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I'm a little behind on christmas shopping. I already got my mom a pair of crocs (yes, shoot me...but she wanted them) and an Aksesare scarf, my dad a Husky Pride teeshirt, my boyfriend a grey cardigan, Munny toy, and Perfect Pushups, and my roommate convertible gloves. But what about Secret Santa on the 29th and numerous friends who deserve little trinkets? Usually I try to get all my purchases in one place (preferably online) but Urban Outfitters is just too expensive for "small shopping" so I've been looking at Goodwill / consignment stores for headbands/hats and things. Today at Goodwill I found a Weisfield Jewelers 10K gold/amethyst ring for $39.99! Great value, still not in my price range. So lo and behold my solution to all my (and possibly your) problems!

Yes, I conveniently even linked to the under $30 price range. I'm a huge fan of their pearl bracelets and a sucker for this sapphire baby. Their designs are unique, from all over the world, priced reasonably, and high quality. I'm loving the huge range of different gemstones and metals to choose from too. The best part? Zavida's mission. They stive to give back 25% of profits to assist the regions where these beautiful art pieces came from. A good price for a good cause--for a good gift. What's more to ask?

Rainboots. People see them as funky colored wellies. Something that doesn't need to match your outfit. Something floral and rubbery and not necessarily fashionable.

I got suckered into that mindset. Even though I own a pair of Coach boots (blue optic, hate them because I don't want to advertise Coach all the time) and a Burberry kids boot (hate them too), I was never satisfied. Living in WA, going to UW, puddles are a daily occurence. What's a girl to do?

Well look what I found while browsing my new favorite online store, UrbanOutfitters.com. A pair of perfectly fashionable, practical, and inexpensive rainboots!

[Equestrian rainboots. UrbanOutfitters.com exclusive. $38.]

Yes, they are rainboots. They look JUST like by Banana Republic chocolate brown boots! I'm snabbing a pair in black--and using my 25% off coupon. That's less than $30 for the most amazing rainboots I'd ever seen. Unfortunately, they only have sizes 6&up, so I'm going to line them with fleece boot liners to ward off the extra winter chill. I can already see the envy on everyone's faces.

I'm a big denim person. I'm pretty picky about how they fit since I'm so tiny, my butt is larger than most (but very round), and I have fencer thighs. I've been hunting for the perfect petite skinny jean for the entire last season! Especially with winter rolling around, I need something I can slip on into boots and run out for class. I hate stuffing my nice Rock's into suede boots with no zipper, so I've been prowling around for anything and everything. I tried every store and every brand possible to no avail: J Brand, Joe's Cigarette, Sevens, Rich & Skinny, even True Religion (ick). Nada. I went into Urban and tried something there: awful, falling apart cloth. What's a girl to do?

Well, yesterday I got a phone call from the GM at Goodwill University Way telling me I won an ipod nano (4G). I went in to pick it up today and ended up browsing the store. Guess what I found? You bet. My perfect skinny jeans. The most surprising part? Besides the fact they were $11, they were from Old Navy! Who would've known? I'd forgotten all about Old Navy; I vaguely recall thinking, not long ago, that everything ran too big. Well, they started a Petites line and I'm the lucky receiver! What a great day.

['The Diva' Skinny Jean. Old Navy. Cotton, polyester, spandex. $29.50.]

These fit like a dream (okay, there is like a 2in gap in the back for me, but I'm very very very small!) and there is no uncomfortable tightness in the calves. I like the dark wash AND they end at the right length--no alterations needed! For $30 that's a steal!

We all know Lela Rose. We all know her fabulous ready-to-wear designs and gorgeous gowns--but did you know she went to the University of Colorado? Even more importantly, did you know she is collaborating with Payless to make some goregous shoes without the high price tag? 

I've heard about this designer colloboration for a while. It's a no brainer Payless (the "go to" discount shoe store) will follow in the footsteps of Target and Kohls who have weathered well with their "fast fashion" collections. But as a skeptic of Payless for years, I wasn't expecting much. What a joy to be pleasantly surprised today when I walked into a Payless store to check out their new selection. 

These shoesies are adorable. I've always been a fan of the d'orsay detailing--and the big bow adds girly fun. Gray is still very trendy, staying strong from last fall/winter (though it may have been overtaken by yellow...there is no yellow version of this shoe though.) The satin is a tad shiny and polyestery, but hey--for $34 it is a great deal. The sizing runs a little big for me...but that may be my 4.5-5 size feet. I couldn't take these babies home since I just bought two great deals from my neighborhood consignment store (lacoste sweater and J Crew wool lady coat!) but I have them on my "considering" list for sure.