Welcome to a new series at Just Like The Number: Six Suggests. For awhile now, I've wanted to have a dedicated space where I could share with you things that I find fun or useful and think you might enjoy as well. It could be something to buy, it could be something to read, it could be some place to go. The majority of things featured will be just for the sake of sharing with you something I think is pretty cool. From time to time I may feature affiliate links or sponsored content. Rest assured that if that's the case, I will let you know right from the start. I may be shady when it comes to a game of Hearts, but I always Blog With Integrity. I created a handy little button on my sidebar that will link you to all posts in the Six Suggests Series (try saying that six times fast).
And now, for the inaugural Six Suggests post, may I introduce you to Evernote?
Evernote is a handy little application that helps you remember and organize ideas into one tidy little space. It's free (yay!), although a premium subscription is also available (I've been using it for over a year and have yet to see a need for the premium service in my personal use). After creating an account, you can download the application onto each and every device you use. I have Evernote on my Mac laptop, our main PC, and my iPhone. When I was testing out a Droid X for Verizon, I also had it on that device. It's also available for BlackBerry.
When you have something you'd like to remember, you have several options of how to capture it. You can type a note, clip a webpage, take a photo, even record a voice memo. From there you can organize those notes into different notebooks, which are then available to you anytime, anywhere. Yup, no matter where or when you enter your information into Evernote, it syncs that information into one place, giving you access to your notes no matter which device you're using.
How do I personally use Evernote? My main uses are for keeping lists all in one place.
- I have lists for books we want to read – a separate list for each family member. Whenever we're at the library or bookstore, I can peek at the list from my phone and find our next great read.
- I have lists for gift ideas. Ever come across a great gift idea in February for someone's birthday in September? And then September rolls around and you can't remember what that oh-so-perfect gift was or where you saw it? Not me, not anymore.
- I have lists for wines I'd like to try, restaurants I'd love to visit, ideas for the PTO, and possible blog topics. The possibilities are endless.
My absolute favorite use for Evernote, though, is a little something that helps me with this.
Yes, I am a magazine addict. Especially cooking magazines. I also have a little problem with bookmarking recipes on the internet. Which is great, except when the piles start to get, well, too piley. Between the magazines, the cookbooks, and my Google reader, I had all kinds of recipes I wanted to try, but no easy way of finding them when it was time to plan a meal or take something to a pot-luck.
I created a new notebook in Evernote for Recipes to Try. I have it organized by type of recipe. In each category I list the recipe, along with where I can find it. Once I try a recipe, I delete it from the list. I would marry Evernote for this feature alone.
One of my goals for 2011 is to take the time to really learn Evernote. I know I've only scratched the surface and that it has the capability to make my life easier in a multitude of ways. If you already use Evernote, what are your favorite things about it? And if you're not a user? Well, I suggest you do something about that.
Claire7997.blogspot.com says
Interesting site! Thanks for sharing it. Have you checked out Pinterest.com? I just got on it last week so I apologize if this is old news. It came to mind when you talked about sharing things you like. It has bulletin boards that you post interests on – topics, books, foods, photos, music, etc. You can follow folks and see what they are interested in too.
aunt suzie says
I even went “premium” since I seem to be using Evernote more and more. My “yarn” folder has patterns that intrigue me. (I’m even using Evernote on my droid to pull up a pattern that I’m working on now – no more paper, just yarn and sticks!) My “genealogy” folder is where I plug in cool tips (or things I want to remember) for the next time I sit down to work on the family tree stuff.
My next tattoo might just be an Evernote elephant!
Angie Six says
Just checked out Pinterest – I'd never heard of it. Holy cow, I could get sucked in for a loooong time! Thanks for pointing it out!
Angie Six says
Wait a minute . . . your "next" tattoo? Was I aware of a previous one? I'm telling mom.
I can't wait until we're together again, so we can compare our Evernotes.