Monthly Archives: July 2010


Why the City of Moncton, NB Rocks!

Moncton New Brunswick Canada Flags

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If you are a resident of Moncton, New Brunswick, you obviously already know why the city of Moncton is the best place on earth. If, however, you’re considering visiting this beautiful “hub of the Maritimes” – as Steve Clerke from Gifts Galore so accurately describes Moncton in the video below – or are even thinking about moving to Moncton, here are just a few reasons why the city of Moncton, NB rocks!

Check it out:

If you’re interested in any of the local businesses mentioned in this video, you can visit their website by clicking on their name below. Company information has been copied from their website:

L’Hôtel St. James

Email: info@hotelstjames.ca

L’Hotel St. James is situated in the heart of downtown Moncton, only minutes from the city’s major commercial, shopping, and entertainment centres.

L’Hotel St. James caters to the needs of vacationers and business travellers alike, by providing unique accommodations, modern amenities, and on-site access to St. James’ Gate restaurant and bar. Featuring live music and award-winning cuisine in an inviting atmosphere.

Pump House Brewery

Email: pumphousebrewery@rogers.com

The Pump House Brewery today is a group of beer brewing and bar/catering business, it was opened as a brewpub in downtown Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada in 1999 by the co-owners Shaun Fraser, a local fire department chief, and his wife Lilia, both have since won outstanding entrepreneurships for their remarkable success. They debuted in style on New Year’s Eve with the first new beer of the Millenium. The Brewpub grew so popular that expansion was necessary. In July 2002, a brewing/bottling plant was built outside the city centre and production began in the same year. A gausthaus/restaurant was also established later on the plant site, called the Barn Yard BBQ.

Moncton Tourism Information

Email: tourism@moncton.ca

Welcome to Moncton, Canada’s most polite and honest city (Readers Digest, 2008). We can’t wait for you to discover Moncton’s beautiful downtown core, our greatest attractions and help you plan your vacation! Whether you’re interested in flying high through the trees at TreeGo, an aerial obstacle course, taking in part of the thriving cultural scene, or prefer to keep your feet on the ground walking the beautiful trails in one of our many parks, Moncton will not fail to impress.

Gifts Galore

Phone: 506-857-9179

Gifts Galore is Greater Moncton’s Premiere gift idea headquarters. With close to 20 years experience and a reputation of providing their clients with not just great customer service but the ability to give their clientele the best customer experience, we’ll ensure that you leave with a smile on your face.

… and of course, we can’t forget who made the video …

Canada.travel

Want to know the best months for skiing in British Columbia, golfing in Saskatchewan or harvesting maple syrup in Québec? When it comes to what the seasonal weather will be like when you visit, we’ve got you covered. You’ll also find information on current passport and visa requirements, Canadian public holidays, banking hours, currency matters, travel insurance tips, where to book accommodations online and more.

Start planning your visit to Canada today. Here you’ll find all the practical resources, tools, information and tips you’ll need.

Moncton New Brunswick Skyline

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Why do you love the city of Moncton?

If you live in Moncton, what are your favourite things to do or see here? What would you recommend to tourists who are thinking about visiting?

If you’ve visited Moncton in the past, what makes you want to come back again?

Leave a comment to share your favourite things about Moncton, NB.

Oh, and here are a few of our other blog posts on local coolness that you should definitely take a look at; just more reasons why Moncton, New Brunswick totally rocks!

Top 7 Beaches to Visit in New Brunswick

Interesting Facts about New Brunswick

Must-See Photographs of Moncton, New Brunswick

Top 5 Things a Patio Needs for Moncton Summers

5 Talented Moncton Artists to Keep an Eye On

Flowers Moncton, NB

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MarTwixer “Tweet Up” a Success!

MarTwixer Tweet Up July 2010

On July.10th we hosted our very first “tweet up”. If you aren’t up on the current social networking lingo, a “tweet up” is a real-life social event where Twitter users get together. Some tweet ups take place in coffee shops, others in local parks. We hosted ours at the Martell cottage in Point du Chene.

MarTwixer Tweet Up  Location July 2010

We dubbed our gathering MarTwixer. Why? Our super brilliance allowed us to come up with the name by blending a bunch of relevant words together: Martell (Mar) with Twitter + mixer (Twixer). Tada! MarTwixer is born!

Martell Home Builders Tweet Up July 2010

So, as other tweet ups inevitably happened around the world where people probably drank too-strong, over-priced coffees and nibbled on stale baked goods while politely dabbing their lips with a napkin, we mingled outside and cooked meat over an open flame. Oh yeah! We had some good laughs and are thinking we definitely need to do this again.

Mmmm ... meat

Mmmm ... meat

If you aren’t following us on Twitter yet, please do! Here’s a link to our Twitter profile, as well as everyone who attended the MarTwixer:

@martellhomes

@alliemutch

@KevinTibbo

@joshnet

@gordonwilliams

@KristiColleen

@darlenes

@BrunoMHB

@jennamacneil

@notromxela

@KevinMacKenzie

@marcmawhinney

@AndrewCBaskin

@MarcGrandmaison

@kzwicker

@rhondacallow (okay, she wasn’t at the MarTwixer, but that’s not her fault. She’s the one writing this blog post, but is stuck on the Pacific Coast of Canada, on Vancouver Island. Don’t hold it against her! She really wanted to be there!)

MHB MarTwixer Tweet Up July 2010

For those of you who were at the MarTwixer, leave a comment letting us know what you thought the best part of the tweet up was. For those who didn’t or couldn’t attend, let us know if you’d be interested in attending one in the future. To see more photos from the MarTwixer, we’ve got a few posted on our Facebook page, and Marc Grandmaison has a bunch here (which is where all the great images posted here came from).

Martell Home Builders MarTwixer Tweet Up July 2010

Crazy About Finding a Cure to Breast Cancer!

Finding a Cure for Breast Cancer

Fact: In 2010, an estimated 5,300 women in Canada will die from breast cancer.

Fact: In 2010, an estimated 180 men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fact: One in nine (11%) Canadian women are expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.

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The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure is Canada’s largest single day, volunteer-led fundraising event dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs.

Martell Home Builders is joining forces with tens of thousands of other Canadians to help raise awareness and fight breast cancer. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation does more than just cancer research; they also help pay for treatment, offer education and after care support, fit women with wigs and prosthesis, and more. This organization saves lives and Martell Home Builders support them 100%.

From now until race time in October, our trucks will be driving around Moncton with a big pink moustache on them to celebrate and raise awareness for all those who are fighting, be sure to stop us and say hi, or share your story.

Support the CIBC Run For The Cure

Our goal is to raise $5000. Please help us by making a donation.

Has breast cancer had an impact on your life? Please feel free to share your story in the comments below.

Top 5 Things a Patio Deck Needs for Moncton Summers

Patio Deck

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Summer is finally here! And with summer comes morning coffees on the deck, relaxing afternoons in the backyard, BBQs with friends and family, and quiet evenings spent trying to cool off as the sun goes down. Needless to say, a lot of your time is probably spent on and around your patio deck, which means you should pimp it out as much as possible to enjoy it to the max! So, what does a patio deck need to have in order to make it through a Moncton summer? Here’s a list of what you might want to consider:

1. Mosquito netting! Don’t let those little bastards get drunk off your blood (and no, having them drink your blood will not reduce your blood alcohol level, regardless of what your buddy was trying to tell you!). Mosquito netting doesn’t need to look tacky either, in fact, there are plenty of options that actually look good and can complement the look of your patio!

2. Sprinklers. Whether it’s your kids who are complaining it’s too hot outside, your dog needing relief from the heat, or you’re suffering from menopausal hot flashes, having some sort of water within reach of your patio is a must – especially if you don’t have a backyard pool. The most obvious and cost-effective alternative to a pool is some sort of sprinkler system. There are tons of different types of sprinkler options: built-in sprinklers, those ones that lazily go back and forth, the sprinklers that were the inspiration for that stupid dance … you know the dance I’m talking about, don’t pretend you don’t!

Sprinkler Dance

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In any case, a sprinkler is a must to make it through a Moncton summer; which type you pick is entirely up to you.

3. Toys for the kids. If you’ve got kids, or friends who have kids, no Moncton summer is complete without some awesome patio deck toys. Try to avoid things with wheels, unless you enjoy watching your guests break their backs (get your mother-in-law out of your head … sicko). Better yet, invest in some sort of gating/fencing to create a designated play area. The fencing doesn’t need to be your standard jail-like baby gates either. Using some wooden planters to outline an area can look quite nice, as long as the purpose of the fencing is to simply serve as a visual reminder to the kids on where the toys are allowed, and not if you’re depending on the gate to keep the kids in.

4. BBQ and accessories. In addition to a sweet-looking stainless steel BBQ, don’t forget to invest in a decent BBQ cover and some accessories the guys will be jealous of, like a BBQ rib rack, wing rack, or smoker box.   

5. Lighting. Often overlooked, lighting can be a wonderful addition to a patio deck. There are so many options, from solar powered lamps to twinkling butterflies, adding lighting to a patio can not only be practical, but also create an almost whimsical environment, perfect for winding down after a long hot day.

Where to shop?

So, where the heck can you buy all this stuff in or around Moncton? Here are a few recommendations:

Kent Home Improvement Warehouse: Located at 55 Trinity Drive in Moncton. Phone number: (506) 862-3400.

The Home Depot: Located at 235 Mapleton Road in Moncton. Phone number: (506) 853-8150.

Serre Barachois Greenhouse: Located at 1146 Barachois, New Brunswick. Phone number: (506) 532-2788

Macarthur’s Nurseries Inc.: Located at 232 McLaughlin Drive in Moncton. Phone number: (506) 859-2727.

Toys “R” Us: Located at Champlain Place (477 Paul Street) in Moncton. Phone number: (506) 859-8697.

What’s on your wish list?

What does your dream deck consist of? How do you make it through Moncton summers? Let us know by leaving a comment below. And hey, if you’re a local business who offers patio deck supplies, make sure to tell us about your company!

Top 33 Ways to Improve the Look of Your Home for Under $100

Improve the look of your home

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Finally, summer is here at last! If you find that winter and spring did a number on the look of your home – inside and outside – and want to give it a facelift without spending a bunch of money, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s for your own personal happiness, because you’re thinking of putting your house on the market, or because you just want to get your nagging mother-in-law off your back, here are the top 33 cheap home improvement projects that will enhance the look of your home for under $100.

Make home improvements for cheap

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Before you do anything mentioned on this list, there are some common-sense home improvement tips you should tackle first. For example, just because you love your empty beer can collection, or the rusty P.O.S hunk of junk sitting on your front lawn – which you refer to as a “classic” – doesn’t mean everyone else loves it. Trust me when I tell you, if you get rid of the crap, you will improve the look of your home. Furthermore, if you’re looking for cheap home improvement projects, why not take back some precious space by ditching that freeloading loser of a boyfriend you’ve got? Seriously. You’d be amazed at how much better your home will look when that scumbag is gone … better even than hauling away the so-called classic on your front lawn! So now, without further ado, here are the top 33 home improvement tips you can do for free or for less than $100:

  1. Paint the interior. Choose the rooms that need it the most. For example, the front entrance will probably have more wear and tear than the walls in the den.
  2. Wash the walls! If you can’t paint, the next best thing is to give your walls a good washing, removing fingerprints and scuff marks.
  3. Paint window trims outside.
  4. Decorate your home with some local art.
  5. Buy some pretty hanging baskets to hang outside your front door.
  6. Pull the weeds and mow the lawn!
  7. Wash the windows (inside and out!).
  8. Don’t kill your garden or lawn, make sure you water it.
  9. Rent a pressure washer to clean your home’s siding, as well as the deck and driveway.
  10. Light up garden walkways and paths with some solar powered garden lamps.
  11. Declutter by having a garage sale!
  12. With the money you earned from the above tip, hit yard sales for new (to you) pieces of furniture or vintage artwork.
  13. Include some cool wall decorations to add some interestingness.
  14. Swap out the existing photos you have in frames for new ones (but don’t throw away the old ones, you can exchange them again when you are in need of a new look).
  15. Buy new hardware. You might not have the budget to replace all your kitchen cupboards or buy a new front door, but you can improve the looks of these by purchasing new handles or doorknobs.
  16. Get rid of or replace torn window and door screens.
  17. Paint or replace your home’s address numbers.
  18. Rent a carpet cleaner and clean that shag!
  19. Improve the look of your bedroom by following these tips.
  20. Replace your worn out door mats.
  21. Remove the moss from your roof (be careful!).
  22. Add mirrors to make rooms look larger and brighter.
  23. Follow the advice and tips from Martha Stewart.
  24. Paint the storage shed.
  25. Paint the fence.
  26. Plant flowers to add some colour to your garden.
  27. Trim that overgrown hedge!
  28. Seed bald areas of lawn.
  29. Fill and repaint chipped walls.
  30. Rearrange furniture and create a focal point in the room.
  31. Buy some inside plants and flowers.
  32. Learn some cheap DIY projects to improve the look of your home – recover old chairs or make some custom curtains, for example.
  33. Look for discontinued flooring for an inexpensive facelift on a small room like the front entrance or small bathroom. If you’re lucky, you can find good expensive tiles for a fraction of the price.

Improve the look of your home with yard work

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If you’re trying to improve the look of your home because you’re planning on moving, make sure you check out 10 Moving Tips to Cram More Crap in Your Car.

What home improvement tips can you add this this list? Do you know some cheap home improvement projects that cost less than $100? Leave a comment and let us know!