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Get Ready for White Elephant Parties This Season During the holiday season, it is commonplace to receive some excess and some, frankly, unique gifts.  Trying to decide what to do with some gifts that are not necessarily useful?  Try regifting these presents, a way to recycle presents and give them to someone else. What is regifting? Essentially, regifting is the process of giving a received gift to someone else.  This is also occasionally called "recycling a gift." In America, an unofficial holiday "National Regifting Day," takes place the week prior to the Christmas holiday. What about etiquette?  Is it polite or appropriate to regift? Ultimately, this is up to personal preferences.  Some individuals may feel uncomfortable regifting or recycling gifts received during the holiday season.  Others may feel this is a great way to give more gifts during the holiday season. What are some regifting do's and don'ts? Below, the Grady's GreenLiving Tips team comp...

Think Before Letting Balloons Go After holiday celebrations, birthdays, or other special events, hosts and attendees may be left with a multitude of balloons.  While some may take the balloons home, others may think it is a good idea to let balloons "go" to float upwards into the sky. While this may seem like a nostalgic and harmless pastime, letting balloons float upwards can have devastating consequences for the environment.  Below, Grady's GreenLiving Tips details three of these negative environmental impacts: Animals Can Get Sick or Hurt From Balloons  After balloons float upwards, the balloons eventually sink downwards and land in a different place.  Once this happens, birds, fish, and other animals can mistake the deflated balloons as food.  This can, obviously, cause serious detriments for the impacted animal.  Animals can choke on the balloon.  In addition, balloon strings can entangle birds, turtles, and other animals which can limit or totall...

#BeRecycled for a Green End to the 2018 Year Recycling is an easy and efficient way to live a green life.  Sorting recyclables, such as plastic soda bottles, aluminum cans, and newspaper, from waste, re-using products, and re-purposing goods and supplies are all ways to recycle that will have a positive impact on the environment.   Thursday, November 15, is America Recycles Day , an annual, green, holiday that celebrates the positive impact of recycling.  Three ways to celebrate America Recycles Day include: Take the #BeRecycled Pledge : Located on the official America Recycles Day website, the digital pledge allows people to commit to recycling and even narrow down on a particular product or products to recycle more of throughout the year.  Signing the online pledge also allows individuals to opt in to receiving recycling tips via email. Attend a Recycling Event : Multiple recycling and GreenLiving themed events are taking place this week in honor of America R...

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our  website  or  Facebook  page.

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our  website  or  Facebook  page.

Transform Books Into Decor, Art, Projects, and More With the fall season beginning in just a few days, it is time to plan for seasonal activities and events!  Trips to pumpkin patches and haunted houses are always fun, but some days, it is just as enticing to curl up at home with a good book.   For voracious readers, with stacks of novels at home, it may be a good time to comb through bookshelves and decide if any books are no longer needed.  Instead of throwing unused and unwanted books away, books can be "upcycled" and/ or re-purposed in creative, and green, ways.  Learn some methods for "recycling" books here: 1. Donate books to a new home : A great way to "recycle" old books is to donate them!  Many organizations, like non profit organizations/ charities, accept gently used books.  In addition, local libraries often accept book donations.  In the Montgomery County Public Library system, many branches accept book donations.  Learn more abo...

What to Know Before Adopting a Cat or Dog Thinking about pet adoption?  Adopting a dog, cat, or other pet is a great way to live a green life.  Many pets need a new home with loving owners, and adopting an animal is a fantastic, and green, alternative to buying a pet from a pet store. Pet adoption is a big undertaking, and it is important to understand all involved before beginning the adoption process.  It would be a sad day for both owner and pet if the adopted dog or cat is returned to the shelter.  That being said, before pet adoption, be sure to consider the following GreenLiving truths: 1) What type of pet is best for you?   Before adopting a pet, it is necessary to first determine what pet to adopt.  Cats and dogs can have different personalities and can fit into different lifestyles.  Dogs need to be walked and groomed more frequently than cats.  Cats can be more self sufficient, as they groom themselves and can use a litter box.  2) ...

During the remaining weeks of summer, many people are planning trips and excursions while the weather is still warm.  After spending time outdoors, remember to check for lingering insects and insect bites.  It is important to be precautions of bites because while some insects, such as ticks, can spread disease.  Insect repellent is a proven method to reduce the amount of bug and insect bites.  In addition to repellent, the following three methods are eco-friendly ways to limit painful and harmful insect bites: 1) Remember clothing options : When spending time outside in the woods for a camping trip, it is important to pack and wear long pants and shirts.  Though it is summertime, it is hard to receive ticks and other insect bites when wearing layers of clothes that protect the skin.  After these trips, it is important to wash any clothes worn because insects may be hiding on the fabric. 2) Consider the path : Walking through tall grass and overgrown shrubbe...

How to Limit Plastic Waste and Pollution Think about the amount of plastic used every day.  Grabbing a coffee in the morning and using a straw to stir in cream and sugar.  Enjoying an ice cold water after a work out by using a disposable plastic cup.  Grocery shopping and using the plastic grocery bags to carry purchases home.  Many people use at least one plastic item every day.  But, even though many plastics can be recycled, oftentimes plastic products are disposed of improperly and can create devastating repercussions in the environment.  Plastic bags and straws can harm fish and other animals and destroy marine ecosystems. It is easy to limit, and even eliminate, the need to use so many one use plastic products.  Learn how in the latest GreenLiving tips blog: It is first important to identify the type of plastics that can be easily limited during daily routines.  One use plastics are plastic products that are designed to be disposed of after...

Three Easy Steps to Care for Damaged Plants With the weather getting warmer and the sun out for longer each day, it is now more important to make sure indoor and outdoor plants are getting the correct amount of sunlight.  Light exposure is a key component to plant health.  While sunlight helps plants grow, too much sun can be harmful for flowers and plants.  In particular, an over exposure to sunlight can cause leaf scorch.  Learn more about leaf scorch here: What is leaf scorch? Leaf scorch, also called sun scorch, is when plants and flowers receive too much sunlight or exposure to dry, rough temperatures and/ or climates.  In these situations, water evaporates more rapidly from plant leafs than usual, which causes the plant to become extremely dry.  Leaf scorch can happen during any time of the year, but occurs most often in the summer time. How is it possible to diagnose leaf scorch in plants? If plants are displaying leafs that are yellowing or browning...

Easy Eco-Friendly Tips for an Office Space Grady's GreenLiving Tips often focuses on ways people and their family members and friends can practice eco-friendly tips and advice inside the home.  For example, green ways to clean kitchen counters or ways to reduce food waste at birthday parties or large family gatherings.  This week, learn five greenliving tips that can benefit an office space: 1) Recycle when possible : Recycling is an easy way to live a green life.  Remember to practice recycling even in an office setting.  Instead of throwing away old papers and folders, these materials can easily be recycled. 2) Reduce the use of plastic cups :  Visiting the office water cooler several times a day?  Using multiple plastic or paper cups, or other one-use products like plastic cutlery, is wasteful and can eventually damage the environment.  Try to reuse the same cup throughout the day.  An even better option is to bring a water bottle or mug from h...

Olive Oil as a Natural Moisturizer Last year, Grady's GreenLiving Tips posted about creative, DIY, ways to use olive oil.  This post was so popular, the Grady's GreenLiving Tips team wanted to share it again!  Olive oil is commonly found in the home and has numerous moisturizing and cleaning qualities.  Several ways to use olive oil include: 1) Applying to hair and skin : Olive oil can be very useful in cold or windy weather because it restores a lot of natural moisture.  Try using olive oil as a pre-shampoo treatment for hair, in the bathtub, or even on cuticles to make the skin softer. 2) Utilizing around the house : Olive oil is a natural and easy way to shine shoes when in a rush.  Dab a little olive oil on a clean cloth and rub on to shoes to restore a shine.  Olive oil can also fix noisy hinges on doors using the same method. 3) Finding other methods : Some uses for olive oil can be unexpected.  Did you know that olive oil is a good paint remove...

Meal Prep Reduces Food Waste An easy way to live and promote a green lifestyle is by reducing food waste.  Food waste can occur due to several circumstances.  First, food waste can result from food not being stored correctly and, as a result, spoiling.  In addition, food waste can result from people over-buying food and/ or over-preparing food for events and having an excess that is thrown in the garbage.  Food waste is very easy avoid, however. One solution to food waste is to meal prep in order to plan and schedule out meals for an entire week.  This will save resources and ensure all food is consumed and stored properly.  Three green tips for meal prep are: 1) Plan out recipes in advance : The first step of meal prep is to plan out recipes for the week (or any set amount of time).  This is a great way to reduce food waste because grocery shopping will become more organized and streamlined: no excess ingredients are needed for set recipes.  Try ...

These Symbols Are Used to Organize Plastic Materials Plastic containers often feature a recycling symbol on the back or bottom of the product with a number in the middle.  But what do these symbols mean?  Read this numeric guide to learn more. If the container has the following number, it means: #1 - This plastic is the most common plastic found in recycling bins.  Typically, this plastic product is found in soda and water bottle and food containers. #2 - Known for not being transparent, this plastic is typically found in products such as household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, and detergent bottles. #3 - This plastic makes up pipes, food wrap and containers, and more.  This plastic is not recyclable. #4 - Found in shopping bags, food wrap and packaging, and fabric materials.  Oftentimes, these plastic materials are not accepted into recycling bins but these products can be recycled if taken to an appropriate recycling plant. #5 - This plastic makes up medic...

Picture a typical morning routine in the wintertime: waking up and setting the thermostat to combat the cold, taking an extra-long hot shower, and, finally, stepping outside and cleaning the car to commute to work.  Sound familiar?  Remember, the winter is a great time to practice some GreenLiving tips and add eco-friendly practices into the regular routine. Grady's GreenLiving Tips compiled a list of three, easy, strategies to be eco-friendly this winter season: 1. Beat the cold : In the cold weather, it can be very tempting to blast the heat once indoors.  It can also be tempting to take long shows or baths after walking outside or spending time outdoors.  While these are all options to "beat the cold," remember that these are not, necessarily, very eco-friendly.  Having the heat running constantly can be a waste of electricity or gas.  And taking baths or overtly long showers can waste water.  Save these resources and remember to take a greener appr...

Read Grady Management's New Blog For the past several weeks, Grady Management, Inc. has been promoting our new blog project.  This new blog, Apartment Resident #LifeHacks , debuted this afternoon!   This blog will be posted during the weeks when there is not a new post published on the Grady's GreenLiving Tips blog.  Read the new blog here:  https://apartmentlifehacks.blogspot.com/ One easy way to continue to enjoy Grady's GreenLiving Tips blog is to subscribe to the blog via email on the blog homepage .  Beginning next week, this blog will be posted on an every-other week schedule. Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our  website  or  Facebook  page.

In just a few days, it will be time to ring in the 2018 year!  The next GreenLiving Tips blog will be posted in January 2018. The Grady's GreenLiving Tips team wanted to provide the links and a short description of our top blog posts from 2017 to provide a review of the past year of green advice and resources: 1. " Five Reminders for a Daily, Green, Checklist ": This blog, posted on October 10, details five easy to accomplish steps to promote GreenLiving every day.  Read the post here . 2. " #Thanksgiving2017 : Five Easy Ways to Have a Green Thanksgiving ": This blog, posted on November 21, reviews green ways to prepare for and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.  Topics include managing food waste, traveling for the holiday, and hosting people for Thanksgiving.  Read the post here . 3. " Five Tips for a Sustainable Super Bowl Party ": This blog, posted on January 31, describes ways to host a sustainable Super Bowl party.  Read the post here . Remember, in...

What Holiday Materials can be Reduced and/ or Reused? Picture this: It is January 1, 2018.  The 2017 Holiday Season is officially over and done.  Gift bags, wrapping paper, and bows and ribbons are spread throughout the house.  Electronics boxes and toy packages is spread haphazardly in the family room.  Holiday decorations are still on display in windows and doorways.  Holiday meal leftovers are shoved in the refrigerator.  If this scene sounds familiar, try to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle this holiday season to better prepare for the 2018 holidays and practice GreenLiving techniques.  Recycle : The end of the holiday season can be a great time to practice some easy recycling techniques.  Separate all of the gift wrapping and packaging components to determine what can be recycled.  Remember, Styrofoam packaging material and shiny or glittery wrapping paper cannot be recycled.  Cardboard boxes should be broken down and recycled. Reuse : Af...

GreenLiving Tips for the Holiday Season Planning to give or receive gifts this holiday season?  Remember to practice GreenLiving ideas when shopping for and/ or preparing to give gifts.  Several green gift techniques include: 1) Bring Re-usable Bags : If shopping for presents in department stores and/ or malls, remember to bring re-usable bags or leftover plastic bags instead of receiving a new, wasteful, plastic bag.  Plastic bags can take more than 100 years to decompose in landfills. 2) Save Gas and Shop Online : Want to skip long lines and preserve the environment?  Save on gas and complete holiday shopping online.  If shopping in stores are preferable, try to utilize public transportation, such as a bus or train.  3) Donate Instead : Instead of a traditional gift, donate money in someone's name as their gift for the holidays.  This memorable gift will save time and resources. 4) Consider Several Options : If trying to focus on GreenLiving this hol...

Early Winter Tips for the Cold(er) Months It's hard to believe that it is almost December!  With winter only a few weeks away, there are several eco-friendly steps people can take to ensure their homes are both "green" and ready for the upcoming winter temperatures and weather. 1) Set the thermostat : Remember, an easy way to live a green life is to stop wasting energy.  In the wintertime, it can be enticing to turn on the heat full blast all day long.  However, leaving the heat to run all day, even when outside the home, wastes energy.  Try to reset the thermostat before leaving for long periods of time, such as heading to work or visiting family, so the heat doesn't run constantly indoors. 2) Remember seasonal decor : Hanging holiday lights outside or assembling a holiday tree?  Though staples of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget to turn off or unplug holiday decorations at the end of the day.  To save energy, try to unplug seasonal decor when ...