The Yellow Man turns 30 today!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEGO MiniMan! To celebrate the big 3-0 LEGO Group has created a celebration video representing the many accomplishments and adventures this wee-little man has embarked upon…check it out, let your imagination run free, and try to remember all of the adventures the LEGO MiniMan helped you experience! Go MiniMan Go!!!


You can even download it in 3D!!!

Bee Mine

As Dean Martin sang…

My head keeps spinnin’,
I go to sleep and keep grinnin’
If this is just the beginnin’,
My life is gonna be bee-yoo-tee-full

Congratulations to Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson…The blogosphere is all a-buzz with news of Pete Wentz’s wedding present to his wife…

A BEE MADE OF LEGO BRICKS!

Check out the full story at eOnline: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b139491_pete_ashs_wedding_still_creating_buzzzzz.html

Unexpected LEGO Home Décor!

OK, so for those of us that LOVE the Brick and the amazing creations we build, but are finding it tough to display these primary colored WORKS OF ART against our specially picked and painted Sycamore Green family room walls, ApartmentTherapy.com blogger, Aaron, has uncovered the coolest creation that I could easily incorporate into my home!

This cool, yet unexpected planter is definitely my next project…Now I just have to find myself a cute plant and some white spray paint!

Check out how Bob, from the Bob Blog actually created it! http://the-bob-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/lego-planter_25.html

TGIF - Totally Great Indy Fest

...and to send us into this LONG weekend smiling and possibly in awww:

Thank you to Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz for making me aware of this amazing, Indiana, meets LARGE LEGO boulder, meets STEEP San Francisco street...and mini-van...VIDEO!

File this one under important documents...

Jesus Diaz's of Gizmodo is a LEGO Maniac. He is certainly on par with me and my crowd in regards to fan status. If you don't follow Gizmodo, you should. His wife recently posted an essay today entitled "How to Love a LEGO Maniac," which includes a 10 step program outlining exactly how to ensure a smooth relationship with a LEGO fanatic. This post is my effort to help in spreading her word and knowledge to significant others of LEGO maniacs worldwide.

Of course, each LEGO maniac situation will call for unique combination of guidelines to leading a healthy and balanced life, but I must say this article is a great jumping off point. I'll definitely keep this one filed under important documents.

As gracious as I am for this new resource as I look for my lifelong companion, I am, in fact, hosting major feelings of jealousy over here, in reference to Jesus' potential pilgrimage to the LEGO factory in Denmark this coming in June.

A new world record!

From DVICE on 5/6/08: If you’re looking for the tallest tower of LEGO in the world, here's a picture of it right here. This monster was built in the Legoland Windsor theme park in the U.K. of 500,000 LEGO bricks, and stands just shy of 100 feet high.

My commentary:
Now why would anyone ever build a LEGO tower reaching 100 feet tall? Can you imagine how many stairs a minifigure would have to climb to make it to the top? That evokes an extremely funny image in my mind. No but really, the minifig would have to crank his neck back so far to look at the top, his head would fall off! I should change my blogger alias from Gen X to Funny Guy. (sound effect: Badum-ching!)

Okay, maybe Funny Guy is a stretch, but how about Random Fact Finder.: In miniscale terms, building a 100ft tall tower would be comparable to building a 4,800ft (.9 miles) tall tower in normal person scale… which would be two times as tall as the current tallest man-made structure in existence (a skyscaper still under construction in Dubai, that reached 2,064 ft in height as of April 7, 2008).

"The Minifig Formerly Known As..."

This is hilarious.... LOL, please, please, please look at these "celebrity minifigs!" They are TOO much!

I love that Donald Trump is placed between Douglas MacArthur and Ernest Hemingway.

No other words are needed, just go take a look for yourself :)

Lessons in Leadership from LEGO

Ron Hunter Jr. and Michael Waddell, authors of a new book called Toy Box Leadership, say that people can learn lessons in leadership from the toys they loved when they were younger.

In an inspiring article by the folks over at the South Florida Sun-Sentinal, Hunter explains his theory that LEGO building is about "connecting people or organizations together." He explains "When you put together the right Lego structure, you don't see the bricks. You see the finished product."

Of course, the people over at LEGO already had the hunch that LEGO is a valuable addition to the work place. LEGO Serious Play, which is an innovative, experiential process designed to enhance ovation and business performance, has already helped some of the most well known businesses become who they are today.

Learn more about LEGO Serious Play

It is Official...UPDATE

I am a blog party addict! The Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Giveaway Carnival is finally here, and I am excited! Give away#612 is a LEGO Pink Brick Box! Now this is freebee madness!

For all of you LEGO fans who didn’t get a chance to enter the Ultimate Blog Party giveaway, now is your chance to win a LEGO Creative Building Pink Brick Box!

Playlibrary.com

Lego-Inspired iPod Speaker

Props to Parents Magazine's Goodyblog for a super great suggestion: Lego-Inspired iPod Speaker (see left)... check out the new iPod Retro Mini Speaker from delight.com, which is available in classic lego-inspired red, blue, green and yellow, and makes any iPod much, much more crazy cool.

Now I just need to pump my MCHammer tunes into my iPod through my USB... plug in my brick lookin' speaker, and I'll be 2Legit2Quit. Hey, Hey.

James Wilkie Broderick loves LEGO

Sarah Jessica Parker and Mathew Broderick's 5 year old son, James Wikie Broderick loves LEGO... Mom SJP says "He's really into Legos right now and he's really into Star Wars."

Keep on building little man! There are plenty of LEGO Star Wars sets to get your hands on in just a few years...

(Thanks to Celebrity Baby Blog for the update and the image!)

If I Were...

No one knows creativity better than kids... but sometimes little ones need to be allowed the right environment to fully express their creativity. Mary and Heather, founders MomsTown.com, have some great tips on enhancing creativity and imagination.

My personal favorite is #4... "If I Were..." Here's how you play:
Heather and Mary suggest playing this game in the car, but anyplace will do. Say to your kids, “If I were_____” Have them fill in the blank and then create a story. For example, “If I were an astronaut I would….” Mom and Dad can play along to!

Here is my LEGO version:
"If I were a LEGO minifigure..."
If I were a LEGO minifigure, I would live in a bucket with all of my LEGO brick friends! I would be able to meet other LEGO minifigures, who would be just my size. I would get to meet astronauts and aliens, police and firemen, trolls, dwarves, and knights, and even racecar drivers! I could even meet Indiana Jones! I would build a fortress as big or as small as I please, and share it with all of my LEGO minifigure friends.

Give it a try, or get 9 more creative ideas here.

Take Me Out to The Ball Game...

... Take me out with the crowd... (of minifigures?!)

Many, many thumbs up to Tim Kaebisch who pieced together this LEGO replica of Milwaukee's Miller Park. Seven years and seven models later, it is ready just in time for opening day! I wish i had close up shots of the detail, but this video is a great too!

Call me a LEGO Fan!

Along with the fully functional LEGO PC, LEGO Air Conditioner, and LEGO furniture, I'm adding this working LEGO Telephone to my list of dream items for my office. Of course, I'd custom order mine to be cordless with an integrated speaker phone. (Really, is that asking too much?)

Day 4 of the Ultimate Blog Party - Amazing LEGO Models to Help Spark Your Creativity

Hey Ultimate Blog Partiers!

Today I thought I would share with you one of my favorite collections of LEGO Creations…hopefully this video of amazing LEGO models will give you a taste of my world and why adults and kids alike continue to build for hours and hours. This video really proves that you can make ANYTHING out of LEGO bricks.

GOSH…if I could just figure out how to build a LEGO car like the one featured in this video…sure would save me a lot in car payments!

Happy Blogging!

HAPPY BLOGGING...and BUILDING!

As many of you know, I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Party, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom! I am having an absolute ball meeting fellow lady bloggers and checking out their blogs. My blogging mission today was to showcase awesome LEGO models created by families that I could share to inspire creativity in the homes of my fellow party bloggers. I visited the LEGO Club page today and saw an outstanding LEGO lamp that was built by an 11-year-old child and his dad…and it actually works! The lamp currently holds the title of Designers Choice! Check out other amazing LEGO creations at the Club site and maybe tonight you and your family (no matter how old your kids are) can brighten up your family room by pulling out your bucket of bricks and BUILDING!

Party Time! LET'S GET CREATIVE!

Welcome Ultimate Blog Partiers! Thanks for stopping by! I’d like to first introduce myself… I am Homebody, resident Mom Blogger, and I am thrilled to be partying down with fellow moms this week. I write mostly about incorporating CREATIVITY into your everyday family life and I love discovering different ways families play with the brick!

Whether it is journal writing, after-school painting classes or playing on a basketball team, creative activities for children help to challenge their brains and broaden their horizons. Creativity is the critical heartbeat of today’s most successful businesses and is a critical skill in preparing the next generation workforce.

To get you started, I have created a small party favor for you as a token of my appreciation for party hopping to my pad! It is entitled “LEGO Family Building Night Activities Booklet”. I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to stop by later this week for another fun favor!

Also, in case you haven’t reviewed the entire list of Ultimate Blog Party gifts/give-aways, LEGO has donated 7 of its newest Pink Brick Boxes (in honor of the 7 day long party!) They are adorable! (Click here to learn how to become eligible.)

Kindly sponsored by the folks at LEGO, the LEGOstories blog acts as a resource for tracking fun stories about the LEGO brand for all of us LEGO parents, teachers and/or fans, and provides inspiration, tips, links, etc for exploring CREATIVITY and LEGO building. Please feel free to mingle and read my past blog posts, meet my friends, and visit us often to stay abreast about why CREATIVITY matters.

Be sure to check out my last post and learn about the LEGO Creativity Awards, where 5 kids will win $5000 each to pursue their creative passions.


Happy partying... and please feel free to leave a comment!

Share Your Child's Creativity

LEGO just announced the 2nd Annual LEGO Creativity Awards essay contest…like Babble.com’s Droolicious Blogger reports, “New guitar or drum kit? Canvases and paints? Rack server for the home? Personal project (RED)? No matter what dream you're hoping to finance, grab an entry form at LEGO's Creation Nation website and share your kids' creativity with the planet (last day for entries: May 23).”

LEGO PC

This fully functional PC - complete with a VIA Epia PD Mobo 1Ghz, Nvidia 6200 PCI Graphics, Laptop 80 Gig 7200Rpm Hdd, Laptop DVD, 1 GB Geil DDR memory, 200 watt PS, side cooling intakes, ACB Exhaust fan, and wheels for mobility, is (best of all) cased in LEGO. If hindsight is 20/20 and the square of 493 is less than the sum of the whole, the train arrives at 4:02 pm with all the eggs in one basket, and this LEGO PC gets a perfect 10!

LEGO Batman "welcomes" Harley Quinn to Gotham City

I just heard the news, Harley Quinn makes her debut as a LEGO minifigure this June... I can hardly contain myself! Another villan addition to my LEGO Gotham City. I must admit I am 50/50 on my feelings about the upcoming Dark Knight, b/c at heart, I am a dieahard classic Batman fan. In fact, my comic books are still each individually wrapped and stored neatly in a plastic bin in the corner of my parents garage... (shhh they might toss them like they did my original LEGO bricks and Commodore 64!)

AND THE WINNER IS….

LEGO CITY wins the Best Activity Toy of the Year at the TOTY’s (Toy of the Year Awards)!!! Chris Byrne, aka the Toy Guy, included an entire list of TOTY winners on his site! CHECK IT OUT HERE!

WOOHOO!!!

Brick-Buster Models Take Over Toy Fair

Check out the new lifesize Indiana Jones & Star Wars models featured outside the LEGO booth at Toy Fair...

All the King's horses and all the Kings men...

All the King's horses and all the Kings men come to life in LEGO form in this impressive LEGO Chess Set. Dave from brickplayer.com has created a complete chess set from LEGO bricks - and, he has included step by step instructions on how to build the entire set. A great family activity that brings a whole new meaning to build and play fun!

There's No Place Like Home

While reading the paper this morning, I came across an article entitled "Customize your Valentine's Day gifts" by Mike Antonucci, which suggested the most adorable gift idea:

Construct a Lego kit of the dream home you and your sweetheart envision.

Lego offers the option of downloading design software at www.legofactory.com, using it to build the virtual version of an original Lego model and ordering the pieces to turn the design into reality.

Or, if you are lucky enough to already live in your dream home, you can create a replica on Lego Factory, and get all of the pieces and building instructions, so the whole family can build a LEGO model of your home together!

Holy LEGO Bricks!!!

This builder looked to the heavens for his inspiration…



It took a year and a half of planning, building and photographing, includes more than 75,000 LEGO bricks and pieces, 3,976 LEGO windows, and is about 7ft x 5.5ft x 30in. Apparently there is even a coat room, restrooms and mosaics placed throughout. Check out the elaborate pipe organ in the back! ….WOW!

This is awesome...

I sure hope minifig Mario saves minifig Princess! (Though if it were me, I would have taken warp zone and gone to level 4)



oh and btw, happy birthday lego brick!

A timeline of LEGO sets

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the LEGO bricks, several timelines of LEGO sets have emerged, giving us all a blast from the past. Here are some of my favorites:

Best Sets in LEGO History
50 Years of LEGO: Nine Sets I Have Known and Loved
A Golden Anniversary for LEGO

Happy Belated Birthday!

This past Monday, January 28 at 1:58 pm the original LEGO brick celebrated 50 years of fun and creativity! Check out the official historical footage here, but also look for all the great fan tributes!

5/22=RAD

May 22. It must be my lucky day. Not only did Lucas release Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith on May 22, 2005 (in all seriousness, one of the best days of my life!), but now, I hear they plan on releasing Indiana Jones 4: Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on May 22, 2008! Even more, Gizmodo broke the news yesterday with official high resolution shots, prices and descriptions of the four new LEGO diorama sets based on Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, also launching in May. Pretty RAD.

Family Fun Night Activity

Have you ever felt compelled to share the fun fact on the bottom of the Snapple bottle cap, or tried to figure out the answer to the question on your popsicle stick before it melted away? Now you and your kids can test each other on your LEGO knowledge. In honor of the 50th birthday of the LEGO brick, Monday, bloggers all over the internet posted fun LEGO facts to their sites.

Jot down of some of the fun facts Gizmodo posted and you’re on your way to an exciting Family Trivia Night:

- 40 billion LEGO bricks stacked on top of one another would connect the earth with the moon.
- The LEGO bricks sold in one year would circle the world five times.
- There are more than 915 million combinations possible for six 2x4 LEGO bricks.
- LEGO bricks are available in 53 different colors.