christmas 2016 haul

Snowglobe [40223]

Happy holidays everyone! What's a better way to celebrate the festivities than bricktacularly?

For my wife and I, this will be our first time celebrating the holidays in the United Kingdom. To divert our attention from homesickness, we both turned to (as one of my closest friends would describe it) brick therapy. Without realizing it, our Christmas 2016 haul instantly grew (mainly due to the freebies).

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar [75146]

The first set on this list is the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar [75146]. As you can see here, I bought it as early as September when it first came out. My wife had to make a note on the box, wrap it, and hide it in plain sight in order to ensure that I'll be able to delay my gratification. I wasn't able to do a daily blog as planned, but I made a gallery post to compensate.

Come November, on the opening of the new London Leicester Square LEGO Store, we acquired the bulk of our holiday sets. For going there really early, we were rewarded with last year's Gingerbread House [40139].

Gingerbread House [40139] Box

Gingerbread House [40139]

And for our purchases, we were gifted with the Toy Soldier [5004420] ornament, and the 24-In-1 Christmas Builds [40222] box set.

Toy Soldier [5004420]

24-In-1 Christmas Builds [40222]

We weren't really planning to buy any LEGO last Black Friday Sale, but the Snowglobe [40223] set is irresistibly beautiful. In my opinion, this is one of the best seasonal sets ever.

Snowglobe [40223] Box

Then there are always the impulse sets. Seasonal sets from the previous years were popping out everywhere. We found the very cute (and very cheap) Santa's Visit [40125] and Reindeer [30474] sets in our local stores.

Santa's Visit [40125]

Reindeer [30474]

And to cap our Christmas 2016 haul, we claimed the re-released Gingerbread Man [5005156] to complement our Gingerbread House [40139]. I just think he was a little overbaked.

Gingerbread Man [5005156]

I guess that's it for this year. There's always next year. Enjoy the holidays!

LEGO star wars advent calendar 2016

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2016 [75146]

It's already the 24th of December, and today marks the end of the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar [75146]...

As my first advent calendar, I immensely enjoyed the 2016 version of my favorite brick theme from a galaxy far, far away. Opening a door everyday (or in my case every other day or two) and discovering each surprise gave me simple festive joys. Snow Chewbacca, U-3PO, and the Hoth Snowman are few of the notable ones. The microbuilds were also ingeniously designed using only a small number of bricks.

What's behind Doors 1 to 24?

I initially planned to do a daily blog on this, but my long work hours didn't permit me to do so. So, here is a simple gallery to present my little holiday babies:

Day 1: Slave I

Day 2: Bespin Guard

Day 3: TIE Interceptor

Day 4: Imperial Navy Trooper

Day 5: Anti-infantry Battery

Day 6: Snowtrooper

Day 7: Hoth Snowman

Day 8: P-Tower

Day 9: Hoth Rebel Trooper

Day 10: Republic Attack Cruiser

Day 11: Armored Assault Tank

Day 12: Droid Gunship

Day 13: Battle Droid

Day 14: Jedi Starfighter

Day 15: Tantive IV

Day 16: U-3PO

Day 17: Gonk Droid

Day 18: Jabba's Palace

Day 19: Luke Skywalker

Day 20: Desert Skiff

Day 21: Stormtrooper

Day 22: Imperial Landing Craft

Day 23: Sleigh

Day 24: Snow Chewbacca

Happy holidays everyone!!!

UK LEGO store year-end promotions

Gingerbread Man
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

2016 is almost over but the UK LEGO Store has still some lovely presents to giveaway.

These freebies are just in time for the holidays. Stocking fillers, anyone?

From 11 to 20 December, there's a free Exclusive Gingerbread Man Minifigure [5005156] for any purchase over £25. This is perfect if you miss this the first time in the Collectible Minifigures Series 11 [71002]. This little fellow also goes well with last year's Gingerbread House [40139].

From 11 to 31 December, you can get a free Rebel A-Wing Pilot [5004408] polybag for any Star Wars purchase over £25. The long sought Phoenix Squadron Pilot minifigure will be officially up for grabs at last in the UK brick market. The minifigure is from Star Wars Rebels, more specifically from the end of the second season.

Rebel A-Wing Pilot
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

And don't forget to pick your 2017 LEGO Wall Calendar from 11 December to 15 January. Simply present your valid receipt (with sticker) to any LEGO Store.

2017 Wall Calendar
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

Of course, everything is claimable while supplies last.

Enjoy the remaining days of 2016!

UK LEGO store christmas promotions

Christmas Promotions
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

'Tis the season to be jolly! Along with the release of the UK LEGO Store Christmas 2016 Newsletter is the announcement of this year's multiple holiday promotions.

As early as October and, of course, ending in December, LEGO is giving away free gifts (after minimum purchases and while supplies last) to liven up the festive mood. The Christmas 2016 LEGO Store promotions are as follows:

• From 23 October to 20 November, free LEGO 24-in-1 Christmas Builds [40222] for any purchase over £60

• From 12 to 23 November, free LEGO Toy Soldier Christmas Ornament [5004420] for any purchase over £25

• From 25 November to 10 December, free LEGO Snowglobe [40223] for any purchase over £60

• From 11 to 20 December, free Exclusive Gingerbread Man Minifigure [5005156] for any purchase over £25

And don't forget to keep your receipt when you buy any LEGO product between 14 October and 10 December to get a 2017 LEGO Wall Calendar. The calendar can then be claimed (while supplies last) from any LEGO Store between 11 December and 15 January.

2017 Wall Calendar
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

So plan your holiday purchases wisely! And I think this is just perfect, just in time for the opening of the new London Leicester Square LEGO Flagship Store on 17 November!