20 Cool Lego Items for the Ultimate Lego Home

If you took your kids to Legoland and they came back begging for Lego-this and Lego-that, you may find some good Christmas presents on the list below. Most of these are just “wow, cool!” are would be insanely expensive if they were actually for sale, but a few in fact ARE for sale. The reasonably priced ones are in red. Enjoy!

Lego Conference Room Table

If you are tired of conferences with all the heated discussions and boring talks, this awesome Lego conference room table will cheer you up. It was created by designers at Abgc out of 22,742 lego pieces, put together with the traditional Lego construction techniques.

LunaBlocks Table

Via: Dvice

Thierry Nahon and Philippe Landecker of Lunatic Construction came up with a simple yet cool idea for a Lego themed table. Pick some giant colorful Lego bricks, stack them together then add a pane of glass or a pillow on top and you’ve got fully functional furniture.

Lego Desk

Via: Eric Harshbarger

The Lego desk is not just any piece of furniture, but rather a Lego masterpiece built out of 35,000 Lego bricks and a whooping 7 pounds of glue. It features 7 working drawers consisting of six small ones and one large one, together with a folding lid on top that conceals a hole for computer cables to drop through.

Lego Toaster and Alarm Clock

 

Inspired by the favorite childhood game, Jamyle Savaris’s extremely trendy and colorful toaster and alarm clock designs resemble Lego creations. Unfortunately, they are still in concept stage, but every geek has the right to hope for the day the designs will see the light of production.

Lego Ceramic Set

 

Vinicius Zarpelon, apparently a crazy Lego fan and a master chef, has come up with a beautiful Lego inspired ceramic set. More than just a display item, this colorful ceramic set can be used to cook and serve food as well.

Snack & Stack Utensils

Plenty of places to buy these. Check out the list on Google Shopping.

Via: Perpetual Kid

With the handles similar to Lego bricks, Snack and Stack is super fun utensils that will fascinate both kids and adults. The come in a set of three with one spoon, one spork, and one knife.

Lego Kitchen Crafts

These look like projects your kids can do! How would you feel about getting a Lego napkin holder for Christmas?

Via: Evil Mad Scientist

The kitchen gives us food, drinks and everything we need to satisfy our greedy stomach. Thus, it’s our responsibility to take care of our kitchen proper. These wonderful Lego kitchen crafts, including Lego candy dishes, Lego napkin holder, Lego flower vase, etc. will keep our kitchen happy.

Lego Safe

Using Lego Mindstorms, some geeks have created this wonderful Lego safe to keep things hidden and locked behind a 5 digit code. The Operational Safe, as it is called, weighs 14 pounds and has a motion detector on it in case somebody wants to move it anywhere. There is nothing to complain about the safe, just hope that the Lego bricks will not crumble down.

Lego Storage

Looks like the really big ones are only for sale in the UK (darn), but I found some smaller ones for sale at The Container Store.

Via: Oh Gizmo

An impressive 28cm high x 24cm Lego piece is an interesting visual twist to your home decoration and can be used for storage as well. Like the regular sized versions, those huge Lego pieces can be stacked and assembled into gigantic creations.

Lego Grandfather Clock

Via: Eric Harshbarger

It took Eric Harshbarger a month to build this seven foot tall grandfather clock out of LEGO bricks, and the result is totally worth it. Everything is Lego: the gears, the axles, the pendulum, the escapement gear, etc. The only non-LEGO elements are the weights and the mono-filament line holding the weights.

Read more: http://walyou.com/lego-house/ 

And here are a few of my own additions:

Lego USB drive 4-pack. Buy on Amazon.com

 Lego Cake Pops. Buy from EntirelySweet on Etsy.com

Lego Ice Brick Tray. Buy on Amazon.com

Lego Alarm Clock. See your options for buying it on Google Shopping.

Happy shopping!

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25 Free Things to Do This Winter in San Diego

Looking for fun and free events to enjoy in San Diego this season? Look no further! Check out this great list of 25 things to do from San Diego’s Official Tourism Blog!

1. Join the festivities during Balboa Park December Nights, a two-day holiday celebration of food, entertainment and fun on December 2-3. The numerous museums and cultural institutions in Balboa Park open their doors free of charge, and festivities include carolers, live music, holiday light displays, theater and dance performances.

2. Whale Watch from the shores and cliffs of Point Loma, as California gray whales migrate south to the warm water breeding grounds off the coast of Baja, California. Spectators can catch a spectacular show during December through April when these majestic mammals pass through the waters off San Diego’s coastline.

3. Be part of a grand Holiday Celebration on December 2 in Coronado with a festive parade along Orange Avenue, the lighting of a 75-foot Christmas tree, holiday music and a firework show over Glorietta Bay.

4. Enjoy free organ concerts at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park beginning at 2:00 pm each Sunday. The Organ Pavilion features the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ, where organists resound holiday favorites.

5. See Old Town State Historic Park decked out for the holidays during Holiday in the Park on December 10 and enjoy holiday treats, activities and extended shopping hours, along with strolling carolers.

6. Head over to Seaport Village for the festive Surfing Santa at Seaport Village event on November 26. Hang-ten with Santa and enjoy a lively parade along the Seaport Village boardwalk, music, stilt walkers, and kids’ crafts.

7. Spread some holiday cheer at the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival on December 4 in downtown La Jolla. The event includes marching bands, floats, equestrian units, vintage automobiles and an appearance by Santa Claus.

8. Drive to the mountain town of Julian for a warm mug of hot apple cider and a delicious slice of Julian’s legendary homemade apple pie. On Saturdays, stroll through the quaint neighborhood streets and enjoy the sounds of wandering Christmas carolers and a living nativity scene.

9. Take a walk around Balboa Park and discover its beautiful architecture. Take advantage of the park’s variety of free offerings, including touring its spectacular gardens.

10. Take a walk along one of San Diego’s 70 miles of beaches, all free and open to the public, and enjoy the beautiful sunsets.

11. Visit the village of La Mesa on December 9 and 10 for Christmas in the Village. Enjoy street performers, carolers, carriage rides, entertainment for the whole family and more.

12. Bring the family to the SoNo Park Holiday Fest on December 4 and celebrate with the restaurants and residents of South Park and North Park in a chili cook-off. Visitors can taste chili in hand-spun ceramic bowls, shop for holiday gifts from local artisans and enjoy live music, kid’s activities, gourmet food trucks, a beer garden featuring local and craft beer and more.

13. Explore the tide pools in Point Loma, Ocean Beach and La Jolla when the tide is low to see some of the magnificent creatures of the sea.

14. Enjoy the Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade on December 11 in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. Owners and their dressed-up pets march down the decorated streets of the neighborhood and end at a Pet Expo featuring an awards ceremony for best-dressed pups.

15. Take a drive to the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla for a panoramic view of the city all spruced up in holiday decoration. Along the way, enjoy the beautifully decorated homes in this exclusive neighborhood.

16. Drive to the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego’s East County to marvel at wildlife and a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers amidst the desert warmth.

17. Gaze up at the massive balloons during the Big Bay Balloon Parade, the country’s largest balloon parade, on December 28.

18. Enjoy the twinkling waters of San Diego Bay and more than 100 private boats decorated with holiday lights for the 40th Annual Port of San Diego Parade of Lights on December 11 and December 18.

19. Get in the holiday spirit during Chula Vista’s 50th Annual Starlight Parade on December 3, featuring carolers, holiday cheer, floats, drill teams, marching bands, classic cars, a children’s event and visit from Santa.

20. Experience a white Christmas in San Diego after making the scenic, one-hour drive to the top of Mount Laguna in San Diego’s rustic East County.

21. Delight in the festive gatherings of the Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on December 10. Over 100 brightly illuminated powerboats and sailboats parade along Mission Bay; the parade ends with a fantastic fireworks show at 9:00 pm above SeaWorld San Diego.

22. Experience a magical evening of holiday celebrations December 3 at the California Center for the Arts Escondido during the annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland. Enjoy seasonal music and Victorian carolers, a visit from Santa, free art activities and treats, a spectacular light show and real snow!

23. Celebrate holiday cheer during Poway Winterfest on December 10. The event features a tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, train rides, live music, theatre performances, food, treats, crafts and more.

24. Join the community of Carlsbad for their annual Tree Lighting Festivities, December 4 at the Village Faire Shopping Center. Enjoy children’s crafts, cookies and cider, entertainment and pictures with Santa.

25. Rock out at the Poinsettia Bowl Gaslamp March on December 19. Held two days prior to the annual Poinsettia Bowl, bands representing the two Bowl football teams line up at opposite ends of Fifth Avenue in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter and face-off in an old fashion battle of the bands.

Read more http://blog.sandiego.org/2011/11/25-free-to-do-winter-san-diego/

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Build a Snowman (Yes, a Real One) at Legoland!

“Let it snow, let it snow”…wait…snow in Carlsbad?

Just because we live in Carlsbad doesn’t mean we don’t get to experience snow. A local attraction is giving us a month (and then some) of snow days!

Legoland’s annual Holiday Snow Days begin this weekend. The snow celebration lasts through Jan. 2 with various holiday happenings during the Snow Days, but this weekend kicks things off and is a great chance to go before things get hectic with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This year, Legoland is bringing something new to the mix—real snow! Families can frolic in the white stuff and even make giant snowmen with noses, eyes, buttons and more made out of Lego accessories. There will even be targets to practice throwing your handmade snowballs at.

And as exciting as real snow in Carlsbad is, there is plenty more to do at the Legoland Hoilday Snow Days. Beginning on Nov. 19 and running through Dec. 31, the musical Let It Snow will be performed daily at Legoland and from Dec. 1-24, a nightly tree lighting ceremony will take place, with an extra special lighting on Nov. 28 with Tony Hawk.

For those waiting out the snow until after Christmas, a special fireworks show will go off every night from Dec. 26-31.

There will be plenty of more Lego activities during the holiday snow days—take your picture with Lego Santa and his block-built reindeer and check out the world’s largest Christmas tree constructed out of the colorful plastic blocks.

Holiday Snow Days start this Saturday, Nov. 19 and run though Jan. 2. Admission for a one-day ticket is $59 for children and seniors and $69 for adults, with the snow days included in that price. Anyone who buys a ticket from Nov. 19-Dec. 31 can receive a second return day ticket for free! All you have to do is take your purchased ticket to Guest Information Desk inside the park and you’ll get another ticket free to use after the holidays, from Jan. 1-March 31, 2012.

Enjoy the snow while it’s here!

Read more http://carlsbad.patch.com/articles/let-it-snow-in-carlsbad-legoland-holidays#c

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Plenty of Free Veterans Day Meals Today

Veterans, we thank you for your service! There are plenty of restaurants in and near Carlsbad that want to say “thank you” with free food. Be sure to check them out!

(Applebee's will be one of various North County restaurants and businesses offering Veterans Day promotions. Credit Courtesy Applebee's)

If it's not free, you're paying too much.

Veterans who agree to that mantra are going to enjoy Friday in North County, when the following businesses will honor Veterans Day with promotions:

• Applebee's  will offer veterans and active-duty service members a free meal on Nov. 11. According to company officials, Applebee's served more than 1 million free meals last Veterans Day, and will allow them to choose from seven entrees this year. Military ID or proof of service is required.

• Chili's will offer all military veterans, past and present a choice of six meals on Nov. 11. The offer is available at stateside restaurants only and does not include beverages and tip, officials said. Proof of military service is required.

• Hooters will serve up a free meal to all veterans and active-duty military members on Nov. 11. Patrons can choose from new specialty items on the menu at participating restaurants, officials said. A valid military ID or proof of service is required, and guests are required to purchase a beverage.

• T.G.I. Friday's will offer a buy-one, get-one-free special to anyone with a current or old military ID from Nov. 11 to 14.

• Flippin' Pizza is offering a free slice of pizza to everyone on 11/11/11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone with military identification will receive a free lunch special consisting of two slices and a drink.

• 7-Eleven stores nationwide will offer military personnel and their immediate families with free, small Slurpee, drinks from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company will also will give its customers the opportunity to purchase donation cards for $1 that will benefit the USO and help send care packages to military personnel overseas. The donation cards will be available from Nov. 1 - 30.

• Some Subway restaurants, will offer veterans free six-inch subs on Nov. 11. Officials advise calling ahead to see if a particular restaurant franchise is participating. You can find your favorite Subway on Camp Pendleton Patch's directory listing.

And for those who want to get away, the National Park Service will commemorate Veterans Day by waiving entrance fees and holding special events from November 11 to 13.

Are there other Veterans Day promotions? Tell us in the comments.

Read more http://carlsbad.patch.com/articles/plenty-of-free-veterans-day-meals-friday

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Celebrate the Holidays With Gingerbread House Decorating Classes at Park Hyatt Aviara

If your gingerbread houses always fall down (as mine do), this class may be for you…

This December, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, CA comes alive with holiday spirit and the delicious aroma of a favorite winter treat – gingerbread.
Known locally for its annual Gingerbread Mountain Village, this year the Southern California luxury resort is helping guests and the local community create their own gingerbread masterpieces with a series of hands-on gingerbread-decorating classes.

Perfect for both the young and young at heart, students will sip and nibble on holiday treats as Executive Pastry Chef Franck Riffaud leads an engaging step-by-step tutorial on the art of gingerbread modeling. From learning to create the perfect dough, to hand-coloring and adding artful details with icing and gum paste, each guest will decorate their own unique gingerbread house from start to finish. All confections made in class can be taken home for display – or for a special treat.

The first class at the North San Diego resort will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, with additional classes on December 10th and 17th. All classes are held from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and are priced at $20 for adults and $15 for children. Unlimited gingerbread houses for decoration are available for $25 each.

Advanced reservations are required and can be made Monday – Friday by calling Park Hyatt Aviara Resort at (760) 603-6800. Space is limited and classes are expected to fill quickly. Following the class, guests can enjoy more delightful sights at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort’s annual Gingerbread Mountain Village.

One of the must-see attractions in Carlsbad during the holidays, Chef Riffaud and his pastry team use more than 22 pounds of gingerbread dough, 400 pounds of sugar icing and 18 pounds of chocolate to build a spectacular village complete with Santa’s Workshop, Frosty’s Ski-Daddle Ski School, Snow Tube Rental and Blitzen’s Ale and Spirits. Gingerbread Mountain Village will be on display in the Lobby from November 27th through December 26th.

About Park Hyatt Aviara Resort: Secluded amidst 200 acres of verdant hillsides and rolling valleys within the master-planned community of Aviara, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort provides an appealing setting for any function.

Read more http://eyugoslavia.com/featured/01/celebrate-the-holidays-with-gingerbread-house-decorating-classes-at-the-southern-california-luxury-resort-park-hyatt-aviara-2229131/

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Safari Park overnight offers a tasty camping adventure

Did you know you can camp out overnight in the San Diego Zoo? Read on for a review of Roar & Snore by Brain E. Clark for the Union Tribune!

Last time I checked, an African safari — in, say, Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania — could ding you $500 or more a day. And flying from San Diego to Nairobi? Figure in another (ouch) $1,500.

But just five miles east of Escondido, in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, you can get a similar and considerably less costly experience, camping out with lions, tigers, giraffes and a whole herd of elephants.

Dubbed Roar & Snore — with an emphasis on the roar — this program has been offered since 1994 to give adventurous visitors a more intimate experience with the park and its animals.

I’ve done it twice, with all three of my kids, and they give it the Clark family stamp of approval.

The first time was about 12 years or so ago and my now-22-year-old son, Matt, and I, camped in a tent, snoozed in sleeping bags on foam ground pads and nearly got licked in the face by a huge giraffe on a late-night stroll. Matt loved it.

In the years since then, the program has been upgraded and now the park offers commodious (12-foot-by-16-foot) tent cabins, similar to ones I remember from a real rhino-and-elephant-watching safari to Zimbabwe I did nearly two decades ago.

So, when my family and I visited San Diego this summer, I treated my 11-year-old daughter, Maddie, and 9-year-old son, Anders, to the premium Roar & Snore program in a big, cushy tent.

The only thing we didn’t have was a private bathroom. The public one was a 50-yard walk away. But ()this was supposed to be camping, after all.

We started our visit to the park with a stop at one of our favorite exhibits, Lorikeet Landing, where we fed the colorful birds. Then, after lunch, we took a family truck caravan into the African plains to observe and feed giraffes and rhinos.

A little after 4 p.m., my wife bid us adieu (she prefers her camping in four-star hotels) and we headed off to Kilima Point, overlooking the savanna we’d visited earlier in the day.

As we walked in, most of the park’s other visitors were heading the other direction.

“Are we really going to have the whole place to ourselves?” asked Anders.

“Yup,” I said. “Just us and the animals.”

“Awesome,” Maddie chimed in.

After finding our tent cabin — complete with a queen-size platform bed, refrigerator, nightstand, heater and fan — the 100-plus campers in our group gathered for an orientation from the guides.

We ate dinner, which included chicken, hot dogs and burgers, while we gazed out at wildebeests, water buffalo, antelope, gazelles, zebras and the rhinos and giraffes we’d seen earlier in the day. We also got an unexpected treat, our own zoo mugs and earth-colored Roar &Snore T-shirts.

As the late afternoon air was beginning to cool, our guides split us up into groups of 20 for a post-supper hike. My group started out with a short stroll to the elephant enclosure — which bordered the tent-cabin area — and were introduced to herd.

With 17 animals, we nearly had a one-to-one ratio. Our guide told us about their quirky personalities, pointed out the mother-child pairs and taught us a little about elephant biology and psychology.

We strolled to a covered area where the kids got to touch the shell of a huge tortoise and learn about some of its unusual habits.

Then it was on to the compound where the lions slept to get a behind-the-scenes tour and see the “blood Popsicles” made especially for the kings and queens of the jungle.

Back at Kilima Point, we were greeted with hot chocolate and marshmallows as the setting sun cast a soft glow over the grounds. Then we gobbled up s’mores. Anders’ new friend, Alex from Australia, had never heard of this tasty American camping treat. But he and his parents were quick converts.

But the best part of the evening was the raucous African drumming ceremony around a blazing campfire, complete with hair-raising stories about the park critters from veteran guides. (Why, this was even better than my “real” Zimbabwe safari.)

After mandatory tooth brushing (so I could give a truthful report to their mother), the kids and I ambled over to our tent and snuggled in for the evening.

And while there was (thankfully) no major snoring from nearby quarters, I shot straight up when a lion’s roar rocked our tent.

OK, maybe the tent didn’t actually rock. But it took a few assurances to convince my kids — and me — that the lions really were a long distance away in their own enclosure.

Dana Arbogast, who is in charge of the Roar & Snore program, told us that a lion’s roar can carry five miles.
“So it really could have sounded like it was under your bed,” she said with a chuckle. “And you’re lucky you got to hear it because they usually only roar at night or early in the morning.”

Around 6:15 a.m., singing gibbons (love songs, probably) awakened us from our sleep. But at breakfast, the big cat’s call was the most popular topic of discussion as we ate our scrambled eggs and sweet rolls. Soon we were hiking again, off to see cheetahs stretching as they woke from their slumber.

Then we got a special hands-on session with a friendly little hedgehog.

All too soon, it was time to pack up our gear and meet up with my wife, who was picking us up at the gate. But we didn’t leave, not just quite yet. First we hiked out to Condor Ridge to look at the big birds and have one last look out over the park and the inhabitants we’d come to know and care about a wee bit more.

For more information on the Roar & Snore and other overnight programs at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, visit sdzsafaripark.org or call (760) 747-8702

Rates range from $120 to $260, depending on tent size, age and zoo membership. Non-premium campers need to bring their own sleeping bags and pillows

Come February, the Roar & Snore adults-only park sleepover on Valentine’s Day weekend will deal with the birds and the bees.

Read more http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/26/hit-the-road-roars-snores-and-smores/?print

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