While much has been said and written about the glory (and the difficulty) of being a mother, it’s important to remember that fathers don’t have it easy, either. These five books capture the core essence of fatherhood–that primordial drive to be a provider, a protector, a supporter, and a friend to your child–in heart-touching ways.
Someone Could Get Hurt: A Memoir of Twenty-First-Century Parenthood by Drew Magary
Being a parent isn’t easy–and it’s something that GQ correspondent Drew Magary’s perfectly captured in his collection of relatable stories about the contemporary American parenting experience. The stories, which range from indulging a child’s request to play princess, to watching in resigned helplessness as a kid pees in a public pool, will have the reader alternating between laughing out loud and shaking their head in understanding.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This American classic, set in the 1930s in the town of Macomb, Alabama, tells the story of lawyer Atticus Finch through his daughter Scout’s eyes. Atticus is given the responsibility of defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. The chances of Tom being acquitted is extremely slim, but Atticus still gives his all to do the right thing–teaching his children (as well as the reader) important life lessons along the way.
The Loyal Son: The War in Ben Franklin’s House by Daniel Mark Epstein
Nobody’s exempt from parenting woes–not even America’s founding fathers. The Loyal Son digs into the turbulent relationship between Benjamin Franklin and his illegitimate son, William. Ben raised William to be his aide and successor, but the American Revolution created a gaping chasm between the two, who found themselves standing on opposite sides of history. This is one book history buffs shouldn’t miss.
Be Prepared by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden
This book would be a godsend for new dads and soon-to-be fathers. It covers things every dad should know, such as changing diapers and childproofing rooms, plus more interesting topics, such as foods you should never feed your baby. And it’s all wrapped in one delightfully funny, easy-to-read package, complete with illustrations.
Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir by Common
In this book, award-winning musician and actor Common reflects on what it means to live a life guided by love. He touches on personal matters, such as his relationship with his daughter, and progresses to bigger issues, such as the racial and political issues that divide humanity. It will make you reflect on the world around you and how you can help make it better.
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.
Although we live in a world where we’re further apart than ever before, there are still ways to stay close. With more of us traveling to different places every year, working away from our hometowns, or moving further afield for college, it’s easy to become distant from the people we love. But what if we told you that there is a new, unique way to make and maintain family connections? Check out our guide on how to connect with family and how to stay in touch with long-distance family all over the globe.
How to Connect with Family
The go-to solution when we want to connect with family is to pick up the phone or send a quick text message. But sometimes even this simple action can slip through the net, making it difficult to touch base with everyone we care about regularly. It can be hard to check-in if you have a busy life or if you live on the other side of the country away from your family, especially if you have to factor in time differences and work commitments. It might be that you only have a five or ten-minute window each day to catch up with your mom or reach out to a friend. So, what can you do to let your loved ones know you’re always thinking of them?
A digital photo frame is the fresh new way to create family connections, and gives you the opportunity to make someone’s day, every day.
How to stay in touch with long-distance family
Building a family social network sounds great, but how does it work?
Meet the Bakers. After using Nixplay to create family connections, they can share special moments that go far beyond a phone call.
With Nixplay, you can send, receive, share and display photos and videos from anyone, no matter where they are in the world. You can link your frame up with Alexa, create personalized playlists with your favorite music and even connect your frame to Spotify, Instagram, Facebook and many more social channels. So, what does this mean for you? Put simply, you’ll be able to build your very own family social network, meaning you can wake up to a video message from gramps, or send a funny photo of your puppy to your mom. The perks of this? They can show off these priceless moments in their home, on a personal picture frame with a twist.
Gifts for Long Distance Family
Now you’ve discovered more about how to connect with family, why not get started on building your own family social network with Nixplay? Whether you’re looking for a gift for long-distance family, or you want to try it for yourself, a Nixplay frame can revamp your home in more ways than one. Check out our collection of Wi-Fi frames, and learn more about the smart ways a digital photo frame can enhance your lifestyle.
Growing up, you probably couldn’t imagine spending your everyday life without your siblings. They might have teased you mercilessly, but you can count on them to be on your team through thick and thin. And you’d do the same for them because your siblings are simply the best.
But as time passed, you and your siblings expanded your respective worlds, met new people, started careers, and set different priorities. And though life might have caused you and your siblings to be separated by distance, the good news is that it’s never been easier to stay close, no matter how far apart you may be. Get started with these five thoughtful ideas:
Keep In Touch Via Social Media
Thanks to social media, you can stay updated on your siblings’ musings, achievements, and adventures in a jiffy. Set up regular video calls, send them messages on Facebook, and post your favorite photos with them on Instagram. Even tagging them in posts you think they’ll like will warm their hearts–it’s a sweet reminder that somewhere, someone who loves them is thinking of them.
Send Them Snail Mail
While technology has made communication more efficient than ever, nothing beats the nostalgia and anticipation that comes with good old-fashioned snail mail. Send your siblings postcards from your trips, write them letters once a month, and mail them greeting cards on their holidays. It may not be the fastest method of communication, and there’s nothing you can send via post than couldn’t be typed out in a test or an email, but t’s more thoughtful, more personal, and therefore, more special.
Make Your Get-Togethers Meaningful
If you and your siblings live in faraway cities or in different countries, chances are you probably don’t see each other too often. So next time you do, make it count by making your reunion as fun as possible. You can go down memory lane and indulge in activities you enjoyed when you were younger, or do something that reflects your current interests. It doesn’t have to be a grand affair: Even if it’s just hiking in the woods near your childhood home or baking your mom’s signature cookie recipe, the most important thing is making them truly feel how much you love spending time with them.
Surprise Them With Presents
An unexpected package containing something they’ll love is always a welcome surprise. Be it a bouquet of cheerful flowers for your sister or something for your brother’s next golf tournament, they’re bound to appreciate and treasure your gift. Make sure to include a card with a sweet message that lets them know you’re thinking of them!
Make A Family Photo Album
Thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to gather photos and videos of your family. It’s even easier when you all have Nixplay Frames: Just create a shared playlist that you and your siblings can collaborate on so you can share and display family photos on your frame in real-time. You can create shared playlists by year, or by occasion. Either way, it’s a private social network for your family and a brilliant way to keep your favorite moments alive.
Stay in touch with your family and friends with Nixplay! Get up to 30 percent off on some of our bestselling frames, only until April 12!
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.
March 8, Sunday, marks International Women’s Day, the global celebration of all things women. It’s the best day to honor all the achievements and opportunities created throughout history by women globally: A day created to encourage solidarity among all women and to celebrate how, with courage, strength, and passion, they were able to endure and overcome so much.
This day belongs to all women, and if you’re looking to celebrate it with some self-care for yourself and the women around you, here is how to do it:
Reflect On Your Accomplishments
Start your day right by reflecting on all the things you have accomplished this year, big or small. Acknowledge all that you have done and appreciate your self-growth! You are not the same person you were yesterday, so take time to recognize that. Make a list of all the major events of the past year and the women that have helped you achieve them. This day is not only for the women of the past, but also for the phenomenal women who have influenced you today.
However, while you should acknowledge your accomplishments, you should also recognize any setbacks you have had in the past year. Setbacks help create a path for improvement. Use them as a learning opportunity and don’t be overly critical: It’s perfectly normal to make mistakes!
In addition, make sure you don’t stray from your path to self-improvement by setting achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals. This will help you focus on where you want to see yourself in the next year. It will help you build your confidence and see the beauty in your growth while making you appreciative of how far you have come.
Relax, You Deserve It
Life can get overwhelmingly chaotic at times, so take the time to sit back and breathe. Self-care is essential to living a well-balanced life, but it can be challenging to practice self-care when your worth is centered around your social media presence. Make an effort to turn your phone off for a couple of hours and take a break. Go for a walk to unwind and enjoy a change of scenery. Refresh yourself throughout the day by meditating or practicing mindfulness techniques to alleviate stress. You might feel silly at first, but you’ll find that even simply putting on your favorite playlist and having a dance party in your bedroom can lift your spirits and get the day going on the right foot.
You can also pamper yourself with an at-home spa day. Treat yourself to a massage at home, or spend the day reading your favorite book with a sheet mask on. What’s important here is that you can relax and unwind for the day, and if that means lazing around in bed, then do exactly that! Your mental health should always be important, but make it a priority during this year’s International Woman’s Day by celebrating and supporting your overall well-being.
Take Yourself Out
This is your day, so do what you want! Spend a whole afternoon at your favorite coffee shop or take yourself out to a nice lunch. Prioritize a day of your favorite things, and make it your mission to do them all. If you aren’t sure where to start, then make a list and call your girlfriends to help! This can turn into a fun yearly activity to do with your pals or by yourself.
If you aren’t one to indulge, then let today be the exception! If you have been eyeing a pair of jeans or workout shoes, then allow yourself to spend a little extra. Spending money on yourself will remind you that it is okay to appreciate yourself every once in a while. If you hate the way your nails look, then go get a manicure with a vibrant color. Or, if hair loss is making you feel insecure, then buy yourself some biotin gummy vitamins to help encourage thicker hair growth. Regardless of what you’re spending your hard-earned money on, enjoy yourself and take care of your individual needs!
Visit Important Women In Your Life
Who is the most influential woman in your life? Is it a family member, a friend, or even a past employer? Regardless of who it is, take time to cherish and remind her of the important role she has played in your life. Send her an e-card with a personalized message or gift her with a special photograph of the two of you, displayed on a Nixplay Frame. There are countless ways to show your admiration for the women in your life.
If you can’t think of any woman that has had that effect on your life, then go out and meet some! Join a club or activity that will get you to interact with different types of women.
If you want to do something bigger than usual but don’t know where to start, then host a women’s empowerment brunch at your house or apartment. This can be a fun way to gather women with different viewpoints on life and have them all share inspirational stories of womanhood. You can play games or share quotes from your favorite women in history. Whatever you do, make sure you surround yourself with strong women who not only can uplift you but can also challenge you to be the best version of yourself. And, who knows, this might even become a yearly tradition!
Donate to Support Woman’s Rights
If you’re scratching your head on how to give back to all the women who have paved the way before you, then donate. Donating shouldn’t mean breaking the bank because even a small donation can go a long way. Donate to an inspiring charity that helps protect women’s rights, such as Planned Parenthood or Women for Women International. You can choose to donate monthly or just once. Find an organization whose values and mission align with yours. Supporting these organizations means you are also supporting the cause for equal women’s rights.
You can also donate your time to a women’s organization by finding the nearest women’s community clinic and asking about their volunteer hours. You can also gather clothes or canned goods around your house and donate them to a battered women’s shelter. Or, you can support brands that are giving back in honor of International Women’s Day and are donating their proceeds to support woman’s rights.
However you chose to celebrate International Women’s Day, remember that it is a day for women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, so make sure you honor yourself and them all!
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 8th March as the focal point in the movement for women’s rights and equality. To celebrate this year, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the top women in tech to honor their accomplishments. While the technology industry has a reputation of being male-dominated, these inspiring women—along with thousands of others–are proving that gender is no barrier to success.
Women In Technology
While more and more opportunities are available for female undergraduates in IT, in 2018 only 25% of all US tech jobs were held by women. The percentage of female IT leaders across the globe also remains at just 9%. But why?
Stereotypes surrounding the tech industry have contributed to the decline of women working in the sector. But following the hit film “Hidden Figures”, it’s clear that people are becoming more interested in how women are making an impact in tech. The women in “Hidden Figures” were mathematicians and engineers who made valuable contributions to the space program. Along with the fact that they dealt with both gender and racial discrimination at work, they made a pivotal impact on the way that women in tech are perceived today.
That’s why the Women in IT Awards were launched in 2015: to address the gender imbalance in the technology sector by showcasing the achievements of women in tech. The awards organization works across several divisions around the world to provide a high-profile platform that supports women in tech and eliminates gender stereotypes.
To coincide with this year’s awards and to celebrate International Women’s Day, here are 7 influential women in tech, from the past and present:
1. Ada Lovelace
Born: 1815 Died: 1852
Ada Lovelace is an English mathematician who, despite the fact that she was the daughter of renowned poet Lord Byron, paved her own way to success. One of the most famous women in technology, she is widely regarded as the “first computer programmer” and is known for writing a crucial algorithm for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, an early computing machine that only existed on paper in the mid-1800s.
Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. She was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer and had invented one of the first linkers. Following her studies in math and physics at Vassar College, she completed her master’s degree in mathematics at Yale, going on to earn a Ph.D. in the subject. She was one of the first few women to accomplish this academic feat. Hopper then joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, where she was assigned to program the Harvard Mark I computer.
3. Margaret Hamilton
Born: 1936
Margaret Hamilton is a computer scientist, systems engineer, and business owner who was critical to landing the first astronauts on the moon. She graduated with a minor in philosophy from Earlham College in Indiana before working in the meteorology department at MIT. Impressively, she went on to join the team that created the onboard flight software for the Apollo space missions. Her talents are out of this world, so it’s no surprise that she’s also one of the most famous women in technology to date.
Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook as well as the founder of the non-profit LeanIn.Org. She graduated from Harvard in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and was awarded the John H. Williams Prize for being the top student in her graduating class. She’s now a top technology executive and author, who was one of the first women to serve on Facebook’s board, bringing them from a $56 million loss to $22.1 billion in profit in 2018.
5. Jen Fitzpatrick
Born: 1976
Jen Fitzpatrick started out in Google’s very first class of interns and went on to become one of the first female engineers at the company. She has since co-founded Google’s user experience team and worked on search, advertising and Google News, all before taking on the responsibility for Google Maps and Local as the company’s VIP for geo. Prior to her career at Google, she graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in symbolic systems and a master’s degree in computer science.
6. Tracy Chou
Born: 1987
Alongside Nadine Harik and Jennifer Tsai, Tracy Chou was one of the engineers behind Pinterest’s mobile redesign. More importantly, Chou, a software engineer with a computer science degree from Stanford University, promotes diversity in her line of work. Following her experience at Pinterest and Quora, she has become a voice of authority on diversity issues within the technology industry, inspiring young women to take classes in science, technology, and engineering.
Ginni Rometty is the chairman, president and CEO of IBM, and the first woman to head the company. Since becoming CEO of IBM in 2012, she has transformed and reinvented the business to lead in the new era of Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. And that’s not all: She also finds the time to serve on the Council on Foreign Relations, the board of trustees of Northwestern University, and the boards of overseers and managers of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Now it’s time for you to honor the women in your life—or even yourself! Looking for International Women’s Day gifts? This year Nixplay is offering up to 35% off on selected frames*, so treat an inspiring woman or send yourself a gift to celebrate the occasion. Our smart photo frames are the perfect way to showcase the women in your life and their accomplishments: by sending those memorable moments straight from your phone to your frame.
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.
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