Tag Archives: children

Mightee kids

By Stasha | Published May 9, 2013

Let us start with a disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Sometimes I run into incredible things. Simple, yet life changing things. I see the potential, I get involved and I feel an overwhelming need to share it with the world.

I have openly spoken before about my difficulties with being charitable. Over years I supported causes I was passionate about only to realize that I had a lot of reservations about how the business of helping was being run. Recently I broke off my long standing monthly contribution to a major charity organization because they kept sending me elaborate mail. I felt like they are pouring all the money I send them into postage and printing and not the children that needed help. Yet I really want to help. And more importantly I want my son to grow up being kind, compassionate and willing to help.

And then Mightee kids came along. To say that I love this company and what they stand for is an understatement. The plan is simple: every month they design a cute T-shirt with a certain cause in mind, send it to your child along with a lovely card that helps you explain what that particular charity stands for. From every T-shirt sold $5 goes to that cause. They bring awareness to many smaller, unknown charities which have great impact to less fortunate children around the world. Not to mention the shirts are beyond adorable too!

I am sure you will all agree it is a great idea. But what really struck a cord with me was Little J’s response to the first T-shirt we received. He was eager to discuss autism after I read him the card and explained how the T-shirt we bought will help other children. He wore it proudly and talked about how he helped someone at his show and tell in Preschool. He even offered to pitch in for next month’s T-shirt! And because it is something he will wear often it is a great reminder in his life how he too can make a difference in this world.

As you probably gathered by now I am bias. I think this is a perfect gift for your child, for your child’s friends and to take to the next baby shower you are invited to. It is a gift that will keep giving. So it really is a gift for you. Because nothing feels as good as doing good.

For all you rushing over to Mightee Kids website I have a little surprise! They gave me a code for free shipping to share with you during the month of May for your first tee.

Enter northwestmommy at the checkout.

Now go and be Mightee!

For all you eager to share this great cause you can stay in touch with Mightee kids on Facebook and Instagram too.

Beware: being Mightee is known to cause extreme happiness! As shown here:

nwm-mightee-kids-1nwm-mightee-kids-2nwm-mightee-kids-3nwm-mightee-kids-4nwm-mightee-kids-5nwm-mightee-kids-6nwm-mightee-kids-7nwm-mightee-kids-8

Posted in The Great life | Also tagged , , , 13 Comments

Life

By Stasha | Published July 19, 2012

We all say things like “Life is precious” and “Life is fleeting”.

We try to be healthy and put safety first. We try to prevent our end coming to soon and if it does, we prepare ahead. Like arranging for our loved ones to be cared for by signing up with Term Life Insurance Rate Company. We try to manage life. Time. As we should.

Today was a beautiful, sunny summer day. We went downtown to watch the boats race and treat ourselves to the best ice cream on the island. We were standing at the wharf, Little J, Big M and I admiring hundreds of sailboats passing by. The town had an extra happy and festive feel to it, full of tourists. My son noticed a group of children around his age fishing on the pier, right underneath us. By our favorite spot, the pile of colorful canoes that you have seen me photograph over and over again. There must have been a dozen of them, adorable with their little fishing poles and marshmallows as bait. It looked like such a great idea for the carers to bring the group of summer campers out. I even snapped a quick photo on my phone.

Little J wanted to go and visit them and get some tips on fishing. I tied Big M up to the fence because the pier was crowded and narrow and my son and I walked down. We walked down there just yesterday. And countless times before. As we reached the pier I bend down to secure my phone in my bag. Little J was asking me why fish like marshmallows and Big M started barking like mad.

The next thing I know a lady is running down the bridge saying ‘there is one in the water’. She ran past me and jumped in the water, fully dressed with her camera still around her neck and her straw hat on her head. She pulled the boy up to the surface and we helped them back up onto the pier.

Just like that. In less then a minute a decision on that boy’s life was made. A complete stranger, who happened to look in the right direction at the right time and was kind and brave changed that boy’s life forever. We have all heard that children drown silently but until today trust me I had no idea just how silent it truly is. We stood a canoe length away, so did his teachers and all his friends. There were hundreds of tourists there close by. And none of us knew that boy swung his fishing pole too far and tipped over. NONE OF US!!

She walked away even before anyone could say thank you. Before we even managed to fully understand what had happened. Just like that.

It is easy to try to ration what, who and why. To find someone to blame and to use this as an example as to what not to do. But let’s face it, this could have been my son or yours. This could have had a different ending. Luckily this was a happy day, with a happy ending.

But until today I never really understood how precious and fleeting life really is.

Posted in The Great life | Also tagged , , , , 47 Comments

Be a friend

By Stasha | Published January 19, 2012

When I was 13 years old my country fell apart.

I found myself a citizen of a new one. Same home, same town, but different name. We were now independent and with that came a new citizenship. Sadly my mother passed away a month before that. It was not until I applied for high school a year later that my grandparents realized I was living in my country illegally. Same home, same town, but due to my mother claiming me Yugoslavian and not Slovenian at birth I was now not eligible for a passport. It was nobody’s fault, just a written statement by a parent and I will be officially Slovenian. A technicality really.

Only I had no parents. I was not 18 yet so I could not sign papers for myself. I lived with my grandparents, but they were not my legal guardians. I was living in a same home, same town yet I was facing deportation. To a country that was torn up in war, a country I never lived in a day of my life. To say this was surreal is an understatement. And all because of one word, one line that I know my mom never imagined would cause me harm. But that is bureaucracy for you.

I was fortunate. My grandma is a persistant woman, she knocked on many doors and the Minister of interior affairs called on his staff to find a solution. They juggled some papers and I was once again who I was born to be, Slovenian. I even entered high school on time.

Many years later I fell in love and married an American. My husband is wise and helped me understand the importance of becoming naturalized. The day I stood with my right arm across the heart, reciting The Pledge of Allegiance to America I cried. Tears of pride and tears of joy. Mostly for knowing my family will always stay together, have a home and a country to protect and be protected by.

The most incredible thing about America is that each of us has a voice and we can make a difference. Galit, Leighann and Barbara have reached out to seek support for Mark and Fred in their quest to keep their family together. In the same home, same town, where they belong.

If you are not familiar with their story please click HERE and get to know them. When you do, remember that I once was a child facing the same uncertain future as Fred and his children are. It was the kindness of strangers who saw how stiff the law was and helped find a legal way to bend it that helped me. I really wish, more then anything today for Fred to be able to stay with his family.

Love is love. Families should stay together. This couple has devoted their love and lives to becoming a family. There should be no reason, not now not ever for them not to wake up and have cereal together every morning. Just like your family and mine.

Please see beyond politics, your beliefs and your opinions. Sit down and write the letter to

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
202-282-8000

just like I did, telling her how your world would come crashing down if you had to be separated from your children, your family. How we must find a solution for Fred. You are a voice that can make a difference and Mark, Frédéric, John, Claire, Jacob and Joshua need voices.

Thank you for being a friend, you just never know when it might be your turn to need one!

Posted in The good life | Also tagged , , , , 19 Comments

© 2011-2013 The good life All Rights Reserved