Thank you to U.S. Cellular for sponsoring this post. I am honored to be a part of the U.S. Cellular Blogger Brigade but all opinions are 100% my own. Be sure to take a look at this Parent-Child Agreement if you’re looking to set some ground rules for cellular use within your family.
Show of hands – who’s got cabin fever? I feel like I say this every winter for one reason or another, but the weather’s been absolutely crazy lately! Here in the PNW it’s been either snowing like crazy, raining like crazy, or insanely cold. None of which equal a fun day in the outdoors since I’m just not a winter weather girl. I love to watch the snow – I think it’s beautiful, but I don’t like to play in it – I prefer to be warm.
Being cooped up inside for days on end though can get a little boring. There are only so many series to binge watch on Netflix so sometimes I have to find something else to entertain either myself or my kids.
Smart Ways to Melt Winter Blues
We all have smartphones and tablets right? I have an awesome Samsung Galaxy Tab from US Cellular that I love so why not use that to help break up the monotony? There are so many apps back there that are brain-stimulating or help you be a healthier you. Maybe you want to try some fancy new recipes for food or drinks; there are apps for that too.
A recent U.S. Cellular survey indicated that 61 percent of smartphone owners use their device to play games. Classic board games, such as Monopoly, The Game of Life and Yahtzee, have apps available on Google Play and iTunes. My personal fave is Yahtzee! I’ve played it with my family my whole life so finding out it was an app was weirdly exciting for me.
Maybe you’re a trivia person, smartphone owners also can stay sharp by downloading top trivia apps, such as Guess the Song, QuizUp, Trivia Crack and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. So I thought I liked trivia, but evidently I’m not as much of a genius as I once thought.
Did you know that there’s an app for Food Network On the Road and Just Recipes? To me this is awesome because as a blogger I’m always looking for new recipes and inspiration to share with everyone and now it’s right there anytime! Amateur chefs and mixologists like myself also can whip up their favorite foods or drinks with the Chinese Recipes, Italian Recipes, Christmas Recipes, Frozen Milkshake and Tea Making Recipes (and those are just a few – I keep finding more every day).
The kiddos may not be as impressesd by the recipe apps, but just because it’s too cold to go outside again, doesn’t mean you can’t bring the snow to you. My daughter loves the Make a Snowman and Snowman Maker Plus apps. She gets to design her own snowman and then next time we go outside, she tries to make one just like the one she designed on the app. It’s not something I would have ever thought of on my own, but it’s a ton of fun.
If you need some brain stimulation after watching Octonauts or Paw Patrol for the last week, the free Elevate and Fit Brains Trainer apps are designed to improve focus, memory, processing speed and speaking skills. Yes that means speaking to those over the age of 6 if you’ve forgotten how…I get it…the struggle is real.
So there you go – tons of fun to be had without ever leaving the house! If you need the perfect device to get you going be sure to check out some of the great deals at US Cellular and be sure to let me know what app is your fave or what app you would love to check out! Thanks for reading!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
January 25, 2016 at 8:28 amI tend to eat my way through the winter – and then rush to take off the winter pounds once April hits. Not a good cycle.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
January 25, 2016 at 8:43 amU.S. Cellular is a great company, and they’ve been around forever. I remember when cell phones first came on to the scene. U.S. Cellular was one of the very first carriers.
Kelli @ 3 Boys and a Dog says
January 25, 2016 at 8:48 amI don’t think a day goes by without having used tablet, laptop or phone! Without them (to answer all my questions, communication, and every day to day) I’d be lost! I didn’t know about the Food Network app, I’ll have to look into that one!
Jeanette says
January 25, 2016 at 9:35 amI need some games to entertain me on the plane in a few weeks. I totally forgot about yatzee I am getting that to help pass time on the plane.
lisa says
January 25, 2016 at 10:30 amI love any kind of game. Trivia or any mind stimulating games are the best for me. These apps all look like fun!
Sicorra@NotNowMomsBusy says
January 25, 2016 at 3:36 pmI am not a winter gal either. When I live in a location that has a lot of snow I definitely stay inside as well, and hibernate. That is quite a list of things to do for those of us that prefer to hibernate throughout winter.
Megan Elford says
January 25, 2016 at 3:47 pmI don’t use my phone for gaming personally, but I always have a few on it for those times when we’re stuck in a line or waiting room. They come in so handy!
Miles L. says
January 25, 2016 at 4:34 pmThe winter blues can be very infectious! That’s why I hang around with happy people. I feel so warm then.
Erica Brooks says
January 25, 2016 at 5:02 pmThese apps look like fun. I like to play word games apps when I get some down time.
alexandria says
January 25, 2016 at 5:31 pmI love board games, but I still like the actual boards. Lol. My daughter is into a Palace Pet game right now. I dont really play any games on my phone or pad now that I’m thinking about it…
Jessica Simms says
January 25, 2016 at 5:54 pmAny game is a good game to play when you are stuck inside, I like the ehow food app, so cool!
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
January 25, 2016 at 6:41 pmThose are apps are cool, I actually just downloaded a few, and the Food Network on the road is a must.
Valerie says
January 25, 2016 at 6:52 pmThese all sound like great apps and perfect for those long winter days when you don’t want to go out!
Nicole says
January 25, 2016 at 7:05 pmMy little one would totally love the Snowman Maker Plus app! She is still talking about Christmas decorations and snowmen even though we don’t get snow where we live!
Ron Leyba says
January 26, 2016 at 2:13 amLove the apps you featured. All in all, they are all awesome ways to melt the so called winter blues 🙂
victoria says
January 26, 2016 at 2:20 amWhat a cool apps. I need this app I’ve been bored this past few days. Thanks for sharing
Bonnie @wemake7 says
January 26, 2016 at 4:13 amThose apps and games look really fun. I will have to check these out this Winter.
Melissa says
January 26, 2016 at 7:10 amUS Cellular was the first cell phone company my husband had for work. I remember the big brick phone he had with them but they had the best deal and have been around forever!
OurFamilyWorld says
January 26, 2016 at 8:45 amI love puzzle games and I play them whenever I have to kill time. I will check out these apps.
Ann Bacciaglia says
January 26, 2016 at 9:05 amI am so done with winter. I have been hibernating and i can not wait for the warm weather to come. I love playing games on my phone. I will have to try Yahtzee.
Chubskulit Rose says
January 26, 2016 at 10:00 amApps are great thing to have specially when you are traveling. I can really be a good form of entertaining.
Crystal Lopez says
January 26, 2016 at 10:19 amBeing indoors during the winter is super tough. We all get bored. These are fun games and on an awesome tablet too!
Kathy says
January 26, 2016 at 10:23 amThese are some great ideas. I love that snowman app! I’ll have to check it out right away. How cute!!
Rebecca Swenor says
January 26, 2016 at 12:25 pmThese are indeed all great smart ways to melt the winter blues. I love Yahtzee and this would be the perfect app for me. It is an awesome idea to have stimulation games on the smart devices I think because it gets your blood flowing. Thanks for the ideas.
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
January 26, 2016 at 1:31 pmI used to have US Cellular when I lived in Oklahoma. They don’t have it up here in Michigan. I used to play Yahtzee all the time as kid. I am going to have to put this on my phone.
Emma Spellman says
January 26, 2016 at 2:25 pmI don’t play games on my phone because there is always something to do. My husband and kids plays games on the phone though. My idea of unwinding is going on Facebook and connecting with friends and family. Once in a blue moon though I will play candy crush. Before my kids were born I used to play Bingo on my phone.
Jesica H says
January 26, 2016 at 5:32 pmI was addicted to candy crush, and then Yatzee, and now my phone has been resting! I enjoy sitting on my couch watching the snow fly! I do think I need a new app though, to keep my busy!
Julie (xfallenmoon) says
January 26, 2016 at 8:19 pmI haven’t quite figured out how to get out of winter blues. I guess I try to immerse myself in content creation for my blog. Lol. I’m not a big phone game kind of user, especially not where my kids are concerned.
Alison says
January 26, 2016 at 9:45 pmYou know, I never thought I was either – a game player – until I found one that I liked. Now it’s a great way to pass time but that’s the only one I play on a regular basis lol
Digna says
January 27, 2016 at 7:48 amThese are all great for passing the time indoors. I need to go out when I have cabin fever and for me that is all winter long. Wish I could but I can’t sit still for long to play these games.
HilLesha says
January 27, 2016 at 7:18 pmI’ll have to check these apps out! I really don’t have a favorite app, but I have been enjoying Clue Bingo lately.
Marielle Altenor says
January 27, 2016 at 9:05 pmI’m a bit of an hermit during the winter season. I rarely ever get bored but if I do it’s nice to know I can check out a couple of these apps to keep me busy!