kids transferring schools

4 Things That Can Make Transferring To a New School Easier

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On August 21, 2019

In Lifestyle

Being the new kid in school will never be an easy experience. When all your classmates already have friends to hang out with during recess, when everyone’s already paired up on the bus, and when your teachers know everyone except you, how’s a kid supposed to deal?

Don’t worry–we’re here to help. Here are some easy ways to make transferring campuses easier for your child this back to school season.

Involve your child in the process.

Make sure your child is involved in every step on the way. Bring them with you when you visit schools, ask them for their opinion on the schools on your shortlist, and maybe ask them to list what they’re looking forward to about switching schools. This is an exciting month in your kids’ life!

Dispel your child’s fears.

Unless your child had a traumatic experience in their old school, they probably wouldn’t be too keen to transfer schools. They’d be leaving a familiar environment and saying goodbye to familiar faces–that’s got to be difficult for anyone, regardless of age. Make the move easier for your kid by discussing the things their concerns and fears. Address all their concerns, and get them to see the bright side of switching schools.

Plan a “switching schools” party for your child.

Make sure your child gets to say goodbye properly to all their friends and favorite teachers. You can have a small party at your backyard and have your child invite their closest classmates and teachers. Ask the guests to write notes wishing your child good luck at their new school, and encourage them to stay in touch.

Create a digital scrapbook documenting your child’s time at their previous school.

Gather all of your child’s pictures with their previous classmates, scan their best artwork and treasured notes, and compile them into a digital album commemorating their time at the school. This way, they’ll always fond memories of a crucial part of their formative years.

Display the digital scrapbooks on a Nixplay Frame so their memories will always be at their fingertips. Get 25% off selected frames for our Back To School Sale, only until August 25!

What to do on a staycation

What To Do On A Staycation

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On August 20, 2019

In Lifestyle

Taking a vacation isn’t always easy. Either it’s too expensive or too time-consuming, or you’ve simply run out of ideas on where to go. The good news is, more people are opting to stay at home for a summer staycation—and with good reason!

Who says you need to venture to a luxury resort or go abroad for a worthwhile vacation? If you fancy the idea of spending your summer break camping in your backyard, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, or finally making a dent in your endless Netflix list, our top staycation tips prove there really is no place like home.

Enhance Your Cooking Skills

Getting your hands dirty in the kitchen is always a productive way to kill some time. As you’re not spending a fortune on plane tickets or a new vacation wardrobe this summer, use the cash you’d spend otherwise on a set of cookbooks to learn how to get more creative with your food.

If you don’t fancy getting messy in your own kitchen, tickle your taste buds by attending a local cookery class and mastering some new recipes. The next time you host a dinner party, you’re guaranteed to impress your guests!

Leave Your Front Door

Make the most of your summer staycation time and venture beyond the familiar territory of your doorstep.

There is always plenty to see and do during the summer months, regardless of where you live. A summer staycation is the perfect opportunity to get to know your own town and dabble in the local culture. Where are the top-rated eateries? Are there any boutique shops you’ve always wanted to check out? Which local attractions or events can you visit?

Whether you’re going alone or taking a friend along with you, we highly recommend throwing yourself in at the deep end and signing up for a community program, an arts and crafts course, or a challenging workout class. Whatever it is, it’s a new experience to tick off the list.

Experiment With Home Photography

If you’re a budding photographer (which is pretty much anyone with a smartphone these days, right?) why not try your hand at some home photography?

Developing your skills—on either a phone or a camera—isn’t as complicated as you might think. Whichever device you’re using, you can enhance your home photography by experimenting with new angles, editing apps, props, lighting, and lenses.

If you’re passionate about showing off your home’s interiors, improving your garden, or trying your hand at some still life photography, you could even create a Pinterest board or an Instagram account to show off your work. Not only will this take your photos one step further, but it will also help you build a following of likeminded photographers and share your thoughts and ideas with them. (Don’t forget to follow Nixplay on Instagram and on Pinterest!)

Whatever you’re taking photos of and whichever style of home photography you’re trying out, displaying your images proudly in your home on a digital photo frame ensures you’ll never lose sight of them.

Take A Short Road Trip

A summer staycation doesn’t necessarily mean limiting yourself to your surrounding area.

If you’re staying close to home for your summer staycation, you can combine travel and photography by taking a short road trip to a nearby landmark, coastline, or nature reserve.

Don’t fret about making a detailed itinerary: The best and most exciting way to plan a road trip is to not plan it at all! Throw the map out of the window, set a time limit for yourself, and just drive. Wherever you end up is an opportunity to broaden your horizons, see different places, and create new memories.

The best part of a short road trip? You’ll be snuggled up in your own bed before the sun goes down!

Upgrade Your Home

Nothing gives you more peace of mind than de-cluttering your home. So, if you’re looking for productive things to do on a staycation, you can’t go wrong with an interior revamp.

Start by saying goodbye to all the clothes you haven’t worn for over a year and donate them to a charity of your choice. Next, go from room to room and throw away anything that’s collecting dust —it’s better off in a trash bag than gathering germs on your desk. Finally, make good use of your rubber gloves and give your house a deep clean.

Now that the hard part is over, you can reward yourself by upgrading your home with something you’ve always wanted. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen, spending money on some new wall art, or adding a slick gadget to your collection, any addition to your home is an improvement.

Embracing Your Summer Staycation

Vacations aren’t always about sticking to a tight activity schedule. Sometimes, it’s better to simply unplug, relax, and watch the world go by.

You might want to do nothing except take a week-long nap, watch movies, and stay wrapped in your duvet. And that’s fine! The time you enjoy wasting is never wasted—and self-care is important.

Whatever you’re doing on your summer staycation is worth savoring. So why not keep the memories alive forever on an advanced digital display in your home? Our range of frames will inspire you to view and share your favorite moments in the best way. Browse our selection of high-tech digital photo frames today!

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Top Photo Apps to Enhance Your Smartphone Images

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On August 15, 2019

In Photography

Images don’t always come perfect from the camera. They usually need tools to stand out. And with mobile camera technology getting better every day, everyone has the potential to take stunning pictures. However, a great camera can only take you so far.

This is where the dozens of photo apps in the market step in. They greatly help in capturing and editing your photos, ensuring you’ll always have images worthy of a double-take (or a double-tap). But not all apps are created equal. The question is, which ones are worthy of the precious space they’ll take up on your phone?

Luckily, one-stop online portfolio website Pixpa already researched some of the best apps for you so you don’t have to waste your researching about each one. This list includes iOS and Android apps, as well as free and paid ones. Here are their top picks:

Snapseed

Snapseed is a great photo editor developed by Google. The app can process both JPG and RAW images in a precise manner, and your customized processes can be saved and applied to the photos later. There are 29 tools and filters for your perusal, including curves, lens blur, HDR Scape, double exposure, and more. The best part? It’s totally free.

Yr.no

Outdoor photographers need a reliable app that can tell current and upcoming weather conditions. This is where Yr.no comes in. Yr.no has animated effects for the 48- hour forecast period, with information on wind, temperature, and bad weather warnings. This app was built by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, meaning you can really trust it when it comes to all things weather.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Photoshop Express is a photo editing and collage-making app used by creative individuals around the world. It has a broad range of photo effects and editing tools–you can add borders and text to photos, enhance their color, add blend effects, remove atmospheric fog, and de-haze pictures to add clarity and sharpness. Photoshop Express is the go-to app for quick fixes and effects, and it’s a must-have in every smartphone photographer’s arsenal.

PhotoScan by Google Photos

Google PhotoScan comes in handy when you don’t have a scanner and want a quick digital version of a printed photo. This app can correct perspective distortion in an image, and automatically fix its edges. PhotoScan’s response time is astounding, allowing it to automatically enhance scanned photos with ease.

TouchRetouch

The TouchRetouch app is focused on the healing and cloning functionalities. This app can remove almost anything that’s bothering you in your photos. Telephone wires, dust marks, pimples–name it, TouchRetouch can erase it. With just a few taps of your fingertips, the app will analyze the picture and remove blemishes correctly.

Instagram

Who hasn’t heard of (or installed) Instagram? Probably the most popular photo-sharing app in the world, this is a great tool to get closer to the people and things you love. Though Instagram has some cool filters, which can be used to add effects to your photos and selfies, and basic editing tools for photo enhancement, its real strength lies in the ways it allows users to share their content. On IG, photographers can share their images with a broad community, directly engaging with their followers and keeping them updated with their latest works. There’s also the app’s Story feature, which lets users upload images and videos that only last for 24 hours, and IGTV, which is perfect for sharing longer videos.

Releases

This app comes in handy when photographers need legal permission from a model or property owner to stage a photo shoot and use the photos. With Releases, you can get the signature of your client on the screen and save the release form in PDF. The app has various templates by the American Society of Media Photographers, Getty Images, and Shutterstock, among other photography resources, which can be edited and used according to your needs. The app is only available for iOS users.

Skylights

If you are a photographer who regularly uses artificial lighting, then you will love this app! With Skylights, you can record the light placement and settings from your previous shoot. Diagrams can be created in this app with just a few taps; there are more than ten categories which you can drag and add. You can easily go back to previous diagrams and edit or add components as required, and you can zoom in and save them to your camera roll. The app is only available for iOS devices.

Hyperfocal DOF

Hyperfocal DOF can be used to calculate the distance closest to the lens where the objects can be focused. This app has more than 1600 camera models to choose from–you just have to set the focal length and aperture used, along with the camera model, and the app will calculate the hyperfocal distance. Hyperfocal DOF is available for both iOS and Android.

WiFi Photo Transfer

This app was developed for iOS users who find it difficult to transfer photos from their mobile phones to their computer. The app creates a Wi-Fi connection to your computer and makes the process of transferring pictures easy.

Geotag Photos Pro 2

Geotag Photos Pro 2 can record your position while you take photos. Even if your DSLR takes the images in RAW format, the app would also be able to record your position. The GPX file downloaded from the app works perfectly with Adobe Lightroom, letting you geotag your photos while editing. The app can also transfer the GPX files automatically to the cloud services of your choice. There’s a dedicated Geotag app for smartwatches like the Apple Watch, along with iOS and Android devices.

Mextures

Mextures is a paid iOS-only app which you can use to easily apply textures, filters, and effects, such as film grain, light leaks, and gradients, to your photos. Like Adobe Photoshop, the app lets you work on layers, which can be edited anytime you want. Mextures also has more than 150 textures, which can be applied using the 12 blending modes, as well as 30 film presets to give your photos the look of popular film footage.

Don’t forget to display your images on a Nixplay Frame! Take advantage of our Back To School Sale to get 25% off selected frames, only until August 25!

cancun

Making Better Vacation Memories By Hiring A Local Photographer

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On August 12, 2019

In Photography

Bridget* was turning 35 when she decided to take a vacation on her birthday as a present to herself. In her mind, there was no doubt that Cancún was the place to go.

“The first time I went to Cancún was actually with my family, for a summer vacation when I was still in middle school,” Bridget said about her birthday trip to the tropical Mexican tourist town. “I remember it was my favorite vacation, and this year, with my mother passing away, traveling there again seemed like a good way to honor her as well as celebrate my birthday in a special way.”

Cancún attracts tourists from around the world, and Bridget isn’t the only one charmed by the seaside paradise. The stretches of white sand next to the Caribbean, the idyllic waterfront hotels, and the vibrant energy gives the entire city an atmosphere different from any other. This makes it an ideal vacation destination for travelers of all stripes.

While Bridget was mostly attracted to the beaches of Cancún, she also made a point to visit some of the other historic sites nearby. She learned about the El Rey Mayan ruins, an ancient site thought to be dedicated to the Mayan god of the sun. Bridget was impressed by the stone ruins of the temples, pillars, and monuments constructed by the Mayans who used to live in that region of Mexico.

Back in the city, Bridget also decided to visit the Museo Maya de Cancún to learn more about the ancient civilizations and the artifacts discovered at the El Rey site, as well as the discoveries from other archaeological excavations around the country. It was a good way to cap off the experience and learn more about the amazing sites she had seen at El Rey.

To make her Cancun trip more memorable, Bridget decided to enlist the services of a local photographer who can better capture her memories.

“When I was planning my trip, I decided to find local photographers in Cancún so I can do a photoshoot there,” Bridget shared. “I have a two-year-old daughter at home, and while she’s too young to come with me for this trip, I hope to bring her to Cancún someday. I thought it would be nice to have pictures to show her so she could see for herself how beautiful the place is.”

Bridget and the photographer took most of the photos on the beaches; with the stunning Caribbean and dazzling golden sand, every shot was picture-perfect without needing to stage anything.

“I was actually a bit nervous for the photoshoot,” Bridget confided. “I guess I don’t picture myself as someone who normally does things like that. But all my doubts went away when I met the photographer from Localgrapher. Everything was so relaxed and informal; I wasn’t even really sure where I wanted to do the photoshoot, and they gave me a lot of suggestions without overwhelming me. It turned out to be a lot of fun.”

“My decision to find a local photographer in Cancún was the right one to make. I was all worried that it would be stressful, or not worth the time, but it turned out amazing,” Bridget said. “Now I have these special photos to show my daughter, and we can hopefully plan our next trip to take some pictures together.”

complete your vacation memories by displaying your vacation photos on a Nixplay Frame! take advantage of our Back To School sale and get 25% off selected frames until August 25!

*name had been changed

back to school blog 1

How to Make Going Back To School More Fun For Your Child

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On August 10, 2019

In Lifestyle

Going to back to school isn’t a fun experience for every kid. After all, who wants to hit the books again after playing around and lazing about all summer long? Not most kids, that’s who.

But this school year’s going to be different–it’s going to be more fun and exciting. Here’s how you can do it.

Have Them Help Plan Their Meals.

You know what every kid’s favorite subject is? It’s not math, art, or P.E., but recess. Making your child the coolest kid in the cafeteria is guaranteed to get him/her excited to go to school. You can achieve this by planning your child’s meals with them. Make their food look and taste good, and they’ll be very excited to walk out the door in the morning.

Designate A Study Nook.

It’s definitely more exciting to do assignments and learn new things when you’ve got a nice place to study in. It works for a lot of people, and it might just work for your child, too! Designate a place in your home as a study nook with colorful school supplies, organizers, and a corkboard or whiteboard where your child can pin up their homework and mementos. Give your kid the opportunity to decorate the study nook and they’ll be more excited to use it.

Display Photos Taken During The School Year.

Don’t forget to display all the photos your kids have taken during the school year! Display them on a Nixplay Frame, which can be easily updated with their latest snaps. Take advantage of our upcoming Back To School Sale and get 25% off selected Nixplay Seed Frames, only from August 12 to 25!

Write Down The Reasons Why School Is Fun.

Sit your children down and have them list everything they love about school: Their friends, their crushes, their favorite teachers, the field trips, their favorite subjects, the beautiful campus, the opportunities to represent their school in competitions. This exercise reframes their mind, allowing them to shift their focus from the things they dread about school, to the things that get them excited about it.

Shop For New Clothes.

One more way to get kids to excited to go to school is to spice up their wardrobe a bit. Be it a new pair of jeans, t-shirts with prints they love, or light-up sneakers, they’ll be eager to parade them in the schoolyard and show them off. It probably is an unconventional way to stay motivated, but it might just work!

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