Buy a bag: Save the planet: Help the Manas'

Here it is!

The I H-E-A-R-T Ethiopia Grocery Tote! Handcrafted to order by a team of artisans (Meghan's Mom!) in the wilds of Maine. I've been wearing and using the prototype for weeks now and have gotten lots of envious looks while out and about.

So in response to the obviously overwhelming public demand we have commissioned the production of a limited number of these bags; only 25 to be exact. You won't have to worry about that awkward moment when you realize the lovely shopper ahead of you at the local Farmer's Market has the exact same one-of-a-kind bag that you do. Doh!

Then without any further ado check out these pictures of my adorable husband modeling mine. If you'd like one email me directly at mmanas@verizon.net and we'll make arrangements. By the way they are only $25 (and come with a 5 day/1st 50lbs of groceries, shoulder to shoulder GUAR$ANTEE). Better than anything you could get on those late night TV infomercials.



Oh, and of course the money we raise will be used to help pay for our travel expenses to, from and within Ethiopia. So, now that you now its for a really good cause get yours, then tell everyone you know!

Maine....The way life should be!

You know that old saying, "you don't know what you got till its gone" well, since leaving Maine almost 10 years ago now it seems all I ever want to do is go back. I do love Maryland but did not appreciate Maine like I should have while I lived there. With that being said Eric and I just recently spent a weekend in the beautiful State in a quaint little town called Richmond.

Every year Richmond has the annual Richmond Days and since Eric has never experienced this I thought this would be a good year. We had a great time and were able to see lots and lots of people I have not seen for a long time. While we were there my mother was having a yard sale and decided to donate all of her profits to our Ethiopian Travel Fund!

As you know international adoption can be very expensive and we are very blessed that we have the means to be able to pay for most of it. We do have to travel to Ethiopia twice and those expenses alone run around 8-10 thousand dollars SOO we are planning little fundraisers to help cover those extra costs and this was the first and was a success as we raised $1000! We can't thank my mother enough she manned the sale while Eric and I took our cute little nieces for a day on the coast!

Thank you Mom - you are an amazing person!!!



Here are a few shot from our time!


My mom was cleaning out her house! Lots of fabrics at great prices!


My mom working on her sales pitch :)


Seriously - who would not want to donate $2 to these little ladies!




Nothing like good old ice cream!


Too cute for words!


These two girls are pretty special and can't wait to meet their new cousin!


Oh did I forget to mention we got to meet the newest member of our family Eben!!!!


So thank you to all the wonderful residents of Maine who stopped by our yard sale and helped us raise money to bring home our little lady from Ethiopia! We could not have picked a better place to have our first fundraiser and can't wait to go back!