Category: Holidays Page 4 of 13

Stories about the occasions that matter most.

6 Ways to Simplify Your Holidays

On October 21, 2019

The holidays are fast approaching, which means our to-do lists are getting longer day by day. If you’re feeling the pressure of trying to do it all, it’s important to step back and remember what this season is truly about.

According to Wikipedia, in modern use, the term holiday means “any special day of rest or relaxation, as opposed to normal days away from work or school.” If this is the case, then why does the holiday season always seem to end up as one of the craziest and busiest times of year? No matter what activities and celebrations you participate in during this season, with some intentionality, it’s possible to tame the chaos and make this holiday season slower, simpler, and more enjoyable.

Here are 6 ways to simplify your holidays:

Delegate

Don’t think of delegating as giving in or giving up. Instead, think of it from a positive perspective. When you delegate, you give others the opportunity to do what they do best. Let them be the expert and handle the task. In turn, you’ll free yourself up to do more things that you enjoy. Remember that your time is valuable, especially during the holiday season. The weeks will go by quickly and you can only do so much. Think about what your time is worth and invest in help when needed.

Focus on community

Even if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle for the season, preferring to hibernate instead, it wouldn’t hurt to do something for your community’s improvement. Pay attention to what the people in your community need and join them. Whether it’s choosing to give back by serving free hot meals or donating to a local toy drive, giving provides opportunities to connect with others in your community. You might also choose to join the caroling group in town, help decorate at the town hall, or attend a community theater production. Make it a point to smile and say hello to others at the events. Small gestures can go a long way in sharing the joy with others in your community.

If it’s overwhelming to think about volunteering or attending another event, choose to connect with your community at a different time of year when there are fewer demands on your attention. Consider which time of year works best for you, find a group in your community, and plan to participate in a different way in the new year. Connecting with others in your community is important all year!

Practice Teamwork & Communication

If you’re doing anything over the holiday season that requires collaboration, this is critical. Often, the source of our stress and messy holiday issues are a result of someone not asking for help or not communicating clearly. Be proactive by talking to your family and loved ones before the season begins. Discuss traditions, share new ideas and be open to each other’s thoughts. Remind each other that just because something has always been done a certain way, it doesn’t mean it needs to stay that way. Although you may encounter resistance to changing things up a bit, share why you think it’s important and try to agree on a new way of doing things this year. Have another discussion after the holiday season while the memories are fresh in everyone’s minds and use that information to plan for next year.

Choose experiences over things

Do you remember the last “thing” you received from a friend or family member? Now, do you remember the last experience you had with a friend or family member? Which comes to mind faster?

Over time, memories of experiences are more likely to stick with us than the physical items we’ve received over the years. Keep this in mind as you contemplate purchasing another gift for someone. If you’re tempted to just go out and purchase another cookbook for your budding culinary friend, consider instead taking them to a cooking class and enjoying the learning experience and the cooked meal with them after. You can also arrange a vacation with them so you can spend some quality time with each other!

If you’re still tempted to present them with a gift that can be opened, a Nixplay frame is a perfect gift! It will help you relive all of the experiences you’ve enjoyed with that person. Gift it with images already on it or enjoy the experience of sitting with them to set it up and add photos they choose. The experience of giving it can be your gift!

Uphold your boundaries

You’re likely going to get asked to do something this holiday season. Before the season begins, think about or jot down three words you’d like to feel during this holiday season. Think about what’s really important to you during this season. Then, when you get asked to do something, think back to your words and decide if this request will take you closer to or further from what you hold dear to your heart.

Don’t be afraid to say “no” if it doesn’t align with your vision or if the thought of doing it makes you feel overwhelmed or “heavy.” On the other hand, if you’re immediately excited about the request, say “yes” enthusiastically. You might also choose to respond instead with an alternative option that works for everyone. Be confident, speak up, and uphold your boundaries kindly and gracefully. Focus on what’s best for you and your family. Remember, it’s your holiday season, too.

Prioritize sleep and self-care

By upholding your boundaries, you’re creating a holiday season that feels good to you and your family. Though routines, activities, and traditions will change over the years, two things that should remain constant are sleep and self-care. Resist the urge to pack in more to-dos after everyone else is in bed and do your best to stick to a set bedtime so you don’t compromise your health.

Remember that self-care isn’t just about getting massages and having long weekends away (although it certainly can be!). Practicing self-care can be as simple as starting the morning in bed with five quiet minutes of deep breathing. Or maybe it’s incorporating in a 10-minute walk in the middle of the day. The bottom line is, it doesn’t have to be glamorous. Anything that helps you stay focused on your physical and mental health will help. When you prioritize these things, you’ll show up more alert, focused, and energized, and you’ll be more likely to enjoy your holiday season.

With some thoughtful planning and intentional conversations with your loved ones before the activities and commitments begin, you have the power to make this holiday season simple. Do your best with the suggestions here and give yourself the freedom to experiment with what feels right for you and your family.

nixplay digital frames oktoberfest traditions

5 Oktoberfest Traditions You Shouldn’t Miss

By Mars Salazar

On October 2, 2019

In Holidays

Oktoberfest is one of the longest-running festivals in the world and as such, holds lots of meaningful traditions. Here are some of them!

The parade of the Oktoberfest tent owners

You shouldn’t miss the parade of the hosts to their respective tents, which happens at 11 a.m. on the first day of the festival. It lasts about 1 hour and attracts more than a thousand onlookers. We suggest you go there early so you can find a prime spot to take pictures from!

The opening of the first barrel by the Mayor of Munich

The Oktoberfest celebration officially begins when the Mayor of Munich uncorks the first barrel of beer using a wooden mallet. When the first mug is poured, he says “O’zapft is!” (that’s “pour it!” in German) to mark the beginning of the festivities.

The procession on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest

The Trachten-und Schützenzug is a big parade that passes through Munich, heading to the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest festival is traditionally held. It starts at 10 a.m. and over 9,500 people from all over the world take part in it, accompanied by marching bands and brass orchestras. This parade has historical significance–it was held for the first time in 1835 to honor the 25th wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, and it has become an anticipated event, broadcasted on live TV, since 1950.

Watch (or participate in) Feldl’s Teufelsrad

The Teufelsrad’s concept is very simple: A large spinning disc, where people of a certain demographic can climb on and hold tight as the spinning becomes faster. It’s quite challenging, but a lot of fun!

Watch a free public concert

The second Sunday of the festival, meanwhile, sees a big concert of around 300 musicians at the foot of the Bavaria statue. It usually starts at 11 a.m. and is traditionally conducted by the mayor and the various celebrities present at Oktoberfest. Get there early to score a great view!

Oktoberfest is one of the most anticipated festivals in the world, so if you’re attending, make sure to take lots of pictures! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so don’t forget to charge your cameras and phones beforehand. Afterward, display your favorite Oktoberfest pictures on your own Nixplay Frame! Get up to 25% off on selected frames with our Oktoberfest promo, only until October 9!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

How to use digital Halloween decorations and Halloween props

8 Digital Halloween Decorations For Your Home

By Alice Murray

On September 30, 2019

In Holidays

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to start looking for your costume, planning your pumpkin carving ideas, and thinking about your decorations.

While dressing up is what it’s all about, it’s also a great time to dress up your home too! This year, why not mix it up a little with some savvy, unique tech decorations? Keep the jack-o-lanterns, plastic cauldrons, and fake creepy crawlies in the basement this year and invest in some cool tech decorations that are guaranteed to give your home the winning edge.

Now, we want to help you become the envy of your neighbors by making your house look as frightening as possible. That’s why we’ve put together some tips on making Halloween decorations and using the best tech Halloween props to give your house a whole new look for the spooky season.

Digital Halloween Decorations

Most of us dabble in tech gadgets every day, even if it’s just our smartphones. Going the extra mile with these digital and animated Halloween decorations will ensure you’ll give your trick-or-treaters and party guests the ultimate fright night.

Halloween Hologram

Tech decorations don’t have to be difficult. With a simple projector kit, you can dress up your windows with a Halloween hologram and give your trick-or-treaters the impression that you’re not home alone!

LED Light Show

Who says outdoor light decorations are just for Christmas? This LED light projector will make your home stand out with a decorative light show. With a variety of slides and patterns, a remote control, an auto-timer function, and advanced water wave projection, it’s a fun way to give your house a serious splash of colour and fun.

Ghost Drone

Already have a drone handy at home? If you like getting creative or prefer making Halloween decorations yourself, give your drone a makeover and turn it into a spooky ghost with a bedsheet or a cheesecloth. Alternatively, you can drape a store-bought hanging skeleton over your drone. Watch your visitors run for their lives as it comes floating towards them!

Amazon Echo

Halloween is the perfect time to put your Amazon Echo to good use! All you have to do is enable Alexa and say ‘Alexa, start spooky Halloween sounds’ into the speaker. This can play on a continuous loop for your Halloween party, and the speaker itself can easily be disguised or hidden to give off the ultimate aural illusion.

Animated Halloween Decorations

Animated Hanging Ghost

Hang this animated hanging ghost above your front door or from the ceilings in your home to give troublesome trick or treaters a good scare. This touch and voice-activated ghoul lights up, shakes its arms, and makes spine-tingling sounds, making it the perfect starting point for your Halloween props collection.

Animated Zombie Fogger

Are you looking for a Halloween addition to your front lawn or back yard? Freak out your friends and family with the Gaseous Zombie Fogger, a two-foot tall zombie that pulls himself out of the ground and spits fog from his gruesome, decaying mouth.

Talking Eyeball Doorbell

For something a little more scare-proof and playful, this animated talking doorbell is perfect. With an ultra-bright glow-in-the-dark light and high-quality sound with a variety of spooky sayings, this gadget will give your party guests an entertaining Halloween greeting.

Haunted Moving Painting

Give your Halloween trick or treaters and party guests an authentic haunted house experience with these 3D haunted portraits. The painted faces change at different angles, giving off the illusion that you’re being watched—the perfect combination of mystery and horror.

How To Display Photos At A Party

When you’ve spent hours transforming your home into the ultimate haunted house and planning your best Halloween costume, you’ll want to make sure it’s remembered with the best Halloween photos. You could even set up a makeshift photo booth and host a Halloween costume competition for your party guests!

Whatever you decide to do, you can display your Halloween photos perfectly using a digital photo frame. Browse our range of Wi-Fi Photo Frames, Smart Frames, and Digital Frames online now and make this Halloween the most memorable one yet!

The First-Timer’s Guide To Oktoberfest

By Nixplay Team

On September 26, 2019

In Holidays

Oktoberfest should be on every traveler’s bucket list! This grand celebration draws millions of people from all over the world, and the crowds are only getting bigger and bigger each year–and we haven’t counted the other Oktoberfest celebrations in other destinations around the world! If you’re attending this year, here’s some basic intel so you’re as prepared as can be when you join the festivities.

Book a table before going there.

Admission to the Munich Oktoberfest is free, as well as table reservations at most tents. However, since it’s all free, you can expect that tables at the beer tents will quickly be booked. The beer tents are usually closed for overbooking on Fridays and Saturdays, but a reservation will allow you to enter without any hassle.

Note the beer serving hours.

Sorry to disappoint, but beer isn’t exactly a free-flowing affair during Oktoberfest. In fact, beer is only served until 10:30 p.m (though some tents serve alcohol until 12:30 a.m.). The beer isn’t exactly dirt-cheap either–the cost ranges from 10.8 euros to 11.8 euros, so you’d want to get your money’s worth.

Check the schedule of attractions.

Oktoberfest isn’t just an occasion to get drunk–it’s also a time to have lots of fun! If you need a break from munching on Bavarian delicacies and drinking beer, you can check out the several attractions on the festival grounds. From sky-high swings to ghost trains to intense roller coasters, you won’t run out of thrilling options to try from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Consider dressing like a local.

You can wear whatever you want to the festival, but we highly suggest you get in the Oktoberfest spirit by outfitting yourself in German garb! After all, it’s not always every day when you can dress up in Lederhosen shorts or a Dirndl dress. Take advantage of the occasion!

Brush up on your German.

It wouldn’t hurt to learn a few German words before joining the festivities! Some important phrases: ‘Ein Ma, bitte!’ (One beer, please!), ‘Prost!’ (Cheers!), and ‘Ich habe so einen Katter’ (I have a killer hangover).

Don’t forget to stay safe, have fun, and take lots of pictures! Display them on a Nixplay Frame so you can replay your Oktoberfest memories over and over again! Take advantage of our Oktoberfest Sale and get up to 25 percent off some of our bestselling frames, only until October 9!

5 Great Places Where You Can Celebrate The Fourth Of July

By Mars Salazar

On July 3, 2019

In Holidays

The Fourth of July is one of the biggest holidays in the U.S.A, marked by concerts, parties, and fireworks galore. But you have to admit: Some places are simply better than others at celebrating Independence Day. Here are the best cities to celebrate the Fourth at:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia played a pivotal role in the United States’ independence: It was where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed in July 1776. You can expect several days of festivities in commemoration of the Fourth of July, with fireworks, parades, concerts, and other activities for the whole family. Don’t miss the chance to visit the National Museum of American Jewish History, as well as the Bartram’s Garden House, for free, and cap off the day at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the annual concert and fireworks.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Celebrate the Fourth of July in a uniquely American way at New Orleans! Stroll around the French Quarter, then camp out on the banks of the Mississippi River (or go on a river cruise) for the annual can’t-miss fireworks display featuring dueling barges. You can also check out the annual ESSENCE Festival, the largest celebration of African American music, beauty, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle. 2019 marks ESSENCE’s 25th anniversary, so you can expect workshops, experiences, and performances from some of the most iconic names in the music business.

Washington, D.C.

President Trump has outlined an all-new celebration for the Fourth of July, which he had christened “A Salute to America.” The program includes fireworks over the Potomac River, a military parade with tanks and “incredible flyovers,” and a speech from Mr. Trump himself. You can also watch a baseball game at Nationals Park, pay homage to the past presidents at the National Portrait Gallery, and check out the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights at the National Archives.

Boston, Massachusetts

Given Boston’s rich history, it’s not surprising that it’s one of the best places to spend the Fourth of July at. Every year, thousands of people flock to the city for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular for an evening of music and fireworks. Make sure to be there early to secure a great view of the stage!

Nashville, Tennessee

Music fans shouldn’t miss the chance to celebrate at Nashville! Aside from a full day of family-friendly activities, soccer matches, and free concerts from an amazing lineup of artists, you can’t miss the showstopping 30-minute fireworks display choreographed to a medley of songs by the GRAMMY award-winning Nashville Symphony. Tip: Go to Ascend Amphitheater or Riverfront Park for an amazing view of the fireworks!

PS: Celebrate Independence Day with Nixplay! Get 15% off selected frames beginning July 4!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.