Eating Vegan while on Vacation in Disney World

So what do you do when your family is on a gluten free, dairy free, sugar free Vegan Diet and your traveling to Disneyworld for Spring break and did I mention on a tight budget….!!??.... Well you bring your own healthy food from home and you eat one smart meal in the park.

This obviously takes planning and preparation prior to the trip and a little extra work at the park – but was it worth it… YES!! We stuck to our diet and overall we saved money.

This was our first time bringing our own food into a Disney Park and it was our first time eating our own food on a 14 hour drive down and back. So it was a complete live and learn experience…

This is how I did it:

First thing I did was research the storage lockers via the Disney website. The website says there are two locker sizes available. However, at the park we found only one size. The large locker was 17.5”x12”x16”. It was $10.00 per day plus a $5.00 key deposit, which is refunded when the key is returned with the receipt (keep the receipt with your cooler in your locker so you don’t lose it during the day). 

Next, I went to Amazon and purchased a soft sided cooler meeting the size of the locker… when we got to the park my cooler was a tight squeeze but it fit and we found out later that if it hadn’t fit that they would have stored it in a back room for us J.  I also purchased a set of Bento Meal Prep Containers. 

Now, I was ready to plan out my meals. To make it a little more Disney FUN I cut out little mickey tags in 3 colors: Pink for me, Blue for Jeff and Green for Wilde. I put our name on one ear, the day on the other ear and breakfast, lunch or dinner on the face and labeled each container… in pencil I listed the food on the back (as we don’t all eat the same food J)… Then, I made my grocery list accordingly.  The purpose of these little tags was to make it super easy for me to find what I need quickly on the drive down and when putting food in the cooler early in the morning as we headed out to the park. It worked great!!

The overall plan was: fruit and oatmeal in the morning for breakfast; Veggie bags, Nut bags and fruit for snacks; A large salad with asparagus and other vegetables for lunch; And dinner in the park.

I put our nuts and fruit in zip lock baggies and drew little Mickey heads on them and wrote fun Disney quotes to keep it feeling fun and magical.

We kept our snacks in our backpack so that we could eat them easily when hungry in the park and visited our cooler in the middle of the day to eat our lunch. Everything stayed cold and it was quick, easy and didn’t cost anything.

We also took our own water bottles into the park. This was another huge money savior. Anyone that has visited a Disney Park knows you drink a ton and drinks are very expensive, even water…. Did you know that you can ask for a cup of ice water at anywhere they serve food and get it for free J…. We saved so much money drinking ice water from our own water bottles and water is so much healthier… Wilde and I add some fresh lemon slices to our water so we had a little flavor. It was great.

That takes us to dinner in the park. We ate at two restaurants. The first night we had  the vegetarian chili at The Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square. It was delicious. The next night we had the vegetarian burger at the Plaza Restaurant just off Main Street. The Plaza Restaurant was a little more expensive and reservations were needed. We made our reservations the night before when we were reserving our fast past tickets. The food was great and the atmosphere was beautiful –worth the extra money.

Overall our plan worked!! We stayed on course and saved money. I wont lie the smells were killing us and it wasn’t easy, but we did it and having the Disney Meal in the evening made it feel like we weren’t missing out J.

The only thing I will look into doing differently for next time is our travel food for down and back. We had made salads and they just were not convenient to eat in the car. So I will be looking into lettuce wraps and different foods that are a little easier to eat while you drive. I think I will also include a few more snacks, you burn through the calories when you are on the go in the heat all day.

I am really looking forward to our next trip and preparing the food that keeps my family healthy and happy, while saving money. 

Ohio Underwater Model, Mermaid and Aquatic Performer

I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love professionally....

I have the great privilege of taking my love of performing, costuming, the water and free diving and combining them to create an aquatic performance art that is truly magical.

I have been performing as a mermaid, underwater model and aquatic performer for several years now and the joy only continues to grow.

As of late, I have really enjoyed working as a underwater model. I have had the great opportunity to work with several underwater photographers in the Ohio area and and I love the challenges of modeling underwater.

Each photoshoot is a different experience and a great learning opportunity. The use of different costuming, fabrics and props add so many variables and allows for so much growth and creative expression, as does the location. I have been photographed in pools, fountains, quarries and rivers each uniquely different.  

You can learn more about me at http://www.mackaypiratefamily.com/mermaid.htm

Christmas Steampunk Costume Design

I want to share with you my Steampunk Christmas Creation. I designed this look for a photo shoot I was apart of in December. 

It was a super fun challenge to melt Steampunk and Christmas together. I was going for a Steampunk Christmas inspired Elf. I really enjoyed working on this outfits and love how it turned out in the photos. Here are some photos from concept to creation! Enjoy!

Pirate Pix The New iPhone Pirate Sticker App

I am in love with Pirate Pix!! The new Photo enhancing sticker app for Pirate enthusiasts and those wanting to add some piratical fun to their photos....

Here is how to effectively use a photo editing Sticker App to customize your photos and get the attention your looking for with more LIKES, SHARES, HEARTS and COMMENTS. – It’s easy just add stickers with the Pirate Pix App.

Here’s How:

“Sticker-izing” a photo can be completely random and chaotic fun or it can be creatively designed with layers and artistic intention. Whatever your goal, you can create a social media masterpiece.

Picking Your Photo:

Start by taking a photo or using a photo from your own photo library. Remember that a good photo has substance. When choosing your photo look at the background, foreground and object of focus and be thinking about what you want to say with your photo & sticker collage. 

Sticker Layering:

Start with the background and build layers. Look at the background of your photo. Is there anything you would like to cover up with a strategically placed sticker? You may wish to cover a road sign with a palm tree or hide a plane with a parrot. The options are limitless. Then turn your focus to the main object. This will probably be you and your best mates. Add realistic stickers to the subject of the photo. Next, turn your attention to the foreground. You can add more stickers to give depth to your photo sticker collage and truly customize it. Lastly, add any text or slogans for the final layer and finishing touch.

Hint: For multiple layers, save your photo to your camera roll and then reopen in Pirate Pix and continue adding sticker layers.
Now make sure the world sees your amazing “stickerized” masterpiece by sharing it far and wide on all the multiple social media platforms, such as: Instagram, Facebook, Pintrest, Twitter, Google, etc. and most importantly make sure you hashtag your photo appropriately, i.e. #PiratePix. You can find more trending hashtags at http://top-hashtags.com/instagram/.

Most importantly remember to have fun and be creative. Anyone can “stickerize” a photo – theming your photo with fun realistic stickers makes it a standout networking masterpiece.

Download your free app now and create a awesome pirate pix!! 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pirate-pix/id1067211739?mt=8

Mermaids & Manatees In Three Sisters Springs FL

A video capturing our beautiful adventure in Crystal River Florida, swimming up Three Sister Springs in our Mermaid Tails, followed by our guys with cameras!! What a remarkable trip with friends. More photos of this amazing adventure can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaThePirate/?fref=ts and an article retelling our experience will be coming out shortly in Mutiny Magazine.... Keep a weather eye on the horizon.

Saturday Fun! Wilde's first swim in Twin Quarries

Tail Discrimination!

Tail Discrimination!

The Mermaid community is a small, cozy group of enthusiasts who love Mermaids, Sirens, Tails and the Sea and some even like Pirates. You would think as a collective group everyone would be supportive and inclusive - as it should be, right!?. 

Recently, I have noticed, particularly on social media, but also at events and festivals, what I am calling “Tail Discrimination.”

What is “Tail Discrimination” you ask… Simply put it’s tail favoritism or separatism. 

You have a silicon mermaid tail = you can’t swim with us. You have a spandex tail = you can’t swim with us. You have a sequins tail = you can’t swim with us. You have a neoprene tail = you can’t swim with us. You have a cardboard tail = get out of the pool!!

Why are some events “spandex only” or “silicon only” events?? Unless, there is some environmental reason or pool rule – why wouldn’t ALL tails be invited to play?? I mean lets not sit in the shallow end of the pool girls. Everyone needs to feel good about themselves and their tails. 

(I’m NOT talking about for hire or private events by the way. I am talking about fairs, festivals, public gatherings and the like.)

For example if your having a "open swim" or volunteer pod gathering at a local festival - it seems discriminatory to me if you hang a sign that says "No Silicon Tails Allowed." I have heard the argument that "it's not fair" to the women wearing lycra tails.... but, how is this "fair" it to the women who wants to participate in a silicon tail???? So are they supposed to sit at the back of the festival??? and yes, I am being dramatic here, I am trying to illustrate that mermaids are discriminating against their Mer-sisters and women's dreams are being crushed and I am not sure if anyone is even realizing it! I am just encouraging everyone to pause and think!

Discrimination is discrimination.

Let’s be honest mermaid tails are just like the people that are wearing them: they come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, ages and price points. It doesn’t seem fair that ANYONE should be discriminated against because of the kind of tail they have or how much it cost.

Being an owner of several different kinds of tails, mostly all designed and handcrafted by myself, with the exception of one professional silicon tail, I can attest that there is no perfect tail for every situation or event anyway. And although, they are all different they are all equally beautiful and “real”. I would hate for others to dictate which tail I should wear at which event and to exclude me if my tail didn’t match. I am blessed having tail choices.... but, what about the girls that only have one tail hanging in the closet... what if they can't pick and choose what tail they can wear to what event just to FIT IN???

I see the mermaid tail as a tool that can really unite women in a common interest, allowing women to embrace their beauty, and be empowered. NO ONE should be judged on the shoes they wear nor the tail they swim in. Mermaids should be loved and accepted and invited to play regardless of their tail. It is such a small community, we should really do everything WE can to make sure it’s a welcoming and fun place to be creative and expressive.

As a community we need to look at our actions and think about what they are saying..... Are we saying: "Come swim with us?" "You are welcomed?" "You are beautiful?" "Your not your tail?" "Your accepted - no matter what tail you swim in?"

The tail does not make the Mermaid! 

Be proud of the tail your swimming in and remember to be inclusive and empower each other! 

Thanks for reading! 

Getting Dirty! How to Create Realistic Special Effects Dirt

Getting Dirty! How to Create Realistic Special Effects Dirt

In my last Pirate blog we talked about “Taking your Pirate Garb to the next level and Making it Look Real” though distressing and I provided several techniques to accomplish this.

However, we don’t want to go to a festival with our garb looking warn and distressed and look like we just showered and dressed for the faire. It is important that the entire character comes together in a believable package. In order to accomplish this one must enter the world of special effects makeup. Of course there are all kinds of high end products available from the makeup industry and with trial and error you can find the ones that work best for you. These products are all available online, at haunt cons and special effects makeup cons and makeup/costumes outlets.

In this tutorial I would like to discuss the low budget, do it yourself “Dirt Makeup” for Pirating with resources you probably already have around the house or campfire.

Now when you are applying dirt you want to think about covering the areas of your body that do not have clothes: face, neck, arms (if uncovered), hands, calves if you are wearing slops or legs if you are wearing a skirt.

Materials Needed:

-       Sunscreen

-       Charcoal or Star Blend Cake Makeup

-       Oreo Cookies

Step One:

Add the Grease-

Apply a high spf sunscreen to your exposed skin. You want to protect your skin from the sun for the duration of your festival experience, and application after the “Makeup Dirt” is applied is a little messy. Also if you choose a greasy sunscreen it can help adhere the “dirt” and add the look of sweat and “grease,” perfect for creating a hot, dirty, pirate persona.

Step Two:

Add the Dirt-

A tip my Pirate Captain, Jeff MacKay shared with me – “Charcoal”!! Natural Charcoal works perfectly for a really safe and realistic looking dirt and it won’t cost you anything. Simply look around your fireplace at home, your BBQ Pit or the campfire for a nice piece of natural charcoal (NOT HOT) and not charcoal brickets that are pretreated with a lighter fluid.  Again, DO NOT USE brickets such as Kingsford Charcoal, use only natural charcoal produced from burned wood fires.

Helpful tip: Crush the natural charcoal into a black powder and put into a zip lock baggy. You may want to keep this in your pocket for reapplication at the pirate festival.

Net you are going to want to rub the charcoal around your finger nail beds, on the tops of your hands, around your neck and face, on your arms and legs – all the exposed areas. Just like distressing the clothes, you will want to put the dirt in most natural and realistic areas of your body.

Charcoal is of course not the only option. You can also use a special effects makeup like Star Blend Cake Makeup in a dark brown, mixed with a oily sunscreen like Aloe Gator to create a “dirt paste.” Application is the same.

Helpful Tip: Wipe your hands on your clothes throughout the process to add the realistic layering of dirt to your clothes as well.

Step Three:

Pirate Grin-

Now that our clothing and appearance are cohesive, we need to do something about our pirate grin. This is the most fun part of the process and it’s tasty too. You will need to half chew some Oreo Cookies and get them nicely ground into the gums around your front teeth and then smile pretty! This is another stolen makeup trick I am pirating for my Captain J.

Helpful Tip: Keep a bag of Oreo Cookies in your other pocket to munch on and for reapplication during the festival.

You can also purchase special effects tooth paint for the rotten teeth look. It can be purchased from special effects makeup stores. It is called “special effects tooth paint”. It does take some skill and technique when applying to make it look real and it’s not nearly as much fun or as tasty as Oreos.

Your Authentic Dirty Pirate is complete! Enjoy the festivities in true pirate spirit.

Thanks for reading!

DIY Mermaid Shell Tops

DIY Mermaid Shell Tops

Let’s dive into the easy, cheap, and fast way to make a DIY Mermaid Shell Top. First stop, the Dollar Store. The Dollar Store, seasonally sells “Bikini Tops” that are plastic shells with white strings. (If you don’t have a Dollar Store in your area you can also purchase them online) You can find them in the “Luau Party” Section. These are perfect for the DIY Mermaid Shell Top. Be sure to stock up during the summer as you can’t find them in the winter and the possibilities are limitless. You might want to keep a few pairs of these on hand.

Step 1

Supplies:

You will need: scissors, plastic paint, glitter or studs, glue, clear bra strap material, paint brush, clear protective spray. Other options: bikini top, ribbon, string, other sea accessories for adorning your shells etc. You can find all of these materials at Walmart or your local craft store.

Step 2

Remove the white strings from the shells. You can toss them aside or throw them out, as we won’t be using them in this project.

Step 3

You will want to paint the shells with plastic safe paint. There are many options on the market. You can be as creative as you want with this step. You can use several colors and blend them to match your tail. You can customize them as much or as little as you wish. For simplicity I have chosen a solid color of gold metallic, (as seen in photo 1). Let dry completely.

Step 4

You can accessorize your shells with glitter or by gluing on little sea creatures or other shells. However, I chose to embellish my shells with green rhinestones. Attach them to the shells using a glue gun (as seen in photo 2).

Step 5

Next, I spray the finished product with a clear protective spray, and let dry completely.

Step 6

You can then use the holes already drilled into your shells to add your straps. I have used clear bra strap material in photo 3.

However, you have many options: You can use string, ribbon, you can use a triangle bikini top and run the string of the bikini top through the holes. I have done this with several of my tops and it provides a great deal of comfort and extra support and you can purchase a top for less than five dollars. Another option is to adhere your shells to a bra or bathing suit top and add fish net, seaweed and other accessories.

Look through my photo galleries on my facebook page where you can see many of these designs. https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaThePirate

And now you are ready to hit the water with your tail and new DIY Mermaid Shell Top. It’s easy and quick and very inexpensive. With more time and resources you can take this basic tutorial and elaborate on the design and really create some amazing shells. Remember to have fun, be creative and be original.

Thanks for reading.