Tag Archives: life

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:

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

Just keep running

By Stasha | Published April 17, 2013

I ran my fastest 5K today.

It was fueled with anger and dismay. Ocean and it’s wast blueness as my companion, eagles and hawks flying above me and green grass underneath me. My favorite trail to run. But I could not get the images of marathoners approaching the finish line on Monday out of my mind, the explosions blasting as they look behind them. What should have been an euphoric end to one of the most important events and hardest earned accomplishments in their life turning into horror. I ran and I wondered if that could have been me. Standing in the crowd one moment with my son, cheering on the runners and in a split second becoming the headline at the 5 o’clock news. And I got angrier with every step.

I thought about people. How thousands of us are born each day and begin our story. What causes some to turn so horrible that they would intentionally hurt another. And not even a particular person that might have caused them harm, but an innocent stranger. And even worse, a child. I ran and I wondered if I have ever met such a person in my life. And I got scared thinking my son might. So I ran faster.

For the first time ever I turned onto the road. Without my knee brace every step was hurting more. Every time my left foot landed on the concrete, sharp pain shot through my knee, reminding me that life is not perfect. I know my days are full of peace and happiness. My biggest worry is being late for preschool drop off and my dog’s hotspots. I worry about our health and what we put on the table. Sometimes, but I try not to, I worry about my husband being deployed again. I know that there are unimaginable things happening everyday, children dying of huger, people dying in war, nature going wild and taking lives. I know there are tragedies that we should strive to eliminate and there are some that we cannot control. How amidst of all that someone decides to bring more sadness in the world is beyond me.

I kept running. Pain and sadness my companions and the wind that was picking up, I struggled to find inner peace and just be. To find a way to spread the word that even I, who had my fair share of adversity can be happy and look forward to what life brings every morning. That no matter how terrible the situation, violence is never the answer.

How do we recover? From 9/11, to random shootings to Boston Marathon explosions, how do we go on not worrying about what is behind us, what is in front of us and if the stranger next to you might harm you? How do we go on?

I took this photo earlier today:

At the time I was in the saddle. I tightened the reins and said whoa. My horse trusted me against his instinct to stop long enough so I can take a picture of a wild animal. Deer trusted my dog not to hunt and kill him. There we were, all four of us standing in the sun, sharing a moment of trust. Guess that is all we can do.

And when trust fails us… We cannot help ourselves but to loose a little faith in humanity.

Posted in The Not so good life | Also tagged , 14 Comments

Bag, Whale and Steal

By Stasha | Published March 27, 2013

We had a great day at the beach last Monday.

Then we returned to the parking lot to find our minivan missing a window. My first thought was that an eagle had a heart attack midair and landed into my vehicle. Upon closer inspection my handbag was missing. Perhaps a crow? But since my bag was in no way shiny I went with the third option-someone decided to steal from me. Invaded my space, damaged my property and stole all my lipgloss. Not to mention covered my son’s car seat with thousands of tiny pieces of glass. Bummer.

I called 911 for the first time ever and they dispatched a very good looking Deputy. He was certain it was not a bird and suggested I cancel my credit cards immediately. I was hoping he would tow my vehicle to the CSI lab and use it to put the bad guy away for life while the government sends me a limo with a chauffeur as a thank you until they return my minivan fully fixed. Apparently life is not a TV show and he gave me a number to reach him on if I have any further information instead. I waited for my husband to drive down and pick up Little J and call my bank to cut myself off from little money I have.

As I was driving home I thought of life, chocolate and Monday Listicles. And then it happened: I remembered I have a picture of my fancy Coach bag and all the items that were in my bag!! Thanks to Ducky I shared them with you a few weeks ago and trust me that bag was in my car ever since. So I emailed the Sheriff’s office with pictures and a link to my blog. Bet you never thought Monday Listicles would put a bad guy away for life?

Of course my life has been in shambles since. How does one recover from such tragedy? I tried driving around with no window but it poured down and hailed even before I reached Starbucks drive thru. My sweet husband gave me a whole lot of money to buy myself a new bag and wallet and I have been agonizing over which one ever since. Not to mention my lips are chapped.

To top it all off I discovered that the villain managed to purchase gas before I canceled my credit cards. Surely that will help solve this crime of the century? I called the Deputy immediately. And you know I never ever use my phone to talk! Unfortunately he was not in.

Yesterday I tried calling again.

Lovely male voice: Hello?

Me: Good day. This is Stasha calling for Deputy suchandsuch.

Lovely male voice: I am not sure you have the right name. What is this regarding?

Me: Well my car was broken into and my purse stollen last week down at the South of the island and I have since noticed that my credit card has indeed been used within an hour of it happening and I spoke to my bank and they gave me the time and the location and I am sure that will be very helpful with the investigation because most gas stations have surveillance cameras and the amount was $40 which is probably nearly full tank which means he must have stood there long enough for you to be able to identify the license plate and arrest the man. I have all the information right here for you, do you want me to tell you or send in an email. ( cue victorious drums and a medal of bravery, commitment and brilliance to me thankyouverymuch).

Lovely male voice: I am so sorry to hear about your troubles and I hope they catch whoever did this to you. But you called the Orca Network.

Me: OH MY GOD.

The moral of this story is never to leave your valuables in the car and even if you never ever speak on the phone don’t just assume what the last dialed number on your phone is. Because sometimes on a beautiful sunny day when you go to the beach you are lucky enough to spot a gray whale and call the research center to report it.

Posted in The good life | Also tagged , , , 18 Comments

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