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How To Make Your Fourth of July Party More Memorable

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On July 1, 2019

In Holidays

The Fourth of July is the best time to showcase your love for the country and your appreciation for its history. But aside from barbecues, picnics, and fireworks, how else can you make your Independence Day celebration an extra memorable affair?

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for some easy, fun ways to spice up your Fourth of July party!

Have An All -American Feast

Make sure your party’s food matches the theme perfectly. You can play with a red, white and blue color palette, only serving dishes in these colors. Make sure to have a lot of USA flag toothpicks on hand for extra patriotism!

Hold A Burger-Eating Contest

There’s nothing All-American quite like a juicy hamburger, so it’s only fitting to celebrate Independence Day with a burger-eating contest. The first to finish the whole burger wins!

Hold A Patriotic Paw-ty

Events are simply more fun when there are dogs involved. If you have a spacious yard, you might want to consider throwing a dogs-allowed Fourth of July party. Ask your guests to dress up their pooches in their best red, white, and blue, and give prizes to the best-dressed furry guests.

Help The Kids Create Fourth Of July Rockets

Can’t set off fireworks where you live? That’s totally fine. Join in the fun by creating rockets made of paper, decked out in patriotic hues. For busy moms and dads, this should keep the kids busy for quite a while! When they’re done, hold a contest to see which rocket can fly farthest.

Host A Historical Quiz Night

Rev up your guests’ competitive sides with a trivia game about American history! Have questions with different difficulty levels, and prepare themed prizes for the winners.

PS: Display your favorite Fourth of July memories on a Nixplay Frame! Get 15% off select smart frames, beginning July 4!

ruckus the eskimo

6 Pets You Should Follow On Instagram Right Now

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On June 28, 2019

In Lifestyle

One of the best things about Instagram is the fact that there are so many adorable animals to be found there. Whether you’re a dog person, a cat person, or even a chinchilla person, you’re bound to find several cuddly, huggable creatures for you to coo over. Here are a few of our favorites.

Chance The Rescue

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuoYaZvHaEX/

Chance may be small enough to fit in your bag, but this small pooch has sure got a lot of attitude! His Instagram page, @thebklyndog, is filled with photo after photo of him in the coolest pup-sized clothes and accessories, from fur-lined vests and gold chain collars to dapper bowties.

Menswear Dog

Bodhi, the Shiba Inu of @mensweardog, can give the top male models a run for their money. What he lacks in abs (not that we mind, really), he makes up with his cheeky attitude and style smarts. His ability to effortlessly shift from street to dapper has earned his collaborations with Nike, Brooks Brothers, and other top brands.

Blue The Adventure Cat

https://www.instagram.com/p/By7vk8QIqw8/

You don’t have to be a cat lover to fully appreciate how adorable Blue is. This curious, smiley kitty with mesmerizing blue eyes loves the outdoors, and his adventures with his brother Skye are all captured in vivid color on his Instagram, @bluetheadventurecat.

Ruckus & Mooncake

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzJ9rFMgj2w/?igshid=1e3owzkhrx01e

Ruckus, a real-life cloud descended from the heavens, is an American Eskimo Dog living with his humans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Don’t you just want to sprawl out on a carpet and cuddle him all day? Follow him now at @ruckustheeskie if you can’t get enough of his fluff!

Nala Cat

A list of Instagram-famous pets would be incomplete without @nala_cat, the shelter kitten-turned-su-paw-star. With over 4.1 million followers and counting, she currently holds the Guinness World Record as the cat with the most number of Instagram followers. This fluffy gray kitty has us all wrapped around its paws, and we’re not complaining one bit.

Harrison Ford The Bulldog

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bur6Edwlq_7/

Bulldogs are, understandably, not everyone’s cup of tea: They snore, they drool, and they’ve got an astounding amount of wrinkles. But there’s something about Harrison that will draw you in. It might be its expressive eyes, or its chunky build, or his calm demeanor. Either way, @harrisonfordbulldog one of our favorite dogs online!

Got a photogenic fluffball of your own? Display his photos on a Nixplay Frame! Get 15% off selected Nixplay Frames, only until June 30!

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8 Cool Things You Can Listen To On Spotify (Aside From Music)

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On June 27, 2019

In Lifestyle

If you don’t have Spotify on your mobile device, or are just using the free version, then you’re missing a lot. It’s one of the best (if not the best) streaming services ever, with a neverending treasure trove of material for your listening pleasure. And while there’s certainly tons of great music on Spotify, there’s way more to the app than songs from your favorite artists. Here are some things you should check out ASAP:

The News

It’s always good to be in the know about the latest news around the world. Spotify has some podcasts about current events, perfect for tuning in during your daily commute. We like the BBC Global News Podcast, where you can hear reports from around the world, and Anderson Cooper 360, which delivers news with a dash of Mr. Cooper’s commentary.

Language Lessons

If you want to learn a new language from scratch, we’ll point you in the direction of Duolingo. But if you want to get more accustomed to hearing the language you’re learning, or learn new phrases or pronunciation tips, several Spotify podcasts have got your back. Tune in to Learn Japanese w/ Manga Sensei to brush up on your Japanese, Learn French by Podcast for a French refresher, and the Duolingo Spanish Podcast to hear stories in Spanish.

Stand-up Comedy

Spotify probably isn’t the first place you’d turn to for a bellyaching laugh, but surprisingly, they’ve got recordings from the best personalities in comedy. Kevin Hart, Ali Wong, Jo Koy, and Russell Peters are some of the comedic greats you can find on Spotify. Perfect for a long drive with your friends!

Advice From Global Leaders

How would you like to receive advice from some of the most remarkable people on earth? If your answer is a resounding yes, you should look at Tim Ferriss’ podcasts on Spotify, Tribe of Mentors and The Tim Ferriss Show. In these podcasts, he interviews people like Bear Grylls, James Cameron, and Neil Gaiman—all luminaries in their fields—and picks their brains to learn the secrets behind their successes. Have a pen and paper on hand while listening—you’re going to want to take down a lot of notes!

Mythology

If you’ve always been fascinated by ancient mythology, you’ll find a lot of kindred spirits on Spotify. Whatever your poison is–Greek or Roman mythology, Egyptian legends, even Tolkien lore–you’ll find something about it on Spotify. We highly recommend Mythology by the Parcast Network—it’s got a great selection of stories from several parts of the world, told in an engaging manner.

Literary Classics

If your literary tastes lean towards the classics—think Jane Austen, H.G. Wells, or Arthur Conan Doyle—you’ll be pleased to know that there are some great audiobooks on Spotify. Bookstream audiobooks and DBS Audiobooks have a great selection of classic literary works. Some audiobooks are even divided into chapters for easier listening. You probably won’t fall asleep while listening to these!

Modern Love

The New York Times’ Modern Love column is one of the best things in its corner of the web. Its podcast counterpart is just as remarkable. Your favorite love stories, narrated by Hollywood personalities like Kate Winslet, Zoe Saldana, and Willem Dafoe. Make yourself a warm cup of tea, prop your feet up, play an episode, and get ready for a relaxing day in.

TED Talks

In case you haven’t opened YouTube in a while, TED Talks are bite-sized, transformative videos from experts from various fields, from business to literature to science. And now, they’re on Spotify. If you want a quick break from the hustle or bustle of your everyday life, pick an interesting topic from the dozens of uploaded recordings. Who knows, it might just change your life.

With Spotify Connect, you can now listen to all these, plus your favorite songs, on the Nixplay Seed Wave! Stream your favorite playlists using your frame, and use the Spotify app on your mobile, tablet or computer to control the music. The best part? The songs won’t stop even if you make a call, watch a video, or go out of range. There’s never been a better way to listen at home.

summer solstice blog pet friendly destinations

5 USA Vacation Spots Where You Can Bring Your Pet

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On June 25, 2019

In Lifestyle

Our pets are our babies—they’re our best friends and the loves of our lives, and even if they sometimes make a mess out of our stuff, we have to admit that our lives would be less colorful without them. Our hearts break every time we leave them at home when we go on vacation, and we can’t stand the sight of their sad, hopeful eyes as we close the door behind us on our way out.

Thankfully, dogs and cats are more welcome everywhere these days, and thousands of establishments across the USA have opened their doors towards our furry friends. Here are some excellent vacation spots where both you and Fido can have fun this summer.

Huntington Beach, California

This Southern California city is one of the most famous pet-friendly destinations in the USA. The city’s main draw is Huntington Dog Beach, a 1.5-mile stretch of sand where your pooch can run free. The city also hosts several events for our furry friends, including Corgi Beach Day, a gathering of corgis and their owners, and Surf City Surf Dogs, an annual dog surfing competition. After a day of frolicking under the sun, you can stop by one of the city’s many animal grooming centers and pet-friendly cafes to unwind.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Nantucket, a quaint island off Cape Cod, has a great variety of trails and beaches that your pooch can explore to its heart’s content. You can even visit a farm or go sailing with your pet! You also shouldn’t miss exploring Nantucket’s historic downtown with your pooch—don’t hesitate to pause every once in a while to admire the architecture of the town’s well-preserved buildings. Just make sure your pet is on a leash when you’re exploring, and you’re good to go.

Bar Harbor, Maine

The town of Bar Harbor loves dogs so much, the townspeople named a beach after a local yellow Labrador named Brady. Start your day with a handcrafted cup of joe at Coffee Hound Coffee Bar, which is run by a dog-loving couple, and stop by the aptly named Bark Harbor dog store to pick up some treats and supplies for your pooch. When you’re all fueled up, go hiking at Acadia National Park, and finish your day with a sunset cruise.

Lake Placid, New York

Beautiful Lake Placid is one of the oldest vacation destinations in the USA, and one of the most pet-friendly. People will stop to pet your dog, and some shopkeepers will gladly offer your pooch treats. Got an active dog? Walk the 2.7-mile trail around Mirror Lake, and unwind on the beach while your pooch swims in the clean water. You can also visit the John Brown Farm, which has a nice trail suitable for pooches of any age.

Key Largo, Florida

A vacation in the Florida Keys is always a good idea, especially when you’ve got a furry friend or two in tow. Key Largo, in particular, has several pet-friendly resorts, as well as restaurants with outdoor patios for your dog or cat. Dogs are also welcome at a number of attractions and parks in Key Largo and the surrounding islands. You can bring Fido to the National Key Deer Refuge (but be on the lookout for alligators), as well as Jack Watson’s Nature Trail in Big Pin Key.

We wish you and your pet nothing but happy, sunny days this summer! Don’t forget to capture your vacation memories on a Nixplay Frame! Get 15% off selected frames, only until June 30!

pet photography

How To Take Great Summer Photos Of Your Pet

By

On June 19, 2019

In Photography

If you haven’t cooed over a cute dog or cat photo online, you’re probably an unfeeling soul with a heart of stone. But what most people don’t know is that a lot of work (and treats) have gone into all those cute animal pictures you’ve swooned over. If the dog picture you just double-tapped look like it was captured effortlessly, the photographer must have done a great job—and we’d like to help you do the same.

Whether you’d like to turn your pooch into a summer social media star or just want to capture its best angles under the sun, the tips below should help improve your pet photography skills. Read on and start snapping!

Take advantage of the sunshine

Summer is the perfect season to practice your outdoor photography skills. Take advantage of the sunshine and get your pet outdoors! Your pooch would love the chance to bask in the sun after several cloudy months. Plus, more natural light allows you to use faster shutter speeds, letting you take vibrant photos of your pup while he’s zooming around.

Focus on the eyes

Your pet’s eyes are the windows to its soul, so don’t be afraid to focus on them. If you’ve got a cat, try to take its close-up shots somewhere without harsh light to capture its dilated pupils.

Play with props

What’s cuter than a smiling pug? A smiling pug in sunglasses, that’s what. Props and simple costumes can add a fun, summery vibe to your pet photos, so if you’ve always wanted to dress up your pet in a Hawaiian-printed shirt, now’s the perfect time to do so!

Use treats and toys

A surefire way to capture your pet’s attention is by attracting it with its favorite toys and treats. If your dog doesn’t want to look at your camera’s lens, try holding a tennis ball or a favorite toy near your camera. Don’t forget to reward your good boy with a treat or two!

Let your pet be himself

Instead of forcing your pooch to preen and pose for you, try to take photos of your pet in his element. Enable ‘burst’ mode to capture your pet’s frolicking, and try to zoom in when your pet is catching a snooze. The goal is to document your pet’s cutest moments as they naturally occur.

Capture your pet’s best summer with Nixplay! Get 15% off all Nixplay Seed 8 and Iris Smart Frames, only until June 30!

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