For many people, Christmas is just never the same without a real Christmas tree, that is, a real tree that has been freshly cut. While many artificial Christmas trees abound both from regular retail stores and online, these trees are made from plastic. So despite the fact that they can look like a real Christmas tree and in some instances, exude the aroma of a real one–it’s still a fake no matter what.

What Happens When You Buy a Real Christmas Tree

The Nature Conservancy Association promotes the practice of having a real, living Christmas tree on an annual basis. And that is because, for every tree that is cut and sold, local farmers plant at least one new tree every year. Just some popular or most recommended tree species are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, and Balsam fir.

Christmas Tree Sales As an Annual Tradition

To support recycling and tree replanting every Christmas, donating to the organisation that supports the annual tradition can be a great help towards keeping that Christmas spirit alive and well for future generations. You have to shop early. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, hundreds of millions of people buy a freshly cut Christmas tree each year. Online, the figure is close to 50,000.

Essential Christmas Tree Steps You Need to Take

You need to get ahead of the pack if you plan on having the best real Christmas tree this year. Traditionally, the weekend after the Thanksgiving holiday is when the buying spree starts. So if you want to avoid the buying stampede, you will want to do your shopping well before that. Buying online in this manner will be the all-important first step.

Having it delivered fresh to your doorstep will be the second important step that will ensure a really memorable Christmas celebration. Of course, there’s always an extra fee for doing that. However, the earlier you do it, the less the charge can be. Also, you just never know when insect infestation can occur.

So ordering ahead just cannot be beat. For true-blue Christmas lovers, going to the farm annually to shop for that extra special Christmas tree is the way to go. The heavenly aroma of the tree and being able to avoid the chance of buying the PVC material altogether or even BPA content are enough impetus to welcome a real tree to your home each year.

And remember, the older the plastic Christmas tree gets, the more it sheds its plastic contents. You may never notice these tiny green pieces, but they can find their way on beds and the far reaches of your home carpeting. Having a real Christmas tree for this year will require some homework on your part such as making sure that the base is watered.

A real Christmas tree can consume close to a gallon of tap water a day, so make sure someone in the family takes care of that chore. For best results, alternating family members to the task will be keeping that Yuletide spirit alive. And last but not the least, don’t forget to cut a fresh tree at the bottom by a quarter of an inch before you make it stand. This will ensure that the Christmas tree of your choice takes in all the water that it needs to drink for that longer-lasting fresh look.

Most weddings are split up into individual events that take place over the course of a day. In many cases there will be an initial preparation for the big day, followed by the ceremony and finally – a reception where guests and the happy couple will be able to dine and dance until the event comes to an end. Choosing the right type of music to be played at the reception can make a huge difference to how much fun people have – but what are the best types of music for a wedding reception exactly?

Hiring a Live Band

There’s nothing quite like hiring a band to provide musical entertainment at a wedding – in fact, this is one of the most popular solutions as it can be a good way to customise the experience. Many bands will cover particular tracks and well-known records, while others may bring their own style of music to the event. Before booking a band it’s important to make sure that they understand exactly what it is that’s expected; from the genre of music wanted, right through to the cost.

Using a DJ

As some couples will realise after searching for a while – live bands might not be ideal if they can’t cater to more specific needs, such as certain tracks that they might not be licensed to play. Although these rules are fairly loose in Australia, there are still certain bands that will only provide a list of songs that they can cover – and this is why plenty of people turn to DJs for help instead. Most DJs will have large collections of music that can be played and some will make a point of playing the latest hits, or sourcing tracks that the couple want played (particularly for their first dance).

Turning to Other Platforms

With services like Spotify, it can be easier than ever for a happy couple to customise their own music and then have a dedicated individual take charge of the tracks that are played. Spotify and other similar platforms allow their users to create and customise playlists; making it simple to put an ideal track list together and then have it play throughout the course of a wedding reception. This method can also be a great way to reduce the cost of a wedding by no longer needing a live band or a DJ – making the possibilities far more appealing to those on a budget.

With so many musical options for ceremonies and receptions – you shouldn’t have to spend too much time contemplating the best solution for your needs. Consider your budget and then get in touch with bands for a quote if you’d prefer a live option, a DJ if you want more control over your music, or choose a platform like Spotify if you want to minimise your costs, whilst getting everyone on the dance floor with the latest tracks and hits.

Bicycles have been around for centuries; from the earliest Penny-farthing right through to the most modern hybrid alternative. These useful modes of transport used to be one of the fastest ways to get around, but these days they are enjoyed by fitness enthusiasts, those that are keen to keep their commuting costs as low as possible and general collectors alike.

There are simply so many different types of bike currently on the market that it can be all but impossible to list them all, so instead of attempting such a feat we spoke to David from Reid Cycles to find out some of the most popular variants to help to make your decision when buying a bike a bit easier:

Hybrid Bikes

Hybrid bikes are those that feature factors from at least two specific types; such as off-road bicycles that take on the appearance of a traditional model, or race bikes that offer off-road features. They come in a variety of sizes making them suitable for people of all ages too – and can be pretty fairly priced considering the features that they bring to the table.

Electric Bikes

These types of bikes are considered some of the most expensive, in fact some of the more elaborate models can stretch to several thousand dollars. But for all of their expense they offer some of the most advanced features; including options to ease a journey by powering pedals electronically, or even allowing the bike to be used without pedals over certain distances for as long as the battery lasts.

Vintage Bikes

These bikes weren’t always called vintage; in fact, roughly 100 years ago they were the only styles on the market. These days however, this particular style of bike can be considered vintage; although the materials used in their construction can make them far more reliable and effective whether they are on the road, or using a quiet cycle path.

Mountain Bikes

If you’re into off-road adventures and explorations then a mountain bike may well be the ideal option. Their tyres are designed to treat mud and dirt as if they weren’t an issue and because of their strength, they can withstand even the most punishing rides along the mountains and even through shallow streams.