Holidayflirt Blog

Anything grilled could be described as smoky, but our cover burger is a multi layered masterpiece thanks to chipotle chiles mingled with adobo, smoked paprika, and bacon. Seared avocado makes it almost too good to be true.

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons minced chipotle in adobo, including some sauce, divided 8 bacon slices 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck (not lean) 2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika 1 large red onion, cut into 4 (1/2-inch) thick rounds, each stuck with a wooden pick to keep it together 1 firm-ripe avocado, quartered lengthwise, peeled, and cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch thick slices Olive oil for brushing on onion and avocado 4 hamburger buns, grilled or toasted

Accompaniment: lettuce; cilantro sprigs

Special equipment: instant-read thermometer

Preparation

In a food processor or blender, purée mayonnaise, mustard, and 1 tablespoon chipotle; transfer to a bowl.

Cook bacon in batches in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp; transfer to paper towels to drain.

Gently mix beef with 1 tablespoon chipotle, paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt until combined. Form into 4 (4-inch) patties.

Prepare a grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas).

Meanwhile, brush both sides of onion rounds and avocado slices with olive oil.

Oil grill rack then grill onion rounds, turning over once, until slightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes total. Discard wooden picks.

Grill avocado slices, turning once, until grill marks appear, about 30 seconds on each side.

Grill patties, covered only if using a gas grill, until they reach 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, approximately 5 to 6 minutes on each side.

1. "I didn't forget, honey. Your present is my shoveling that #&*(% driveway again."

2. Didn't even know you were dating until you checked your facebook status.

3. "What? Every year?"

4. "I've been working so hard planning a romantic President's Day Getaway!"

5. Saving up for some high quality Mardi Gras beads.

6. Times are tough - you're holding out for the clearance candy.

7. "But Honey, this year was my other wife's turn."

8. "I thought Valentine's Day was only on leap years!"

9. "I celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day"

Even if you are completely happy and confident with your single status, there is one day that makes you suddenly aware of the fact that you don't have a significant other. We have always felt that Valentine's Day is about having love and this could be any kind of love, including the love you felt for the guy that gave you your bagel at Starbucks.

No matter how you feel about the holiday, here are 10 reasons it's great to be single when the day rolls around.

1. The day can be all about you and you don’t have to feel guilty

Have some expensive TV or other super awesome entertainment thing you’ve been eyeing? Want to treat yourself to a spa day? Go for it. You can totally indulge on yourself and don’t have to worry that you spent all that money on yourself rather then buying a gift for your significant other.

2. No worries about the gifts

Sometimes people get a little wrapped up in what they are “supposed” to buy someone for Valentine’s Day, especially if they are really into Valentine’s Day. It can be a little awkward. When you are single you don’t have to worry about what you get for the other person at all. Actually, you can even buy nothing and still be the coolest thing ever.

3. Get away with avoiding other couples and their icky love stuff

Even if you are in a relationship, that doesn’t mean you want to spend the whole evening watching the couple at the table next to you make out. When you are single, you can avoid restaurants and other venues with the romantic type atmosphere.

4. There is no need to make any plans

You don’t have to worry about making sure you get reservations before the restaurant fills up. You don’t have to get to the flower shop to be sure everything is delivered on time. You don’t even have to worry if there are any good cards left at Walgreens. You get the idea.

5. No need to get all dressed up

You don’t have to wear some super uncomfortable outfit and spend hours getting ready just to go to some restaurant where you are likely to watch the previously mentioned couple. If you want to stay in your pajamas all day and not shower, feel free.

6. Save some green

We read somewhere that couples spend an average of 200 GBP or some insane number close to that on Valentine’s Day. So yeah, you guessed it. All that money can stay in your pocket instead of being shoveled out for food, gifts, etc.

7. No expectations, No disappointment

Romance is in the air, which means some people feel compelled to plan an elaborate way to spend the night. The perfect restaurant, the perfect present, the perfect walk afterwards. You get the idea. In reality plans go awry which can be a recipe for disaster. At least when you are single, if your plans change you are the only person you have to worry about disappointing.

8. You can spend the day however you want

Maybe there’s some awesome game on TV or your friends want to plan a last minute trip somewhere. No need to worry because you can say yes to any of them and you don’t have to worry about explaining to anyone why you won’t be around on Valentine’s Day.

9. You don’t have to worry about offending anyone if you are anti-Valentine’s Day

I went out with a guy last week who asked me something about Valentine’s Day. My reply? “It’s a stupid holiday.” His reply? “That’s just the bitter single girl in you talking.” No, it’s really not. I simply feel (like a lot of other people) that it is a stupid holiday. Of course I should add that this guy feels it’s cool that I think that way, which makes him awesome in my book. Though there are guys (and women) out there that get really into the holiday and are bummed when their significant other doesn’t. When you are single you can just hide out without explaining anything to anyone or hurting anyone’s feelings. In fact, you don’t even have to acknowledge the day at all (which could actually be reason number 11)

10. You won’t get dumped

No one ever said Valentine’s Day was off limits for breaking up. Sure the day is about romance, but if things aren’t working in a relationship then they aren’t. Enough said.

Partied too hard? Holidayflirt talks about the most effective hangover reliefs - including convenient Spotify-Playlist. 

Find tips below applicable before you go partying and to avoid uncomfy hangovers. 

Tips

Fatty Foods

One should avoid to consume alcohol with an empty stomach. Otherwise, its a myth becoming less drunk after fat food consumption. However, heavy food slows down the alcohol charge into the blood, but the effect remains in its strength. 

Drinking water 

The best is to drink water after every glas of alcohol. This avoids dehydration in advance which is one of the main reasons for a hangover. 

Dont mix drinks

Whenever you decide to party heavily, go for one type of drink only. The more you mix, the heavier your hangover next morning. 

Bright alcohol

Best is to avoid dark drinks like red wine, rum or whisky. American scientists proofed that darker drinks cause headaches earlier. 

Take magnesium

Magnesium not only helps for aching muscles but also for severe hangovers. Alcohol removes water from the body. At the same time, magnesium will be eliminated. Simply take magnesium tablets before you go to bed. 

Aspirin

Same here. One should take Aspirin before you go to bed - the next morning is too late. Important to know: take only Aspirin, not reliefs which are based on paracetamol. These would harm the liver to a high extend. 

Tips for the next morning

Avoid drinking coffee

Coffee removes water from your body in addition and causes heartthrobs after this heavy night. Never believe to begin your morning with the same alcohol you consumed in the night before - thats bullshit! Your body must first remove alcohol otherwise it would be too overtaxed with this process. 

Drink plenty (water!)

Still water in room temperature is the real relief for your body. It helps your liver washing out toxics. Drink at least 2 liters in the morning if you can. Tea or acid free juice is good as well. 

Salty breakfast

Bring back minerals to your body with salty food like salmon, cucumber, dark bread. Try avoiding acid wherever you can. Give your digestive system a chance to cope with the food you eat without acidification. 

Oxygen

Even when its hard on the next day. Go out after breakfast and try walking a bit in fresh air. Oxygen helps your circulation coming back into order and you will feel much better afterwards. Don’t do excessive sports - your body is currently busy with other things. 

If all this hasn’t helped you and you want to relax on the sofa instead, find here the perfect Hangover-Spotify-Playlist from Holidayflirt!

People love to listen to music at any time and place there days. We have playlists ready for your sports sessions, Saturday nights or the hangover afterwards, the romantic dinner sound or chillout sessions on the sofa.

That’s why Holidayflirt loves Spotify. At our HQ’s it runs all day (and nights). We have gathered the best playlists so you can share it with us.

You have a wish, maybe an extra list for your morning procedures? Just let us know and we set one up for you. We’re listening to you on our blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and our website.

Have fun and enjoy Spotify!

We’re almost there. The ski resorts are getting ready for the season opening parties. To allow you to plan your time perfectly, Holidayflirt offers you an overview of the hottest places to be.

Say no to average Après-Ski! - Austria

Tirol in Austria is famous for the coolest season kick-off parties. Every year, top national and international DJ’s perform here during the Electronic Mountain Festival.  Parties are non-stop from November 30th - April 4th. Ski lifts open on October 12th.

St. Anton Ski Opening: December 6th - 8th - Austria

The celebrations for this year’s ski season will feature an American-Tyrolean blend in St. Anton / Arlberg: you’ll see check shirts, cowboy hats and jeans instead of the usual winter gear. Under the motto “Country & Snow”, line dancing, country music bands and ski tests await you. On December 5th, one day before St. Nicholas’ Day (Nikolaus), things will get cosy and traditional. The “Krampalar” (young men dressed as devils and wearing scary masks), escort St. Nicholas (Nikolaus) as he travels along the Arlberg. More Information

“Cineastic Gondolas” Film festival: December 14th - Austria

A nacelle as cinema seat? It’s worth trying! December 14th is the day when “Cineastic Gondolas” transforms the mountain into a cinema screen and animated films are shown near the Rüfikopfbahn. More Information

Electric Mountain Festival: November 30th - April 4th - Austria

The winter party season begins in Sölden with the famous Electric Mountain Festival. The world’s top DJ’s will play directly at the ski resort near the Giggijoch. More Information

Top of the Mountain Opening Concert: November 30th - Austria

For a long time, Ischgl has been one of the top party destinations at the start of the winter season. On November 30th, Nickelback will honour us with a performance at the Top of the Mountain Opening this year. More Information

World Championship “Nikolaus - Cla Wau”: November 30th - Switzerland

The Championship will be hosted in the Silvretta Arena this year, followed by a concert by Beatrice Egli. More Information

Opening Pitztal: October 26th and 27th - Austria

BBQ in the snow? Here, anything is possible. The highest glacier party in Tyrol offers giant slalom slopes, ski and snowboard tests and an ice climbing test. A BBQ rounds off the event. More Information

Powder Weekend: October 11th till 13th - Austria

Generally, Hintertub never closes, but the kick-off of the season is certainly, always a good reason to celebrate. The powder weekend is always great fun. The theme this year will be Bavarian white/blue colours, together with typical white sausage for breakfast and accompanied by Bavarian DJs. More Information

“White Start Games”: November 9th and 10th, Zell am See-Kaprun - Austria

Swop your skis for flippers s and off you go on the slopes! There will be underwater parcours in the Spa and a seriously good Après-Ski party afterwards. More Information

Schladming-Dachstein - Austria

The World Championship park Planai gears up for the 2013 season with a huge party on October 29th. So far, the top act is unknown. Last year, David Guetta, Thirty Seconds To Mars and Pink all performed at the event. Let’s see who we can expect this year! More Information

Ski –opening: October 29th and 30th, St. Moritz - Switzerland

Slopes on the Diavolezza will already be open from October 19th. However, the grand opening will take place on October 29th and 30th, when the slope will be transferred to the city. More Information

Christmas market: 23rd and 24th November - Germany

A Christmas market will be organised on the Zugspitze on November 23rd and 24th and again on November 30th and December 1st at an altitude of 3000 meters. More Information

“Zäpfle on Snow”: December 7th

A floodlit downhill run, DJ battle and beer box puzzle: Radio stations Radio Ohr, Baden FM and Neue Welle invite you to rock the house during the season kick-off “Zäpfle on Snow” on December 7th. More Information

Let us know if you have any other party dates you would like to share. Cheers!

We have received many interesting questions from you via Email, Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Therefore, we would like to share the following information with you. 

Why is it not possible to sign up as a Holidayflirt member via Facebook? 

In order to use this feature, we would need your approval to access your personal data (due to Facebook requirements). Furthermore, other Facebook users would be able to see that you had signed up. We take user data protection very seriously. Therefore, it’s possible but not necessary to sign up using your Facebook account details. With Holidayflirt, you can easily decide what data will be shared and what will not. 

What will you do with my email address after I sign up for Holidayflirt? 

Nothing! We will only use your email address to notify you as soon as Holidayflirt becomes available in the app stores. You can unsubscribe from email notifications any time using the link that appears in the email footer. 

When can I download Holidayflirt? 

We’re pressing on to complete de-bugging at the moment. Once this is finished, the length of time you will need to wait depends on Apple and Google. The best thing to do is to sign up at www.holidayflirtapp.com and you’ll receive status emails to keep you up to date. All early birds will get free premium accounts with 5, 000 credits worth €29.90 without any obligation. And that’s not all! All users who sign up will get the chance to win a trip for two to Ibiza. 

If you have any other questions, please contact us any time via email or at Facebook, Twitter or Google+. We promise to answer all your questions. 

Only 1 day until it’s that time again: Halloween 2013 invites you to party, flirt and have fun.

We’ve taken a closer look at the origins of Halloween, at when the trend swept across the pond from the U.S. and at where you can find the best parties.

The history

[tl;dr] Halloween originated in Ireland, and not, as many believe, in America. It came to the U.S. with the numerous Irish immigrants who arrived there in the 19th century. It was then introduced to mainland Europe by the French, beginning in the 1990s.  

Wikipedia says:

Halloween, a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening“ is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (or All Saints) and the day initiating the triduum of Hallowmas, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers.

According to many scholars, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized feast initially influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, and festivals of the dead with possible pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic Samhain. Other scholars maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has solely Christian roots. The word Halloween dates to about 1745, and is of Christian origin.

Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (also known as "guising"), attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

The film

Halloween is a 1978 American independent slasher horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter, starring Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut. The film was the first installment in what became the Halloween franchise. The plot is set in the fictional Midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois. On Halloween night in 1963, a six-year-old Michael Myers murders his older sister by stabbing her with a kitchen knife. Fifteen years later, he escapes from a psychiatric hospital, returns home, and stalks teenager Laurie Strode and her friends. Michael's psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis suspects Michael's intentions, and follows him to Haddonfield to try to prevent him from killing.

Halloween was produced on a low budget of $325,000 and grossed $70 million worldwide. Many critics credit the film as the first in a long line of slasher films inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). Halloween had many imitators and originated several clichés found in low-budget horror films of the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike many of its imitators, Halloween contains little graphic violence and gore. In 2006, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Fun-Facts

Halloween is the holiday with the second highest sales level after Christmas.

The fear of Halloween is known as samhainophobia.

According to tradition, if someone wears his clothes backwards and walks backwards, he or she will see a witch at midnight.

Halloween celebrations in Hong Kong are known as Yue Lan or the “festival of the hungry spirits," as a part of which fires are lit and food and gifts are offered to mollify potentially evil spirits looking for revenge.

Salem, Massachusetts and Anoka in Minnesota are the self-proclaimed Halloween capitals of the world.

Boston, Massachusetts, currently holds the record for the largest number of simultaneously lit Jack-O'-Lanterns (30,128).

The best Halloween-Parties in London

Boo at the Zoo, London Zoo Outer Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY Halloween at the London Dungeon, The London Dungeon Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7PB Witch Academy, EDF Energy London Eye Jubilee Gardens, SE1 7PB Backyard Cinema Presents: Apocalypse, Camden Lock Market Camden Lock Place, (off Chalk Farm Rd), NW1 8AF Surgical Horrors, Old Operating Theatre Museum 9a St Thomas St, SE1 9RY Macabre Autumn Seminar Series, Barts Pathology Museum Third Floor, Robin Brook Centre, West Smithfield, EC1A 7BE The Scary Halloween Show, The Invisible Dot Ltd 2 Northdown St, King's Cross, N1 9BG

The best Halloween-Parties in Manchester

the antwerp mansion halloween jam, Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme, Manchester chow down: free halloween party, Red Rum, Fallowfield - Manchester thriller part 2 @ d1 manchester, CLUB D1, Manchester manchester murder mystery dinner halloween special most spooked!, Fox And Hounds Flixton Manchester, Flixton halloween at the thirsty scholar, The Thirsty Scholar, Manchester mantra halloween party, Red Rum, Fallowfield - Manche halloween special, The Venue Nightclub, Manchester you dig? funk in hell halloween special/funk-soul-latin-jazz-beats, Soup Kitchen, Manchester silks halloween weekend, Silks Gentlemens Lounge , Manchester psychic night with david taylor!, G Casino Bury New Road, Manchester a hit&run halloween, Mint Lounge, Manchester

The best Halloween-Parties in Paris

Scary Halloween au Blok Paris, Le jeudi 31 octobre 2013, le Blok Paris vous convie à une soirée Scary Halloween!  Sexy Trouille spéciale Halloween 2013 au Players Bar, Les cucurbitacées envahissent le Players pour la 11ème édition de la désormais traditionnelle Halloween party... Les citrouilles pètent les plombs et s'occupent du bar. Ce soir on sort les stocks et on vend tout à prix coutant. Halloween 2013 : Le Bal des Citrouilles au Bizen, Pour l’édition 2013 de Halloween, qui se tiendra le jeudi 31 octobre prochain, le Bizen ouvrira ses portes au Bal des citrouilles qui vous promet une ambiance démoniaque ! Halloween Terror Party 2013 sur la Péniche Henjo, Le jeudi 31 octobre 2013, la Péniche Henjo accueillera une Halloween Terror Party dont vous risquez de vous souvenir… Génération 80-90 en mode Halloween 2013 au Jane Club, Pour passer une soirée d'Halloween décalée alors rendez-vous au Jane Club, le jeudi 31 octobre 2013, pour une "Génération 80-90 en mode Halloween"! Halloween au Cavern, Venez fêter Halloween au Cavern Club! Et surtout… Déguisez-vous! 100% Dancefloor : Horror Show spéciale Halloween 2013 au Barramundi, Retrouve 30 ans de Hits Dancefloor sanglants préparés par Jeff De Schilton & Friends. Potion à base de House - Rnb - Pop - Electro - Groove : Un mix à réveiller les morts...  Halloween Party au Palace Privilège, L’Épicurienne vous ouvre ses portes, le jeudi 31 octobre 2013, pour l'une de ses plus grosses soirées sous le signe de l'horreur... Aurez vous le courage de venir? Halloween 2013 au Dandy, Rendez-vous au Dandy, le jeudi 31 octobre 2013, pour une Halloween Party exceptionnelle avec Andlee ou encore Sokool…

Get a double chance and become a member via Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

Participation via Facebook Participation via Google+ Participation via Twitter

If you are not using one of the above, no probs! Go to www.holidayflirtapp.com and leave your email address. 

We're keeping our fingers crossed for you!

Holidayflirt

Over the past few days we have received a great number of emails with questions about Holidayflirt. For your convenience, we have summarised the answers here so that they can all be accessed in one location. 

What is Holidayflirt?

Holidayflirt is an app that offers an entirely new way to find flirts and friends. Based on your location, Holidayflirt shows you matches in your immediate vicinity. You can send virtual gifts, chat or add a flirt to your personal hotlist.

Holidayflirt goes a step further, however – and this is really exciting. Imagine you will be flying to Mallorca in two months for a holiday. You can enter your holiday dates in the app and see immediately who will be in the same place during that time. This allows you to make contacts for your holiday while still at home and to find friends or your holiday flirt before you even arrive. And don't forget to check the map. It will show you where to find the best parties, bars and clubs – anywhere, anytime. 

Why do I need to enter my email address on the website? 

First off, you don’t HAVE to do anything! ;) However, we want to guarantee the best possible experience for all Holidayflirt users. For this reason, we are offering 10,000 free user accounts at the beginning, so your wishes and suggestions can be implemented quickly. The first version of the Holidayflirt app to be released is therefore version number 0.9.

If you would like to be one of the first users to test Holidayflirt, simply join our mailing list and secure a user account for yourself. The first 10,000 registrations will receive a personal access code immediately after the release of version 0.9 that can be used to download the Holidayflirt app.

As a thank you for your support, you will automatically be entered in our prize draw for the chance to win a one-week holiday for two in Ibiza.  

What will you do with my email address?

This is a good question with a simple answer: nothing! Guaranteed. Your email address will only be used to reserve a slot and to contact you once your personal access code for the app is ready. We will neither pass it on to third parties nor use it for any other purpose. You can also unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time using the corresponding link at the end of any of our emails. 

How does this work exactly?

A few simple steps:

You enter your email address in the appropriate field on holidayflirtapp.com.

Immediately afterwards, you will receive an email with a link. Click on this link to confirm your registration. Done!  

Within an hour after you confirm your registration, we will send you a welcome mail to say a friendly “Hello” and explain what happens next.  

Once Holidayflirt access has been set up for you, you will receive an email with your personal access code and a link to the Holidayflirt app in the App Store.

Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. Please use our Facebook page, the Holidayflirt Twitter account, our Google+ page, this blog or a traditional email to contact us.

We have been working really hard on the Holidayflirt app over the past few weeks and are delighted to be launching the beta version today.

With Holidayflirt, you will be able to flirt, discover party venues and experience your holiday in a whole new way.

The app is still a work in progress so we really need your help. Why not register as a beta tester and help us keep improving Holidayflirt? All beta testers receive 5000 free credits so that they can test all functions of the app extensively. And of course, you can also start flirting for the first time. :)

We have included an extra-large feedback button into our website, and we really hope you’ll make good use of it. We won’t make promises we can’t keep, but we guarantee we will read every feedback e-mail we receive.

The current version of Holidayflirt is Version 0.9 – so you can see that we still have a long way to go. However, the basic functions are already in place and (hopefully!) working perfectly. We still have a lot of ideas and features in reserve, which will be integrated on a gradual basis. Regular updates will follow - something to look forward to! :)

Why are we launching such an early version?

It’s quite simple: Holidayflirt is supposed to be an app for YOU. We think we have some great ideas, but at the end of the day, you are the one who decides what you like. And so, we are asking you to test all of the functions of the app thoroughly and use our website to let us know what you like and what could be improved. After all, active users are the lifeblood of our app. This means that you can ensure the app is also a personal success for you.

How do register for the beta phase?

It’s easy: visit our website and enter your email address. You will receive a confirmation email immediately, followed by an access code for the app with a direct download link. A total of 10,000 beta accounts are available.

Will this cost me any money?

Every beta tester will receive 5,000 free credits so that they can test the app and all its functions extensively. Therefore, you will not incur any charges.

What will I get out of the App?

We prefer to let our app speak for itself. However, we don’t want to leave you completely in the dark, so here are some details:

Free chat (messages, flirt chat)

Matches based on interests, location and disposition

Easy virtual online dating

Organize flirt dates with “Geo Trap”

Send and receive cool virtual gifts”

Find parties and venues

Create a profile and enter details under “My Holidays”

Upload photos to your profile

As we said, our developers are also working on a heap of other functions. Wait and see! We have a lot of surprises in store for you. We look forward to introducing you to your dream partner or holiday flirt very soon.

Enjoy the beach and the sunshine (or the snow and ice!). Holidayflirt will take care of the rest.

Stay tuned Holidayflirt butterflies guaranteed.