NET-A-PORTER now has the newest FASHION TARGETS BREAST CANCER (FTBC) exclusives, so you can look fabulous all summer and feel even better knowing that all net proceeds from the sale of the products will benefit local breast cancer charities around the world. These latest items are part of the global partnership with The Council of Fashion Designers of America/CFDA Foundation Inc. Check them out, they are perfect for the hot weather right now. Love the DvF dress!!

Diane von Furstenberg Tuvallu jersey dress $355;

UPDATE: Thank you to Sari of Lux Couture for her generous donation- a designer bag for auction- she is our first HERO!

Start your New Year right and help others in need! I was recently asked to join the committee of the Heroes and Handbags Luncheon benefiting Heroes for Children, a nonprofit organization providing direct financial and social assistance to families, within the state of Texas, with children (0-22 yrs of age) battling cancer. The founder, Larissa Linton, lost her beautiful four year old daughter Taylor to cancer and created the fund to support, give comfort and ease the burden for parents coping with the challenges of caring for children with cancer. In addition, the fund seeks to educate and raise awareness about all forms of childhood cancer, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which was the cancer that affected Taylor.

“Fall in love” with your heart this month and get pumped up about a heart checkup today! This is also the day to take a stand against the number one killer of women and learn about the risks of heart disease. Please be kind to your heart and take the Go Red Heart Check Up by visiting Heart.org or call 1-888-AHA-2222.

HURRAY FOR CAMPBELL'S!!! For every 'click' Campbell's is donating $1 to the Go Red For Women movement. Heart disease is the number one killer among women, but the good news is that heart disease can largely be prevented. That's the goal of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement—empowering women with knowledge and tools so they can take positive action to reduce their risks and protect their health....So go ahead, click with your heart!

We are in New York and having a great time. I spent Sunday afternoon roaming around the city between shows (it was almost 50 degrees when I arrived, my friends say I brought the sunshine!) and soaking in the amazing energy of the greatest city on earth. I bring my toddler son here 3-4 times a year and he has grown to love "N'york", as he calls it. He especially loves going to the parks and many playgrounds the city has to offer. Like my son and I, Gucci loves New York, too! Gucci's brand new bag will salute the city it loves, 100% of the proceeds from the limited edition Gucci Loves NY bag will benefit the Playground Partners of the Central Park Conservancy. This donation will go towards the maintenance and operation of the 21 children's playgrounds in Central Park. For more information on the Conservancy, visit www.centralparknyc.org. To purchase the bag, please visit Gucci's new Flagship store at 725 Fifth Avenue.

The playful bag will come in three sizes: Small- $570, Medium-$640, Large-$690. Available starting Feb 8th.

I’ve always supported St Jude’s Research Hospital. I think they’re a really well run charity with a really great cause. (St Jude’s covers all the costs for children with catastrophic diseases to come to their hospital/ research center and get care and treatment.) I’ve also always supported Saks so I was really excited to see the two come together this holiday season for such a great cause. They’re running a few really great programs that give you a variety of ways to support the charity. The first thing they are doing is selling an adorable book called Snowpeople ($16.99). It’s the tale of “…inquisitive snowpeople in search of their own identity…” They stop at Saks along the way of course! It’s a great gift for kids and two dollars from every book goes to St Jude’s 2007 Thanks & Giving Campaign. I’ve already ordered this book for all my friend’s children!

We are still getting countless emails asking about Anya Hindmarch's "I'm Not a Plastic Bag". Well, those are sold out and she is not making any more but there are other absolutely adorable shopping bags out there. Here are two of our favorites. The Green and Gorgeous from Scoop NYC ($28 at Vivre) is linen and cotton with jute handles. The message is clear, it is not just about not using plastic or recycling - destroying the earth is an ugly thing. The super cute and more sublte Green NYC Shopper from Hable Construction ($75 exclusively at Barneys) is big at 20" x 18" x 7" and made with untreated, undyed cotton canvas. It is structured so it's perfect for things other than shopping, like picnics, beach, school, work and bringing your share to holiday potlucks. The message "Lose the Plastic" (written on the back) is not as world encompassing but $10 of each bag sold goes to planting trees in NYC, so you can feel good and look good! These make the most wonderful Christmas gifts, something everyone will enjoy and appreciate. And makes your shopping so much more rewarding (not to mention easier, buy it for everyone and you can avoid the dreaded mall).

Pink and Navy Toms: $38 each

We all love a 2-for-1 deal especially when it's for a good cause. At TOMS "Shoes for Tomorrow" this is their motto. Every time you buy a pair of shoes the company donates a pair on your behalf to a child without shoes. Creator Blake Mycoskie (if he looks familiar, he was a contestant on The Amazing Race: Season Two) was inspired on a trip to Argentina by the traditional, rope-soled Argentine “alpargata”. He was struck by the poverty and health issues of the country, and set out to reinvent the alpargata for the U.S. market and provide for those without shoes. To achieve this goal, Blake made a commitment to match every pair of TOMS purchased with a donation of a pair to a child in need. "I was overwhelmed by the spirit of the South American people, especially those who had so little,” Mycoskie says. “And I was instantly struck with the desire – the responsibility – to do more.”

Silver glitter from Holiday collection.

(Note from Bag Snob Tina: I just purchased 3 pairs for myself and ordered 2 pairs for my son, these are the perfect shoes to run around in all year long! Plus every time you pull them on, you can smile at the thought of a child somewhere in the world who also has a pair of shoes because of you :) GO SHOP!)

Sasha Pivovarova, Daria Werbowy, Lily Donaldson, Lily Coleand Du Juan and for this year's Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign shot by Patrick Demarchelier

This year Ralph Lauren has designed an exclusive polo to benefit the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Worldwide charity fund. This campaign is backed by CFDA who founded this fund in 1994 (remember Kate Moss with the target t-shirt? she looked hot in it but this t-shirt is way cuter!). This fitted polo is $75, 80% of which will go to the charity. There is no better way to show that you care than to look cute doing it! It comes in 5 colors; white, green, red, turquoise (pictured) and yellow. This polo shirt is the first of many collaborations to come from FTBC with other exciting designers to join forces. These t-shirts are always the hottest things each year so get yours right away. I got the turquoise, my favorite color but I might just get one in every color to play golf in! Exclusively at Net-a-Porter.

Fancy Footwork Tote and Glossy Goodness Bowl

I guess today is global awareness day at Bag Snob. Now wouldn't it be great to be environmental and socially conscious? If you just want a cute shopping tote ($29.95) that is useful and reusable, why not get one of these from World of Good, a website that sells fair trade products made by artisans around the world. Fair trade practice is one that pays artisans fair wages, provides safe working conditions, supports the communities they're in and helps sustain the local environment. I have a bracelet and a little jewelry box with amazing craftsmanship and cute, too! I shopped around and found more products that I am going to get. The Glossy Goodness Bowl ($19.95),handmade in Vietnam, is great for snacks and the Bowled Over Tray ($34.95) handcrafted in the Philippines from Acacia wood is perfect for displaying fruit. I love the beautiful wood and it'll look so nice on my dining table. Does all this not look like stuff you get for hundreds of dollars at some fancy shop? I can't wait to get the Moo-ve Over for Fair Trade Tong ($39.95) made from buffalo horn and wood in Vietnam for serving my daily salads. Now, why wouldn't you want to feel good about what you buy and be able to get beautiful hand-crafted products at great prices? It's win win for everyone! Please help us in supporting free trade and give better lives to the communities that benefit from it.

Bowled Over Tray and Moo-ve Over For Fair Trade Tongs

Those of you who know my husband and I also know that we are active in many charities in our community. One of our favorite organizations, Collin County Children's Advocacy Center, is having their annual fundraiser gala on April 21st. Thanks to John Lowery of Wellstone communities, the center's goal of raising 1 million dollars in 1 night is almost a reality. Wellstone is the Title Sponsor of the event with a contribution of $100,000. Jay Leno is featured as the guest MC and the event has sold out! We are so fortunate to have wonderful people in our lives who support our causes. The children of Collin County will also have a better place to call home. The CCCAC offers hope for abused children of all ages and color as abuse can happen to anyone. You can help by supporting the organization through donations of clothes (the Rainbow room is where abused children can pick out new clothes and toys as they often leave their home without anything. The center currently needs t-shirts, shorts, and diaper rash cream. Yes, babies are often victims of sexual and physical abuse), gift cards, or cash on their website.

A dear friend of mine, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, asked me to participate in an event she is hosting for the Best Buddies program and I immediately agreed to get involved after visiting the website. It is a program that enhances the lives of intellectually disabled people by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendship and social interaction. When people with intellectual disabilities are unable to attain or maintain a job, it is most often due to an absence of social skills rather than an inadequacy to perform the work required. By signing up for the e-Buddy program, you would communicate with your Best Buddy by email and allow them an opportunity to interact with someone wonderful, YOU!

I would love for ALL of you to join me in this very worthy cause and sign up for a Best Buddy or make a DONATION. It would take minutes for you to be involved and it could change someone's life forever. And please pass this on to all of the best buddies in your life!

Thank you...
xoxo
Bag Snob Tina

Here is a letter sent from Brooke this morning. PLEASE take the swab test. It takes no more than 5 minutes and all you do is swab the inside of your cheeks. Thank you, Bag Snob

Thank you so much for your response, interest and offer to help- We have extended the deadline for the drive until February because I have not responded to any sort of treatment and still have no match- We are going to proceed with a new protocol in the treatment of my cancer that will hopefully “buy me some time” for a stem cell transplant so I would appreciate greatly you forwarding the email to those who you think would be interested in responding. There are ample dollars in the fund to cover the $52 cost for testing. I am so grateful that you would even consider sending the email to your classmates- Its simply a numbers game – I just need ONE match and even though it hasn’t happened yet ,I remain optimistic that one can and will surface.
Again, My thanks
Brooke

I just received this email about a friend of a friend who is very sick and in need of a life saving transplant but has not been able to find a match. Please read her email and help if you can. I met Brooke briefly last June at a birthday luncheon and found her to be a sweet and beautiful women, 20 minutes of your time may save a soul.
Gratefully yours, The Bag Snob

LETTER FROM BROOKE

DEAR LOVED ONES, FRIENDS, AND FRIENDS OF FRIENDS,

This has been one of the hardest letters I have ever had to write. I am much more comfortable helping others than asking for myself, but I NEED YOUR HELP AND I NEED IT NOW.