Category: Interesting

Hosting an event implies coming up with ideas to make sure your guests are entertained. Be it a community fair, a school festivity, or throwing a private party, the one goal is to provide the audience with amusing activities they can engage in.

This is when renting inflatables comes in handy. The following are merely six types of such items that will make this experience one to remember.

1. Inflatable Obstacle Courses

A massive inflatable obstacle course is always a crowd-pleaser. The course is set up, and both kids and adults are looking forward to testing their speed, agility, and balance, running through tunnels and climbing over barriers.

Because a large number of participants can join the event simultaneously, this setup is a popular choice for outdoor events. The thrill and playful competition involved are so enjoyable; an obstacle course is bound to be everyone’s favourite.

2. Bouncy Castles

Kids of all ages love bouncy castles, a timeless classic. With an ability to jump, twist, and tumble, kids can spend hours in a whole other world, while parents can appreciate their kids’ safety.

Bouncy castles can also be found in different themes and sizes, from small birthday ones to full-scale castle-sized settings used in community events. Whichever the case, bright colours and playful designs ensure that bouncy castles are a one-stop attraction no matter where they are.

3. Inflatable Slides

There is probably nothing more exhilarating than an inflatable slide that towers. It allows the guests to slide down easily and climb back up, and it is thus a crowd-pleaser with no age restriction. Water slides are especially well-liked in the summer, as they give a new take on the inflatable air slide with a cool breeze. Slides are equally suitable for a variety of events.

4. Interactive Sports Games

Inflatable sports games are ideal for anyone who likes a little competition. Suitable for friendly games and rapid competitions throughout the day, these inflatable sports games include soccer goals, basketball hoops, and more.

Not only do these inflatables promote teamwork, but they also ignite a competitive spark in people in a whimsical, carefree manner. This makes them suitable for people of all ages who are bunched together so that everyone can participate.

5. Inflatable Mazes

Inflatable mazes are one of the most unique approaches to add some fun and mystery to your event, like any other. With different paths to take, guests can walk around, winding up and down, and trying to find a way out.

In particular, mazes are especially popular at themed events like Halloween or other holiday parties, as they foster curiosity and exploration and offer people an opportunity to talk and discuss together.

6. Giant Inflatable Games

You can find and rent inflatable versions of all these games, including Connect Four, Twister, and darts. The games are set in no time and quickly draw attention because of the fun they offer, allowing easy entrances for several people.

As they are fun for both kids and their parents, the giant games work excellently for family events and can be another attraction called a ‘photo opportunity’ for people to share on social media.

Why Inflatables Work for Every Event

Inflatables are more than fun things to do. They bring energy to your event, encouraging social interaction and providing an engaging atmosphere.

Additionally, renting event inflatables for hire for your event is a wonderful option because it streamlines planning—no need to buy and maintain expensive storage units! This translates to using store-and-rent products rather than worrying about the next activity.

The New York Times offers a collection of online puzzles and word games that are more than just fun—they’re great for building focus, logic, and vocabulary. What started as a single crossword has grown into an entire playground of clever challenges.

Perhaps you are one of those people who can’t start the day without a good puzzle. Or, you are a parent or educator eager to get your kids and students excited about words, brain teasers and clever challenges.  Either way, let’s take a look at seven of the most popular ones we all can play online.

1. Spelling Bee

Ever stared at a honeycomb of letters and thought, how many words can I make from this?  That’s the joy of Spelling Bee. You’re given seven letters arranged around a center letter — and your goal is to make as many words as possible.

Here’s the catch: the center letter must appear in every word.  Four-letter words earn points, but longer words score more. And if you find a word that uses all seven letters, that’s called a pangram — the ultimate find of the day.

This online version of the spelling bee rewards patience and creativity. It’s not about speed, but persistence — and maybe a bit of dictionary-level curiosity.

2. Strands

If Wordle is a snack, Strands is a full meal. Imagine a word search with a hidden theme.

You’re given a grid of letters, and you have to find all the themed words hidden inside. But here’s the twist — every letter is used exactly once. And there’s always a “spangram,” a word that stretches from one side of the grid to the other and hints at the puzzle’s theme.

Here’s how you can begin.  Type in random words. Find three correct words, and the game gives you a helpful hint. Once you find the theme, everything starts to click.

3. Pips

Pips is one of the newest games in the Times collection — and it’s not a word game at all. Instead, it’s a logic puzzle that uses domino-like pieces called pips.

Your task is to place these numbered tiles on a board according to specific rules. Some clues might say “greater than 3” or “equal to 8,” and you’ll need to think several moves ahead to solve it.

It’s like Sudoku met dominoes — a fresh kind of mental workout that feels completely different from the word-based classics.

4. Connections

Ever notice how certain words just belong together? That’s the heart of Connections.

You’re given 16 words, and your job is to sort them into four groups of four.  Each group shares a hidden link — maybe “shades of blue” or “words that rhyme with bee.”

It sounds easy, but the game loves to trick you with words that almost fit more than one group. You’ll need logic, deduction, and sometimes a bit of lateral thinking to find all four sets before your guesses run out.

5. Letter Boxed

Here’s a visual challenge that blends spelling and geometry. Letter Boxed shows twelve letters arranged around the edges of a square. Your job is to create words that:

• Connect one letter to the next (no two letters from the same side), and
• Use all twelve letters in as few words as possible.

Each word must start with the last letter of the one before it.

For example: GROW → WAX → XENON.

Letter Boxed is about flow and planning — it feels like solving a maze with words.

6. Tiles

Need something a little more relaxing? Tiles swaps words for patterns.

Each tile has shapes, colors, and textures layered together. You match two tiles that share a design element — like a swirl or a color. When you make a match, that shared pattern disappears from both tiles, revealing new ones underneath.

This can be a calming and meditative experience. There’s no timer, no score pressure — just rhythm and strategy as you clear the board piece by piece.

7. Wordle

You probably know this one. Wordle became a worldwide sensation before the Times acquired it — and for good reason.

Each day, there’s one secret five-letter word. You have six chances to guess it.
After every try, the tiles change color:

• Green means the letter is correct and in the right place.
• Yellow means the letter is in the word but the wrong spot.
• Gray means it’s not in the word at all.

Everyone gets the same word each day, creating a shared daily ritual. Whether you start with “ADIEU” or “CRANE,” Wordle is a quick brain-boost that fits perfectly into your morning routine.

Where to Find the These Games and Puzzles:

Visit The New York Times online puzzle and games page to expand your brain power. plus have a blast at the same time.  Each logic puzzle or game comes with its own twist.  You can also choose to download their crosswords app.

Pencils are more than simply writing implements that are used on a daily basis; they can also be utilized as strong assets in educational and charitable marketing efforts. This makes them one of the most affordable yet effective tools for connection.

These relatively insignificant products have the potential to have a surprisingly significant impact, whether they are used to increase motivation, reinforce a brand, promote engagement, or serve as a cost-effective giveaway.

Personalized Pencils in Education

When did you last use a pencil? This morning? Yesterday? Now? The New York Times wrote an article about the General Pencil Company, which has been converting raw materials into pencils since 1889.

Pencils serve many purposes in school, from the classroom to events. They have benefits for both students and teachers, which include:

Students

• Responsibility

Regular pencils are common and students trade them, toss them, and use them without a second thought. Customized pencils, on the other hand, are special. Students who have pencils with their name on them, or another customization that makes it special, will take better care of the item. They feel a sense of responsibility for that belonging.

• Motivation

Pencils can have a variety of customizations on them, including positive messages, like “You can do it!” These affirmations, wherever they come, help to boost confidence and motivation within the student using the tool.

• Creativity

Customized pencils remind students that they are unique and can express themselves. If a pencil can do it, so can they! The students may just write more, draw more, and lay their personality out on paper with the pencil’s support.

• Learning Reinforcement

Students often get little prizes, like customized pencils, for doing well. Even these small items from a teacher enforce the drive to try harder at learning.

Teachers

• Affordable Prize

Teachers spend their own money on a lot of classroom supplies. Whether the teacher or the school buys the customized pencils, the budget is tight. Custom pencils in bulk are affordable, practical prizes that teachers can hand out to reinforce students.

• School Spirit Tool

Customize the pencils with school names, logos, or mascots, and give them away throughout the school and community. School spirit will spread fast!

• Great Giveaway

Back-to-school nights wouldn’t be the same without customized pencils lying around on tables as giveaways! They’re something every student needs and they’re cost-effective for the school, too.

Personalized Pencils in Nonprofit Campaigns

Non-profit organizations engage in many ways to market their cause. Customized pencils is a unique way to get their message out to the community in a variety of ways. Those include:

• Promotion

Custom pencils for nonprofits are a cost-effective item to buy in bulk. Once the pencils are in-house, non-profits can pass them out to reach a larger audience with their name and goals.

• Branding

If the pencils are designed well, they are a great way to get the brand’s name and message out to the users.

• Awareness

Not everyone knows about each non-profit, but pencils can help promote certain campaigns and allow users to understand that such issues exist.

• Giveaways

Pencils are easy, lightweight, and useful giveaways at any event.

Design Considerations for Maximum Impact

While most people think that pencils are made by putting holes in wood and shoving lead inside them, the process is much more complicated than that. The Washington Post lays out the actual process as well as what the numbers on the side mean. If even just the design for a regular pencil takes so much thought, it only makes sense that custom pencils for schools need to be designed just right.

There are lots of things to think about in design, like color, printing, size, lead type, pricing, and finishing details.

Practical Tips for Implementing Personalized Pencil Strategies

Use these tips and put forth the right strategies for personalized pencils.

Tip 1: Have a Purpose

What do you want the pencils to do? Act as a promotional item? Inspire students? Decide and design them accordingly. The audience makes a big difference in what you go with.

Tip 2: Choose Details

There are a variety of pencil types, colors, and options. Select the right details for your message, purpose, and budget. One of the most important details is the customization, of course.

Tip 3: Distribute

Pass the pencils out at school events, in classrooms, at special events for your non-profit, or other areas that make sense.

In Conclusion

If you want to order custom pencils in bulk, it’s important to get the details right so the pencils do the job that suits your purposes. Consider the goals you have for the custom pencils for schools. Is it for a school or a non-profit? What colors fit your brand? What budget do you have available for the project? Once you decide on the details with Save Your Ink, putting the pencils into eager hands at events and in classrooms is simple.

Planning a school reunion sounds like fun until you realize it’s part detective work, part event planning, and part cyber-security drill. You’re dealing with a big group of people who haven’t all been in the same room for years, and that means finding them, organizing them, and making sure no one’s personal information gets tossed around carelessly.

The payoff, of course, is seeing familiar faces and swapping stories without worrying that your class photo ended up in the wrong inbox. Here’s how to pull it off with both enthusiasm and caution.

Building a Secure Hub for Communication

The first thing any reunion planner needs is a central spot for communication. These days, that usually means setting up a private group on Facebook or creating a WhatsApp chat. It feels straightforward until you remember that half your classmates might not have updated their profile pictures since 2009, and a handful probably quit social media altogether.

A private group is still the most efficient way to share updates, vote on venues, and get people excited. What matters is keeping access limited to verified classmates so outsiders can’t snoop. That means adjusting privacy settings, moderating new requests, and encouraging people to reach out privately if they’re unsure about someone trying to join.

If you go with WhatsApp, you’ll want to pay attention to WhatsApp safety, since phone numbers are visible to everyone in the chat. Only add people once they’ve agreed, and avoid posting personal addresses or sensitive details there. Think of the group as your planning lounge, not your official RSVP list.

Tracking Down the People Who Disappeared

Every reunion has its share of ghosts, classmates who drifted away and never resurfaced on social media. This is where a little online sleuthing comes in handy. Many organizers turn to alumni directories or professional networking sites, but one surprisingly effective tool is using platforms like Classmates.com to find missing contacts. These sites are built for reconnecting, though they sometimes feel like they belong in the dial-up era. They work because people who aren’t active on mainstream networks may still maintain basic profiles there.

If you reach out through such a platform, keep the message simple and professional, explaining who you are and what you’re organizing. Some people will appreciate the effort, others won’t respond, and that’s fine. Don’t push too hard. The goal is to extend the invitation without making anyone feel pressured to rejoin a group they left behind on purpose.

Keeping Personal Information in Check

Once you’ve got the ball rolling, it’s tempting to collect everyone’s contact details, create spreadsheets, and blast out emails. Resist that temptation. A reunion should be fun, not a data collection nightmare. Instead, set up an RSVP system through a trusted event platform or even a simple Google Form with limited permissions.

Avoid asking for home addresses or sensitive info unless absolutely necessary, and if you do need that kind of detail—for example, mailing physical tickets—make sure it’s stored securely and deleted afterward. The less personal data floating around, the less there is to worry about if something leaks. It’s about creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing enough to participate but not so much that they wonder if their high school crush now has access to their phone number.

Navigating the Gray Area of Outreach

At some point, you’ll face the decision of reaching out to people you’re not connected with directly. Maybe it’s through a mutual friend, maybe through a professional profile, maybe even through a relative’s Facebook page. The key is to approach respectfully and avoid overstepping. Sending a quick note explaining the event is usually fine, but don’t chase people down across multiple platforms if they’re unresponsive.

Safety isn’t just about your data, it’s about respecting theirs. A polite, short message that gives them a way to join if they’re interested is all that’s needed. If they decline or ignore it, move on. No one wants their first contact with a reunion committee to feel like a cold call from a persistent salesperson.

Smart Practices for Staying Safe Online

All of this planning takes place in a digital environment that isn’t always friendly. That’s why protecting yourself while using the internet should be baked into the reunion process. Avoid clicking on links from strangers who claim to be classmates, even if the name looks familiar. Stick to official event pages and verified group chats for sharing information.

When making payments for venues or catering, use secure methods rather than wire transfers or shady payment apps. Remind classmates not to post screenshots of event details publicly, since those can end up in places you don’t expect. And if you’re collecting funds, appoint a trusted treasurer who’s transparent about where the money is going. A school reunion shouldn’t double as someone’s opportunity to scam old friends.

A Few Final Words

Planning a reunion takes more than picking a date and sending out a group email. It’s about weaving together nostalgia with modern caution, making sure that everyone can laugh over old memories without worrying about their information being misused.

The best reunions strike that balance naturally: they’re warm, organized, and respectful of boundaries. When you get it right, you walk away with the feeling that old connections really can be renewed without the complications of high school drama—or digital headaches—creeping back in.