Gift Guide for LEGO Fans

My boys love LEGO... especially my middle son. We've had LEGO parties, planned trips to LEGOland, and purchased many LEGO products. So, when it comes to Christmas, there is always something "LEGO" related on my shopping list. Today, I am sharing 10 fun gift ideas for LEGO fans.

*Note: This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links, I will get a small commission (at NO extra cost to you). Thanks!

1) LEGO Advent Calendar - There is a LEGO advent calendar style for everyone, but in my house Star Wars LEGO rules! Getting a piece of LEGO every day for 24 days is a fantastic way to countdown to the big day.

2) LEGO Mug - I know it isn't good manners to play with your food, but with this super-fun LEGO mug, it's perfectly OK. I already ordered one of these mugs, and I can't wait for my son to try it out on Christmas morning.

3) LEGO Idea Book - I love the idea of making NEW projects from OLD pieces of LEGO. This fantastic book has over 500 ideas. That should keep the kids busy for a while.

4) LEGO Clean Up Mat - If you have ever stepped on a piece of LEGO, you know the importance of being able to clean up the pieces quickly and easily. This clean up mat is super-clever and the perfect quick clean up solution.

5) Clear Shoe Racks for LEGO Storage - There are tons of ways to store LEGO, but using a clear shoe rack is one of my favourites. The shoe racks take advantage of unused space on the back of a door, and the clear pockets make it easy for kids to organize their LEGO.

6) LEGO tape - This LEGO compatible tape is unique and clever. It's great for craft projects, and kids will love coming up with imaginative uses for it.

7) Classic LEGO Building Bricks - I'm a sucker for the classic LEGO bricks I grew up with. Rather than a "kit" with a specific thing to build, there are brightly coloured bricks which can be used to build endless imaginative creations.

8) LEGO Reactions Book - The STEM fan on your list will love this book. With existing pieces and the ones included with this book, you can design and build moving machines. How cool is that????

9) LEGO Stocking Stuffers - LEGO Crayons (which you can make by melting and cooling old crayons in a LEGO mold) and LEGO minifigures make great LEGO-themed stocking stuffers.

10) LEGO Kits - There are countless kits you can buy, but in my house the Star Wars kits are always the most popular. I am also loving the new Harry Potter kits this year.

Do you have a LEGO fan on your shopping list this Christmas? I hope this LEGO gift guide has given you some ideas and inspiration. Is there something you love that is missing from my list? Let me know what you think in the comments. 

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy) 

10 AWESOME Reasons to Visit LEGOLAND

We recently returned from a family vacation to Orlando, Florida... and (for the third time) my boys insisted on visiting LEGOLAND*. If you have never taken your kids to LEGOLAND, you definitely should. It is always a highlight for my boys, and my husband and I enjoy it too. Still not convinced? Keep reading... because today I am sharing 10 reasons that you should go to LEGOLAND with your kids.

1) It's not as crowded as some of the other parks... and the lines are shorter. Of course, wait times depend on the day that you visit the park and the ride you are trying to get on; however, we have found that wait times at LEGOLAND are usually shorter than the other parks we have visited. To minimize wait times, I recommend getting to the park early and heading directly to the back of the park where the roller coasters are located. On this visit, we headed straight to the NEW virtual reality roller coaster, and there was very little wait time.

2) There is a LOT of cool stuff built out of LEGO. Throughout the park, there are tons of awesome things made from LEGO, and MINILAND USA is fantastic. There are amazing scenes made from over 32 million LEGO bricks, great photo ops, and interactive buttons to push.

3) You can make your kids wear fun t-shirts. I always love the opportunity to dress my kids in special shirts when we visit theme parks. It makes the pictures look fantastic, and it helps me to keep track of the kids as we move through the park. This year, my sister and I purchased bright orange shirts that said, "Everything is awesome... when you are with your COUSINS!" Aren't they great?

4) You can save money on tickets. In the past I have purchased discounted tickets at Costco, you can sometimes find coupons online, and you can always save money if you book in advance. 

5) You can build your own minifigures. Building minifigures is always a highlight for my boys when we visit LEGOLAND. You can mix and match LEGO minifigure body parts and accessories to create unique minifigures... and you can buy a three pack for a very reasonable price. It's a lot of fun!

6) You can trade minifigures. You can trade the LEGO minifigures you buy from the park, and/or you can bring minifigures from home. (Just make sure you have a full minifigure... including a hat or hair.) You can trade with workers that have minifigures on their name tags, or you can ask the workers in the stores if they have a tray of "trading" figures you can see.

7) LEGOLAND has cool shows. There is a 4D movie that is a lot of fun, and there is a cute live action show that includes water skiing LEGO people. Check the park schedule for times to make sure you don't miss them.

8) Your kids can drive a LEGO car. The LEGO driving school is always one of my boys' favourite rides. I wish I was small enough to drive a LEGO car!

9) The rides are awesome... especially the LEGOLAND virtual reality roller coaster. LEGOLAND has a number of fun rides and roller coasters. They even have a virtual reality roller coaster. You wear virtual reality goggles while you ride, and you feel like you are really moving through a land made of LEGO!

10) The water park is awesome! This was our third visit to LEGOLAND, but it was our first visit to the water park, and we LOVED it. There is a wonderful play structure, a wave pool, water slides, and a lazy river. If the weather is nice, plan to make the water park part of your day. (Keep in mind... the water park isn't open every day, and there is an extra fee... so plan accordingly.)

Have you been to LEGOLAND? If you have kids, and you are planning a trip to Orlando, you should check it out. It really is a fun place to spend some time with family.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I was given complimentary tickets in exchange for my truthful review of this park. As always, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

LEGOLAND Florida Planning Tips

My boys love LEGOLAND, and if you have young kids that love LEGO (especially if they are between the ages of 4 and 10), you should totally check it out. Today, I am sharing everything you need to know if you are planning a trip to LEGOLAND.

First, you are going to want to be prepared. Make sure to pack everything you will need for the day. We took a backpack, water, sandwiches, snacks, sunglasses, hats, sweaters, sneakers, sunscreen, and our camera.

You can buy your tickets at the gate, or you can buy them ahead of time. If you plan ahead, you can get real discounts to LEGOLAND. In the past, I have purchased our tickets online at Costco, but you can also save by "picking a day" and ordering from the LEGOLAND website. I also saw some "buy an adult ticket and get a child admission for free" offers online.

When choosing your day to visit the park, you are going to want to check the weather. Be aware that most of the rides and attractions at this park are outdoors. If there is rain, many rides and attractions will shut down, so plan accordingly. 

You should also plan to pack a few lego minifigures for trading. Just approach one of the Model Citizens throughout the resort and ask them to trade or make a stop at the "trade with us" booth. (Note: There is also an option to buy minifigures at the park to trade. Either way... minifigures must be traded in complete form - with their hair or hat, head, body and legs.)  

There are many fun rides (for all ages) at LEGOLAND, but make sure you check ride height requirements prior to visiting the park to avoid disappointment. I recommend starting with the roller coasters at the back of the park first (to beat the lines). And don't forget the driving school... as it is a favorite with my boys. You'll even have an option to buy your very own license. 

You'll also want to check out the shows at LEGOLAND. There is a water skiing show, character meet and greets, a 4D movie, and other events that occur at specific times. You should work these into your schedule because they are entertaining and fun.

Of course, there are some fantastic things built from the LEGO that are sure to impress. It's a lot of fun to roam around the LEGO building areas, press the interactive buttons, and take some pictures.

LEGOLAND also offers many LEGO shopping opportunities. I highly recommend building your own LEGO minifigures. It's a lot of fun, and you can even make a souvenir holiday ornament.

There is also a water park (at an additional cost), but it isn't open every day. We didn't visit it, but my sister and her boys did, and they really enjoyed it. If the water park is a priority for you, you should check the website before you visit the park.

Another fun idea is to buy special LEGO shirts to wear to the park. I love how it looks in pictures, and it makes it easier to keep track of kids too!

This was our second trip to LEGOLAND, and we will definitely go back again. It's a big hit with my little LEGO-lovers.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I received free park admission in exchange for my honest review of this park. As always, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

You might also like: 10 reasons to visit LEGOLAND

7 Simple Ideas for LEGO Lovers (and new LEGO shows on Netflix)

I have three boys, and they all love LEGO. It really is the perfect toy. It's colourful, and the possibilities for creating are limitless. So... today, I am sharing some of my favorite ideas for LEGO lovers!

1) Make LEGO treats - LEGOs' simple shapes and bright colors make them perfect for creating easy and fun snacks. Rectangle cookies, coloured icing and Skittles can be used to create yummy LEGO cookies. You can also bake LEGO cupcakes (using LEGO chocolate molds) and LEGO cakes (using the "step by step" instructions found here).

2) Make LEGO crafts - You can melt old crayons in LEGO molds to create new bright and cheerful LEGO crayon bricks. You can also design your own LEGO minifigure using the free printable here, or you can make your own life size LEGO (using the tutorial you can find here).

3) Visit LEGOland - If you want to take your LEGO love to the next level, you can plan a trip to LEGOland. Check out my my top 10 LEGOland tips here.

4) Celebrate the holidays with LEGO - With a little imagination, it's easy to incorporate LEGO into holiday celebrations. For St.Patrick's Day my boys used our LEGO to build a leprechaun trap, and at Christmas our "Elf on the Shelf" built himself a LEGO chair.

5) Throw a LEGO party - LEGO makes a perfect party theme. It's a great source of inspiration for games, food, and party favours. When my boys turned four and six, I threw them a fantastic LEGO party, and you can check out our all the DIY LEGO PARTY details here.

6) Organize your LEGO - With mountains of mini figures, LEGO kits, and loose pieces/bricks. I have found a perfect solution for our LEGO organizing needs. Click here to find out what works for us.

7) Watch LEGO shows on Netflix - On March 4, Netflix launched two new shows: LEGO Bionicle and LEGO Friends. My boys are already big fans of LEGO Bionicle.

Do your little ones love LEGO as much as my boys do? Will they be watching LEGO Bionicle, LEGO Friends or both?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Easy LEGO storage solution

My 8 year old loves LEGO, but I can't stand having it cover every surface of my house. So, I came up with a way to organize our LEGO in a way that works with the way my son plays with it. Today I am sharing the simple ways we organize LEGO in our house.

My son loves little LEGO kits. He builds them multiple times, and he plays with them once they are together. He zooms around the house with his Star Wars ships, and he uses his imagination to act out scenes with his mini-figures. 

In order to keep his kits organized and accessible, I use a clear shoe rack on the back of his bedroom door. I throw out the boxes, and we put all the pieces and building instructions into large Ziploc bags. Then, we store each kit in its own pocket. Everything is organized (and off the floor), and my son can find all his kits easily.

All the other LEGO goes in bins in our playroom. He can easily pull it out when he is playing with it, and scoop it up into the bin when he goes to bed at night.

We also have some loose pieces and mini-figures in bins in his room. The top bins are open, so he can place his "works in progress" here at the end of the day.

I've seen many fantastic LEGO desks on Pinterest, but we just don't have the space for that in our home. I think our system works well for us, the way my son plays with LEGO, and our limited space. How do you manage all the LEGO in your house?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)