I rarely blog about sports…for good reason. But I just heard the most heart-wrenching story about the Miami Dolphins. No, seriously. Apparently at practice yesterday, Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford lost his $50,000 diamond earring while running around the field.

Oops.

As girls, we’ve all been there: losing one of our favorite little baubles. I lost a nice diamond earring (albeit, not a $50,0000 one) while tubing on a lake in Canada. Someday, a lucky fisherman will find that sucker, take it home and make his old lady real happy.

If I’m ever in the shower and realize that I’ve forgotten to take my earrings out, I calmly stop lathering my hair and step out of the shower to lay my earrings in a happy (safe) place. Losing something down the drain would be the worst!

So the truth is, I feel for Mr. Langford. Mostly because $50,000 is a pretty nice size diamond. But perhaps this unfortunate incident will teach him a valuable lesson that many of us ladies already know: don’t ever take advantage of your diamonds.

And let’s be honest, it’s WAY more difficult to lose a whole bucket of them.

Share your story! Have you lost a piece of jewelry and felt sick about losing it? Share your story in the comments section. The best story will get a free diamond valued at $50,000—just kidding.

For the full story, click here.

One time a friend told me that I was extremely hard to buy for because I was “the girl who had everything.”

“If you want something,” she explained, “you go get it! You’re a take-care-of-yourself kind of woman and you don’t wait around for anyone to buy you anything.”

She was right. In fact, when I think about it…I am my own sugar daddy. Which would probably explain why the name of this blog is Pretty and Poor, not Pretty and Rich. I mean, by some accounts I could be considered very rich—to those who value shoes, clothes, handbags, top-shelf liquor, fun gadgets and good looks, I’ve established a fair amount of wealth. But if we’re keeping tabs on what’s actually inside that adorable wallet, well then, I’ve got a long way to go. But I digress.

The real point of me telling you all of this is that I can help you. Many of you might be shopping for “the girl who has everything” this holiday season and if you are, you’re probably wondering what you should get for her. Well, it takes one to know one. So here’s my gift-giving guide for all of you who are trying to figure out what to buy for that girl in your life (be it a friend, girlfriend, wife, sister or mom) who has everything.

Rule #1: Don’t try to outdo her. If she buys her own Jimmy Choos, don’t try to show up with a pair of Manolos. Sure, she’ll love the label, but if the style isn’t necessarily her taste, your gift will flop. The same example can be used with clothing, purses and more. Instead of trying to outdo her, try to outsmart her. Keep reading for more ideas.

Rule #2: Don’t get her something just because it falls under the category of a “popular gift.” Scarves and gloves are cute, but if she’s really an it-girl she probably has several of these popular, trendy items. Don’t get her another to add to her pile. Instead, just buy her something that’s not a popular gift item.

Rule #3: Give her something that money can’t buy. Actually, money can buy you just about everything these days. But here’s the point I’m trying to make: any gift that’s more experiential will be nearly priceless. A fun dinner at her favorite restaurant, a show, a small overnight trip—these things are great gifts because they’re about memories more than something in a box.

Rule #4: Give her something that costs practically nothing. This will amaze her. Because whenever someone gives me a gift that they’ve spent virtually no money on, I’m always wowed—in a good way. The “girl who has everything” usually thinks about what she needs next, and how much it will cost her. Blow her out of the water with something she never even thought of at a price she never even thought of (free).

Rule #5: Shop weird. Don’t go to all the regular stores or even the stores she shops at. This girl knows everything on those shelves. Instead, go pick out something at a store she’s never even heard of. What you select will be unique—especially to her.

(How funny would it be to see a hilarious magnet that sums up the essence of your personality every time you opened your freezer to grab your Ketel One?)

The gifts I remember from people are the ones that are homemade, funny and small gestures that let me know they really “get” me. Some of my favorite gifts from my past include refrigerator magnets, musical underwear (I don’t actually wear them, but it’s funny when my underwear drawer starts singing to me while I’m digging through it), a big plastic diamond, a magazine subscription, a memory book and trips to both Chicago and Vegas. If you’re trying to make a gift-giving splash with the girl who has everything, go for the unexpected, random and weird—she’ll remember it long after she’s worn out another pair of Jimmy Choos.

Welcome to the first ever Pretty Problem on Pretty and Poor. This is a section where I'll be helping readers with their problems-- big or small-- pertaining to the Pretty and Poor lifestyle. I'm always getting lots of questions, comments and suggestions and I think this will be a great way to answer some of those inquiries! That said, if you'd like to ask a question or submit a Pretty Problem, click on the Contact Me link and send me an email. Today's question is from a loyal reader and great friend of mine.

Dear Emily,
I’d like to know where to buy nice clothes (even if second hand) that aren't as expensive. For example: Where does Emily take her clothes she's done with?
Thanks,
Cristen

I actually get asked this a lot (both as feedback from my blog and in real life). Unfortunately, there’s no miracle store you can visit to find all sorts of designer fashions at unbelievable prices. If that existed, it’s the only place I’d talk about. That said, I think it’s important to have a healthy mix of stores where you shop. Here are some suggestions where great deals abound!

1) Department Store Deals: It might sounds boring for me to tell you to shop at Macy’s or Bloomingdales, but some of my best deals on high-end merchandise have come from these stores. Remember, they’re on schedules—they have to change their merchandise with each season to make room for the new stuff. This means they have to get rid of things in a timely fashion. And sometimes slashing prices is the best way to do that. If you’re looking for current fashions, head to a department store in a large city or major metro area and scour the clearance ranks. Tell yourself that you’re only clearance shopping that day and stick to your plan.

Many women buy stuff, “just because it’s on sale” but that’s an unhealthy way of thinking because you won’t save any money if you do that and you’ll end up buying stuff that’s only subpar. Tell yourself that you’ll only buy something if you truly love it. Then you won’t get enamored with everything you see. Plus, watch your mail or email for coupons and extra incentives from these large chain stores. Often, they’ll offer you an additional discount off of their already reduced prices. Some of my best finds scouring department store clearance racks have been a Dolce and Gabbana sweater for $19 (originally a couple hundred), a Tory Burch top for $38 (also a couple hundred) and a pair of amazing Coach wedges for $60. You just have to be patient, accept that you may go shopping one day and end up with nothing and be willing to spend a little time looking.

2) High End Discount Retailers: Not every “discount” store like Marshall’s or TjMaxx offers abounding fashions at amazing prices. In fact, many of these stores carry the same merchandise from location to location and it’s not that distinctive. Next time you’re in the mood for a steal on something nice, save up and head to Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th. Nordstrom Rack is, of course, the store where lots of deeply discounted merchandise from Nordstrom heads when it can’t be sold in stores. Saks is the same, for exclusive retailer Saks 5th Avenue. You’ll find nearly everything at these stores: from watches, to sunglasses to designer denim. In fact, I’ve found exclusive couture designs from Saks Off 5th several times (think Oscar de la Renta, Dior, Versace and Carolina Herrera). My latest Saks Off 5th find was a funky, fierce pair of Betsy Johnson heels for under $60 (and you’re guaranteed to see a pair of Jimmy Choos or two).

3) Garage and Estate Sales: I love knowing what kind of “stuff” other people have. When someone’s having a garage sale, half the fun is being nosey. The real fun starts if you notice they have something you want. I once bought a series of vintage clutches at a garage sale. Each clutch was straight out of the 60’s and 70’s—there were several purses I was sure had been to Studio 54 in their day. And at a quarter a clutch, I snatched all of them up. I bought them seven years ago and I still use them all ‘till this day. A couple weeks ago, my roommate stumbled across some great Juicy Couture finds at a garage sale, as well as a Louis Vuitton wallet. It’s true: one chick’s trash is another girl’s treasure.

4) Antique and Vintage Stores: Many people who own vintage clothing shops have a love for fashion and style through the ages—they know the coveted pieces everyone wants. That’s not to say you can’t find some awesome deals at vintage stores. Other people who run all-purpose antique stores don’t place as big of an emphasis on fashion. I’ve picked up some real steals over the years at antique shops with small clothing sections. Some of my most incredible finds include names like Hermes and Givenchy as well as several pieces of incredibly styled costume jewelry. Sometimes older items require tons of maintenance, and while the right find might be well worth it, consider the age and condition of the item before investing in it.

If you live in Minnesota, I’ve heard great things about Opitz Outlet in St. Louis Park (even though every time I go in there I freak out and leave because it’s just too overwhelmingly disorganized). And I’ve also heard mixed reviews of Second Debut, a Goodwill-operated store for more fashionable merchandise, also in St. Louis Park (but I've never actually been there).

When I do purge my clothes, I donate them to women’s charities, give them to Goodwill or save them for a garage sale.

I view my clothing and accessories as a collection. And if I shop right—buying only high quality merchandise I love—I can have my collection for years to come. Sure, this requires lots of closet space, but at the end of the day, I nearly always have something to wear. So take the time to invest in clothing that you love, you'll have a signature look that you love and closet full of clothes worth wearing!

Hope this helps you get a better idea of where you can find pretty clothing at poor prices!