Tag Archives: building

Sep16

LEGO Sailboat Adventure Set

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LEGO Sailboat Adventure Set

Hi! A few weeks ago, Johnny and I had a huge LEGO haul which included our Seinfeld set, a Harry Potter one, and a Sailboat Adventure set that we got FO FREE. After spending a certain amount, we got free shipping and the free set and it was a great deal. We definitely have enough LEGO to keep us occupied for a while but, of course, we are always thinking about the sets that we want next!

This past weekend, we built the Sailboat Adventure set together and it was a blast! It also turned out really good if I do say so myself:

Building LEGO sets with my husband is one of my favorite things in the world and we are so happy to add the little sailboat to our collection. There is nothing better than completing a set together and admiring our handiwork and on top of being tons of fun, it is so nice to work as a team to make something cool to have on display. If only we had a bigger place so we could make our completed sets the crown jewel that they deserve to be!

On deck, we have two Harry Potter LEGO sets to build: The Attack On The Burrow which Johnny got me for our two year anniversary and the Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets. Once those are done, I have my eye on the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower and Johnny would like a pirate ship set. While we are always looking to expand our Hogwarts castle, our Sailboat Adventure set inspired us to begin adding adventure themed sets to our collection. We are thinking pirate ships, islands, and castles. 😀

Although the Sailboat Adventure is the smallest set we own, we have big things in store for it with our plans for an adventure island. I can’t wait!

What do you like to build with LEGO? Who watched LEGO Masters this season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep3

LEGO Seinfeld Set

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LEGO Seinfeld Set

Hello! Johnny and I recently had a huge LEGO Haul that included some new Harry Potter sets and, most importantly, a set of Jerry’s apartment from Seinfeld. We are both huge fans of the show and we just had to buy it as a crowning jewel of our apartment!

When I returned home from work and an outing last week, I was so surprised to see that Johnny had completed the set while I was away as a surprise. Why didn’t we build it together, you might ask? Check out these pics and allow me to explain:

For my birthday last year, Johnny gifted me with the Clock Tower Harry Potter LEGO set. This was my first experience of building with LEGO in my entire life and, let’s just say it didn’t go very well at first. The entire beginning of this set involved incredibly small bricks and I just couldn’t put two and two together with my acrylics. I got so frustrated because I assumed that this was all LEGO was and what was the fun in that if I couldn’t do it?

I left Johnny to complete all of the small accessories and when bigger bricks finally came into play, I was elated to find that I could build with them with no problem. Now, whenever Johnny and I build with LEGO, I take care of all of the big parts of the build and he handles all of the small bricks and details. Our system works beautifully and it makes what was originally impossible for me to do a hobby that I can’t get enough of.

As you can see from the Seinfeld set, it is basically all small bricks and Johnny and I knew that it would be one that he would have to build on his own. Once I returned home from my day to see it in all of its glory on the coffee table, I was blown away because the set it absolutely perfect.

One of the things that Johnny and I love the most when it comes to LEGO are the small surprises that are included in each set. We were in hysterics over the LEGO pictures of The Kramer portrait and George’s boudoir shot and can’t get over the fact that Kramer has his own “Coffee Table Book”. The Festivus Pole in the left corner is also a nice touch and there is even a picture of a LEGO Larry David on the fridge! 😀

While there is nothing better than building a LEGO set with Johnny, I so appreciate that he spared me the frustration of attempting to help with the Seinfeld set, lol. Unfortunately, we have had no such luck in finding a house to rent. But, when we eventually do, we can’t wait to have more room to display our completed sets and, of course, build more! ❤

What is your favorite thing that you have built with LEGO? Does anyone watch LEGO Masters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Aug27

Surprise LEGO Set!

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Surprise LEGO Set!

Hi! Johnny and I will be celebrating our two year anniversary of being in a “Facebook official” relationship on September first, which is super exciting! When it comes to buying presents for any occasion, I am notorious for purchasing way in advance and constantly asking if I can give the gifts early. I just can’t help myself!

For mine and Johnny’s two year, I came to terms with waiting until the day of so you could imagine my surprise when he wanted to do presents early. Take a look at what Johnny got for me:

As you all know from yesterday’s post, Johnny and I had a huge LEGO haul with a Harry Potter Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets set, a Seinfeld set, and a little boat set too. Once I returned home with all of the LEGO in tow, Johnny decided to gift me with one more so I guess the two year anniversary is the LEGO anniversary! 😀

For our two year, Johnny got me the Harry Potter Attack on the Burrow set, which I have wanted since it was released about a year ago. We are constantly talking about expanding our Hogwarts castle and grounds and while the Weasley house technically doesn’t belong on the Hogwarts grounds, it is still a welcome addition.

Our two year anniversary definitely qualifies under the “fun and games” category as I gifted him with a Legend of Zelda Monopoly and more Link Amiibos to add to his collection. We are so excited to play a rousing game of Monopoly together and build our four different LEGO sets. I think our LEGO additions will keep us occupied for about a week because once we start building we just can’t stop! ❤

What is your favorite board game? Have you gotten any new LEGO sets recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug18

Keep Yourself Busy With These Ideas

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Keep Yourself Busy With These Ideas

Hi there! Idle hands are the devil’s play thing or however that saying goes and, if you’re like me, then you might like to keep your hands busy too. There are so many amazing things that can be created with our own two hands from building with LEGO to constructing a house! Today, we are going to look at a few ideas that will definitely keep your hands busy when you are feeling fidgety or need to destress. Let’s get to it:

Build Something New:

People who are gifted in the art of construction, wood working, and welding simply blow me away and it is an awesome skill to continue to practice if you are so inclined. Being able to make something out of nothing must be so satisfying and is a great way to get creative as well as decompress. Before starting your next project, make sure you have all of the proper building supplies and tools and see what magic you can work to make it happen!

LEGO:

So maybe actual construction isn’t your thing and that’s okay! But have you ever tried building with LEGO bricks, instead? My husband and I absolutely love to build with LEGO and are very much looking forward to receiving our Seinfeld set in the mail any day now. Building with LEGO takes time, focus, and a lot of imagination if you are not building an actual set. It is a great way to break up the monotony of your regularly scheduled programming as you spend some time building something brick by brick. Be sure to check out the competition show, LEGO Masters, too because it is a hoot. 😀

Puzzles:

I really enjoy putting puzzles together and there is nothing better than when you get into a good flow and the pieces just seem to come together themselves. While I couldn’t imagine doing anything beyond a five hundred piece puzzle, some people are gifted enough to put together one thousand plus puzzle pieces! Put on your favorite tunes and see how much puzzle progress you can make in one sitting.

Arts & Crafts:

Knitting, crochet, needlepoint, and sewing are all fabulous skills to have and it can be done anywhere! You can dream up something knew while you’re killing time on a long car, train, or plane ride or just hanging out at home and watching a movie. I live for the scarf that my mom knitted for me and can’t wait for the weather to cool down so I can wear it once again!

Creating something new is exciting, fulfilling, and can be done with your own two hands! What will you make today?

Feb14

Creating Your Dream Home

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Creating Your Dream Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has given us more time at home than many people have ever had before – myself, included. It looks like we will still be staying in for the foreseeable future so we might as well be spending this time in what we consider a “dream home”. If you are considering to start changing things up at your place, now is the perfect time. Not only is it a good time to start spring cleaning but, I’m sure everyone’s place is in desperate need of sprucing up and rearranging after spending almost an entire year inside!

Today, we are going to examine a few ideas from big to small to help you get started on creating a dream home that you can ride out the rest of the pandemic in:

Starting From Scratch:

If you are so sick of your house that you don’t even want to be in it anymore, you could start from scratch with our biggest change of building a new home. A brand new home that is completely designed by you and your family will, without a doubt, be your dream home since you had a say in everything about it! Sit down as a family and draw sketches of what you’d like your place to look like as well as a list of must haves that you need for it to be your dream home. Then, take your ideas to the experts at Lambie Homes or a company in your local area to turn your dream into a reality.

Take a drive with your family to find the best location for your new place. You will want this location to be a convenient distance from schools, work, medical care, and shopping centers. Also, don’t forget to obtain a building permit for said location or a building permit in Mississauga if you are in the area. As I’m sure you can image, building a home from scratch is no easy feat so everyone will need to be fully committed to this project. This includes your building team! You will want to work with a company that comes highly recommended so research several different options. You can get started by entering a search for “central iowa home builders” (or your local area) and be prepared with your ideas to brainstorm together.

Of course, building a home from scratch is a massive undertaking and can take a long time. This might not be the best option for your family if you feel like you need a change. You could consider a move to newly constructed homes, instead. Simply enter a search for “Park City new construction” (or the area you would like to live in) to begin exploring your options. While the home won’t be designed by you, you can rest assured that it will have the modern amenities that you crave. A brand new home also provides ample opportunity to make your own with your decor and landscaping choices.

Adding More Space:

If you love your house but it’s starting to feel a little cramped, a much lesser project than building from scratch would be adding some extra rooms to your home. Whether this be a back sun room, an additional floor, or a guest suite, the additions will give your family more home to enjoy while allowing all of you to space out comfortably as we continue on with our lock down lifestyles. A guest suite could also become a lucrative business if you ever choose to rent it out!

If you desire more space but not the renovations that come with it, this might be a good opportunity to begin looking for a bigger house. Moving home can provide you with the space as well as more modern amenities that you crave. All without the hassle of a full fledged renovation. To get started, simply enter a search for “James Douglas – Cardiff Property Specialists” (or a similar business in your local area). Local estate agents will consider your requirements for your new space and help pinpoint the homes that are worth looking into further.

Mini Makeovers:

Going room by room and giving each one a mini makeover is a surefire way to freshen up your space without breaking the bank. Mini makeovers can range from painting the room, installing new flooring or carpets, purchasing a new statement piece of furniture, or simply swapping out the decor from different areas of your home to make it feel like new again. Come up with a dream design for each room in your house, create a budget that you are comfortable with, and see what mini makeover magic you can create.

Home improvements and renovations to get your place up to your dream standards are not only exciting but are a great way to kill some free time while in lock down. Break out a dream journal for your house and get to work on creating a space that’s perfect for you and your family.

Jan9

Hagrid’s Hut Harry Potter LEGO Set

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Hagrid’s Hut Harry Potter LEGO Set

Hi! Johnny and I love to build with LEGO and we were so generously gifted with the Hagrid’s Hut set from Harry Potter for Christmas. Although it was a much smaller set than what we’re used to, it took us a good three and a half hours plus to finish it and it was such fun to be doing something other than watching TV! Just because it was a small set doesn’t mean that it was any less challenging to assemble and there were lots of exciting surprises incorporated throughout the build. I think it turned out awesome! Take a look at the finished product and let’s discuss:

A300E005-A1C2-47E2-B29A-F7B5FABF3245F2F64249-5689-4BF9-B5FD-F27290315BFE4A548EA6-CB00-4A30-A694-D62BCE76F8DA5300D718-C7A4-4180-B828-27E9931DE4A461971B4E-F504-4CCC-A61A-76454D5D2F409B2C6145-CB7A-4DBF-887C-F54AECD77C36A4CB8C0E-C562-4083-8039-207587D435AD38592450-D1F5-404A-8D71-BC0C9DE503AFBCE57266-2FB4-4571-89F3-589BFD71890C

Johnny and I have wanted to begin expanding our Hogwarts grounds for a while now and Hagrid’s Hut is the perfect set to start with. It has been sitting on our coffee table since its completion and I can’t help but smile every time I look at it because it is so freaking cool! It really is a to the T replica of Chez Hagrid’s in LEGO form and I almost forgot the sense of achievement and the downright fun that comes with building with LEGOs because it has been so long since we got a new set.

I am particularly fond of the pumpkin patch with Buckbeak and his passenger, the Minister of Magic. He is definitely not supposed to be on top of the hippogriff but, hey, whatever works! I am also completely charmed by all of Hagrid’s tools and utensils hanging from the rafters in his sitting room. The piece de resistance of this set, however, has to be the light up brick used to mimic the fire heating up Hagrid’s dragon egg. All you need to do is press on the rooftop above from the fire place and it lights up. It is such an awesome, simple idea and it still delights me every time I light the fire!

I would highly recommend the LEGO Hagrid’s Hut set if you have a Harry Potter LEGO collection, too. It is also a really nice beginner’s set if you have never built with LEGO before. Johnny and I are very eager to keep expanding Hogwarts and this just lit that fire even more… See what I did there?!

Who else enjoys building with LEGO? Did anyone watch the competition show LEGO Masters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct23

When You’re Having Trouble Finding Your Dream Home

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When You’re Having Trouble Finding Your Dream Home

The real estate market can be one wild ride to go through. Looking for homes is far from easy and even homes that you should be able to easily say “no” or “yes” to can become a trickier subject when you’re thinking about trying to move quickly or ensuring you have your finances in the right place. However, it’s even harder when you just can’t find a home to say “yes” to. If you’re having trouble finding your new home, here are a few tips to get you back in the game:

Know your priorities:

First of all, you might need to manage your expectations a little. When you’re talking about the right home for you, does it have to tick every single box or are there some boxes that are more important than the others? For the vast majority of house hunters, the latter is more likely to be the case. If that is so, then you should take the time to actually know which boxes need to be ticked and which would be nice to have. Sit down with a pen, paper, and anyone else who is involved in buying the home and brainstorm things you want from the home. Then take the time to separate them into actual wants and needs, so you know what you might be willing to drop if all the most important boxes are ticked.

Get some help looking:

If you’re having trouble finding a good home, then the simple issue might be that you don’t know where to look. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s not like it’s your profession to go house hunting. That is the profession of real estate agents, however. Working with local real estate agents means getting access to someone who has done plenty of research in the area, so they know about what amenities you can expect, how properties compare to one another in the general area, as well as pricing history throughout the area. What’s more, there are plenty of properties that don’t get advertised to the general public that a good estate agent can help you find.

If you’re looking for a major change, expand your horizons! Perhaps you want to try living in a brand new state and are interested in land home packages delaware, or elsewhere, which combine the convenience of securing both land and a custom-built home. This change of scenery might be just the inspiration you need to find your dream property, especially if you are coming up empty with local options. Working with a home builder team is interactive, exciting and could be an excellent way to go if you are not willing to sacrifice the must haves and nice to haves in your new home.

Can you make it your dream home?

Your home might not exactly fit all of your needs and wants right now, but how many of those could you take the time to implement yourself? When it comes to home styling, the world is your oyster so long as you have the budget for it. However, even when it comes to how much space you have and how many rooms you have, you might want to look at home remodeling services. This is going to boost the overall price of the home, of course, so you need to seriously consider how much you want those changes. If you still can’t imagine the house to be the home of your dreams even with remodeling, it is best to explore other options like touring different properties or considering new house and land packages. Sometimes the home you are viewing is just not a good fit and that is okay!

Can you make your dream home?

Buying a home to only renovate and remodel it can be a lot more expensive than you might think. In fact, it might actually be more cost-effective to build your dream home, yourself. Going for a new build with the help of custom home builders is actually a more reasonable choice than you might think. Besides, if you have the budget, you can make sure that your custom home ticks every single one of your wants and needs. Custom home communities like Olde Bulltown Village are becoming more and more popular and could be a great place to start looking for inspiration. For those who don’t want to compromise, there simply isn’t a better option than to build the home yourself instead of buying one.

Know when you have found the right house:

Perhaps you’ve already found the home for you, but you simply haven’t taken the time to acknowledge it. In a lot of cases, if you find the best home on the market early, then you might not make a move on it since you want to see what else is out there. However, the more homes you look at, the more the details of that older property can slip out of your mind. Be sure to talk about homes you have looked over with your real estate agent so you can compare them in detail and remind yourself of the house that might already be right for you. Then you need to be willing to act on it.

You might not always be able to get the home that ticks every single one of your boxes. If you do, it’s probably going to be more expensive than you might think. However, hopefully, the tips above will help you get a little closer than you currently are!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan16

Pros And Cons Of Building A House

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Pros And Cons Of Building A House

Building your own house may be something that you have always dreamed about, and you may now be in the position where you could make this a reality. Nevertheless, this is a huge investment to make, and it is important to consider it carefully before you go ahead and commit. So, with that in mind, read on to discover the pros and cons of building your own property so that you can get a better idea of what to expect”

The reasons why you SHOULDN’T build your own home:

Let’s start with the bad side of things: the reasons why you should buy an existing property rather than building your own. One of the main reasons why people prefer to go down this route is quite simple: it is less stressful. Not only this, but you are likely to benefit from mature trees and landscaping, you can negotiate on a price (meaning you will often get a better deal), and you are more likely to benefit from neighborhood amenities, too. And, just because you are not building a home doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice on modern bells and whistles. Homes like those built by handlerhomes.com are move in ready and feature plenty of community amenities to truly make it feel like a dream location. Regardless of if it is a newly built home or not, it will feel brand new to you and that is the most important thing.

When building your own home, this often means buying a plot of land, which tends to be in an area that is not as developed yet. Moreover, the cost of building your own property is likely to be much more expensive. You can find out more about this at www.cheatsheet.com. After all, this is the price you pay for having something built exactly as you want it. Aside from this, it is also worth considering the fact that you can upgrade at your own pace, as you have the money and the time. You will also be able to move into your new property immediately after the sale is closed. There can be a lot of waiting around and sleeping on people’s sofas when you are having a house built.

Of course, another option to consider instead of a full fledged newly built home is investing in cabin kits to provide everything you need for the build right from the start. It will be way less time consuming and often cheaper than a newly built home. Renovating or extending your property might also be a good way to go. Perhaps you could make a bedroom or a game room out of an attic space. Or, if you have plans to grow your family, an extension could be the way to go. To get started, simply enter a search for “Double-storey home extensions in Surrey” (or your local area) and begin the brainstorming process with the pros.

The reasons why you SHOULD build your own home:

There is only one place to begin, and this is with the fact that you will be able to have the house of your dreams. Companies like www.malarvillan.se/ make this a reality. All you need to do is tell them about your needs and wants for your new property, and they will use their expertise to make this come true. There is no other way to get a home that is just right for you and your requirements. There are a number of other reasons why you should think about building your own home, too. This includes the fact that new properties tend to feature materials that are energy-efficient, you won’t have to fret about large repairs straight away, you can customize the details of your property to suit your tastes and lifestyle, and you will benefit from modern finishes and features.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what to expect when building your home – the good and the bad. There is no right or wrong approach; it is all about determining what is right for your situation and your budget.

Featured Image By: PXhere

Jun10

Build The Ultimate Home Workshop

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Build The Ultimate Home Workshop

So many people aren’t using their garages for any particular purpose, and when it comes to what you should do with all of that space, there are obviously a lot of possibilities. Today, we’re going to look at a suggestion for those who love to build things; we’re going to explore the possibility of turning your garage into a workshop. This can be a great option for both hobbyists and business owners alike. Here are a few tips for going about a conversion in the right way:

Professional renovation? If you don’t fancy taking a DIY route, then you could always hire renovation experts to do it for you. While this can be expensive, it also ensures that the project is being handled by people who have done this sort of thing several times before. The renovation team as well as electricians and plumbers will visit site for a consultation and work with you to help your vision come to life in the safest way possible. The problem with this route is that you might be underestimating yourself. Turning a garage into a workshop is nowhere near as complicated as it may sound. Plus, if you like building things anyways, then surely it would be pretty good to be able to say that you built the workshop with your own bare hands?

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Hopefully yours will be a little neater.

What You Need to Add: Of course, whether or not you should seek expert assistance may depend on how much you need to renovate your garage. A workshop is going to require more electricity than your average garage that’s only used for storage. And if that means that you need to do some rewiring, then you should definitely hire an electrician. To find a professional in your area, you can simply search for “electrician near me“. This is a task that you should not try to do alone, for safety’s sake. There is a lot that can go wrong and it’s best to leave it to the pros.

You may also want to consider the fact that new plumbing may be required, because you’ll want some sort of water flow going into the shop for safety reasons. You can get tips for hiring the right person at http://www.homeadvisor.com/. But when it comes to shelving, storage, the workbench, the flooring – all of these elements are things that you can do yourself.

Equipment: So what kind of work are you going to be doing? It’s best to figure this out now, instead of being vague about what it is that you want. This will allow you to build the most appropriate workshop with the proper tools. (Knowing what tools you’ll need will help you when it comes to planning storage and safety measures.) For example, if you’re going to work with metal, then you may want to look into decent welders; you can read more at https://pickwelder.com/. And if you know that you’ll need a welder, then you’ll know what sort of workbench that you should build, as well as what defensive measures you should be installing to avoid spark risks.

Not only will you need the proper equipment for your workshop but you will need furnishings as well. This can include storage options, a desk, a comfortable chair, a sink or basin, and perhaps a speaker or two so you can rock out while you work. Companies like Dura Ltd (or a similar one in your local area) specialize in workshop specific furnishings. This is a smart thing to look into as it will fit in your workshop seamlessly without modifications.

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If it can fuse metal, you should probably be careful with it. 😉

Safety: There are a few other things to consider when it comes to safety. Assessing the risks of an average workshop is the best way to go about this. You’ll probably want to install something that will help clean your eyes or any wounds or burns. First aid kits are also essential. You’ll also want to give a lot of thought to the floor. Your best bet might be to use epoxy floor paint; you can instruct yourself on this at https://www.familyhandyman.com/. Epoxy floor paint helps protects you from falls and it’s also much easier to clean up spills.

Another excellent flooring option you could consider is aluminum chequer plate sheets for its durability. It provides a great metallic sheen to keep the space feeling fresh and is easy to clean. If this is the route you would like to go, a good place to start is with https://www.chequerplatedirect.co.uk/ (or a similar company in your local area). You will have the best looking workshop on the block!

Whether you’re an expert crafter or just need somewhere to clear your mind, a garage workshop could be an amazing addition to your home!