Blog
This Page is Currently under Construction - Aug 28, 2025
Common Questions
If you cannot find the answers you are looking for here, contact me via email at admin@dwanethomas.com.
I try to respond to all questions within 24 hours, unless you contact me on a Sunday. I do not work on Sundays.
Incidentally, I may have already answered your question in the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Latest Blog Posts
LEGO Tip of the Week #14: I Just Discovered this LEGO Building Trick
If you’ve ever tried to build a large LEGO scene—like a castle with a river or a town with rolling hills—you know how quickly things get wobbly, uneven, or hard to move around. That’s why I was excited when a Bricks and Minifigs customer introduced me to something...
Tip of the Week #329: Tired of Forgetting Things? Try This
Tip of the Week: A Simple To-Do List that Works I’ve tried dozens of digital to-do lists. Most are too complicated.This week, though, I found something simple and useful: To-do Tab. To-do Tab is a free extension for Chrome. Install it, and every time you open a new...
LEGO Tip of the Week #13: Organize Your LEGO Search with Brick Manager
Organize Your LEGO Search with Brick Manager I hope you all had a happy Saturday! One of the things I love most about Bricks & Minifigs Vestavia Hills is getting to chat with all of you. You’re always sharing great LEGO tips, and I always learn something new! Just...
Tip of the Week #328: How to Master Your Time using the Eisenhower Matrix
President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” That insight became the basis for the Eisenhower Matrix, a simple but powerful tool to help you prioritize effectively: Urgent & Important – Do...
LEGO Tip of the Week #12: Build More with What You Have!
If you love customizing your LEGO builds or are looking for fresh project ideas, check out Rebrickable. Rebrickable is an incredible site with thousands of fan-made LEGO instructions. You can also upload your own collections and discover creative new ways to...
Tip of the Week #327: How to Pack Light
Not long ago, I took a group of students to Europe. To pack for the trip, I used the following checklist: Rick Steves Packing List (PDF) I recommend packing light. Resist the urge to take it all with you. If you get to your destination, and realize you are...
LEGO Tip of the Week #11: How to Apply LEGO Stickers Like a Pro
Did you know you could use brick separators to apply stickers? When applying LEGO stickers, use the brick separator’s thin edge to hold and guide the sticker into place. This gives you better control than using fingers and helps avoid fingerprints, bubbles, or crooked...
Tip of the Week #326: Practice Over Passion
Loving something—like learning a language—is a great start. But passion and talent will only take you so far. The real progress comes when you show up consistently, even on the hard days. This is why I structure my classes the way I do.We meet 30 minutes a day, four...
Tip of the Week #325: Language Learning Hack: One Chapter a Day
I often suggest my students listen to the Bible in the language they’re learning. The Bible has been translated into thousands of languages and is also available in audio format. For a long time, I recommended the audio versions over at Faith Comes by...
Tip of the Week #324: How to Save on Gas, Insurance, and Repairs with One Smart Vehicle Choice
Tennessee confuses me. All around me, I hear people talking about money troubles. And, all around me I see gigantic pickup trucks rumbling up and down the road. A quick search informed me the average cost of a new pickup truck is around $60,000, with some trucks...
LEGO Tip of the Week #10: How Star Wars Saved LEGO
Did you know Star Wars saved LEGO? It’s true! In the late 1990s, LEGO was facing a difficult period in its history. LEGO was struggling financially. Sales were declining, competition was rising, and the company found itself at a crossroads. In 1999, LEGO made a...
LEGO Tip of the Week #10: How to Organize All Those Bricks
Not long after we decided to open Bricks and Minifigs: Vestavia Hills, I realized I was going to need a system to deal with the wave of LEGO bricks pouring into my house. So I went to Amazon and ordered a few of these organizers: https://amzn.to/3RsxhEm. They were...
Tip of the Week #323: When Words Whisper Blessings
I’ve been fascinated by languages since I was 15, when my family moved to Germany. One of the things I love most is discovering the hidden stories inside everyday words. Since Easter is tomorrow, I wanted to share one of the most surprising discoveries I’ve come...
Tip of the Week #322 – Learn French or German with Chatterbug!
Forgot to send this on Saturday... so, here I am on a Monday. Back in April of 2022, I discovered Chatterbug.com. In those days, Chatterbug featured live stream language learning nearly every morning. I loved it. Then, inexplicably, the live streams ended. ...
LEGO Tip of the Week #8: Save the Fingernails!
Save the Fingernails! At Bricks and MiniFigs Vestavia Hills, we support healthy fingernails. Unfortunately, one of the greatest threats to fingernails today is the LEGO building system… which we also support. Fortunately, there’s hope. We give away free brick...
Henle Latin
Lingua Latina
Visual LAtin
Word Up
Modern Languages
Trips and Tours
Stay Updated With the Weekly Newsletter
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to receive the latest updates.
What Our Readers Say
“This blog has transformed my understanding of Roman history. The detailed explanations and engaging content make learning enjoyable!”
Alexandra M.
“Thanks to the insightful articles, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for Latin language and Roman culture. Highly recommend!”
Marcus L.
“The blog’s resources have been invaluable for my studies. The clarity and depth of information are unmatched!”
Julia T.
