Category: Community
10 Easy Ways to Pay it Forward
In the spirit of our Princeton Gives Back contest beginning this week, we wanted to share with you all 10 easy ways you can “pay it forward” on a daily basis! Read the list below and share with us which acts of kindness you practiced!
1. Say what you’re thinking – Walk by someone and think “I love that shirt.” Instead of keeping it to yourself, tell them! Giving a compliment can brighten someone’s day.
2. Pick up an extra coffee. While in the drive thru line in the morning, ask the cashier to add the bill for the person behind you to your order.
3. Give up some food. There are probably some items in your pantry that you can do without. Throw them in a box and drop them off at your local food shelter.
4. Offer a helping hand. See someone struggling to get on the bus or having a hard time carrying their groceries? Give them some assistance.
5. Not in a rush? Check to see who’s behind you in line at the grocery store and offer them your place. A mom shopping with kids is sure to appreciate this!
6. Take a picture! See someone taking a “group selfie?” Offer to take the photo for them. They’ll be grateful and have a better photo.
7. Feed the meter. Have some extra quarters floating around your car? Take a minute to feed someone’s meter so they can avoid getting a parking ticket!
8. Leave a little extra. Next time you’re dining out, think about leaving a little extra tip for your waiter or waitress. Write “pay it forward” on the check so they can continue the cycle.
9. Hold the door. See a mom or dad with a stroller in the parking lot? Try getting ahead of them so you can hold the doors.
10. Write a positive review. Love the place you live or the shop you order pizza from? Visit their Facebook page or Yelp account and leave them some love. It will be sure to make them smile!
5 Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe This Summer
The warm weather is officially here and while we can sip lemonade and jump in the pool to stay cool, we have to remember our pets too! Hot days can lead to dehydration and heat exhaustion for our furry friends. Keep reading for some great tips to keep your pets cool and safe this summer!
1. Make sure your pet has plenty of cold, fresh water at all times. If you’re traveling or taking long walks, remember to bring a bowl and water with you so your dog can hydrate.
2. If you’re going to be leaving your pet alone in the house for a long period of time, remember to leave the air conditioner on for them. They get hot sitting in a stuffy house too!
3. Never leave them in the car even if the windows are cracked. The temperature inside of a car can rise very quickly on a hot day. Keep your pet safe by leaving them home or taking them with you if you exit the car.
4. Be mindful of their paws. On really hot days it’s not a good idea to walk with your dog. Not only can they get over-heated, but hot pavement can burn their feet.
5. Make sure they have shade. If your dog likes playing outside, make sure there is a shady area for them to lie down when they’re ready to take a break.
20 Fun Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day
Father’s Day is coming up fast and we’ve put together a great list of fun things to do with your dad this year! Forget wrapping up a neck tie and instead consider taking your father out for a fun day he’ll never forget! No matter what your dad is into, we have a list of great ideas you can try this year.
1. A day of golf
2. A brewery or winery tour
3. A picnic
4. A trip to the beach
5. Sunday brunch
6. Mini golf
7. Fishing
8. A BBQ lunch
9. A museum tour
10. Go kart racing
11. Hiking
12. A baseball game
13. Bowling
14. A bike ride
15. Visit a historic site
16. Play catch at the park
17. See a movie
18. Dine at his favorite restaurant
19. A whale watch
20. Go to a concert
5 Fun Facts About St. Patrick’s Day
Besides drinking green drinks and eating corn beef and cabbage what do you really know about St. Patrick’s Day? Here are five fun facts you can share around the dinner table tonight!
1. The word “shamrock” comes from the Irish word “seamróg,” meaning “little clover.” It is the symbol of Ireland
2. We all get decked out in green on St. Patrick’s Day, but the holiday was originally associated with the color blue. It’s thought that everything shifted to green because of Ireland’s nickname “The Emerald Isle,” the green in the Irish flag and the shamrock, or clover.
3. The world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade is held in the Irish village of Dripsey. It lasts only 100 yards, which is the exact distance between the village’s two pubs.
4. St. Patrick was a Christian missionary, bishop and a patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Britain. When he was only sixteen, he was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity, working as a shepherd.
5. The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the largest parade in the world. It was first held in 1762 by a group of homesick Irish expats and soldiers who served with the British army.
Blizzard Preparation Checklist
A blizzard is heading our way and it’s time to start checking to make sure we are prepared at home! Before settling in for the night tonight make sure your home is prepared with the following items. Once the snow starts falling many local businesses will be closed so it’s important to prepare! Do you have all of the items on this list?
• Non-perishable food—at least a 3-day
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Fully-charged cell phones
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet food
• Candles/matches
• Sand or rock salt
• Warm coats, gloves, hats and boots
• Firewood (if you have a fireplace)
• Warm blankets
• Snow shovel
5 Tips for Holiday Shopping on a Budget
‘Tis the season for empty wallets! The holidays are certainly a time when we tend to drain our bank accounts shopping for the perfect gifts. Here are five tips to help you shop this season on a budget!
1. Make a list! Don’t go to the mall blindly. Make sure you have a list of people to shop for and budget how much you want to spend on each person. Cross off people’s names as you purchase their gifts.
2. Buy children something they want, need and something to read! Instead of going overboard with toys and clothes, ask your children to come up with one gift they really want. Supplement that with an item they really need and then finally something they can read.
3. Search for coupon codes. Websites like retailmenot.com offer coupon codes for hundreds of stores we all shop every day. If you’re shopping online, make sure to check for offers first!
4. Wait for sales. Stores like Macy’s offer annual sales every holiday season where you can get many things for a discounted rate. Put items on hold and wait until the sale to pay for them and pick them up.
5. Stop when you hit your limit! We all tend to go overboard during the holidays but make sure you set a spending limit and do not go over it, no matter how early you finish your holiday shopping.
5 Halloween Safety Tips
We’re only just in the beginning of October but the Halloween festivities are upon us! Here are 5 Halloween safety tips to help you and your family enjoy this spooky holiday in the best way possible.
1. Make sure your children are seen at night. Whether you are at a haunted house or just trick or treating, make sure your kids are either carrying flashlights or wearing reflectors on their clothing if they’ll be walking in the dark.
2. Stick with familiar neighborhoods. It’s best to go door to door in a neighborhood that you are comfortable in. You will most likely know the neighbors and you won’t risk getting lost.
3. Watch for welcoming signs and signals. If a house is dark and the lights are turned off, chances are the owners don’t want visitors on Halloween. Stick to the houses that are bright and friendly.
4. If you’re attending a local fair, make sure to decide on a meeting spot in case your group gets separated.
5. If candy or food handed out on Halloween or at parties you attend looks suspicious, throw it out! There’s no sense in risking it. If wrappers are partially open or torn or something just doesn’t look right toss it in the trash. There’s plenty more candy to be had!
10 Family-Friendly Fall Activities
We’re still a couple weeks away from the first official day of fall but the temperatures have certainly made it feel like it’s already here! With the season change comes a lot of great family-friendly activities for you to try! Here’s a list of ideas to try between now and winter to get in the fall spirit!
1. Go apple picking
2. Visit a corn maze
3. Go leaf peeping
4. Go to a pumpkin patch
5. Carve pumpkins
6. Go on a hayride
7. Visit your local fair
8. Build a scarecrow
9. Go to a haunted house
10. Bake pumpkin and apple-flavored treats
Pedaling for a cure – Princeton Properties’ President rides the PMC
Every year over 5,500 cyclists gather from all over the country for the annual Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) bike-a-thon. The PMC has raised over $414 million for adult and pediatric cancer care and research since 1980. 100 percent of the funds raised by riders is donated directly to the cause and amounts to over 50 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.
This year’s PMC was held this past weekend, August 2nd and 3rd. Princeton Properties’ President, Terry Flahive, is a veteran rider and this year marked his sixth PMC. Terry rode the two-day route, which covers 192 miles and runs through 46 towns across Massachusetts. The cold, wet and slippery road conditions on Saturday made this year one of the most challenging PMC rides in history.
“This year, even more than the last five that I have ridden, seemed more important, meaningful, and unforgettable” Terry said. “I was really chilled and my hands had stopped working. I couldn’t use my fingers to shift gears and I had to get someone help me finally take off my helmet strap!”
As if to put the whole ride into perspective, a cyclist passed Terry and said, “Tough day today, but better than a day of chemo.” Like Terry, thousands of riders, were committed to riding as long as it took, knowing that their efforts were helping to make a difference.
Every year Terry rides for a ‘pedal partner’ – a child currently receiving treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This year Terry is riding for Jack, a two year old who is fighting for his life (pictured above with his parents and older sister). They cheered Terry on along the route and provided support early Sunday morning.
“Every time I looked at Jack, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have three healthy grand kids and how hard it would be to have one as sick as Jack” Terry said.“Then, there were so many survivors and doctors and nurses out there with me, riding with all their strength to provide more money for more research. We know that with every little break through, someone is living a better life.”
Cyclists put their physical, mental and emotional energy to the test, using their combined strength to bring researchers closer to finding cures for various types of cancer. The 2014 PMC has currently raised just under $30 million of their $40 million goal.
5 Things to Do Before Summer is Over
We’re already in August…can you believe it? It always seems like the summer flies by and we don’t get a chance to enjoy the warmth and everything this season brings. Before September hits, try checking these things off your list to get the most out of August!
1. Pick your own fruit! Many local farm stands offer pick your own options and now is the time to take advantage before cold weather hits! You can pick your own blueberries, raspberries and strawberries for a delicious, fresh fruit salad!
2. Put your toes in the ocean! If you haven’t had a chance to hit the beach yet this summer, now is the time to start planning! You don’t want the end of September to hit and you realized you never got to feel the salty water and sand on your feet!
3. Visit your local farmer’s market! Many towns have farmer’s markets weekly throughout the summer but they close up shop once the fall hits. Take advantage now and buy some fresh produce, plants and other goodies from your local vendors.
4. Relax by the pool! There’s nothing like putting your feet up and reading a good book while sitting by the pool. Make sure you get in all the pool time you can in the next several weeks before yours gets covered up.
5. Go to an outdoor concert! Concerts in the summer are always a great time! Whether you purchase tickets online for a famous act or attend a free show locally, get out there after work and listen to some music in the company of great friends!