#Colossal Con Texas

[cosplayinamerica]

Cowboy Peach & Mario  with Toad  @hollarityart @icecolebrew  @thechristopherescalante / photo : ejen

 I have been cosplaying Princess Peach for almost two years now and I have cosplayed as her in her regular princess gown, her vacation swimsuit, a witch version of her regular dress, her red carpet dress, her wedding dress, and now her cowboy outfit.

 I grew up loving Princess Peach when I was a child because she was a beautiful princess who could hold her own in a video game world. She’s demure yet determined, and a personal role model. Peach is such a joy to cosplay because almost everyone recognizes her and is so excited to see her. I especially love seeing how kids react to seeing Peach. 

Conventions can be overwhelming and confusing to people, especially children, who are not used to all the characters and activities there, but Princess Peach is a familiar face they can recognize. Having worked with kids for a few years now, I enjoy being a reassuring presence and greeting kids and families with a warm smile and a Peachy platitude.

When the video game Princess Peach: Showtime was announced I knew I had to try one of her new outfits. She has several new costumes in that game and while I was drawn to many of them, it was Cowgirl Peach that called to me the most. 

As a homegrown Texan it felt great to represent my state and heritage with this cowboy fit. For this cosplay I re-used my Peach wig, her brooch, and my Bowsette horns (another similar cosplay that has horns). 

For the new elements, I thrifted and modified most of the pieces- the chaps were a pair of vegan leather pants I found at a thrift shop and cut into the correct chap shape. I also picked up a belt and cowboy boots at the thrift store too, and I modified the belt to fit through the chaps and through a rodeo style belt buckle. I work at a children’s toy store so I picked up some of my cowboy gear there (the hat and some accessories). And the lasso was a repurposed Wonder Woman lasso of truth, haha.

I am big on recycling clothing items I already have, and this was a great down to earth cosplay to do that with. My husband cosplayed Cowboy Mario with me and most of his outfit is clothing items we already have plus additional cowboy accessories I picked up from the toy store I work at. His outfit is based on the Mario Party cowboy outfit!

The response was wonderful! So many people asked to take our photos and the gasps of recognition we heard when we turned a corner or got off an elevator were delightful. It really feels like being a celebrity when people stop to ask to take your photo. We even had a moment when we were talking to someone real world famous who has millions of followers (I won’t name drop) but people stopped to ask to take photos of us  while we were RIGHT next to them. It is so surreal, and makes me want to work harder each time I cosplay. It’s like being an ambassador for the character. You want to represent them respectfully and leave people with a great impression. 

[theschwandtmancometh]

Our first Colossal Con!

[junebugwriter]

The Case for Blue Beetle

A hero for the rest of us

Jaime Reyes has a lot on his shoulders. 

It’s an awkward place he’s been put in, by multiple factors. He stands amidst a rebooted universe, the vanguard in a world defined by the legacy of the big-name heroes that have come before him. Superman. Wonder Woman. Batman. The Flash. Aquaman. Cyborg. All of them have had their name in big marquee lights, and the first go at a cohesive DC film universe... failed. It’s not for lack of effort. Zack Snyder is as high effort as it gets. I really loved both Wonder Woman movies (YES EVEN WONDER WOMAN 1984, DON’T @ ME). But... it’s a universe that stumbled as soon as it was born. Man of Steel was a fine first outing, albeit with creative decisions that I didn’t really gibe with. However, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice was a colossal failure in almost every respect (and source of much personal anguish, but that’s a post for another day). Following that has been hit or miss, and the less said about David Ayers’ Suicide Squad, the better. But since The Flash hit the reset button on the cinematic universe, the question for all the comic fans is: what next? Where can we go from here? 

And that leads us back to Jaime. 

Before I go into spoiler territory, I’ll speak in broad strokes. This is a solid film. I really, honestly think it’s great and stable ground from which to build out a larger universe, but more than that, it’s the first one of these in a while that felt like it was about something. There were strong cohesive themes about family, legacy, capitalism and (failed) revolution, growing up, and navigating different cultures throughout. I’m not in the habit of giving out grades or scores, and honestly I don’t care for them. Grading is for chumps anyways. The movie speaks for itself in so many ways, and is so well-crafted, I can’t recommend it high enough. If you’re tired of superhero fare, that’s fine—the story is good enough divorced from the cool effects and sci-fi silliness of the genre. But I digress. Give it a watch. It’s fun and has given me a lot to chew on. VAYA CON DIOS, MUCHACHOS. 

The Boy who would be Bug

--SPOILERS BELOW-- 

Jaime Reyes is a young man with frankly too much on his mind. Coming off the heels of graduating from undergrad, he comes home to the fictional Floridian city of Las Palmeras to be with his family and start his life. (Note: In the comics, Reyes is from the actual city of El Paso, Texas, which gives his setting an entirely different vibe which frankly is disappointing, but that is probably the only major change in adaptation that bugged me, which is small potatoes if we are being honest.) But Las Palmeras itself is a parable, a city divided between the rich and the rest of us. The Reyes family tells him upon arrival (and after eating some local tacos) that the family is losing the house. Rent got jacked up, and the patriarch had a heart attack and can no longer run the family auto repair shop. So, Jaime and his sister Milagro scramble to find jobs, low-paying service work for the richest and most powerful family in the city, the Kords. 

The Kords, in contrast to the Reyes family, is one defined by their internal division. Where the Reyes family is instantly warm, boisterous, giving, caring, and supportive of all efforts of the respective members, the Kords are broken in multiple ways. In many ways, it’s a mirror to the Stark family of the Marvel universe: the dead patriarch built a weapons manufacturing company, the successor son wanted to get away from that in favor of more consumer-friendly tech, and in the wake of his disappearance, the overlooked sister Victoria Kord has steered the company back to its domineering and destructive roots as a weapons contractor for the US government.  

A fresh take on an old structure

I think it’s impossible to talk about this movie apart from its relation to Iron Man. I’m sorry, it’s about a person who wears a super powered high-tech suit of armor and fights against a usurper who wants to continue weapons proliferation and western hegemony. That’s the plot! That’s the text! It’s built on the same bones, and you’d be foolish to not see it. However, divorced from that rough sketch, the difference is all in the protagonist, and how they relate to family. Tony Stark is an individual, largely at odds with everyone else including his loved ones. He didn’t know how to be a person, let alone a person in connection with others. He had lived his life as a rich kid, and I’m sorry, that breaks your brain a bit.  

But the protagonist here did not come from a rich family. He came from an immigrant family, one that emerged out of the revolutions south of the border and escaped from them to find a new life in the US, and they have spent the past 3 generations trying to live the American dream. And finally, the American Dream has swallowed them whole. They live in a poor neighborhood slowly being gentrified by the rich, epitomized by the Kords. They are on the brink of destruction in a world that’s straining from the stress of the capitalist system on the margins of the imperial core, and they are not going to make it without a miracle. So, this is a different kind of story, built on the spine of the Iron Man model.  

Coincidences happen. Jaime walks in on a feud between Victoria, current CEO of Kord Industries, and Jennifer, the lone, orphaned daughter of the missing-in-action Ted Kord, the former CEO who was interested in wacky inventions rather than weapons. Jaime tries to intervene, to be the hero he is inside, but reality is far less accommodating, and this action gets him and his sister fired.  

Little Bug, Big Impact

For people on the bottom of the economic ladder, escaping your situation is largely impossible. But dammit, Jaime wants to stand up for people, and so he does what’s right, even if it comes at personal cost. That’s the through-line of the film. You do what’s right because it’s right, not because it will win you praise or security. You stick up for people, and you support your family.  

Jennifer catches up with Jaime, offers to keep in touch with him, and the two make plans to meet up the next day. Wacky hijinks ensue, and Jaime winds up in possession of an alien artifact that reacts to him, yadda yadda yadda, and wouldn’t you know it, the Scarab chooses Jaime to bond with, and becomes a symbiotic high-tech super suit. You know the tropes, you know how it goes. BUT. You see this all from the perspective of Jaime and his family. When Jaime’s clothes burn off, and he bursts through the ceiling, you understand “Oh, shit, that’s some serious property damage in this rental house.” Later you even see the tarp over the hole, and the poorly re-built table that got broken in the chaos. It’s little touches like that in the film that remind you “Oh, this is the kind of world that has consequences. Problems happen, and they keep having ripple effects.” 

We learn later that the Scarab was something that Ted Kord was looking for, because you see, he was secretly The Blue Beetle II, the successor to Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, and original owner of the Scarab. The Scarab never chose Ted, but Ted carried on the legacy of the name. We know this because Jaime’s Uncle gives us the backstory—Blue Beetle was his favorite hero. He was “if Batman had ADHD.” Batman with a sense of humor. An inventor who was into heroics because it was right, but also because it was fun.  

That’s a crucial thing I think is worth dwelling on. It’s a statement of the kind of legacy that the DC movies as a whole need to wrestle with. The last time we saw heroes, it was very self-serious. Little levity, and even less color. Superman was a grimacing beacon of power, and a reluctant messiah. Batman was an uber-fascist terrorist. Wonder Woman was a world-weary soldier who saw the worst of humanity. It was a Dark Universe filled with Serious Heroes.  

Now, the first outing in this brand-new rebooted DCU? You get a kid who stumbles into it all. You get someone whose very name is defined by his color! Blue Beetle. It’s a goofy kind of name for a kind of outlandish character, but it’s one that fits. He’s a bug. He’s not a messiah, or a dark avenger, or a warrior princess. He’s a kid. A kid with the world on his shoulders. A kid who lives with his family on the ground level, not in a skyscraper or a Batcave or a fortress of solitude. He’s a kid from the poor side of town who got a lucky break and wants to fight for the little guy. That’s a statement. That’s a proper introduction to a new world. Yeah, all these titans and gods exist, but their problems rarely intersect with ours. The billionaire downtown who wants to buy up all the land in the old neighborhood? The one who wants to sell weapons of war and doesn’t care about the people that get in the way? The one who sees people as little more than test subjects or obstacles to getting profit? That’s the villain.  

Rudy, Jaime’s uncle, says that he loved the Blue Beetle because he was “one of us.” That is what he meant for him, and it’s a legacy that follows the name. Jaime is now the bearer of that legacy, and that’s not meant to be a burden but a challenge. And the best part is? He’s not doing this alone. 

A Family Bug

See, at some point Jaime gets captured, naturally. And who is there to bail him out? His family. All this time he’s spent trying to save and support them has not gone unnoticed. They take a bug-shaped tank, a bunch of weapons, and liberate him, while Jaime gets another shot at confronting the big bads. The final super-suit having goon gets a backstory—wouldn't you know, he’s a product of the warmongering that Victoria Kord stoked in Latin America—and it’s through empathy, relatability, and love that Jaime is able to defeat him. Strength is not in power. It’s in you and your family having each other and supporting the little guy. 

  I say we failed Blue Beetle, because it kind of came and went this year, didn’t it? It had the bad luck of being in the middle of a historic writer’s/actor's strike, and so promotion was stifled. But it’s also a C-list hero that nobody had ever heard of, with the biggest actors in it being Susan Sarandon and George Lopez.  

The thing of it though, is that kind of was how Iron Man started too. Iron Man, before the 2008 film, was a C-tier superhero. Robert Downey Jr. was a has-been washed-up actor. Yet it exploded in popularity. I wish Blue Beetle got the same treatment. It deserves a second look. It’s fun, energetic, and has real stakes and real story to it. It has a lot to say about our current moment from the position of living at the margins of society, and I really can’t help but say that we need it right now. We need fun. We need hope. But more than anything, we need solidarity. Love, empathy, solidarity—these are the things which give us strength. And that’s what Blue Beetle has in spades. 

[joltionizagamrr]

I did a Raiden cosplay this year at colossal con Texas but it fell apart in the first hour of being there ;w; i might remake it just for the love of the game

[icleanedthisplate]

Dine-Out Meals of February 2023, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, catered meals, and fast food.

El Sur will be a top ten meal. And I will eat there more moving forward.

Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

Baleados Con Todo w/Carnitas. El Sur Street Food Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.19.2023.

Oysters, Crab Cakes, Steak Tartare (shared apps), Burrata & Beets Salad, Surf & Turf Special, Asparagus, Crab Fried Rice, Brussels Sprouts (shared sides). Eddy V’s. Denver, Colorado. 2.28.2023.

Portobello Fries (Shared), The Wedge, Pan-Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops. Local 463. Ridgeland, Mississippi. 2.10.2023.

Lunch Catering (Beef, Salmon, Chicken, Veggies, Peach Dessert, Chocolate Dessert). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.1.2023.

Sushi Rolls (Furakaki, Kemuri, Princess, Princess w/o Jalapeno, Zarigani, Kiss Me, Hawaiian, Miami)(Shared). Kemuri. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.4.2023.

Colossal Country Salad. North Bar. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.9.2023.

Flank Steak Sandwich w/Salad. Buenos Aires Grill & Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.8.2023.

Flank Steak Sandwich w/Salad. Buenos Aires Grill & Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.22.2023.

Ahi Tuna Niçoise Salad. Modern Market Eatery. Denver, Colorado. 2.28.2023.

Lunch Catering (Beef, Shrimp, Indian Salad, Assorted Desserts). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.2.2023.

Chicken Mushroom Soup, Roasted Veggie Wrap w/Chips. 42 Bar & Table. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.17.2023.

Taco Salad. Cache. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.21.2023.

Caprese Panini w/Side Salad. Blackberry Market. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.11.2023.

Chicken Pesto Soup, Chopped Salmon Salad. Cheers. Maumelle, Arkansas. 2.23.2022.

Dinner Catering (Poke Station, Gyro Station, Paella Station). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.1.2023.

Filet Mignon Crostinis (Shared), Jimmy’s Salad w/Salmon. Nardello’s Pizza Tavern. Mount Pleasant, Texas. 2.13.2023.

Grilled Trout w/Veggies, Rice & Beans. Flying Fish. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.7.2023.

Pineapple Pizza. Papa John’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.17.2023.

Pizza Assortment. (Shared All). Pizza Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.24.2023.

Chicken Spaghetti, Salad, Brownie. Trio’s (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.8.2023.

Mexican Ramen (Birria Style). Camp Taco. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.27.2023.

Breakfast Catering (Breakfast Burrito, Fruit, Banana Nut Bread). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.3.2023.

Breakfast Catering (Breakfast Burrito, Fruit, Banana Nut Bread). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.2.2023.

Kelp Cacio de Pepe. Flora Jean’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.15.2023.

Unplugged Roll, Eel Roll. Rock’N’Roll Sushi. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.16.2023.

Caesar Salad, Short Rib Sugo, Ricotta & Cinnamon Roulade. Zeppole (Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center). Grapevine, Texas. 2.2.2023.

Spicy Chicken Deluxe Combo. Chick-fil-A. (Markham) Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.16.2023.

Queso Blanco (Shared), Gabriella’s Chop Chicken Salad. 2.0 Taco & Tequila Bar (DFW Airport). Dallas, Texas. 2.3.2023.

Pizza Assortment. Sal & Mookie’s. Jackson, Mississippi. 2.10.2023.

Italian Beef Sandwich w/Fries. Portillo’s. Frisco, Texas. 2.13.2023.

Breakfast Buffet. Springhill Suites. Ridgeland, Mississippi. 2.10.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.1.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.13.2023.

Red Pepper Sous Vide Egg Bites. Starbucks (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.28.2023. (No Photo.)

[corcidcosplay]

Mitsuri pool time at colossal south 💖🌸✨ https://linktr.ee/corcidcosplay

[disneydreams4u]

Disney World Parks

Vegetarian

Quick Service $

(Not Including Salads or Common Sides, All meat sides should be replaceable with non meat sides)

🦍 🦒 🦍 🦒 🦍 🦒 🦍 🦒

Animal Kingdom

Harambe Market (Africa)

* Roasted Vegetable Bowl-Roasted Vegetables on Cilantro Rice and Salad Greens Bowl finished with Salsa $9.99

Yak & Yeti Cafe (Asia)

(Breakfast)

* Egg White English Muffin- Egg Whites, American Cheese and tomato on a toasted English Muffin. Served with Hash Brown Bites $8.99

(Lunch/Dinner)

* Vegetable Tikka Masala-Garbanzo Beans, Zucchini, Peppers, Onions and Tomatoes in a creamy Tikka Masala Sauce served with White Rice $10.99

Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery (Discovery Island)

* Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwich-with Ugli Ripe Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Pesto Aïoli on Focaccia Roll. Served with House-made Curry Spiced Chips $9.99

Restaurantosaurus (Dino-land)

* Black Bean Burger-Spicy Southwestern-flavored Patty on a Toasted Bun with Provolone and House-made Avocado Spread served with French Fries $12.49

* Side Guacamole $1.00

* Jalapeño Poppers- served with Petal Ranch Dipping Sauce $4.49

Flame Tree Barbecue

(Discovery Island)

* Onion Ring Basket $4.49

Pizzafari (Discovery Island)

* Vegetable Pizza-Freshly-baked Pizza with Red Peppers, Green Peppers, Onions and Kalamata Olives served with a small Caesar Salad $10.49

* Cheese Pizza- Freshly-baked pizza topped with tangy Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella served with a small Caesar Salad $9.99

* Garlic Knots-Basket of Fresh-baked Garlic Knots topped with Cheese and served with Marinara Sauce - 4 Pieces $6.99

Pongu Pongu (Pandora)

* Pongu Lumpia- Pineapple Cream Cheese Spring Roll $3.29

* Colossal Pretzel- with Beer Cheese Sauce $10.49

Satu'li Canteen (Pandora)

* Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl- Crispy Fried Tofu seasoned with Chili-Spice topped with Crunchy Vegetable Slaw and Boba Balls served with your choice of Base and Sauce $11.49

* Cheese Quesadilla- Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese in a Tortilla served with Vegetable Chips and Grapes and small Dasani® Bottled Water or Lowfat Milk $5.99

🎬 🎭 🎬 🎭 🎬 🎭 🎬 🎭

Hollywood Studios

PizzaRizzo (Grand Avenue)

* Vegetable Pizza- Pizza topped with Mushrooms, Peppers, Onions and Tomatoes served with Pasta Salad $10.49

* Cheese Pizza- Cheese Pizza served with Pasta Salad $9.99

ABC Commissary

(Commissary Lane)

(Lunch/Dinner)

* Vegan Burger-Vegan-friendly Burger topped with Lettuce, Tomato, Sautéed Peppers and Onions in a Balsamic Glaze, Vegan Mayonnaise Ketchup, Sriracha Mustard on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries $12.49

(Dinner)

* Teriyaki Vegetable Bowl- Stir-fried Napa Cabbage, Snap Peas, Red Peppers, Carrots, Onions, Edamame, Shitake Mushrooms and Broccoli tossed in a House-made Teriyaki Sauce over Brown Rice topped with Crushed Cashews $12.99

* Hummus and Flatbread- Hummus served with Flatbread $5.49

* Southwestern Steak Fries-Signature Southwestern Steak Fries dusted in Chili-lime Seasoning finished with Chipotle Aïoli Drizzle and Queso Fresco $5.49

* Mediterranean Salad- tossed in a Mediterranean Vinaigrette and served with Hummus and Flatbread $9.99

Backlot (Echo Lake)

* Caprese Sandwich-marinated fresh Mozzarella, Vine-ripe Tomatoes, Herb-cheese Pesto, and Arugula on Ciabatta Bread served with Carrot Sticks or French Fries $9.99

* Buttermilk Biscuits- Two Mini Buttermilk Biscuits $3.79

PizzaRizzo (Grand Avenue)

* Vegetable Pizza- Pizza topped with Mushrooms, Peppers, Onions and Tomatoes served with Pasta Salad $10.49

* Cheese Pizza- Cheese Pizza served with Pasta Salad $9.99

* Side Pasta Salad- Macaroni Pasta tossed with Red and Green Peppers, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives and a House Vinaigrette $2.99

Catalina Eddie’s (Sunset Blvd)

* Cheese Pizza- Cheese Pizza served with Caesar Salad $9.99

* Breadsticks- served with Caesar Dressing $3.39

Farfax (Sunset Blvd)

* 7-Layer Rice Bowl with Vegan Chili-Vegan Chili served over Cilantro Rice, Black Beans, Fire-roasted Corn Medley, Pico de Gallo and Sour Cream topped with Cheddar served with warm Tortillas $11.29

Rosie's All American Cafe (Sunset Blvd)

* Fried Green Tomato Sandwich Fried Green Tomatoes topped with Jalapeño Ranch Dressing, Pepper Jack, Tomatoes and topped with Arugula on Ciabatta Bread $9.99

* Side Onion Straws-Fried Onion Straws served with a side of Texas Petal Sauce $3.49

Woody's Lunch Box

(Toy Story Land)

(Breakfast)

* S'more French Toast Sandwich-Marshmallow and Chocolate Ganache stuffed in Grilled Custard soaked Brioche encrusted with Graham Cracker Crumbs $7.99

* Banana Split Yogurt Parfait-Pineapple, Strawberries and Banana between layers of Vanilla Yogurt and Honey topped with Granola and Dark Chocolate Chips $5.99

(Lunch/Dinner)

* Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich-Melted Provolone and Cheddar Cheeses with a Cheddar Cream Cheese Spread on Garlic Buttered Grilled Artisan French Bread $8.99

* Vegetable Macaroni Salad- Macaroni tossed with Onion, Red and Green Peppers, Cucumber, Diced Tomato, Green Olive and Italian Dressing $2.99

* Tomato-basil Soup $3.69

🇨🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷🇲🇦🇯🇵🇺🇸🇮🇹🇩🇪🇨🇳🇳🇴🇲🇽

Epcot

The Electric Umbrella

(Future World)

* Three-Cheese Flatbread- Individual Flatbread topped topped with fresh Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan and Arugula $10.49

Sunshine Seasons

(Future World: The Land)

(Breakfast)

* Breakfast Power Wrap- with Wild Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Avocado and Tofu $8.49

* Vanilla and Flax Overnight Oats- with Blueberries and Pecans $5.49

(Lunch/Dinner)

* Vegan Korma with Plant-based Chicken and Cashews $8.99

* Cheese Pizza- served with Caesar Salad $10.49

* Black Bean Soup $4.69

Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (France)

* Brie aux Pommes- Brie, Apples and Cranberries in Multi Grain Bread $8.00

* Tartine Aux Fromages- Country Bread, tomato sauce, swiss, parmesan and goat cheese $6.75

* Fromages- Imported Cheese plate $9.25

* Vichyssoise- Potato and leek soup in a bread bowl $5.50

* Quiche Florentine- Spinach, Goat Cheese Quiche $7.00

* Pissaladière- Tomatoes, Olives and Gruyere Cheese $4.50

Tangerine Cafe (Morocco)

* Vegetable Platter served with Tangierine Couscous Salad, Hummus and Tabouleh $12.99

* Tabouleh $5.00

* Lentil Salad $5.00

* Marinated Olives $5.00

* Tangierine Couscous Salad $5.00

Katsura Grill (Japan)

* Vegetable Roll $8.00

* Miso Soup $3.00

* Steamed Rice $2.00

* Edamame $4.00

Liberty Inn (America)

* Grilled Vegetable Burger- Grilled Vegetable Burger topped with Crispy Onions and Barbecue Sauce $10.99

Sommerfest (Germany)

* Nudel Gratin- Baked Macaroni with Cheese Custard $4.49

Lotus Blossom Cafe (China)

* Vegetarian Stir Fry- served with Steamed Rice $9.99

La Cantina de San Angels (Mexico)

* Guacamole with Totopos- Fresh-made Gucamole with Tortilla Chips $8.50

* Empanadas con Queso- Fried Flour Tortillas filled with Cheese and served with Mexican Slaw $11.50

* Refried Beans $1.99

* Macaroni & Cheese- Cavatappi Pasta in a Rich White Cheddar Cheese Sauce $8.50

🎆 🏰 🎆 🏰 🎆 🏰 🎆 🏰

Magic Kingdom

Casey's Corner (Main St. USA)

* Mac and Cheese $3.49

* Plant-based Loaded-slaw Dog-Plant-based Sausage topped with Pickled Slaw, BBQ Vegan Aïoli and Roasted Corn Relish served with French Fries or Apple Slices $11.49

* Plant-based Dog- Plant-Based Sausage in a Potato Bun served with French Fries or Apple Slices $9.49

Tomorrowland Terrace (Tomorrowland)

* Plant-based BBQ Cheeseburger- Plant-based Hamburger topped with BBQ Vegan Aïoli, Vegan Cheddar and Onion Straws served on a Pretzel Bun with French Fries or Apple Slices $12.99

Cosmic Ray’s (Tomorrowland)

* Veggie Burger- by request only

* Plant-based Sloppy Joe- Plant-based Beef Crumbles tossed in a Sloppy Joe Sauce of Diced Onions, Yellow Mustard, Ketchup, Garlic, and Brown Sugar served with French Fries $12.99

The Friar’s Nook (Fantasyland)

* Tots and Cheese Sauce-includes Dannon® Danimals® Smoothie, GoGo squeeZ® Applesauce and choice of small Lowfat Milk or small Dasani® Water $7.19

Pinocchio Haus (Fantasyland)

(Lunch/Dinner)

* Margherita Flatbread- Flatbread topped with Shredded Mozzarella, fresh Tomatoes, Mozzarella Pearls and Basil $11.99

* Gourmet Cheese Flatbread-Flatbread topped with Tomato Sauce, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Provolone and Parmesan $11.99

* Penne Pasta with Marinara- Penne Pasta topped with Marinara, Parmesan Cheese and sprinkling of Basil $7.29

* Breadsticks- Garlic Breadsticks served with our House Marinara Sauce $4.99

* Tomato Basil Soup $3.69

(Dinner)

* Cheese Stromboli- Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese $12.99

* Baked Ziti- Penne Pasta generously coated and baked with Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese $9.49

Columbia Harbor House (Liberty Square)

* Vegetarian Chili $6.49

* Vegetable Rice $2.99

* Hushpuppies $3.99

* Lighthouse Sandwich- Hummus with Tomato and Broccoli Slaw served on Toasted Multigrain Bread with House-made Potato Chips $10.69

Picos Bills (Frontierland)

* Veggie Rice Bowl-Yellow Rice topped with Black Beans and Roasted Vegetables $9.99

* Veggie Nachos- Chips topped with Queso, Zucchini, Squash, Lettuce and Tomato $9.49

* Plant Based Southwest Cheeseburger- topped with Vegan Jalapeño Jack and Vegan Avocado Aïoli on a Toasted Bun $12.49

* Tortilla Chips and Queso $5.99

* Black Beans $2.99

* Yellow Rice $2.99

* Side of Guacamole $2.00

Golden Oak Outpost (Frontierland)

* Jalapeño Poppers- Breaded Jalapeño Poppers stuffed with Nacho Cheese and served with G.O.O. Sauce $5.49

* Cauliflower- Fried Spicy Battered Cauliflower served with Creamy Garlic Ranch Sauce $4.99

* Waffle Fries $4.49

[espanolnews]

Además de traer de vuelta al mamut lanudo, la empresa de ingeniería genética Colossal también busca resucitar otra especie extinta: el tigre de Tasmania.En colaboración con Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences para traer de vuelta al tilacino australiano (tigre de Tasmania), un depredador exterminado a principios del siglo XX, se encuentra el Laboratorio de Investigación de Restauración Genética Integrada de Tilacino de la Universidad de Melbourne, o TIGRR, por sus siglas en inglés.Los científicos utilizarán la tecnología de edición de genes CRISPR y el genoma completo del tigre de Tasmania de TIGRR Lab a partir de un espécimen preservado para eventualmente crear un embrión. El laboratorio también ha identificado otros mamíferos sobrevivientes con ADN similar para proporcionar las células necesarias para el proceso."Con esta asociación, ahora creo que dentro de diez años podríamos tener nuestro primer tilacino bebé vivo desde que fueron cazados hasta su extinción hace casi un siglo", dijo el profesor Andrew Pask, que supervisa el laboratorio TIGRR, en una descripción. del proyecto en la web de la universidad.'Esto es absurdo':Hombre designado como líder de salud menstrual en EscociaHallazgo de dinosaurio argentino:Restos de dinosaurio del tamaño de un gato doméstico con púas y potente mordisco descubiertos en ArgentinaColossal, que tiene oficinas en Boston, Dallas y Austin, Texas, llamó la atención el año pasado cuando anunció planes para traer de vuelta al mamut lanudo mediante el uso de ADN de elefante."Algunas personas nos clasifican como una empresa gigantesca, pero en realidad somos una empresa de extinción, por lo que nuestro objetivo es centrarnos en recuperar especies que puedan tener un impacto positivo en varios ecosistemas, y el tigre de Tasmania es definitivamente uno de esos. especies", dijo el CEO y cofundador de Colossal, Ben Lamm, al Austin American-Statesman, parte de USA TODAY Network.En otras noticias directamente de Jurassic Park, investigadores de la Universidad de Copenhague y la Universidad de Shantou en China revelaron recientemente planes para resucitar a un mamífero más pequeño, la rata de la Isla de Navidad.Volver a TasmaniaPara el tigre de Tasmania, el objetivo final es restablecerlo en la isla de Tasmania, también hogar del demonio de Tasmania, una especie en peligro de extinción, ubicada en el extremo sureste de Australia.Si no se hubiera matado al tigre, el depredador amenazaba a las ovejas y al ganado, podría haber ayudado a prevenir la propagación de una enfermedad tumoral facial que está eliminando a la población del demonio de Tasmania, dijo Pask en la revista en línea Pursuit de la universidad. "Si observamos el hábitat moderno en Tasmania, se ha mantenido relativamente sin cambios", escribió Pask, quien se unió al consejo asesor científico de Colossal. "Esto significa que proporciona el entorno perfecto para reintroducir el tilacino, lo que le permite volver a ocupar su nicho".¿De qué están hablando todos? Suscríbete a nuestro boletín de tendencias para recibir las últimas noticias del día.'Un perro largo con rayas'El tigre de Tasmania generalmente crecía de 20 a 27 pulgadas de alto y de 39 a 51 pulgadas de largo, con un peso de hasta 65 libras. Podía correr tan rápido como 24 mph y se alimentaba de pájaros, lagartijas y pequeños mamíferos, según el sitio de Colossal."Tenía una apariencia icónica de lobo o perro, a menudo descrito como un perro largo con rayas, porque tenía una cola larga y rígida y una cabeza grande", dijo Pask en Pursuit.Un marsupial, las crías de tigre residían y mamaban leche en la bolsa de la madre. Eso significa que un embrión se puede implantar en una especie huésped y, cuando nace, se puede alimentar con biberón. "Podemos generar animales vivos en una variedad de especies anfitrionas y potencialmente sin la necesidad de un anfitrión en absoluto", dijo.Siga a Mike Snider en Twitter: @mikesnider.

[a-deadly-serenade]

where was your convention? I ask because Savannah just had one and if you live there I need to ask for recommendations

anon it took me a minute to realize you meant savannah GEORGIA bcuz i have a frind with the same name and i was like uhhhh 😂 how do u know sav 😂

anyways. i live in ohio so theres 3 i usually go to called: matsuricon, ohayocon, and colossalcon. colossal is starting to spread out more, theres one in pennsylvania and texas as well. im going to katsucon in maryland next week, and ive also been to youmacon which is in detroit.

matsuricon is my favorite local con. it usually happens in august and the panels are usually good and the dealers room and artist alley are always slappers. colossal is fun becuz theyre hosted at kalahari water parks and its whole Gag is that u can walk around drinking wherever u want on the con floor. they also make these huge anime themed mixed drinks that get u fuuucked up. & im a hedonistic little gremlin so i try and go to as many as i can. colossal prime in OH is in the summer too so its a lot of fun.

i would definitely try looking into your area first to find any local cons in your area. if youve never been to one, it can be kind of overwhelming with how many people there are, how many events are going on, etc. my biggest piece of advice is to have a solid group of friends to go with you. it makes the experience 10x more enjoyable. cosplaying it up to u, i think its a lot of fn so i enjoy cosplaying :) but dont make it ur priority. cons are for having fun and spending exuberant amounts of money on merch & acting like a dumdum with ur friends. i always have a lot of fun so heres hoping the first one u go to is fun for you!!! 💖

[ten-shika]

Do you happen to attend any cons or have plans to in the future? I know Otakon is coming up in Baltimore next week and I think I saw mention on your blog that you had conventions to go to? :o

Yes! For this year, I’ll be going to JapanWorldHeroes con, Sacanime Summer, and maybe Nerdbot if I get in.

Next year is Anime Impulse, trying to get into AX 2018.

Out of state cons, I plan to go to Colossal con 2018(ohio), Acen 2018(chicago), akon 2018(texas) at least I’ll try! Q w Q travel expenses suck haha and hoteling

I wanted to go to Washington cons but I can’t afford it;;;; maybe in the future hopefully!

[saleggdbsneakers-blog]

Isabel Marant Sneakers Rebajas Mis tiendas favoritas de 8 tiendas boutiques en París

Naima Turner: Elsa, cuando dominaste cómo se atendía esa persona para obtener una nueva cara entre los ángeles de Victoria's Secret, ¿te das la vuelta? ¿Todo fue el primer Isabel Marant España ensamiento específico de interés que decidió pasar por una nueva cabeza? Propietario, August Bartle selecciona los dos elementos que aparecen en su boutique para una fantástica colección modificada exquisita. Está más seguro de que puede detenerse, podría ser la persona afortunada que caminará disponible con cualquier tipo de jeans de Hudson Isabel Marant Sneakers Rebajas enim que se rifen en la noche. Si usted y su familia no están de acuerdo con Hudson, es mejor identificarlo, ya que cuenta con una sastrería europea, unos ajustes favorecedores que se adaptan al cuerpo y unos vaqueros de primera calidad hechos a mano. Los reembolsos especiales constituirán dado que aquellos que solo asisten además del más fácil de todos, una bolsa de artículos de regalo repleta de complementos para el fin de semana festivo que se avecina. Claire Danes mantuvo los objetos livianos y, por lo tanto, azucarados con respecto a un increíble melocotón y, además, un vestido envolvente desnudo hecho por Reed Krakoff y tacones peep-toe en su celebración televisiva de TCA en la industria del espectáculo. El tipo adicional será un acuerdo de circulación por categoría. Estos modelos de impresoras en particular suministran el mayor volumen de empresas de arco, ya que de todos modos son los más importantes con respecto a los usuarios con su ayuda relacionada con la sobreproducción extrema, sin mencionar los arcos reducidos. Las muestras de prueba en su movimiento definitivo se venden para la categoría incorporada de Saucy Program Possibility CS, Sics Gelatine Cosmetic Foundation 9 y Brooks Colossal 8. Si desea la nueva combinación de estilo y función, puede Es Isabel Marant Sneakers Baratas osible que haya conseguido con respecto a ir debido al procesador. Es capaz de usarlo como una mochila adecuada o como bolsa de marinero. Esta lata es una herramienta realmente linda para las damas que realmente progresan y exploran. Jil Sander podría alterar la sensación además, la mezcla de juegos físicos de entretenimiento, los dos podríamos comprarlo para venderlo en su párrafo, por ejemplo, piel, camisetas estilo neón, pantalones femeninos de micro texas, etc. Stella McCartney sirvió este año, ya que realmente se ha probado la gran variedad de botones, una particularidad de sus opciones largas pero también de muslo disponibles, su cortina correlacionada con el abdomen del muslo y una falda de seda. Satine Boutique - Dentro de usted, usted es un admirador confiable con respecto a los diseñadores como Alexander Wang y isabel marant outlet, sin duda ya estará familiarizado y le resultará irresistible el inventario de la tienda en esta situación. . Hasta el 30 de junio, es posible que obtengas un increíble descuento adicional del 20% al instalar el código instyle20. La línea Kaelen a menudo es un complemento definitivo hasta la Colección Intermix. Tu línea actual es sin duda una necesidad única para cada fashionista de Chicago. El material refleja un enorme encanto clásico con solo algunos detalles funky. El hilo cuidadosamente es una línea de cambio definida que puede funcionar para una mujer trabajadora específica de Chicago. Todas las piezas definitivamente bien cuando la transición para el día directamente en la noche. Las unidades asimétricas reales, por supuesto, están increíblemente bien hechas, se adaptan a la medida y, además, tienen un buen atractivo funky sólido que cumple bien la tarea en los límites de almacenamiento de la diva de la ciudad.

[kennethherrerablog]

Got an Idea for a T-Shirt? Here’s How to Earn Money From It on the Side

Josh Waldron is usually skeptical when he hears stories about people making colossal amounts of money working side hustles.

While killing time at an airport in February 2017, he read an article about how a man made $10,000 per month selling T-shirts online using print-on-demand services, which allow people to sell without owning a print shop. Waldron’s doubts washed away as the article laid out the business model.

The process seemed carefully documented and could be replicated on a smaller scale. “So that’s why I was willing to jump in,” he says.

Later that day, the 34-year-old founder of web-design company Studio JWAL and operator of a miniature golf course in Waynesboro, Virginia, signed up for Amazon’s print-on-demand service, Merch by Amazon. Once he was approved a few months later, he started creating designs.

Waldron says that last year he earned a couple of hundred dollars each month selling his products without dedicating much time to it. Here’s how he and others sell T-shirts online using print-on-demand services.

How Print on Demand Works

Print on demand is the process of printing custom designs on products such as T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts that are made to order instead of printed in bulk.

These services are appealing to side hustlers because most of the work is done by a third-party company. After setting up a profile, designers can start uploading their designs for review. This is when the designer can preview the shirt to see how it will look and also when the company examines the shirt for any possible trademark violations. After the shirt is approved, the designer creates a product description, sets the retail price and makes it available for purchase.

That’s it for the designer. No need to worry about managing inventory, shipping, returns or customer service. The third-party company handles it all.

This hands-off model is ideal for people like Terri Broussard Williams, 40, of Austin, Texas, founder of Movement Maker Tribe, a political and philanthropy blog. She uses print-on-demand services to create merch associated with her blog and public-speaking work. She always wanted to sell merch but had no idea how to go about it until learning of Spreadshirt. She opened her shop in August 2018 and now makes $100 per month from her designs.

One of the trade-offs with these services is that your profit margin will be slimmer because the company is doing a majority of the work.

Waldon says if he lists a T-shirt for $16.99 on Merch by Amazon, he earns $3.11 per shirt. The higher the retail listing price, the higher the cut for the designer. (Each print-on-demand service is different; to help you decide which service is best for you, we’ve highlighted below some of the pros and cons of different companies.)

Do I Need a Graphic-Design Background?

Even though it helps to have a background in graphic design, it is possible for people with no Adobe Photoshop experience to sell shirts. “I’ve tried, but I failed miserably,” Broussard Williams says of her attempt to learn Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

Instead, she outsources the design work to a graphic designer she’s worked with in the past, and they collaborate on shirts. Overall, she’s spent about $200 outsourcing her design work. If you don’t know any graphic designers, Waldron says, you can find freelancers on services such as Fiverr or Upwork.

But if you don’t want to outsource your designing, there are options. You can read articles and watch YouTube tutorials from experienced online T-shirt sellers to learn how to use creative suites such as Photoshop and Canva, a program that allows you to use royalty-free fonts to create images.

“So I think it’s doable for anyone,” Waldron says. “I feel like for me it’s definitely easier because I can just hop into Photoshop and kind of put an idea together. But there are other alternatives if you don’t have Photoshop experience.”

Tips for Success

Below are some tips for starting off in the print-on-demand T-shirt industry from people who have been successful.

Put Your Stuff Out There

Newbies trying print-on-demand for the first time need to be bold and brave, Broussard Williams says.

“You’re selling [a] product, and you’re putting it out for the whole world to see, so for some people that might be intimidating,” she says. “It might be easy to assume that no one wants to buy your message, but I’ve learned people do.”

If your designs are not selling right away, don’t fret. Stacy Caprio, 27, who lives in Chicago and runs the website her.ceo, started selling T-shirts on services such as Merch by Amazon, Redbubble, Printful and Printify in early 2017. She says it took over a month to earn her first sale.

“Test it for a month. Put some [designs] up and see if you get any sales because I think that’s the best way to see if that’s something you want to continue with,” she says.

Caprio has experience using multiple print-on-demand services to sell her designs. Although she no longer actively uploads new designs on these services, she still earns between $200 and $300 per month in residual income.

Find Your Niche

When coming up with designs, remember that the riches are in the niches. If you’re into a particular activity or hobby, then focus on that topic, Waldron says. In the beginning, he had a difficult time getting his golf-themed T-shirts noticed because that category was saturated with competition. One topic he noticed early on that didn’t have much competition was bowling. Waldron says his wife is a great bowler, so they brainstormed designs and phrases that appealed to bowling fans.

He says the more specific the niche, the less likely you’ll face competition from other designers. So find a topic and put your efforts into creating the best designs possible.

Have Great — Original — Designs

Waldron warns people to be careful when it comes to trying to create designs based on trending topics. You might have an excellent idea for a shirt that involves a celebrity or current event, but you might not be able to use it.

“It gets tricky because something’s probably been copyrighted, so the easiest ideas are just the ones that you come up with on your own, like purely out of the dark, and then you can go online and you can check the trademark database,” he says.

You can look up trademarks by going to the the United States Patent and Trademark Office Website and using the Trademark Electronic Search System. There you can search for certain terms and phrases to see if someone owns an active, or live, trademark or copyright. Also, a simple Google search will help to see if someone has already beat you to the punch and created a T-shirt with a similar idea.

Waldron says he learned early on that Merch by Amazon doesn’t play around when it comes to trademarks and copyrights. One of his designs was a vector image of a character that had some slight similarities to the superhero Iron Man holding a golf club iron. He says he tried to make him look not too “Iron Man-ish,” but the design didn’t pass. “They squashed that one pretty quick,” he says.

Don’t Neglect Your Product Descriptions

After your design has been created and approved, you don’t want to ignore your product descriptions and titles. “If you put all the energy into making a cool shirt and then you do one sentence for your description, you’re kind of wasting the little real estate that Amazon gives you,” Waldron says.

For example, let’s say Waldron is uploading a funny bowling T-shirt about the 10 pin, a pin that right-handed bowlers have trouble hitting. He’s not going to title it “10 Pin T-shirt.” He’s going to call it “Funny Bowling T-Shirt -10 Pin Design,” or something similar.

The goal is to think like a shopper and anticipate how they would search for your item if they didn’t know it existed, he says.

When writing the description, make sure to include part of your product title, such as the saying on the T-shirt, if there is one. He says, for example, “Are you looking for a great bowling gift for your family or friends? This ‘Living on a Spare’ T-shirt is the perfect gift, and sure to generate laughs at the bowling alley.”

Print-On-Demand Services to Consider

A couple of quick Google searches will reveal several companies offering print-on-demand services.

Each of these services has its own pros and cons regarding product quality, profit margins, audience size and speed of shipping.

Below is a list of some print-on-demand services, with details from people who have used them.

Merch by Amazon

Amazon’s print-on-demand service is the biggest player on the block, according to Caprio and Waldron. Caprio says she preferred using Merch by Amazon over other services because of Amazon’s massive built-in audience and its reliable product-delivery service.

One of the most significant hurdles is that you must go through an application process to sell on the platform. Caprio waited six months for approval. Waldron says he was approved in about two months and credits his web-design experience for giving him an edge.

Here’s where you can find out more about Merch by Amazon.

Printful

Printful features many high-quality T-shirts and items to put your designs on. The service has a profit calculator available so designers can see how to price products to obtain their desired profit margin.

Printify

Printify allows designers to save 20% on their costs with an optional premium membership for $29 per month. Caprio says it’s great if your demand is strong and people are buying your items often. Here is a breakdown of the pricing structure for Printify.

Spreadshirts

Spreadshirt has a wide variety of high-quality items and many customization options. Designers can put their images on short- and long-sleeve shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases and more. Buyers have the freedom to select their shirt and font colors. Broussard Williams says she typically earns between $2 and $3 per shirt.

Redbubble

Redbubble sells baby clothes, greeting cards, wall art and bags in addition to shirts. Caprio liked using Redbubble because it gave her the opportunity to put her designs on unique items such as onesies. Here is a breakdown of the base prices of the items available on Redbubble.

Matt Reinstetle is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. He covers side hustles and the gig economy. Follow him on Twitter @MattReinstetle.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

Got an Idea for a T-Shirt? Here’s How to Earn Money From It on the Side published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

[corcidcosplay]

Beach Zhongli and Childe 😎 w snc_kei photos by AbiI Candii