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What’s The Best Thing About Being Single?

On November 8, 2018

Who says being single is only about pining for a significant other? You don’t need anyone to complete your life—just ask these fine folks:

“What I love about being single is that I can spend more money on things I love, on my own terms! Dining out and buying gifts for each other can really dent your wallet, and being single lets me invest my hard-earned cash on the things I really want, like concert tickets to see my favorite band.” – Bea, 23

“I’m currently in med school, and I barely have enough time to sleep, much less to date around. I think I’ll only stand a chance if I go out with someone who’s in the same field and who understands the struggle. But I don’t mind—at least I’m 100 percent focused on my studies. My future girlfriend can wait!” – Carlos, 25

“One of the best things I did when I was still single was to go on a seven-week solo backpacking trip across six countries. It forced me to get out of my shell and made me realize that I’m actually made of sterner stuff than I previously thought. Sure, traveling with a significant other is fun, but I think it’ll be impossible to replicate the exhilarating feeling of going on an adventure alone.” – Katy, 27

“Being single means having the absolute freedom to do the things you enjoy. I love traveling, and I like that I can go anywhere on the spur of the moment without worrying about a significant other waiting back home.” – Gerome, 32

“For me, being single is the best time to work on improving and loving yourself. Think of you and your significant other as a cube divided into two triangles—you complete each other, but you should also be able to stand alone.” – Gina, 28

“I like not having to deal with the drama that crops up in every relationship. No secrets, no quarrels, no overly clingy partners, no fits of irrational jealousy. Bliss.” – Philip, 30

This Single’s Day, join Nixplay in saying #ILoveMe! Get up to 35 percent off a new Nixplay Frame for your favorite memories, only until November 15!

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5 Great Ways To Celebrate Single’s Day (No Matter Your Relationship Status)

By Mars Salazar

On November 5, 2018

In Holidays

Single’s Day—11/11—is coming up, and you don’t have to be a solo flyer to celebrate this event. Here’s how you can commemorate the holiday, regardless of your relationship status.

1. Go on (or set up) a blind date.

To our single readers out there: If you’re still undecided about going on that blind date your pals have been offering to set you up on, we’re here to tell you to go for it. Don’t set your expectations too high, focus on having a great time, and you might just end up pleasantly surprised. And if you’re happily coupled up, use this opportunity to bring together two friends who you think would be perfect for each other. Who knows, your matchmaking skills might be on point!

2. Dine alone.

The mere thought of dining alone can make a lot of people uneasy. If you can relate, well, it’s high time you quash your fears! Get a table for one at your favorite restaurant, savor every bite of your meal, and use your me-time to observe your surroundings or do some light reading.

3. Treat yourself!

Celebrate Single’s Day in the best way possible: By treating yourself! It doesn’t have to be a major splurge—whether it’s a cupcake from your favorite bakery or the pair of sneakers you’ve been eyeing for a long time, the important thing is that your purchase brings you joy.

Take advantage of Nixplay’s Single’s Day Offer and get up to 35 percent off a new Nixplay Frame so you can display your happiest memories, only until November 15! #ILoveMe

4. Live by the rule of 1.

The Chinese celebrate Single’s Day by only using things that have the number 1 or are shaped like the number 1. If you’re part Chinese, you can join the fun by eating deep-fried dough sticks and exchanging stick-shaped presents like toothpicks or pencils.

5. Have a spa day.

Single’s Day is the best day to treat yourself to some quality me-time at the spa. You don’t need anyone with you when you’re getting a massage, after all! While you’re at it, why not get a haircut or a manicure as well?

5 Haunting Photos And The Stories Behind Them

By Mars Salazar

On October 31, 2018

In Photography

Warning: Some photos might be disturbing. Please proceed with caution.

It’s not always the prettiest photographs that get remembered. Sometimes, it’s the haunting photos that remain firmly embedded in one’s mind. Here are some eerie images you won’t easily be able to get out of your mind.

PS: Sweet dreams!

The Genesee Hotel suicide

On May 7, 1942, Mary Miller checked in the Genesee Hotel, went to the women’s communal restroom on the eighth floor, and stepped out on the ledge through the window. She waved to the crowd then pushed herself into the busy street, much to the horror of the onlookers. I. Russel Sorgi, a photographer for the Buffalo Courier Express, “waited until the woman passed the second or third story” before masterfully clicking the shutter.

Hiroshima’s “nuclear shadows”

On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, flattening majority of the city and instantly killing over 70,000 people. The intense heat of the explosion vaporized thousands of living beings before they even knew what was happening, leaving haunting outlines behind them.

This security camera footage

Is it a modern-day version of The Exorcist? Nope, just a non-possessed woman whipping her hair back and forth. Blame it on the security camera’s wide-angle lens, which managed to capture her face and the top of her head as she shook her tresses out.

Also read: 5 Spooktacular Places For A Picture-Perfect Halloween

The West Kamokuna Lava Skylight

No, that’s not the entrance to hell—though it sure seems like it! This is a photo of Hawaii’s West Kamokuna Lava Skylight, taken on April 1, 1996. The “bodies” are actually different lava flows that have dripped into a hole leading to an underground lava tube. Despite the scientific explanation, it’s still one image we’d rather not see late at night.

Tereska drawing her home

This photo, taken in Warsaw, Poland by photographer David Seymour in 1948, depicts a young Polish girl in a special school for war-handicapped children. The girl, named Tereska, was asked to draw her home. Her distressing scrawl can be attributed to the suffering she and her family endured during World War II.

Got a haunting photo of your own? Why not display it on a Nixplay Frame this Halloween to add some extra spook to your holiday? Until November 4, you can save up to 20% off select Nixplay Frames, until supplies last. Stocks are selling quick, so hurry!

8 Easy, Witty Halloween Costume Ideas

By Mars Salazar

On October 30, 2018

In Holidays

Falling behind with your Halloween preparations this year? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are some easy adult Halloween costume ideas you can create in a jiffy on the day of your party.

Need something for your kids, too? Check out our last-minute Halloween costume ideas for children!

Twin Up With This Dancing Emoji Costume

Grab your best friend, pick up a pair of bunny ears, and dress in black for a couple’s costume that’s truly symbolic of your friendship.

Have A Taste Of This Quick-Thinking Breadwinner Costume

If you’re busy hustlin’ and bustlin’, you’ve probably got no time to stitch up a spectacular costume for your party. Don’t worry though—your true friends will understand. But if you really need a costume, here’s an easy one you can pull together in less than five minutes. It doesn’t hurt that you can eat the bread when the party’s done, either!

Put A Fun Twist On A Basic Hawaiian Costume

Want to go as your favorite childhood drink, but don’t have time to take on an arts and crafts project? Get a hula skirt, a lei, and a pair of boxing gloves together and dress up as Hawaiian Punch!

Try Something Different With This Ingenious Identity Thief Costume

Dress in black, don a mask, and get people to write their names on name tags that they can stick on all over your shirt. No one wants to be a victim of identity theft, but we guarantee they’ll gladly hand over their names (and maybe even their numbers…) to help create this witty Halloween costume.

Go Wild and Dress Up In A Party Animal Costume

This one’s both easy and entertaining—perfect for that Halloween party you totally forgot about. Just dress up in your fanciest threads and sip on some bubbly all night long while rocking a face mask of your favorite animal. If you find your outfit too formal for the occasion, simply tone it down by making animal sounds all night long.

Stay Warm With This Pig In A Blanket Costume

Trick (or treat) your friends into thinking you didn’t forget about their Halloween party with this last-minute costume idea. This one is easy and practical—because you won’t be caught shivering in the cool autumn breeze if you’re toting a blanket. Talk about a prize-winning outfit!

Serve Some Laughs With This Delivery Boy Costume

Make an entrance and be everyone’s favorite party guest by dressing up as a pizza delivery boy! Just make sure your box actually has pizza in it (but it better not have pineapples!).

Dress Cool In An Ice Cream Cone Costume

Not into pizza? How about dressing as an ice cream cone? Don a frothy white frock and a brown cone hat, and add some sprinkles by sticking brightly colored bits of paper all over your dress.

Don’t forget to take lots of pictures of your easy Halloween costume! Display them on your Nixplay frame so you’ll always have your favorite memories of the holiday at your fingertips. Don’t have a Nixplay frame yet? Shop online today! No tricks, all treats—just the way it should be.

5 Scary Good Halloween Photography Tips

By Federico Alegria

On October 29, 2018

In Photography

Halloween is just around the corner, and we are pretty sure that you’re looking forward to getting dressed and having some fun on the spookiest day of the year. And speaking of fun, taking photos of your favorite Halloween highlights is definitely a must-do.

However, some folks might find that capturing the spirit of Halloween is easier said than done. This holiday has several tricks up its sleeve, from low light situations to busy subjects, that can frustrate even the most seasoned photographer.

Here, we’ll share with you some helpful tips so your photos of the holiday’s trickiest costumes, decorations, and low-light spooky parties will turn out to be a visual treat. Read on!

1. Mind the light

Shooting using natural light is always sound photography advice. It’s especially good practice during autumn, when everything is bathed in a warm glow. Since Halloween happens during this time of the year, take every opportunity to shoot outdoors and fill your images with the golden tinge the season brings. You’re bound to have some stunning photos, and making the effort to go out of town to capture some Halloween festivities will be worth it.

The above advice, however, cannot be applied if you’re shooting indoors or at night. The good news is that many camera manufacturers have been making some really impressive improvements in their sensors, making some good progress in terms of ISO behavior. Test your camera before your big Halloween party or trick-or-treating escapade so it’ll be easy for you to shoot decent photos in low light with a minimal amount of noise.

2. Play with masks and costumes…

Halloween’s the one day in the calendar when it’s perfectly fine to walk around in costume. Experiment with different masks and outfits, and play around with various light effects (remember how you’d scare your pals by holding a flashlight below your chin?). You’ll be amazed by how easy it can be to achieve some crazy and eerie effects that will photograph well.

3. But don’t forget your photos’ backgrounds

Whenever you are shooting people dressed up in their costumes, remember to also consider the backdrops of their shots. A dark, gloomy background will give you photographs a whole different level of spookiness. You can even derive inspiration from The Haunting of Hill House and get other people to be “ghosts” in the backdrop, which leads us to the next tip…

4. Make ghosts appear via long exposure

Have you ever seen a photo with a ghostly figure fading away in the background? Are you curious about how these images are made? Well, they happen inside the camera, and not in Photoshop as some might believe. Fine, you can achieve this during post-processing, but trust us, it’s easier to do it using your camera.

What you have to do is to make sure your camera is perfectly still (using a tripod is the best way to go about this) and then expose manually in order to achieve a well-balanced exposure but with a long shutter base. Images with two to five seconds of shutter speed will work fine.

Now, put your subject in front of the camera for a brief amount of time, and then ask him or her to get away as quickly as they can. The resulting photograph should have a spectrum of the subject. There is no exact recipe for this, so you’ll need to play around for a bit to achieve your desired effect. Ask your subject to dress in black and stare blankly at the camera for extra goosebumps!

5. Document all your Halloween shenanigans

There are some really iconic activities that happen during Halloween like pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating. Take out your camera and get lots of photos of the Halloween activities you’ll be participating in. This is basically the soul of Halloween, so it really makes sense to have some nice photographs of these precious moments. Don’t forget to display your pictures on your Nixplay frame—we’re giving you up to 20 percent off, only until November 4!

However, you decide to celebrate Halloween, don’t forget to always have fun and take as many images as you can!