in the mens' section + sweater #16

This sweater brought my total number of sweaters to 31. It was the last addition. And the greatest. I mean, a bulldog with his tongue out, just like my boys. And the one on my sweater is wearing a bowler hat. Is that not terrific.

It came from the men’s section at Target, and without sounding weird, I feel like the men’s section of any store is the place to shop. This sweater is so warm compared to most of the ones I already own. I didn't have to wear 18 layers underneath it to stay warm, like I do with some of my current sweaters, which makes me look like a wrinkley bulldog anyways...


sweater: Target
polka dot button up: Old Navy
skirt: Target
fleece-lined tights: Target
boots: c/o Aéropostale

a new addition + sweater #15

So, we got another dog. Ever since my sweet Cali girl passed away in September, Turbo has been an only dog child. I can't tell if he loves it, hates it, or really has no idea... (he can't really hear, see, or smell, so who knows if he even knows his old companion hasn't been around for months, or if he relates the extra attention he's been receiving to her absence).

Back to current events, the new addition is another white male bulldog. He's 2 years old, and the sweetest pup there ever was. The two of them together melt my sometimes-grumpy little heart, and then explode it into a thousand little warm fuzzy hearts. I'm not going to share his current name, since it's probably going to change, but just know that he's so active, and he runs, and he jumps, and he plays, and he brings so many smiles to my face every day. And his head is so big, and his little wrinkley face is so expressive.

But my Turbo is still my handsome boy and grumpy old man and snuggle buddy, don't you worry.

cardigan: rue21

tank: c/o Aéropostale

belt: thrifted

scarf: from a friend

pants: Target

boots: c/o Aéropostale

sweater #14

Check out these layers, textures & prints today. Leopard under gray & lace, velvet pants, and shiny patent pointy-toed flats. All things I never would have paired together a few years ago, but now I just love it, and can't wait to put together more outfits like this.

And that makes 14.

leopard button up: WalMart

lace sweatshirt: rue21

velvet pants: J. Crew Factory

flats: Target

the sweater saga, part 4 + sweater #13

part 1

part 2

part 3

of my Sweater Saga

So maybe I've got a backwards American dream - I don't want a bigger house, I don't want a bigger car, or a bigger yard, or a bigger kitchen, or even a much bigger closet space.

We purchased a new (to us) car about a year ago, and we had a discussion about a 10% car - we shouldn't buy a car for specific functions that we will only do about 10% of the time (i.e. driving to the mountains, hauling, home improvement projects). That led us to my little Saab sedan. In the past year, there have been 2, maybe 3 times, where I've said "I wish I had a bigger car, like an SUV or truck, for this." One was getting beadboard home from The Home Depot, another was driving in the snow - specifically getting over a small drift in the road. Turns out, my little car does great in the snow, but lacks clearance. But if the weather and roads are that bad, I probably don't need to be going anywhere, anyways.

I've started applying the 10% idea in a lot of other areas: recently, my in-laws came up for a belated Christmas celebration and we broke out our electric turkey roaster, making the total number of times we've used it 3. For us, that's a 10% appliance. It’s nice to have, but rarely gets used in my kitchen.

We don't even inhabit all of our house - with extra bedrooms, an extra bathroom and a half, and a basement and garage, we've furnished spaces. Sometimes I think our house is a 10% house, at least for now. 

to be continued...again...

shirt: Ann Taylor

sweater: thrifted (GAP)

velvet pants: J. Crew Factory

necklace: WalMart

boots: c/o Aéropostale

the sweater saga, part 3 + sweater #12

part 1 and part 2 of my Sweater Saga

I used to be of the "more is more!" mindset, but I find myself lately adopting the "less is more" / "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication mindset." At times, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of stuff I have/own, and subsequently have to maintain and upkeep. So, I'm trying to make a conscious effort to limit my "stuff." And that includes clothes.

I know my closet could always stand to lose a few items, and I'm becoming more and more comfortable with getting rid of things that don't flatter me, don't fit me well, or don't reflect me. I really enjoy "playing in my closet" - trying things on, pairing unlikely things together, further solidifying things I know I like to wear, and also getting rid of things. It's a more grown-up and real life version of dress up. 

All of that to say, I'm by no means a minimalist. But I can really appreciate many minimalist ideals - less is more, quality over quantity. I don't really need several of the same items, and I'm learning that less items = less maintenance. Which means more time to do fun things, like love on my pup, and read, and run, and ski, and sleep.

And those are things I'm into.

tunic: Hollister via a local consignment shop

chambray: Old Navy

sweater: Eddie Bauer

leggings: c/o Aéropostale

snow boots: SOREL

the sweater saga, part 2 + sweaters 10 & 11

I'm counting this sweatshirt and warm charcoal-colored maxi skirt as sweaters 10 and 11.

Keep reading to hear more about my thoughts on my closet, my sweaters, and minimalism...

part 1 of the Sweater Saga here

My purpose in sharing my "Sweater Saga" on my little blog is not to gloat and show off how many sweaters (or other items of clothing I own), or impress anyone with my precise mathematics of 31 sweaters in 31 days. But in the past year, I've become really intrigued and fascinated with the idea of minimalism.

Before you stop reading, I'm not saying I'm going to become extreme and give away all of my possessions and move into a tiny home, but I have been trying to incorporate some minimalist principles to my life. I've started asking myself: "Do I really need this? Should this even enter my home?" I'm trying to be very thoughtful when it comes to bringing items into my home or adding things to my life - I've discovered that stuff overwhelms me. Easily. Upkeeping it, moving it, cleaning it, maintaining it.

This is something I've got lots of thoughts about, so stay tuned...

Oh, oh, and I linked up this outfit from the other day over here for a weekly style challenge!

sweatshirt: American Eagle

v-neck: Target

scarf: WalMart

skirt: thrifted

boots: c/o Aéropostale

the sweater saga, part 1 + gray all over #9

Let's talk sweaters (this whole "Sweater Saga" will have several parts, let's call this Part 1 - we'll talk numbers today). I mentioned recently that my total count of sweater + sweater-esque items is about 31. And sometimes my interpretation of a sweater is pretty loose. I know to some people, 31 seems like A LOT. And to other people, 31 seems pretty small. And some people have no idea how many sweaters they own, so 31 doesn't really mean anything to them. And for me, that number does not include fleeces, jackets, hoodies from high school or college, ski gear, running gear, or pajamas (of which I have many).

Here's the breakdown of my sweater collection:

14 cardigans

9 pullovers

1 cardigan type sweater, with no sleeves, so it's more of a vest. kind of.

4 nicer sweatshirts

1 sweater dress

1 sweatshirt dres

1 sweater knit maxi skirt

31 sweaters + sweater-esque items in Annie's closet

At times, 31 sweaters feels to me to be a bit much. Other times, I long for more - more textures, more colors, more chunky knits or drapey cardigans or longer pullovers to wear with leggings. In the last few years, I have gotten rid of many sweaters. And I've added a few in, as well. Some are nicer sweaters from J. Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and others came from a variety of places like Target, WalMart, or fast fashion chains. Consider me a high/low fashion mixologist...

The Sweater Saga is to be continued...

striped sweatshirt: Old Navy

scarf: c/o Aéropostale

pants: c/o Aéropostale

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

pea coat: Old Navy