The online setting is here to stay. We know that working hybrid is the new normal and that more family gatherings are online. Therefore, we brought you these 9 tips to organize events online with your family, friends, or colleagues. Check them out and apply them as soon as possible to beat the lockdown.

1. Hybrid or fully online? Are you planning to have a couple of friends over and a couple online? Well, I would re-think this if your goal is to include everybody. If you opt for hybrid, remember that live attendees will interact more with each other, whereas the online attendees will feel left behind. To prevent anyone from being left behind, I recommend you organize a fully online event.
2. Having an agenda will always work. It will help you to keep track of time, manage different activities, and more. Depending on the event, you can choose to share the agenda with your friends/colleagues or not. I recommend keeping it for yourself if it is an informal event. However, if it is a more formal gathering always share the agenda with the participants. It will help everyone to organize better.  
3. Make a (creative) online invitation. There are so many tools to make creative graphical content. Use them to get the attention of your friends, colleagues, or family. I use Canva for such things. It is an easy online tool that has different templates, allowing you to change colors and text. However, if you are familiar with other platforms, better use them. Remember to relate the text and decoration on your invitation with the actual event.
4. Small details. It is important you all feel connected even when you are in different places. Here I recommend you prepare a bag with a snack, or a personalized t-shirt to wear during the event. Of course, this requires a bit more preparation and time from the organizer but will pay off. You will see how people feel more engaged and take the event more seriously.
5. Select wisely your platform. If you are having an online event with colleagues, it is easier to use the same platform you use fat work. But if you are organizing an event with family or friends, I suggest you ask them which platform they feel more comfortable with. The reason is that not everyone is familiar with the same platform. And an online event must be inclusive above all. For example, when calling with my family WhatsApp is our favorite tool. However, when celebrating my niece’s first birthday we switched to zoom, that was a big mistake. Older people needed extra support to enjoy the celebration and created a bit of anxiety. So, again, be wise and think about your participants.
6. Preparations. Once you have decided which platform to use, you are ready to give it a shape. If you are going to use questions, have them ready. If you are going to share videos, photos, or any other content, prepare a folder on your computer with everything you need to share on your screen and name it according to an order of appearance. Additionally, if several people have to speak/present, ask them to send you links or documents in advance. In this way, if something goes wrong with their screen you will solve it from your PC.
7. Time. It is recommended that for every 45-60 min in front of the computer people have 10-15 min. breaks. In case you are planning an activity that takes longer than this time, remember to have a “break” in between. 
8. Activities. There are several games/activities you can play online. Check this link to my favorite ones. Or transfer what you would normally do in a live setting to the online one. Being yourself while being creative is always a good option.
9. Music. Share a playlist with the people you will have the online event with and ask them to star it at the same time. The good thing is that you will all have the same music background and maybe some comments will come from the songs creating a sense of togetherness.

To finish, creating an online event may sound like a lot of work. But believe me, it can be a world of new experiences for you and your friends. Try it once. Or if you want some help setting it up contact us, we are happy to help you in the online setting.

Achieving the company’s goals in 2022 will not happen if your team is not motivated. Therefore, organizing team-building activities that connect and engage colleagues is a great idea. Another important reason for planning bonding activities is that the more personal connection between colleagues, the more employee satisfaction you will have in your company. And, we know that if we are part of a fun team, it is more likely we want to spend more time with them (at work). In other words, the closer you are to your colleagues, the more you want to be and stay at work. Moreover, the more bonding activities a company organizes, the longer they keep their people, and the more they outperform.

Why team building is important?

But what type of building activity is right for your team? You can organize two types of bonding activities. On one side, group activities with a learning and development focus. The importance of these activities lies in training new skills in a group. However, it focuses on performance, and competitiveness will stay in the air. The second type of team-building activity focuses on relaxation and connection. Their goal is to connect while getting to know their colleagues better. Therefore, with these activities, your team will build stronger and deeper connections between them. Both types of team-building activities are totally fine, it all depends on your goal. If your team has been working together for a long period, focusing on improvements and skills may be more accurate. However, if you have new members in the team. Or, if you want to get to know them better find relaxation activities to build the team.

So, in this post, I will share seven ideas for a team-building day. I will focus on relaxation and connection. Moreover, if you have gone hybrid, I will leave tips for the online setting. Let’s start.

7 team building activities

1. Sporting. Besides being a healthy activity, it can help you discover qualities you did not see before in your colleagues. For instance, you will see who is mentally stronger to finish the 100 push-ups. Or, who does not stop till running the 10k? But also, some other qualities like who waits for their colleagues instead of going alone (team player). Ask your colleagues which is their favorite team sport then, write them down. Organize once a week or month a sporting day using their ideas. It will ensure you have a different best at each sport.
2. Pinata party. Are you celebrating a special day at the office, or is it your team member’s birthday? Order a pinata or make one together with the team. Fill it with sweets, funny toys, and positive messages. Bring your colleagues to an open-air area to prevent accidents, and blindfold them to smash the pinata and release stress (if some). Pinatas are the new kickboxing!

1. To the office with a costume: Pick a theme that represents your team. It can be wild if you are in sales or something softer if communication is a key skill in your team. Invite your colleagues to come dressed up to the office and let them describe why they chose that costume. Do not forget to take pictures. TIP: Hire a face painter artist to bring the activity to the next level.

1. The teams’ wall. Have a sacred wall or frame at the office where everyone can share inspirational messages for each other. For instance, those polaroid pictures you took last Friday at the office with a costume day can go directly to the teams’ wall. Tip: find motivational phrases that describe what you and your team do. Remember that positive words have power.
2. Cooking workshop. Did you know that cooking helps release stress and forget about bad news? Well, bring your team together to a cooking lesson. If possible, ask the chef in charge to assign different meals components to each person. In that way, the final dish will represent everyones’ work. I am sure it will be delicious. Online tip: Send the ingredients in a box to your colleagues and have the cooking workshop online. If possible, ask them to bring some to the office the next day to see how they differ in looking and taste.
3. Volunteering. There is always something good we can do for our community, and as a team is a great bonding activity. Amsterdam is full of options it can be helping at an elderly house or cleaning the garden of a lady. Helping others always gives a good feeling and, if you do it together with someone else it will build a strong connection. You can invite your colleagues with their families for this activity. If there are more than 5 kids joining, check out a kids corner service to keep the little ones entertrain while colleagues connect.
4. Scape room. This activity puts your team members’ skills together to escape the situation. Check out groupon.nl for some discounts on the tickets. Find here a list of the best escape rooms in Amsterdam. Make this a family activity, and invite children and spouses to escape the room.

Conclussion

To create a great working place, having a positive atmosphere is important. A good working atmosphere depends on how colleagues treat each other and how close and connected they feel. That is the reason why bonding activities play an important role from a leader’s perspective. Remember you want your team to feel comfortable with others because in a secure environment they will give and receive feedback better. Additionally, they will work harder because they want to be part of this amazing team.

So, these were my 7 tips for your team-bonding activities in Amsterdam. I hope you enjoyed reading it and you will try them out in the coming year. To finish, I wish you an amazing 2022 accomplishing all your personal and professional goals. And in case you want some help organizing an office event, don’t hesitate to contact Nia party.

Making a pinata is amazingly simple. However, if it is your first time, it may be overwhelming. In this post, I will explain to you step by step how to build the nicest pinata you have ever dreamed of. You only need to be patient, have an eye for detail, and have good taste. The post of today covers: (1) Materials you need to make a pinata and (2) make a pinata “Step by step.” So, let’s start! 

Materials to make a pinata

• One 18 inch balloon (any color)
• Four (4) tablespoons of flour
• Salt (half teaspoon)
• Two cups of water
• White glue 100 ml
• Old newspapers
• Kite paper (color depends on the model you want to do)
• Scissors
• Rope
• Tape (strong)
• White paint
• Brushes (big 5cm, small 1cm)
• Hot glue gun

How to make a pinata step by step

First, make your paper Mache mixture. It is easy, and it will take approximately 5 minutes. Start by dissolving four tablespoons of flour in one cup of cold water. Then, place one cup of boiling water in a pan on medium heat. Immediately, add the flour water to the boiling water and mix non-stop for 3 minutes. After mixing, add the salt. When the mixture gets thick, it means your paper mache is ready. Finally, turn the pan off and let it cool down.

Second, make your design. I will describe how to make a simple round pinata, but the options are infinite. Check our gallery for inspiration. You can put many balloons together with tape or add legs, arms, and tails with cartoons. Just follow your imagination.

Step by step your dream pinata

Blow your balloon as big as you want it to be and add a rope in the knot. It will help you to hang it while drying.

Cut 5×5 cm pieces out of old newspapers. Remember, the bigger the pieces, the less time it will take to cover the pinata.

Put the pieces of paper in the mache mixture and stick them all around the balloon. Let it dry completely before repeating. If you don’t do it the pinata will stink. Repeat the layering at least four times to get a solid shape. 

When the shape is solid, break the balloon with a needle and take it out of the pinata.

Make two small holes with a needle and pass the rope through them. Remember that your pinata will be hanging from this rope. Thus, use extra tape around the holes to make them strong.

Make the candy hole on one side of the pinata. It will be where you will introduce the candies and toys at the end.

Paint the pinata white. You can avoid this step if you don’t have paint or if, you don’t have much time. However, it will make a big difference by giving a neutral tone to the pinata.

Cut the kite paper into long pieces of around 3×60 cm (see pic) and glue them around the pinata. Be creative with color combinations and always start from bottom to top.

If you are making a pinata that includes small details (i.e., eyes, nose), add them now with hot glue.

Fill the pinata with candies, toys, and gifts.

BringTake your pinata to a party and have fun smashing it into pieces!

Conclusion

1. I hope this post has encouraged you to make your first pinata. Sometimes it can be tricky to prepare materials when you are with kids around. Therefore I suggest you purchase our pinata box. It will include all the materials you need to make a pinata at home. Save time cutting papers and details. We include it all for you and your kid to make a fantastic pinata at home.

Healthy summer snacks

During summer, the ambience in Amsterdam changes completely. Besides staying awake till late, kids and adults like some snacks to enjoy the sunset. Unfortunately, not all snacks are healthy, but fortunate we can make it healthy ourselves. In an earlier post I talked about “Healthy snacks for a kid’s party”. Besides making snacks for your party, you can make them for your daily diet. I am going to explain how easy it is to make Guacamole. This dish, on top of being a delicious dip for our snacks, goes well together with your salads and sandwiches. Give it a try!

Guacamole

Ingredients

• Ripe Avocados (2 small or 1 big)
• Half red onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tomato
• Half paprika (any colour)
• Salt-pepper-paprika powder-chili powder

Step by step

This recipe is the easiest and infallible at your party. There are 2 ways of making it.

1. Put all the ingredients together and use the mixer, add species and it’s ready. (BORING)
2. Smash the avocados with a fork. Then cut everything by hand, mix it in a bowl, add species and ready. (BEST)

I really believe that by cutting the ingredients you get more taste. But if your children are not fans of a specific ingredient, then I suggest you use the mixer.

As I said before, guacamole has many uses. Besides being a healthy summer snack, this Mexican recipe is full of taste, vitamins and it might be the chance for your kids to try new vegetables. As a parent you like to eat delicious but low carbs, then this recipe is for you.

To summarize, summer is the opportunity to eat late and enjoy together with our loved ones. If you are one of the lucky ones who has a birthday party during summer, I recommend using this healthy summer snack recipe to surprise your guests. You might like the other ideas for a healthy snack.