Contest?

So, I've been thinking about it....
Most people seem to think I should go with Merbellas for my next tail.

Now my next question would be, hold a design contest, design my tail, or pick the Raven's Choice option?

If I held a contest, it would go like this:

Send in your drawings and sketches, and photo manips, whatever you think my tail should look like.
I would pick out my favorites and put them up for a vote.

The top pick would be the picture I send to Raven and say "Bring it to Life!" and would receive a nice printed professional photo of me in it,  signed and smooched, with a letter of thanks, special credit on my Facebook Page for it's design, and other cool stuff.
The 1st runner up would get something cool, like a a fabric tail painted like their design, or an awesome mermaid accessory or something, and then the Second runner up would get a doll dressed like their picture or something similar...

Would this be cool?
I dunno.
The Fabric tail prize would be probably swim fins and lycra spandex, but I'm a fair hand with a serger, and if I can't paint it, I know someone who can. OR if that runner up is very young, and the parents are concerned about safety, I will buy that young mer-in-training a drag-along tail from the MGSL's (Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake's) etsy store, Oh My Shells! and paint it like their design.

Well, input is greatly appreciated, so leave a comment below, or shoot me a message on facebook.
I love hearing from y'all.

Happy Tails!
Dottie

Selkie mermaid/human anatomy.

So a lot of times, I get kids who say, "But I saw you put your tail on!" or "I want to see you grow legs!"

This is how it works. Selkie anatomy is a LOT like human anatomy.

The diagram on the left is a selkie with her tailskin on. The right is a selkie, tail off.

The next diagram highlights the differences between the two skeletons. You'll notice that they are few, but distinct.

When a selkie mermaid transforms, it hurts, and this is why:

During the transformation process, The cartilage between the knee-caps, ankles, and feet, as well as the stuff that attaches the extra toes, breaks and separates. It then solidifies and becomes part of the tail skin. 

Most on land selkies have a bit of a high blood pressure for a while, since the heart is used to pumping blood through the additional appendages. 

When the tail skin is slipped back on, and water touches it, a chemical reaction causes the cartilage to reform and the extra toes to reattach themselves. Blood flow then eventually returns to normal, but only after some time swimming to get the heart rate up.

And there it is. The science of Selkie Mermaids.

Happy Tails!

Goals

Hi all!
Today I want to talk about some goals I have.

So, my little guppy is 7 months old now, and I still kind of look a little like a sea-cow. Now, everyone has been telling me, "you had a baby, you're fine", "don't worry, it'll go away eventually", and my favorite, "it takes a long long time to get rid of it."

Well, I'll tell you what. I'm done. I'm done with the lack of self-confidence, I'm done being angry at myself, and depressed, and lazy without energy to even clean.
I'm getting back in shape. I want to be able to hold my breath like a dolphin again. To do the butterfly stroke with my arms and only get tired after I've gone 50 yards. I want to be able chase after my little rugrat when he starts to run around on those teensy little human limbs.
When I started my diet and exercise I was 208 lbs.
I now weigh 195 lbs.
My goal is 150. The weight I was when I met my husband.

My plan for acheiving that goal is to eat only 1200 calories per day, and/or burn off excessive calories through good old-fashioned cardio. I plan on working out about 5 times a week or more.
My exercises include walking, dancing, cooking, cleaning, and -of course- swimming.
I also found this great website and app for my android phone. MyFitnessPal.com is a food diary. Maybe you think that's lame, but it helps you keep track of your calorie intake, and calculates how many calories you burn doing different cardio exercises. Then, it uses that information to calculate how much weight you could lose (or gain!) in 5 weeks. Remember; healthy weight loss is 2 pounds per week.

I'm very excited about getting back into shape, because when I do, get a new tail treatment! I'm thinking a dye job by Merbellas or Mermaid Creations LLC, or possibly a full revamp by Finfolk Productions. ^_^

By other goal is to save up $850.00 to get me to Florida for MERPALOOZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so excited for this. I belong to the Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake (https://www.facebook.com/MermaidsoftheGreatSaltLake), who are all planning on going this year, and I so want to go with them. but I need 740 more dollars to get there.

So, that's all that, then.

In other news, when I've saved up enough money for my scale treatment (Which I can start doing after I reach my merpalooza goal), I'm thinking I might have a contest.
Sort of a ":Design Dottie's New Skin" Contest.
The winner would get a signed photo of me in the tail that they designed. The two Runners-up would get dolls wearing their designs. I would post the pictures on my facebook and everyone would get to vote on them by pressing "like".

Do you think this is a good idea, or a total flop? Send me your input at Mermaid.Dottie@gmail.com or on facebook at Facebook.com/mermaiddottie.

Happy Tails, My little Squidets!