All-American, with one foot in China

Adoptive parents grapple with race, culture and growing up

"Like a lot of 8-year-olds, when Meg Garrison is mad at her parents, she occasionally threatens to run away. She even has a destination, says her father, Bill, a realtor in Seattle: “She says: ‘I’m running away — to China!' ” In some ways, it is a typical childhood antic, but it is also a sign that she has started reckoning with her beginnings as an orphan in China."

This is an older article I found online that I thought you would find interesting. Download HERE.

Mini Baked Wonton Cups

Published on Rachael Ray Show
So, I'm at work right now listening to Channel 6 on the radio. It's the Rachel Ray Show. She is doing her cooking segment and it's on Mini Baked Wonton Cups fill with Asian good stuff. I can't hear it because there is much chatter at the office so I had to go online and get the recipe. I created a dowloadable version with photos here.

Ingredients
24 wonton wraps (12-ounce package), suggested brand Nasoya
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus some for brushing
1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined (no tail) and roughly chopped
1/4 head of napa cabbage, shredded
3 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
5 scallions, dark and white parts thinly sliced
1/4 cup cilantro,chopped
2 hard-boiled egg, chopped
1/4 cup tamari, dark soy sauce
1 lime, juiced
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush each wonton wrapper with a little vegetable oil then nestle it down into one of the cups of a 24-cup nonstick mini muffin tin.
Transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 6 minutes.
While the wontons are baking put together the filling: Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of vegetable oil. Add the chopped shrimp and cook for 1 minute, then add the cabbage, ginger, garlic and scallions.Cook for another minute while stirring constantly, then add the cilantro and egg, and cook for another minute. Add the tamari, lime juice and sesame seeds to the mixture and stir to combine.
Heat through, about a minute, and remove mixture from the heat.
Remove the wonton cups from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Fill each cup with about 1-2 tablespoons of the shrimp and cabbage mixture, and serve.

Yields 6-8 servings

Fancy Nancy x2

Look, Fancy Nancy Books! This is a Birthday Gift that I wanted to post. They are from Deb & Aiden. I've been dying to the 1st one but was suprised with a second one...the one with the Posh Puppy!!! They are just too cute! Thanks for my Birthday Gifts!

Ode to Split-Pants

Suckered into the Rumor Mill

Okay, I'm falling for it. If at the end of this month we see that referrals have been made up to November 15, 2005, that will have meant that they processed 15 days this month. If they could actually stay at this pace...someone with a 2/17/07 LID (me) Might actually get a referral in November 2007!!!!!

Are we rounding the bend? Are we seeing the light? Should I start to get excited or start to panic over minor details? Hmmm. See why I don't read the RQ!!!

(I prefer FACT and "based on past numbers" !!! I hate guestimating!)

LWOB CHARITY

Assembled, One of a Kind, Customized Lifebook!

Go to the Auction on Ebay!
A lifebook is a wonderful resource designed for you and your child to explore her history and to work through questions in a safe and loving environment. A group of China adoptive mom's through www.ChinaDigitalScrapbooks.com have worked together to create this beautiful custom, one of a kind, 24 page life book for your child. Each page was lovingly designed by a different mom! (I’m one of them!!! You can see my layout at the bottom right of the photo)

Pages include:
Introduction, Birth, Chinese Name, General China, Province Page, One Child Policy, Birth Parents, Abandonment, Finding Ad, Orphanage, The Wait, Referral, Leaving for China, Adoption or Gotcha Day, Our First Days, New Citizen, Meaning of Adoption, Coming Home, Adoption Announcement, Family Picture, 100 Wishes Quilt and Made with Love page Optional pages for Siblings and Foster Care available as well.

All auction proceeds go to provide heart surgeries for orphaned children in China. Love Without Boundaries is a registered 501(c)(3) organization in the U.S.

Please visit their website for more information about Love Without Boundaries or their blog.

A Suprise!!!

OMG!!! Donna, these are just toooooo cute!!! I saw you had an awesome time in Disney! I really wished that I was able to go! Thanks so much for thinking of me in the mist of all your fun!! I just LOVE these pins. Of course, you know this one matches my Pirate Princess Ears!!!And the CHINA one! It brought tears to my eyes! I didn't know they even made ones like this!!!! You know how popular they must be since Disney is like the official Adoption Reunion Spot! I LOVE, LOVE them!

You are just too sweet Donna, THANK YOU!!!! :) Stephe

Mom's 60th Birthday Dinner

How do you throw a suprise dinner for your mom at your house when she's in from out of town and staying with you? Answer: VERY QUICKLY.

My mom was home from Key West for her Birthday so I decided to gather her best friends and give her a dinner. So the day of her birthday, we did some shopping and I was trying to get her to take a nap since she was exhausted. It was a hour and twenty minutes before her friends would be their and NOTHING was done. Finally, I told her that I was making her present and she had to stay upstairs. So she took a shower and climed into bed for a nap. So, by this time I had 40 minutes to completely decorate and get ready. I then put her Birthday Dinner invitation in a frame and wrapped it up. Once I was done decorating, I called her down and gave her the gift. She thought I was just making the two of us dinner. I said nope...go get ready cause your best friends will be here in 20 minutes. Anyway it was successful except for the broccoli. (nightmare) I did tell them though... I was only responsible for presentation not quality! lol.

(Invitation Designed by Me)

The Girls.

Decorations by Me (ECGirls, recognize?)

Chocolate Cake, Salmon, Broccoli, Mash Potatos and a Citrus Reduction. (also some apps)

Fun at the Zoo with Friends

Isn't this a cute photo!

Prettiest Peacock at the Zoo. (below)

Closet Update Challenge

I've been Challenged! Check out my Closet Update Challenge. Well, I have to say that the photo of Giorgi's closets that are on my blog still look the same. Only clothing 12months or smaller is currently in the closet. I will not buy anymore that small unless my referral inicates that I might need more of that size. 18months to 5t is what I am occassionally picking up. I am limiting myself to 2 rubbermaid totes of each size. Yeah, let's see how that'll work. I put all my cute closet finds at Giorgia's Enchanted Garden. I tell you, I might as well make the most of this wait and get EVERYTHING I need now! : ) Go check out my cute stuff!

Diaper Backpack

This is to you Bernadette. This was the Backpack that I was talking about. I bought it at Walmart for $14.96. The brand is called EASTSPORT.

It seems like ok quality. I just want it to last for my China trip. If it dies after...it'll still be worth the $14.96 that I paid for it.

The top center compartment fits a hard travel wipes case and the bottom left compartment fits 8 diapers. It you take out the water bottle that comes with the backpack, you can fit a baby bottle in it. What I love the most is that there are lots of places to clip things on. I agree that it's a bit obnoxious. But, I'm strictly going for ease and function on this trip! There are also big compartments on each side. And large seperate zippered areas in the actual backpack area. Well, in theory, this is the perfect China Diaper Backpack for the money. Only time will tell. :)