I have some family members who are difficult to buy for on special holiday and occasions. It’s not that they are critical or even picky. It’s just that they pretty much have everything they really want and need. One year I finally hit on the idea of making personal photo gifts for them.

For example, a couple of years ago I made my step-mother a moue pad with a photo of her new grand-daughter on it. I have made t-shirts for my dad. I’ve done some stunning photo calendars for various relatives (and made one for myself in the process!). Before I was divorced, I used to have a mug made for my daughter’s father each Christmas with pictures of Gigi from that year, so he could have a handy little record of how she changed over the years.

In a society where most of us have too many decorative frames, coffee table books, and impersonal tchotchkes, the things I have had made with sentimental photos have always been a huge hit. You can find a stores online, like Sae Cheez, that actually specialize in varies lines of customizable gifts.

When most people hear about a new product, the first thing they want to know is what other people think of the product. I think that is why companies like Consumer Reports has done so well for so long. They actually test out products and then give an unbiased review.

I don’t put a whole lot of reviews on this blog, but I will tell you that some of the highest traffic I have received on individual blog articles on Suncoast Scribe has been for when I reviewed Pizza Hut’s Pizza Mia, the movie Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, and Kids 2 in 1 Smoothers by Suave. Readers like to know they are getting a real product review from someone who is not sitting behind a desk at an ad agency.

(To be fair, I actually have worked in public relations, advertising, and television production in my past, so I understand HOW to write a review. Still, I pride myself on this website for giving honest, unforced opinions.)

Anyway, all of this is to say that I also appreciate reading honest reviews written by others. I have some friends who actually write blogs 100% dedicated to reviewing products, usually from the point of view of a mom. One of those blogs is Lisa Reviews. Lisa actually writes several highly-readable blogs, but this particular blog is dedicated to relevant, topical product reviews.  Recently she has reviewed Town House FlipSides, Bee Movie, and the LeapFrog LeapStart Learning Table — just to name a few.

I think you’ll really like it.

I was in college when I first became aware of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). I never became involved, but I flitted on the outskirts of the world so many of many friends created for themselves in the fantasy of Renaissance life. Along the years I have attended my fair share of Renaissance festivals in many states. I have enjoyed the benefit of having friends who have closets full of enchanting costumes and practiced mannerisms that nearly sweep one back in time.

It’s not like you can just walk into your local Galleria and find the bodices, bloomers, and surcotes you need to fully realize a believable character. A lot of my friends sewed their own costumes, or had other friends make them. Most of them, though, would locate the proverbial needle in a haystack and track down a retailer that sold the right costuming elements.

I went to college before the internet was a full-fledged phenomenon, so finding the costume retailers was a feat. Now, you can just logon and find sites like The Renaissance Store. It’s like a dream come true if you are planning a costume for a RenFest or the like. And, I finally found a believable pirate costume for my nephew that we can use for next year’s Pirate and Princess Party at Disney.

When you are a mom, it is somehow a great comfort to read about the everyday lives of other moms. It makes you feel more in tune, more normal, and a lot less alone. I’m not sure I would have said I liked to read about the day-to-day musings of a mom before I had my own daughter, but I can sure say it now.

I love to read blogs written by Mommy Bloggers.

Looking at the demographics of this blog’s traffic, there is a reasonable chance that if you are reading this right now, you are also a mom. So, with that in mind I will pass along to you from time to time the blogs of other moms. In fact, here’s one for you now: My Take, the blog of a New York mom with a background in education. Give it a read.

I wrote on April 18 about how Florida was probably going to ban ”truck nutz“.

Thank goodness for a glimmer of good taste in our state. Today,  the bill that makes  hanging “truck nutz” from your vehicle a moving violation passed the Senate by 37-2. The odd-balls who voted against it were  Republican Sen. Bill Posey and Democrat Sen. Frederica Wilson.

When I think about all of the places around the world I want to one day visit, I realize I need to narrow them down to the ones that really have something new and unique for me to experience. For example, I had a friend who lived in Hong Kong with her husband and she would write me the most marvelous letters about the pink dolphins they have there.

Sadly, my friend passed away suddenly a couple of years ago, before I ever made it ever to see her in her adopted home. Still, her spirit lives on in my heart when I read her books of poetry or see a photo online that reminds me of her. And, inevitably I begin to think about how I want to see the pink dolphins. Sure, we have lots and lots of dolphins here in Florida, but there are not any pink ones here.

Flights to Hong Kong are easy enough to find at a decent price. This is especially true when you use handy websites like Dialaflight. Hotels and attractions are an easy enough task, too, but I suppose I rather mourn the loss of being able to see Hong Kong for the first time with my dear friend at my side. It would be exciting, but certainly poignant.

Back when I lived in Gainesville, one of my very best friends, K, was right across the street. She was a home-schooling mother of five. Count ‘em – FIVE. Her oldest was a girl, and all the rest were boys. And this woman, she puts most other stay-at-home-moms to shame. She grinds her own wheat and bakes bread every other day. K keeps her house so spotless that even her own children don’t know how she does it, and she has time to be a great friend on top of it all.

As the mother of one daughter, I am fascinated by the lives of people with lots of children. I even knew one family back in Gainesville who I believe are up to baby number 11. *Gulp*

Anyway, I’ve been reading Tina’s MummifiedTimesFive blog for some time now. As the title of her blog explains, she is mom to five children. Tina is the mirror of my friend up in Gainesville, as she has four girls and one boy (the only boy being the oldest, just as K’s oldest is the only girl). She’s also a Mum from Down Under, that is to say – Australia. So, not only do I get a little peek into the life of a mom with lots of kids, I also get to see the day-to-day musings of someone halfway around the world.

My street is odd. One side (mine) is officially in the county, the other side is in the city. Small issues make it evident. When there was a drainage problem in the intersection, city and county employees quite literally stood and bickered about who was responsible to fix it. There are street signs on the corner in my yard and the yard across the street, but they have totally different signs – one is standard green, the other is blue with one of the local flowers printed on it. Across the street, they have city sewer access, we do not. If I want to join the local community center, it will cost me 20-times as much to pay the annual fees.

The list goes on.

Now, one of the good differences about not being in the city limits is that I have more clout when I tell people I do not want solicitors at my door. All I have to do is put a sign up that says ”No Soliciting” and anyone who ignores it and still knocks on my door to try and sell new windows, or magazines, or to try and give me term life insurance quotes, is actually breaking the law. Those who live in the city do not have the same protection.

We’ve been told we can get neighbors to sign a petition is we want to be included within eh city limits. I suppose that has its pros and its cons.

I made an appointment for one of the local veterans’ charities to come and get some of my step-father’s old medical supplies. He was outfitted quite well by the V.A. Hospital and I know my mother way to keep some of the stuff around in case she needs it herself one day, but for some reason we have doubles of things like a wheelchair, a bath lift, and an elevated toilet seat. I feel like since the items were initially purchased by the V.A., we should make sure they go on to benefit veterans now that we are not using them.

I know the V.A. Hospitals get a lot of criticism and it is true that when my step-father went down for his appointments there was more waiting around than actual time with the doctor. Some medical procedures took too long to book, and I often wondered if they really ever got his meds properly balanced. Still, he had most of what he needed, sis not worry about the cost of prescriptions, and knew a trip to the hospital would not bankrupt him. He felt secure in his old age. There is something to say for that. And so, I want to give back to the organization is some small way.

One of my good friends wanted wood floors in the downstairs of her house, so she had her uncle show her the ropes and she then proceeded to finish the entire job on her own. I used to live only three miles from her, but I’m too far now to have got up there to help her out.

Of course, helping her would have also been a benefit for me/ I want to learn how to do the work so I can put a hardwood floor out in the family room. Before my cat died last month, she peed once outside her box. We have the smell out of the carpet (not an easy task), but I think starting fresh with the flooring is still a good idea. And, I have always thought wood floors would open up the small space.

I was looking the DeWalt tools website on for prices on the tools I would need, like a circular saw. I think I can everything together that I would need with a minimal payout, especially since I can borrow a lot of the elements. I’m a little intimidated, but labor makes up for SO much of what you pay a professional to do work in your home, so it should be worth it in the end. Plus, I think I can get Bekah to give me at least one lesson before I begin.

Gigi is 5 now. Every summer up until now, I have cut her hair short.

I actually like long hair on little girls, but it gets very hot in Florida and her hair has been so fine that I cannot keep it up in a ponytail or braids. So, it would sit on her neck and she would sweat and her eczema would get inflamed. It was something that broke my heart even more than getting her hair cut.

By Christmas, her hair was always longer and looked OK in Christmas pictures. Nonetheless, she wants long hair as much as I want her to have long hair, so I looked hard for a solution.

I found that I can keep her fine hair up in ponytails if I use something like the Goody Stay-Put twin elastics with beads on the ends. I actually bought some with little flower-shaped beads, rather than the round one. Either way, I am able to pull her hair tight and still keep my hands on the bands. It is comfortable for her and now that her hair is off her neck, I don’t have to cut it this summer.

Or, do I?

Last week she came to me and asked if I would cut her bangs. She said they were getting in her eyes. I was more than happy to oblige. When I looked closer at her hair, though, I noticed she had already taken two huge chunks out of her bangs and one from the top of her ahead. She looked like a half bald baby bird!

I did my best to even out her bangs. They are now way too short and it looks like the poor kid has a mommy who screws up her hair. And, I have been working hard to get her bang-line to start closer to the front of her head. In order to try and hide the bald path on her crown I had to move her bang-line back a little. That looks a little odd, too. Poor kid.

I might be able to rectify this with a pixie haircut, but I just don’t think it would look right with her face. I am at a crossroads and debating this little pickle.

I have a question for my readers.

Have any of you bought auto insurance online?

I need to switch companies to find a better price, so that I can afford to insure both of my cars. I have not been driving my old Hyundai, but with the rising gas prices I think it might be best to use it for all of the driving I do when my daughter is not in the car. My ex husband says he used one of the online-only insurance brokers and has had great results.

I am a tad more prone to wanting to talk to a local agent face-to-face, but costs are starting to sway my opinion.

I would love input and suggestions.

I’m pretty fortunate to live in a great location for things like shopping. When I was on a quest to find a new scanner a few weeks ago, I was able to hit like 5 electronics stores without going 5 miles from my house. Sadly, I did not find what I was looking for at the time. I have noticed that stores are stocking a lot less in the way of electronics these days. In fact, it seems like the bare minimum. If you want to find a better selection, you have to go to their companion website.

That’s fine with me. I like shopping online and I adore the fact that I can often find free shipping, lower prices, and coupon codes. Some sites even forego taxes.

When I went into Circuit City, for example, they had a number of all-in-one printer/scanner/fax machines available. Stand-alone scanners were a whole other story. They only had three models and they were all priced higher than the combo machines. It was insane. On their website, though, they have over 30 models. So, I got all set to use some Circuit City coupons I found online to buy one. Upon closer inspection, though, I noticed that manufacturers just aren’t making low-priced scanner fore the most part. You wither get a less advanced scanner attached to an all-in-one printer, or you pay out the nose for a high tech stand-alone scanner.

My theory is that the only people buying stand alone scanners anymore are professionals who are scanning in important documents or photos for photo restoration or to be able to work form old negatives. That is exactly why I want a stand alone scanner, but sadly my budget is not such that I can pay $500+ right now. I could sweat that a few years back you could get a high-quality scanner for less. I suppose it is all about demand and what the manufacturers are able to charge for the perception of quality.

So, now that my old professional scanner bit the dust, I am using the scanner on an all-in-one for the time being. The results are less than impressive. I’ll be keeping my eye out for local businesses selling off office equipment. That might be my best bet.

I don’t miss some things about being young. For example, I am a whole lot smarter now than when I was a teen. Not only do I have more academic knowledge, I am wise in ways that only time can grant. I don’t miss not being able to vote or drink or be questioned about being old enough to make major decisions.

I do rather miss living in my parents’ house, where all my financial needs were taken care of without a worry of my own. I miss mom cooing every night. I miss the carefree life of a child, who needs only to do well in school and have fun with friends. I also miss my skin,. When I was a teen, my skin was porcelain flawless. I never dealt with acne, or when I did it was one small pimple that went away overnight with a dab of Clearasil.

Now I am in my 30s and although I enjoy the freedom of my own decisions and the respect of an adult who uses her smarts to get through life, I have to also deal with the fact that my skin is on a roller coaster, so to speak. One week I am dealing with dry patches, the next week I have break-outs, and the next week I look like a goddess with dewy, pink skin and not a blemish is sight. So, not only do I have to have the best moisturizers on my vanity shelves, I also have to stock natural acne treatment and lotions for oily skin – all depending on the day.

Still, I wouldn’t go back and trade it to be young again. As much fun as I had in high school, being a mom is even more exciting.

I want to think that after what happened to Victoria Lindsay here in Florida, that kids all over the United States would open their minds and learn a lesson. There are eight teens here that are now facing jail time. And, if the public has their way they will indeed see some time behind bars.

All of that could have been avoided if the kids involved had used some self control and not been lusting after dubious fame on the internet.

Some parents are still raising idiot children, I see. Out in Clarksville, Indiana on April 12, a mob of middle school girls lured a 12-year-old girl into a parking lot, beat her up, filmed the entire thing, and posted it on the Internet – PhotoBucket to be exact. The mob was made up of 12- to 14-year-old Clarksville Middle School students.

Police say they believe the debacle was inspired by the Florida YouTube beating.

If you think it is asinine to emulate the Florida beating after the world has seen the potential consequences; then get ready to hold onto your proverbial hat. It gets even more stupid. The victim is the daughter of a police officer. Way to pick your target, girls.

While I’m at it, I want to tell the girl you can see doing most of the hitting in the video that wearing hot pink satin jackets was not a good idea in the 1970s, and it only looks more idiotic now.