By: Brittany Nicole La Hue
December is the most stressful month of the year. The holidays are a time for joy, love, gratitude and fun – but they are also a time for family obligations, crowded travel days and “perfect gift” pressure. These handy apps will help you stay merry as you juggle and try to find time to shop, travel, correspond and even throw a holiday party or two.
Photo courtesy Etsy
You need to: Pick the perfect gift
We all know about Amazon’s endless selection of goodies and free shipping. But this season, think outside the box a bit. Etsy offers a huge selection of homemade gifts that not everyone will be getting this year. If you aren’t very crafty, or just don’t have the time, you can support someone’s small business and order a unique item here (just be careful not to fall into a 3-hour Etsy browsing hole!). If your gift recipient loves the life of luxury, but you don’t have the budget to bankroll it, head to Gilt. This site offers luxury items for less – steep discounts like 25% off are not unusual.
Photo courtesy Gilt
If you’d rather not give a gift, try giving an experience! LivingSocial and Groupon are home to thousands of cool experiences, from paddleboarding to racing a Porsche around a track to a month’s worth of classes in the hottest new fitness trend.
You need to: Send out holiday cards
Photo courtesy Postagram
You can head to Target and buy a box set of cards, or you can have some serious fun with it. Equinux offers a “Christmas Cards” app that lets you send cards straight from your phone. Choose from eight holiday designs ($.99, iPhone and iPod only). For more options, download justWink Greeting Cards by American Greetings. You can choose from over 200 cards and special holiday themes and send your finished creation by text message, email, Twitter, Facebook or snail mail (Free, iPhone and Android)! Or turn the traditional holiday card and send a “Postagram!” This fun app lets you turn your favorite Instagram, Facebook or phone photo into a postcard that you can then send in the mail (Free, iPhone and Android).
Photo courtesy Martha Stewart
You need to: Throw a memorable holiday party
When hosting a party, one of the most overlooked details amidst all the preparations is the music. Think ahead and download the Traditional Christmas Carols Collection, which features 18 classic holiday songs. Open up the app, play and go (Free, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch). If you have an iPad, bolster you menu by downloading the Martha Stewart Makes Cookies app and get cookin’. The 50 recipes come with step-by-step baking videos, ingredients lists and unique packaging tips. ($4.99, iPad only).
Photo courtesy Food52
Or if you’re planning on serving a full meal at your party, the Food52 Holiday Recipes & Party Planning Guide app is a must-have. This “cookbook” from New York Times food writers Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs features 127 delicious recipes, video tutorials, full-screen photos, step-by-step slideshows, definitions and party-planning ideas ($3.99, iPhone and iPad only).
You need to: Get somewhere, when everyone else is also trying to get somewhere
Photo courtesy My City Way Now
Holiday travel can be the biggest downer of the season. But no need to give up and stay home! Track your flight in advance with GateGuru, which tracks your flight arrivals and departures, delays, gate info and even rental car information (Free, iPhone and Android). Find yourself stranded after an unexpected change in travel plans? HotelTonight offers a treasure trove of last-minute hotel rooms. You’ll find the nicest hotels and the most budget-friendly options alike (Free, iPhone and Android). If you’re traveling to a new city this holiday season, download My City Way Now. The location-based app will help you find nearby attractions, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, public transportation, current traffic, local news and even trending Instagram photos (Free, iPhone, Android and Blackberry).