here as well as all over the city!

Google Maps: I have a terrible sense of direction; despite having grown up here, I often don’t know the quickest way from A to B. My car nav system is a bit outdated, but why would I buy the new CDs when I can get the info for FREE from my phone or computer?

Macaroni Kid: A weekly email (and website) by neighborhood that lets parents know what sorts of activities are going on that week for kids.  

LinkedIn: Kinda like Facebook, but for your professional contacts. Don’t post your personal life, but it can be a great tool for any and all companies, business people, writers, entrepreneurs, sales people, or anyone that interacts with people while doing business. I know that many of you are already on this, but once you are on, you have to take the time to actually link with your professional contacts.

Free antibiotics: Quite a few local pharmacies seem to be getting in on this loss leader. Give away some of the more common, and generically available antibiotics, knowing that most of the time, people will buy something else while they are in your store. The stores around here that participate include , , and .

I learned about this from my daughter’s pediatrician, but it works for grown-up medicines and dosages too. 

Other daily/weekly emails I enjoy:

  • Daily Candy – localized happenings (store openings, restaurants, fashion, etc.)
  • Hungry Girl – great, easy recipes that are healthy and allow you to still fit into your clothes
  • FamGrab – this site aggregates many of the daily discount sites so you see them all in one place

All right, that should be enough to get you thinking.  What tools do you utilize to make your life just a bit simpler?  Comment below…


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