It’s bouquets-of-freshly-sharpened-pencils ✏️🍂 season. A friend told me she planned to wear a sweater tomorrow even though the temps have just barely dipped below 80. “It’s just time,” she said. And I couldn’t agree more.

Sometimes fall isn’t quite the fall we pictured, whether we’re wearing sweaters while it’s still pushing 80 and our hot PSL is making us sweat, or the prayer that the school year would bring a little more structure and rhythm isn’t exactly panning out the way we’d hoped.

The good news is we get to start fresh each day and sometimes a few small tweaks can make life feel a whole lot easier. Lately, a handful of apps and tools have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for me, so I thought I’d share what’s actually helping.

Over the last 14+ years, I’ve tried a lot of apps and systems for managing our home, and as our family changes, what works changes too. These are the ones currently helping me keep up with schedules, tasks, logistics, and all the little things that come with being a working mom of 5- and 7-year-old boys.

Running our home

Todoist​
Todoist holds our entire Home Management Operating System (HMOS) and gets used every single day by someone in our house. It’s where I brain dump basically everything that needs to happen, from something I need to buy to a house project we need to tackle three months from now.

We’ve been using it for more than five years, and at this point I genuinely don’t know what I’d do without it. Surprisingly, it also helped me make the switch from keeping my to-do list on pen and paper and thats the upgrade I didn't know I needed.

Google Sheets​
My friends would absolutely call me out if I didn’t include Google Sheets because, gosh y’all, I love a spreadsheet.

Parties, projects, budgets - if there are multiple moving pieces, there is probably a spreadsheet somewhere. There is something about getting everything out of my head and into rows and columns that makes me very happy.

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​HelloFresh​
We employ HelloFresh (free box!) whenever we’re feeling a little bored with our usual rotation and need a pinch hitter, and it fits easily into our existing meal-planning system. I set a reminder in our HMOS to pick our meals in the app each week, and then they show up at our door.

It’s less thinking, less shopping and a nice little pick-me-up on the meal front.

Parenting without Googling everything

Good Inside​
Whenever I have a parenting question, this is where I go. At this point, it basically feels like the app knows my kids.

I can put in what’s happening and get straightforward advice that aligns with the way I want to parent, without going down a giant Google rabbit hole or feeling like I need to consume 47 different opinions before deciding what to do. It feels contained, private and not overwhelming, which I really appreciate.

Giftful​
Technically this is a gift-list app, but one of my favorite ways to use it has nothing to do with actually buying gifts.

When one of my kids sees something in a store and says, “Can I have this?” I can say, “Let me take a picture and put it on your list.” And somehow that works! They know it has been heard and remembered, and we can move on.

I also add things throughout the year when someone mentions something they want. Then when Christmas or birthdays roll around, my mom and in-laws don’t have to ask me to come up with ideas—I already have a running list with links.

Taking care of me

Barre3​
Simple but important: the barre3 app makes it really easy for me to book my workout classes. And if getting to the studio isn’t going to happen that day, I can pull up an online class instead.

Removing even one little barrier between me and actually working out makes a difference.

Rent the Runway​
I’ve used Rent the Runway (50% off your first month) on and off since 2013, but I especially love it in the fall when suddenly there are events, holidays and a million reasons to get dressed up.

It lets me wear something that feels fun and fresh without buying an outfit for every single occasion. I also end up trying things I probably wouldn’t buy for myself. It feels like a little treat and, ironically, it helps me buy fewer clothes.

Currently testing

There are also two apps I’m experimenting with right now that I’m very hopeful will earn a permanent spot.

Keepbox​
I’m trying Keepbox for scanning and saving the kids’ artwork. I’ve generally handled this through Google Photos/Scan, but the idea here is that you can scan their artwork, keep it in an archive and eventually turn it into something printed.

An all-in-one place for the approximately 9,000 pieces of paper my children bring home? I am listening. More to come once I’ve actually put it through its paces.

Alta​
This one might be my favorite experiment of the month. Think Cher's closet computer in Clueless finally come to life. Alta lets you upload the clothes in your closet, creates pretty images of everything you own and then helps put outfits together.

But the part I am most excited about is being able to say something like, “I’m going to 30A for four days in October, help me pack,” and have it build outfits from what I already own.

I cannot wait to see if it actually gives me the leg up I think it might. I'd love to know - what apps are helping you run your life better? Reply to this email!

A change in season is always a good cue to give our homes a little attention, too. Before the temperatures really start to drop, here’s a full look at what to check, clean and take care of around the house this fall so you aren't reacting to bigger issues later:

• Clean your gutters (generally after the last leaves fall). Clogged gutters freeze and can damage your roof and foundation.
• Replace weather stripping. About 35% of our homes heat and air escapes through air leakage and drafts.
• Cover outdoor spigots. Drain any leftover water in the lines to avoid frozen pipes.
• Winterize irrigation systems and prep pool for winter.
• Change your fan direction to clockwise. This pushes warm air back down.
• Test your smoke detectors and change the batteries.
• Schedule your home deep clean before the holidays.
• Schedule your HVAC heating inspection.

And if you’re looking at this list thinking, yes, I know I should do all of this...but when? that’s exactly where Home Team can help.

We step in as fractional home management to get the right systems and the right people in place so things like seasonal maintenance don’t have to live in your head anymore. We build the plan, find the support and set up our HMOS system for keeping it all moving long after we’re gone.

CONTACT US

615.873.0627