Many years ago - shortly after September 11, I think - I had a conversation with my dad that had something to do with politics and world affairs (super specific, I know). He was lamenting how my generation wasn't politically active; how we "didn't care" like his generation did.

I don't know about you, but here's what's always happened to me when someone starts talking like this: I feel like I'm being lectured and like any contributions I might make to the conversation will fall on deaf ears, and so I stop listening. What my father was saying felt like judgment; like a statement of superiority ("our generation cared...yours, not so much"). And while I don't think what he was saying was unfounded or even necessarily wrong - people who are now in their thirties largely went through their formative years during a time of (relative) prosperity and political calm, which is not the kind of environment that typically breeds vast numbers of revolutionaries - it certainly didn't make me go, "Wait! You're right! SIGN ME UP!"

The conversation made feel guilty, and judged, and irritated. And a person who feels guilty and judged and irritated tends not to be especially inspired to join the community that's making them feel this way.

Well, okay, the title of this post is sort of misleading. Because I have never met a sweatshirt I did not want to wear (except, perhaps, this one, because as cute as it is I have a feeling that it's made for a different kind of human being than the one I am). And this list doesn't include the sweatshirt that I was wearing in yesterday's post (and that I am, in fact, wearing right this very second).

Not all of the below styles are sweatshirt-priced (although I did leave out this Julie Verhoeven one because I don't think "sweatshirt" and "1,800" belong in the same sentence), but as I've gotten older and grown into a (much) more relaxed, even sporty (?!) look, the kinds of things I'm willing to spend money on have changed. I bought a pair of Louboutins a couple of years ago, and have worn them...I dunno, maybe four times? I recently splurged on a pair of Golden Goose sneakers (on consignment, granted, but still), and have worn them every single day since they arrived.

In short: How much money I'm willing to spend on something has started to be less about what it's "worth," and more about what it's worth to me. And a sweatshirt that's not schlumpy in the slightest and that I can wear dressed down with jeans and flats or dressed up with leather leggings and heels is exactly the type of thing I want in my closet.

My t-shirt may say "Darlin'," but it comes with a free gun show.

Nordstrom: phenomenal company, just phenomenal. Doing big things out there, big things, yuge things. It's all very exciting, very exciting. Everyone's very excited about it.

So let's go shopping, shall we?

My present to you on this Tuesday morning: A link roundup with not one single post about politics. You're welcome.

 Here are 100 photos so funny you might pee.

 Ummmm I did not know it was possible to want to hug a night-light, but hello.