a birth story: my iphone

this past week i was having major issues with my cell phone.  wouldnt hold a charge to save its life.  to do anything on it - make calls, text, anything - i had to keep it on a charger.  by saturday, enough was enough.

i called sprint to find out what my options were.  replace the phone? only to get it in time to upgrade to a new phone? i dont think so.  after reviewing the account, the wonderful gentleman only the only side of the line, graciously bumped up my upgrade date to SATURDAY! yay! i had to give it a few hours for the account to update & then i was free to get what i had been wanting for some time now, but was not willing to break the bank for.. an IPHONE! 

seriously, i dont know why i have waited this long. its so amazing and wonderful!  i'm still waiting on my phone case, but have a temp on it for now.  husband got one also, but i believe he has a worse addiction than i do. should i name it? i'm deciding... it would definitely be female, because there is nothing masculine about my case thats come in. 

and with the "birth" of my new phone, came the birth of a few new accounts i have that i would all my friends to follow on..

instagram - @cheersbethani

still have:
twitter - @cheersbethani
pinterest - @cheersbethani


heres just a few of my favorite photos so far..

 

i think apple has created a monster.

friday fancies #5

hey everyone!  so today i have something fun and new!  {av} over at long distance loving partnered us up and we are swapping blogs.... so cathy and i swapping blogs & talking individual style... you can head to hers if you want to check out my post...

heres cathy!!!

Hi, Cheers, Bethani! readers! It’s Cathy from Fiscally Chic, where I blog about saving money with style (and cupcakes and nesting and other fun things). This week, {av} of Long Distance Loving paired me and Bethani for a Friday's Fancies swap. Friday's Fancies is all about dreaming big and being creative.

Bethani and I decided to share a little bit of our personal style as a way for you to get to know us better. Since I write about saving money and other personal finance things, I tend to make my outfits a mix of dreaming and reality.

Jess LC dotted paisley earrings, Loft metallic stripe sweater,
J. Crew paisley scarf, Gap tee and jeans, Hunter boots

I could see myself wearing this outfit to one of the many local microbreweries in Chicago since my husband and I love craft beer. We also homebrew and an IPA should be ready soon!

Since it's currently winter in Chicago, my outfits need to balance fashion and function. Colorful scarves are my favorite way to do both. The pop of color is a simple way to jazz up an otherwise boring winter outfit.

Hunter boots are another one of my winter must haves! Plus, these come in a happy magenta which is perfect because my favorite color is pink.

I have those Jess LC dotted paisley earrings in white and wear them all.the.time! These berry ones match the boots and scarf perfectly.

The rest of my outfit is filled with classics like the white T-shirt, jeans, and a striped cardigan. That way, I can create all sorts of outfits with one simple change in accessory or piece.

Thanks for having me, Bethani! Have a great weekend!

welcome to technology {g} family

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husband and i are taking the leap into 2012 by joining the technologically advanced world and getting iphones. big deal i know. i've been hounding husband for quite some time about how we need smart phones. seriously, neither of ours is close to being smart & i think his current cell phone qualifies for museum artifiact.

my contract is finally up next wednesday (thank the lord!) and am able to upgrade to a cool kid device. so wednesday we are hurrying ourselves over to the sprint store and getting us both an iphone. and if you know me at all, i already began looking at iphone cases..  i wanted an otterbox because im such a klutz. but they are not cool enough for me. and then i met society6. and found this. we fell instantly in love.. but i also love this one & this one & this one too.  and dont forget this one. but i ultimately settled on the one pictured. dont get me wrong, i will purchase those others at some point.

and as far as the phone itself goes, i cant wait to have it in my pretty little hands.  any apps you recommend getting??

other bits... heartsy went decently, pretty well actually. considering it was my first feature i think i did fantastically. now just lots of hours of preparing orders awaits me.  but i'm super excited to have my name out there to that many more people.

also, i've got a few things i'm going to "work" on when i have a little bit of additional time on weekends - if that exists.  a little bit of garland, a few more cut outs. and maps, lots of maps.  all this and a few more things.  i also want to head outside one day when its nice and reshoot alot of my items for better pictures..

i hope you are all having a terrific thursday!  

i didnt think it was monsoon season yet

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today is absolutely the best day for staying home and doing nothing. its perfect for staying in pajamas & eating big bowls of hot soup while catching up on the dvr. its snuggling weather. perfect for staying home and getting all my heartsy orders completed. theres still 67 vouchers available. 

instead im at work. i got drenched while pumping gas. squenched my eyes to drive to work, because my pour wipers just could not move fast enough.  and to add icing to the cake, almost managed to stall my car out in a swimming pool.  but i made it. 

hopefully the day chugs along quickly so i can hurry home to a dinner party for three. chicken parmasean & salad finished with a hot warm brownie.. all that while filling our minds with a new episode of criminal minds. we are addicts afterall.

here's to a "wet cat" kind of wednesday.

crushing: country french kitchens

making decisions about what we want in our future home has been quite a lengthy list, but husband knows exactly what i want when it comes to my kitchen.

country french and kitchens are my thing. they go perfectly together, hand in hand.  from the prestine white cabinets to the deep sinks, country french styled kitchens pack tons of charm and home goodness feel. i've had my eye on a couple kitchens that i would like, so when the time comes, i will definitely be ready to get "my kitchen."

whats your kitchen style?  does your kitchen have a particular theme??

its a heartsy kind of life



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 friday, i found out my feature was accepted to heartsy.  i am thrilled.  my feature goes live to the general public tomorrow.  VIP today.

the next few weeks of my life are going to be terribly hectic, busy, and probably sleepless (or not like normal) but i'm totally okay with this.

getting my name out there is something i've been trying really hard to do & found this to be the perfect opportunity. 

so if you're in the market for some paper goods, be sure to stop by before my vouchers are sold out.

11 things + then some

I recently got tagged by Kassi over at Truly Lovely  in the 11 things tagfest/game. 

Here we go:

The rules:


1. Post the rules.
2. Post 11 things about you.
3. Answer the questions the tagger asked you.
4. Write 11 questions for the ones you tag.

11 Facts About Me

1. Husband I met on match.com - so we are one of those silly testimonials.  I'm still waiting on my commercial contract.

2. When I traveled to NYC, I sat second row Mamma Mia! on broadway.  It was amazing.  I love NYC and everything about it. Slightly obsessed, and cant wait to go back someday.

3. I watch way too much trashy reality tv.  seriously. ask the husband.. he will vouch for me.

4. I find any excuse to bake something, particularly cupcakes, with sprinkes of course.  (above was voting day, so we had "red" cupcakes and "blue" cupcakes!)

5. one of my absolute favorite things to do, is pack a picnic, head to a pretty garden in the area and dine.  nothing better. my pasta salad is pretty awesome!

6. Christmas is my most favorite time of year. again, ask husband.  i will find any excuse to decorate early.

7.  I'm sort of a computer nerd. and I'm not ashamed.

8. Texas Rangers Baseball is the best team ever! I even converted husband to a baseball fan. Its that good!

9. I love me a good museum.  (above - Pacific War Museum in Fredricksburg, TX)

10. I have a neice (almost 4) and nephew (7). They might as well be my own; I cant ever go that long without seeing them.

11.  I would rather starve than eat onions. Seriously, if its in there and I can see it, forget it, I'm not eating it.

Now Kassi's Questions:

1. What's your worst habit?

My worst habit would be biting my nails or chewing on the end on pens.  So bad I know. I need to stop. And quick.

2. What do you consider your best characteristic?
Errr. I'm really outgoing.  For the most part, I will try anything once (outside of illegal activity.) and I'm extremely spontaneous.  If I get the urge, I will do it. 


3. If you could do any job what would it be?
I would own my own Bakery. In a heartbeat.  I love baking and filling others' tummies with yumminess.  And I want my bakery to resemble that of the one in the movie "The Perfect Man" with Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear & Mr. Big. LOL


4. What's your favorite shop on Etsy?
Umm. Mine? LOL


5. Name three of your favorite blogs...
1. Rockstar Diaries - i love her little family and adventures
2. Truly Lovely - love the DIYs and recipes
3. A Cup Of Jo - she lives in NYC and I love her NYC features. told ya I'm obsessed.


6. What's your favorite recipe to make?
Pasta Salad - i promise I will share it one day


7. If you could trade places with one blogger who would it be and why?
It would of Taza of Rockstar Diaries, because her cute little family is always on the go doing something fun and exciting.  And she has this amazing sense of style that I would love to have & she can rock some red lipstick.
 8. Ryan Gosling? Bradley Cooper? Alex O'Laughlin? ;)
Um duh, Ryan Gosling.


9. What's your absolute favorite movie?
Steel Magnolias. I always hope somehow the ending will change. But it has laughter, romance, drama, everything in one movie.  Plus who doesnt like Ouiser.


10. If you could choose one blog conference/event to go to, money no object which would it be?
I would love to go to a blogger blitz up north in either Boston, DC or NYC


11. What would you eat for your last meal??
Yikes. Um. Well being as I'm in Texas, we dont get a choice anymore, but if I had to pick, it would be my moms homeade tacos, with all the fixings, rice, beans, chips, salsa, avocado dip & for dessert either german chocolate cake or red velvet with cream cheese frosting.  Yum Yum! Oh with a nice big glass of sweet tea..

Now the 11 questions for my tagees:

1: If you could meet ANYONE past or present, who would it be and why

2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

3. Favorite food ?

4. If you won the powerball, what would be your first thing to spend your money on?

5. Dream job?

6. What is your most favorite vacation you ever took?

7. Favorite girl and guy celebrity?

8. Favorite DIY project you have found?

9. If you were stranded on an island, what is your number one thing you would have to take with you?

10. Top three favorite blogs to read/visit?

11. Favorite book you have ever read?

and the people i am tagging are: 

jasmine of la bella vita
courtney of vintch
holli of three wishes
christina of a little silly sock
kristine of the foley fam

say hi to our other sponsors for january

blog  //  twitter  // scentsy  //  facebook

blog  //  twitter  //  facebook  // pinterest

if you are interested in sponsoring cheers, bethani in february, please contact me for details:
cheersbethani {at} live {dot} com

calling february sponsors

its that time - sponsor time.

sponsor cheers, bethani during the month of february

for as little of $3.00 a month.

currently have 119 followers and growing.

112 followers on twitter

an average of 2000 views a month

if you are interested please email me

cheersbethani {at} live {dot} com

its january 18 + a winner

so its been a couple of days since i have posted anything.  my brain has been so tired from all this allergy mess, that i couldnt come up with a darn thing to blog about. nothing was really grabbing my attention. so i just let my little blog take a rest until today.  we have a winner from the jandmseyecandy giveaway and i figured i would just do a little update post.

first updates.  the shop is moving right along.  i actually just got my first custom order a few days ago & i love custom orders. they make me smile - mainly because people are trusting me to make their special day extra perfect. thats what i've been working on this week, plus playing around with a couple of card ideas to put in the shop. trying to perfect the outcome, so it might be this weekend before they go up.  

also i'm waiting to hear back from heartsy on a submission i put a few weeks ago. it would be a huge opportunity to get my name out there, but if i get accepted, its going to be lots and lots of long hours and late nights working to get myself ready for my feature.  hopefully i get selected - i will keep you posted on this.

and now for the winner of our giveaway.......

if your name is kassi and you are the blogger from Truly Lovely, you have won.  please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize. otherwise a new winner will be selected.  

thank you to everyone who entered and thank you to Kristine for this awesome giveaway!
i'm putting together the group feature and i should have that ready to go tomorrow.   
also thinking of hosting a giveaway for something fun.. still working on the details.  should have something soon.

have a fab wednesday everyone!

little notes #4

dear loreal,
i really love your color 800 fairest nude lipstick. its so perfect for those days where i want a full face or a partial face.

dear nose,
i'm sorry you are so raw. but if you would stop with the runniness or conjestion, we could really get along a lot better.

dear cupcakery,
seriously, your red velvet cupcake is the best cupcake my mouth has ever experienced.

dear trashy reality tv,
thank you for making my lazy sundays even more unproductive. it makes staying in bed that much easier.

you can see all my other little notes here.

too, you have one more day to enter the giveaway.  it ends tomorrow. 

its a chilly friday + weekend forecast

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its finally friday my friends! with this rollercoaster weather that we have been having, husband and i have been battling allergy symptoms all week, and thankfully tomorrow i dont have to get up super early for anything.  but we have a few things lined up for this weekends enjoyment.

his cousin & one of my good friends had a birthday this past monday. we are celebrating tomorrow night with some fun.

theres this new movie coming out. husband really wants to see it.  we may go.

going to get some etsy supplies too.  i love the new items my shop is coming out with.

relax, relax, and sleep.

oh i may cook some brownies too.

what is everyone doing this weekend?

oh yea, before i go, dont forget about the giveaway we are having.  it ends tuesday.

things that make me terribly happy 2012 #1

its been quite some time since i did a "things that make me terribly happy" list.

so i decided to give it a go, bring it back, & make it a regular staple (or try anyway) at the blog.

here it goes:

1. getting customer appreciation photos. they always make me smile.

2. the fact that football (for us) is over til next season.

3. that winter finally showed up this morning. it was cold. and i loved it.

4. 3 pints of beer for $7. and good beer. cant beat that!

5. the feeling knowing my paycheck friday doesnt go towards my car.

6. odd but true, listening to old ladies laughing with one another.  it makes me giggle.

7. watching good movies. even if i've seen them a million time or two times. they are still good movies.

8. upbeat music to get my morning going. have you head avicii yet? love, love!

9. getting real simple in the mail. my 2012 subscription has started.

10. valentine's day is a month away. time for pink, red & hearts everywhere!!

what makes you terribly happy?

share your list with me - cheersbethani {at} live {dot} com

and your list will make it into my happy thing rotation.

sponsor feature: kristine of jandmseyecandy

so this is a big day for cheers, bethani! it is our very first individual sponsor post.  i couldnt be more excited about the opportunity to have sponsors & really get to know the people who reside on my sidebar each month.

our first feature is a lady i have really enjoyed getting to know.  its actually quite funny how i met her.  i had gotten a gift card to her shop for christmas from another sponsor of mine & had the chance of creating my own pieces.  and then one thing let to another, she won a large ad space, and ta-da, here we are.  so without much further ado, here's kristine!

blog  //  twitter  //  ETSY  //  bloglovin  //  facebook

kristine resides in utah, with husband and adorable children.  she had originally decided to start this shop with her sister in law, but just recently taken over as operator of both the shoppe and her blog.  her shop is full of all things frilly and beautiful. from hair accessories to earrings, even a little jewelry as well, you can definitely find something for every taste. 

 i recently "sat down" with kristine to get her thoughts on why she started the shop, what she would be doing if she didn't own jandmseyecandy and a whole lot more.

1.) What made you decide to open a shop? Sell the items your selling? 

Kristine: I've always loved fashion, even tho I don't consider myself as very "fashionable" When I was preggers with my 1st baby girl I started experimenting with anything and everything girly I could make for her. With encouragement from family and friends, I started an Etsy Shoppe with my SIL.

2.) How did you come up with the name of your shop?
Kristine: Since I opened up the shoppe with my SIL we knew we wanted to incorporate our girls into everything we did. They truly are our inspiration. J&M = Jayden&Maggie for my niece and my daughter.

3.) If you weren't operating your shop, what would your dream job be?
Kristine:To open up an actual in store boutique, selling my handmade goodness :)

4.) Any advice to people thinking about opening a business?
Kristine: YOU CAN DO IT! My best advice would be to network! Put yourself out there and meet people who love doing the same things you do, and heck even step out of your comfort zone, it's good for you! The inspiration and lessons you'll learn from each other is simply amazing! I've only been doing this since May 2010, and some of my friends thru "bloggy" world are some of my best supporters in my every day life. I feel blessed to have met so many wonderful, amazing, inspiring women!

And not only did Kristine answer these questions and give some terrific advice she is offering one lucky lucky reader a wonderful gift:

 your very own lace bloom headband!

winner gets their choice of bloom color & headband size.



let me tell you, i got two of these of my very own

a black bloom with pearl center

&

a white bloom with black center (like above)

they are GORGEOUS & teriffically made!

i can't wait to rock these with an outfit soon

- definitely will be sharing photos of that!

entering is simple:

(leave a comment with each task you complete)

be a follower of my blog via GFC and her facebook page (mandatory)

for extra entries: (one entry for each)

follow kristines blog via GFC

follow kristine on bloglovin

follow kristine on twitter

heart jandmseyecandy on ETSY

tweet this giveaway - must include @cheersbethani @jandmseyecandy & #giveaway in the tweet

thats seven chances to win right there!!

deadline to enter is Tuesday, January 17, 2012 -

winner will be announced Wednesday morning, 1/18/2012

Thanks again to Kristine for being an awesome sponsor! Be sure to go visit her shoppe and blog and tell her Bethani sent you!

its just a typical tuesday

mr & mrs banner

so the last couple of days, i have been super busy with the shop. creating things and brainstorming new things to add to the shop, like the mr & mrs banner above.  also have some new recipe cards that i am pretty thrilled about.   i want the shop to feel warm and lovely, but give off a slight french, shabby chic vibe.  are you getting that? i hope so.  my brain is constantly swirling with ideas, but thats good, because it means there will never been a shortage of thoughts.

i've also been brainstorming & working with a particularly awesome person to start a blog community, that will be full of diy posts, recipes, fashion tips, featured blogs and even a ETSY shop/small business owner of the week.  i'm really, really excited about this.  in the past i've been apart of or visted some blog communities, but as they grew, sometimes they seemed to lose that "personal" feel that i think any blog or community should have. and i really hope that this blog community we start can be just that.  everything is in the early stages of development, but i hope to have more news about this soon & possible even a community name...  if you have a thought about a name, let me know, we love input.

tomorrow is cheers, bethani's first individual sponsor post and i am thrilled to share this lady with you. i actually just got some of her work in the mail and i can not wait to show it off.  and just to tempt you all a little, she is offering a lucky person something pretty awesome as well.  thats tomorrow. so be sure to come back then for that.  

thats all for today, but i hope everyone has a terrific tuesday, full of productive things and happiness.



the shoppe: whats new + some updates

love is sweet - heart confetti - merci beaucoup - thank you

the past couple of days i've been busy making a few things to add to the ETSY shoppe - even have a couple of things for valentine's day.. 

have a couple of more items as well, but just need to get them printed, cut and photographed.  its all about the twitter a few weeks ago that talked about french & kitchen. i can't wait to share them with you.

i'm not sure how i feel about my valentine's day card.  thinking of replacing it with something else.

to look at these and other items i offer, be sure to check out the shoppe!


current events:
i'm currently being featured over at kassi's blog. a giveaway could possibly be involved, so be sure to check that out.

this wednesday is the first feature post of the blog - so stay tuned to meet kristine of jandmseyecandy

its a twitter party

twitter is becoming a bigger and bigger tool for social media these days and i want to link up with all my friends who have it.  too, this gives you a chance to link up with others as well, that may not be on your list yet.

great exposure and networking if you ask me. so do your thing, and link up below.

home sweet design - whimsy woodland finds

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

yesterdays post inspired me to continue my hunt for more wonderful items that i would love to acquire for our new home, whenever that may be.  and for those that know me, know i love whimsy, vintch style decor. old things? i love them. even things that look that way are splendid too. and anthropologie has a great sense of capturing that in their items.

most of the items i found come from anthropologie, with the exception of the fawn mugtail from korin.  i raved about these mugs in the past, as there is a whole collection of them, and due to high demand, korin will not be shipping anymore of these cute things until march. yikes! i dont know if i can hold out that long, because for $16 thats a steal in my book to have one of these sitting on my end table, full of hot tea, waiting to be enjoyed over a good book.

do you enjoy whimsy items inspired by the woodlands like i do? or do you prefer more modern type style?

cheers bethani designs: a calendar

rabbit is the animal of january. or so the chinese calendar says.

so while playing with color and such, a calendar for you.

if you want to use as a desktop wallpaper, send me an email (cheersbethani@live.com) and i'll hook you up.

should i continue these throughout the year??

home sweet design - dream worthy crushes

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

one of the things on my list of to-dos for 2012 is finding a house for husband and i.  we will be married a year in april, and i must be honest, i'm tired of living in an apartment. and i believe he is as well.  we have talked about the things we want and dont want in a home; i've realized i'm quite picky, but i think i already knew this, it was just a matter of how picky. no two stories. no split garages. prefer a split floorplan. 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms with a office/study.   covered patio (if possible.) no swimming pool or spa outside. i mean seriously. the list keeps going.

while i'm busy shooting down home after home for one reason or another, there is no end in sight to my list of things i want the home to look like inside.  but then again, i'm an overly imaginative, indecisive dreamer, who tries to know what she wants, but as long as it flows well and doesn't look tacky.

and if everyone was blessed with all the money in the world, i would definietely add the items above to my collection.  antique charm with new world flavor. they would find themselves either in a guest room or living room setting.. perhaps even a sewing/craft room if i get lucky enough.  definitely not man cave worthy by any stretch of the imagination. 

if money wasn't an object, what dreamy items would you add to your decor collection?

little notes #3

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dear 2012,
we are three days in and i've already decided this year is gonna be a good one. full of fun, laughter and adventure.

dear etsy,
i've reopened you, changed some things, and added some new things.  i need better pictures on some of my items, but for now i'm really loving the way you have turned out. i hope people agree.

dear blog,
i've changed you to my own domain.  i like it. with this change, i hope it brings lots of growth, new friends and lots of wonderful opportunities.

dear texas weather,
okay so its january 3. thats winter.  so there is no need for highs reaching 60. its driving my nose crazy and i really dont need to be sick right now.

dear adele,
i love your cd: 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall'  Its absolutely wonderful and I love your accent. It makes me smile.

dear bank account,
you will smile alittle more from now on.  my car is paid off, so that means a little more green for you to see and hold onto every month.  oh don't worry, it makes me thrilled too. you're not alone.

dear husband,
i'm still totally thrilled about our anniversary weekend getaway.  i probably will talk about it til it gets here, but i absolutely loved this place and can't wait to get more of it in my blood. oh and consume massive quantities of german food, beer and wine. yum! i promise to take more photos this time.