Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition

Designer Check-In - Eduardo Xol

Well we’re in the middle of season 6 and we’ve helped some amazing families so far this season. Now, I have been doing this show for 5 years and I am still in awe of the amount of volunteers that come out to help out the crew. Just on this last show, I had this moment where I was standing in the middle of construction and people running around and I was like “I can’t believe that this is what I do!”

One of the favorite homes that I’ve had the luck to design this season was in Wisconsin. The house had a silo attached to it and made it architecturally beautiful and fun to design. We’ve been having the chance to go through and explain the designs for the houses on abc.com so make sure to check out my “Designer Walk Throughs!”

In addition to working on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition I have been very busy on other projects. My second book is in stores NOW!!! It is called “Extreme Entertaining Made Simple.” It’s a great buy and an even greater gift!!

The purpose of my new book is to show you how to take the sometimes-daunting task of hosting your own party and make it easy and accessible. The key is to utilize and stimulate all five senses to inspire the design, feel mood, taste, and sound of any celebration. Here are some pictures of me putting together some of the parties that are featured in my book and the cover. You can buy it online at www.amazon.com.

I have also included in my new book a CD of music that I produced to help set the right soundtrack for your gatherings. A lot of people do not know that I also have a background in music as a composer, singer, & musician, so I am excited about the chance to share it.

For more information, blogs, and pictures on all my projects you can always check out my website www.eduardoxol.com.

I will be sure to check in again soon.

Eduardo Xol

I have been inspired.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give" ~Winston Churchill.

I have been inspired.

A near and dear friend of mine has just been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. His name is Bob. I would like to show him my support and make his life a little more hopeful. His strength and that of his friends and family has been my inspiration in searching for a way to make a difference. I have joined forces with the Hendrick Marrow Program & the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). The Hendrick Marrow Program is currently working with the Jimmie Johnson
Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation on a nationwide campaign called The
NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive to encourage people to give blood and join the NMDP Registry of volunteer marrow donors. Typically there is a fee to join the Registry, but through this campaign, individuals can
join for FREE because of sponsorship from the Hendrick Marrow Program
and Nationwide Foundation. If you are interested, you are welcome to send this
link to everyone you know and ask them to join the Registry because they
may be able to help a patient just like my friend Bob. I am hoping to spread the word on this unbiased disease. I would like to give back and hopefully motivate or inspire someone else to do the same. This is where the journey begins and I am excited and honored to be a part of this life saving event. Please follow the link below and register with the NMDP it only takes a minute. From September 9th to September 22nd registration is free.



Click here to register

Working on Extreme Makeover :Home Edition I am fortunate to help make a difference in communities on a regular basis but it does not stop there, we need to continue finding ways to make a difference. I thank Bob for his inspiration and helping me find another way to give back. Please do the same.

Thank You,
Rib Hillis

Update from Ed Sanders

Wow, what can I say friends. To say that I am shocked would be an understatement. I am totally blown away by the love and support you guys have all shown, not only at this blog, but my own personal blog. I have had so many emails, wishing me well and a quick safe recovery.

I have to admit that when I nearly cut my hand off I was scared out of my mind. Number 1 was because of my wife being three months pregnant at the time with triplets, number 2 was because I thought my television career was over after nearly twenty years and number three was because I thought my favorite hobby of building furniture was done and dusted!

So after nearly two hundred stitches and a whole lot of therapy, oh yeah and a couple of needles filled with quaterzone I am slowly on the mend. I never knew how painful it was to inject a scar with quarterzone. It kind of feels like someone is cutting your hand off all over again with a blunt saw. The reason for the quarterzone was because my thumb and finger are literally being pulled together because my scar is so long and is going diagonally across my palm from the base of my thumb to my little finger. Doctor Lubbers said that it was either that or face more surgery. Well to be honest the thought of facing more surgery with more therapy scared me as much as the accident itself, so I chose the quarterzone, but after he started I so wish I had chosen the surgery because the pain, was like nothing I can describe.

The accident was over two and a half months ago and Doctor Lubbers is so surprised at how well my rehabilitation is coming on. Personally I am still stunned that I have my hand let alone the fact that I can still move it.

It really has put into perspective how quickly things can change for the worse when you or someone you know has an accident. Since my accident I have slowed down a lot and enjoy everything in my life, because some of the people I have met in therapy are not as fortunate as me and my heart goes out to them.

If you guys want to find out more on how everything is going with the injury and the upcoming arrival of the triplets and how my life is going to change, go to www.edsanders.net and click on In his own words.

Once again friends, thanks so much for all of your support for me over a very scary time in my life.

Be safe and be lucky Ed x x x