READY TO GET YOUR HOLIDAY SHOP ON! These little nuggets from Austin boutiques (and local Etsy-preneurs) will brighten your day and most certainly that someone else’s. Check them out, you may discover a few local retailers that will become your new favorite shopping spots.

Big Imagination Design: Easily the coolest take on the feather earring trend we have seen are these feather earings by local Austin designer (available on her Etsy shop).  We are also quite smitten with her mobiles.

Luxe Apothetique: Give someone a little devotion. These funky candles from Luxe Apothetique make it fun to light a flame for our favorite celebrities and heroes, from Obama to Willie to Amy Schumer.

Outdoor Voices: Move over, Lululemon. This Austin-based active wear store is lifting the outdoorsmen and women of the world to a whole new fashion level. Give your sis a pair of these “Running Woman Sweats” to add some “wow” to her workout.

Photo courtesy of Outdoor Voices

Photo courtesy of Triple Z Threads

Triple Z Threads: Nothing screams Austin fashion like a pearl snap Western shirt embroidered with a snake lady or David Bowie. This is just one of the many quirky treasures you can find at Triple Z, a new boutique that makes a shopping spree to South Congress a worthwhile adventure.

Waterloo Records: Want to go back to a simpler time of vinyl records and turntables… look no further than Austin’s Waterloo Records where used and new vinyl LPs can be had for less than $15. (Hint: their website even has a wishlist feature for yourself!)

Image courtesy of Waterloo Records.

Redbird Boutique: Add some whimsy to someone’s cocktail hour with these August Morgan monogrammed cocktail napkins. Redbird Boutique is a repository of lovely things, from snazzy cell phone carriers to sexy bead necklaces.

Photo courtesy of Redbird Boutique

Allens Boots: Every Austinite must have at least one pair of cowboy boots in their closet (never know when you might find yourself at Stubb’s for a concert).  If you have an Austin newcomer on your list, head down to Allens Boots on South Congress and select from over 4000 pairs of cowboy boots on display as well as hats and clothing. If you aren’t certain about size, try a gift certificate… because, honestly, half the fun is the trip to Allens Boots to pick them out.

Smudge Studios: Forget the art kits from Target that stay unused in the back of the kids’ closets all year. This groovy art studio in Central Austin stocks creative art projects that your kids will actually do, like this fun snow globe.

Photo courtesy of Smudge Studios