Pick Your Favorite Perfume Giveaway

One of my dearest, closest friends, Casey, started a very cool new business & I asked her if I could do a giveaway on my blog!  She is one of the most creative people I know, and I love seeing her get her start in her own business.  I know this is just the beginning of her amazing future :)

She just opened her own store selling designer perfumes for $25.  It's called PopScent and the oils are all made to match the perfumes we all love.  She designed the bottle, the website, everything (she even drew the girl!)... and it all looks fabulous!  All of them are made in the USA, and because there is no patent on designer fragrances, these perfumes smell exactly the same, but are a very small percentage of the price!

Here is a list of the perfumes you can choose from:

Amazing Grace originally by Philosophy

Burberry originally by Burberry

Casmir originally by Chopard

Chance originally by Chanel

Coco Mademoiselle originally by Chanel

Ed Hardy originally by Ed Hardy

Flowerbomb originally by Viktor & Rolf

French Lime Blossoms originally by Jo Malone

Happy originally by Clinque

L'eau de Issey originally by Issey Miyake

J'adore originally by Dior

Juicy Couture originally by Juicy Courture

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana

Michael Kors originally by Michael Kors

Miss Dior Cherie originally by Dior

Pink Sugar originally by Aquolina

Pleasures originally by Estee Lauder

Rockin' Rio originally by Escada

The ONE originally by Dolce & Gabana

Viva la Juicy originally by Juicy Couture

{PopScent also has a full list of men's cologne, so if you are interested in any of those, let me know}

Details for the giveaway...

1. Follow Then I Got To Thinking & Leave a comment with which perfume you would choose (1 entry)

2. Follow PopScent on Twitter (1 entry)

3. Tweet about the giveaway & include @TracyZLesh & @PopScent (2 entries)

4. Follow Then I Got To Thinking on Facebook (1 entry)

5. Blog about PopScent (5 entries)

{you do not have to be a blogger to enter.  Simply leave your name and email in a comment below and you may be selected!}

Please leave a comment to tell us all of your entries so we make sure you are counted.  If you are selected, I will put you in direct contact with PopScent and you will receive a free bottle of which ever perfume you choose!

Thank you for participating!

A winner will be selected on Monday, October 10th at 9am.

These are my very dear friends from college.  Michelle, Casey (PopScent creator), Myself, and Adrianna.  I adore them!

(Name trademarks and copyrights are properties of their respective manufacturers and/or designers.  Popscentonline.com has no affiliation with the manufacturers/designers.  Our interpretation of these fragrances was created through chemical analysis and reproduction, and the purpose of the description is to give the customer an idea of scent character and is not intended to mislead or confuse the customer.)

For disclaimers about PopScent, please visit their website.

Pizza on the Patio

I'm not a chef, but my friend (IRL), Nicole, over at La Mia Vita, always makes delicious looking pizzas, so I figured I would give it a try! :)

Our friends, C&K, came over for dinner.  C helped us make a fire pit on our backyard yesterday... more on that later!

{maximus thought he wanted pizza, too}

Ingredients:

pizza dough 

(we did one in the bag from Trader Joes, the rest were pre baked)

bbq sauce

feta cheese

diced red onion

chicken

Heat in oven until cheese melts

delicious!

I am so excited for fall nights.  It was a beautiful night last night - perfect weather!

The joys of a MIL

I lucked out with moms.

My mom is the best.  I love and appreciate her more than any other woman in the world.  She's a wonderful & generous person & mother!

& two years ago, when I married TL, I also landed myself a fabulous MIL.

I love my mom-in-law.  Some women cringe when they think of their MIL.  I definitely don't.  There is a possibility she could be moving closer to us, and I am so excited.  I lucked out!  She is thoughtful, loving, supportive & sweet.  She's a great chef (even though she won't admit it) and I am excited to learn how to cook from her!  She's also just fun to be around and I love having such a good relationship with her.  I am also her only daughter.  She has 3 great sons - and TL is the only one married so far.  She definitely has fun with her girl, and I love it!

Recently, my MIL surprised me with new gifts that I just have to share!! {She's very fashionable!} She got me a stylish new cape about a week ago and today a package arrived for me in the mail with a new sweater dress!  I was so excited, I had to share them.

Aren't they amazing?  I am so excited!  I have never owned a cape before, so if you have any suggestions on the best ways to wear them... let me know!

Thank you CAL.  I love you!

Happy Fall & Friday

Fall is my favorite season.  {almost a tie with winter}

I love seeing the leaves change color, the temperatures cool down {hopefully soon}, and the craziness of summer wind down.  I love scarfs & boots, and for some reason, this season reminds me of spending time with family.

This fall, life will be busy.  But that's okay.  It's busy in a good way.  TL and I are both so lucky to have jobs, events, family & friends that keep our schedules full.  I am so thankful.

It is also a time to change out a few house decorations and mix them up with fall colors.  I took some time this afternoon to do that,

As an update to my post yesterday about my sister's student... thank you very much for the thoughts and prayers.  Please keep sending them.  He underwent a major surgery last night and is fighting very hard for his life.  It's not impossible, and we believe in him and his strength.  But he needs all the thoughts & prayers he can get right now.  The situation is really scary, so keep his family in mind too.

My sister has been at the hospital with his family last night and all day today.  She is being strong, and I am proud of her for stepping up and supporting a family she loves so much.

I'm feeling really sad today for his family.  I can't get them off my mind.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Thank you for your positivity & comments.  

Thank you for reading.  I truly appreciate it!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

I have asked myself this question so many times and it landed on my lips again today.

My sister has been a teacher for 5 years... and her first year teaching, she had an adorable little 4th grade boy with red hair and the sweetest personality.  I remember meeting him, and hearing stories about him from my sister who thought he was the cutest thing she'd ever seen.

This year, he's is in 9th grade.  She says he has turned into the sweetest teenager and has a great heart.  My sister had his sibling in her class and has remained close to their family.

They are the type of family we all strive to be.  Loving & dedicated parents, and overall great people.

Yesterday, after school, the 9th grader was hit by a car while riding his bike on his way home from school.  He was wearing his helmet.

He has sustained very serious & possibly life threatening injuries to his brain and broke several bones in his body.  My sister, my family, and the teachers and students who know him are deeply saddened.

I've cried a little today just thinking about how horrible this must be to go through.

I looked outside at the sunshine today and thought.... his mom and dad are looking at the same sunshine with such terror and grief in their heart.  I can't imagine what they are feeling.

I feel really sad.  I keep thinking of them and wish there was something I could do.  Why do bad things happen to such good people?

Please send your thoughts & prayers this direction...  it's surely a reminder of how fragile life is.  Appreciate your family & friends, because we just never know what life has in store for us.

All we can do now is hope & pray for the best for this family...

image courtesy

Wedding Themed Bunco

My girlfriend, Jen, is getting married soon - and so with her month of hosting Bunco, she did a wedding theme... and of course, she was the bride!  She found a cheap dress at a local thrift shop, and we all wore old bridesmaid dresses.

Tiffany blue cupcakes, delicious cocktails, music, and great food made the night a fun one :)  I love these girls!  {& I actually won something... for the first time!! woo hoo!}

{cute pups... the French Bulldog was adorable!}

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday!! :)

Our stay in Kaanapali Maui!

Kaanapali Maui is one of my favorite places!

I have very fond memories of that place after going for years with my family growing up.  It's truly a beautiful place :)

After a week of just the two of us on Kauai, TL and I invited our friends, Jess & Aaron with us to enjoy a few days in the sunshine on Maui.  We stayed at The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas.

We tried a new Sushi restaurant called Sansei in Kapalua... and it is A-mazing!  If you are ever on Maui, it's a must go.  Their entire menu is 25% off until 6pm, and then starting at 9pm, they go to 50% off.  If you decide to go,  make sure you make a reservation at least a few days in advance.  There was a long line around the place to get in, and with out that reservation, we may not have gotten in before 6!

We also had our 2 year anniversary dinner at The Plantation House in Kapalau.  We went there last year when we were on Maui for our Anniversary.  The fish is delicious, although this year it wasn't as good as last!  It's a little pricey, but a fun place to go for a special occasion because the views are hard to beat!

{the beach right next to the pool at our hotel}

{that is all one large tree... called the Banyon tree in Lahaina}

{so cute with my pink bag ;) - we were pooped after a delayed flight home, but it was all worth it}

We had a wonderful time enjoying the pool & beach... we even picked up smash ball to play in the sand and it was really fun.  There were so many great fish to look at right off the shore of our hotel, we swam with a sea turtle on our last day there!

Happy Wednesday!!

Kauai Sunset

We had such a fabulous time in Kauai, thank you so much for your sweet comments on our Ziplining, and Hike posts!  It really is a beautiful place.  After Kauai, we went to Maui and some friends of ours met up with us.  I will share those pics soon!

We stayed at the Westin Princeville - and it's a gorgeous place!  It's not as touristy as Oahu & Maui, but they are all beautiful.

We spent most of our time on Kauai relaxing, snorkeling, swimming, and admiring. :)  We also got in some stand up paddle boarding in Hanalei Bay, and lots of walks & runs!

{the last night on Kauai, we watched the sunset at The St. Regis Princeville - it was gorgeous!}

We can't wait to go back :)