We are right in the middle of it – Wedding Season. Just check your social calendar and the last few gifts you recently bought. They say it all.

If you are the one planning the wedding, stop pulling your hair out, take a deep breath and keep reading! In between creating the guest list, buying the perfect dress, and sticking to your budget, here are some tips to maintain your sanity (and avoid getting a bridezilla reputation).

Check out our favorite, must-have wedding planning apps to make your life easier while you wait for your big day!

1) Pinterest

The days of shoeboxes full of inspiring pictures ripped from magazines are long gone. Its time to bring out your smartphone!

Pinterest is the social site where you organize and share all the little things that spark your interest. So when you spot a brilliant idea or image that speaks to you for your big day, record it by “pinning” it on your virtual inspiration board and keep all your favorite ideas and pictures organized. (Free for Android and iOS)

2) Wedding Plandroid and The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner

You have so many things left to do before the big day.  Use the Wedding Plandroid app to approach your to-do list as a timeline and make sure you get the most important things done first. Manage your budget and your guests’ statuses and keep all your vendors organized. (Free for Android)

The iPhone version of the Wedding Plandroid is The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner. It provides tools to manage all aspects of your wedding planning. The best part is that all your information is synced with the Knot.com website. (Free for iOS)

3) Wedding Budget

The most stressful part of wedding planning is often staying within budget. So make sure everything adds up with Wedding Budget. This app lets you track your budget for each aspect of your wedding- down to extreme detail. (Free for iOS)

4) Wedding Dress Look Book

Besides the groom, what’s more important than the dress on your big day? Searching for “the one” can be stressful. If you are still searching, check out the Wedding Dress Look Book app by TheKnot.com to find the perfect dress. Browse through countless gowns based on body type, price or brand. Bookmark your favorites, then compare dresses to narrow down your list. (Free for Android and iOS)

5) Wedding Snap

Don’t miss a single moment of your wedding! The Wedding Snap app allows you to instantly collect and get access to all of your guests’ photos and videos in one online album. You can even have the images taken with Wedding Snap, projected on a big screen and shared in real time at your reception. Guests don’t have to wait weeks to see the pictures! How great is that? Perfect, just like your day will be. (Free for Andriod and iOS)

6) Fitocracy

Need a little help dropping a dress or pant size before the big day? Voted the “App of the Year” by Men’s Journal, Fitocracy makes exercising fun! By incentivizing your workouts and creating a supportive community of users, you can track your workouts, earn points, and get access to a variety of over 800 exercises. Stay motivated for the wedding day AND the tropical beachfront honeymoon by downloading this one today! (Free for Android and iOS)

7) Gift Registry 360

Tired of answering that same question over and over? Where are you registered? Gift Registry 360 is a one-stop shop for wedding registries that lets you house a master gift registry instead of keeping track of multiple lists. By downloading the GiftRegistry360 Scan & Add app, you can add anything from anywhere onto one list with its scan feature. Simply scan a product’s barcode and it will add to your list. Purchases are also automatically updated so there’s no more confusion over what has and hasn’t been checked off the list. (Free for iOS)

Let’s face it. Planning a wedding is extremely time consuming and stressful, even with all these tools. Make sure to not get lost in all the madness and enjoy this time with your partner. It’s a time you will look back on and truly cherish.

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

Looking for a great deal on a high-tech gift for Father’s Day?  Or maybe a graduation gift that will help you keep in touch when your favorite grad when she goes off to college in the fall.

Don’t miss the nTelos Wireless Dads & Grads Sale with special pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S II. Buy online now or visit your local nTelos Wireless store for more details.  Hurry, this deal ends on June 17th!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

You never leave home without it. You feel lost, naked even, when you don’t have it by your side. You don’t know anyone’s phone number by heart and you rely so much on its GPS features to get you around town.  What would you do without your cell phone?

As you cradle your most favorite possession, make sure you have a plan to protect it so you can avoid the terror of breaking, shattering, or losing your phone!

At nTelos Wireless we can recommend a few devices, cases and protection plans that will keep even the most destructible or clumsy individual in the clear.

Battle Ready: The Indestructible Phone

Are you an absent-minded cell phone owner?  Or is your child particularly accident-prone?  Maybe you work in an environment with extreme conditions.

There are lots of reasons why some people just need a phone that’s indestructible.

If you’re one of those people, then the Sonim ­Armor is the phone for you.  Submerge it in water. Drop it from a 2-story window.  Go ahead. Seriously.  We dare you! The Sonim Armor is ready for battle and will win every time.

The Strongest Shields

Most cell phone cases offer some level of extra protection for your cell phone.  But if you’re looking for the best rugged shield for your phone, we recommend these guys:

Otterbox

Otterbox is the #1 selling rugged case for smartphones in the US – and for good reason. They’re durable, waterproof and will protect your phone from almost any situation you could dream up.

Lifeproof

Lifeproof cases can protect your iPhone from water, dirt, snow, and shock. With a focus on quality and testing instead of being first to market, these products are trusted guardians of iPhones everywhere.

Check out this video that shows off everything the Lifeproof case has to offer.

Plan Of Attack

Even when you’re being extra careful, sometimes life just happens. If you find yourself in a jam with a broken or lost phone, you’ll be glad you’re covered by a good insurance policy you can trust.

nTelos Wireless Device Protection

With multiple coverage plans ranging from device protection to extended warranty programs, there are many options to choose from when looking for the best protection back-up plan. Don’t get caught with a hefty replacement or repair bill. Check out these nTelos Wireless device protection plans.

Apple Care+

Every iPhone comes with one year of hardware repair coverage and 90 days of telephone technical support. But Apple Care+ extends your hardware repair and telephone technical support coverage to two years from the original purchase date of your iPhone.  It adds up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling coverage.  Plus, experts will help you troubleshoot issues over the phone or at an Apple Retail Store.

For those of us that live a rugged and active lifestyle (…or just have kids), it’s critical to protect your phone.  So start preparing for life now!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

As they put on their caps and gowns for graduation, your mind wanders to all the years and “firsts” that have gone by. Their first steps, first home runs, first dates, first heartbreaks, and now their first diplomas. It has been a journey.

A journey filled with tons of toys and so many gadgets along the way, right?

It’s likely that your student’s technology is quickly aging past its prime, so it might be time for something new to accompany your graduate into the next phase of his or her life. They have worked so hard to get where they are today, so let’s celebrate their achievements with an awesome graduation gift that will knock their techie socks off – and not break the bank either!

Check out our ideas below for gifts under $150 for the special graduate in your life…

For The Phone Lover

It might finally be time to give in and upgrade their phone to a reliable pocket companion. Let’s face it; their flip phone from 2008 is a dinosaur.

 If your grad is an Apple lover, you can’t go wrong with an iPhone 5. It’s the lightest and fastest of all the iPhones and will not disappoint. Retailing at $649.099, the phone can be purchased from nTelos Wireless for only $149.99 with a 2-year contract.

If your grad prefers Androids, the Samsung Galaxy S II is made for mobile entertainment and perfect for your little millennial. It allows for speedy browsing, fluid streaming, nimble multi-tasking, and efficient gaming. Retailing at $469.99, you can get the Samsung Galaxy S II from nTelos for only $19.99 with a 2-year contract!

For The TV Buff

Just because they will have to study A LOT doesn’t mean they won’t have some downtime, right?

Looking for a gift for a new grad that can’t afford a pricey cable bill? The Roku 3 is perfect! It’s the best overall choice for online streaming, with Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, Vudu, and literally hundreds of other entertainment services for only $99.00. If your giftee is an Apple person instead, the Apple TV may be a better choice than the Roku (for about the same price).

For The Reader

Yes, tablets and smartphones can double as e-readers, but if your grad doesn’t have one or the other you might consider this as an affordable alternative.

The Amazon Kindle is compact, lightweight, and affordable at $119, with a crisp e-ink screen and Wi-Fi. It offers access to a massive catalog of books, magazines, and newspapers online. And unlike more versatile devices (like their smartphone), there won’t be any calls, emails, or texts to distract the reader either.

For The Data Storage Nerd

Students always have a lot of STUFF. Not just bean bag chairs and cases of Ramen Noodles- but digital stuff, too.  Working with online documents, photos, videos, and music everyday- they need to make sure they avoid that 3 AM call to the Geek Squad to help recover their research paper after a computer crash.

Consider giving them the Seagate Backup Plus, which gives you options of up to 1TB of storage — that’s 1,000 GB — for just less than $100. That’s a ton of room for anything and everything they will want to hold onto!

For The Music Lover

JBL Flip is a great small and portable way to play music wirelessly- without the sticker shock. Instead of lugging a large sound system to college, consider the JBL Flip for just under $100. It’s portable, rechargeable, has speakerphone capability, sounds great for its size, and works as a wireless speaker with virtually any smartphone or tablet.

For only $23, give your student a pair of Skullcandy Smokin Buds to keep their tunes on the DL during dorm study time. They are the perfect blend of style and function and will keep the roommate fights to a minimum.

For The Snoozer

Without Mom or Dad screaming “Its Time To Get Up”, those 8:00 AM classes may be a struggle to make each day…

Make sure your student is never late to class again! Give them the Bedol Water Alarm Clock for only $29, which is powered by water, and keeps chugging along for up to 12 weeks without a refill.

If your techie graduate is headed off to college this year, the tools you give them now will be used for the long road ahead, but hopefully they will also be used to have a little fun along the way.

We hope your graduation celebrations are filled with friends, family and a whole lot of fun!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

Do your holiday weekend plans include shopping for great deals?

Don’t miss the nTelos Memorial Day Weekend Sale with special pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S II. Buy online now or visit your local nTelos Wireless store for more details.  Hurry, this deal ends on May 27th!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

Memorial Day is about remembering the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

And it has also come to signal the beginning of summertime festivities.  This three-day holiday weekend, families will enjoy outdoor concerts, fireworks, backyard barbecues, and so much more.

So as the thermometer finally rises (hopefully to stay), it’s time to fire up that grill, pack a picnic, and go play outside!  And check out these apps that will help you make the most of your Memorial Day weekend with family and friends.

Steak Grilling Timer & Recipes

Your days of under- or over-cooking steaks are over. This free iOS grilling app is your new outdoor best friend!

Medium-rare for Uncle Bob? Check. Well-done for Grandma Sue? Got it. This app takes orders and tells you exactly when to flip, sear, remove from direct heat and more. It even gives you sound alerts in case a game of Cornhole or Kan Jam happens to distract you from grilling duty!

Weather Channel

Ever tried to BBQ in the rain? Quickly pack up the beach chairs as unexpected rain clouds roll in? Before you start planning your next outdoor adventure, make sure you check the Weather Channel app first. This trusty free app, available for both iOS and Android users, will give you up-to-the-minute reports on what to expect when standing outside over that hot grill, laying out at the beach, or zipping around on a jet ski.

Boating Weather

While the weather channel app may help you prepare for all sorts of outdoor activities, this app is especially for the boating enthusiast! Need to know what the marine forecast is before you go out on the lake? For only $0.99, the Boating Weather App for iOS is the answer.

Picnic Recipes +

Planning to go on a picnic this holiday weekend? Download this app, grab your friends, and head to the park!  This tasty app, $0.99 for iOS, boasts a plethora of easy-to-make and easy-to-pack recipes.  A handy shopping list function makes it a snap to grab all the ingredients you’ll need, even when you’re already at the grocery store. Organizing a last-minute picnic potluck? Email recipes to friends straight from the app to assign dishes.

Oh, we almost forgot … If you’re planning on spending Memorial Day shopping for holiday steals, check out our Memorial Day Weekend Sale!  Now through 5/27/13.

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

Want to go for a walk in Hampton Roads? nTelos Wireless does! As the title sponsor for the 2013 Hampton Roads Kidney Walk, we at nTelos Wireless are extremely proud and excited to be hitting the pavement and walking for the detection and prevention of a disease that affects more than 26 million Americans.

Join us on Saturday, May 18th for the 1-mile or 5K walk starting at 24^th Street Park in Virginia Beach, VA. Hundreds of people will be participating in the Kidney Walk, to help support those who have chronic kidney disease and the millions more at risk.

The Kidney Walk is a fun, inspiring community fundraiser that calls attention to the prevention of kidney disease and the need for organ donation. It’s an opportunity for patients, transplant recipients, organ donors, family, friends, groups and businesses to come together to support the millions of people with chronic kidney disease.

You can contribute to the cause by participating and by raising money for your walk. All your hard work and fundraising goes toward vital programs like public and professional education, research support, patient and donor advocacy, and funding of free early detection health screenings. Plus, there are even some great prizes for the participants who raise the most money!

Want to join the crusade?

Check out all the Hampton Roads Kidney Walk info online to register or donate.  And like them on Facebook for all their latest news, details and contests!

We hope you look for the blue nTelos Wireless tent near the finish line of the walk. Stop by, say hi and pick up some free gifts!

Oh, and don’t forget your smartphone when you go!

Whether you want to capture all the memories by snapping photos or track your calories burned while walking for the cause this year, you’ll definitely want your smartphone nearby.

There’s even an awesome new app called Charity Miles that allows you to record your walking distance, accept sponsored funding per mile, and donate those proceeds to the National Kidney Foundation.  Now, that’s what we are “walking about!”

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

NASCAR generates higher U.S. television ratings than any other professional sports franchise except the NFL. The sport has 75 million fans, who purchase more than $3 billion annually in licensed products.  NASCAR fans are serious fans.

And they all have to stay current on their favorite drivers and race stats.

Fortunately, fans can always turn to their smartphones.  If you love all things NASCAR, check out this list of great apps that will rev your engine on race day and beyond…

And don’t forget to visit our NASCAR Time Pinterest Board - Get fun party ideas and recipes for this weekend’s All-Star Race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway!

2013 Official NASCAR Sprint Cup Apps

NASCAR Mobile ’13

This free app available for iOS and Android offers news, video, social and live race information. With this app, all fans have the ability to experience real-time live race leaderboards, any of 43 different driver audio feeds, broadcast race radio, NASCAR officials audio, real-time practice and qualifying leaderboards and alternate in-car camera angles. This app has it all!

NASCAR Raceview Mobile ’13

This free app for iOS and Android is the ultimate race-day companion for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  It includes 3D race virtualization, enhanced position tracking, driver telemetry, plus race radio and driver/officials audio.

2013 General NASCAR Apps

Prefer the Nationwide Series instead of the Sprint Cup? These apps are for you!

Race Fan Ultimate: NASCAR

 Do you eat, sleep, and breathe NASCAR? Check out this iPhone-only app that has schedules, standings, statistics, leaderboards and much more. This app is the ultimate source for all things related to racing. With full coverage of Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Trucks Series, no other race app collects this much content in one package.

Sporting News NASCAR

 Available for iOS and Android, this app allows you to keep up with your favorite racing circuit news. Get the latest Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, and Chase for the Sprint Cup news – as well as opinions from Sporting News columnists in their NASCAR blogs.

NASCAR Countdown for iPhone or Android

Never miss an important race again! The NASCAR Countdown app features a countdown to the next televised race, the name of the race and the television network carrying the race.  So all you have to do is mix the dip and fluff your couch cushions.

We’re lucky to live and work in a state that has two amazing NASCAR tracks: Martinsville Speedway and Richmond International Raceway.  If you’re the type who watches races live in the stands, be sure to check out our NASCAR Time Pinterest Board!  Get the ultimate collection of tailgate recipes, supplies, and party ideas – just in time for this weekend’s All-Star Race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

Wow! What a great couple of days it has been at nTelos Wireless. We just wrapped up two great nTelos Cares programs with local charities in the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas.

Through the program, nTelos Wireless partners with local bloggers to raise awareness and funds for charitable organizations.  For each Facebook like, share, or re-tweet about the program, nTelos donates $1 to a selected charity in the community.

In Richmond, nTelos partnered with RichmondMom.com to select three deserving charities and start the fundraising contest.

Last week at the check presentation event, we had the pleasure of meeting with representatives from Talk About Curing Autism Now (TACA), Safe Harbor, and The Children’s Heart Foundation. There were tons of adorable little ones running around that made the occasion even more fun!

TACA was the big winner and was presented with a check for $1,500! They couldn’t be more thrilled to use these funds to help support local families that care for individuals with autism. Navigating the system can be difficult, and TACA is there to help be a guiding resource.

Safe Harbor and The Children’s Heart Foundation were runners up in the nTelos Cares program and each received checks for $500.

Safe Harbor is a wonderful organization that provides comprehensive services to survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse. They are extremely active in the Richmond community and promote messages of positivity and building a foundation for the youth around healthy love.

The Children’s Heart Foundation brought some wonderful little ones to the event who have benefitted from the work they do. They truly are working on saving children’s lives: one heart at a time. If it wasn’t for the research they fund, many other children will be at risk for major open-heart surgeries.

After all the checks were presented, the refreshments devoured, and our best smiles flashed to the camera, the grand total amount presented the two events was $5,500!

That’s a lot of dollar bills for some great causes! And we owe so much to the Facebook friends and Twitter followers who spread the word and cast their votes for these groups!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.

nTelos Wireless just wrapped up two great nTelos Cares programs with local charities in the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas.

Through the program, nTelos Wireless partners with local bloggers to raise awareness and funds for charitable organizations.  For each Facebook like, share, or re-tweet about the program, nTelos donates $1 to a selected charity in the community.

In Hampton Roads, nTelos partnered with the My Active Child blog to choose four deserving organizations and start the fundraising contest.

At check presentation event, we were lucky enough to spend time with representatives from The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, ForKids, and both the Peninsula andSoutheastern Foodbanks.

After the votes were tallied, The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters was the biggest winner and was presented with a check for $1,500! CHKD does some wonderful things for the Hampton Roads community and beyond. More than just a hospital, CHKD spearheads initiatives like the donor breast milk program that helps lowers the risk of serious health complications in preemies, to just name one.

Luckily, there are no losers with the nTelos Cares program. ForKids and each Foodbank received $500 checks, too.

ForKids helps support homeless families with children and offers services like tutors to help with homework. By breaking the cycle of poverty, ForKids is an amazing organization for the Hampton Roads community.

Both local Foodbanks are doing some amazing things, too. What would our communities do without their hunger-relief programs? In preparation for summer needs, they just received a huge donation of hot-dogs. It’s donations like these – as well as monetary donations like the one from nTelos Cares- that they rely on to help feed those in need.

Great job to everyone who helped spread the word about these charities and, in the process, helped raise funds through nTelos Cares. Check back soon to participate in our next round of fundraising and donations!

Come join the conversation about wireless at nTelos Connect | nTelos Wireless Blog.