GD News

I'm really excited about some very recent finds that will make some very old ideas possible at Goya Designs (GD for short).  The first awesome find resulted in contracting the New GD model.  GD's first two models weren't  interested in the job anymore because it also required staying still during the jewelry design and jewelry making process.  Anyhow, the new GD model works for nothing and she is  super easy to get along with.   The new model doesn't complain about a long photo shoot (which we already experienced in order to create this blog) nor does she mind being still as I play around with necklace designs and bead placement.    In fact she already kept very still and had a very pleasant attitude as I worked on upgrading my "Up Scale Hippy" necklace for my sister.  Well, without further ado let me introduce the new GD Girl with what I hope will be a very long contract.

Pretend you hear a nice long drum roll........................and Ta Da!

Gigi

Gigi is the strong silent type :)   

In all honesty my daughter and I love Gigi, she has relieved us from having to stand there as I complete a design and later on to model the final product.  Completing this necklace for my sister was so much easier with Gigi's help.  I also love her tan :)  

I will let you all in about my other super sweet find later.

 

OM! Farrah and Michael Gone on the Same Day

I'm not about making this blog about pop culture or gossip.  I just had to comment on the deaths of both Farrah Fawcet and Michael Jackson.  They were both such a big part of my growing up and their deaths are a real shock to the system.

I remember believing women could be beautiful, smart, stylish, have awesome hair, and kick some bad guy butt thanks to Farrah and the rest of Charlie's Angels.  LOL!  I remember playing Charlie's Angels with my sisters.  Good times:)

Thriller was the most intense video I ever remember watching back in the '80's.  Of course, Michael kept trying to outdo himself and he did.  What a tough job that must have been.  I remember (liked) the single glove, leather jacket and moon walk (never really good at it though, but my little bro popped, moon walked... the whole thing).  

Happy memories of my childhood and teen years.  

Father's Day & Recycled Jewelry

Now that my kids are done with school, I haven't had much time to blog.

I feel the need to catch up, please indulge me for a bit.  Father's Day was interesting.

 My hubby got the idea to go on a bike ride (sounds normal so far) with the entire family (good, but more complicated) to a not so near restaurant (what? We'll be sweaty and it's far...whine, whine, ) where we treat him to a Father's day meal (yum, food), then climb uphill all the way back home on a full stomach (you lost my vote man!). But...It wasn't a democracy and It was Father's Day, so we all did it.  They all enjoyed poking fun at me as I struggled peddling uphill all the way home.  Is anyone else married to a spontaneous person?

Jewelry Time.  

My etsy shop is on vacation mode because my entire inventory is with my beloved sister.  She has been very gracious over the years to take my inventory to her fellow teachers and administrators to purchase my wares.  I hear it's doing fare :)  She also asked me to recycle the beads from a jewelry piece(not a Goya D) that had broken.  I recycle beads as often as I can, so I loved the idea.  She requested dangle earrings.  I enjoy naming my jewelry, so I named these.......

 Recycled Blue.  

If any of you have old jewelry that you're not crazy about, and want the beads recycled into a new piece, just convo me (etsy talk for having a conversation) with design ideas at Goya Designs.  Recycling is better for the environment, and you'll lower the cost of original jewelry you were involved in designing.  You can still convo me even though my shop in on vacation. 

New Addition to Our Family

After reading the book, Your Money Counts published for 

Crown Financial Ministries, I decided that I was going to 

start thinking and treating money the way God wants me to 

think of and treat money. This lead me to discuss with my 

honey the decision to make our next car be purchased with 

CASH ONLY. This would mean downsizing, no fancy 

extras, freedom from monthly payments, and saving 

thousands on the life of a loan.

Thanks to God's leading, trusting Him at His word, 

much prayer and the prayer of other prayer worriers, 

waiting, seeking (countless hours on the auto internet 

sites), and did I mention God's leading and prayer, 

He added this to our family.

It is not a perfect car, but it's in pretty good shape 

for it's age.  My honey has already been shopping 

around for parts to fix some cosmetic issues.  Most 

importantly, we learned that God does provide, He is 

true to His word, and we were blessed with a better 

car than I imagined we would end up with.

I hope you are inspired to read the book (Did you 

check out that sale price?  Great for the budget!) and 

begin the rewarding, trying, blessed journey to 

making decisions based upon what the Bible says 

about spending, saving, giving and being debt free.  

It seems like this economic crisis is the perfect 

catalyst for sound council as this.   

Alex's 8th Grade Promotion

Alex with his mama Lucy and papa Pablo (above).  

With his grandma, tia Mari and cousin Joey

Alex with his proud mom & dad

Friends since kindergarten.  That's friendship.  Mrs. P would be so proud of her former students who are still high achievers.  Both boys were on the Honor Roll.  

Alex actually earned a 4.0 all semesters during middle school, with the exception of one B+ last semester.  Ug!  Drats that B+ for ruining his perfect record.

Football practice begins Monday.  We'll see if he's smiling then.  Ah, let him enjoy his day and we'll let him get a rude awakening come Monday.

New Household Product

For those of your who know me, know me...well ya know I am a clean freak.  I try really hard to de-clutter, organize and keep a tidy home.  Flylady's routine helps me plan my cleaning routine.  If you are interested in being a flybaby and begin taking baby steps in de-cluttering and cleaning your home check out this link.

One of my sisters has also been a great inspiration in my organization efforts and keeping a tidy home.   She was the one that introduced me to Flylady and the All Purpose Cleaner (link here to view that blog and get recipe).  Now, I had a plan and a great cleaner for the kitchen, bathroom, furniture, tile floors and more.  Sounds like all the bases are covered, right?  Wrong!   One area of continued defeat happened in the laundry room.  My whites were not white.  Remember, I'm a clean freak, so this bothered me.

One afternoon as I tried to solve the problem of the dingy whites, I said,  "I wish I could wipe these all down with the all purpose cleaner."  Then the light bulb turned on and that wonderful "Aah Haa" moment occurred.  I already use Borax in my laundry, the laundry soap is the equivalent to the dish soap in the All Purpose Cleaner, the missing ingredient is Vinegar.  I've been adding white vinegar to my white loads and they have been coming out much brighter and whiter.  Just in case you are wondering if your clothes come out stinky, well......the answer is an enthusiastic "No!" Your detergent and softener remove all of the vinegary smell.  You just get whiter clothes.  

Since then, I have found another good use for vinegar.  Add 2 Tbs. to your freshly cut flowers along with 3 tsp. of sugar and your flowers will last longer.  Remember to keep them away from direct sunlight and the fresh air too.  

Vinegar, my new favorite household product.  I never woulda guessed.  

If you have other uses for my new favorite item, please comment about it.  I am all ears, as are the other rejoicing clean freaks.