Tuesday, August 6, 2013
US Premiere of Holmes Makes It Right - TONIGHT ON DIY NETWORK
Tonight is the US premiere of Holmes Makes it Right on the DIY Network. The episode is called "A Case of the Shingles." Here's what I wrote regarding the HGTV Canada premiere of Holmes Makes it Right all the way back in October of 2012. Hope all US fans enjoy the show!
Monday, August 5, 2013
Holmes Makes It Right US Premiere - TOMORROW on the DIY Network
Tomorrow, August 6, is the day US Holmes fans have been waiting for for a VERY long time. That's right, tomorrow on the DIY Network, Holmes Makes It Right premieres at 8PM/7C. There isn't a whole lot of fanfare about the US premiere, but the Holmes Group has been diligently promoting the show on Mike's Facebook pages and website.
The "new" episodes of Holmes Makes It Right are now almost a year old as they make their way to the US. The reason for the long delay is unknown or undisclosed. At this time last year, US fans were told that the show would premiere in both the US and Canada simultaneously in October 2012. However, we here in the US were soon informed that the show would air not in October, but in early 2013. As March/April rolled around, it became abundantly clear that the show would not be airing in "early 2013" as initially told. The Holmes Spot blog was the very first to report that TV Guide had Holmes Makes It Right listed as airing in August of 2013, a detail which was only confirmed by the Holmes Group within the last couple of months.
Many fans are upset that the show is premiering on the DIY Network as opposed to the HGTV network due to DIY being premium channel for many cable providers. In a conversation I had with the Holmes Group's Seth Atkins at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in May of this year, I was informed that the reason the network is airing the show on the premium channel first is because (to paraphrase) "HGTV is trying to give DIY a boost." HGTV and DIY are sister networks. He also acknowledged that he Holmes Group was quite inundated with complaints from US fans who were rather upset at the long delay. I informed him that I was one of the complainants.
For all those Holmes fans who do not get the DIY Network, there is a light at the end of the long dark tunnel. Both HGTV in a form letter to inquiring fans and Seth Atkins of the Holmes Group indicated that HGTV would be picking up Holmes Makes It Right in about 6 months from the DIY air date. Both HGTV and Atkins seemed to indicate that the 6 month timeline was approximate and that no exact date was set.
I live in the US, and the shows will be new to me. Late last year, I found several episodes of Holmes Makes It Right on the internet (they have since been removed). Out of the several episodes that were posted, I chose to watch only two of them for the purposes of reviewing them for the Holmes Spot blog. I did this because I assumed that the show would be airing in "early 2013" and I didn't want to completely ruin the surprise for myself. (Lesson learned!) I was very impressed by the show, and you can read my review of Holmes Makes It Right here - Holmes Makes It Right - The Holmes Spot Review.
The "new" episodes of Holmes Makes It Right are now almost a year old as they make their way to the US. The reason for the long delay is unknown or undisclosed. At this time last year, US fans were told that the show would premiere in both the US and Canada simultaneously in October 2012. However, we here in the US were soon informed that the show would air not in October, but in early 2013. As March/April rolled around, it became abundantly clear that the show would not be airing in "early 2013" as initially told. The Holmes Spot blog was the very first to report that TV Guide had Holmes Makes It Right listed as airing in August of 2013, a detail which was only confirmed by the Holmes Group within the last couple of months.
Many fans are upset that the show is premiering on the DIY Network as opposed to the HGTV network due to DIY being premium channel for many cable providers. In a conversation I had with the Holmes Group's Seth Atkins at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in May of this year, I was informed that the reason the network is airing the show on the premium channel first is because (to paraphrase) "HGTV is trying to give DIY a boost." HGTV and DIY are sister networks. He also acknowledged that he Holmes Group was quite inundated with complaints from US fans who were rather upset at the long delay. I informed him that I was one of the complainants.
For all those Holmes fans who do not get the DIY Network, there is a light at the end of the long dark tunnel. Both HGTV in a form letter to inquiring fans and Seth Atkins of the Holmes Group indicated that HGTV would be picking up Holmes Makes It Right in about 6 months from the DIY air date. Both HGTV and Atkins seemed to indicate that the 6 month timeline was approximate and that no exact date was set.
I live in the US, and the shows will be new to me. Late last year, I found several episodes of Holmes Makes It Right on the internet (they have since been removed). Out of the several episodes that were posted, I chose to watch only two of them for the purposes of reviewing them for the Holmes Spot blog. I did this because I assumed that the show would be airing in "early 2013" and I didn't want to completely ruin the surprise for myself. (Lesson learned!) I was very impressed by the show, and you can read my review of Holmes Makes It Right here - Holmes Makes It Right - The Holmes Spot Review.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Mike Holmes Birthday Bash Report
Mike's big 25x2 birthday came and went as birthdays usually do. About 10PM EST on Friday, Mike announced that he was having a great time at his Caribbean themed birthday part, complete with a live band and all of his friends, family, and coworkers. Mike must have felt like a king... literally, as there are multiple pictures from Facebook floating around with Mike and others wearing a crown and posing with family in a big "Crown Royal" emblemed throne. (Those pictures unfortunately cannot be posted due to the fact that I probably wasn't suppose to see them!)
Mike did tweet an image of him and his lovely Anna on stage with the live band. In the picture, he is serenading her with the song "Stand By Me."
His daughters Sherry and Amanda were in attendance, of course. Sherry wore a beautiful black polka dotted dress and Amanda wore a pretty blue metallic dress. MJ, Mike's son, wore a blue shirt with grey slacks. Anna, in the photograph above, wore what appeared to be a floor-lengthed orange or red and white swirled patterned dress. And Mike? Mike dressed like Mike, in a striped shirt and vest, with jeans and sneakers.
Mike did tweet an image of him and his lovely Anna on stage with the live band. In the picture, he is serenading her with the song "Stand By Me."
His daughters Sherry and Amanda were in attendance, of course. Sherry wore a beautiful black polka dotted dress and Amanda wore a pretty blue metallic dress. MJ, Mike's son, wore a blue shirt with grey slacks. Anna, in the photograph above, wore what appeared to be a floor-lengthed orange or red and white swirled patterned dress. And Mike? Mike dressed like Mike, in a striped shirt and vest, with jeans and sneakers.
Friday, August 2, 2013
PSYCH!!! Happy Birthday Mike (A Day Early)
It became obvious to me from reading Facebook that Mike is celebrating his birthday today instead of tomorrow. When in Canada, do as the Canadians I always say!
Mike, may I present to you your birthday gift... Canadian Rhapsody!
Have a birthday as big as the stars, because you deserve it!
This one is definitely for the fans... minus the gals at the very end who represent Mike's fans, if you know who everybody is in this video, then you are a Holmes superfan!
If you're wondering how long it takes to make something like this, I'd estimate it takes about an hour of work per one second of finished animation. Yeah, that's a lot of work. But for someone like Mike, it's time well spent! Mike does so much for other people, it feels good to do something nice for him, and I really hope he enjoys it!
Mike, may I present to you your birthday gift... Canadian Rhapsody!
Have a birthday as big as the stars, because you deserve it!
This one is definitely for the fans... minus the gals at the very end who represent Mike's fans, if you know who everybody is in this video, then you are a Holmes superfan!
If you're wondering how long it takes to make something like this, I'd estimate it takes about an hour of work per one second of finished animation. Yeah, that's a lot of work. But for someone like Mike, it's time well spent! Mike does so much for other people, it feels good to do something nice for him, and I really hope he enjoys it!
Tomorrow is the Big Day!
Tomorrow is Mike's birthday, and the Holmes Spot has been cooking up something very special for him! Tune in tomorrow to see Mike's BIG birthday surprise, which took about a year to make. Yes, almost a whole year's worth of work was poured into this opus of birthday fun, and I can't wait to present it to the world. You're not going to want to miss it!
Meanwhile, Mike is busy celebrating his birthday early at his office. His staff presented him with a unique gift:
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Mike Holmes: Vacation-Proof Your Home
It's hard to really enjoy a vacation if you're constantly worried about the safety and security of your home. In this article, Mike Holmes talks about vacation-proofing your house, that is, making it safer from burglars and from disasters when you're not around. Everyone knows that he best way to deter burglars is to make it appear like you're at home when you're not. In the olden days, this would mean putting your lights on a timer, but nowadays there are apps that allow you to control your lights from your cellphone. Neighbors can also help you to maintain the appearance of being home by making sure newspapers don't accumulate on your driveway and getting your mail. Mike also recommends some basic but essential maintenance before you leave your home for any extended period of time such as wrapping pipes to ensure they don't freeze and burst. When your home is secure, you can enjoy vacation that much more.
From the Montreal Gazette:
Mike Holmes: Vacation-proof home while you’re away
Look like you’re there, even when you aren’t
After a decade, Mike Holmes still cares because he knows the work he, his crew and others do makes a real difference to the people they help.
Photograph by: Alex Schuldt/The Holmes Group , Postmedia News
There’s nothing better than a vacation, and summer’s the time most people seem to take them. But to really relax it’s important to make sure your home is protected while you’re gone. What’s the best way? Look like you’re at home when you’re away from home.
There are plenty of things you can do to protect your home against break-ins. Most people will tell you to install timers on your lights, have your neighbour pick up the mail and let someone park in the driveway while you’re gone.
Then there are the things you need to do to protect your home from potential damage.
For instance, if you’re leaving in winter you should shut off the water and insulate any pipes that pass through cold zones, such as the attic and crawl space, so the pipes don’t freeze and burst.
Or, so you’re not wasting energy you should unplug appliances, set the water heater to low and turn down the thermostat (27 C in the summer, 55 in the winter), and install a surge protector to protect against power surges.
This is all standard stuff to protect your home. But you can do better than standard to secure it properly.
Everyone always says to put your lights on a timer. It’s a good idea. But take it one step further.
You can use a cellphone app to control when the lights come on in your home. This lets you switch up the times, which is important. All it takes is watching your home for a couple of nights for someone to notice the lights always come on at seven and turn off at 10 — so the lights are on, but no one’s home.
And you can’t forget about maintenance, especially on your home’s exterior. It can be a dead giveaway that you’re not home.
If the lawn looks overgrown or branches haven’t been cleaned up after a storm, people will notice.
You might consider hiring a landscaper or neighbour to mow your lawn or clear snow while you’re gone. Ask them to do a quick scan of the exterior after any major storms, to make sure nothing is broken and any debris gets cleaned up. As a precaution, trim trees that can damage your home during high winds.
Also, remember to lock your garage, especially if it’s attached to your house because it can be an easy entry point if not secured properly.
If your garage has a side door, use a deadbolt to lock it from the inside. And if the door has a window, make sure you can’t unlock the deadbolt by breaking the window. Laminated glass, although expensive, is a good option for extra security; it’s strong and heavy, so it offers better protection.
Some home security systems will set off an alarm if a window breaks or a door gets busted, and they’ll notify you on your cellphone, no matter where you are.
If you have a sliding door in your home, you can put a metal bar or a piece of wood on the track. That stops anyone from sliding the door open if they pick the lock. You can do the same for windows too.
But a better option is installing multi-point lock windows and doors.
The multi-point lock windows I’ve used have three locks on the inside that you can’t see or pick.
One last thing about garages: If you have a garage door opener, make sure the door closes completely before you leave.
Most garage door openers have a sensor, so if anything passes underneath the door while it’s closing it automatically goes back up. But sometimes even just some debris on the floor won’t let it close. Make sure it’s fully closed before you leave, or you’ll leave behind an entry point.
Last but not least, don’t go broadcasting that you’re leaving — and I do mean broadcasting.
Social media is fun, but it has risks. It’s amazing how much information people share nowadays.
You can literally track a person just by looking at what they’re posting. Remember: It’s not just your friends that see this.
Going on vacation is supposed to be fun. But you also need to be prepared. When it comes to protecting your home, it’s always better (and cheaper) to be safe than sorry.
Catch Mike Holmes in his new series, Holmes Makes It Right Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.
There are plenty of things you can do to protect your home against break-ins. Most people will tell you to install timers on your lights, have your neighbour pick up the mail and let someone park in the driveway while you’re gone.
Then there are the things you need to do to protect your home from potential damage.
For instance, if you’re leaving in winter you should shut off the water and insulate any pipes that pass through cold zones, such as the attic and crawl space, so the pipes don’t freeze and burst.
Or, so you’re not wasting energy you should unplug appliances, set the water heater to low and turn down the thermostat (27 C in the summer, 55 in the winter), and install a surge protector to protect against power surges.
This is all standard stuff to protect your home. But you can do better than standard to secure it properly.
Everyone always says to put your lights on a timer. It’s a good idea. But take it one step further.
You can use a cellphone app to control when the lights come on in your home. This lets you switch up the times, which is important. All it takes is watching your home for a couple of nights for someone to notice the lights always come on at seven and turn off at 10 — so the lights are on, but no one’s home.
And you can’t forget about maintenance, especially on your home’s exterior. It can be a dead giveaway that you’re not home.
If the lawn looks overgrown or branches haven’t been cleaned up after a storm, people will notice.
You might consider hiring a landscaper or neighbour to mow your lawn or clear snow while you’re gone. Ask them to do a quick scan of the exterior after any major storms, to make sure nothing is broken and any debris gets cleaned up. As a precaution, trim trees that can damage your home during high winds.
Also, remember to lock your garage, especially if it’s attached to your house because it can be an easy entry point if not secured properly.
If your garage has a side door, use a deadbolt to lock it from the inside. And if the door has a window, make sure you can’t unlock the deadbolt by breaking the window. Laminated glass, although expensive, is a good option for extra security; it’s strong and heavy, so it offers better protection.
Some home security systems will set off an alarm if a window breaks or a door gets busted, and they’ll notify you on your cellphone, no matter where you are.
If you have a sliding door in your home, you can put a metal bar or a piece of wood on the track. That stops anyone from sliding the door open if they pick the lock. You can do the same for windows too.
But a better option is installing multi-point lock windows and doors.
The multi-point lock windows I’ve used have three locks on the inside that you can’t see or pick.
One last thing about garages: If you have a garage door opener, make sure the door closes completely before you leave.
Most garage door openers have a sensor, so if anything passes underneath the door while it’s closing it automatically goes back up. But sometimes even just some debris on the floor won’t let it close. Make sure it’s fully closed before you leave, or you’ll leave behind an entry point.
Last but not least, don’t go broadcasting that you’re leaving — and I do mean broadcasting.
Social media is fun, but it has risks. It’s amazing how much information people share nowadays.
You can literally track a person just by looking at what they’re posting. Remember: It’s not just your friends that see this.
Going on vacation is supposed to be fun. But you also need to be prepared. When it comes to protecting your home, it’s always better (and cheaper) to be safe than sorry.
Catch Mike Holmes in his new series, Holmes Makes It Right Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
New Videos from the Good Life from Allstate Campaign Featuring Mike Holmes
Mike Holmes has been doing commercials and informative how-to videos for Allstate as part of their Good Life from Allstate Campaign. In this latest installment of videos, Mike shows viewers how to maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and how to maintain your dryer vents.
Pictures:
Pictures:
2013 Saskatoon Pink House Campaign Launch Video
I originally saw this story back in June, but let it pass because there was so much going on with Mike Holmes and because Mike was not directly connected. But when I saw this video posted on the PinkWood Facebook page, I knew that it was completely worth mentioning.
If you don't know what PinkWood is, you don't watch enough Holmes on Homes. Mike loves coated lumbers (in fact, he even wrote a column about it not too long ago!) PinkWood is a specially treated coated lumber that is mold resistant and fire retardant. As you'll see from this video, when exposed to extreme temperatures, PinkWood "bubbles" instead of burns, giving firefighters (and you) more time. It's truly a superior building material that Mike Holmes not only endorses, but also uses.
About a month ago, Holmes Approved builder Campbell Custom Homes in Saskatoon showcased a pink house made entirely from PinkWood in an effort to raise money for a breast health center. Although Mike couldn't personally attend the opening, Mike Jr. made an excellent fill-in for his dad to show their continued support. The home stands as the first Mike Holmes Approved home in Saskatchewan.
Pictures:
If you don't know what PinkWood is, you don't watch enough Holmes on Homes. Mike loves coated lumbers (in fact, he even wrote a column about it not too long ago!) PinkWood is a specially treated coated lumber that is mold resistant and fire retardant. As you'll see from this video, when exposed to extreme temperatures, PinkWood "bubbles" instead of burns, giving firefighters (and you) more time. It's truly a superior building material that Mike Holmes not only endorses, but also uses.
About a month ago, Holmes Approved builder Campbell Custom Homes in Saskatoon showcased a pink house made entirely from PinkWood in an effort to raise money for a breast health center. Although Mike couldn't personally attend the opening, Mike Jr. made an excellent fill-in for his dad to show their continued support. The home stands as the first Mike Holmes Approved home in Saskatchewan.
Pictures:
Monday, July 29, 2013
New Mike Holmes T-Shirt Designs
Coming soon, there will be some new additions to the Make It Right webstore. It was announced today that several new t-shirt designs are on their way. Photos of the new designs were posted on Mike's Facebook page with a request for fan feedback. The designs include vintage renditions of the Holmes logo, along with several new incarnations of the Holmes bulldog, a takeoff of Mike's famous right-bicep tattoo, and a shirt asking the question "What Would Mike Holmes Do?".
I personally love the new designs. Being a simple girl, I love the classic vintage "Holmes" shirt and its abstract counterpart, but the other designs are great too! I would hope that the Make It Right webstore would include some female/babydoll style tees with these designs as well. Either way, I foresee myself spending a lot of money in the near future...
I personally love the new designs. Being a simple girl, I love the classic vintage "Holmes" shirt and its abstract counterpart, but the other designs are great too! I would hope that the Make It Right webstore would include some female/babydoll style tees with these designs as well. Either way, I foresee myself spending a lot of money in the near future...
Mike Holmes Birthday Surprise - Video Teaser #2
Mike's birthday is less than a week away and the Holmes Spot has been busy cooking up something awesome to commemorate this very special occasion!
Since revealing even the smallest snippet of the audio portion of Mike's birthday gift would instantly give away the surprise, the Holmes Spot has been releasing short video sneak peeks to pique your interest!
In case you were wondering, quite a few of Mike's team members "drop by" to wish him happy birthday in this very special gift, including Martin the plumber and Frank the electrician! As you can see, they both have their work cut out for them!
To see Mike's big 25x2 birthday present in all of its glory, visit the Holmes Spot on August 3, 2013!
Since revealing even the smallest snippet of the audio portion of Mike's birthday gift would instantly give away the surprise, the Holmes Spot has been releasing short video sneak peeks to pique your interest!
In case you were wondering, quite a few of Mike's team members "drop by" to wish him happy birthday in this very special gift, including Martin the plumber and Frank the electrician! As you can see, they both have their work cut out for them!
To see Mike's big 25x2 birthday present in all of its glory, visit the Holmes Spot on August 3, 2013!
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