Chip Wade - Expert Craftsman

Personal fitness is a big priority for me as a landscaper, craftsman, and active dad. I’m always trying to squeeze in an extra workout on the road and at home to make sure I can handle whatever labor my DIY projects entail.

Well, I’m very proud to announce that in the June issue of Men’s Fitness Magazine that will hit newsstands on May 9th, I was chosen as one of the “25 Fittest Men In America”! Here’s a quick picture from my phone of page 100 in the June issue that features my article.

It’s an honor to be recognized for leading an active, fit lifestyle because as I mentioned in the story, I’m up as early as 5:30AM 5-6 times a week for my two-hour workouts and sometimes even twice a day. It’s not always easy or fun, but I’m dedicated and it takes a similar follow-through approach to finishing a DIY project!

In addition to being healthier, staying fit also increases your all-around energy level and has been proven to give you a more positive outlook on life. I love being outdoors and do my best to involve the outdoors in my workouts. Find out what works best for you and stick to it- it’s never too late to start!

2011 marks the 41st celebration of Earth Day and to help everyone get into the green spirit, I’ve come up with a list of easy and effective ways to help make your home a little more eco-friendly:

1. Perform an energy audit to measure the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling systems. This doubles as a money-saving piece of advice!
2. Design your home with a renewable flooring option such as bamboo flooring (twice as hard as oak) or carpeting such as Mohawk SmartStrand (created from corn).
3. Use nontoxic paint when adding color to your walls or at least paint with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
4. Reuse vintage furniture for a creative look that also recycles. Add a personal touch by reupholstering vintage pieces with recycled yarn or organic fabric.
5. When it comes to cleaning your green home, use an all-natural, nontoxic cleaner like Mohawk FloorCare Essentials to keep those floors sparkling.

Some of these tips are easier than others to be implemented on a daily or weekly basis, but all of them deserve real consideration when it comes to your home and our planet- Happy Earth Day 2011!

Well, I have been traveling the country to speak at numerous home shows and I had a great time at the Des Moines Home Show. Now I am on the road once more, headed to the Capital Home & Garden Show in DC!

As always, I’ll lend helpful tips for designing and executing DIY projects on a budget and share some behind-the-scenes stories from my experience on HGTV. I’ll also help identify some of the problems that we have encountered in our episodes and explain different solutions to prevent the same mistake at home.

You can still save on buying your advance tickets using the “MOHAWK” promo code when purchasing online. Check out the commercial below and I look forward to seeing all of you this weekend, February 25th - February 17th:

As many of you know, DIY projects can be quite a workout if they involve lifting heavy materials, operating powerful machinery or holding a position for long periods of time.

Personal fitness has always been important to me for obvious health benefits and for strength when it comes to building structures and remodeling projects. It also helps to be nimble and in-shape when your young son starts becoming increasingly energetic!

Well, I’m proud to say that I recently passed my certification and can now add “personal trainer” to my resume- I guess all those workouts in hotel gyms while traveling have finally paid off.

I got some upcoming work that will help me to showcase my love of exercise and living an active lifestyle that I can’t wait to share. Until then, remember this: stretch before and after every workout!

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Thanks to all who attended the Philadelphia Home Show! It was a great time meeting everyone and lending advice to the awesome DIY projects that were shared with me. I’ll be on the move coming to a Home Show near you, so get your tickets now. Here is my upcoming schedule:

February 18th & 19th:  Orlando Spring Home & Garden Show in Orlando, FL
February 25th - 27th:    Capital Home & Garden Show in Washington DC
March 4th & 5th:          Indianapolis Home & Flower Show in Indianapolis, IN
March 11th & 12th:      Birmingham Home & Garden Show in Birmingham, AL
April 1st & 2nd:             OKC Home Show in Oklahoma City, OK

As always, I’ll be giving presentations and also providing insight for your DIY home projects. Bring at least 2 good photos of your project to help me get a clear idea of what you’re working on. Make sure to check back on my blog later this week- I have some more announcements coming up!