tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53058705554916488452024-03-12T17:07:57.402-07:00Brick by BrickFollow along on the journey of BrickSmarts, our online marketplace for refurbished Legos. We blog about Lego, kid, and family related topics. Get updates on what's going on in the Lego world and on our website. Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-56697666700070215022017-03-16T08:26:00.000-07:002017-03-16T08:26:40.431-07:00Family Fun at Legoland Florida Ninjago World<h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our family recently made the trek to <a href="https://www.legoland.com/florida/" target="_blank">Legoland Florida</a> for a fun filled day! </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">We live about an hour from Legoland, so we have been several times over the last couple of years.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It’s always an exciting experience.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">This trip was especially exciting because we were able to check out the newly opened <a href="https://www.legoland.com/florida/map-explore/ninjago/" target="_blank">Lego Ninjago World</a>.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It didn’t disappoint!</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The attraction opened this year in January, and correlates with the promotion of the upcoming <a href="http://www.legoninjago.com/" target="_blank">Lego Ninjago movie</a> coming out September 22, 2017.</span></span><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbU61E3sjlc/WMqYtq6eanI/AAAAAAAAAdU/5wPcFDuuaZkrhBq270NrLXQPTrN_hgIywCLcB/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you approach the life sized replica of the Ninjago dojo, you are transported to another world. Inside the attraction area, you are greeted by 2 impressive Lego dragon statues and Ninjago characters made of Lego bricks. One of my favorite features of this new section of Legoland Florida, is all of the interactive kid’s stations. Kids can test their speed skills and agility with Jay’s Lighting Drill. They can build up their strength on Cole’s Rock Climbing wall, and Kai’s Spinners will keep every ninja-in-training on their toes! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lego Ninjago The Ride:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> From the moment you pass through the entrance, the kids are entertained with a Lego building center, and interactive building wall stations.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The wait time passes quickly!</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The ride itself doesn’t disappoint.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Choose your favorite Ninjago character for battle.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">This ride is a 3D, high-tech, interactive attraction.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It boasts awesome visual graphics, which make you feel like you are flying, dropping and battling all your opponents.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It certainly entertains riders young and old.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you have Lego-loving kids, and are planning a trip to Florida, definitely take the time to check out Legoland Florida!</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> The new Lego Ninjago World makes the Legoland experience even more Bricktastic!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Check out all our newly added Lego Ninjago Refurbished Lego® sets at <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.Bricksmarts.com</a>. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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LEGO® NINJAGO: VENOMARI SHRINE #9440</h3>
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<a href="https://www.bricksmarts.com/collections/lego-ninjago/products/lego-ninjago-venomari-shrine-9440" target="_blank">Learn More at BrickSmarts.com</a></div>
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LEGO® NINJAGO: FANGPYRE MECH #9455</h3>
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<a href="https://www.bricksmarts.com/collections/lego-ninjago/products/lego-ninjago-fangpyre-mech-9455" target="_blank">Learn More at BrickSmarts.com</a></div>
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Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-27886260765699643502017-02-12T18:17:00.002-08:002017-02-12T18:17:21.232-08:00It Was Worth the Wait...Everything Was Awesome About The LEGO® Batman Movie!Friday night was opening night of The Lego Batman Movie. My kids had it marked on the calendar and I even bought them Lego themed t's at Target for the BIG event. We decided to buy tickets for the 6:15 showing in 3D. It was well worth it. My kids are old enough now that they can sit though an entire movie and keep the 3D glasses on, so it was a no brainer! <br />
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The trailer previews leading up to the movie looked cool. My kids were super interested (of course) in the Lego Ninjago Movie, scheduled to come out in September 2017. Rated PG it looks like it will have similar appeal as The Batman Movie. My kids were also drooling over the preview of the Power Ranger movie, set to come out in March. My kids haven't had much exposure to Power Rangers but they were drawn instantly to the action and fighting in the trailer...Lord help me! <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--rthP9RyV_0/WJ9s3wCwDcI/AAAAAAAAAbM/d3KW4fD_neofEoh1mR_HoH6lik5yYvbagCLcB/s1600/DSC_0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--rthP9RyV_0/WJ9s3wCwDcI/AAAAAAAAAbM/d3KW4fD_neofEoh1mR_HoH6lik5yYvbagCLcB/s200/DSC_0199.jpg" width="200" /></a>On to the feature! Without giving away all the details of the movie, I can say that Lego never disappoints when it comes to special effects. They paired an action packed movie with an endearing storyline. Batman being the macho, independent superhero thinks that he can protect and save Gothem City on his own. Along the way he realizes that it's better to have help from friends and family, than being alone. My favorite part of this movie, by far was Robin. His giant puppy dog eyes, and sweet endearing personality was the highlight for me. I also loved his sparkly golden cape! For me, he was the real hero of the movie! My kids would beg to differ, but we will agree to disagree on this one. <br />
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Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) was also a cool addition to this movie. Loved that fact that she was a kick-butt female figure in the movie, but also brought out a softer side of Batman. I would say that the animation and graphics of the movie were unbelievable. I am always amazed at how quickly you forget you are watching an animated film. The addition of real life movie clips of "Jerry Maguire" was a nod to all of us 30-40 somethings. As were, all the 80's and Micheal Jackson songs. Oh and the throwbacks to the 1960 Batman character was awesome too! <br />
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All in all there was a little something for everyone. I have to say I loved it from beginning to end. My kids did too! Their favorite quote from the movie was when Robin says," Now I'm free, now I'm moving, Come on Batman let's get grooving!" I've heard it about 1 million times since Friday night.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our family gives The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4116284/" target="_blank">Lego Batman Movie</a> 5 Stars! We would LOVE to hear what you think! Post your comments below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-700396757763713922017-02-08T20:21:00.000-08:002017-02-09T07:30:46.692-08:00My Master Builders LOVE Pokémon {Our Mega Trading Card Adventure}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Sunday, (yes Super Bowl Sunday) the boys and I ventured out to the public library in Brandon FL, where every other week they host a Pokémon card trading event. Let me tell you...my kids were in Heaven. They proudly brought their pouches of Pokémon cards with them. Most of the kids had fancy binders, which my kids thought were AWESOME. Scattered around the room were kids trading cards and playing games of Pokémon. Now I have to be honest, up until that time, I had never really looked closely at the cards, let alone play the game. I was embarrassed to admit to one of the other moms, that I had accidentally thrown away the game board and "damage markers" that came in the package...ooopsies. To my pleasant surprise my kids wasted no time walking up to other kids and asking them to trade. Both of my kiddos are somewhat shy when it come to new or unfamiliar situations so I was glad that they were eager to participate. </div>
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Here are my little guys trying their hand at Pokémon card trading. Luckily there was older kids and a Pokémon aficionado there to check the trades for fairness. </div>
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There were also some exciting games of Pokémon being played by some older kids. My kids were pretty intrigued. </div>
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Our friends from school (the family that invited us to the event) were there to participate in the trading care fun too! It was nice to have some familiar faces there. They even took the time to teach us the basics of the game. It's pretty addicting. I think I liked it as much as the kids. Surprisingly it's a great way to practice math and reading skills...BONUS!<br />
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Awesome time had by all! The kids went home and traded their own cards for about 2 hours afterwards. Now they can't leave the house without their cards and somehow I can see organization binders in our future! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a biweekly event at our local library. Libraries are great places to attend or host a free activity. We are currently looking into hosting a Lego Playgroup at our local branch. Keep up to date with our community outreach at <a href="http://bricksmarts.com/">BrickSmarts.com</a></span></div>
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<br />Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-76734246098556522362017-02-06T19:12:00.002-08:002017-02-07T07:25:49.908-08:00Spread the LEGO Love...5 LEGO Themed Valentine's Ideas<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbogAI6iOwc/WJjNrI_HdWI/AAAAAAAAAY4/18g9gaMiOM8vuLZaOOwd527RjCeq7KlnwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbogAI6iOwc/WJjNrI_HdWI/AAAAAAAAAY4/18g9gaMiOM8vuLZaOOwd527RjCeq7KlnwCLcB/s400/IMG_0650.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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For most, Valentine's Day is a sweetest day of the year. I remember as a kid loving the feeling of getting those personalized little notes from my classmates. I can sense the same excitement in my kiddos as the big day fast approaches! Theses days there are so many options for Valentine's cards and treats both edible and non-edible. Here are some Lego themed Valentine's ideas that you will L❤VE. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't miss our <a href="http://bricksmarts.com/">BrickSmarts.com</a> promotional offer for the month of February at the bottom of the post! </b></span></div>
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<b>Lego Candy Gift Bags</b></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.momvstheboys.com/">www.momvstheboys.com</a> photo credit and FREE printable.</td></tr>
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These brick candy treat bags are so cute! The kids will absolutely LOVE helping to put these adorable little bags together. I bought these brick candies on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Concord-Confections-Candy-Blox-Lbs/dp/B00G6OPMOI/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1486434487&sr=8-1&keywords=brick%2Bcandy&th=1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> in bulk. They are almost too cute to eat! They come in a 2 pound bag (about enough for 10-15 Valentines). The best part is that the bricks are stackable...you won't mind letting the kids play with their food!<br />
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<b>Free Lego Printables</b></h3>
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We found the cutest FREE Lego Inspired Printables! Makes DIY Valentines quick and easy...and won't break the bank! There are so many options to choose from. Follow any of the links below to print and create your own Lego Inspired Valentine.<br />
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<a href="http://kikicomin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/lego-movie-valentines.pdf">http://kikicomin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/lego-movie-valentines.pdf</a><br />
<a href="http://momvstheboys.com/2014/01/lego-valentines-free-printable/">http://momvstheboys.com/2014/01/lego-valentines-free-printable/</a><br />
<a href="http://thethriftycouple.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Lego-Valentines-free-printables-ideas.jpg">http://thethriftycouple.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Lego-Valentines-free-printables-ideas.jpg</a><br />
<a href="http://overthebigmoon.com/wp-content/uploads/download-files/Ninjago-Valentines-NinjaFont.jpg">http://overthebigmoon.com/wp-content/uploads/download-files/Ninjago-Valentines-NinjaFont.jpg</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks KiKi and Company for the Free Printable!</td></tr>
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<b>Mini Figure and Lego Brick Crayons</b></h3>
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There are so many cool gift ideas when it comes to Legos. We found the most adorable Lego inspired crayon mini figures and bricks on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/229592332/lego-inspired-crayons-set-of-8-crayons?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=Lego%20mini%20figure%20crayons&ref=sc_gallery_1&plkey=771ffac77b83040a781fd560eb023ccf87edb042:229592332" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. They come in a variety of colors. If you are really ambitious or are on a budget, consider buying a silicone mini figure or brick mold and make them yourself. Super simple and quick to make. See the instructions below. You can also use silicone molds to make Lego inspired candies. Place melted chocolate or pieces of your favorite flavor of Jolly Rancher candies in the silicone molds to create your own yummy treats!<br />
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<u><b>DIY Crayons</b></u></div>
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<li>Remove the paper covering from old, broken crayon pieces and fill the molds. </li>
<li>Pop them in the oven at low heat until the crayons are melted. </li>
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<li>Once cooled remove from the mold. </li>
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<b>Card with Lego Heart</b></h3>
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Use two Lego arch pieces to create these adorable hearts. These are near and dear to my heart because they are the inspiration for our <a href="https://www.bricksmarts.com/pages/community-service" target="_blank">BrickHearts program</a>. Attach them to your Valentines for a special added touch. Or use the holes to attach a necklace chain or chains to create a fashionable necklace or set of necklaces. One for you and one for your Valentine! <br />
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<b>Spread the Lego Love</b></h3>
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These Lego messages are sure to let your little Lego lover know they are loved!</div>
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<i>Hold Me and Never LEGO</i></div>
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<i>Lets Build Something Together </i></div>
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<i>We Were Built To Be Friends</i></div>
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<i>We're the Perfect Fit</i></div>
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<i>You Complete Me</i></div>
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<i>We Just Click</i></div>
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<i>We Fit to Together</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">To show our readers how much we LOVE them, we are offering <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/" target="_blank"><u>10% OFF</u> </a>your total purchase for the month of February! </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Use the Promo Code: </span><a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">LEGOLOVE</span></a></div>
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Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-49239560346687505332017-01-25T08:05:00.000-08:002017-01-25T08:05:02.384-08:00Be Good. Do Good. {4 LEGO® Inspired Charitable Organizations} <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6XAinxRU3_s/WIjLSyowwuI/AAAAAAAAAYA/hHfqQxK65WwMkzrqSwvvJ_gu0iCilMgbwCLcB/s1600/Brick%2BHearts%2BImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6XAinxRU3_s/WIjLSyowwuI/AAAAAAAAAYA/hHfqQxK65WwMkzrqSwvvJ_gu0iCilMgbwCLcB/s1600/Brick%2BHearts%2BImage.jpg" /></a></div>
BrickSmarts is getting ready to launch it's community outreach program called BrickHearts. We have contacted various non profit organizations in the Tampa Bay area, and are currently working to put together after school Lego® Clubs serving kids in need. This has been my favorite and most exciting part of growing our BrickSmarts brand! On the surface Lego bricks are fun toys that provide hours of entertainment for builders young and old. But the reality of it is, Legos are educational, and help to build skills that growing kids need. My kids have been blessed to have access to these amazing little building blocks since a young age, but unfortunately due to cost, or accessibility many kids do not. Here are a list of 4 non-profit organizations currently working to share the wonder and magic of Legos with all kids! I can only hope that BrickHearts is able to replicate the great work that these organizations are doing.<br />
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1. <a href="http://thegivingbrick.org/index.html" target="_blank">The Giving Brick</a> based in Kansas City Missouri. Working hard since December 2014, The Giving Brick founded by Matthew Gould, has given away thousands of bricks for kids in foster care.<br />
The Giving Brick shared this beautiful statement in a feature with BrickSet.com in 2015, stating<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Noto Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">“We wanted to give our LEGO sets to kids who had little else to call their own and needed an escape from the challenges life was throwing at them."-Matthew Gould</span><br />
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The Giving Brick accepts donations of Legos in any condition. They also take direct donations for their worthy cause. Check them out at the link below.<br />
<a href="http://thegivingbrick.org/index.html">http://thegivingbrick.org/index.html</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <a href="http://creationsforcharity.org/" target="_blank">Creations for Charity</a> , founded by Nannan Zhang in 2010, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is a </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #000b1e;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">nonprofit organization that hosts a fundraising event from October to November each year. Builders from all over the world donate custom made Lego creations to sell and raise money to buy Lego sets for underprivileged children during the holidays. In 2016, Creations for Charity was able to sell over 100 customized builds, in turn raising almost $14,000! This money was used to purchase an incredible </span></span><span style="color: #000b1e;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">amount of Lego sets for underprivileged children. Check out their inspiring work here: </span></span></span><a href="http://creationsforcharity.org/">http://creationsforcharity.org</a> And if you are a Lego Artist maybe consider donating your creation for this year's fundraising event!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvkSKnI0YN0/WIjGNRixZaI/AAAAAAAAAXo/o5BDQBGn6fgCRVjfLCMPC2fnX_YrqR6cwCLcB/s1600/BrickDreams-Donation-Evanston-IL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvkSKnI0YN0/WIjGNRixZaI/AAAAAAAAAXo/o5BDQBGn6fgCRVjfLCMPC2fnX_YrqR6cwCLcB/s200/BrickDreams-Donation-Evanston-IL.jpg" width="150" /></a>3. <a href="http://www.brickdreams.org/" target="_blank">BrickDreams</a>, is an organization based in Folsom, CA. It's founder Bailey Snow, is an inspiring teenager who recently handed the reins of his charity to 12 year old brothers Lleyton and Kyle Rutz. These boys are keeping the vision of the organization alive by packaging up donated Legos in tennis ball containers. The Legos are then donated to kids in need, primarily kids affected by domestic violence. Well done boys! You are an inspiration to us all! Stay up to date on all of their accomplishments here:<br />
<a href="http://www.brickdreams.org/">http://www.brickdreams.org</a><br />
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4. <a href="http://www.brickrecycler.com/" target="_blank">Brick Recycler</a>, another California based organization take used Lego bricks and donates them around the world. Here are just a few of their generous donations:<br />
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<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Help One Child and Compassion (for foster children)</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Orphanages in Mexico and Honduras</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hands of Hope (for Zimbabwe orphanage)</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children of Haiti</span></li>
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Read more and donate by following this link: <a href="http://www.brickrecycler.com/">http://www.brickrecycler.com</a><br />
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We are moving closer to launch of our own community outreach program BrickHearts. You can stay up to date with our progress on the <a href="https://www.bricksmarts.com/pages/community-service" target="_blank">BrickSmarts website</a>. If live in the Tampa Bay area and would like to volunteer with us, or have an idea for a BrickHearts project, send an email to <a href="mailto:info@BrickSmarts.com">info@BrickSmarts.com</a>! We would love to hear from you. Let's share the gift of Legos with children everywhere...Be Good, Do Good!Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-50661434816093353362017-01-12T09:17:00.001-08:002017-01-12T09:21:07.546-08:00BrickSmarts Hosts MOMs Club of Westchase Playdate<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Wednesday, BrickSmarts had the awesome opportunity to host a playdate with the</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><a href="https://momsclubwestchase.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">MOMs Club of Westchase</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">to talk about using Duplo Legos as a learning tool.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This playgroup is a valuable local resource for any mom who is looking for kid friendly activities, friendships, and opportunities to socialize!</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">What a GREAT group of moms and kids! </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atpQjSqFr_U/WHe5y3DmNkI/AAAAAAAAAXI/wM30b5d1WiAANoGhPtctHJ5LMXKZzCQugCLcB/s1600/IMG_0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atpQjSqFr_U/WHe5y3DmNkI/AAAAAAAAAXI/wM30b5d1WiAANoGhPtctHJ5LMXKZzCQugCLcB/s320/IMG_0242.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;">As I talked to some of the moms in this group, I saw myself 5-6 years ago. I couldn't help but think about how important being part of a mom’s group was, when I became a new mom. When my oldest son Dylan was born, I joined a newborn group hosted at the maternity hospital where I delivered. I’m pretty sure I started attending as early as 3 days after we were released from the hospital. As a new mom, I was terrified to leave the house with my new bundle of joy. I was paranoid about germs…the rain…strangers. I remember sitting in a circle and listening to the other sleep deprived mothers, ask questions about nursing, pooping, sleeping, breathing, and it was such a relief to know that I was not alone. I was not alone in the fact that I was clueless how to breastfeed, I was clueless how to calm my screaming baby, I was clueless how to feel like myself after nine months of sharing a body with another human being. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I participated in various mom’s groups until my youngest son was 2 years old. Honestly it was the best way to meet other moms. I met one of my closest friends in a mom’s group. After about 20 minutes of talking with her, we realized that our kids were exactly 1 day apart in age, we drove the same exact car, and we lived less then 1 mile from each other. It was an instant connection and we are still close friends 7 years later. The benefits of Moms’ groups are endless! They are the perfect place for first time moms, and moms with multiple children to socialize and support each other. They provide safe spaces for infants and toddlers to explore new environments and interact with other children. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">For <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/" target="_blank">BrickSmarts</a>, it was a perfect opportunity to spread the word about our new small business. We are currently working to expand our inventory to include Dulpo sets due to demand. Just like their mini counterpart…there is LOTS of life left in them, long after the kids out grow them. Check our website and social media regularly for newly added sets! <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.BrickSmarts.com</a></span></div>
Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-51302594074002012962017-01-08T18:46:00.000-08:002017-01-11T17:05:52.580-08:005 Simple Ways to Use Duplo Legos for Learning<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8dw_Mq9Q1c/WG_Xv3kT4GI/AAAAAAAAAWY/K15Ix5fvbK8Mv5XhyKUU_tUMDZSP_mptQCLcB/s1600/legos.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8dw_Mq9Q1c/WG_Xv3kT4GI/AAAAAAAAAWY/K15Ix5fvbK8Mv5XhyKUU_tUMDZSP_mptQCLcB/s320/legos.png" width="320" /></a>Lets face it, kids LOVE Legos. And for most, their exposure and their affinity for Legos starts very young. Even in the few year that my boys have been playing with Legos, the variety of Duplo sets has exploded! Everything from Jake and the Neverland Pirates to Jungle Animals, the Duplo sized bricks are perfect for little fingers. A couple years ago, after my kids had expressed a strong interest in Legos I started looking on our local Craigslist for Duplos. I easily found someone selling a LARGE rubbermaid bin filled with pieces for around $45. With a little convincing of my hubby, we bought them and brought them home. The man that I bought them from was so happy to get them out of his garage. His kids had out grown them and he was looking to clear out the space. Win, win. As a craigslist purchase I wanted to be sure to clean them thoroughly before the kids could get their hands (or mouths) on them. I filled the bathtub with warm water, a capful for bleach, some dish soap and a cup of distilled vinegar. I swished the Duplos around and let them sit over night. In the morning I rinsed them and let them dry on a bath towel for a few hours. The kids have since had endless hours of fun with this inexpensive bucket of Duplos. Even now that they are old enough for the small Lego pieces they often prefer to build with the Duplos! <br />
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About a year ago I stumbled upon some Pintrest posts about how to use Duplos for learning. I thought what a brilliant idea! If these little blocks can captivate my kids attention for hours, why not begin incorporating some intentional learning into their play? Here are some ideas that stood out to me. You can follow the links listed to check out additional play ideas.</div>
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1. <b>Sorting Pieces by Color, Shape, and Size: </b>Encourage your little one to create piles of bricks that are similar. Example: Place 3-5 different colored blocks on the floor help them sort pieces by color asking to name the colors while they place them into the pile. Repeat the game while sorting bricks by shape (squares, rectangles, circles). <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjYQayQJVzM/WG_bSbjKyVI/AAAAAAAAAWw/5JXTWq2FkusTA1_ZFZzCY_9agalGpsLmACLcB/s1600/ac156d754df678c40edd94347878fe91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjYQayQJVzM/WG_bSbjKyVI/AAAAAAAAAWw/5JXTWq2FkusTA1_ZFZzCY_9agalGpsLmACLcB/s1600/ac156d754df678c40edd94347878fe91.jpg" /></a>2. <b>Matching Pieces: </b> Challenge your kiddo to find matching bricks based on size, shape, and color. You can do this by tracing several Duplo bricks onto a piece of paper or cardboard. Have them find a match from a pile of mixed bricks. There are a variety of free printable downloads online as well if you don't want to make one yourself!<br />
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3. <b>Creating Patterns:</b> You can create endless patterns with the Duplo bricks and have your child copy the patterns, continue the patterns, or create their own patterns. Make patterned towers or simply arrange rows or mosaic patterns based on your child's age and ability. <br />
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4. <b>Counting Numbers: </b> You can use Duplos to help foster your child's ability to sequence and recognize numbers. Use blank label stickers, or masking tape to create a label for your bricks. Label them 1-10. Mix them up in a pile and encourage your child to build a tower with blocks in ascending (1-10) or descending (10-1) sequence. You can also ask you child to build a tower using a certain number of blocks. Example: "Jonny build me a tower of 7 blocks." Jonny then has to count out 7 blocks to build his tower. <br />
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5. <b>Addition & Subtraction:</b> As your child gets older and begins to progress towards practicing math skills. Legos are a great way to reinforce math concepts such as addition and subtraction. Practice adding and taking away bricks to demonstrate the concept of addition and subtraction. Make up <br />
word problems that incorporate using the bricks as everyday objects. Example: "Jonny has 3 pieces of chewing gum, Sally eats one piece. How many does Jonny have left?" Relating numbers to actual objects that a child can physically see, will often time make it easier for them to understand the concept. <br />
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As you can see from this very short list of ideas on how to use Lego Duplo bricks, the possibilities are endless. You can see these ideas and many, many more by clicking the links below. Some of the links also provide free downloadable printables for you to use. Happy building!<br />
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<a href="http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/ten-frame-math-printable-make-ten/">http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/ten-frame-math-printable-make-ten/</a><br />
<a href="http://mominspiredlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Lego-Duplo-Counting-and-Patterning-Cards.pdf">http://mominspiredlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Lego-Duplo-Counting-and-Patterning-Cards.pdf</a><br />
<a href="http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ADDITION-LEGO-CARDS.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ADDITION-LEGO-CARDS.pdf</a><br />
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<a href="http://frugalfun4boys.com/2016/09/24/printable-roll-write-count-mats/">http://frugalfun4boys.com/2016/09/24/printable-roll-write-count-mats/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amomentinourworld.com/2014/10/learning-lego.html">http://www.amomentinourworld.com/2014/10/learning-lego.html</a><br />
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Check out all of our Refurbished Lego Sets at <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.BrickSmarts.com</a>!<br />
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Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-85552287820007204852016-12-22T07:13:00.000-08:002017-01-11T17:06:36.320-08:00Last Minute Gift Giving: Gifts That Won't Break The BankAs we quickly approach the holiday weekend, many of us (myself included) are scrambling to find that last minute gift for a friend of family member. It's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of it all. Yesterday I went to Target for scotch tape and left with about $100 worth of additional purchases that I didn't know I needed when I walked in the store. The holiday shopping can easily spin out of control. <br />
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This year my husband an I decided to make an effort to buy at least a portion of the gifts used or refurbished. We decided to do this for a variety of reasons. One being that <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/" target="_blank">BrickSmarts</a> is based on the concept of taking used Lego sets and refurbishing them to "like new" condition. We wanted to personally test this concept in other products and see how feasible it is when it comes to gift giving. I think there is generally a stigma with giving a gift that is used or refurbished. Refurbished, or Up-Cycled gifts are great because they usually save you money, and they are great for the environment. Unfortunately, I think most people expect that a gift should be shiny, sparkly, and packaged neatly in a factory sealed box. Well, I believe that isn't always the case. So I came up with a list of 5 used or refurbished gift ideas to help last minute shoppers save their wallets and the planet!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnk3dIhb98A/WFvsfRUSrUI/AAAAAAAAAV4/ThS-0i7iY6o8UodTMNYmCgEg66FWzlmBACLcB/s1600/Nikon-Cameras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnk3dIhb98A/WFvsfRUSrUI/AAAAAAAAAV4/ThS-0i7iY6o8UodTMNYmCgEg66FWzlmBACLcB/s200/Nikon-Cameras.jpg" width="200" /></a>1. <u>Technology</u>: Big brand technology companies sell many of their products refurbished at deeply discounted prices. I recently purchased a refurbished Nikon SLR camera refurbished for $200 less then the retail price. It came with a 1 year parts warranty and included a case, lens, and wifi adapter. I purchased it at <a href="http://www.buydig.com/">http://www.buydig.com</a>. It arrived in a timely manner and was as described on the site. </div>
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2. <u>Brand name small appliances</u>: I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes so my husband knows that he can always score big points by buying me a high quality appliance. Last year he bought me a refurbished Vitamix blender. I had wanted one for a long time, but couldn't stomach the $500 price tag. After scouring the Vitamix website, my hubby stumbled across the refurbished section. <a href="https://www.vitamix.com/browse/s_refurb/" target="_blank">https://www.vitamix.com/browse/s_refurb/ </a>He was able to buy this industrial grade blender for hundreds of dollars off the original price. It still works greats event though it's a refurb! </div>
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3. <u>Luxury handbags</u>: I LOVE handbags...I think most women do. I HATE paying astronomical prices for a beautiful bag. Several years ago when living in Scottsdale, Arizona, I was a regular at the popular Women's Designer Consignment Store, <a href="http://www.mysisterscloset.com/">http://www.mysisterscloset.com</a>. They had an amazing variety of luxury purses (as well as other clothing and accessories). It's a great way to get or give the designer brands you love for a fraction of the price.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptT52kJE0_I/WFvsfNUnISI/AAAAAAAAAVw/Qwd-5x_6eR0q22Az9Net4zD-PvMvDJdFQCLcB/s1600/Cole-Haan-Cornelia-Triple-Zip-Satchel-Handbag_38463_front_large_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptT52kJE0_I/WFvsfNUnISI/AAAAAAAAAVw/Qwd-5x_6eR0q22Az9Net4zD-PvMvDJdFQCLcB/s200/Cole-Haan-Cornelia-Triple-Zip-Satchel-Handbag_38463_front_large_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
4. <u>Toys</u>: Many toys can have more then one life! For example, my kids are ages 7 and 5. This year my 7 year old was asking for a Nintendo 3DS. They really haven't had much exposure to any type of gaming system so we had a Wii packed away from before my husband an I had kids. We decided to unpack it and set it up for the kids to try out. They LOVED it! And because it's an older system we were able to buy popular used games online for around $7-$10. I bought 4 games at <a href="http://www.half.com/">www.half.com</a> and used them as stocking stuffers! <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PAQWnw-oOQ/WFvq3oByAsI/AAAAAAAAAVk/D3KuZPcfYFst6lRBTpfm_b-Aa6Llg17gQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PAQWnw-oOQ/WFvq3oByAsI/AAAAAAAAAVk/D3KuZPcfYFst6lRBTpfm_b-Aa6Llg17gQCLcB/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" width="320" /></a>And...of course Legos! What I've realized when refurbishing our <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/" target="_blank">BrickSmarts</a> sets, it's truly what is inside that counts. The Lego bricks work just as well the first time they are used, as the 101st time they are used. The magic of building still happens every time the Lego bricks are put together. My kids love building and rebuilding their BrickSmarts sets. Their favorite parts are the mini-figures and accessories. Our goal is to restore each set so it can have many more lives, and bring as much joy to as many kids as possible! Check out all of our Refurbished Lego Sets at <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.BrickSmarts.com</a>!<br />
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Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-51143234481762439752016-12-02T07:47:00.002-08:002016-12-02T07:47:41.217-08:00Building A BrickSmarts Online Community One Brick At A Time<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ9hebVa8tU/WEGW97WpoEI/AAAAAAAAAVM/LfD9UJrPD8U-ApLbRRdLfUUoC6w7RREfQCLcB/s1600/lego-stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ9hebVa8tU/WEGW97WpoEI/AAAAAAAAAVM/LfD9UJrPD8U-ApLbRRdLfUUoC6w7RREfQCLcB/s320/lego-stairs.jpg" width="320" /></a>After being in business for a little over a month, one of the biggest challenges of building an online business is social media. I think as a new business owner, in your mind you think that if you build a website and post it, that people will see it. Well...not exactly. If you think of the internet as the universe, your website is basically one little speck of dust that is just floating out there waiting for someone to notice it. Sounds depressing right? Well if you are willing to put in the leg work and time of connecting to an online community, the chances of people (ideally your target customers) seeing your site, or something connected to your site, improve! <br />
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Several weeks before we launched BrickSmarts, I started gearing my social media sites, FB, Instagram, Twitter to reflect anything Parenting or Lego related. My goal was to connect with readers that would be interested in my website and/or be potential customers. Along the way I was able to connect with mom bloggers and parents that were sharing some really exciting and insightful content on the web. I realized that there are so many moms out there who are interconnected though their blogs and social media and it serves as a virtual support system for their readers. <br />
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One of the Mom Bloggers that I crossed paths with was Amy Webb, PhD from <a href="http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/" target="_blank">The Thoughtful Parent</a>. Her site is a wealth of information related to parenting, family, and child development. She brings a fresh perspective to her site. She was so kind as to add BrickSmarts.com to her <a href="http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/2016/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-raising-unselfie.html" target="_blank">holiday gift guide</a> and write a <a href="http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/2016/12/blocks-childs-holiday-list-lego.html" target="_blank">glowing review</a> of a BrickSmarts building set. We LOVE that her kiddos loved their BrickSmarts set and hope that her readers will check out BrickSmarts for themselves. <br />
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<a href="http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/2016/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-raising-unselfie.html">http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/2016/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-raising-unselfie.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/2016/12/blocks-childs-holiday-list-lego.html">http://www.thoughtfulparent.com/2016/12/blocks-childs-holiday-list-lego.html</a><br />
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<br />Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-39845079615355015532016-11-02T09:33:00.000-07:002016-11-02T09:33:16.432-07:00If You Build It...They Will Come<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well we made it to the finish line...or the starting line, however you want to look at it. Yesterday marked the first day of business at <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.BrickSmarts.com</a>. The days leading up to our launch were spent reviewing the website, double checking the sets in preparation for sale, and working on a marketing plan so that we could get BrickSmarts in front as many eyes as possible on our first day. I have to admit that I was pretty nervous about the public's response to the website. Thankfully the feedback was AMAZING! We had lots of views on our site and much love on social media. Especially from <a href="http://bormandco.com/" target="_blank">Borm & Co.</a> Mom Blogger and Marketing Expert, Julie Borm gave us a real boost on Facebook with her blog post about Family Owned Businesses. You can check out the link <a href="http://bormandco.com/2016/11/01/tuesday-picks-shop-small/#comment-15" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I have to give a special shout out to my hubby, who is always super supportive, and has put up with all of the added demands of starting a new business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So with the first day behind us, we look towards the next couple of months which seems like the most insane time to start an online store. We are hoping for LOTs of customers looking for reasonable gifts for their LEGO® loving kiddos. We want to offer an economical alternative to astronomical retail prices. And the best thing about LEGOs is, they are just as fun USED as they are NEW! We want to connect and reach out to customers who want to be mindful of cost, but may also be looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to their holiday shopping. BrickSmarts offers just that! We clean, refurbish, and hand package each of our LEGO® building sets, so it's not like the typical used LEGOs that you would buy at a garage sale. We take care of all that! We promise that your little LEGO® lovers will not miss the original packaging or box. It's what's inside that counts!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.BrickSmarts.com</a><br />
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<br />Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-63297516166560075712016-10-31T06:43:00.001-07:002016-10-31T06:45:32.275-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Today is a super exciting day, because we are busy getting ready for the GRAND OPENING of our online marketplace </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tomorrow</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">TUES, NOV 1, 2016</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">BUY </span><span style="background-color: white;">REFURBISHED </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">LEGO® </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">BUILDING SETS AT </span></span><a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/" style="font-size: x-large;">www.BrickSmarts.com</a></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">At BrickSmarts, we take USED, unwanted LEGO® sets and replace pieces, manuals, and mini-figures, to give our sets a new life. We double check each building set for completeness, and hand package them in a RESEALABLE ZIPPER POUCH! We ship them to you without the mess and clutter of the original packaging. We offer all of your favorite sets, at a FRACTION of the cost! Buy USED sets for 40-60% off retail prices! We add NEW sets everyday, so follow us on social media to see new listings and special offers.</span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">KIDS LOVE LEGOS®, AND YOU WILL LOVE OUR PRICES!</span></span></div>
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Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-77161659359627948702016-10-28T09:19:00.002-07:002016-10-28T09:19:48.165-07:00BrickSmarts.com GRAND OPENING 11/1/16<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13iRqPRExGw/WBN0Pnvs6DI/AAAAAAAAAQo/FxCZENkCj9Ijtt0TThycUpy1tNr6wQswwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5796.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13iRqPRExGw/WBN0Pnvs6DI/AAAAAAAAAQo/FxCZENkCj9Ijtt0TThycUpy1tNr6wQswwCLcB/s320/IMG_5796.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.BrickSmarts.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday November 1, 2016 is the </span><u><span style="font-size: large;">BIG</span></u><span style="font-size: large;"> day! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several months ago, I had this crazy idea of selling refurbished LEGO® sets online. Well...fast forward 9 months, and we are so close to launching BrickSmarts.com. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have had a few set backs along the way, but the big day is fast approaching! We are busy working out the kinks in the website, making sure our sets are complete and ready to ship, and crafting our social media and marketing campaign.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will be up and running just in time to start your holiday shopping! At BrickSmarts, our refurbished LEGO® building sets are double checked for completeness, then hand packaged in a resealable zipper pouch. Our sets provide ALL the fun, for a fraction of the cost! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can not wait until we go live on Tuesday 11/1/16. We definitely have something for EVERYONE! LEGO® Chima, LEGO® Friends, LEGO® Ninjago, Creator, City, Superheroes...the list goes on and on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most exciting part is that we are getting in NEW building sets EVERYDAY! That means that you will want to check in with us regularly. You can also stay up to date on new arrivals through Facebook and Instagram! We are so excited to share our products with you. Spread the word and visit us on Tuesday!</span><br />
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Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-57662603479205145762016-09-14T09:58:00.000-07:002016-09-14T09:58:01.366-07:00Arm and a Leg-O<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUvHjiZ7SlY/V9l6MSDPdGI/AAAAAAAAAN8/s3gW2hOnSdwLBXgb0gFsXoKf8CPjVkITQCLcB/s1600/Yellow%2BStuds%2B-%2BDesktop%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUvHjiZ7SlY/V9l6MSDPdGI/AAAAAAAAAN8/s3gW2hOnSdwLBXgb0gFsXoKf8CPjVkITQCLcB/s320/Yellow%2BStuds%2B-%2BDesktop%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a Sample of My New Marketing Material for <a href="http://www.bricksmarts.com/">www.BrickSmarts.com</a> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last several months have been busy with getting the online portion of our business up and running. There are so many hoops to jump through when starting a small business. But with a little persistence and a lot of luck all the documents have been filed, EIN obtained, tax info registered and we are ready for business! The most time consuming part of my day is web design. I compared GoDaddy web builder to Shopify's marketplace and personally found that the Shopify was better suited to meet my needs as an Ecommerce site. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The Shopify site had over 100+ website themes to choose from and 24/7 web support. I have already used the web support several times. Each time there was very little wait time, and the support person or "Guru" that they call themselves, was very helpful and knowledgable. If you have a small web design budget there are plenty of FREE themes that are very effective. Overall I have found that the layout I chose was functional, but didn't offer a ton of customization. The "Guru" told me that my Shopify account allows for 1 hour of custom web design time...so I will be sure to take advantage of that as soon as I am up and running. For those who need lot of customization assistance there is an option to hire one through the site, for an extra fee of course. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />As far as monthly service with Shopify, I chose the cheapest plan for now, which is actually way cheaper then what I was paying in fees on Ebay, so I felt it was justified. The other plans seemed more comprehensive but as a fledgling business, I don't have the budget to allocate for upward of $50/month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />My absolute favorite part of Shopify is that they send email Blog posts almost daily regarding small business advice and recommendations. There is everything from podcasts to articles written by seasoned business persons. It has been surprisingly helpful and most of the articles are short (4-5 minutes) each. If you are thinking of building a website and have little to no web design experience, I would definitely check out Shopify. The design platform is pretty intuitive and within a day or so it's pretty easy to navigate between their admin page and customization tool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-53162115511479688282016-06-15T10:45:00.000-07:002016-06-15T10:52:48.881-07:00See it to Believe It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my biggest challenges with moving forward on this idea was quite frankly, the fear of failure...which is still not outside the realm of possibility. They say that about 50% of all new small businesses fail within the first 5 years. Not great odds for me, but I will say that there is something magical about having an idea in your mind and then seeing it become something tangible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the first hurtles was to choose a name, oddly I felt a similar pressure when choosing a name for a business, as my husband an I felt when naming our kids...lol. In my mind, I needed something that people would notice and remember. I wanted it to portray a Lego theme, while highlighting the "up-cycled" concept of my business. The name went though several phases of change...but I finally settled on BrickSmarts. I felt that was fitting, seeing that recycling is always a smart idea, and the brick part was pretty self explanatory. The tag line "The Smart Way to Play" seemed appealing to parents who may be environmentally and/or financially conscious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next phase of creating an identity for this business was to take the name and create a logo. I'm not sure if from a Business 101 standpoint that needed to be the next step, but for me it helped me to have something real that represented my idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This process took several weeks. I got about 4 quotes on logo design. They ranged anywhere from $50 to $800, and later I found out that they can cost even way more than that. I stumbled across a website called <a href="http://www.designcrowd.com/" target="_blank">DesignCrowd</a>. They are a freelance logo design company based out of Australia. That have been around since 2008 and have more than 500,000 designers in over 160 countries. I researched their website and it got good reviews. The most appealing thing to me was that, if I didn't select any of the proposed designs, I would get my money back. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FiH8bCvgxrw/V2GRu4xkCGI/AAAAAAAAANU/6rutG3ahxrsIJSAie4Fuc63Up84S3qUPwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FiH8bCvgxrw/V2GRu4xkCGI/AAAAAAAAANU/6rutG3ahxrsIJSAie4Fuc63Up84S3qUPwCLcB/s200/IMG_3991.JPG" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CgFnnk02Btw/V2GRu077KmI/AAAAAAAAANQ/H52-dFiSqcEehIVYKfUgdNnUMWfX1-SRQCLcB/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CgFnnk02Btw/V2GRu077KmI/AAAAAAAAANQ/H52-dFiSqcEehIVYKfUgdNnUMWfX1-SRQCLcB/s200/image1.JPG" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here is how it worked. You select a package that fits your needs. The price was based on how many design submissions you wanted to receive. I chose the 60+ designs option for about $200. I received a coupon code in an email, a few days after first visiting the site. I filled out an online worksheet with my info and what I needed. I uploaded a few of my own logo ideas that I had just scratched on some scrap paper, I gave color and shape, theme preferences, and Viola...shipped it off to cyberspace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Within 14 days I truly had over 40 different designs, and many variations on each design. The designers were from all over the world. I received a few designs that I really liked and honestly it was hard to choose. One nice feature was that once your submission timeframe ended, you could poll your family and friends via email on the one they liked the best. How about that for your "market research." After that surprisingly painless process I requested a few color changes and selected my favorite design which is below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was something about seeing it that made it seem real. </span>Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305870555491648845.post-84102690788872384682016-06-13T20:09:00.000-07:002016-06-13T20:13:39.158-07:00Wonder Woman in the Brick Yard<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I'm a mom of two energetic boys who LOVE Legos. At one point last year we had Legos in every room in our house. It seemed like everywhere I turned I was either stepping on Legos or stepping over Legos. It was at that time I said, "Enough is Enough!" The Lego sets that we had either were missing pieces or collecting dust. It was ridiculous. I was sick of spending an arm and a leg for sets that were put together once and then forgotten about. I finally convinced the kids to help me sort and repack the sets they didn't want. We posted them online and that was the start of our Lego adventure! I knew after a couple of weeks that I wanted to start my own online "up-cycled" Lego business. </span></div>
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I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit and when I started selling online I was hooked. The problem was that I have no business background. This blog is designed to highlight the ups and downs of starting an online business. And hopefully it can serve as a what to do...or more-likely what NOT to do guide to starting an online business. </span></div>
Brick by Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100627648657771139noreply@blogger.com0