Musings of Jessica Marie

Every person we come across, situation we face, and conversation we have adds to our repertoire of knowledge. Everything we do helps us to learn more about ourselves, the world we live in, and the people around us. It’s important to pay close attention to hopefully avoid repeating certain lessons multiple times. Trust and believe, if you don’t grasp a concept the first time, the powers that be - t...

When I was young, my parents taught me the basics of finances at an early age. We practiced balancing a checkbook, recording transactions, and even went over the good, and bad, sides of accruing interest. It was extremely important to them that I kept a good grasp on the money I spent to ensure it didn’t surpass the amount of money I had available. I never knew just how expensive life was until I...

Spring is right around the corner and with it comes the torrential storm of pollen, the constant sniffles, and the barrage of bees. The season is also filled with beautiful blooming flowers, longer and warmer days, and whispers of summertime to look forward to. Each year, more than 100 million people in the United States suffer from allergies caused by food, latex, pollen, seasonal changes, and pr...

Happy Black History Month! When we think of Jim Crow Laws, Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement, it’s sometimes easy to automatically assume it happened so long ago. However, when you really take a look at the dates, it’s astounding that most Black Americans fought for the freedoms we know today within the last 100 years. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on some of the protests dur...

Online gaming is a hobby enjoyed by millions around the world. Some fanatics enjoy consoles like PlayStation and Xbox while others prefer handheld systems like the Nintendo Switch or even something more powerful like a gaming PC. No matter what games and devices you’ve played, you have one man to thank for inventing the very first gaming console in 1976. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight...

The love of my life will be turning 26 tomorrow. It’ll be our sixth time celebrating his birthday together and I vividly remember each year. Pretty soon we’ll look up and realize we’re knocking on a decade of being together. It’s truly crazy how fast time flies when you’re having fun. Every year I want to do these cute, elaborate displays of affection and this is the year that I finally decided to...

January has been one of the coldest months ever. Off the top of my head, I don’t remember one month in particular having this much consistent arctic air in my lifetime. The lows have been brutal and the highs haven’t necessarily been any better. Of course, since I was always closer to Florida than Atlanta, I never really experienced true cold weather like I experience now.

When you decide to bring a dog into your life, the unspoken idea is that you’ll do everything in your power to give them the best life possible, within reason of course. That includes potentially paying for a knee surgery that costs thousands of dollars but drastically improves the quality of life for your pet.

Good entertainment is more than just fun distraction from reality. It’s engaging, informative, and a well rounded body of content. It can also open your mind to new ideas or even teach you something that you never learned in history class. While watching a recent YouTube video by Phillip Scott, I was prompted to do some research after he mentioned a historical event that I had never heard of befor...

A vacation doesn’t always have to include a plane ride to a warm tropical destination. It also doesn’t have to be centered around a jam packed itinerary filled to the brim with exploring, sightseeing, and activities. Sometimes, simply staying home is just enough to recharge your batteries.

With 2023 rapidly coming to an end, it’s hard to remember all the highs and lows of the year. As my husband and I prepare to welcome the blessings of 2024, it’s time to take a look back on all we’ve accomplished and experienced.

The holiday season in today’s day and time is usually filled with sparkling lights, warm cheer, beautifully wrapped presents, and multiple reasons to give thanks and be grateful. It’s a stark difference from the experiences our enslaved ancestors had to endure during this time of the year. Join me as we shine a Historical FBA Spotlight on Christmas.

Vlogmas is such an interesting time of the year to watch YouTube. There’s new daily vlogs from your favorite content creators and sometimes it’s extremely difficult to keep up with the hours upon hours of content flooding the platform. The vlogs typically have a different cadence from the content creator’s normal posting schedule to accommodate the seasonal festivities.

As the New Year rapidly approaches, December is always a popular time to start thinking about resolutions to change bad habits and set goals for the upcoming year. Some people jump into a strict fitness regimen while others buckle down from all the holiday spending to achieve some financial milestones.  Setting goals for the New Year doesn’t just stop on a personal level. Lots of business own...

Unofficially, Kris and I are on a tour to see as many NCAA stadiums and college towns as we can. We love seeing different schools when Georgia is playing a game, within reason of course. If it’s something short notice, anything under two hours of travel is doable; however, if we plan in advance, realistically any distance is feasible. We consider ourselves part of the Road Dawg community and have...

Thanksgiving is a time when families gather round the dinner table and reflect on the multitude of blessings experienced over the previous year. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the contributions Black Americans have made to the famous holiday.

Do you give your dog table scraps? Did you know there’s actually some healthy snacks you and your fur baby can both enjoy? Spoil your pup with love and some healthy dog-friendly human snacks that’ll keep them jumping for joy. Check out 5 of my dogs’ favorite snacks to chow down.

Learn all about Ida B. Wells in this Historical Spotlight!

Vacations are a great way to reset and clear your mind from the daily grind of work or your home life. Kris and I took a vacation last week and it was much needed. The last time I took time off and away from home was in March when we went to Chattanooga, Tennessee . Just like then, I was in dire need of a change of scenery.

The cost of owning a dog doesn’t just stop when you buy or adopt it. The fully loaded cost includes food, toys, bedding, medicines, vet appointments, grooming, and any other normal, recurrent expenditures that are consumed solely by the fur baby. Pet insurance, while optional, is part of Nala and Sasha’s monthly bills, because you never know when they may require a major medical expense. I’d much...

There are very specific situations under which college makes sense. The pros and cons must be carefully analyzed to ensure all the effort on assignments and money on tuition is actually worth it in the long run. Certain majors like communication studies, psychology, history, art, social work and others of the like are useless degrees that won’t really recoup an investment. Unfortunately, these deg...

I recently had my annual checkup appointment and it went so much better than my appointment last year! I usually get anxious while waiting at doctor’s offices , but this time I miraculously didn’t get the jitters. The new office was smaller than the big hospital I used to visit and seemingly had fewer patients waiting, but of course that might be because I chose the earliest morning appointment th...

Birthdays are a joyous occasion and typically include lots of fanfare. Some people dread turning older while others fully embrace their additional wisdom. Before my 26th birthday, I’d like to share 25 things that I’ve learned throughout my short lifetime.

While raising pets is nowhere near as difficult as raising children, it still brings a level of enjoyment and pride that is truly unmatched. Getting to see them grow from puppies into adolescent teenagers to fully grown and responsible family members is quite amazing. Nala and Sasha are officially entering their grown dog eras, and it’s been so cool to see their development over the last three yea...

The qualities to succeed in corporate America are the exact qualities that will keep a woman single and alone. The domineering, aggressive, and stubborn nature that women must use to be on level playing ground at a job just won’t work in a healthy marriage situation. At the end of the day, it’s in a man’s nature to lead his household and family. Most won’t put up with a particularly quarrelsome wo...