Like many of you, I have one hell of a time finding jeans. It seems like it shouldn't be so difficult -- there are a million different styles, and all I need is ONE PAIR. But, I have a few, uh, let's say quirks that make shopping tough:

• I have some big, "athletic" thighs -- sure, I can do a million lunges with them or run all over town, but they don't fit in many jeans;
• I sold high end jeans for a while, and got ridiculously spoiled by not only having a major discount, but also getting to try on every single style that came out with no pressure -- and so, of course, I was able to find plenty of jeans I loved;
• I'm just that perfect height for which regular lengths are often a bit short to wear with flats, but with long lengths, I need a small heel;
• I don't like a lot of "stuff" -- I don't want rips and tears or crazy embellishments on my butt -- just jeans, please;
• Did I mention the thighs?

I have one pair that I really like, but they're too long to wear with flats, which is a problem because I have a trip to NYC coming up (actually, I'm there now, as you're reading this, probably shopping or eating or both), and there's no way I'm walking around in heels. At least, not during the day. So I was in dire need of a pair of hip jeans that could be worn with flats.

Along comes TJ Maxx to save the day.

TJ Maxx provided me with a $50 gift card to solve my fashion crisis, which thrilled me to no end because I love that place. But, I hadn't done much shopping for jeans there, so I was a little nervous. I fortified myself with a good breakfast, threw on my flats (seen above), and went shopping.

Not to ruin the suspense, but I did have success ... but not without work. Ladies, I broke a sweat trying on jeans, because, as you know, you have to try on a lot to find the ones that are just right.

I wanted something that fit my waist -- no muffin top for me, thankyouverymuch -- a dark wash, a bit of stretch, and a modern cut without being so low that my undies show. I probably took three or four trips to the dressing room, taking four
or five pairs with me at a time, holding aside any that had
possibilities.

(The skinny jeans in the middle below? Not a possibility. But, worth a try!)

And, on the final trip back there, I found them:

They have a straight leg, which helps to emphasize the length (because my legs might be big, but they're also long), and the wash isn't super dark, but dark enough. Additionally, the stretch is good -- stiff enough to hold me in and help my butt look perky, but not so stretchy that they'll be falling down in an hour.

And, did I mention that they were only $39.99?

One thing I want to point out to everyone, though, is that size really is just a number. And where you might wear a 10 in one brand (which equates to about a 30 waist), you might be an 8 (29) elsewhere and a 12 (31) in another. Don't sweat it -- go for the best fit, regardless of size.