Happy Monday, friends! And happy 2019! I just realized I didn’t even acknowledged the fact that we were kicking off the start of a new year when I hit publish on my letter from Jess late last week. I want to say thank you all so much for your heartfelt emails, comments, texts, DMs, snaps, everything. I had a bit of an emotional hangover, which is nothing like an actual hangover, but sharing that post with you guys really cleared up some mental space for me and I feel lighter for it.

I’ll admit, I was struggling to figure out how to come back from something so personal. Like, how do I go back to sharing my outfits and the seemingly frivolous things in life after something like that? But that’s what I love about this space, we can do both. I can’t say enough good things about this plaid coat. It’s definitely not heavy by any means, but it was perfect for the weather we had here in Chicago this weekend (it was in the 50s!) and I know I’ll get a lot more wear out of it when we transition to spring. It’s no big secret I love an all black ensemble and this cozy turtleneck sweater was a welcomed addition to my closet. My favorite over-the-knee boots are still on heavy rotation (worth every penny), along with these black jeans I wear every other day – both make getting dressed really easy! And I like easy.
I thought it would be fun to put together a little list of things you probably don’t know about me. Feel free to share something quirky about yourself down in the comments!

• My (late) great-great-grandma, (late) great-grandma, grandma, mom, and I are all exactly 20 years apart. I hated to break the chain 😉 . We were all alive at the same time when I was born, which is something special!
• I don’t brush my hair (unless I’m combing through my wet strands when I hop out of the shower, but even this is rare).
• I have a scar in the corner of my left eye socket from the chickenpox (my sister Jordan and I got them at the same time!) and people always try to “wipe” it off as makeup doesn’t cover it well.
• I also have a scar in my elbow crease of my right arm from jumping (albeit, very unsuccessfully) over the fence for a late night swim with a group of friends in college. Not one of my brightest shining moments. And one on my forehead.
• My full name is Jessica Shelby Zimlich and while most people just call me Jess, I have a slew of nicknames thanks to my family and friends. I think this weird little list covers all of them: Shaash, Hov, Jay-Z, Jessiface, Jizzica, Jessy Jess, Jessie Pie, Jessie Spano, and last, but not least, just J.
• I don’t own a “regular” bra. I started embracing my small boob privilege a few years ago and never looked back.
• I’m a naturally fast walker. You know, places to go, people to see.
• I grew up playing golf and played on my high school team all four years. My dad and stepmom actually got married on the 18th green of the course my dad was the golf pro at!
• I hate being startled (does anyone, really?) and living in Chicago I deal with incessant honking and crazy birds which both do that to me!
• One of my guilty pleasures is lottery scratch tickets. I’ve never purchased a powerball ticket  though (I have a real fear of winning that much money), but every few months I’ll buy $20 worth of $1 scratchers and see how long I can make them last.
• I used to be a Dr. Pepper fiend, but haven’t had a pop in years!
• Up until this summer, I had never tried steak. I took one gross, chewy bite and confirmed I haven’t been missing anything.
• I haven’t owned a TV in over two years and the only show I’ve watched (on  my laptop) since then was Master of None through my parents’ Netflix account. You can imagine how things go on dating apps when guys wanna talk shows.

Alright, your turn!

SHOP THE POST:J. Crew Plaid Topcoat (still available in a few petite sizes here) // J. Crew Turtleneck Sweater // Madewell High Rise Jeans (more options here) // Stuart Weitzman Boots // Monica Vinader Bracelet // Sugar Lip Balm in “Punch”

Photos by Maya McDonald