Tag Archives: lego masters

Feb10

Completed Lego Malfoy Manor Set

Posted on February 10, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello! My brother treated Johnny and me to a Target gift card for Christmas and we both knew what we would like to spend it on: A new Lego set! During our Target Run, we decided on the Malfoy Manor from the Harry Potter collection. I had no idea that this set even existed and we were really excited by it because it spoke to our spooky vibes. In fact, this is probably one of my favorite Harry Potter sets yet. We completed this build in two parts and here is the end result:

^^^ Why does the Dobby Minifig look so terrifying but this one looks so cute?!

Johnny and I have countless Harry Potter Lego sets and they are great. As we expanded on our Hogwarts Castle, however, all of the sets kind of blurred together. Yes, they formed a cohesive whole. BUT each set was so similar to the last. The color palette was the same, the building process was the same, and themes were repeated. That is exactly why the Malfoy Manor was one of my favorite and most memorable builds. It was so completely different than the Harry Potter sets we were used to and it was invigorating to try something that felt brand new.

The Malfoy Manor set was not only exciting to complete but a ton of fun and we were enamored as it began to come together. The dark colors, gothic style build, and snakes at every turn enhanced the creepy aesthetic of this set beautifully. I am especially partial to the gargoyles, moving stairs, and the NPU of the monster hands. They look so cool!! Our Malfoy Manor really does look old and haunted and it reminded us of an old and wildly expensive Lego haunted house set that we both want desperately. Although we may never get our hands on the throwback set we covet, this was definitely a suitable replacement! I highly, highly recommend it if you are looking to add to your Harry Potter Lego world.

I’m not sure which Lego set Johnny and I are going to purchase next. Whatever it is, I can’t wait because building Lego together is one of our favorite things to do! ❤

What is your favorite Lego set? Which old Lego set would you love to have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Malfoy Manor Lego Build Pt. 1

Posted on January 16, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Friday, Johnny and I made a Target Run to spend a Christmas gift card. As soon as we received it, I know for a fact that we both mentally thought that we could buy a new Lego set with it. So we did! The pickings were slim, but that was okay because we ended up with one that we are both very happy with: Malfoy Manor from the Harry Potter collection. Once we returned home with our purchase, we got to work and spent the evening getting our Lego Masters on. We completed half of the set and it looks fantastic so far! Check it out:

Although there were quite a few Lego sets that caught our eye, Malfoy Manor definitely spoke to us the most. Even on the box, it just looked spooky and you know we are both all about that! I admit, it is always slightly overwhelming to start a new Lego set because it feels like there is SO much to do. But, as soon as we ripped the first bag open, we were in the zone and laying down bricks like a fine tuned machine. This is what I love about Lego because, for me, it goes from “how are we going to do this?” to not being able to build fast enough!

As it has been a while since Johnny and I built Lego together, the beginning of this build was already an especially fun one. Then, we really started getting going and found so much delight in all of the neat surprises. We loved the gargoyles, birds, toilet (lol), and copious amounts of snakes. It would not be the Malfoy Manor without them! You might notice that there are tons of NPUs (Nice Parts Usage) scattered throughout the build and it’s such a cool thing to see how these seemingly random pieces take form. We really do revel in it.

We spent a good two hours on the first portion of Malfoy Manor and it couldn’t have ended on a better note (As seen in the very last picture). When we began building the Dark Mark imprinted on the ground, we had no idea what it was going to be. We both assumed it was going to be a snake themed pattern and weren’t thinking about the Dark Mark at all. You could only imagine our surprise when it finally took shape and our minds were blown. Lego is truly just amazing like that and it makes each and every build an absolute joy.

I am so eager to finish our Malfoy Manor build this weekend so I can show all of you the end result. I can’t wait to see what other surprises this set holds!

Do you build Lego often? What is your favorite set? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

New Malfoy Manor Lego Set

Posted on January 14, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! Johnny and I received a very generous gift card to Target from my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas. We couldn’t wait to hit the store and cash it in because we knew exactly what we wanted: a new Lego set! This past Friday, we made our Target Run and, unfortunately, it was slim pickings in the Lego department. Understandably so after the holiday rush. We considered three different sets from the limited options – the Durmstrang Ship, Hogwarts Express, and Malfoy Manor. Each one had their pros and cons but we went with what originally really caught our eye and that was the manor. Check it out:

The last time Johnny and I built Lego together, it wasn’t exactly together lol. For my Christmas gift, Johnny got me the Lego Dobby set and I completed it *almost* all by myself. While it was cool to achieve a milestone like an independent build, my favorite is still when Johnny and I work side by side. That’s actually exactly why I wanted to get the Malfoy Manor set. It had the most potential for us to pick back up on our normal building routine with me handling the big pieces and Johnny taking care of the detail work. Those tiny bricks are a total pain with my talons!

As soon as we got home after making our purchase, we proceeded to be kids on Christmas Day. We zipped to the game room, set up our folding card table, and got to work. Johnny and I spent a fantastic two or so hours building, listening to music, and chatting away. We made it about halfway through the set before we called it quits for the day and I was glad for it so we could build more this weekend. Breaking up the build also gives us the time to truly appreciate it. There are SO many unique things about this set and we were astounded by some of the outcomes. I can’t wait for all of you to see it!

Stay tuned for the Part One breakdown of our Malfoy Manor build. They may be villainous but I guess it can be good to be bad because this is, easily, one of my favorites from the Harry Potter collection!!

Did you get any Christmas gift cards? Have you spent them yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

Lego Dobby Set

Posted on December 27, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! Johnny gifted me with two of my favorite things this Christmas: Lego and Hadestown and it was awesome. He got me the most adorable Dobby Lego set for our knick knack shelf and the deluxe original cast recording of Hadestown on vinyl. All of the fixings for a perfect date night in! This past Friday, we spent the evening listening to my new record in its entirety while working on building Dobby. Well, actually, it was more like me working because this was the first Lego set I completed *almost* all by myself. Johnny was most proud and called me his “little builder” lol! Check out my handiwork:

I’ll be honest, I was slightly worried when Johnny presented me with the Dobby set because I could tell that it would be a lot of small pieces. And, let’s just say that with these talons, small pieces and I don’t mix well. Normally, when Johnny and I build together, he will handle all of the itty bitty details and I take care of all of the big pieces. This time around, myself and Jesus took the wheel and it shockingly went… really well! After a few initial fumbles, I was breezing through this build like magic and it was so fun to see the little house elf come to life before my very eyes!

If you are a novice builder and Harry Potter fan like myself, I truly cannot recommend this set enough. Yes, it was small. Yes, it was simple. And that is exactly what I needed! It was such a confidence builder to be able to work on a smaller scale. I was able to fully understand the directions which were far less intimidating than the bigger builds I am used to. And, for the first time, I was able to correct the mistakes that I made like accidentally doing two right arms for Dobby on my own. The whole time I was building, Johnny kept saying how surprised he was and, frankly, so was I lol. Everything went without a hitch, of course, until it was time to put the cake together because those pieces are still WAY too tiny for me. 🙂

I had such a great time during mine and Johnny’s big night in and I absolutely love how my Dobby turned out. It’s seriously so cute I can’t stand it! ❤

What was the last thing you built with Lego? What is your favorite thing that you have built with Lego? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan10

Harry Potter Room Of Requirement Lego Set

Posted on January 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Harry Potter Room Of Requirement Lego Set

Hellooo!!! Johnny and I only watch one show when it’s airing on television and that is Lego Masters. We enjoyed this past season (And all of them!) so very much and we always feel a Lego brick sized hole in our hearts when the show ends. When a season of Lego Masters is on, the desire to build with Lego bricks increases infinitely so I was most excited when Johnny gifted me with a new set for Christmas. He got me the Room Of Requirement from Harry Potter and we put it together last weekend. It turned out awesome, but it was such a speedy built that it didn’t satisfy my Lego cravings in the slightest! Check it out:

^^^ LOL at Johnny in the background!!! The angel boy!!

It has been a fat minute since Johnny and I have built Lego, but we were able to fall back into our rhythm immediately. When I first built Lego with Johnny, we learned quickly that my talon nails were going to be a massive hindrance. Putting the small pieces together proved to be impossible so we developed our own tried and true method. Johnny would assemble the small bricks and details while I would handle the more substantial parts of the build. Teamwork at its finest! Unfortunately, this set featured a lot of detail work so I didn’t get to sink my teeth into it as much as I would have liked, but I love how the set turned out!

Whenever Johnny and I build Lego, it never ceases to amaze me. It is wondrous to watch a pile of bricks turn into whatever it is you’re creating and the ingenious designs forever blow my mind. Many of the Harry Potter Lego sets feature lots of cool surprises and the Room Of Requirement was no different. The best one is, easily, the reveal of the door leading into the room where lost things go. There are two brick walls on a sliding panel that show the door when you pull them apart and I thought that was just the tops. And, of course, I always love a guest appearance by a Cornish Pixie flitting about on a stack of trunks. ❤

The Room Of Requirement was a fast paced, easy peasy build, but it was so much fun to get my brick on with Johnny. I hope this new year brings us lots more Lego sets! 😀

Do you watch Lego Masters? What did you think of this past season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul28

Patrick Durham Meet & Greet

Posted on July 28, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone!! The Lego Brick Convention that I attended this past weekend was so great! The displays and shopping with the vendors was fun, but the highlight of the day was meeting a former Lego Masters contestant. Patrick Durham of Team Grandpappies in season three was the piece de resistance of the convention and we couldn’t wait to see him. Johnny and I got a huge kick out of him and his partner, Kerry, during the show and I was on pins and needles to meet a Lego celebrity. Check it out:

After Johnny, my brother, and I made our rounds throughout the first section of the convention, we approached a very long line. We all assumed it was the line to meet Patrick, but it turns out it was formed to get a closer look at the displays. So, we bypassed it completely and went on the prowl to meet the Lego Master. And, we were in luck!! Patrick was literally just standing at his area beyond the line and we only had to wait briefly for our turn at a meet and greet.

Saying Patrick was the nicest person ever is the understatement of the century. He greeted my crew and all of his other fans with such warmth and good humor – it felt like having a chat with your own grandpappy. After exchanging pleasantries and quips, we asked about Kerry and learned sad news. He had passed away from heart complications on June 11th. This was such a disappointing thing to hear and we extended our deepest sympathies. Not only were Patrick and Kerry beloved grandpappies to their own grandchildren, but they were America’s grandpappies too.

We got to spend almost ten minutes with Patrick and after he signed my autograph, we had a photo shoot! Johnny snapped lots of pics and Patrick was SERVING. At one point, he assured Johnny that he wasn’t flirting with me and I let it be known that I was most definitely flirting with him! Lol, we all had a laugh. We were also so flattered when he told me and Johnny we were the coolest looking people he had seen that day. What a guy!

Spending time with Patrick Durham at the Brick Convention was one of my favorite things I have done this year. It was just really cool and it’s always awesome to meet someone on TV and finding out they are exactly how they appear on screen in person. Thanks for the laughs and your time, Patrick. Long live Team Grandpappies! ❤

Have you ever met a celebrity? Who were some of your favorite Lego Master contestants? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul27

Brick Convention 2023

Posted on July 27, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I had a fantastic weekend! On Friday, Johnny and I went to the shooting range and on Saturday, we attended the Brick Convention with my brother. The Brick Convention was an ode to all things Lego and it was an absolute blast! Johnny and I are avid fans of Lego and this event did not disappoint. There were displays, vendors, and even a contestant from Lego Masters. The only not great thing was that the building the convention was held in wasn’t air conditioned. It was hot as bejeezus and even though we had a lot of fun, we were ready to get the hell out of there lol.

Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the awesome displays from the convention. Keep it posted this week for more because we have an OOTD, my convention haul, and meeting Patrick Durham! Let’s get started:

Talk about WOW, right?! Walking through the Brick Convention was like being a kid on Christmas day. It was Lego as far as the eye could see and it was incredible to take it all in. While it was nice to shop around with the many different vendors, the most fun was looking at all of the displays created by such amazing artists. Every single piece begged the question of “how did they do that?!”. Johnny and I love to build Lego sets together and sometimes I have difficulty with that let alone free building masterpieces. It was like being in our own personal episode of Lego Masters!

It was hard to get a close look at some of the builds because the convention center was very crowded. It was basically get in front of the build, snap a picture if you want, and move on. While all of the creations were excellent, I was extremely partial to the art gallery that was set up. There were Lego pictures of Mario and Luigi that moved, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, The Child, and of course the Lego rendition of the Creation of Adam. That was my favorite and my mind is still blown by it. Seriously, how did they do that?!

Despite the fact that we were sweating bullets the entire Brick Convention, I am so happy to have gone. I have never been to an event like that before and it was an experience I’ll always remember. Tune in tomorrow for more about my meeting with the one and only Patrick Durham of Team Grandpappies!!!

Do you like to build Lego? Have you ever been to a similar event before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

What Have We Been Watching?

Posted on January 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I think it’s safe to say that if you experience cold weather in your neck of the woods during the wintertime, that you probably have been watching a bit more TV than usual. This is definitely the case for me and Johnny, anyways – especially because by the time I usually get home from work it is already dark out. It’s the worst! Until the sun sets later in the day, however, this is completely fine for us and we have been enjoying all of the following this winter:

Sometimes When We Touch:

Johnny and I just watched the most fabulous documentary on Paramount+ about the rise, ruin, and resurrection of soft rock called Sometimes When We Touch. This was a three part series and each episode was barely an hour long and our only regret was that there wasn’t more! It was SO good and if you love the yacht rock of the 1970s and early 80s, then I seriously can’t recommend it enough. The bangers from Pablo Cruise, The Captain And Tennille, Ambrosia, Air Supply, The Carpenters and so much more were nonstop. The documentary also featured a fascinating segment on the punk scene as soft rock decreased in popularity.

Regardless of if you are a soft rock fan or not, this is a documentary that is worth the watch. Johnny and I learned so much and we also found new artists to check out as the revival of soft rock was discussed. We can’t wait to give them a listen and have already made plans to watch it again. If you love the music as much as Johnny and I do, warm fuzzies after watching it are a Lil Red Guarantee.

Top Shot:

Johnny and his dad used to watch History Channel’s competitive shooting show, Top Shot, together and introduced me to it this past Thanksgiving. To literally everyone’s surprise, I was hooked within minutes! Lol, I just love a competition show and I don’t care what it is because the set up is always the same. Since beginning the Top Shot journey, Johnny and I have watched every season twice already! We are obsessed with the insane challenges like trick shots, shooting upside down, and firing cannons. Most importantly, we freaking LOVE the host, Colby Donaldson, he is a hoot. 😀

If you’re looking for a competition show based on athletics with all of the pageantry of America’s Next Top Model, look no further than Top Shot. And, be sure to get at me after you watch season three and witness the utter meltdown of Jake because it was nuts!

Superstore:

When Netflix took The Office and Parks & Rec off of their lineup, Superstore became mine and Johnny’s go to show. It has been so for the past forever and I highly doubt that it will change any time soon! It is our bedtime show, our whenever show, and our we just feel like laughing show. Set in a Walmart style store, Superstore on Hulu offers every character that you might expect to be employed there: A dopey manager, a manager who takes herself way too seriously, the “cool” guy, and a teen mom to name just a few. For anyone who has ever worked retail, I am sure that you will find a character on the show that reminds you of one of your coworkers – I know I did!

Every single character on Superstore is hilarious and lovable in their own way and it still bums me out that the show is officially over. If you are in the mood for something light, funny, and strangely heartwarming, then I think that you will love it. My favorite characters are Dina, Cody, and Marcus. 😀

Lego Masters:

Johnny and I finally finished season three of Lego Masters and couldn’t believe our good fortune that there were additional episodes called the Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular. During the Bricktacular, four former contestants were paired with a celebrity partner to compete in challenges and win money for charity. Cheryl Hiness, Robin Thicke, Leslie Jordan, and Finesse Mitchell were the celebrity partners and our hands down favorite was Leslie Jordan. He was SO funny and cute and we were saddened to learn of his death last year. If you are still feeling the holiday spirit, this three part competition will be just right for you. 🙂

Hibernating with Johnny all winter with our favorite shows and bunnies definitely makes the cold more tolerable since we’re barely experiencing it lol. I hope you enjoy all of these recommendations as much as we did!

What are you currently bingewatching? What shows do you recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec29

LEGO Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets Completed Set

Posted on December 29, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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LEGO Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets Completed Set

Hello! During our holiday break, Johnny and I completed the final set from our LEGO haul, which means that it’s time to buy more! We spent about three hours building the Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets from Harry Potter and it turned out great. With fun surprises everywhere you looked and awesome extras like Chocolate Frog cards, glow in the dark pieces, and a golden Voldemort, this might be one of my favorite builds yet! Check it out:

Johnny and I are frequent builders of LEGO and I can tell that our skills have improved. Considering the size of this set, it didn’t take us too too long to complete it. We were so pleased with our handiwork! Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is one of my favorite books and movies in the series and this set definitely did it justice.

While the builds for Hogwarts in itself are always really neat, the Chamber Of Secrets gives it a wonderful contrast. I love how you can make the basilisk move in and out of the chamber just like in the movie. It also includes a slide for the Minifigs to go down and the snake adorned door to enter the depths of Hogwarts. I wish that there was a set just of the Chamber because I would be all over it. 😀

My favorite part of this set is, easily, the pictures of Gilderoy Lockhart and I laugh every time I look at them – they are so funny! Expertly placed Chocolate Frogs and Cornish Pixies are also much appreciated and I can’t wait for my niece to come over to see if she can find them all. She is our future LEGO Master!

Johnny and I are fresh out of LEGO now but I already know which sets I want next, as always. I have my eye on the Astronomy Tower and Hogsmeade Village and I can’t wait to get them!

What do you like to build with LEGO? Did anyone receive any LEGO sets for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Attack On The Burrow Harry Potter LEGO Set

Posted on October 29, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Attack On The Burrow Harry Potter LEGO Set

Hi! During the last LEGO haul that Johnny and I had, he surprised me with an additional set for our two year anniversary. To continue on with our Harry Potter collection, he got me the Attack On The Burrow set which is one that I have had my eye on for a while. This build took us about five hours to complete and we just finished it this past weekend – it turned out great and had all of the quirky touches that you would expect in the Weasley home. Check it out:

The Attack On The Burrow is, easily, one of my favorite sets that we have built together because it was so different than any of the other Harry Potter ones that we have. All of our other Harry Potter sets are in the Hogwarts castle and while they were very fun to build, each one was quite similar in terms of color palette and the hidden surprises. The Attack On The Burrow was a colorful and unique change of pace and the end result looks fantastic, if I do say so myself!

The best part about building LEGO sets is all of the detail that they incorporate into it. The Burrow wouldn’t be complete without them and the set had surprises in spades. I loved Molly’s knitting nook where a Weasley sweater is being made and the picture above it of their trip to Egypt. The kitchen is also a delight with a big breakfast on the table, potted plants, and Floo Powder fire place in the adjoining room. And, yes, it does have a knob that you can turn to make the fire go from red to green. 😀

If you look at the pictures of the set in its entirety, you can see that it is built on a slant which adds to the charm of the Weasley household. I didn’t even realize this as Johnny and I were building so seeing it once we were done was another awesome surprise. And, of course, the animal friends like the pig, Hedwig, and Errol was another nice touch. 🙂

It goes without saying that Johnny had to take care of all of the detail work on this build while I took care of the bigger pieces. Thank goodness for that because there was, obviously, a ton. Don’t believe me? Just take a closer look at the breakfast table lol. Next on deck, we plan on building our Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets set and we are already itching to get started for more witchcraft and wizardry right in our apartment! ❤

What are you currently building with LEGO? Do you have any of the Harry Potter sets? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	lifewithlilred on Spirit Christmas Haul
	oliveunicorn on Spirit Christmas Haul
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	lifewithlilred on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers