This post is reprinted from my business Web site, Blogging Bistro. I don’t normally post non-adoption-related articles, but Christmas is on its way and I know many of you are looking for great gift ideas.
My husband brought home the new Costco cookbook (Home Cooking THE COSTCO WAY
) and I’ve been engrossed in it, slapping sticky notes on the recipes I want to try.
I ended up with a cookbook full of sticky notes!
There is an easy solution to my sticky note cookbook-marking obsession. It’s called Recipe Ru
nway, an online service that helps you keep your personal recipe collection organized.
Founder Lori Hastings* knows a thing or two about organizing recipes. She has 3,000 loose recipes and 1,500 cookbooks! Lori invented Recipe Runway to help recipe collectors like her (and me) clean out the clutter and easily find our fave recipes.
Lori says:
With Recipe Runway, I no longer waste an hour searching for my stuffing recipe. Instead, I quickly access it from my personal online Recipe Center. There, I can easily edit it, add a note about where I found it, or type in an anecdote about how Aunt Sue forgot to put the stuffing inside the turkey back in 1996.
I can embellish the recipe with an elegant border, and then print it and give it to everyone at this year’s holiday celebration.
Recipe Runway is the most innovative (and practical) business model I’ve seen in a long while. I love the fact that you can send your handwritten recipe cards (or your mom’s, or grandma’s) to Recipe Runway and they’ll scan them right into your personal online recipe center for you, categorize them (alphabetically and in general cookbook categories), and upload them.
If you prefer, you can type in recipes, or copy and paste them into your Recipe Center, or upload them yourself.
For every recipe in your personal Recipe Center, you can include special stories and memories. For instance, I can note that I got my famous Julekake (Norwegian Christmas bread) recipe from my paternal grandmother, who grew up in Norway.
Not only does a subscription to Recipe Runway make a great gift for the recipe collector in your life, but you can use the service to create extra special gifts. You can create your own virtual cookbooks (using the recipes you’ve uploaded) print them on pretty paper, box them up, gift wrap them, and give them away.
You can also share your recipes via e-mail.
Lori provides three helpful videos that walk you through the system.
You’re probably wondering: How much does it cost?
When Lori told me the price, I almost keeled over in shock–not because it’s expensive, but because it’s so affordable! It’s only $39.99 for a basic 12-month subscription. If you want them to professionally scan in your recipes, they also offer a variety of scanning packages for an additional fee.
If you’re looking for a wonderful, unique gift for a loved one (or for yourself), I highly recommend Recipe Runway. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know Lori – she’s personable, highly professional, and one of the most genuinely nice people you’ll ever meet. When you contact Lori, tell her Laura from Blogging Bistro sent you (no, I don’t get a kickback; I just like to promote great new services).
Here’s an intriguing recipe from Lori for Cabernet Granite Palate Cleanser. When the page loads, click “View Images” (upper lefthand corner) and the recipe will pop up. Here’s what Lori says about the recipe:
This is a fun recipe to serve between the salad and entree course. The first time I served this was at Christmas a few years back. My Grandfather who is no longer with us – thought this was such a fun and interesting recipe to serve. He was so intrigued he took a picture of it and just chuckled. He grew up during the depression so this was truly enjoyable to him. I always think of him when I see or make this recipe. Enjoy!
*Blogging Bistro provided consulting services for Recipe Runway before Lori Hastings launched her business.
I’ll be a guest on the Creating a Family radio show Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010 from noon-1 p.m. Eastern Time ( 9-10 a.m. Pacific).
)
Intercountry, Domestic Adoptions Down Significantly
in Adoption Statistics, News, Issues, & Commentary
The numbers are in: International adoptions for fiscal year 2009 (10-1-08 – 9-30-09) dipped 27 percent from 2008, to 12,753.
Intercountry adoptions peaked in 2004, with 22,884 children from other countries finding homes with U.S. families.
The top 10 countries from which U.S. families adopted in fiscal year 2009 were:
In an Associated Press article, David Crary writes:
Adoptions from Guatemala (the #1 country in 2008) and Vietnam (#6 in 2008) have dropped significantly because adoptions from those countries have been plagued by corruption, and adoptions from those countries have been shut down indefinitely.
Domestic adoptions of newborns are also decreasing. Because of our current economic recession, many adoption agencies mistakenly believed more women in crisis pregnancies would decide to place their unborn babies for adoption.
According to a New York Times article by Susan Dominus, that hasn’t happened.
Dawn Smith-Pliner, founder of Vermont-based Friends in Adoption, told the Times that pregnant women are instead thinking:
Single motherhood continues to gain societal acceptance, and women who are considering placing a child for adoption may be foregoing traditional adoption agencies in favor of researching and networking with prospective adoptive parents online.
Sources:
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