Independence

A little back story of becoming an Independent Designer for Origami Owl.

I had just been divorced from my husband of five years and needed to find my independence, to find out who Jessica was after going through what I had endured from an insecure man.  I needed to learn that I am not an extension of someone else, that I can do things; like go out with my friends, spend money on myself, or just be at home without feeling guilty of anything.

I spent $149 of babysitting money to get started and guess what I have now? 

My independence, people I can call friends, goals to reach and grab, and to teach my boys that nothing is given to you. You must work for it.

I have been to three conventions on my own with this company. The Origami Owl conventions have always opened up my mind, heart, and soul to see my bigger picture. The BIGGER picture!

So, I ask you today, what would you do with an extra stream of income?

Have you every wondered what it would be like to have time and money for the little extracurricular activities that you, yourself would enjoy to do but are unable to because you're living paycheck to paycheck?

Investing $99 into owning your own business could be the best thing you ever do for yourself or your family.  You can join here.

First Born - Connor Boy

Connor Boy

You are my first born son.  The one I wanted because I wanted to start a family. 

At first I fumbled around, I'm still fumbling around because you are always growing and need to be taught how to be an independent, self sustaining, human being one day without me. 

At six months old you were already too smart for your own good.  You knew what you wanted and you got it. You went after it.

You started walking just as you were turning a year old. That year went by so fast, I couldn't catch my breathe.  We celebrated you on your birthday and had so much fun.

Fast forward to now, already eleven years old, I worry about stuff that I shouldn't be worrying about until you're much older.  I still worry about because you are my child! I worry about whether you will choose to do the right thing versus the wrong thing. I worry that one day you'll choose your dad over me. 

I'm happy to say that I am proud of you for making the choice to finish cub scouts and to continue with Boy Scouts. You will achieve Eagle Scout, I believe in you! 

Origami Owl Spring Reveal Day 1

I love these #charmojis! Charm emojis!

These are just a small taste of the spring collection! Tomorrow is day 2 of the reveal. I can't wait to see more of the collection and share it with you. 

Little Leo

Leo is a mixed breed pup. I was told that he was an American Eskimo Spitz/spaniel mix but as he has gotten older  and I've seen a few English Setters, Leo is looking a lot like the English Setter breed.

Last year was a bit rough, although Leo is an easy dog to train, he had to live with a friend, Alicia, who was glad to help me until I was able to find a place that would allow pets to live with the tenants.  He enjoyed the pup he played with but I knew he missed me. Nala was a great friend for him.

I take Leo to the dog park because at my apartment complex there isn't an area for the dogs to run around outside. They have to be on a leash. Leo loves the dog park. He'll run and run and run and never seem to run out of steam until I tell him it's time to go.

Once we get back in the car and moving, he falls asleep right a way.

2016 New Year New Adventures!

I graduate from Full Sail University with my Bachelors degree last March! I took myself and my kids down there for a few days. We had a blast. They didn't want to leave Daytona Beach. I am making it a goal of mine to make it back down there again at some point! 

Connor turned 10, James turned 9, then I turned 31. Last year wasn't very exciting other than us going to Florida and my business trip top Chicago in July.  

Halloween came and gone, Thanksgiving too.

Then it was Christmas. Boys had a blast. They enjoyed they're gifts. Our new puppy, Leo is doing wonderful. He's always by my side. He doesn't like when I leave him alone. Leo is an easy going pup. I hardly have issues with him. He listens to me and knows when I'm disappointed in his behavior.

My life as a single mother has it's challenges but I wouldn't be the person I am today without overcoming those challenges. One of those challenges was finally realizing the people I want, not only in my life but my children's lives as well.

I have a new job at Panera Bread. Today was my fourth day. It is different than McDonald's and Papa John's. There are more ingredients to remember what goes on what sandwich and which salad. There's also remembering the different types of breads that are baked. 

I am still an Independent Designer with Origami Owl. My three  year anniversary is this year, I'm excited. 2016 is THE year to join Origami Owl! So much has changed and the 2017 incentive trip is amazing!

My Pepper Girl had to be put down just recently. That was difficult.

I'm not sure how often I'll post but I'll slowly get back into the swing of blogging again. I like to write and have gotten a lot better.

It is now time for me to climb my happy butt into bed. Goodnight.

Lindsey Stirling

Origami Owl - My New Business Adventure

It has been a long time since I've written for this blog.  A lot has happened, good, bad, ugly, and happy, but more of all that later in another entry.

Today, I want to share with you something that I've recently begun.  I have become an Independent Designer for a company called Origami Owl.  This company was started by a teenager when she was just 14-years old.  Now, she is 16 and has accomplished more than most.  Yes, I have accomplished a lot but nothing like her and I'm 29-years old.

Different people lead different lives.

So on to share my business.

Again, the company is called Origami Owl.  You have stories to tell, we share them through living lockets®.

I started in Septemeber.  I'm still new.  Though I feel pretty good about it. I have four parties going, three are online/catalog parties and the fourth is an in-home party.  We also don't call them parties.  We call them Jewelry Bars.  I love that because when you say bar one thinks drinks, right? Not here.

The black locket with the family plate, microphone, lips–The Nest sent me those once I became a Designer–the red heart, half of the best friends heart, and gems–more known as birthstones or accent stones–is the one I ordered as a customer.  After becoming a Designer and recieving my kit, I was able to create a few other lockets for either myself or to show off what and how many combinations one can have.

My boys, Connor and James, created lockets of their of own to wear for a little bit.  They loved wearing them.

                                       

                                       

If you are interested in ordering you, can do so through my Jewelry Bar.  You can also book YOUR Jewelry Bar through me. 

If you just want to browse, you can do that at Jess Inspiring KY.  Enjoy. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions.  You can contact me at justicej984@yahoo.com. 

You can also find me on Facebook at Origami Owl - Jessica Justice Independent Designer #46026.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Christmas Is Upon Us

Are you ready?

I sure am.  The kids’ presents all wrapped and tagged from Santa, yes they are still young enough to believe.  Heck, I still believe. 

My seven year old, Connor had asked me about Santa, all I told him was “As long as you believe in him, Santa is always going to be there.”  Hopefully the kids at his school aren’t mean to him about it. 

I had taken them to get Santa pictures and they both know that our Santa here is their Papa, which they have been told that he is helping Santa.  That it’s a lot of work to get all the little boys and girls names and their favorite things to put under the decorated tree in their house.

Believing is always half the battle when wanting something.  I believe I will pass all of my classes this year at Full Sail University, so far I am. 

Our tree is decorated in blue, white and silver, my dad’s, Gampy’s favorite color.  It is very pretty and he likes it.

The Christmas candy mom always makes this time of year has been made and passed out.  I was able to send some to my best friend that lives in Oklahoma.  My favorite treat is the Oreo Truffles.  The recipe I will post on my cooking blog, here.

The kids get out of school on the 19^th of December and go back to school on the 2^nd of January.

The accomplished feeling is a wonderful feeling to have to one has completely a task such as buying and wrapping all gifts with enough time to enjoy the Christmas break with ones children or family and friends.

I hope you are ready and enjoying your special time with those special people.  Until next post Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Novemeber 2012

Boys had fun at the Burgoo Festival.  It's a celebration in our town that symbolizes the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall in September.  Vendors come from all over selling their craft or food.  A lof of folks make what they call a Burgoo Stew.  Each recipe is different but the one I tried this year was very spicy.

Halloween Costumes!!

Yoda, James Be!

Stormtrooper - Connor

Fight!

Old Yoda

Fighting for the greater good.

Halloween was a great success.  I even dressed up as Padme.  The boys had heaps of sweet goodness loot.  I honestly surprised that it is almost gone with some help from myself and other family and friends. HAHA!

In other news:

 I'm doing really well in school.  All A's!  I'm in a marketing class this month.  I'm not particulary fond of reading but I do my best to comprehend the information.  I have four classes left for my first year at Full Sail.  

It is honestly amazing how much I see the name of my school in so many publications such as GameStop Magazine or Rolling Stones Magazine.  Full Sail sure is on the up and up in Entertainment.

Josh and I are still together, it was five months on the 16th, will be six on December 16th.  I'm happy with the way things are moving.  He trusts me, I trust him.  He works, I work.  He has his friends, I have mine.  We talk about everything.  

Sometimes my head does a little too much thinking but I can't help that part.  It thinks because it wants to guard my most sensitive piece, my heart, my feelings.  Most of the time I've notice it starts thinking too much around the time Aunt Flow wants to interrupt things. I don't know why, could be the birth control effects or it could just be the mini person inside that looks at the negatives.

I try my best to stay positive and it helps that I have people that want to hear what I have to say when things I feel are not right with me.  I'm glad those people are in my life.

Football season is over.  The Falcons did a great job playing and learning all that they could.  We should be having a banquet soon.  I'll find out next year if the boys want to play again.

School for the boys is going well.  Grades are good even though they aren't labelled as A's, B's or C's which I find simply annoying.  I guess it changes when they get older. I don't know.

Thanksgiving was wonderful!! I hope everyone had a fun time with their families.

Christmas will be here soon.  My shopping is complete, all gifts have been wrapped.  Though I do want to get something for my lovely, compassionate boyfriend, just not sure what.  So I'll be searching high and low for that special something for him until I just can't look anymore!

One month left in 2012! It sure has been a curvy year.  Next year will be even better, I feel it in me bones, matey!!

Scotch Magic One Handed Dispenser

First off this dispenser is a snail by shape in default.  It’s kind of cute for a tape dispenser but it is called Scotch Magic One-Handed Dispenser.  I like to call it my little snail.

It has all nice qualities one would want for wrapping gifts at the holiday season or even for birthdays.  It’s small so it can fit into the palm of your hand.  I have used this little snail numerous in the past weeks while wrapping gifts for Christmas.

It is preloaded with a single roll of ¾ inch by 500 inches of tape.  It can be reloaded with ¾ inch Scotch® Magic™ Tape up to 1,000 inches long. It has a green button that you pull back to make the cutter jut out to cut the tape at the desired length one wants.

The only draw I have issues with is that the roller along with the flap the tape lays on is a surface that the tape sticks to.  Which can make it difficult to roll on a straight surface such as a gift box.

Here you can see it rolled up on the roller part of the dispenser.  It can be taken care of quickly but when you’re in a time crunch it can be very frustrating.  I was able to pull back on the green button to cut it so it gave me a little tape flap to pull it off the roller then I had this nice straight piece of sticky tape that I could still use.  Which, that aspect is pretty nice but when it feels like it’s going to happen every time one begins to roll it, it is very disheartening.

This is what it looks like when the tape is rolled on the roller.  That grey flap there is what the tape lays on when ready for action.  The tape does tend to stick to it.  Almost like you have to go slow with this little snail to make sure the start of the tape sticks to the surface you want it on.

This is what it looks like when one begins the adventure with the Snail, in other words Scotch Magic One Handed Dispenser.

If there were a way to make the roller and the tab the tape lays on a non-stick surface, this little doohickey would be GOLD!  I like it along with the many other products they offer such as The Pop Up Tape, The Shoe Dispensers in different colors for the shoe savvy person, or the Classic desktop dispenser in four different colors.

Scotch brand tape has been in my family for years.  I’ve tried others and they just don’t seem to do the job like Scotch does.

Adoption For Travie

Little Travis is up for getting his official family in October and they need your help.  Just a small donation of 5 or 10 dollars will help.  Here is a link to Travis' fund.  This little boy needs his family.

At four months old he was in the care of Melissa and Jennifer, he is now 3 and a half years old.  I think it's time they make it official and they can do that with your help.  Just click on the link above, read their story and make a small donation.

I've know Mel and Jen for a few years but only through online.  They are wonderful parents to this little boy.  Mel, Jen and I have a common interest in The Twilight Saga, we met through twitter first then landed Facebook.  I have enjoyed seeing pictures of Travis and would love to see more of him as he grows up.

So please go to here and make a donation.

Thank you

August 2012

School has started, the end of the first full week has come and will be gone this afternoon.  The boys are doing great so far.  Making new friends, spending time with old ones.

Football is going well.  GO TEAM FALCONS!! Connor was playing as center but this week they have had open positions again, now that the coaches have see the kids play and can place them better with their strengths.  James is falling in love with football.  I tell him to get mean and growl at the other guys.  It's too funny.

KickOff Weekend

Getting Ready!

Getting Mean and Tooting his own horn.

The Whole Team

Varsity, Junior Varsity, Peewee and Chearleaders

Practice Spiking

My Little Football Family!

There's practice tonight and a game tomorrow! I'm excited! I'm proud of my little men.

On to me! I'm doing pretty good.  Almost finished with my first class, this is the last week for it.  Just one project to finish and turn in on Sunday! One class every four weeks for eight months. That's how this online program works.  I'm still seeing Josh and liking him more everyday.

Two weeks from today I will be another year older!! WOW! At 15 you don't think you're gonna make 19. At 19 you don't think you're gonna make 21.  At 21 you don't think you're gonna make it past 25 but you do and the years just keep coming.  Different challenges bring better oppurtunities.

Each year something different presents itself and you make the choice to either take it head on or leave it alone.  This year I've taken a lot of things head on.  Learning to let go and forgive those that have hurt me takes time but I'm a hundred precent positive that I have done that.  I'm a better person for it.

The reasons why I know I'm over my ex hubsand are as follows; I'm no longer worried about him, I'm not concerned with his life anymore.  I'm not putting myself down. I don't feel like a zombie anymore.  He and I were not meant to be together.  He broke his promises that he stood before judge and God vowing to keep.  I did not.  I do not have to carry his burdens anymore.  I FEEL more ALIVE now than I ever did the five years I was married to him.  I have nothing to be jealous about because I am back in school like I set out to be.  I have family that love me.  I don't get manipulated anymore.  I felt as though I was blocked off from the outside world.  Not anymore!  I'm actually having fun being me!

My music helps me in so many ways. Listening to Pink, Katy Perry, Josh Turner, Blake Shelton, Brandy, and all others bring my spirits back from where they came from.  "Just as fast as I can, to the middle of nowhere" - Pink Just Like a Pill, Blow Me A Kiss.  Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera featuring Lil Kim - "No body can Hold us down" "Offended with what I have to say"and Josh Turner Time Is Love "I only get so many minutes, Don't wanna spend 'em all on the clock, In the time that we spent talkin', How many kisses have I lost?" Gloriana GoodNight and many more. Katy Perry - Wide Awake.  Adele - One And Only "You never know if you never try To forgive your past and simply be mine" Havana Brown featuring PitBull We Run The Night

These songs tell me that there is always hope, always love, always faith no matter what happens in your life.  You're still breathing, still waking up in the morning making it through the day able to come home breathing.  I'm thankful I have what I have. I wouldn't change it for anything.

This song says it all for me! Jennifer Lopez Dance Again So many songs that describe what people go through.  Every song has a meaning you just gotta listen.

July 2012

I am still alive, breathing loving my kids and family. I am stilll living with my parents, still babysitting. Connor has lost six teeth since last August. He turned seven last month. He is half as tall as I am. Gotta measure him and his brother this coming Sunday. Connor has also started playing football. The teams first practice was tonight and I'd have to say it went pretty well.

James is doing great. He wants to so badly do everything that Connor is doing. I feel for the little fellow but then with him being as small as he is I don't think I can handle both my boys getting hit and smashed on game days. At first James didn't want to to be signed up until he was at practice tonight. School starts in just a few weeks, James the kindergartener and Connor the second grader.

Man it feels like yesterday I was bringing them home from the hospital. Time sure does fly when your an adult, but seems so slow as a kid.

I am startin my own NEW adventure pretty soon. Music production program at Full Sail college. I have always had a passion for music , dance, and animals. Music being number so I am going after it. I am excited and nervous, excited because it is my journey and I am taking the reins back.

I have a special someone to thank for lighting a fire under my ass to live because of all the stress I have been under, especially since April. He does know that and I so very much appreciate him for doing that. I have more passion now than I have had in years. The fire was always there I just needed more wood to be placed on it to make it bigger. I really like this man.

Music Production!! Holy cow!! An exciting new journey I can't wait to get started. It is completely online and they will send me a laptop with all the hardware and software to be able to achieve my bachelors goal. A bachelors degree!! In something that I want to do I just hope I have fun learning a new skill, wait I want to enhance my music knowledge.

Well that's it for now. Oh I am officially divorced. I didn't celebrate nor did I cry about it. My new story has begun and I am excited to see where it takes me.

June 2012

School let out the end of May and summer has started.

Connor had art camp last week. He enjoyed making items out of clay.  We will get to see them in a few weeks.

My divorce will be finalized tomorrow by the judge.  Some say I should celebrate but I'm just not sure I should.  I know from clear eyes it wasn't a great relationship but it was my first and it lasted nine years from the time we started dating to the time he said he wanted a divorce.  April was our six year anniversary.

Our New Life

This will be typed in diary form until I have more to type.  I may do fictional posts here and there to help cope with what is going on in my life right now.

Sept. 16th -
With a new start to life comes a great new phone, new oppurtunities as long as I have my kids I will be ok. I am having help but it all hurts. I am getting stronger every day. Things will eventually start to look up. They just have to.  Kids are in school.  I am still babysitting though.  I hope to continue to babysit.

Nov. 15th -
Two months now living at my parents. It is still so new I still don't know what to feel.  My husband and I have been seperated since August.  Connor and I just finished the FIT program. 

I have a lot of support from family and friends near by along with family and friends far away. 

The boys are doing alright, though when Connor gets off his schedule he gets cranky and complains because he is tired.  James, on the other hand tends to mimick his brother.  School is going well for both of them.  Connor is a Tiger Cub and I still need to order his uniform. 

Some wonderful news this past weekend I gained a sister.  My brother got married on Saturday.  I am happy for them both but it is a bittersweet feeling.  The Bride was gorgeous as the rising sun.  The Groom was as handsome as the setting sun.  I had a wonderful time and so did my boys.

Under Construction

This site has moved from http://www.ruggratsx2.com/ to here nothingbutpurple.blogspot.com and is under heavy reconstruction.

Happy New Year 2011

In order of pictures.

Connor is into Ben10, GamGam got him a hoodie.





James is an AutoBots Fan. He loves Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

My first niece in-law. LOL My husbands brother had a baby ten months ago. She is adorable and I get to babysit her. I love having a girl at the house now.

Not many things are new as of now. Still without internet at my house. I'm still role playing Twilight on Twitter with a wonderful family TwiTwitter Coven. I received Just Dance for the Wii and have been loving it! I feel I get more of a work out with that than I do with the Wii Fit. Plus it is SO FUN!
The boys did pretty well. Santa brought them all kinds of toys and games for the Wii.
I'm hoping to get back into blogging at least once a week this year. As well as having one night a week for myself to go out and have fun with a few of my friends.

I wont be doing any giveaways though. I just don't have the time for it.

Life Without Internet

Three months since my last post. Crazy. Well things are good. Still breathing, eating, sleeping, taking care of my kids. I miss blogging on my own time. I love it but have found a new love, not to replace blogging, of course just to help with the brain keeping its wheels turning on creativity.

Connor is almost done with his second year of preschool. He is registered for Kindergarten and just a little over a month he'll be five years old. Time flies. It really does. He has grown so much learned so much. He can finally write his name lower case and upper case letters all by hiself. He also tries to write other words but asks for help which is fun to do with him.

James is doing well. Though he wants to go to school so bad with his brother. He will have to wait until next fall(2011)but I wont know for sure until the middle of May when I get his preschool screening results back. He apparently did well. When he came out he told me he wrote an "E" along with a few other letters. His face just lite up like lights on a Christmas tree. I feel bad that he has to wait. Stupid deadline. He has to be four before October first and well, his birthday is on the thirteenth.

Everything else is going well. I became an aunt at the end of February to a girl. I've been babysitting her the past three weeks and love it! She is such a cutie. James adores her so much he wants to hold her all the time, kisses her as well.

And on to that new love it is playing as characters from the Twilight Saga Series by Stephanie Meyers on Twitter. It's fun. It's inventive. Some really great stories have happened in their lives after Breaking Dawn;TwiTwitter.

I hope this was a good update for some if I still have readers. Thank you for sticking around. I am heading to bed.

Holy Moly!!

It's been quite awhile! It sucks not having my OWN internet but I do what I can when I can. So very sorry for not being there on everyones blog to comment. I've got my fingers crossed that we will soon be able to take care of that problem.


On to other news. Hubby got a new job Christmas week at Amazon, in their warehouse of course. He is still on third shift but likes not begining near all those chemicals from YKK, the button factory for jeans. If you are wearing jeans check the back side of the zipper if it has YKK it had gone throught his factory at some point. I enjoy the time we have together in the morning.


We had a good Christmas. Boys received a lot of goodies. We are doing well all the way around. I'm still babysitting. Hubby recently received his 401K funds and that has helped. We also decided to get a new tv Sony Bravia 46". It's AWESOME!! I enjoy it.


I've also found a NEW hobby called TwiTwitter. It is a role playing game of Twilight, starting in the year of 2009 after the events in the books. I really have fun with it. If you ever get a chance check it out. It is played on Twitter. You might fall in love with this RPG Coven.

That is all folks.

Dear Connor,

To my oldest, who is four years old and in his second year of preschool.  Such a tall kid at such a young age, 44 inches.  You did well with your shots.  You're good until you go into middle school, jr high.

                   You enjoy being out and about all the time, but with mommy babysitting that's hard to do when we have a car that doesn't have the room for three carseats in the back.  I wish we could get a van.

                     I love the way you talk to your brother sometimes it's funny. "You like it," is what I heard in your recent conversation with James.  You had just given him the Bob the Builder top for your guys apple juice drinks.

                     You have been very interested in art and pretend play lately.  You like to pretend you are the chef and mommy is the customer.  You had made me chicken and rice it was very delicious.  I hope you keep it up because it could lead to something big!!  Like Chef Ramsey from Hell's Kitchen!!

                      Once mommy gets a house that has a bigger kitchen we WILL spend most of our time cooking and baking all kinds of food.

                         I can't believe you will be 4.5 years old in December!  Going through photos from years past has been great.  Those days were great!  These present days though are still great and just different in their greatness.

Keep learning and keep amazing me Connor Boy.

I Love You,

Mommy