Road Jes Traveled

Amy Cornwell! Amy Cornwell  is a jewelry designer that I first found on Instagram (@amycornwell). She is so inspiring. Her blog  has taught me so much and given me so much encouragement about life, business, and personal goals. I'm always amazed at her positive outlook on life and the joy that clearly shows through her products. Amy started making jewelry in the '90s during high school to save up money for spring break. Once she realized her passion for the creative design of jewelry, she started her business and the rest is history! Most of her jewelry has a southern feel to it (which is probably why I love it so much) and slightly resembles every Texas-girl's favorite,  James Avery . Here are some of my favorite Amy Cornwell designs: True Love Ring (includes custom engraving. one of her most popular designs!): $27.50 You Are The Key: $40 Skeleton Key in sterling silver (one of her newest designs) : $27.50 As of June 2011, Amy is running Amy Corn

Charity by Design is a beautiful jewelry collection from  Alex and Ani . They work closely with different charities and organizations to create unique pieces of jewelry that represent the message that each wants to get across. Each piece has a different meaning, purpose, and a slightly different look from the rest. I love that their designs are simple, classy, and can be paired with almost any outfit. These bracelets are a perfect addition to my arm candy obsession! :) PLUS Alex and Ani is an eco-friendly business that uses recycled materials to create their products. Learn more about these priceless pieces and shop at  AlexandAni.com .

I love it when I find local Hawaii shops that sell their products online. I always feel the need to share my finds with family and friends (on the mainland) but there's almost no point if the business doesn't sell online. Ginger 13  is a jewelry boutique started by Cindy Yokoyama and based out of Hawaii. I love them because although their pieces show off their unique Hawaiian origin, they will fit in anyone's wardrobe no matter where you are. I first learned of them from Lei Chic 's weekly e-letter (which I LOVE and look forward to every week!) where I read that Ginger 13 was having some kind of promotion. I don't remember what the exact promotion was but I'm all over sales. Even if it's a small 10% off, it makes me feel less guilty about my shopping addiction. I was so pleased with my first Ginger 13 order and have been a supporter of them ever since. Their pieces are so unique and best of all, they are really good quality. They just released their S

I like to remind myself of this. "Being realistic is the most commonly travelled road to mediocrity." - Will Smith  

I've recently discovered Wonderland Denim by Jess Shedlock. She creates "one of a kind hand dyed and distressed denim pieces and vintage gems". I'm dying to get my hands on one of her pieces! Shop her designs at her  Etsy shop  or visit  Bamboo Sky  who is now carrying Wonderland Denim in-store.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.- Nelson Mandela

How AMAZING is  this resume  by Michelle Magoffin? I need this.

How cute are these bracelets that my friend  Tarole  has?? They're Pura Vida bracelets. Pura Vida means "pure life" in Spanish. Simple and cute. These bracelets are entirely handmade in Costa Rica, helping employ local artisans there. Additionally, Pura Vida is part of "One Percent for the Planet" and donates 1% of proceeds to the Surfrider Foundation. Shop for bracelets and find out how you can get involved at  puravidabracelets.com .

I love the name Jessica. What I don't love is that I share it with a good chunk of the United States. Or world. Let's add my middle name into the mix. Marie. Really? To make matters worse, 3 of my closest friends have the most unique names ever. Stella Tatiana, Suzanne Gatlin, Charlotte Diane.. Diane isn't too unique but how many people can say they know a Charlotte?? I think most Jessica's will tell you that they've spent a lot of their lives answering the question: "Jessica who?" or "Which Jessica is this?" Of course these are via text or internet. Luckily, I've never met a Jessica who looks and sounds like me too. And then there's the "What's your last name? I need to put it in my phone because I have 3 other Jessica's in here." I'm grateful for this one because I'd rather be Jessica T than "Jessica- bar" or "Jessica- Hawaii" or the dreaded "Jessica- DO NOT ANSWER" (I

I've recently become a bit obsessed with TOMS, their products, their mission, and their service. My collection has grown to 8 and I still want more. Check out some of my collection below and also the sweet sweet note that was included in one of my orders. Love them. Find out more  here  and get your TOMS  here .

Maya Brenner is known for her timeless classics that everyone, including celebrities, seem to love. I keep coming across her name and her jewelry. I think it's about time that I owned one of her pieces. I've been obsessing over this necklace for a while. It was love at first sight. "Texas" in 14k Gold by Maya Brenner: $275  I like these too. "Africa" in Sterling Silver by Maya Brenner: $140 "Seven Seas" Necklace by Maya Brenner: $88 "The Grace Bracelet" by Maya Brenner: $88 "Diamond in the Rough Disc" by Maya Brenner: $380 Check out more of her work at  mayabrenner.com .

I love being girly but I suck at most girly things. I suck at shopping because I'm so indecisive. I suck at hair which is why you'll always see me with my hair down (I don't even own a blow dryer) and I've had the same hairstyle and color for the majority of my life. I suck at beauty/ makeup... I wear very little makeup and use very little (if any) products mostly because I have know idea what to use. The problem isn't that I'm picky.. It's that I love everything! Which means I just end up with a bunch of crap. I usually end up buying things that are in a pretty bottle. SO since I'll be 25 this year (yuck), I thought it would be appropriate for me to attempt to treat my body like a grown-up would. You know..with wrinkle cream, moisturizers.. Ok, maybe not the wrinkle cream yet, but you get what I mean, right? I'm not going to look like this forever so I need to at least attempt to take care of myself! So how do I go about this? I didn't even

If you don't know, now you know.

I'm obsessing over this line of jewelry. Most people know that Uganda has a special place in my heart. I went on a mission trip there that completely changed my life. Knowing that these purchases help the people there make me want to buy this stuff even more. Here are some of the things I've already purchased from them: Wind Spark: $30 Puddle Wrap: $24 Daphne: $10 I WANT: Gypsy: $46 Find out more here:  Priceless Threads: Bits of Uganda : and SHOP at their online store  31bits.com .

Today has been dubbed Galentine's Day. So, rightfully, this post is about my gals. For those of you who don't know what Galentine's Day is, it's a day that you celebrate your "gals". It was originally created by Amy Poheller's character, Leslie Knope, in an  episode  of  Parks and Recreation . Of course, this makes me miss my girlfriends more than I already do. Don't get me wrong, I love the friends that I've made here (making friends here is incredibly difficult btw) but nothing can replace my girls from back home. I love how I have such a diverse group of friends. Want someone to talk some sense into me? Call Suzanna. Want someone to listen to me cry and support me even if I'm being dumb? Call Stell. Want anything relating to style or my career? Call Em. Wanna talk about married life or puppy problems? Call Char. And who do I call if I get (or want to) into trouble? Well, Steph, of course. Have an embarrassing story to tell? Call al

Annie O. Boutique collaborates with women in remote communities in Peru who have been victims of domestic violence to create vibrant one-of-a-kind accessories. Each design captures the lively culture of Peru. The boutique uses local materials and artisans which truly keeps their products unique. Check out these colors! Margarita Embroidered Clutch: $105 Embroidered Floral Peruvian Belts: $68 each Horn Cuffs: $30 - $36 Designer and founder, Annie O. Waterman, believes in empowering women. With the start of her business, she has been able to provide an income, financial stability, and safe environment for women in Peru. I'm all for women helping women! Check out more of these bright designs at  annieoboutique.com .

Ok. I have a giant weak spot for sweets. I came across this recipe on Chrissy Teigen's blog:  SO DELUSHIOUS . I literally started making it about 30 minutes after I read about it. She's right.. it's super addictive, super delicious, super dangerous, and thinking about it kinda makes me want to throw up. I CAN'T STOP EATING IT. Since I've had many requests for the recipe since releasing this photo (and rightfully so...I mean look at it!), here it is!! CAKE BATTER POPCORN (aka Birthday Cake Popcorn) 1 bag of popcorn, popped (I used white popcorn, lightly buttered) 8 ounces of white chocolate, melted 4 heaping teaspoons of yellow cake mix (or Funfetti!! which I recommend) Mini M&Ms (optional) Assorted sprinkles Pop popcorn. Place in a large bowl after removing kernels and any burnt pieces. Mix in mini M&Ms. Melt white chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Stir in cake mix until sm

Hello. My name is Jessica Marie Taylor (= JMT = jay + emm + tee = jayemmtee.... get it?). I'm a Texas girl living on a crazy little island called Oahu. I live with my incredibly sexy husband, Jared, and our adorable (seriously, he's freaking cute but I guess I'm biased...) pup, Duke.We've lived here for roughly 2 years now and are learning to call it home. My Twitter  profile says "PR & Marketing. Foodie. Traveler. Networkoholic. Media Junkie. Photo Addict. Football Fanatic. Lover of all things Texas." ... which I think describes me pretty well. I make my living doing PR & Marketing. I've found that a lot of people don't really know what that means. Now that I think about it, I don't think the majority of my friends and family even know what I do. Simply put, I manage the flow of information between a business and the public. I'm a STICKLER when it comes to grammar and spelling. PLEASE tell me if you EVER see something that needs

Founded in 2008, Kayu is based on 3 concepts: using eco-friendly materials to create their products, engaging designers of various countries to promote international and cultural business, and giving back to the community. For every pair of sunglasses purchased, a 2% donation is made towards funding vision-repairing surgeries in India. (Donations made through  Unite For Sight ) Cebu Wood Sunglasses: $184 For every handbag sold, a 2% donation is made towards the funding of school supplies in Cambodia. (Donations made through  Awareness Cambodia ) Wren Shell Clutch: $569 Rachel Straw Clutch: $155 Find out more at:  www.kayudesign.com  and visit their blog at  kayudesign.blogspot.com

"Just as one values the beauty of a print, Give Prints values the beauty of lives changed." Professional photographers and charities from around the globe have come together to form  Give Prints . The process is simple. Buy a photograph, select a charity, done! 50% of the cost of your purchase goes to one of their partner charities. Here are some of my favorite photographs from their online shop: "Thread" by Samantha May: Starting at $25 "US Open Wall" by Ryan Longnecker: Starting at $25 "Red Door" by Kara Marnell: Starting at $25 "Peace" by Jenn Gibello: Starting at $25 Each photo is available in a variety of sizes. View their selections and learn more at  www.giveprints.com .