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!

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!

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'Book Three: The Cavern of Promise' Completes Clark Burbidge's Giants in the Land Trilogy

Thank you to PR by the Book for providing a copy of the Giants of the Land Trilogy for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are our own.

Giants in the Land is a book series by award-winning author, Clark Burbidge, about a young man named Thomas, who goes on exciting adventures as he grows older. In Book One: The Way of Things, he has to find the giants who have gone missing. In Book Two: The Prodigals, he has to find and neutralize a common threat to the giants and humans. In the recently released Book Three: The Cavern of Promise, there is a tyrannical giant king that captures Thomas and wants to kill the true king, Sonspeaker.

I liked the trilogy, mostly because I love adventure/action books. Also, I like how the book is based in medieval times. I like learning about what life was like back then. One of my favorite parts is when Thomas battles a giant warrior in the evil king’s arena and wins against all odds.

There were some parts of this trilogy that could have been better, such as the cliffhanger at the end of the first book. I think that it was a little discouraging, and I wasn't looking forward to reading the second book as much as I was originally. Also, I think the giant king of Westwood was a little overly dramatic with the explanation of the Madog.

This trilogy is definitely worth reading.  I would recommend it for kids 10 years old and above. There is some bloodshed, so be cautioned.

Award-winning author, Clark Burbidge

To learn more about the Giants in the Land Trilogy, where to purchase the books, and Clark Burbidge, visit www.giantsinthelandbook.com.

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Easy Spooky Zombie Head & Eyeballs Halloween Centerpiece

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing most of the supplies needed for our DIY zombie head Halloween centerpiece.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our children will be 12, 9, and 9 in a few months.  Our oldest decided that he's too old to go trick-or-treating this year.  That's why I decided that we better squeeze in as much Halloween fun as we can before they are too old to enjoy Halloween the way only kids truly can.

Zombies are all the rage these days, whether you're 8 or 80.  Checkout this easy Halloween table centerpiece I made with a few Halloween supplies from Oriental Trading Company!

What you'll need . . . 

Zombie Head Centerpiece

zombie punch bowl

latex monster hands

strong double-sided foam tape

big bags of assorted candy (red and pink preferred)

Bowl with Eyeballs & Floating Candles

floating candle bowl

eyeball erasers

3 red tealight candles

rat prop

Table Coverings

orange tablecloth

stretchable black web

Scary Hands Holding Zombie Head Candy Bowl . . .

This candy bowl will be super-easy for you to make because we have done all the trial and error.  All you need to do is attach the latex monster hands to either side of the zombie punch bowl so that they look like they're holding the head.  We tried hot glue, white glue, model glue, and a tagging gun and could not get the hands to attach securely. What finally worked is double-sided foam tape.  I highly recommend that you use permanent double-sided foam tape because the non-permanent kind we used still allowed the hands to detach now and then.

If you are careful in the placement of the foam tape, then it will hardly be visible at all.  You can also make it so that a person can put their hands inside the monster hands to hold the candy bowl for trick-or-treaters to help themselves to candy for some spooky fun.

Speaking of candy . . . we used two big bags of assorted candy (85 pieces each) that had mostly red and pink wrappers.  I removed the small handful that were other colors so that only the zombie brain-colored ones remained.  This punch bowl can hold a ton of candy.  My two bags only filled half of the head, so I placed a plastic food container upside-down at the bottom and stuffed some paper around it to help the candy reach the brim of the bowl.

Bowl with Eyeballs and Floating Candles . . .

The eyeball erasers from Oriental Trading Company come in a set of 24, which was the perfect quantity for this project.  We had enough to put in the bowl and to scatter around the centerpiece.  The erasers are flat on one side, so the eyeballs remained stationary with the pupils facing up even in the floating candle bowl filled with water.

As for the candles, I just used tealights I already had in the house.  You can certainly purchase small floating candles, but the tealights worked just fine for us.  If you are using tealights, you'll need to carefully remove them from the plastic cup.  Be sure to check that the metal disc on the bottom that is connected to the wick has at least a thin layer of wax over.  If the disc is not covered, then water might get up through the center of the tealight.  Before placing the tealights into the water, trim the wicks to 1/4" tall.

Halloween Table Covering . . . 

For an easy Halloween backdrop for our centerpiece, I layered a stretchable black web over a vinyl orange tablecloth.  The web was not what I was expecting.  I pictured something more stringy, but this web worked out fine.  It was sticky just like you'd expect a web to be and even came with a handful of spiders designed to hook onto it.

Let's talk candle safety! . . .

PLEASE DO NOT leave candles unattended while they are lit and do not leave your children or pets alone with the them.  Also, DO NOT place anything, including decorations, close to or over the edge of the floating candle bowl.  The candles float around with the slightest air current.  I placed the rat prop next to the bowl to make the centerpiece more interesting, but had to remove it shortly after I lit the candles because one of the tealights floated right over to it.  Remember, Halloween is not just about having fun.  It's about being safe as well!

For more Halloween inspiration, be sure to visit Oriental Trading Company's Halloween section!

If this Halloween centerpiece looks fun & easy, Pin It for later . . .

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Easy DIY Fairy Godmother Wand for Cinderella-Themed Halloween Costume

Thank you to Costume Express for providing the Cinderella Movie costume for this DIY Fairy Godmother magic wand craft feature.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our 8 year old daughter has such fond memories of going to see Disney's Cinderella Movie in the theater.  It was one of the few non-animated films she's watched on the big screen.  In my mind, there was no question who she wanted to dress up as for Halloween this year.  I was sure she'd want to be Cinderella, but she surprised me by opting for the beautiful Fairy Godmother instead.

What a lovely sight she turned out to be, covered head to toe in glitter.  The Disney Cinderella Movie: Deluxe Fairy Godmother Costume for Girls shimmers all over in glitter dusted satin and tulle.  We just added some glitter hair spray, pretty earrings, and sparkly sandals.  There was just one more thing we needed . . . a wand!

EASY CRAFT: DIY Fairy Godmother Wand

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

glow stick necklace (unbent)

silver crepe paper streamers

glitter washi tape (approx .6" wide)

white glitter

Mod Podge - Gloss Finish

sponge brush

scissors

wax paper

disposable plate

Step 1.  Begin wrapping the streamer (silver side facing out) around the glow stick tightly at an angle.  Use a little Mod Podge to keep the starting end in place, if necessary.

Step 2.  Leaving the top 5 inches or so uncovered, continue to wrap the streamer around the glow stick in as many layers as needed to create a rounded handle that tapers towards the uncovered tip.  When the handle is the desired shape and thickness, cut the end of the streamer at an angle (as shown below) and secure with a little Mod Podge.

Step 3.  Cover the papered portion of the wand in a layer of Mod Podge with a sponge brush and allow to dry completely on a sheet of wax paper.

TIP #1:  When applying the Mod Podge with the sponge brush, do so in a diagonal angle that follows the angle of paper wrapping.

Step 4.  When the Mod Podge has dried completely, wrap the glitter tape around the wand handle at an angle.  Be sure the space between each row of tape is uniform.  Again, leave the 5" at the tip of the glow stick uncovered.

Step 5.  Dip the uncovered tip into the Mod Podge, coating the tip of the wand up to the first 2 inches of wrapping.

TIP #2:  Be sure to hold the wand above the jar for a few seconds to allow any excess Mod Podge to drip back into the jar.

Step 6.  Hold the coated portion of the wand over a disposable plate.  Then sprinkle glitter over the coated portion, making sure to turn the wand to get complete coverage.

Step 7.  Cut a segment of silver paper streamer approximately 4" long.

Step 8.  Then cut the bottom 3 inches of the paper streamer segment to create a fringe (as shown below).  Then snip the end of each strand at alternating angles.

Step 9.  Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to the backside of the uncut portion of the paper streamer segment.  Then wrap it around the very tip of the wand, holding it securely in place until it dries.

Step 10.  Apply a generous coat of Mod Podge over the entire wand, except for the fringe at the tip.  Allow to dry completely on a sheet of wax paper.

My daughter was very pleased with how her new Fairy Godmother wand turned out.  Although the wand does not compare to the exquisite details on the costume, I am pleased with the end result as well.  If you have not bent the glow stick during the crafting process, you should be able shake it and bend it to make the tip glow on Halloween night.

I think most Fairy Godmothers have big, bleached, side-swept hair styles, but our daughter's dark straight hair cannot do that.  Hopefully, everyone will overlook her hair when they see the stunning gown.  Any hair styling tips are welcome!

If you like this craft idea, Pin It for later . . . 

You can find the Disney Cinderella Movie: Deluxe Fairy Godmother Costume for Girls at Costume Express for $49.99.

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Logo Loops Headbands for School and Taekwondo

Thank you to Logo Loops for sending their comfy headbands for our daughter to wear and for providing the prize for our giveaway.  All opinions expressed are our own.

I may have mentioned before that our daughter is quite active.  She likes to run and play basketball during recess, plays hard during gym class, and gives 100% (at least) at Taekwondo.  Keeping her hair neat is difficult some days because it's super-straight (something she inherited from me), which causes it to fall down and gets stringy easily.  Logo Loops wide headbands, an item featured on The View as a back-to-school must-have, turned out to be the answer to our problems.

We have only been able to find one or two styles of headbands that stay put in our daughter's hair, while feeling comfortable the whole day through.  Many are too tight and she ends up taking them off after an hour or two.  Last week, our daughter tested for her orange belt in Taekwondo.  The students work extremely hard during their belt tests to show their instructors and their parents what they can do.

Our daughter wore her TKD Logo Loops headband during her belt test and it kept her hair out of her way and neatly in place.  The headband didn't start to slip at all and remained comfortable throughout the warm-ups, the blocks and kicks, the patterns, sparring, and board-breaking.

I must also mention that it is extremely difficult to find Taekwondo-themed items for girls.  Our daughter received so many compliments on her Logo Loops TKD headband that I actually think it gave her an extra boost of confidence to wear it.  She did amazingly well on her belt test.

Logo Loops TKD headband

Our daughter has also loved wearing her Logo Loops headbands to school.  Here she is in one of the nine Initial Loops headbands available.

Logo Loops Oval Flower Initials headband

There are so many different Logo Loops available, there's something for every girl, from grade school through college.  Which one is your favorite?

Our daughter's favorite design is the Cool Cat headband.  It's probably because she's such an animal-lover.  Don't see exactly what you need?  Submit your own artwork to custom order Logo Loops for your school, club, team, or organization!

Logo Loops Cool Cat headband

To learn more about Logo Loops, visit www.Logo-Loops.com or Logo Loops on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  Logo Loops sell for $13.99 each.  Visit their online store to shop!

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5 Easy Back-to-School #StraightAStyle Hairstyles for Girls

Thank you to Goody Hair for sending us their line of back-to-school hair accessories plus a gift card to complete our daughter's back-to-school wardrobe.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our only daughter will be starting 3rd grade this week!  Where did the time go?  She has changed so much in just a few short years.  She's always loved to feel pretty, but something I've noticed recently is her growing patience to take care of herself.  She's doing a better job washing her hair thoroughly and combs or brushes it without being reminded (most of the time).  She used to ask to have her hair cut short so she wouldn't need to sit through pulling her hair back for school or those dreaded detangling sessions.  This summer, she asked me not to cut her hair before school starts.  She's even brushing her own hair out before letting me know that she's ready to have her hair done. Goody Ouchless brushes make that easy!

If you're like us, sometimes you're in a super-rush in the mornings.  There's not always time to do anything special with our daughter's hair, so I always have a few go-to hairstyles that have proven to be cute, but practical, and more importantly quick to complete.  You can see them below along with one or two others we had experimented with during the summer.

5 Easy Back-to-School Hairstyles for Long Hair . . . 

1.  Headwrap with Skinny Braids - This pretty hairstyle looks great on long, straight hair.  We started off with a crocheted Goody headwrap.  I pulled flower Goody Glam mini elastics through the holes in the crocheted headwrap for some added fun (totally optional).  Then I pulled the hair out of the headwrap at her temples, created one skinny braid on each side, and secured them with Good Girls Ouchless mini elastics.  The last step is to wrap the two braids around towards the back and secure them together with a flower Goody Glam mini elastic.

2.  Long Braid Side Pony - For this easy hairstyle, start by parting the hair on the opposite side from where you plan to tie the ponytail.  Starting as close to the part as possible, create a medium size braid all the way down to at least 3 or 4 inches from the end of the hair and secure it with an Ouchless mini elastic.  Then gather all the hair, including the braid, in a low ponytail on the side opposite of the part and secure with a colorful Goody Girls Ouchless ribbon elastic.

3.  Crown of Mini Bows - If your daughter is tired of simply pulling the top and sides of her hair back with an elastic or hair clip, this is a fun way to change up that look.  All you need to do is to tie 4 to 6 mini bunches of hair back at the top of the head with Goody Girls mini elastics with bows.  These elastics are super-cute with a crystal at the center of each bow!  Be sure to space the bunches of hair evenly around the top of the head above the forehead.  Then pull the top of the hair back, as usual, using a Goody ribbon elastic.

4.  Front to Side Twist - This is one of my favorite hairstyles for my daughter.  It's pretty and can be done in 20 seconds or less.  Start with parting the hair on the side.  Then take a small piece of hair, starting at the part, and twist it twice away from the forehead.  Next, add another small piece of hair and give the hair a couple more twists.  Continue to do this until you reach the temple.  Then twist the hair several times and secure it with a Goody Straight A Style contour snap clip on the side.

5.  Half French Side Braid - I think this hairstyle is my daughter's favorite.  No more plain ponytails on P.E. days!  For this one, you'll need to start with a side part.  Begin braiding hair at the part and add pieces of hair from along the forehead as you braid (just like a French braid, but only adding hair from one side).  Continue this until you've incorporated the hair above the ear.  Then switch to a standard braid and secure with an elastic.  We used the Goody ponytailer elastics with beads for a little extra sparkle, but any color Goody Girls Ouchless elastics that match her outfit would work.

Like these easy back-to-school hairstyles? Pin This for later . . . 

Which easy hairstyle is your favorite?  If you have a favorite easy back-to-school hairstyle, please share it with us below!  Also find more easy hairstyle how-to's by visiting Goody Hair on YouTube.

You can find Goody Straight A Style hair accessories at Meijers and Walgreens for approximately $3.99 to $4.99.  Be sure to pick up these and other Goody Hair accessories to complete your daughter's back-to-school wardrobe!

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