Take fun with reading to a whole new level with these iPad and iPhone reading apps for kids--and bring them along in the car for a little bit of catchup before school starts. MeeGenius! Children's Books has favorite kids' titles with audio playback, word highlighting, and personalization (iPhone/iPad app is $1.99; comes with 12 enhanced titles). Alice for the iPad lets you throw tarts at the Queen of Hearts and play croquet with a flamingo (and read the story, of course) (iPad, $8.99). The Cat in the Hat app is a great animated version of the all-time favorite kids' story; kids can read it themselves, or the app will read it to them (iPad and iPhone, $3.99). There are other Dr. Seuss book apps, too, including Green Eggs and Ham. Disney has lots of read-along, interactive iPad apps, including Toy Story 3 and The Princess and the Frog (each $8.99). i-Itch has teacher-developed apps; their ABC Shakedown Plus app is $1.99. Word Magic is designed for 3- to 6-year-olds learning to spell and is available with different difficulty levels (iPad and iPhone, $0.99).

Working out alone can be pretty, well, lonely--and less than motivating. Let one of these sites serve as your "gym buddy" and you may notice better results; plus, these sites can make wellness fun. Mindbloom turns achieving goals (like exercising daily or complimenting your partner) into a fun social game; you can play it with friends and family members. It is web-based and free. GoodGuide is a website that rates over 65,000 non-toxic, environmentally friendly products from companies with good social and safety records. It's web-based and also has an iPhone app so you can check products' backgrounds on the go, and you can share your recommendations with others. Use DailyBurn to track what you eat and when you work out, and improve your results by choosing "Motivators" (other site members, or friends you invite) to keep you accountable. Use it on the web or as an iPhone app. Finally, SocialWorkout.com is a community-based fitness and wellness blog that sets challenges for members and features local fitness guides, including exercise classes and events.

What do you do to make fitness and wellness fun?

Grocery shopping may not be your favorite chore, but these tips and tricks can make it easier and faster: The Grocery Game is a service that matches the lowest-priced products at your supermarket or drugstore matched with manufacturers' coupons and specials and provides you with a custom color-coded shopping list (for more details, watch this video). Dave Cheong's Grocery Shopping Helper is free and helps you map your grocery store by aisle. It's $10 for 8 weeks. Coupon Sherpa links to 100 weekly grocery store circulars. mygrocerydeals.com lets you browse circulars from your local stores in one place and create a shopping list. Housewife Hacks teaches you how to make a price book. And for some more high-tech ideas, check out these grocery shopping apps: Grocery iQ (iPhone, free) helps you build your list and integrates coupons. Sophiestication's Groceries is another cool list-making app (iPhone, $1.99). And Shopper is $0.99, includes barcode scanning, and works on both iPhone and Blackberry. Finally, if you're one of those shoppers who's always interested in the contents of other people's carts, check out the fun grocerylists.org, "the world's largest online collection of found grocery lists."

Have you used the Web for groceries? What are your favorite sites and online shopping secrets?

The Flip makes video recording easy and convenient even for non-videographers. If you're looking to take your Flip to the next step, check out these accessories and cool utilities.

Flip Video Action Tripod, $24.99

This tripod is compatible with all versions of Flip, and it can be used stationary or on the go (its adjustable straps let you attach it to your bike helmet or handlebars, fore xample).

Ah, summer vacation...but first, you have to get to your destination, and with kids, computers, and luggage in tow, that can be a hassle. These gadgets, priced from $1.99 to $350, will make your trip easier, more fun, or both.

While you might automatically turn to the Internet to purchase MP3s and DVDs, most people still drive to the drugstore to pick up razor blades and toilet paper. But now online retailers are making it easier, and cheaper, to buy household products online--so you can save time (and money, too). Here are three of our favorite services, all available nationwide--and keep your eyes peeled for Procter & Gamble's e-store, set to launch this year.

Alice.com

Alice.com is an incredibly convenient site that lets you buy household essentials (everything from toilet paper to laundry detergent to garbage bags to diapers) online. The site's well-designed interface makes it easy to find what you need, prices are low (and many products come with built-in coupons), and shipping is always free. Plus, the option to receive reorder reminders means you're never stuck without a roll of paper towels.

Camping no longer has to mean roughing it. So if you're the outdoors-iffy type--you don't mind the woods but you'd prefer to be able to charge your iPhone while you're there--these gadgets are for you.

Solio Classic-i Solar Charger, $79.95

Pack the Solio and you don't have to worry about your phone running out of juice. It holds a charge for up to a year and works with over 3200 devices (like the iPhone); you get your first adapter tip free, and others start at $9.95.

Graduation is around the corner - what are you getting the graduates on your list? Wow them with these fun, unusual, and really useful digital gifts.

Flip SlideHD, $279.99

The newest Flip handheld video camera shoots up to four hours of HD footage, and its 3" widescreen slides open to play video back instantly. Plus, you can decorate the front of the camera with a custom image.

You know about Evite already, but tons of other sites can also help you with your party planning - including more than just sending invitations. Zoji helps you manage events for different groups of friends, send invites and share photos. Enclude and PurpleTrail are ad-free (and don't cost anything to use); PurpleTrail lets you send printed invites, too (at $1.99 for a folding card). Manvite claims to be "Evite for the alpha-male"--plan traditionally masculine events like bachelor parties and beer drinking. Paperless Post is the classiest possible evite site--its custom online stationery (pricing varies based on how many "stamps" you use, but starts at $4 for 20; get the first 25 stamps free) looks like the real thing. MyPunchbowl is a full party planning site--we especially love its potluck planning feature; you can also survey guests on the dates that work for them and order party supplies. Socializr integrates with social networking sites like Facebook and Flickr. And you collaborate with friends about social events and vote on dates and times.

A paperless office... house... life is a dream for a lot of people, but it's hard to know where to start cleaning out all that dead-tree clutter. However, some good online resources can help. First, figure out what you should actually save: Bargaineering has a good guide for financial documents, and check out this official advice from the IRS, too. Instructables suggests making a "first pass junk removal," and. Next, remember that even if you want to save a document, it doesn't have to be on paper--scan it instead! PC Mag rounds up reviews of personal document scanners. Once it's scanned, make sure it's backed up--see our favorite online backup services. You may also want to buy a software program like Paperless or NeatReceipts, a combined scanner/software system. If you don't have to keep something but don't want to just toss it in the recycling bin, it's time to shred. Simple Mom recommends keeping a personal shredder in an easy-to-reach place and getting in the habit of "shredding most anything featuring your name and any pertinent information."

Treehugger has tips on reducing the amount of junk mail you receive. One site you'll want to know about is 41pounds.org, which contacts companies on your behalf and promises to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by 80 to 95%. (It costs just $41 for five years and donates 1/3 of subscriber fees to environmental organizations.) You should also register with DMAchoice,which helps reduce direct mail. And Catalog Choice is essential for helping you control the catalogs you receive.

You know you should back your computer up regularly, but you just haven't gotten around to buying an external hard drive yet...Sign up for an online backup service and you'll never have to worry about losing that important report again, plus you won't have to add another piece of hardware to your desk. Here are the online backup services we like. All of them boast offer free trials and boast easy installation, encrypted files, continuous data backup, the ability to back up only new data or data that's been changed (instead of wasting time re-uploading files you've already backed up), and automatic and scheduled backups.

If you're sick of hefty cable bills eating chunks out of your checking account, it's worth taking a look at free online services to see if you can save some cash. Use BillShrink to save money on cell phone and credit card bills and to compare gas prices and rates on CDs and savings accounts. The site takes your usage patterns into account when finding the best rates for you and claims to save the average user $1500. At My Emissions Exchange, input your home utility usage from your bills, and once you reduce your home energy use, the site sells your savings as official "carbon credits" and gives you cash. Web app billQ lets you track and organize your bills, reminds you when you need to pay them, and creates reports to help you understand where your money's going. (The basic service is free; premium is $5/month or $50/year.) WhiteFence helps you negotiate with utility companies via the internet--you don't have to call and haggle with a customer service rep, because this site does it for you. You can also compare TV, internet, phone, and other service providers side by side and get deals on other things like newspaper delivery and appliance rental. And if you split your bills with someone else, like a roommate or friend, BillMonk helps you keep track and do it easily.

The Oscars are ramping up their online presence this year in an attempt to attract more viewers. That means more fun stuff online for movie lovers. First of all, you can watch the Oscars online at the official site, Oscar.com--and building up to the actual event, they have tons of other video available now, including the trailers for all the nominated films. There are also widgets for making predictions. The Oscars YouTube channel has plenty of video as well (we know you've always wanted to see how an Oscars statuette is made!). E! Online will have video live from the red carpet, so you won't miss what anyone's wearing. The Official Academy Facebook page has a large collection of photos and a Livestream channel where you can share your thoughts with other Facebook users watching.

Making phone calls via the web can save a lot of money, and in many cases, it's completely free. Considering shedding your landline or just want to give the technology a try? Check out these services. Skype is the best-known service--free if both you and the person you're calling are on Skype, or call mobile phones and landlines at low rates. To use it, download free software to your computer. iCall lets you make free calls using downloaded software, your iPhone or iPod Touch, or a web browser. EvaPhone lets you make free international calls from your PC. With Jajah, make low-cost calls using your own phone, but you need to initiate the process on your computer; Jajah is partnered with Yahoo! Voice, offering similar services and free internet calling. A few other fun phone resources online: Make conference calls at FreeConference.com or Rondee.com (which also lets you schedule the calls via the web), video chat with ooVoo, get free wake-up or reminder calls with Snoozester, and send text messages from the web with txtDrop. And finally, Google Voice (okay, that's 11 but this one is only available by invite for now) gives you voicemail like email, the ability to read your voicemails via email or SMS, and one number you can forward to all your phones.

What's your favorite free phone service?

The hilarious Let's Panic! is written by mom bloggers Alice Bradley (finslippy) and Eden Kennedy (Fussy and yogabeans!) and is "the only website that accurately explains the journey from morning sickness to third-degree tears to keeping that baby alive for a year-or more!" The Baby Name Wizard is all about "the art and science of baby names," and we especially love the NameVoyager, which takes a close look at name trends over the years. . The Bump, a site for first-time parents from the creators of The Knot, provides pregnancy info, baby registry resources, pregnancy checklists and journals, and more. Trixie Tracker is a baby tracker (diapers, naps, feedings, and more) for the web and iPhone. And TotSpot lets new parents create private websites and blogs (with photos, videos, and more) for their kids.

Related: Top 10 Wired Dad Blogs

Nobody said having a new baby was easy, but these gadgets might make it a little less difficult. LilSugar has "10 Go-To Gadgets for Protective Parents," including a cry analyzer. Coolest Gadgets reviews the Beaba Babycook, which cooks and purees baby food. GadgetGrid finds a self-heating baby bottle. Random Good Stuff has a Blinky Lights Baby Feeding System--think "here comes the airplane" for the 21^st century. Blogging Dad reviews a voice-activated crib light, which "can be set to play womb sounds or just function as a night light." Gadgetophilia rounds up 5 gadgets for your newborn baby, including a hands-free diaper pail. Gizmodiva reviews pjs that change color if your baby is getting too hot. And Father Doesn't Know Best lists his top-five best baby gadgets and gifts, with the Diaper Genie Elite coming in at (appropriately) #2.

Related: Top 10 Wired Dad Blogs

Not only should you follow these moms on Twitter, you'll love discovering their blogs, too. Kelby Carr (@typeamom) is a social media blogger and consultant. Evergreen Moms (@evergreenmoms) run a Pacific Northwest shopping blog and share their favorite finds on Twitter. @WickedStepmom is a mom and custodial stepmom who also blogs about her life here. @simplemom is a mom who lives overseas and works at home (her blog is here). @imaginarybinky and @finslippy tweet hilariously about motherhood and more (blogs: Imaginary Binky and finslippy). @mamabirddiaries tweets about life as a hip mom in New York City (blog here). And @athomemom is a Canadian expat work-at-home mom living in Guatemala (blog here).

Related: 10 Useful Twitter Tools You Might Not Know About

If you're like most of us, the new year means vows to eat better and spend less. A few sites that help you do that: First of all, of course, there's the original Cheap, Healthy, Good, "a blog dedicated to the advancement of frugal, nutritious, ethically-minded food in everyday life," with new recipes, articles, and links every week (check out "Cutting Calories and Saving D'oh: 25 Lessons 'The Simpsons' Taught Me About Cheap, Healthy Eating"). Casual Kitchen focuses on easy, money-saving cooking and kitchen philosophy (sample post: "A Recession-Proof Guide to Saving Money on Food"). 30 Bucks a Week is written by a vegetarian Brooklyn couple trying to spend--you guessed it--just $30 a week on food (they still manage to whip up dishes like Pear and Bleu Cheese Crostini). The Paupered Chef focuses on good, inexpensive at-home cooking. And Last Night's Dinner is all about at-home cooking using locally sourced ingredients. All the sites will inspire you to cook up a healthy dinner at home tonight.

Related: Health 2.0: High-Tech Fit = Fun

What do you get the Apple lover in your life who already has an iPhone, a MacBook, an iPod and most of the other cool gear that comes with it? Here are 10 great gifts for Apple lovers that they won't already have - but will love getting (yourself included).

Related: Digital Gifts for Pets (and Pet Lovers) and Digital Gifts for Movie Lovers

Need some stocking stuffers for the whole family? All of these fit the bill - and they're affordable enough that you can buy more than one.

Related: Cool Digital Gifts for Wired Students and Best Wired Gifts for Moms

Good doesn't have to be expensive - or hard to find. Here are five great gifts guaranteed to delight anyone in your life with a computer and an Internet connection (aka, everyone).

Related: Digital Gifts for Music Lovers and Best iPhone Extras and Add-Ons

For students doing research on the go, there's the tiny, portable Wikireader, which allows access to Wikipedia from anywhere (at Wicked Cool Gadgets). This Lego mouse would make a great stocking stuffer (via Coated). Ace Online Schools suggests gifts for students taking online classes (but we think they'd work well for any students)--the Livescribe Pulse smartpen uploads a digital version of your handwritten notes to your computer. Book of Joe found jumbo Post-It notes. Craziest Gadgets found a tape dispenser USB hub and combination digital photo frame/pencil cup. They also have gift ideas for beer drinkers--let's face it, beer drinkers are college students (21 and over, of course), and they'll love the inflatable beer pong table and remote-controlled rolling beverage cooler. Along the same lines, DVICE has a 90-second beer chiller.

What can you get your pet this holiday that's also a treat for you. Technabob features the FroliCat BOLT, which provides a laser lightshow for cats--projecting and moving a red laser dot for cats to follow. Think of it as a modern-day piece of string (and make sure to watch the funny video). And here's a gift for lazy dog owners: The Automatic Canine Fetch Machine (via GadgetGrid)--apparently some dogs have even learned to refill it with tennis balls themselves! Check out the Automatic Pet Water Fountain, too. For the "dapper dog," Geekologie features this hilarious "dog mustache." One side's a ball, and the other side is a mustache (see above). Coolest Gadgets features a spotlight LED collar light, to keep your dog safe on late-night walks, and the PetCare Robot, which is controlled by remote control via the internet and can play with your pet from afar. Finally: Trends Updates alerts us to the Bowlingual Voice bark translator, which, unfortunately, is only available in Japan. Remind your dog to add it to his wish list next year!

Got a movie lover on your gift list? Technabob features the HypnosEye, which lets you turn your iPhone into a projector. 7 Gadgets has a portable HDTV and DVD player. Engadget features the $10 MovieWedge, which keeps your iPhone propped on your knees while you watch movies. Geek Alerts found the Mobile Cinema DVD Projector, a projector that comes with "projector comes with an integrated DVD player, built-in stereo speakers and the capability to project an image up to 50 inches large on your wall." Gear Diary features a device that lets you stream music from your iPhone or BlackBerry. And finally, they're not digital, but they're pretty cute: Nerd Approved has felt mouse Christmas ornaments dressed as characters from "your favorite nerdy movies."

Some great gifts for your favorite tech-y music lover: Technabob features a headphone cord caddy that looks like an old-school cassette tape. 7 Gadgets has an MP3 speaker that doubles as a transistor radio. Gear Diary found a device that lets you stream music from your iPhone or BlackBerry. Nerd Approved has an acorn-shaped MP3 player (for squirrels?). PopGadget has flower- and apple-shaped speakers. You can get the entire Beatles catalog on an apple-shaped USB drive (via Engadget). And finally, for those chilly days, Gadgenista has earmuff headphones.

You know where you're going this holiday season--and hopefully by now you've booked your tickets. But even with the best of planning, holiday travel can be unpredictable (to put it mildly). These sites will help make your trip go as smoothly as possible.

The iPhone addict in your life will surely love some new extras to deck out his or her phone this holiday season. Bloggers have plenty of suggestions: iPhonefreak is a great resource for all news on iPhone accessories, and has some fun stocking stuffers: four furry iPhone cases for the furry fan and the GPS Tom Tom Car Kit. Plus, don't miss their app reviews. Here's the iPhone Blog's iPhone Accessory Holiday Gift Guide, with suggestions like a Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger. PC World has a video about great iPhone accessories under $100. 

These gadgets are great gifts for the home-loving geek. Ecofriend features Sanyo's Air Washer Plus, which uses tap water to purify indoor air; plus, check out this Table Top Fireplace, which burns ethanol instead of wood. We love the "don't forget your cell phone" wall decals at Unplggd. They also suggest geeky gifts for the home for under $50 (emoticon shower curtain!) and affordable tech accessories under $50--like a Russian nesting doll USB drive. GeekSugar lists their favorite cord-management finds of 2009. We also love their five awesomely geeky Christmas ornaments. Electronic House has a great holiday gift guide that includes AV gear, gadgets, Blu-Ray, gaming, and dream gifts. We also like their list of 22 cool ways to mount your TV.

Looking for cool gifts for Dad that aren't another tie, socks or a robe? Gadgets and tech are always a good bet. PC Mag lists what not to buy in 2009--and what to choose instead. For example, don't buy Dad a camcorder that uses tape; instead, pick up a pocket camcorder. "They're still not super cheap--most cost nearly $200--but I have no doubt that any member of your family will love one." MSNBC has his-and-hers gadget ideas from a real-life couple. Dad might like the Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT, "the biggest, baddest tech you can wedge into the dashboard...you can watch DVDs on its 7-inch touchscreen, hook up your iPod for hi-def audio, connect to your cell phone for hands-free calls, and get real-time traffic and weather via MSN Direct. Best of all, unlike my lovely wife, the Z110's internal GPS knows how to read a map." Home Theater rounds up the best Blu-ray players of the year. Geekend recommends the Powermat wireless charger, which wirelessly charges three electronic devices at a time.

Or give the gift of an app: Top Tech Gifts likes the RunKeeper Pro iPhone app, just $9.99, which lets users track their outdoor fitness activities on their iPhones. Geek.com highlights BorrowLenses.com, which lets you rent photo gear by mail--so Dad can test the specialty lenses he's been eyeing before buying. Give a tech gift to a kid in need, in your dad's name--SlashGear tells you how. Some of Engadget's recommended toys actually seem perfect as stocking stuffers for Dad, like the Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter. And If Dad misses the tech of his youth, PC World has gifts for the nostalgic geek, since "the ultimate holiday gift for any technology geek is a vintage artifact plucked from the pages of computer history."

Looking for something fun and unique for Mom for Christmas? The Mobile Gadgeteer rounds up the best e-book readers of the year. PC Mag has a list of great tech gifts under $150; moms might like the Epson PictureMate Charm photo printer or Nike+ Sportband, which combines a pedometer and web component. Engadget rounds up a range of netbooks at all different prices. Momlogic recommends the Avaak Vue Personal Video Network, "the easiest and simplest way to remotely keep an eye on your kids, family, home, or business 24-7." MSNBC has his-and-hers gadget ideas from a real-life couple.

Connect with Your Teens Through Pop Culture and Technology lists 20 tech-y holiday gifts for teens, including video game suggestions for girls. MSNBC lists 10 cool gifts for the geeky kids on your list, including an internet clock radio that just might rouse reluctant risers. PC Mag has a list of great tech gifts under $150; teens might like Beatles Rock Band or headphones that control the latest iPhones and iPods. The Mobile Gadgeteer rounds up the best digital media players of the year. Engadget likes the MovieWedge, which props your iPhone on your knees for easy watching. Geekend recommends the Nintendo DSi handheld gaming device, "a really great gift for gamers--children and adults alike." Online Media Cultist has ten gift recommendations. Momlogic recommends the Limited Edition Clarisonic Plus, a sonic skin-cleaning system. Top Tech Gifts likes the Flip UltraHD pocket camcorder, one device for "recording video and sharing the clip on your favorite social media sites." The Geek.com Holiday Game Guide rounds up "less obvious choices" for avid gamers. And the Cool Hunting Gift Guide, updated daily, features wacky tech gifts like handsign USB drives.

Hostess with the Mostess offers cute table-setting tips, and don't miss their ideas for parties by holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. The Budget Smart Girl's Guide to the Universe has tips for party recipes on a budget. Moving to an Apartment has tips for fuss-free holiday entertaining, including entertaining the younger set: "Kids will not be impressed with your decluttered home or your spray-painted sticks tied with a ribbon. However, you can minimize their boredom by planning ahead to keep them entertained." A bunch of bloggers recently provided their best holiday entertaining tips to the San Francisco Chronicle. Australia Entertains has fun, not-just-red-and-green decorating ideas (peacock teal!) Holidash has a guide for celebrating Christmukkah and planning a cookie swap party. Let's Entertain rounds up ideas for her own Christmas party from around the web. No Fuss Fabulous hosted a fun Santa's Breakfast party, and Celebrations at Home has inspiration for a "Let It Snow" party.

Make cooking your Thanksgiving feast just a little easier with bloggers tech-y tips. The Unofficial Apple Weblog rounds up 5 Thanksgiving iPhone apps, including one that has 27 turkey recipes and generates a shopping list for you. The Contra Costa Times has a great list of Thanksgiving "tech support" resources--don't miss turkey tip tweets from Butterball and the number for the Crisco Pie Hotline! Mashable has a guide to preparing a Thanksgiving feast with a little help from the web--it includes everything from sending invitations to your guests using Evites to finding videos of cooking basics (plus, more iPhone apps!).

Holiday cards are a given, but don't forget about the other digital photo projects you can create this season. At Zazzle, make custom photo stamps. You can also do this at Stamps.com. At SmugMug, create keepsake boxes, photo stickers, and photo coasters, among other cool photo projects. Snapfish lets you make collage photo projects like posters, and photo charm bracelets. At Kodak Gallery, order copies of digital prints and get them framed by hand. At Shutterfly, CenterStage posters let you add your kid's face to Dora, Disney, and other scenes. Howcast has videos of photo projects to do with kids. HP has template for creating gifts like a mini photo wallet. The Digital Camera in Education teaches you how to make a pop-up card. For fun photos, says Hilary's Hideaway, all you need is an empty picture frame. Martha Stewart lists nine holiday photo card projects. The National Gallery of Art's Art Zone has tons of free art programs to create cool photo projects. And if you join Photojojo for free, you'll receive its newsletter of photo tips, DIY projects, and gear. Learn how to photograph a ghost and give yourself a digital makeover.

Okay, you don't have to be like the family running The Life Change Experiment--they gave away all their stuff, and though it's fun to read about them, you may not be quite ready to get rid of all your earthly possessions. Check out these blogs for more practical tips: First of all, Jeri's Organizing & Decluttering News explains what exactly clutter is. Unclutterer is the mother of all decluttering sites, covering topics from mealtime to pet houses. Organized Home offers a bounty of advice about cutting clutter and organizing your house; start with their Declutter 101. Mnmlist.com is a blog that epitomizes living small, right down to its title. 

Homework can be as stressful for parents as it is for kids, but these free, student-friendly websites can help make hitting the books more fun. Fact Monster offers an analogy of the day, a daily spelling bee, and searchable biographies of everyone from Roger Daltrey to the Pillsbury Doughboy (it's kind of like Wikipedia for kids). At Cramster, students can join a Great Gatsby study group or post a tricky question for a community of experts, 24 hours a day (plus, there's a special section for parents).