There are several types of real Christmas trees, all of which are a cheap choice over artificial. The most common types of Christmas trees are the six-foot Scotch pines, which fit nicely into the average home living room.
One type of Christmas tree is the deodora cedar, which has blue-green short needles with pendulous needle tips. Another cedar, the Eastern red, has shiny dark green leaves and gives off a great scent, though it's sticky to the touch and will only last 2-3 weeks. As this tree dries out quickly it is best used in a humid climate.
One of the most popular of Christmas trees in the southeast part of the U.S. is the Leland Cypress, with dark green or gray foliage. Its branches are feathery and its scent is pleasant but light. This tree is ideal in the home of allergen-troubled folks.
The Douglas fir is a popular type of Christmas tree, and easily flocked. It has a great fragrance and lives longer than a lot of other trees. Its leaves are either dark green or blue. Its sister fir, the Fraser, has needles that are flatter and dark green. It holds its needles well and gives off a pleasant aroma. For a more citrus aroma from your Christmas tree you should choose the grand fir, with dark green shiny needles. If you want a more durable tree that can hold your heavy ornaments the noble fir is a great choice. It lives longer and healthier as a Christmas tree and makes an attractive, strong and durable wreath as well.
Pine and spruce are too other commonly used types of Christmas trees. The pine has a great fragrance. The spruce however, dries quickly and its needles drop rapidly.
About The Author:
Nancy Fitzgerald makes it quick and easy to find the best aluminum Christmas trees. Read expert information here.
Boost Your Child's Vision
Vision problems often run in families, but there are some factors that you can control in your child's environment to help their eyesight. Try these tips to give your child's vision a better chance.
Brighten things up.
Unfortunately, your mom was right: reading in dim light can wreak havoc on your eyes. Buy your child a good reading light, or make sure that homework is done in plenty of natural light.
Give them space.
Place a pillow about eight feet away from the TV, and tell your child they have to watch it from that distance. Sitting too close to a television leads to the same focus problems that your child can develop from using computers and video games.
Take breaks.
Experts agree that kids' increased computer use can cause focus problems, particularly the ability to refocus on objects far away. Take note of how much time they spend in front of the computer, and make sure they take a ten-minute break every hour.
Buy shades.
Your child may not need glasses, but it's a good idea to buy them sunglasses. UV exposure can lead to macular degeneration or the early development of cataracts.
Don't skip eye exams.
Children should be screened by an eye doctor or pediatrician between 6 and 12 months, 3 and 3 ½ years, at 5, and then annually after that.
It's not too late for adults to start practicing these techniques, also. Make them a family habit, and you could slow the loss of your vision as you age. It's important to set a good example for your children, too.
This article has been written by Vanessa Pruitt, a mom working at home to promote wellness. To learn more about working from home visit http://www.tricitymoms.com . She is also the owner of two subscription blogs, http://loveworkingfromhome.blogspot.com & http://netmommy.blogspot.com .
Choosing the Right Flooring - Comfort and Styles
Comfort and style is always foremost in our minds when we are considering what type of flooring is best for our homes. Choosing flooring that will not only look attractive to visitors but will also give us the comfort that we desire, with easy cleaning solutions for the family.
Many people are now choosing wood flooring; laminate flooring, oak flooring, and quick-step laminate flooring over carpet for most rooms in their home. With any of these types of solutions, you can accent with area rugs to enhance the beauty of the flooring and of course the room.
Making a decision on which type of flooring is best for your home, you should first look at the room and decide how much traffic the room will have over the course of a day. If you start with your entry, which will be receiving more traffic than the bedrooms, you will want flooring that is easy to care for such as laminate flooring. The best would of course be the quick-step laminate flooring. Laminate flooring can look exactly like wood flooring or even oak flooring without all the care that you need. For high traffic areas, laminate flooring or quick-step laminate flooring would be the best choice.
For other rooms in your home, such as guest bathrooms, guest bedrooms, dens, libraries, or other rooms that are not used as often you can choose from carpet, wood flooring, and oak flooring. These types of flooring if not used as often can be cleaned quickly by just vacuuming or using a dust mop, unless the room has been used recently. Then a thorough cleaning will be necessary.
Wood flooring or oak flooring can add elegance to a dining room but remember, if the family eats in the dining room all the time, you will have to worry about scuff marks on the floor and more clean up. Placing an area rug under the dining room table with save your wood flooring and give you less clean up in the long run.
Most people really enjoy carpet for the bedrooms and for rooms such as the family room. Carpet gives your feet a comfortable and soft cushion for those lazy days around the house and of course, first thing in the morning when you are waking up.
However, style and comfort is in the eye of the beholder and you are the one that will ultimately be enjoying the flooring you choose. Choose which one fits your own style and needs and you will be happy with your choice.
