Ultimate Holiday Tech Gift: NEW D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) w/ 2-Way Audio!

Thank you to D-Link for providing a Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) unit for this holiday tech gift review.  All opinions expressed are our own.

We have been using D-Link wireless cameras for years in our home. We use them to watch the house when we aren't home, watch the kids, and even keep an eye on the dogs to make sure they are behaving. Wireless cameras are not just a convenience in our household at this point, but an important necessity.

We have been using various fixed position cameras as well as a motorized camera we can control remotely. Both kinds have their pros and cons and are used differently in our home. The fixed position cameras are perfect for watching entry ways and where the dogs eat and drink water. The motorized camera is perfect for the livingroom area where we need to pan around to see everything.

Both types have their shortcomings, however. Fixed cameras of course can only see what they are pointed at and the remote camera is slow and noisy. If you needed to track something in a hurry the motorized camera is inadequate. The noise also changes the behavior of the dogs so I can't catch them in the act of shenanigans!

This brings me to a new product by D-Link that solves the shortcomings of both camera types and adds new features we didn't have before. The new D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) is a fixed position camera, but features a 180 degree lens. Wide angle or fisheye lenses aren't new, but the 2630L uses D-Link’s new ‘Wide Eye’ technology offering an ultra wide view that's not distorted or curved like others. It’s like a panoramic picture but its live 1080P video.

Like most D-Link cameras, the 2630L can be managed from the mydlink website from any computer or mobile device, making it simple to check in on your home while you're out. Setting up the camera was a little laborious and really shouldn't have been. The camera uses WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Set-up) for easy pairing, like many devices do, but still took me a few attempts to get it to pair. The camera can only be paired wirelessly as it does not have an ethernet port like other D-Link cameras. Although I was ultimately successful, I imagine some will need to call for assistance at some point.

Once paired, configuration was as easy as can be and similar to my other cameras. If you are familiar with the mydlink site you will not have any issues renaming the camera and changing any other settings to your liking. You can also choose to get into the advanced settings page where you can really customize your camera. I caution, however, that these settings are for people who have a better than basic understanding of network protocols and such.

The D-Link 2630L looks great and does not stand out in the room. Many wireless cameras aren't good looking at all and are an eyesore, but not the 2630L. The construction is sturdy and it has a weighted base to make sure it stays put. You can optionally mount the camera if you would like with the provided hardware. The large lens is also glass, not plastic, like so many others, adding to the overall sense of quality.


One feature the 2630L has that none of my previous cameras has is two way audio. Before I could just listen, but with the new camera I can actually talk through the camera and have a conversation! This feature also works through the mobile app so you can view and talk from anywhere. My kids can no longer pretend they can't hear me when its chore time.

The D-link DCS-2630L is fully 1080p in resolution (and can lower to 720p if you choose) and the imagery looks very good. I notice the video is a bit sharper in low light (black and white) than it is in color, but both are bright and sharp. The Wide Eye technology truly works, you can see from the screenshots that there is very little to no distortion at all, even while zoomed in.

The 2630L also includes a microSD slot that adds storage to the camera allowing recording of video. Depending on the size of the card you use, you can store as much video as you please. For example, 7 days of 1080p video only requires 104GB. The camera can take as much as a 128GB microSD card. This is an excellent feature if you're worried about home security, nannies, cleaners, contractors, etc. The camera can also be set to trigger email alerts based on motion or sound.



Overall the D-Link 2630L is a fine camera that’s packed with features. I still prefer a simple fixed camera for a hallway or pointed at some pet food dishes, but the 2630L is far superior to my motorized camera for larger areas. The ability to see the entire room at the same time without panning simply can't be matched. The additional features like the two way audio and the ability to record for days and days are just icing on the cake.

At $199.99 the 2630L is in the same price range as many competing motorized panning cameras, making it a no brainer. It’s great looking, high quality, and the performance is great. The fact that I had to toil a bit to get it set up doesn't change my opinion of this product at all. The performance of the 2630L makes up for the hassle and then some. The D-Link 2360L would make a great gift this holiday for just about any household. Its great for any family that travels, has kids, pets, looks after seniors, or anyone that values an extra bit of security.

The D-Link Full HD 180-Degree Wi-fi Camera is available for purchase at Best Buy and us.dlink.com.

Who would the D-Link 2630L make the perfect gift for?  Tell us in a comment here!

DIY LEGO Minifigures Advent Calendar

I first made our own reusable, refillable advent calendars four years ago.  We've gone from using these paper mache boxes to these more durable burlap drawstring pouches last year.  The pouches with the hanging chalkboard clips worked out well, so we're using them again this year.  One thing that we are changing this year is what goodies the children will find in the pouches each day.

Our DIY advent calendars usually have one piece of candy for each child plus something fun.  For the past four years, we've put jigsaw puzzle pieces in the advent calendars to add a fun, quick activity to each day.  As the children grew older, we increased the difficulty of the puzzles.  Last year, we used a puzzle that was several hundred pieces.  It took my husband and I hours to put the puzzle together so that we could put the pieces in the pouches in a logical order.  Also, there were so many pieces, that the advent pouches were stuffed full, leaving very little room for candy.

After thinking about a possible solution for quite awhile, I decided to try something new . . . using loose LEGO Minifigures!

To keep the cost down, I decided to put one minifigure part for each child per day rather than a whole minifigure.  This also adds an aspect of fun because the children can see what parts they have at the end of the 24 days and trade with each other.  For example, on Day 1 there will be 3 minifigure heads, on Day 2 there will be 3 minifigure hats or hair, and so forth.  After the 5th day, they will each have enough parts to make one complete minifigure.  After 20 days, each child will have enough parts for four complete figures.  Day 24 will have extra parts and candy in it.

You can find minifigures at your local LEGO Store for 3 complete figures (head, hair or hat, torso, legs, and accessory) for $9.99.  I purchased mine from this ebay seller and was extremely pleased.  All the figures I received were genuine LEGO (not knock-offs) and included a good mix of figures for both boys and girls (no duplicates).  You can also find loose LEGO Minifigures on Amazon for a decent price.  Just be wary of prices that look too good to be true, because those might not be genuine LEGO figures.

I probably will need to think of something new to go in next year's advent calendar to surprise the children.  Have any good ideas?

Share your ideas with us in a comment on Facebook!

3 No-Brainer Holiday Gift Ideas They'll Cherish for Years to Come

Thank you to CanvasPop for providing a square photo canvas print for this feature and for hosting a holiday giveaway for 3G2S readers.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

The other day, I was looking through our photo albums for pictures my daughter could take to school for a show-and-tell type thing and I realized how few photos we actually have.  I easily take over a thousand photos a year, but they are all stored on an external hard drive.  Of those 1000+ photos I take each year, almost none of them are of my husband and me.  This made me realize that the only photos we have hanging in our home of the two of us are our wedding portrait and one or two others from before we were married (15 years ago).

When I had the opportunity to have a canvas photo print made, I decided to have one printed using a more recent photo of my husband and myself.  When I opened the box and unwrapped the canvas, such an amazing feeling of sentiment came over me.  I thought to myself what an unbelievable gift this would make for a loved one.  After the initial flood of sentiment passes, they will still cherish this gift as it hangs in their home for years to come.


3 No-Brainer Holiday Gifts Your Loved Ones Will Cherish . . .

1.  Canvas Word Art - With CanvasPop's Word Art Maker, you can combine two very powerful things, the perfect photo and words from your heart, into one work of art.  You can also make typographical art without a photo.  The possibilities are endless, from your favorite quote to an inside joke that will be sure to get a smile.

2.  Mosaic Art on Canvas - Can't decide on just one photo or looking for an alternative to a photo book?  This option allows you to include many photos in one work of art.  You could simply include your favorite photos or choose a theme.  How about photos of places to which you've traveled together or perhaps chronological photos that highlight your loved one's life?

3.  Classic Large Canvas Print - A high quality photo canvas print looks so amazing compared to a print on paper.  The photo canvas shown below is just printed from a high resolution selfie my husband took of us a couple of years ago.  The canvas art at CanvasPop range in square and rectangular sizes from 8"x10" to 24"x72".  Ours is 20"x20" and was perfect for a wall space next to the window in our bedroom.

This one has a low-profile .75" deep wrap that is perfect for spaces where your wall art could get easily bumped, such as a hallway or a high-traffic area.

This canvas is the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning and it's the perfect way to start the day.  It just makes me feel happy inside every time I look at it.  That's the kind of gift I want to give everyone I love!

Like these gift ideas? Pin this list for later . . . 

Enter to Win a Photo Canvas for the Holidays! (CLOSED)

3G2S readers can click the link above or the button below to enter to win a 16"x24" canvas print (ARV $89) from CanvasPop and to read the official rules.

Contest ends November 30, 2015 at 11:59PM PT. Open to residents of the US, Canada and the European Union.

What picture perfect photo would you like to have printed on canvas? Tell us about it on Facebook!

Guinness World Records Books . . . Easy Gift Ideas for Kids, Teens & Adults (Gamers Included!)

Thank you to Guinness World Records for providing a copy of Guinness World Records 2016 and Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer's Edition for this review.  All opinions expressed are our own.

Guinness World Records is a company that makes annual record books that have exciting records and amazing pictures. Each year, they release a new book with hundreds of new records. Since the Guinness World Records book is produced annually, it is also great for people who like to collect things. It is the ultimate gift idea for the holidays!

Also, there is the Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer’s Edition that is completely filled with records about amazing gaming feats, like finishing a game on hard mode in fourteen minutes, or scoring 321 goals in FIFA soccer. This is a great gift for gamers of all levels, with gaming records about Fallout, Minecraft, Call of Duty, and much more.

Personally, my favorite record from the Guinness World Records 2016 book is the ‘Most Layers in a Sandwich’ with 40 awesome layers of bacon, fluff, and peanut butter. My favorite record from the Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer’s Edition is highest score on Fruit Ninja’s zen mode because I feel that I can beat that record.

As you can see, these records are interesting, awesome, and sometimes funny. I would recommend these extremely awesome books for people ages 7 to 200.  To see more amazing world records, visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com!

Have you read one or both of these books?  Share your favorite records with us on Facebook!

5 Tips for Taking Holiday Card Photos of Your Children

Thank you to Chooze Shoes for providing the Spark high top sneakers to add some edgy glam to my daughter's wardrobe. All opinions are my own.

I've been taking our own holiday card photos for as long as I can remember.  There was one year that we had photos of the whole family taken professionally, but my husband and I have always been the amateur photographers behind every holiday card photo of just our children.  I usually take individual portraits of each child and then some with all three together.  This usually works out great and I can always find a card layout with four spots for photos to complement the pictures we've chosen.

Since I've been taking photos of our three children for nearly a decade, I have learned some tips and tricks along the way.  Yes, taking photos of multiple children at once can closely resemble a game a whack-a-mole, but it can be done!


5 tips for taking holiday card photos of your children . . .

1.  Become familiar with your camera's settings.  You can take beautiful photos with a D-SLR or with your phone's camera.  All cameras having different settings to accommodate for low light and other conditions.  Experiment with them so you have an idea of which settings to use when it comes time to take portraits of your children.  It's likely your children will get antsy if they have to wait for you to play with your camera settings during a photo shoot.

2.  Dress your children comfortably.  Whatever you choose to dress your children in, make sure that they are comfortable.  Binding clothes, itchy tags, uncomfortable shoes, etc . . . all make the task of capturing a photo of a relaxed and happy child even more difficult.  I always opt for casual outfits.  The boys generally wear polo shirts or henleys.  My daughter's clothes can vary from a casual dress to a blazer paired with jeans to the comfy New England Patriots top she wore this year.  Regardless of what they wear, I try to color coordinate all three children's outfits.  Having all three wear jeans on the bottom is an easy way to do that.

To guarantee a smile on my daughter's face for the photos, I always give my daughter something special to wear, such as a hat or a pretty necklace.  This year, she was all smiles wearing her Spark high top sneakers from Chooze Shoes.  She owns a few pairs of mismatched shoes from this brand and loves them all.  Every pair she's owned has been super-comfortable and fun to wear!

3.  Choose a simple background.  Having to drive 10 miles to take photos does not sound like too much fun for kids.  You really don't need a fancy background.  We've taken beautiful photos of our children sitting on the front steps or huddled together in front of an evergreen tree.  I do recommend taking your photos outdoors for the best light, but having your children sitting on your stairs, on your sofa, or in front of your fireplace together will also work.  If you end up not loving the background in your photos, you can always blur the background with a photo editing program.  There are many free programs online.

4.  Get your children talking.  When taking individual portraits, getting your children talking will help them loosen up.  It also gets you some beautiful, natural smiles when they are telling you about something funny that happened in school last week (much better than the cheesy looking say-cheese smiles).  The tween (pictured below) is a tough nut to crack because he is starting to act like he's too cool for holiday photos.  Sometimes talking works with him, sometimes all I get is a mumble and a shrug, but all you can do is try . . .

5.  Promise your children a silly shoot afterwards.  This has worked amazingly well for us.  It is so difficult to get all three children to be smiling, not blinking, and looking at the camera at the same time.  Promising them a silly shoot (when you take photos of them dancing around, doing silly poses, and making goofy faces) in exchange for them holding it together long enough to get a good group photo really gets them to make an effort to give you that winning shot.

What tips do you have for taking great portraits of your children?  Share your tips with us on Facebook!