One year, when I was taking part in a Secret Santa exchange at work, I gave a colleague whom I barely knew (if we were in the bathroom at the same time, we nodded but didn’t talk — but hey, Merry Christmas) some erasers that looked like sushi and pencils that looked like chopsticks. It was, quite possibly, the stupidest gift she ever received for under ten dollars.  If you’re doing the Secret Santa thing at your office this year, I’m going to make a plug for donating to the organization “Shoes That Fit.” That’s the nonprofit that I was trying to bring to Kourtney Kardashian’s attention. I’m thankful to Dana at the “TODAY Show” blog, “TODAY MOMS,” for highlighting my Kourtney Kampaign. (See what I did there? Don’t encourage me.) You can read the TODAY website article here (second paragraph). And, even if I don’t reach Kourtney, we can each help make a difference too.    There are thousands and thousands of wonderful organizations, so if you already give to another cause, NO PROBLEM. Great, actually. You’re awesome. And I mean that. Unless you are giving to a really weird cause like raising awareness for some of the lesser known Chia pets in existence. Also, times are tough, and if this is not your year for making donations, then let’s hope that 2012 is a better one. A much better one.  But for today, since I already mentioned them last week, I’m going to tell you a bit more about “Shoes That Fit,” which has received four stars from Charity Navigator. Shoes That Fit began in 1992 and they’ve given out hundreds of thousands of shoes to kids in thousands of schools across the country. Why shoes? As they say on their website, “New shoes provide dignity, hope, pride and self-esteem. That’s an awful lot of good things in a rather small box, don’t you think?” I think it’s a hypothetical question, but, yes, I do think. Here’s what you can even do through your workplace (since it’s Secret Santa time): You can find an elementary school in your area that you’d like to work with Your business or company can sponsor that local school  This is their website, www.shoesthatfit.org or here is their phone number: (888) 715-4333 Okay. That’s all. You guys are awesome no matter what you do. Group hug. 

One year, when I was taking part in a Secret Santa exchange at work, I gave a colleague whom I barely knew (if we were in the bathroom at the same time, we nodded but didn’t talk — but hey, Merry Christmas) some erasers that looked like sushi and pencils that looked like chopsticks. It was, quite possibly, the stupidest gift she ever received for under ten dollars. 

If you’re doing the Secret Santa thing at your office this year, I’m going to make a plug for donating to the organization “Shoes That Fit.” That’s the nonprofit that I was trying to bring to Kourtney Kardashian’s attention.

I’m thankful to Dana at the “TODAY Show” blog, “TODAY MOMS,” for highlighting my Kourtney Kampaign. (See what I did there? Don’t encourage me.) You can read the TODAY website article here (second paragraph). And, even if I don’t reach Kourtney, we can each help make a difference too.   

There are thousands and thousands of wonderful organizations, so if you already give to another cause, NO PROBLEM. Great, actually. You’re awesome. And I mean that. Unless you are giving to a really weird cause like raising awareness for some of the lesser known Chia pets in existence.

Also, times are tough, and if this is not your year for making donations, then let’s hope that 2012 is a better one. A much better one. 

But for today, since I already mentioned them last week, I’m going to tell you a bit more about “Shoes That Fit,” which has received four stars from Charity Navigator. Shoes That Fit began in 1992 and they’ve given out hundreds of thousands of shoes to kids in thousands of schools across the country. Why shoes? As they say on their website, “New shoes provide dignity, hope, pride and self-esteem. That’s an awful lot of good things in a rather small box, don’t you think?” I think it’s a hypothetical question, but, yes, I do think.

Here’s what you can even do through your workplace (since it’s Secret Santa time):

  • You can find an elementary school in your area that you’d like to work with
  • Your business or company can sponsor that local school 

This is their website, www.shoesthatfit.org or here is their phone number: (888) 715-4333

Okay. That’s all. You guys are awesome no matter what you do. Group hug. 

An Open Letter to Kourtney Kardashian: Congratulations. You’re expecting your second child. That’s wonderful news. And I’m sure I’ll read all about it the next time I am in the grocery store. That’s where I learn everything about you. And your sisters. And Angelina, Brad, and Demi. That’s pretty much the whole wide world if you can judge the whole wide world from the covers of the magazines at the checkout line.  And, if you weren’t already busy (and, I’m just going to say it, a wee bit overexposed minus the wee bit part), I heard you just launched a ten-episode web series about being a mom on the E! website. As a mother, I checked it out. I wanted to know what you had to say about parenting.  What issues matter most to you? What’s on your mind?  It turns out that you kicked things off with a tour of your son’s hotel closet. Not surprisingly, your son has a lot of clothes. And hats. And sunglasses. And, he has a shoe collection that could rival Carrie Bradshaw’s. The main point you wanted to make? I’ll sum it up: “With boys, it’s all about shoes. I’ve seen so many little boys and their outfits are so cute and then their moms put, like, kind of dorky shoes on them.” Well, gee. I’m a mom. I have three boys. What can I do to help them? I think they’re cute. But what if I think they’re cute but don’t realize they’re wearing the wrong shoes! I mean, not only are my three year old’s shoes not from this season. They’re not even from the season before that. Or that. He wears his older brother’s hand me downs.You see, Kourtney, not everyone who loves moccasins like you do can “get a new batch” in “every color” when her son grows out of his size of the month. I want to (honestly) say that you seem like a nice person. But, please, do me a favor: get a clue.  It’s estimated that 15 million American kids live below the poverty level. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 21 percent of children live in families that are “officially poor.” (You can learn more about what’s considered “officially poor” here. And, while you’re on the NCCP website, take a look around.) You have thousands and thousands of women and men who hang onto your every word. They want to know your thoughts about everything. My goodness, you and your family members are even among Barbara Walters picks for “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011.” People are interested in you. People love you. Take advantage of it. It’s not going to last forever. (See: Hilton, Paris) Take advantage of your way-more-than-15-minutes-of-fame.  I did a little research. (It took me all of 10 seconds thanks to Google.) There are countless organizations throughout the country that provide underprivileged children with shoes. I particularly like “Shoes That Fit.” They get high marks from Charity Navigator and have provided hundreds of thousands of new shoes to children across the country since 1992. Given your influence and your obvious passion for kids’ shoes, I’m sure they’d love to talk to you. And, I don’t think they’d mind a donation either.  Thanks. -Melissa Sher 

An Open Letter to Kourtney Kardashian:

Congratulations. You’re expecting your second child. That’s wonderful news. And I’m sure I’ll read all about it the next time I am in the grocery store. That’s where I learn everything about you. And your sisters. And Angelina, Brad, and Demi. That’s pretty much the whole wide world if you can judge the whole wide world from the covers of the magazines at the checkout line. 

And, if you weren’t already busy (and, I’m just going to say it, a wee bit overexposed minus the wee bit part), I heard you just launched a ten-episode web series about being a mom on the E! website.

As a mother, I checked it out. I wanted to know what you had to say about parenting.  What issues matter most to you? What’s on your mind? 

It turns out that you kicked things off with a tour of your son’s hotel closet. Not surprisingly, your son has a lot of clothes. And hats. And sunglasses. And, he has a shoe collection that could rival Carrie Bradshaw’s. The main point you wanted to make? I’ll sum it up: “With boys, it’s all about shoes. I’ve seen so many little boys and their outfits are so cute and then their moms put, like, kind of dorky shoes on them.”

Well, gee. I’m a mom. I have three boys. What can I do to help them? I think they’re cute. But what if I think they’re cute but don’t realize they’re wearing the wrong shoes! I mean, not only are my three year old’s shoes not from this season. They’re not even from the season before that. Or that. He wears his older brother’s hand me downs.You see, Kourtney, not everyone who loves moccasins like you do can “get a new batch” in “every color” when her son grows out of his size of the month.

I want to (honestly) say that you seem like a nice person. But, please, do me a favor: get a clue. 

It’s estimated that 15 million American kids live below the poverty level. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 21 percent of children live in families that are “officially poor.” (You can learn more about what’s considered “officially poor” here. And, while you’re on the NCCP website, take a look around.)

You have thousands and thousands of women and men who hang onto your every word. They want to know your thoughts about everything. My goodness, you and your family members are even among Barbara Walters picks for “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011.” People are interested in you. People love you. Take advantage of it. It’s not going to last forever. (See: Hilton, Paris) Take advantage of your way-more-than-15-minutes-of-fame. 

I did a little research. (It took me all of 10 seconds thanks to Google.) There are countless organizations throughout the country that provide underprivileged children with shoes. I particularly like “Shoes That Fit.” They get high marks from Charity Navigator and have provided hundreds of thousands of new shoes to children across the country since 1992. Given your influence and your obvious passion for kids’ shoes, I’m sure they’d love to talk to you. And, I don’t think they’d mind a donation either. 

Thanks.

-Melissa Sher