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Holiday Gift Ideas for First Time Homeowners

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Some people are nearly impossible to shop for, especially those who seem to already have everything they need and want. Fortunately, if you’re shopping for someone who just bought a new home, there is no shortage of great gift ideas, as new home owners generally need a lot of help when it comes to filling their new space. Need some inspiration? Here are some great holiday gift ideas for first time home owners:

Toolbox. Even those men and women who aren’t so handy around the house will find that they have a need for a toolbox when it comes to fixing up the new home. A basic toolbox (hammer, screwdriver, level, wrench, etc.) is invaluable for completing a broad range of tasks around the house, from hanging family photos to installing ceiling fans.

Indoor or outdoor plant. Plants are more than just pretty to look at; they are symbolic of new life and growth. That makes them an ideal gift for first time home owners, who can watch their plants grow just as they watch their new house turn into a home. There are no rules when it comes to purchasing plants, and you have an endless array of options. Just get something you think the homeowners will like (and that they’ll be able to take care of). Plants that make great holiday gifts include poinsettias, Christmas cactus, and holly.

Bath towels. This gift may seem like a yawn to you . . . but to the new home owners, it could be a lifesaver. Bath towels are an oft overlooked item on house stocking lists, which means that many first time homeowners find themselves empty handed when it comes time to step out of the shower. What’s more is that good bath towels can be relatively costly and can last for decades, making them both a practical and luxurious gift for new homeowners.

Home improvement magazine subscription. This is the gift that keeps on giving (well, for a year, at least). New homeowners are likely to be very enthusiastic about making their purchase an ongoing project. You can help provide inspiration and ideas by gifting a subscription for any of a number of home improvement and/or architectural magazines.

Food. With all of the moving and unpacking they must do, new homeowners aren’t likely to be able to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking meals. Cook some casseroles that they can freeze and reheat, or put together a fruit and cheese basket that they can snack from.

Gifts to new home owners should be useful, thoughtful, and well suited to the experience of purchasing a first home. Draw from this list for great gift ideas.

About the Author: Hal Rissman loves showing houses for sale in Louisville KY and the surrounding areas. He is careful to choose a thoughtful housewarming gift for every couple he helps find their first new home!






Shopping for Christmas Gifts-Think Outside the Box

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Choosing the right Christmas gifts for your friends and family members can be very challenging. Usually, if you can’t find the perfect gift that jumps out at you, or if you have that one friend or family member that has everything, you will end up choosing something basic, such as a picture, calendar or mug.

But sometimes, picking a great gift means taking some time and truly thinking about the person and their likes and dislikes, and then think outside the box.

Think of what they like.

Think really hard about the person you’re shopping for, and think about everything that interests them. Do they like animals? Do they like to cook? Do they like amusement parks, or do they love their job? It’s very important to think about these things and try and choose a gift from what you come up with. For example, if they love animals, you could always buy them an animal-themed gift. If they like to cook, get them cooking lessons. There are plenty of great ideas that can stem from thinking about what someone likes.

 

Think about who they are.

It’s a very good idea to also think about the person you’re shopping for and their traits and personality. For example, is the person always complaining about being cold? If so, make the gift humorous and get them a personal space heater or a heated blanket. Is the person always cracking jokes? Then sign them up for improv or an amateur comedy night at a local club. Both of these gifts show that you care and that you pay attention.

Peruse the Internet.

There are tons of retailers online, and by typing in a few basic keywords that resemble the interests or personality of your friend or family member, you may just find the perfect gift. Make sure to also peruse the Shopping section of Google, and always look on more than the first page of the search engine. If you find a great idea, you can also then use the Internet to try and find the best deals for the present.

Think of what they’ve always wanted.

Listen to the dreams, goals and desires that your friends and family members share when you’re with them. If there is something that they’ve always wanted to do or somewhere that they’ve always wanted to visit, center your gift around this. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to visit Italy, you may not be able to afford sending them there, but you can create an Italy-themed gift. Take them out to a nice Italian restaurant, have them serenaded by an Italian musician, and take a quaint boat ride. Though it may not be Italy, it’s the thought that counts.

You can also try to give them a gift by helping them do something they’ve always wanted to do. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to go skydiving, then get a group together and give skydiving as the gift. This is a great way to fulfill a dream of your friend or family member and give them a gift they’ll always truly remember.

Julie Myers works as a freelance writer.  As a devoted mother of four, she is always looking for new and exciting gift giving ideas for Christmas.

Gray Is The Hottest Decorating Trend For 2013

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As the new year approaches, people are looking for a way to update the home. Every year brings new ideas and trendy colors. Here are some great ways to stay on top of design and transform the house for 2013.

Color Palette

The first part of decorating is choosing the right color. Recent seasons have included bright colors as a major trend. 2013 is seeing a departure from bright colors of the past, with the addition of a more sophisticated backdrop of neutral colors. This does not mean that the room must be boring. Decor is being filled with furniture and accessories that are made from great textures, shapes, and finishes. Light or deep blue is being used as an accent color and brown leathers are definitely important. Olive and purple are being infused into rooms as well. Reds are more orange in tone and as previously stated, caramel, cream, and gray are very popular.

Gray is one of the most used colors for 2013. It is beautiful when blended with gemstone colors like deep purple or green. It also looks nice with yellows and oranges.

Choosing the right tone of gray is important as well. Some grays are muddy which will detract from the room. A clear gray will appear fresh and crisp, especially when used with a pure white. Many major catalog brands are filling pages with grays. Gray paint, accessories, furniture, and stained woods are everywhere. Gray has the power to add class and elegance to a space while keeping it contemporary as well.

Decorating Ideas For 2013

When a person does not want gray as the major color idea, it can be used in small accents in the decor. Most homes are leaning in a warmer direction. People are also searching for quality products. As budgets become tighter and tighter, homeowners are looking to purchase furniture and household items that will be durable and last a long time. Even though this may cost more money up front, it will be worth it in the long term.

Many homes are becoming smaller sized without an aspect of comfort. Using soft colors and textures will make the home seem homey and welcoming. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to keep the floor plan open and flowing. Neutral colors along with natural accents are popular for 2013. More and more homes are exposing stone accents and open ceiling beams. Marble counter tops have continued to dominate kitchens as well.

To create a unique atmosphere, people are using special art and antiques throughout the home. Taking advantage of natural materials is also important. A “green” atmosphere can include the use of bamboo instead of hardwoods or plastics.

Decorating Themes

2013 is seeing a variety of decor themes. People may choose a French decor or more earthy ideas. Shells and ocean themes are popular and add a bit of relaxation to the atmosphere. Others install French doors onto patio openings and incorporate floral patterns into the room. This upcoming year, botanicals will be in abundance, since it is a simple means of bringing the outside into the indoors.

Other homes will use a Bohemian theme. This will be popular for the bedroom. Bedding and curtains are two places that designs can reflect the theme. Most patterns will combine two or three different colors. When mixed with neutral walls, the room will appear splashed with color.

Wallpaper is becoming more popular in 2013. Larger prints will keep furniture upholstery much simpler along with bedding or other accessories. Scroll patterns and chevrons are extremely trendy. A clean pattern of a few colors will not overpower the room.

2013 is the year for gray. No matter which room is being decorated, it is important to find something that will be quality made and last a long time. In the end, a timeless and neutral design will be worth the money.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.123rf.com

Jeff has been a blogger and content marketing expert since 2009. He works with real businesses, mostly on improving online visibility and user experience. Also Jeff is marketing consultant for ny homes for sale luxury community.

What to Buy a 7-11 year old Boy for Christmas

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Getting that perfect gift for your friend or loved one becomes more difficult each year. The present you bought last year was perfect – so how can you improve on perfection? Well fear not, there’s so much available this year for kids. T-shirts, toys, books, whatever floats their boat is on the shelf for you to collect so what are you waiting for?

If he fancies himself as a bit of an action man, this novelty Power Popper is perfect. It’s a bit of harmless fun to let off some steam after a long day. Available for under £15, this gift is ideal for a friend who might let you borrow it if you’re lucky! In the past these poppers have been proven to entertain both children and adults alike and can be used both inside and outside making them perfect for an occasion such as Christmas!

Of course he might not be the hands on type. If he’s more a bookworm, perhaps take a look at author Lemony Snicket’s new offering “Who Could That Be At This Hour?” part of his new ‘All the Wrong Questions’ series. Previously, Snicket has delighted young audiences with his ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ novels which proved so popular that the first three were turned into a film, starring Jim Carrey. Snicket enchants readers by speaking to them in a highly understandable manner and not condescending their youth by providing interesting and intriguing stories for those who have grown out of “babyish” stories and comes highly recommended by a generation of readers.

Staying on this tangent, another good idea would be to get the gift that keeps on giving. Boys of this age are often inclined to be huge fans of superheroes and a great way of fuelling this interest is to invest in a comic book subscription. The popularity of monthly comic books is increasing year in year out and it’s never been pimple to set up a simple subscription service for Batman, Superman, Spiderman or whatever tickles their fancy. Companies such as Forbidden Planet offer easy online subscriptions with the option to add or take away comic titles from your subscription plan. Imagine their face every month when they get a fresh, new comic through the post and it’s only cost you around £2 a month to get it sent, hassle free, on your behalf.

If you’re set on buying a present that can be open on the day however, you might want to consider a few other options. Source any gifts sold by their favourite football team, or team from any sport, to get them something you know they’ll really like. A replica shirt, logo emblazoned ball or room decorations make ideal gifts for the sports fanatic! Many clubs now offer ground tours that take you all around the stadium and make special trips into the dressing room and also go pitch side. These tours are reasonably inexpensive considering, and will provide them with a great day out, whilst extending the Christmas period for the lucky person who receives it.

From kids T-shirts to books, there are so many ideas for Christmas gifts this year it’s almost impossible to choose! With so much available, you’re bound to find the right gift for your friend or loved one, it’s just a matter of whittling it down to that perfect one.

Greg O’Hara is a freelance writer and professional blogger based in Bath, UK. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics from lifestyle to family, and has had work published on a number of websites.

How to Select A Drapery Rod System

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Draperies can enhance the look of a room in an amazing manner. The look of draperies depend on a lot of factors like the fabric used to create the drapery, the style selected for the drapery, the hardware on which the drapery is mounted, the position of hanging the draperies and the type of drapery rod system. Drapery rod system is that aspect of a hanging a drapery which determines how the drapery rod will be installed and how the drapery will function. Generally the drapery rod system can be categorized under three types depending on the functionality of the drapery.

Manual rod system – As the name indicates, this style of rod system requires manual effort to function. Draperies hanged from such kinds on rods require manual endeavor to open and shut them close. In this case the draperies can be hanged in a lot of ways. The manual rod system supports rings, tabs and grommets to hang the draperies. The rings, tabs or grommets are attached to the curtain panel and are hanged from the drapery rod. Then they are manually operated to make the window treatment functional.

Traverse rod system – This is a traditional method of hanging the draperies and has been around for a long time. In this system, traverse rods are used in combination with a pulley and carrier system. This pulley and carrier is used to open and close the draperies. The draperies are attached to the back side of the drapery headers with the help of pin hooks which are then introduced into the eyes of the rod carriers. A cord that hangs at the side of the traverse rod is used to operate the pulley and carrier of this rod system. Traverse rods can be of three types, namely – one way traverse rod, two ways traverse rod and double traverse rod. In one way traverse rod the pulley system operates in a singular direction only. In case of two ways traverse rod, the draperies are drawn from the center to the right and left of the traverse rod with the help of two pulleys. This style is also known as center draw or split draw traverse style. In the double traverse rod style, two curtain panels can be accommodated on the same window. It is mainly used for the purpose of decoration.

Stationary rod system – This rod system is static in nature. The draperies are hanged from the rod for the purpose of appearance rather than being functional in nature. The curtains are not shut or open as the curtain panels have a static nature. In this style of rod system one can be experimental and divert from the traditional method of using curtain poles or rods to hang the draperies. Any long and slim but strong item like a metal stick, etc. can be used to hang the curtains. As the rod system is static in nature, the only thing to be kept in mind is whether the drapery can be hanged from the alternative item using hooks, rings, etc. or not.

Adam is a passionate writer and currently writing for Buycurtainrod, the best place to buy curtain rod hardware.

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