Etsy for Ethiopia

So, I'm attempting to be creative and opened an Etsy site to fundraise for humanitarian projects that will benefit Ethiopia. The first place I'm looking forward to sending a donation is to Dube Bute, Ethiopia through the Glimmer of Hope Foundation. Emily, a fellow adoptive mama and blogger, is spearheading an amazing campaign to bring clean water, a school, health clinic and veterinary center to her son Eyasu's birthplace. I feel pulled to this project because not only is Turo from the same region as Eyasu, but they also came to our agency's care center at the same time.

The hope bracelets are $15. They are made from memory wire, (they wrap around your wrist), glass seed beads and pewter letter beads. After paying for the materials and fees, I will donate $10 from each bracelet towards supporting Ethiopia. Since I have no idea if anyone other than my mom will buy one, I've only made a few. But I can ramp up production if there is any demand for them.

The red and green beads are based on the colors of the Ethiopian flag, and I plan on making yellow ones, but I'm still looking for the right beads. I can also make one that has all three colors if anyone was interested (drop me an e-mail if you have a specific request - sara_bartolomei (at) yahoo.com)

Thanks for taking a look!

Red Hope

Green Hope

Things that turn my heart to mush

While attending our last band practice in the freezing cold, Turo declared, "Mama, I'm having so much fun."

Re-Entry

I just returned from a lovely three days with girlfriends in Dallas. Three days of chatting, laughter, shopping and eating. Three days of only being responsible for myself. It was refreshing and great. I thought I’d come home all relaxed and energized. Instead, I found myself a big ball of crankiness all day.

Switching my mindset back to stay-at-home-mom kicked my behind. I was irritated by the overturned milk, the constant potty reminders (yes, we’ve embarked on that project again), the whining, the laundry, the dishes, the dried pasta on the floor, the marching band CD, the constant negotiation over so many seemingly trivial things (why is it so hard to just ride in the shopping cart?). I snapped and rushed and generally wasn’t the warmest person to my son today. At one point I handed him the iPhone (which can entertain him for a good long while) and closed my eyes. I needed a moment to breathe through the grouchiness.

Yet, the thing is, I spent half of the weekend talking about Turo, staying at home and how much I am loving it. I really do. But there was something about that lighter, solo time that was hard to let go of today.

Play ball...

Lunch Date

Band Practice

Here is Turo at the start of the marching band season.

Here is Turo at Friday's practice. At one point he told me he was cold and wanted to leave. But as soon as he stood up he changed his mind. This kid is a serious fan.

Last night

This is how I found Turo when I went to check on him last night. I couldn't resist snapping a picture before moving him back into his bed.

Color Tour

Relying on the Pure Michigan website as our guide, we headed off on the back roads to catch some fall color. The suggested route said we'd end up at a state park on Lake Erie. After an hour of driving (and some poor navigation on my part), we pulled into the park. Our first view of Lake Erie...

Somehow the Pure Michigan site forgot to mention the towering smoke stacks (and the nuclear power plant that was visible on the other end of the beach).

Baby goes shopping

Dear Nap

Oh, nap. How I miss you. The quietness you brought. The time to get things done quickly. A moment to just be still in the day. However, daytime sleep started meaning later and later night-time sleep. And grown-ups need some time at the end of the day to unwind, hang-out and get stuff done. I hope you'll still come visit from time to time when needed.

Thanks for everything,

Sara