Sure, you could go old school and buy one of those puzzles that come in a box…that require you to be sitting on the living room floor, that leave you in the dark if you lose a piece (or two). OR, you could download Slice It and have access to mind-challenging puzzles that are addictive because you just want to get the puzzle right! “Frustrating” and “Maddening” are some of the words that describe the game…but in a good way, we promise! slice it, puzzles, fractions, math games, slice it!, kids apps, addictive

Why we like it: A unique and engaging outlook on the news

This FREE app, brought to you by the folks at The Economist, stands out in the news category. It just doesn’t feel like you’re reading about daily news. Instead it’s more like a rich discussion around the table with some very smart and very interesting players. The app brings you a beautiful magazine every two months, complete with photo essays, celeb news and trends you should care about. Very enticing indeed.

Let’s be honest. Evite is not easy to use when one is on their smartphone. Instead of graphic-intensive invitations that take ions to download and/or respond to, Invy got it right by making a simple app that asks for the basics and delivers so much more. All you need to do is determine the date, time, place, invitation list…and of course the event…and your guests receive a nice and not-too-fancy invitation (via email) they can easily respond to. We especially like the fact that the app connects to your address book so making your invitation list is a breeze. Definitely a good one for people who are busy, but like to have fun, too.
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White Pages detects where you are located and then shows you the who’s and the what’s nearby. Forgot your neighbor’s name? Use the reverse address look-up to remind you! Did someone call and hang up on you? Use the reverse directory to figure out who it was that was pestering you. Search for people or businesses quickly. Very convenient.
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Let’s be honest. Evite is not easy to use when one is on their smartphone. Instead of graphic-intensive invitations that take ions to download and/or respond to, SMS Group Invite got it right by making a simple app that asks for the basics and delivers so much more. All you need to do is determine the date, time, place, invitation list…and of course the event…and your guests receive a nice and not-too-fancy invitation (via SMS) they can easily respond to. We especially like the fact that the app connects to your address book so making your invitation list is a breeze. Definitely a good one for people who are busy, but like to have fun, too. Invite Wiz, SMS Group Invite, Invitations, social apps, connect, buzz, party organizer, invitation app

Remember those art kits with all the amazing colored markers or pencils…that typically ran out before you had a chance to blink? Or the disappointment you felt when you’d lose one, leaving the rest to slide around in the package? Well worry no more! This app is like having a never ending stash of art supplies so you can draw, sketch or doodle to your heart’s content. Choose from thick or thin-tip markers, pencils and pens and more. Make a mistake? There’s an eraser that allows you to fix your error(s). There’s even the ability to save/send your drawings to others so you can still say “Hey! Look what I did!”
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Why we like it: Helps us be more green and eat more greens

Talk about “Livin’ La Vida Loca”…there’s nothing crazy about eating food grown locally and keeping your carbon footprint petite.  Find out what’s growing near you now and where you can buy it – seasonal recipes included! Locavore even tells you which crops are coming up so you can hold out for the local varieties and avoid the instant gratification of the high-cost imports. Buying local produce not only helps your local farmers, but takes less fuel to ship, pack and deliver. ”Eat local” is certainly a popular catch-phrase these days, with this app you’ll know how to do it right.

– Recommended by Contributor, Andrea Dimauro

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Are you trying to eat better but often feel like you need a PhD in chemistry to go grocery shopping these days? Are you confused by ingredients that have more than 3 syllables and whose names you can’t pronounce? This app will help you sort through what’s safe, what you should cut back on and what you should avoid or use with caution. It’s like having your own food scientists at your fingertips!

– By health and nutrition contributor, Dr. Melina Jampolis

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Insane! Dial any number in the U.S…for free! Text for free. Even calling China only costs $0.02/minute. The Google Voice app is truly a terrific way to communicate. Set up takes a little bit of time – sign up online using your existing gmail account ID/password or open a new account entirely. Choose a new number, tell Google Voice which phone numbers you want connected to your new number and you’re done. What this gets you is the ability for people to call you on your Google number and then reach you on any of your connected devices or land line. Using the app, you can make calls anywhere for free, text for free and if you want to make long-distance calls, just buy credits online and you get access to cheaper Google phone rates. Wondering about voicemail? Google will transcribe voicemails and send them to your email.