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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.

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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.

I could be sleeping better

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I’ve been more tired than usual lately. Perhaps it’s because of all the late hours I’ve been pulling staying up studying for exams … but I’ve noticed that I just don’t sleep as much or as deeply lately.

I wake up at night and try to get comfortable, fluff up my pillow and change positions. I’ve even gone out shopping for new pillows. I purchased a couple of firm pillows to see if that would help. My old pillow used to be quite firm but it was getting softer and losing it’s shape so I thought that might have been part of the problem but the firmer pillows don’t seem to be helping. Perhaps a neck pillow or even a new mattress might help.

I know one thing that really might help … if I get more active during the day. I’ve been less active in the last couple of months because of all the studying I’ve been doing. So .. I plan on starting to take the dog out for long long walks again beginning this week. She definitely needs the walks and I could use them too. The walks will be good for me physically and I’m sure they will help me sleep wise too.

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.






Karaoke neighbors – again!!!!

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Oh my gosh … what is it with the house next door? I don’t know why but it doesn’t seem to matter who lives next to us but eventually they seem to get a karaoke machine at some point.

Oh and once they do they set it up in the living room so that the speakers are facing our living room so that we can hear them sing all of their songs endlessly over and over again – usually badly … for hours and sometimes days on end.

Oh boy … and the holidays are just starting .. if they just set up the machine that means that they are testing it for when they have guests next weekend and perhaps the weekend after next … AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I’m still not sure what I’m doing this weekend or for Christmas. In light of our neighbors new Karaoke machine … hmm I think I’d better make sure I’m away from home. I think it’s going to be noisy around here. My poor dog. She hates the singing that comes through the walls! You’d think our walls that are over two feet thick would block the sound but it doesn’t.

So many houses for sale in my neighborhood!

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It seems that the real estate market here in Toronto is booming. I keep hearing on the news all the doom and gloom predictions about how the real estate market is set to crash here in Canada, but it seems that each year the price of houses just goes up higher and higher and the demand for them is not going down. Not at all.

I mean .. usually by this time of year – almost mid- December, house sales in the city are down. I’m not in real estate but just going by what I see on the news and what I see either driving around the city or walking around the neighborhood most years it seems house and condo sales do best from Spring through to late summer. I imagine it was the same this year, but oddly enough this month I’m seeing more and more signs, even in my own neighborhood, for homes going up for sale and the houses are selling very quickly.

This seems odd for this time of year. I’m seeing signs from all the big popular companies like Royal Lepage, ReMax, Century21 and then a few I haven’t really heard of before like Levein Team real estate which must be smaller firms.

Just down the street from me there are three houses in a row up for sale and I’m sure they’ll all be sold within a week or two even though we’re in the midst of the holiday season!

Don’t you think this is strange?

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