Category: Holidays Page 12 of 14

Stories about the occasions that matter most.

5 Simple Yet Brilliant Gift Ideas Any Mom Would Love To Get For Mother’s Day

On May 6, 2018

In Gifting Guides, Holidays, Special Moments

Mother’s Day—the day we get to celebrate the original Wonder Woman in our own universe—is coming up in a week. If you already have a gift lined up, good for you! If not, this is your cue to start scrambling for the perfect present. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be meaningful. These five Mother’s Day gift ideas are easy to pull off—add a bouquet of her favorite blooms and a handmade card to make her feel like the queen she really is:

Offer to do her chores.

No one—not even Mom—truly enjoys doing housework, especially on Mother’s day, a day when she’s supposed to be treated like royalty. Take the weight off her shoulders for a day by offering to do the cleaning in her stead: It’s a simple, priceless gesture that’ll truly make her day.

Make it better: Mothers need a break, too. Create “chore vouchers” that Mom can cash in so another family member can do a chore for her. Better yet, ditch the vouchers altogether and voluntarily take on a chore she usually does, like shopping for groceries or doing the laundry, for the rest of the year.

Let her spend uninterrupted quality time with the family.

Moms are some of the busiest people in the world: They’ve got children to chase, food to prepare, homes to clean, pets to take care of, and spouses to love. It’s not easy juggling all these in addition to her career and hobbies, so giving her the chance to bond with her family without worrying about her other obligations would be great. Remember to take lots of pictures!

Make it better: If the kids live away from home, it shouldn’t be a problem. A Nixplay frame can help bridge the distance: help Mom set it up so she can have her precious memories at her fingertips. Take advantage of Nixplay’s Mother’s Day offer to get 20 percent off on all Nixplay Wi-Fi Cloud Frames and 15 percent off on all NIX Digital Frames until May 13. Buy your own frame here.

Get the kids to clean up after themselves

A mother’s unconditional love for her children gives her the willpower to make sacrifices for them. She’d willingly forego vacations and shopping trips, just to be able to secure her kid’s future. The least the little ones can do is to help her out by minimizing the mess they create at home.

Make it better: Make tidying up more fun for the kids by making a game out of it! You can time them doing a specific task like organizing their toys, and you can give them small prizes if they beat their best time. Or you can sneakily get the tots to help during laundry day by making them race against each other to gather dirty clothes in a certain color. Do it regularly, and you’ll soon be surprised at how eager they’ll be to clean up.

A gift card for her favorite spa or salon.

If there’s one day in the calendar when Mom deserves to be spoiled, it’s Mother’s Day. Treat her to a massage at her favorite spa, or accompany her to the salon for a haircut and a mani-pedi date.

Make it better: Mom deserves to feel her best the whole year round. You can take her to Sephora or Ulta and have her pick out a product she’d really use and love. That way, she’ll remember you every time she uses it.

Treat her to a delicious home-cooked meal.

Give Mom a break from cooking, even if it’s just for one day! Get the whole family to help out in the kitchen: the younger kids can help prepare the food and set the table, the older kids can cook, and dad can do the groceries. Don’t forget to wash the dishes after!

Make it better: Why stop at Mother’s day? Set aside time every weekend to prepare a meal in Mom’s stead. Aside from being a great way to hone the little ones’ culinary skills, it’ll also give Mom some much-needed “Me” time.

What will you be giving Mom on Mother’s day? Share it with us below.

Join our contest for a chance to win a Nixplay Iris for your mom!

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.

Photographing the Chinese New Year: Top 10

By Beatrice Bisais

On February 14, 2018

In Holidays, Photography

With a tourist agenda in place for Chinese New Year, your’s sincerely isn’t going to write about Chinese New Year and tell you to leave your camera at home. In fact, you can bet I’ll never do it because there’s no better way in capturing an extravaganza of light and color than with your camera. Besides, it not only makes lasting memories, but a good visual for the mantelpiece to show off. Here are some of the best things to capture during this flashy (no pun intended) occasion.

1. Dragon Dance:

One of the ultimate things to capture is a dragon dance, which are said to bring luck. They are colorful displays with lots of interesting shots of both the dragon dancers and the adorning crowds. They say, the longer the dragon, the more luck it is meant to bring. Nearly every Chinatown will have one during Chinese New Year Day on 16 February.

2. Lanterns:

This has got to be another classic, traditionally in red, a symbol of a prosperous life and booming business the radiating beauty and the fact that they’re not moving makes them a photographers dream.

3. Feasts fit for a God:

For those that celebrate, welcoming the year of the dog would be food, food and more food, often and I’m not exaggerating of epic proportions. While you’d need to be tactile and not implement your camera in the middle of a family feast without asking, those that get the access are often left with a stunning array of unique food snaps that will wow anyone.

4. Streetscapes:

It’s magical, romantic and a whole plethora of other words that won’t do the Lunar New Year and what it means. If you’re in the US, Europe, Australia or elsewhere outside of China, Chinese communities make it a bustling time full of activity as people prepare, shop and enjoy the occasion – creating streets-scenes like the Paris of the orient.

5. The People:

Those that observe this special holiday are often dressed for the occasion. Bright colors, new suave trims and jovial appearances are often the way to go. For 2018, expect to also see folks in green, blue and black to symbolize the elements of wood and water – considered lucky in the year of the Earth Dog.

6. Customs:

Chinese New Year is often a time for customs that includes things such as giving lucky red packets that usually contain money, people praying at temples to bring luck or a jovial game of mahjong, a festive favorite – just mind the noise.

7. Smiles and Laughter:

One thing that makes Chinese New Year so special for those that celebrate it is that it is an occasion to meet friends and family that many haven’t seen in a year or more. The aura can be captured by the smiles and laughter of those catching up with those that matter.

8. Fireworks:

Depending on where you are, the Lunar New Year is marked by a dazzling fireworks display that are bound to make sparks fly on any photograph.

9. Dogs:

No, this is not the name of my new hit single. As it’s the year of the Earth Dog, there is no better way than to capture man’s best friend. Maybe, a four-legged bundle of joy that’s dressed up for the occasion.

10. You:

Whilst the title to this entry sounds like an incomplete sentence, it’s not. It would be a real shame to capture all these dazzling displays and not get a cheeky selfie or an token image of you in a parade.

Make all those festive photos count by purchasing a NIX/Nixplay digital photo frame. The new NIX Lux collection features dazzling designs and finishes that will complement any majestic capture of the festivities. It is designed in a way that draws the eye of any visitor. Want to share them instantly with friends and family, the Nixplay Iris is a great way to instantly share them with anyone in the world by either adding them as friends or linking multiple frames with its unique WiFi Cloud infrastructure.

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

Capture Chinese New Year in the US

By Beatrice Bisais

On February 14, 2018

In Holidays

The good thing about the Chinese New Year is that anyone can experience it, whether you are in the US or Europe, you don’t need to make a pilgrimage to China as through their long and extensive history of trade, there are sizable Chinese diasporas in nearly every country in the world. We’ve compiled a list of the top places in the US to take in and capture the wide array of festivities to welcome to year of the Earth Dog – one of the biggest celebrations in the world – right in their backyards. There’s something for everyone and the best thing is, it’s all family friendly.

San Francisco: In the US, most Chinatowns will be dazzling in red and gold. Our top recommendation is the one in San Francisco, being the oldest Chinatown in the country, they have things on for around 15 days including a massive parade that includes more than 100 floats, as well as performances with a 28-foot dragon dance as the highlight.
Los Angeles: Fancy a scavenger hunt? The Firecracker 10k is the place to be. Whilst you can dazzle in the auras of the flower fair in Monetary Park. There is much more than celebratory spotting and plastic surgery contemplation as this time of year.
The LA Fire Cracker 10k. Photo Credit: Mike Danenberg.
New York: Still getting over the magical New Year’s Day countdown? Well, New York New York comes in third with its own very unique surprises. The extravaganza starts with New Year’s Day Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The highlight of the festivities can be found by heading out to Manhattan, which has a large scale parade on February 16th taking place in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The China Institute of America also conducts workshops during the Chinese New Year weekend.
Chinese New Year parade in New York City
Washington DC: No, Donald Trump isn’t coming out dressed as a dragon, but there’s plenty to do at this time of year in the nation’s capital. A lot of the buzz revolves around restaurants such as Ping Pong Dim Sum with its party brunch and the folks at Toki Underground will host cooking classes, there is no better way to get into the spirit by getting your hand dirty. This all culminates with yet another lively parade in Chinatown, which features much more than floats – kung fu is very much in the mix. An enriching experience can be found as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which hosts a Chinese New Year event.
Dragon head from Chinese New Year Parade in Washington DC.
Boston: Being home the third largest Chinatown in the US, has its perks. From, restaurants to traditional Chinese displays of lion dances makes it a perfect time to take in the sights and sounds.
Chicago: We round of our list with Chicago, which takes a more scholarly approach that will leave you feeling somewhat enlightened by learning more about the Lunar New Year. Being home to the Chinese American Museum, there are a series of informative sessions where you can even see how the all-famous lion dance is made. Not only that, but there’s a special (encore) performance by the Chinese National Opera.
Entrance to the Chinese American Museum in Chicago

This is just a sample of the best Chinese New Year events out there; most States have some form of celebrations so you should have no problem finding Chinese New Year closer to home. All these events happen during the Chinese New Year period, which is on February 16 in 2018 – most things in the US happen in a window of 7 days, and nothing beyond 15 days, so don’t miss out. The above festivities also happen on an annual basis, so if you’ve missed it out on this occasion, make sure you plan early for 2019, which will welcome the year of the Pig on February 5.

Remember all these entertaining and dazzling occasions are best for photography, making lasting memories. Make it count by purchasing and displaying it on a NIX/ Nixplay digital photo frame. The new NIX Lux collection’s elegant design can complement a large collection of those beautiful Lunar New Year photos captured; whilst grandma can enjoy her stunning Nixplay Iris WiFi cloud frames and see what all the fuss is about without leaving her front door!

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas For Children

By Beatrice Bisais

On October 27, 2017

In Holidays, Special Moments

Let’s just put it out there: You’re not the only one who forgot to organize a Halloween costume for your child this year. But now it’s the day of the party, and you really have to stretch to the limits of your imagination for those children’s costume ideas. So, we’ve done the thinking for you!

Quick, easy and simple, be sure to treasure the memories with some photos, perfectly displayed on one of our Nixplay Digital Photo Frames.

Emojis

You can get really creative with this one–and get your kids involved too! All you need is a large cardboard box, some scissors, string and paint.

Cut the cardboard into a large circle, get some yellow paint, and create the base for your emoji costume. The rest is up to you. Just choose your favourite emoji, or the one you think best suits your child, and paint the face onto your yellow canvas!

To finish it off, pierce two holes at the top, thread the string and turn your emoji face into a necklace.

And there you have it: A quick, easy kid’s Halloween costume!

Halloween Mummy

This one may be pretty basic, but it’s an absolute classic. Simply gather all the toilet paper in your house (don’t worry, you can pick some more up at the grocery store tomorrow), or a roll of bandages may be more robust. Dress your kid in all-white, and get wrapping! Leave some strands of toilet paper hanging from the body for the complete mummified-effect, or go one step further and add some black face paint to the eyes!

Bag of jelly beans

This last minute Halloween costume involves blowing up a lot of balloons, so if you have an air pump handy for birthday parties, you’d best bring it out.

You will need:

1.Various colored balloons

2. A clear trash bag

3. Scissors

Cut 4 holes in a clear trash bag for arms and legs and get your child to wear it. Blow up a couple of different colored balloons, enough to fill the trash bag, and tie the bag loosely around your child’s nect. And there you have it, your own little bag of jelly beans!

Hershey’s Kiss

You will need:

1.Wire hangers

2.A hula hoop

3. Chart paper strip

4. Lots and lots of foil

This last-minute Halloween costume is so adorable, you’ll want all the kisses!

First create the foil cap by layering and molding sheets of foil into a conical shape. Use a strip of white chart paper and write ‘Hershey’s’ on it in blue. The first part of your two-part, last minute Halloween costume is done!

The main costume is a little harder. Bend the hangers into a straight shape and attach the ends to a hula hoop using lots of duct tape. Attach one of the wire hangers into a circular shape so it can fit on the top of your child’s body, and attach to the rest of the shape. Now, use foil to cover the wire shape you’ve created. There you have it, give your little one a big kiss!

Stranger Things Kids

This one’s pretty easy–and it’s certainly on-trend. All you need are your kids’ bikes, some 80’s style clothes, and a group of friends! If you’ve got time, a trip to the thrift store should sort you out. And for a little extra something, pull out the battery-powered multi-colored Christmas lights.

Minions

Best ideas for halloween costumes, last minute ideas for halloween costumes by nixplay digital photo frames

Source: www.fabeveryday.com

This kids’ Halloween costume is far from despicable! All you need is:

Yellow full sleeves hoodie
Denim Overalls
Thread pipe cleaners
Toilet paper roll
Black chart paper

Before you start, pull out the yellow hoodies and denim overalls.

Take the empty toilet paper roll, estimate an inch from both sides, and cut it off. Glue together the pieces you have cut off. If you have time, spray paint them silver. Then, cut a strip of the black chart paper, roughly the size of your child’s head. Staple the chart paper strip to the toilet roll spectales.

By this time, the kids have already put on their clothes (and have possibly guessed that this a last-minute Halloween costume attempt!) Cut the black thread pipe cleaners into small pieces and pull the bottoms through the cloth on the hoodie. Then, make the kids put on the spectacles you’ve made. Et voila, you have your little minions!

We love pictures! If you try any of the ideas above, or just fancy sharing photos of your ideas for kids’ Halloween costumes, share them with us. If you don’t already know about Nixplay digital photo frames, they allow you to share your trick-or-treat memories and other special events with your family. With just a few clicks, using your phone, social media or email, you can share your precious moments with loved ones using our Nixplay digital photo frames.

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

Top 5 Unforgettable Family holiday destinations this Summer

By Beatrice Bisais

On July 14, 2017

In Holidays

Unforgettable family holidays always come with the right destination. Families all over the world gave us their feedback and have recommended the following top 5 destinations.

Singapore

Why Singapore? At first glance it looks like a very small city with limited entertainment. But you’d be wrong. This metropolis is full of amazing family attractions, delicious food, a variety of different and diverse cultures and customs form all over Asia.

Top attraction is Universal Studios and it is perfect to take unforgettable family pictures with the Minions or other characters your kids, husband, wife like the most.

Another important point to note is that English is the common language which make things even easier.

vickyluminiq

Japan

Japan has a lot of benefits for a family. First of all it is safe and clean, their cuisine is very rich and tasty. Kid-friendly museums and public events are everywhere in Tokyo and many of them are very cheap or free for children. Japan has few castles and Himeji Castle the largest one and one of the most beautiful. It is a great opportunity to have fun while learning more about its legends and ghost stories.

The downside is that travelling in Japan can present challenges such as the language and narrow crowded streets. Nevertheless we will have very memorable with your children.

trexjapan

Thailand

For many reasons, Thailand is a great destination to go with children. You can visit Buddhist Temples, experience elephant riding, enjoy snorkeling in the ocean, … With new technology, cameras can take pictures underwater and it will be left with remarkable memories.

Thai people are very friendly and especially in regards to children. The cost of living is very affordable for a family which make it possible to do a lot of activities.

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New Zealand

If your family is a big movie lover, you can visit The Lord of the Rings filming locations. It is very lovely to see their small and lovely houses. Your second step can be a whale and dolphin watching in Kaikoura. Snorkeling and seals are available over there too.

If you like outdoorsy staying, all over the country you can find kid-friendly camping sites. It is very nice for kids to experience a different Life style.

nickiluis

Australia

If you are looking for a very big Country, Australia is made for your family. There is always something for everyone: beaches, animal park, art and of course kangaroos. Spend the day at a wildlife park and we will see unique animals. Always great when you see what reaction your kids have.

mariioon_mrn

So many souvenirs that will make you smile when you look at your pictures on your digital photo frame Nixplay . Don’t only select 1 or 2 pictures. Choose all of them.

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.