Carmel-by-the-Sea | Photo Diaries

Part one of our California vacation was spent in Malibu (click here to see). Part two was spent in Pebble Beach, but there are so many cute towns surrounding the area, that I'll start with Carmel-by-the-Sea...one of my favorite California spots...and one of the most picturesque towns in America. Cozy and dreamy--about 6 hours north of LA--2 hours south of San Francisco. It feels as though you step out of reality and into an English storybook...one that's inevitably full of talking animals that live in cottages and frolick along to Frank Sinatra all the day long. But seriously, if you've never visited, be sure it's at the top of your list!

On to the outfit! This wide-brim fedora is my absolute FAVORITE this summer (also talked about it here)! I'm shocked it's still in stock at $24.90. Perfect dusty pink color that matches everything (pretend it's a neutral and roll with it).

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Get the look...

Top: Forever 21 (wearing size small) | Kimono: Forever 21 (similar here) | Wide-Brim Fedora: Forever 21 | Flares: Similar (and here, but also here) | Shoes: Melissa Shoes (similar here) | Necklace: Kendra Scott (mine came in my Rocksbox set -- try a free month of unlimited designer jewelry with my code JESSICASHEPPARDXOXO) | Lipstick: Bite Beauty

^^Don't mind me, I'll just be here mesmerized by these succulents...

This post also features photos from my time in Carmel, if you wish to see more!

Much love xo

Jess

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May in Malibu | Photo Diaries

I grew up on the road with my parents...my mom started packing me along for the ride when I was six weeks old! I don't know how she did it...I see girls traveling with babes now and have an even greater admiration for her, and for them (shoutout #mombosses). Needless to say, travel has always been in the blood, but over the past year, you could say I've been "taking advantage of the season."  My best friend and I stayed in a treehouse, a train caboose, an Airstream trailer and a yurt--all within three months' time--just because. Even though I hope travel will always be part of my life, I realize there's no guarantee that every season will always make room for such adventure...so for now, I'm asking myself, "Why not?," checking bucket list items off my list and having lots of fun doing it.

This season of adventure technically began in Malibu in May 2015. I had just finished a major project with work (click here to check it out) and headed to LA for some vaca. I mentioned my best friend up above...meet Blaire (pictured on the right in above photo). She's the one who's riding shotgun. Our plan was to start in an Airstream trailer in Malibu, then spend a few days in the Hollywood Hills, followed by a splurge at Four Seasons Beverly Hills. Well, after a few days in the beloved airstream, we had fallen hard for Malibu. I did some rummaging around on the Internet and found there was a train caboose only a few miles away...and it was available for a few nights during our trip! On a whim, we cancelled our stay at the Four Seasons (SERIOUSLY? How could we?! I know, this explains just how how hard we fell for Malibu.). Telling you this story could unravel literally a series of blog posts with the best travel information, guides and photos! For now, you at least have some context for my Malibu love.

To deepen the love, our family decided to take a two week vacation this summer (one week in Malibu, one week in Pebble Beach). To block our schedules out for such a big block of time is seriously miraculous! I'm now a young single adult, and I'm truly cherishing the time I currently have with my parents...we all realize it won't last forever, so I guess you could say we're "taking advantage of the season." 😉 Our time in Malibu marked one year to the day of me being there for the first time. I guess there's just something special about May in Malibu.

Below are the photo diaries I've not yet shared from our trip! Pebble Beach coming sooooon.

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One of my favorite activities when traveling is hiking. Now I wouldn't call myself an "experienced hiker," but it's a fun way to take in the local views. Backbone Trail is an emormous hiking trail that's probably the most well known hiking in the Malibu area (it spans 68 miles long), but a lot of it is really woodsy. Charmlee Wilderness Park is my favorite hiking in the area because it's wide open spaces...the elevation is high, the views are mountains, valleys AND ocean (which in my opinion, is the recipe for the best hiking EVER). Parking is $4, so take some cash with you! Here's a few photos from our foggy day at Charmlee (and my athletic wear linked below, of course).

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^^Totally casual

I took part in my first ever style linkup while I was in Cali...thanks to my girls Laura and Erin for having me guest host! If you missed the post, click here (shopping links included).

X marks the spot that I fell in love with Malibu. ^^Pointe Dume proudly resides at the top of my "Malibu favorites" list!

^^Meet Kevin, the peacock pet that visited our cabin daily, guarded our gate and watched over the ocean, making our time in Malibu all the more unreal.

If you missed this style post from Malibu Farm, I'm talking brunch and blue hues! Click here to read.

Much love xo

Jess

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Brunch & Blue in Malibu

Hope y'all had a great weekend...I sure did! My family is in relaxation mode. We started off our vacation with a week in Malibu and we're now enjoying the likes of Pebble Beach. So many pictures to share!

I'm taking you back to Malibu to one of my fave lunch spots: "Malibu Farm." It's at the end of the pier...just perfect for your day by the waves! I personally feel like it's kind of a tourist trap, but a trap I happily fall into, nonetheless.

Seriously, how cute?! P.S. I saw Emma Stone there last year, sooooo NBD.

I love anything with a rose flavor or scent to it, so I've got all the heart eyes for this rose lemonade. 😍

This flowy white top is from Shein...you can get the same exact one here. It has that Free People vibe to it, but for a much friendlier price tag...$14.99! (I'm wearing a small.)

I found these shorts at Old Navy and would wear them every day of the summer if I could. I like the length, cause they're on the longer-than-normal side for shorts (ifyaknowwhatimean). High-waisted, stretchy and comfy, too. (They're on sale for $13.97!)

The layered necklace I'm wearing is from Rocksbox. Rocksbox offers designer jewelry with a monthly subscription, but they've kindly offered my friends a FREE month to give it a try!

Linking a few more gingham shorts and skirts here, cause they're just too fun.

And here's some platform sandals, similar to the ones I'm wearing!^^

Much love xo

Jess

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Strawberry Patch Kid | Part 2

If you missed the first post, check it out here. That'll explain how in the world I ended up on a farm! Once you're caught up on that, this photo diary will make more sense. 😏 Sharing the images I collected from my time at Underwood Family Farms! This was such a fun place to experience...enjoy!

These bees were creepy crawling all around...egghhhhh, gave me the heebee-geebees just watching them squirm and bzz around!

Soooo on Snapchat (👻 'juslikejess'), I totally called these guys llamas, then saw the sign that they're actually alpalcas. Whatever they were, they were fabulous. 😉

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She knows how to pick'em...my produce companion! ^^

That about wraps it up! ^^

Much love xo

Jess

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Strawberry Patch Kid | Part 1

Get the look...

Shirt: Contemporary Denim Shift Dress | Hat: Wide-Brim Fedora | Bandana: Lips: Liner, Lipstick

Shop the look...

As surprising as it may be, I didn't plan this outfit around the fact that I'd be on the farm...in fact, I had no idea we'd end up even remotely close to one later that day.

Dad was playing golf, so Mom and I found ourselves with a few spare hours in Moorpark, Cali. We'd never visited, so I jumped on Instagram and Trip Advisor for a quick scan of the land. Underwood Family Farms turned out to be one of the most popular "things to do" in Moorpark. Huh, why not? Mom and I headed to the farm which was clearly a hot spot for school groups, birthday parties and families who simply enjoy picking their own produce.

I'll have to do a photo diaries post (updated: click here for Strawberry Patch Kid - Part 2!). so the goats don't feel left out, but for now, the spotlight is on this not-so-planned strawberry patch kid. Too perfect not to snap some pics!

With love,

Jessica

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Denim in Dumbo

I could hear the ice cream truck go by while the kids were playing in the street today and guess who didn't even make it out of the house to enjoy?! This girl. All complaining aside, today was my "day off," which I'm very grateful for. It was a great day to check off my to-do list at home! Lots buzzing around, but I made time to collect this denim look from NYC, including my favorite denim jacket and my favorite jeans!

Get the look...

Denim jacket: Waven Hanna Crop Denim Jacket with Raw Edge Detail | Top: Daisy Print Babydoll Dress (couldn't find my exact one, so this one is similar!) | Jeans: Mid-Rise Rockstar Jeggings | Shoes: Apollo Rain Shoes | Lips: Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint | Nails: Big Apple Red

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Waven Hanna Crop Denim Jacket with Raw Edge Detail

I guess we should start out with a big YES, denim jackets are in. Someone actually asked me a few weeks ago, so consider this *permission granted!* In fact, they're not just in, they're highly encouraged and make a great staple in the spring wardrobe. I'm pretty obsessed with this cropped one...might in fact wear it too much this season. It's been great for traveling, since I generally always need to have a light jacket with me! Drop waist tops suits it really nicely with the cut of the crop, so I paired it with my daisy print drop waist.

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Mid-Rise Rockstar Jeggings

How hard is it to find the perfect jeans? It feels nearly impossible sometimes! These black jeggings fit like a glove...can that even be said of pants? I don't know, that might be weird. But seriously, I have maaaaybe 6 pairs and I wish Old Navy made them in every color (I actually might write a letter). My mom wears them too, so they get passed back and forth between our closets. They don't have a zipper...just a stretchy elastic fit. They pass dressy or casual, so that means I wear them every day. Oh, and they're $30. Need I say more? Thanks to my girl Tia for the initial discovery a few years ago...now I tell everyone I know about them!

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These rain shoes are everything. I won't gush over them, cause I already did in this post.

Apollo Rain Shoes

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This is my most moisturizing lip tint. I love it because it layers up really well...if I don't want a very intense color from it, I can wear it almost as a tinted lip balm, or I can lather it up for a deep burgundy. L O V E.

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint

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O.P.I. Big Apple Red

This is my nail polish red MVP!!! Or, should I say MVR? It's called "Big Apple Red," which I thought was rather appropriate.

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Shop the look...

Dumbo was one of the neighborhoods I really wanted to visit while in New York...I've always seen this street view of the Manhattan Bridge and thought it was more than picturesque!

With love xo

Jess

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NYC | Photo Diaries 2

Excited to share my 2nd and final photo diary from NYC, featuring our bike rides through Central Park. 😍 Enjoy!

If the travel bug is on your back (me! 🙋), I've got an inspiration board full of treats, just for you. Hopefully these goodies will temporarily satisfy your adventure craving. Enjoy!

Much love xo

Jess

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NYC | Photo Diaries 1

Even the birds line up for afternoon tea at The Plaza (😂) ^^

^^ St. Patrick's Cathedral

^^ Part of ESPO's "Love Letters to Brooklyn," on Hoyt St. between Rivington and Fulton.

Cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden ^^

^^ The Flatiron Building has been living on my NYC bucketlist, as I've always seen photos of it and thought it'd be such an interesting building to see in person. Sitting on a corner close to Madison Square Park, this block is worth a stop!

While driving over the Manhattan Bridge (first photo above), we looked to our right to find none other than the Statue of Liberty (second photo above)! Squint your eyes and tilt your head...maybe you'll spot her too. :) We were on the move in our Uber and I grabbed the shot out of the backseat window...even though it's quite an obstructed view, there's something I quite like about this image!

Pizza at Julianna's (👍👍), then we enjoyed sunset down at the pier...absolutely stunning view (pictured above)! Burned off some dinner calories taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge by city night light.

More photos to come, I'm sure! 😏 Until then, much love xo

Jess 

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A to Z Photo Diaries: Scottsdale 16

I've been loading up this season of my life with *why not* experiences -- you know, like going to Scottsdale for the weekend just because. I love love love LOVE dreaming up trips and putting plans to action. My best friend, Blaire, has been calling shotgun and giving me turn-by-turn directions. We're collecting the best memories. So, our most recent adventure: from A to Z, the photo diaries from Scottsdale 16!

OLD TOWN RUNAROUNDS >>

FOUR SEASONS TROON NORTH >>

Enjoyed dinner on the patio at sunset in 75° weather at PROOF, one of the Four Seasons Troon North restaurants..literally my dream come true. What. A. Stunner

^^ This might be my favorite photo from our entire trip. After dinner at the Four Seasons, we were headed home with this view ahead of us. Sun behind the mountains, dark cacti outlines, and stars in the sky...breaaaaathtaking! We pulled onto the shoulder for me to grab this shot. I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO HAVE IT PRINTED. 😁

^^ Our front yard flower garden 😂 (I couldn't pick just one 😁)

^^ Our backyard glory

^^ Our neighborhood transportation

Much love xo

Jess

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