The #WalkThrew: Is it really a house trend or just hype?

Bring your DIY up a notch or 90 with Mike Holmes Jr. from Fox's Home Free.

Mike joins us on the show to give us a behind the scenes peek at Home Free on Fox and rocks out some tips for crushing your next DIY project---safe and smart.

From the elusive art of coping crown molding to the fine line between caution and bravado when it comes to revving up a table or miter saw, we'll talk tools and techniques.

And we'll get into it from the ground up and ask Mike Holmes Jr. about learning his trade, taking on huge projects well outside his comfort zone and see if we can shake loose one of those rare moments where work reflects life and life reflects work. The Home Free Drill-Down test is on with Mike Holmes Jr.

Watch this episode on YouTube, listen on BlogTalkRadio or do both right here!

You know what the biggest question lots of people have about DIY projects: It's not about what to do. It's about how to get started.

What tools do I need? What kind of mess is this going to make? How long does it take? Can I really do this?

First, the answer to the last question: YES! Yes, you can.

If you're asking 'Where do I start'?,  this show is all about you. But not just for you. Even seasoned DIYers benefit from hearing how other people rock their projects and how-to.

DIY Network's landscape, design, and DIY power broker Sara Bendrick joins power tool empower-er Pretty Handy Girl Brittany Bailey to talk DIY courage and share the things they've learned getting started on their DIY projects to help you get started with yours.

We'll cover the bases from Sara's beloved landscaping to tools to projects to working with your spouse, woodworking and more.

Oh, it's on! Watch this episode on YouTube.

You know what the biggest question lots of people have about DIY projects: It's not about what to do. It's about how to get started.

What tools do I need? What kind of mess is this going to make? How long does it take? Can I really do this?

First, the answer to the last question: YES! Yes, you can.

If you're asking 'Where do I start'?,  this show is all about you. But not just for you. Even seasoned DIYers benefit from hearing how other people rock their projects and how-to.

DIY Network's landscape, design, and DIY power broker Sara Bendrick joins power tool empower-er Pretty Handy Girl Brittany Bailey to talk DIY courage and share the things they've learned getting started on their DIY projects to help you get started with yours.

We'll cover the bases from Sara's beloved landscaping to tools to projects to working with your spouse, woodworking and more.

Oh, it's on! Watch this episode on YouTube.

Obstacle course racing is the next soccer. Yeah, it's a 'thing'. You've probably heard of one. Or know someone who has---or will---do one. They change lives.

And for us MyFixitUpLifer's there's an extra cool part: It's loaded with DIY of building stuff. So if you’re not lacing up for your own obstacle course racing journey, without people to build the obstacles—for races or for backyards---the race is just a walk in the woods. So this MyFixitUpLife show will inspire the fire for the DIY of OCR.

Spartan Race’s (in)famous Race Director Norm Koch takes us behind the spectacle where the tools are machetes and chainsaws and a whole lotta work. And HGTV’s John Colaneri—co-host of America’s Most Desperate Kitchens and a Spartan racing / Cross-fit nut job (we love you anyway Johnny)—chimes in with fitness tips he uses to stay extra handsome.

This isn't about the gym. Or how fast you go. It's about life itself and building your own tools for the journey. As someone I admire wrote: I already know what it feels like to fail. I want to see what it's like to succeed.

Life happens to all of us. It's what we do about it that counts; how we handle the obstacles.

So tool up and come obstacle course racing with us Lifers, time for a little dirty fun.

Obstacle course racing is the next soccer. Yeah, it's a 'thing'. You've probably heard of one. Or know someone who has---or will---do one. They change lives.

And for us MyFixitUpLifer's there's an extra cool part: It's loaded with DIY of building stuff. So if you’re not lacing up for your own obstacle course racing journey, without people to build the obstacles—for races or for backyards---the race is just a walk in the woods. So this MyFixitUpLife show will inspire the fire for the DIY of OCR.

Spartan Race’s (in)famous Race Director Norm Koch takes us behind the spectacle where the tools are machetes and chainsaws and a whole lotta work. And HGTV’s John Colaneri—co-host of America’s Most Desperate Kitchens and a Spartan racing / Cross-fit nut job (we love you anyway Johnny)—chimes in with fitness tips he uses to stay extra handsome.

This isn't about the gym. Or how fast you go. It's about life itself and building your own tools for the journey. As someone I admire wrote: I already know what it feels like to fail. I want to see what it's like to succeed.

Life happens to all of us. It's what we do about it that counts; how we handle the obstacles.

So tool up and come obstacle course racing with us Lifers, time for a little dirty fun.

Designing for autism is more than just creating a safe environment, it can actually make everyone in the family feel better.

In our world, where we can become overwhelmed by our own selves, we can all gain from using some of the ideas design experts use when designing for people who have sensory issues.

Today we're learning about designing for autism from three insightful designers, HGTV 'Design Star' Jennifer Bertrand, triology e-book series author on 'Designing for Autism' AJ Paron-Wildes, and Sensory Interior Design founder Carolyn Feder.

Jennifer Bertrand is best known for winning HGTV's 'Design Star' and her show 'Paint Over!' on HGTV. She  also has designed for Ronald McDonald House. But more than just design talent, Jennifer is raising her son Winston, who has mixed lymphatic and venous malformations. 

AJ Paron-Wildes is an accomplished interior designer in healthcare and education, with her design work appearing on HGTV, PBS, and Bob Vila. She also has a son with autism. In her triology e-book series on 'Designing for Autism,' AJ focuses each book on three stages of life, from birth to early childhood, childhood to adolescence, and from adulthood to geriatrics. 

Carolyn Feder founded Sensory Interior Design to help clients overcome sensory overload. By focusing on the sensory issues inside a space, Carolyn uses her design skills to help others experience relief from sensory overload. And she finds that the relief is found from the entire family, not just the one diagnosed with autism.

We believe that design is a powerful tool, and used with care and sensitivity, design can truly change life for the better.

Designing for autism is more than just creating a safe environment, it can actually make everyone in the family feel better.

In our world, where we can become overwhelmed by our own selves, we can all gain from using some of the ideas design experts use when designing for people who have sensory issues.

Today we're learning about designing for autism from three insightful designers, HGTV 'Design Star' Jennifer Bertrand, triology e-book series author on 'Designing for Autism' AJ Paron-Wildes, and Sensory Interior Design founder Carolyn Feder.

Jennifer Bertrand is best known for winning HGTV's 'Design Star' and her show 'Paint Over!' on HGTV. She  also has designed for Ronald McDonald House. But more than just design talent, Jennifer is raising her son Winston, who has mixed lymphatic and venous malformations. 

AJ Paron-Wildes is an accomplished interior designer in healthcare and education, with her design work appearing on HGTV, PBS, and Bob Vila. She also has a son with autism. In her triology e-book series on 'Designing for Autism,' AJ focuses each book on three stages of life, from birth to early childhood, childhood to adolescence, and from adulthood to geriatrics. 

Carolyn Feder founded Sensory Interior Design to help clients overcome sensory overload. By focusing on the sensory issues inside a space, Carolyn uses her design skills to help others experience relief from sensory overload. And she finds that the relief is found from the entire family, not just the one diagnosed with autism.

We believe that design is a powerful tool, and used with care and sensitivity, design can truly change life for the better.

Also joining Mark & Theresa on this episode is Celeste from Instructables.com. She's sharing some of the pallet inspiration and how-to from the site's recent pallet contest, and their archive of hundreds of DIY pallet projects.DIY pallet projects can be amazing additions to your landscape, but there are a few things you might want to know before you get started. Let's talk.

We've proclaimed HGTV host Matt Blashaw as the 'Pallet King' for his creative DIY pallet projects featured on DIY Network's 'Yard Crashers.' Not only has he designed and shared the how-to for his famous pallet into a chair project with Men's Health and USA Today, he also did an entire Las Vegas background in pallets for a showgirl. We believe that Matt has successfully created the current and trendy DIY love for DIY pallet projects.

So whether you are curious about DIYing with pallets or if you've gotten started on a pallet project and are looking for a few tips from the 'Pallet King' Matt Blashaw, you'll want to tune into this episode. (Oh, and when you watch the YouTube show, you'll get to take a peek at Matt in his kitchen, too.)

Matt is a licensed contractor and a licensed Realtor. His on-camera career started in 2006 when he participated in DIY Network's 'Stud Finder.' Since then he has hosted Yard Crashers, Deconstruction, Project Xtreme, Money Hunters, Blog Cabin and Professional Grade, and specials such as Cool Tools Builders Show, Stud Finder 2009, HGTV's Rose Parade coverage and Worst Kitchen In America. Currently you'll find him on HGTV's "Vacation House for Free' that airs Sunday afternoons.

We hope you enjoy this episode of MyFixitUpLife. If you have any questions or comments along the way to your DIY dreams with pallets, MyFixitUpLife's Mark & Theresa are always just a FB post or Tweet away from helping out.

Also joining Mark & Theresa on this episode is Celeste from Instructables.com. She's sharing some of the pallet inspiration and how-to from the site's recent pallet contest, and their archive of hundreds of DIY pallet projects.DIY pallet projects can be amazing additions to your landscape, but there are a few things you might want to know before you get started. Let's talk.

We've proclaimed HGTV host Matt Blashaw as the 'Pallet King' for his creative DIY pallet projects featured on DIY Network's 'Yard Crashers.' Not only has he designed and shared the how-to for his famous pallet into a chair project with Men's Health and USA Today, he also did an entire Las Vegas background in pallets for a showgirl. We believe that Matt has successfully created the current and trendy DIY love for DIY pallet projects.

So whether you are curious about DIYing with pallets or if you've gotten started on a pallet project and are looking for a few tips from the 'Pallet King' Matt Blashaw, you'll want to tune into this episode. (Oh, and when you watch the YouTube show, you'll get to take a peek at Matt in his kitchen, too.)

Matt is a licensed contractor and a licensed Realtor. His on-camera career started in 2006 when he participated in DIY Network's 'Stud Finder.' Since then he has hosted Yard Crashers, Deconstruction, Project Xtreme, Money Hunters, Blog Cabin and Professional Grade, and specials such as Cool Tools Builders Show, Stud Finder 2009, HGTV's Rose Parade coverage and Worst Kitchen In America. Currently you'll find him on HGTV's "Vacation House for Free' that airs Sunday afternoons.

We hope you enjoy this episode of MyFixitUpLife. If you have any questions or comments along the way to your DIY dreams with pallets, MyFixitUpLife's Mark & Theresa are always just a FB post or Tweet away from helping out.

Gardening jujitsu is about little things we can do that really make big differences to improve our homes (and our world). So let's do it in the dirt.

While a gardening death match might sound interesting, gardening jujitsu is using the simple and awesome power of plants to make your home, your family, and your world more comfortable.

Plants can take care of our well-being, nourish our bodies, and they can help keep you warm in winter. Plus knowing more about plants can help combat the growing problem about bees.

Quick example of gardening jujitsu: The baking, end-of-day sun can practically melt asphalt. And in most houses that means the HVAC---you know, the cool air we all pay for---is working overtime. Ease the load with some smart, simple shade plants that will protect your house and make it look even better, too.

Our guests this week are Venelin Dimitrov from Burpee and GardenChat host Bren Haas.

Mark and Theresa started learning about the coolness that is gardening jujitsu with plant expert Venelin Dimitrov from Burpee during a tour of one of the company's gardens. We're psyched to learn more about how-to we can do at our home.

Host of the popular weekly Twitter chat #GardenChat, Bren started sharing her garden know-how about a dozen years ago when she moved to 18 acres out in the country. Bren now co-hosts the weekly Garden Chatter Google Hangout weekly, and is the community manager for the Ask&Share on HGTVgardens.