In lieu of our back to school posts, I have two star apps of the week – one for productivity and one for pleasure. I recently downloaded “Paper” by 53. This app provides you with notebooks filled with blank pages for you to fill with your ideas. Using either the tip of your finger or a stylus, you can jot words, make sketches, design figures – anything – using a variety of writing instruments, from felt pens to paintbrushes. What I love about this app is the ability to customize the cover your notebook with all of their pretty designs or even photos of your own.

Even more, I love how the stroke flows across the page with your finger so realistically. It easily makes your messy scattered ideas into a beautiful colourful paper of creations. Right now, I use the app to sketch out ideas for the Best of Both blog! The downfall is that although the app itself is free, you have to pay for each additional writing instrument at $1.99 each or $6.99 for the whole set!

But hey, all work and no play? Uh… no way. Last week, I discovered an app on Romel’s iPad called “Kingdom Rush”. He had never played it before until,  but now we both can’t stop playing once we start!

Kingdom Rush, by Armor Games, is a strategic game where the goal is to defend your realm against all sorts of enemies, from orcs to trolls to zombie skeletons and snow giants, by tactfully placing a team of soldiers, wizards, bomberguyz, and archers . This is a game I definitely did NOT think I would enjoy but I can’t seem to stop playing! Let’s be honest… I once had a dream that I was in the app… Yeah, I know… I should stop.

So try these apps out if you have a chance and let me know what you think! Hope you all had a good first couple days of school!