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10 Ways to Prepare for Christmas AND Become the Best Gifter:

Give Digital Photo Frames for A Personal Touch

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a season of joy, celebration and quality time with loved ones. Preparing for this magical holiday is part of what makes it so special. Careful planning goes into making the holidays special and thoughtful organization with a touch of creativity can go a long way. Whether you’re a seasoned holiday planner or a first-time host, this blog will help you navigate the process of preparing for Christmas with ease and enthusiasm.

Create a Checklist

At the risk of being obvious, the most important thing to start with is a checklist. Outlining the tasks and responsibilities ahead is half the battle, and getting everything on paper will provide clear direction in the days to come. Divide your list into categories like decorations, gifts, food and events. This visual aid will keep you on track and prevent any forgetfulness that is likely to occur during this busy time.

Decorate Your Home

The first step (after the all-important checklist) in creating a festive Christmas atmosphere is to decorate your home! Start by setting up the tree, hanging ornaments, displaying lights and putting up garlands. This alone will give your home a cozy holiday feel, but you don’t have to stop there. Consider adding wreaths to doors and windows, placing candles throughout the house, potting poinsettias or adding other seasonal decor.

If you have a Nixplay digital photo frame , you can even add festive photos from holidays past or Christmas graphics to a seasonal playlist.

Plan Your Menu

If you’re hosting Christmas dinner or a holiday party, having a plan for food is essential. Decide on the main dishes, sides and desserts before creating your shopping list. Once that’s done, you can make a cooking schedule so your dishes will be timed perfectly and you can avoid any last-minute chaos. Don’t forget to ask your guests about any dietary restrictions they may have before starting.

Gift Shopping (for Digital Photo Frames)

If you haven’t finished your gift shopping yet, now is the time to do it. First, make a list of all the people you want to buy for and a few things they might be interested in receiving. Avoid crowds by shopping online, and make it more thoughtful by getting something that you can personalize. A great way to check both of those boxes is with a Nixplay digital frame. Digital photo frames are thoughtful, easy to use for all ages, and convenient to shop for online.

Wrapping & Prepping Presents (and your Digital Photo Frame)

Once you’ve purchased your gifts, set aside some time for wrapping and prepping. With Nixplay, you can even preload the digital photo frame to make the gift that much more thoughtful and personal. We’ve included some unique ideas for preloading your frame in this blog to get you started if you’re feeling stuck.

Ideas for Preloading A Digital Photo Frame Gift:

Personalized Digital Photo Frame

Start your digital photo frame preloading with the gift of personalized memories. Create a unique digital photo frame that showcases a collection of special moments with the loved one you’ll be giving it to. Whether it’s family vacations, weddings, or the first day of school, you can curate a digital slideshow that tells a beautiful story. Choose a frame that complements your recipient’s decor for a gift that truly resonates.

Family Time Capsule Digital Photo Frame

For many, Christmas means precious time spent with family. Encourage your loved ones to relive their favorite moments by gifting them a family time capsule digital photo frame. Collect photos and videos from previous Christmases, milestones, and celebrations. Create a slideshow that encapsulates the essence of your family’s journey and showcase it in a timeless frame. Watching these cherished memories year after year will become a beloved holiday tradition.

Digital Photo Frame Of Recipes

For the food enthusiasts in your life, consider a digital photo frame turned recipe book. Collect family recipes, heirloom cooking secrets, and seasonal classics. Compile them into a digital cookbook, complete with mouthwatering food photos. With this gift, your loved ones can easily access their favorite recipes and culinary inspiration for the holiday season and beyond.

Pet Lover’s Digital Photo Frame

Pets are cherished members of many families, and their antics make for heartwarming memories. For the pet lovers in your life, gift a digital photo frame that captures the essence of their furry friends. Create a slideshow filled with adorable pet photos, funny moments, and heartwarming interactions. This gift will undoubtedly bring a smile to their face.

Make Travel Arrangements OR Prepare for Guests

If you’ll be traveling for Christmas, be sure to book your flights or accommodations! The sooner the better to make sure you secure availability and affordability. Check your travel itinerary, make a packing list, and ensure your travel documents are up to date.

If you’ll be hosting overnight guests, make their stay comfortable and welcoming. Prepare a guest room with clean linens, extra blankets, and toiletries. Consider creating a festive basket of treats and essentials as a special touch.

Finalize Your Schedule

As Christmas approaches, finalize your schedule to ensure that all your preparations are on track. Revisit your checklist, complete any remaining tasks, and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of your decorated home.

Conclusion

Preparing for Christmas can be a joyful and fulfilling experience if you approach it with careful planning and a loving heart. By setting a budget, creating a checklist, and tackling tasks systematically, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable holiday season for yourself and your loved ones. Remember, the true magic of Christmas lies in the warmth of your heart and the love you share with those around you. So, embrace the spirit of the season, spread joy, and create lasting memories that will bring you happiness for years to come. And don’t forget to take a few photos and videos to cherish in your digital photo frame!

Nixplay’s Christmas Gift Guide | Nixplay

Christmas Activity Ideas: Celebrate the Season with Your Digital Photo Frame

By Nixplay Team

On November 30, 2023

In Christmas Holiday, Holidays

Christmas is a joyful time for creating cherished memories with loved ones. It’s a time to celebrate family, friends, and even strangers. There are a plethora of activities that go into making this holiday season special, and in this blog we will give you tons of creative ideas and activities to truly get in the spirit. At the center of it all will be your digital photo frame, because the best way to keep these special holiday moments alive well past the Christmas season is by documenting and cherishing them. Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends, or even strangers, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

Decorate Your Digital Photo Frame

Before you dive into the holiday activities, you can set the tone for the season by giving your digital photo frame a festive makeover. Create custom digital slideshows with holiday-themed images and messages. Include pictures from past holiday celebrations and family portraits. You can even update this playlist throughout your holiday preparations with snapshots of this year’s activities. Make your frame a part of your holiday decor and use it as a guide to remember the most important parts of this season — cherished time with loved ones.

Scavenger Hunt: Christmas and Digital Photo Frame Edition

Another way to incorporate your digital photo frame into your holiday activities is by organizing a Christmas scavenger hunt. You can display the list of objectives on the digital frame so everyone can easily see the list they need to complete. Get the whole family involved and use your digital photo frame to display photos from the hunt itself. You can even make taking photos a required part of the list, and enjoy the display on your digital photo frame for the entire holiday season.

Virtual Christmas Cards on Your Digital Photo Frame

Sending Christmas cards is still a beloved tradition, but sometimes it’s hard to get the physical copies in the mail. Instead, create a virtual Christmas card for you and your friends to display in a digital photo frame. This way, you can share this virtual card with friends and family near and far, spreading the holiday cheer with a personalized touch.

Plus, if you’re running out of room on the fridge for all the physical cards you’ve gotten and looking for a creative new way to display them, we’ve got you covered! Just take photos or scans of the Christmas cards you receive and put them in a playlist for your digital photo frame. That way, you can keep these treasured cards on display without taking up too much space.

Digital Photo Frame Recipe Swap

During holiday celebrations, food brings everyone together. Host a recipe swap where each person shares their favorite dish and a digital copy of the recipe.You can create a shared playlist for the recipes and display them on your digital photo frame throughout the evening. Plus, you can take photos of the evening and add those to the shared playlist as well. Anyone who has a Nixplay account can add their photos to the mix and enjoy the playlist – and delicious recipes – when they return home.

DIY Ornament Crafting + Digital Photo Frame Displays

Unleash your creativity with a festive DIY ornament crafting session! You can even create an ornament inspiration playlist on your digital photo frame to get the ideas flowing. Include friends and family, and after creating your ornaments, capture their (and their creator’s) beauty with photos. Add the pictures to your digital photo frame as a lasting memory of the day (and share the playlist with loved ones who have a frame as well)!

Tree Decorating Contest (Make a Digital Photo Frame Playlist)

Compete with your friends or family in a Christmas tree decorating contest. After the trees are decorated, capture their magic with photos and display the images on your digital photo frame for everyone to admire. You could even create a shared playlist for the occasion, so everyone can upload and update photos of their tree for everyone to see. You could even include the judgment criteria in the playlist and hold a vote after everyone is finished decorating. Decide on a prize for the winner — maybe a digital photo frame of their own!

The magic of Christmas lies in the moments we create with our loved ones. With the help of a digital photo frame, you can make this holiday season even more special. From decorating your frame to enjoying festive activities, the possibilities are endless. Embrace the spirit of Christmas by sharing laughter, joy, and precious memories that you can revisit year after year. So, fire up your digital photo frame, get into the holiday spirit, and make this Christmas unforgettable.

Frame Your Thankfulness: The Art of Practicing Gratitude with Digital Photo Frames

By Nixplay Team

On October 30, 2023

In Thanks Giving

In our modern, fast-paced environment, practicing gratitude can be a transformative practice. It helps us appreciate the beauty in everyday moments, fostering a positive outlook and improving our overall well-being. It keeps us from getting too caught up in the trials of our everyday, busy lives and can make us happier people.

So we know it’s important, but how do we routinely bring gratitude into our daily lives when we are already so busy? One innovative and easy way to infuse your life with thankfulness is through the use of digital photo frames. These versatile devices not only bring memories to life but can also serve as a powerful tool for practicing gratitude. In this article, we’ll explore five ways to “Frame Your Thankfulness” using digital photo frames.

1) Using Digital Photo Frames to Experience Gratitude for Memories

Digital photo frames are a modern-day gallery for preserving and displaying cherished memories. Our smartphones store thousands of photos, but digital frames help us curate a selection of meaningful snapshots. This curation process, in itself, is an excellent way to practice gratitude. After getting a digital photo frame of your own, you can go through and choose images that capture special moments, loved ones, and experiences that have enriched your life. Every time you glance at your digital frame, you’re reminded of these blessings, fostering an attitude of gratitude.

From family gatherings to picturesque vacations, digital photo frames provide an ever-changing display of your life’s best moments. Don’t think of this as just a highlight reel, but as a routine way to relive these moments and continuously remind yourself of the joy they’ve brought. Treat your frame as a gallery of gratitude, displaying the moments you are most thankful for on a loop.

2) Expressing Thanks to Loved Ones Through Digital Photo Frames

Beyond personal reminders of gratitude, digital photo frames offer a unique opportunity to express your appreciation to loved ones. Whether it’s a gift for a friend, family member, or partner, loading a digital frame with photos that hold sentimental value can be an extremely thoughtful and heartfelt gesture.

With Nixplay digital photo frames, you can even go a step further by creating dedicated playlists that reflect your gratitude. For instance, a slideshow of cherished family photos to celebrate your parents on their anniversary, or a collection of adventures to honor a friend’s birthday can be preloaded onto a gifted frame. These personalized gifts not only convey your thankfulness but also provide a lasting source of joy for the recipients.

3) Daily Gratitude Reminders With Digital Photo Frames

Practicing gratitude is not limited to annual Thanksgiving or other holiday celebrations; it can and should be a year-round practice. Incorporating digital photo frames into your daily routine can be a helpful and constant reminder to express gratitude. Try placing one in a prominent location in your home, such as the living room or your bedside table. Each time you pass by, you’ll be greeted with images that prompt gratitude. It could be a picture of your loved ones, your pets, a breathtaking sunset, or a simple moment of laughter.

Customize your digital frame and update playlists with new photos regularly. This ensures that your gratitude reminders remain fresh and impactful. When you wake up and see your frame, or as you wind down for the night, these visual cues can bring a sense of serenity and thankfulness to your day.

4) Cultivate Gratitude Through Art (in Digital Photo Frames)

In addition to showcasing personal photographs that bring you joy and feelings of gratitude, you can also load your digital photo frames with your favorite art. Search for or create art that inspires gratitude, such as inspirational quotes, nature scenes, or illustrations that evoke a sense of appreciation.

Curate a collection of this gratitude-themed artwork (or just artwork you are grateful exists) and rotate these images on your digital frame. This approach turns your frame into a gratitude vision board. The combination of visually stimulating art and inspiring messages can serve as a daily practice of reflection and thankfulness. Plus, beautiful art is a great way to elevate your home decor.

5) Sharing Gratitude with the Community Through Digital Photo Frames

Finally, you don’t have to keep your gratitude practice centered around digital photo frames to yourself. Try sharing it with others! Many people are using digital frames as a means of sharing their thankfulness and positivity with loved ones and their wider community. By displaying gratitude-inspired content or collaborative art projects on digital frames in public spaces (maybe on your desk at work) you can uplift those around you.

A Final Word On Cultivating Gratitude with Digital Photo Frames

In a world that sometimes seems dominated by negative news and stress, the art of practicing gratitude is more crucial than ever. Digital photo frames provide a creative and versatile platform for incorporating thankfulness into your life. They preserve memories, offer heartfelt gift options, provide daily reminders of gratitude, allow for artful expressions, and facilitate community connections. So, let’s frame our thankfulness, one image at a time, and cultivate a happier, more appreciative way of living.

If you’re looking to get ahead on your holiday gifting or ready to start your daily gratitude journey, Nixplay has a variety of digital photo frames available here.

How to Look Photo-Ready for St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond

By Seth McKinley

On March 16, 2020

In Holidays

Looking picture-perfect is a goal many strive for. This is especially true on holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, where office parties and parades are abundant and pictures are captured to commemorate the events. If you’re worried about your celebrations not being photogenic enough, now is the perfect time to set yourself up for success on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond. Make sure you’re photo-ready for whatever event is thrown your way with these tips and tricks!

Let your outfit take center stage in photos

You wouldn’t want to look back on your photos from St. Patrick’s Day and only be able to notice that ketchup stain on your shirt. You will want to make sure your outfit is picked out and planned beforehand to avoid having to rush while getting ready. You also will want to make sure the outfit blends in at whatever activity you’re going to. You don’t want to be the only one dressed up as a leprechaun at your office party, nor would you like to be the only one not wearing green to the bar. Ask around and see if what your co-workers or friends are wearing aligns with your planned outfit for the day.

This advice actually goes beyond just St. Patrick’s Day. Make sure to plan your outfit accordingly for all the events and parties you attend. Just like wearing a color other than green on St. Patrick’s Day, you do not want to be the only one besides the bride wearing white to your friend’s wedding.

Picking out the outfit beforehand will not only save you some time getting ready on the day of the event, but it will also give you some peace of mind that what you’re wearing will be appropriate for the big day. This will let you focus on socializing with friends or co-workers, and not on your shirt being inside out. It will also help you show off your confidence in photos!

Strike a pose

It’s normal to feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, especially when you’re lacking in confidence. Try planning out what pictures you want to snap for the night and how to best pose for them! For group photos, try thinking about where you’ll want to position yourself. You don’t want to be the shortest of the group and get stuck behind your tallest friend at the last second. Being prepared for whatever picture may be captured can also help give you a confidence boost. Plus, a great pose can highlight your body’s best features and minimize the parts you aren’t too confident about.

It’s important that you do some research beforehand (even if your ‘research’ is just practicing poses in the mirror) to see what feels most natural and shows off your figure in the best light. Check out some of these tips to see how you should be posing for pictures!

Get a good night’s sleep and show off your energetic side

Once again, you wouldn’t want to look back on your pictures and only be able to focus on the dark circles under your eyes. Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night to feel their best. This is especially important on days like St. Patrick’s Day, when bar hopping and staying out late is common for many. Make sure you’re getting in enough z’s before any big event to ensure you’re looking well-rested in photos!

Getting a good night’s rest before an eventful day like St. Patrick’s Day will be a life-saver, and this will show in the pictures you capture too.

Make sure your skin is glowing and photo-ready

While most photos won’t show every blemish and imperfection on your skin, making sure you’ve maintained a consistent skincare routine will help your skin have a youthful and glowing appearance in photos. The first step to achieving this is to know your skin type. If you have oily and acne-prone skin, a heavy moisturizer may not be the best idea. Do some digging to find out what type of products work best with your skin type. If you’re not exactly sure what category you fit into, be sure to check out this guide.

Next, you’ll want to find the best products for you. Pay attention to how your skin reacts to certain products and watch out for signs of irritation such as bumps or rashes. What may seem like a good product may actually leave your skin looking red and irritated in pictures with friends.

Men should also mind their skincare. If your skin is on the sensitive side, make sure to grab a skin-protecting shaving kit that will give you a clean shave without razor bumps and cuts. This will help you look and feel your best when the camera flash goes off!

Show off your smile

Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to make sure your teeth are taken care of before the big day. Often, the first thing anyone notices in a picture is their smile. The last thing you would want to notice after the camera flashes is a piece of food stuck in your teeth. Make sure your teeth are brushed and flossed just before you leave for your big plans so you can show off that smile. Whitening your teeth doesn’t have to be expensive and time-consuming! If you really want to go the extra mile and achieve a whiter smile, there are lots of simple home remedies that will do the trick. It’s never a bad thing to have the brightest and biggest smile in the room when you ‘say cheese’ before the picture is snapped.

Once the photos are taken and St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, make sure you can always look back on them with a Nixplay digital frame. Thinking back on those memories with a smile will be the icing on the cake! We hope these tips will help you prepare for your St. Patrick’s Day parties and beyond!

Unique Family Christmas Card Ideas

By Alice Murray

On December 5, 2019

In Holidays

Sick of the same old Christmas photo ideas? Need some fresh inspiration on how to make a fun holiday card to send out to family and friends? This year, getting in the holiday spirit is especially important. So check out our list of Christmas card ideas for some festive inspiration and spread the holiday cheer with a unique family Christmas card.

Family Christmas Photo Ideas

Need some festive inspiration for your family Christmas card ideas this year? Check out some of our unique holiday card ideas to help you take a family Christmas photo to remember:

The festive fireplace

Let’s start with a traditional Christmas card idea. Set yourselves up in front of a cozy fireplace adorned with your family’s holiday stockings, or settle down by the Christmas tree surrounded by wrapped presents for the ultimate festive backdrop.

Santa’s little helper

Got a newborn baby or toddler? For a homemade solution without the cost of a professional studio and photographer, take a roll of your favorite gift wrap and tape some to the wall and along the floor as a festive backdrop. Et voila! You have your own mini studio for your little one. This trick also works well with your furry friends—just mind their claws on the gift wrap!

You could even go one step further and pose your little one in a stocking—try positioning them on the floor, propped up with festive pillows if they need support.

Family fun

Set up your camera on self timer to capture you and your family as you decorate the tree. For a truly festive family Christmas photo, photograph the youngest of your clan being lifted to the top of the tree to add the Christmas topper. Candid, natural moments usually make for the best photos, and this one’s no exception.

Seasonal skating

How are you on a pair of ice skates? For this unique family Christmas card idea, head to your local ice rink to capture some great shots.

Top tip: Make sure you go when it’s not too busy so you can have a nice clean background for your pictures!

Festive baking

What’s better than Christmas family picture ideas that involve tasty treats? Get the family baking a batch of delicious chocolate chip cookies or gingerbread men whilst someone stands by and photographs the process. It might get a little messy, but it’ll be worth it

Santa’s grotto

Make a den in the living room using bedsheets and blankets. Liven it up with your favorite Christmas decorations and LOTS of fairy lights – a cozy, festive backdrop for a lovely family Christmas photo!

Christmas tree forest

Got a toddler? Head to the local tree farm with your camera and let them wander around. There will be plenty of precious moments to capture as they venture through the trees.

Top tip: Time it right and catch the golden hour light just before sunset for a beautifully lit family Christmas photo.

Letter to Santa

Have your kids write a letter to Santa and snap a shot of them writing and reading it before they send it off. It’ll allow them to practice their spelling and writing skills, and offer a selection of great Christmas card photo ideas.

DIY festive photo effects

Grab your favorite Christmas wreath and pull it up to the camera lens to add a festive frame to your family Christmas photo. This idea will work with a ring of fairy lights too.

And whatever you do, don’t forget to include the family pet—because Santa Paws is coming to town too!

Christmas Card Ideas and Props

But wait… there’s more! If you can’t play around with the backdrop, another way to add a festive touch to your family Christmas photos is to use props. To complement our Christmas family picture ideas, we suggest:

Fairy lights. Obviously! The perfect addition to any family Christmas photo shoot. Whether you opt for yellow, white, or colored lights, they add a great ambiance and effect to any festive photo.
Christmas jumpers. For simple yet effective family Christmas photo ideas. And if you want to go a little bit further, get everyone to wear matching holiday jumpers.
ALL the Christmas decorations. From baubles and ornaments to tinsel and garlands, feel free to go all out! Go one step further and get personalized stockings and decorations to add a homely touch to your unique family Christmas card ideas. You can even use candy canes to decorate–just make sure they’re in mint condition first.
Christmas presents. If you’re taking these pictures well in advance for the Christmas cards you’ll send out, you may not have your gifts all sorted yet. Create faux presents by wrapping up any spare packing boxes or shoeboxes and finish them off with ribbons and labels.

Unique Family Christmas Card Ideas for your Nixplay Frame

Go the extra mile and record a live family Christmas card for your family. Whether you put together a compilation of festive messages from family members all over, or you all get together to film a message as a group, a digital Christmas card like this is bound to impress. And if your family members own a Nixplay Smart Frame, you can send the homemade clip straight to them using Wi-Fi technology! It’s the best way to stay close to your loved ones this holiday season.

Show off your Family Christmas Photos with a Nixplay Frame

While your family members and friends can hang up your cards or display them on the mantelpiece, you’ll probably come across a few photos that you’ll want to keep for yourself. Using a Nixplay digital photo frame, you can display all of your family Christmas photos in one place with ease. Let it stand out and mount it on the wall so everyone can see your snaps, or stand it above the fireplace as a feature piece. The Hu-Motion sensor will pick up when someone is walking by, turning your Smart Frame on and off automatically. And you can control everything from the comfort of your own phone with the Nixplay App. Browse the range online today and stay close this Christmas.

Happy holidays, from Nixplay.