Teacup Bird Feeders

This project was discovered at a Saturday Market Booth up in Portland.

My version:

The version I saw at the market (I snapped a quick picture so I wouldn't forget to try it out!)

Supplies:

1. Drill

2. Tile drill bit

3. Cup

4. Saucers/plate

5. Small bit of wire mesh

6. Epoxy

7. wire/chain, rope to hang it with

A few tips. First- as for the cup and saucer. We found this worked MUCH better with certain types of cups. If it is one that is more like a fired clay rather than a porcelain...its MUCH easier to drill through without breaking. We did break a couple of them.

Also- You really do need the drill bit meant for tile. A wooden bit just wont work. I found mine at ACE- but I would think most places would have them! They have little pictures on the drill bits, telling you what material it goes through. the drill bit meant for tile looks like an arrow.

Alright, on to the process.

1. Drill a hole in the middle of your cup

2. Drill holes in your saucer. you can make a 2, 3, or 4 hole saucer, depending on how accurate you are hanging. we did 4, but 3 would have worked just as well!

3. Drill a hole in the center of your plate 

4. Figure out how to hang it: I had 14 gage wire laying around, so that's what I used!

5. Epoxy/Super Glue your teacup to your plate. Match up the center holes. Then epoxy your small piece of wire mesh over the hole.

This way, when it rains, the seed will say in the cup, but the water will drain out! Perfect right?!

Then simply hang, pour in your bird seed....and you're good to go! I will say that mine has been up for a few days, and although there is birdseed missing...I have yet to catch a little bird over there. When I see one- I'll make sure to snap a picture of my little birdy teaparty :)

UPrinting {Giveaway}

Have you heard of UPrinting?  They do all sorts of printing and graphics- Great for all you bloggers, etsy store owners, college students, moms, practically anyone!  

For example these  Customizable Stickers  (who wouldn't want these?! Just think of all the fun things you could do!)  They are great for putting logos on your products, organizing supplies, decorating, planning PTA or church events, branding marketing....everything! I've been working on ideas for what I'd like to do with my stickers, and well...there are so many ideas I just can't decide!

They also carry Custom Stickers and Personalized Stickers, business cards, postcards, letterheads...everything for your printing needs!

See those Customizable Stickers up there?! Well, UPrinting wants to give one of you 250 of the customizable stickers! These are valued at about $40!!  (stickers will be 2" x 3.5" 70lb Label Matte, Front Only Printing) 

 

Here is how to enter!

 (as always, be a follower here first, then do one or all of the following in separate posts to enter)

1. Like UPrinting on facebook!

2. Leave a comment on their wall telling UPrinting who sent you!

3. Like UPrinting on twitter

4. Comment telling me what you would do with your stickers!
5.  Tweet/blog/facebook for an extra entry each!

The giveaway will be open for a week! 9/6

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive Stickers for hosting. Check out standard label templates on UPrinting.

Restriction: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only.

Special Request Post

I was just contacted tonight by a fellow blogger (and photographer...but she is MUCH better than me!) to highlight a special post she recently put up. She posted here about a heart wrenching story of a special family. To read about them, and to check out her post, with video and photos- feel free to click here for more on this special family.

The Ex-Barista Explains Your Starbucks Drinks

Its been over a year since I've worked at Starbucks, but I still love sharing what I learned. Here is the Caramel Apple Spice I shared with you a while back, in case you missed it. I also now have a place to answer your questions here.  Well now I thought I'd share the trick of the drinks. Simple really! 

 

I am not 100% sure on how much a "pump" equals. I googled it, and that was the amount that seemed most normal. For calories, its about 20 calories per pump. Unless its mocha, then its 30.

Using these basic ratio's you can make just about anything. One difference, is a caramel macchiato- it has one LESS pump of syrup. Later I can post the differences between a latte, cappuccino, americano, etc.

A few things most customers don't know about their drink:

1. In a hot drink, you get no more caffeine in a Venti then you do a Grande (unless you ask for extra shots...or have an americano)

2. Venti cold drinks are 4 oz larger than a venti hot drink

3. Venti cold drinks get an extra pump of syrup= more calories

4. I'll call these "hybrid drinks" for the sake of this, but it is drinks like "raspberry mocha" or something with a double syrup in the title...they have the SAME AMOUNT of pumps per flavor. That means for a grande raspberry mocha you are getting 4 pumps raspberry AND 4 pumps mocha. Whoa.

5. Alot of Starbucks do sell the large bottles of syrup, and for dirt cheap! About $7 a bottle!

Two other notes while I'm on the topic:

6. Its NOT a Frap or Frappe...its a Frappuccino. Your barista's dont use slang, so you're not cool when you do it either.

7. And yes, as I've said before... If you are mean to your barista, your drink probably just became decaf without your knowledge. Its the most passive way to get back at a rude customer, and is the only way to keep us smiling :)

Anyway, hope you enjoyed that! 

"Up" Bottle Cap Pin

If you haven't seen it,  watch the movie "Up". It is just precious, and so funny! I've made these little bottle cap pins before, but yesterday I thought of a MUCH easier way. Before I took the time to drill holes through the bottle cap (one on either side) But yesterday I decided to try a small hole punch.

It worked PERFECTLY! (just like the movie!)

No tutorial needed on this one! Just a cute little project for all those "Up" lovers out there!

Saturday Show Off {Link up #1}

Ready for our FIRST "Saturday Show Off?!"

Here is how it works!

Link up to "show off" what you're done lately! Anything from crafts, recipes, photography...all sorts of goodies! You are welcome to link multiple items, and you can link up for the next 3 days!

<center><a href="http://threeyearsofdeath.blogspot.com"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="A Law Student's Journey" src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x469/kitherine5/Saturdayshowoff.jpg" align="center" /></a></center>

A & C Engagement Photos

This week I was asked to take engagement photos! A friend from high school recently got engaged, and of course I was thrilled to be asked to do the honors. We went to a little nature park here in Lincoln to take a few of these!

They were so cute together :) And of course we had a blast.

5 Minute Lace Headband

This lace headband could NOT be easier. Really! You could do this with any ribbon or lace you have lying around.

All you need:

1. Lace

2. Small Piece of Elastic

3. Needle/thread

And you're good to go. If you don't sew, please dont let this scare you! I'm certain anyone can do this.

Cut a piece of lace just about 1 inch shorter than what would comfortably fit around your head. Then fold up one of the edges a bit

Place your piece of elastic inside 

Then fold the lace around it. 

Sew to keep it in place!

Now measure your head again to make sure this will fit snuggly, but not too snug! Then do the same thing with the other side of the lace. And you're done!  



the blue on my hand is from stamping cards...just ignore it



Now wear it proudly :)

Worked to Death

If you haven't noticed, my url is "ThreeYearsofDeath". That comes from the phrase I heard my first week of law school which goes like this:

The first year they scare you to death,

The second year they work you to death,

The third year they bore you to death,

"They" being the professors of course. Well currently "worked to death" feels like a pretty nice way to go (if you consider that "death" means ultimately getting a break from all the work) That sounds much more morbid than I mean, of course.

So far, I can vouch for that little phrase. Yes, first year I was scared. I still call one of my professors fondly by the title "scary teacher" (not to his face of course). Even though he isn't so scary. Every day I went in to class thinking "please don't call on me, just not today"

Thus far, the second phrase is true as well. Although I am taking 2 fewer classes than I did last semester (18 hours down to 13) my work load feels like it has quadrupled. And the material is harder. Its been just 3 days of Individual Income Tax, and I feel as if I've learned everything I will ever need to know in real life about filing my individual income tax. (but obviously the course will continue on for a grueling few more months)  

I'm not even through the week yet...and I feel like I've been working forever. A few of us 2L's got together to discuss this year...and at least I know I'm not alone in the feeling.

Only 54 more credit hours to go.

Blog-aversary Giveaway

"Happy Blog-aversary to me"

(yes I am singing this right now)

It took me a while to decide what to do for a blog-aversary giveaway! I've decided on........

The Double Heart Hanger!

I decided since everyone seems so excited about the wire hangers- this would be a good generic one to do for a giveaway! That way if you don't have someone right away you'd like to give it to (or you want it for your own wedding day, and aren't sure who you are marrying yet!) or if you'd simply like to keep it for yourself (totally okay too! Duh!) That way it is a fun generic wire hanger- made by yours truly :)

Looking for personalized hangers? check my etsy for orders!

So here is how it will work! (to enter, be a new/old follower first!)

Do any of these entries (all in seperate posts please) to enter the giveaway!

1. Tell me what you would do with the hanger

2.  "Like" LSJ on facebook! Comment saying you did! (dont worry, I dont post often...so it isnt anoying)

3. Follow LSJ on Twitter! Comment saying you did! (I often forget to tweet as well...)

4. Leave a comment with a "blog-aversary gift" What would that be? Simply a link to a fun craft/recipe that I can try! It can be one of your favorites you've seen someone else do, or one of you own! I LOVE hearing about new ideas!

The giveaway will be open for a week! 8/31

friendly reminder :) PLEASE check to see if your email is public when you comment, or leave your email in the post! If I dont have a way to contact you... you don't win...sorry!

Blog-Aversary

Today is my blog-aversary....and I had no idea! Last night I was laying in bed and started thinking "It was almost a year ago when I started blogging" and decided to check the exact date this morning. Well it was one year ago today when I wrote my first post!

My First Post you can find Here It was labeled "scared to death" to talk about my first law school experience. It went a little (okay...exactly) like this:

First day Jitters....that's an understatement.

Although I've gotten through Orientation, thoroughly scared and lacking confidence...it has only just begun. Thus far: the workload is manageable, the people are friendly and the books are heavy.

On my first day I got lost, went through 3 schools zones thus barely made it to the parking lot on time before I slightly nudged a neighboring parked car. I got the last seat that wasn't in the front row (phew!) before the guilt set in. After class I returned the scene of the crime were I left a note and a number for the poor soul with the HUGE car.
That was my morning, but the rest of the day seems to be going smoothly. 2 classes down, one more to go until I can hopefully sneak away to my car before meeting the owner of the automobile face to face.

Yes, my first day of law school was a bit of a mess for me. Running late, and hitting a car in the parking lot....classic.

So to celebrate I'll be posting a fun giveaway tomorrow! I haven't decided what it will be....just that I'd like to thank all of you for helping my blogging experience to become successful!

Cork Keychains

Ready for some cork keychains? Of course I always give credit when I see a fun craft. This one came from here- so feel free to check out the original over there!

 Its just as easy as it looks! A friend donated corks to me this summer for my crafting needs, and I had a few old keyrings I pulled from keychains (reuse!). Then all I needed was these:

It took me a few isles in ACE to finally find them. This small pack cost about $1.99 I think? Very cheap for so much fun!

Simply find the middle, screw it into the cork- and you are good to go!

I thought about dabbing a little hot glue in there first, but it held really well! And there you have it! The cork key chain! Great for that hard to buy for person!

And so it begins...

Another first day of school has come. This semester I get to chose my classes, and enjoy (ha!) life as a 2L. I'll be taking Individual Income Tax, Business Associations, Evidence, and Constitutional Law I. Thanks to my summer sessions, I can take it "easy" with just 4 classes.

Posting about more interesting things will resume after I drop Kevin at the airport tonight, catch up on my assignments, and etsy orders (...so probably tomorrow)

Happy Monday!

Cupcake Cones

Did you know you can bake cupcakes straight into ice cream cones? Think of the endless decorating possibilities! I enjoyed watching Alyssa's sister, Andrea, bake them while I sat and "supervised" (you know...licked the bowl, ate the cupcakes....the important part)

No trick needed! Simply pour the batter into the cone. We learned that it helped to put them in muffin tins to keep them upright. And we also learned if you try to make them in larger waffle cones, it will collapse. Just for future reference

We didn't get around to decorating, due to a minor miscalculation of powdered sugar to milk for the frosting. Whoops

But they did taste good!