• Home
  • About Me
  • Policies
  • Work with Me
  • Guest Posting
Stuff Parents Need

Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

  • Style
  • Parenting
  • Giveaways
  • The Kitchen
  • DIY Projects
  • Fun Things To Do
  • My Favorite Finds

How I Accidentally Started Dating My Husband on Valentine’s Day (Plus a Paris Trip GIVEAWAY!!!)

February 4, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

Valentine’s Day: most folks either love it or hate it. I honestly have never really been a huge fan. But it does have a special place in my heart because Tim and I started dating, quite by accident, on Valentine’s Day of our freshman year in college.

I started crushing on him about a week after I met him, and I met him my very first day on campus. We because very good friends, but all of my Southern charms seemed to fall flat on this kid from Washington. He was a tough one, which of course, made me work even harder to get his attention. I’d like to tell you that he was super strategic and knew exactly what he was doing, playing hard to get and all, but the truth is that he was just clueless. Ha!

Anyway, I asked him out on several dates throughout our first year of college, and each time I would realize about halfway through the date that he didn’t know that we are on a date. Oh man…this guy was dense! I finally realized that I was going insane, and certainly making my roommate and hallmate insane with my over analysis of all our conversations. So I just told him one night after we had enjoyed some Japanese food, a terrific play and a trip to one of our favorite greasy spoons for a slice of pie (isn’t that so obviously a date?!…I still don’t know how he didn’t realize it!).

After professing my deep and abiding like of Tim, he admitted that he thought I was fantastic, too. And then we shared a very awkward moment where neither one of us had any idea what to say next. At that point, my Resident Assistant came by the social room we were in on her rounds and said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, guys!”

It was after midnight, and so it was, in fact, Valentine’s Day. I wanted to barf. Except for that I was also REALLY excited that Tim and I were now an item, even if that meant it had to happen on a Hallmark holiday.

This Valentine’s Day will mark 13 years that we have been together. Don’t you think that’s deserving of an extra special celebration Perhaps something like a trip to Paris, the most romantic city in the world?

LLGetaway-btn-LARGE

Master Lock is currently hosting a giveaway in honor of both Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month. When you send a love lock through MasterLoveLock.com, you will be entered in their “Lock Up Love & Getaway” Sweepstakes! Additionally, each lock sent and received through the website will generate a one dollar donation to AHA, courtesy of Master Lock. And someone is going to win a trip for two to Paris, France. I’m going to go ahead and state that I think it is going to be me, or should I say, moi, who will win.

But try your luck. Maybe Cupid has his arrow pointed in your direction today! Even if you don’t win the big trip (you know, the one I will be taking), you can also win a $1,000 Visa gift card and Valentine’s Day themed gift packs such as flower arrangements, luxury candles, romantic DVDs, chocolates, the super cute Master Lock 1509DLOV Love Lock and more.

I am a member of the Master Lock Live Secure Safety Squad, and as such, I receive complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own, however.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: american heart month, master combination locks, master lock, masterlock, masterlovelock, national heart month, valentine's day, win a trip, win a trip to paris

Trip to Italy? Si, Per Favore! Enter Michael Angelo’s AWESOME Sweepstakes!

September 26, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Do you ever wonder if those “trip of a lifetime” giveaways are even real? As someone who won a trip with National Geographic to Peru back in 2005, I can tell you three important things: they ARE real, people DO win, and they really can be trips of a lifetime!


Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods, the company that makes some of the most mouth-watering Italian food you’ll find outside of Italy has launched its second annual sweepstakes for a trip to Italy. One grand prize winner will win an eight-day trip for two!

But it gets even better, because you’ll be taking this trip with Michael Angelo, himself, as well as with his mom, who is the inspiration behind the amazing line of frozen food products. It’s the foodie adventure people dream of, and it’s really going to happen! You’ll be staying in a private villa with the Miachael Angelo’s family, and will go on amazing excursions throughout the area, including an exclusive event at Castello Banfi, a winery that almost looks like a dream. Take a quick peek here and you’ll see what I mean.

The sweepstakes is open now for your entry (and it’s VERY easy to enter, by the way). Head on over to the Michael Angelo’s Trip to Italy sweepstakes page, and while you are there, check out the fun video from last year’s trip!

I received coupons for delicious Michael Angelo’s products in exchange for sharing this trip of a lifetime opportunity with you. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Buona fortuna, everyone! 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: banfi wine, castello banfi, castello banfi montalcino, michael angelo’s gourmet foods, travel italy, trip to italy, trips to italy, win a trip, win a trip to italy, win a vacation

Who Makes You Smile? This Contest Will! (Trip to NYC, $1,000 and Teeth Whitening!)

February 6, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

You know I LOVE sharing great giveaways with my readers, and this one is certainly no exception. Up for grabs is the following:

  • All-expenses trip paid to NYC for 2
  • $1,000 in spending money so that you can have an absolute ball in the Big Apple
  • Teeth-whitening smile makeover so that all the pictures you take grinning from ear to ear on your trip will look amazing!

TopDentists.com is sponsoring this awesome contest, and they are also offering daily prizes for entrants for various fun whitening products. So get over there and get yourself entered right away!

Entering is super easy. All you have to do is upload a picture of yourself with someone who makes you smile and write a brief caption (140 characters or less, which is the size of a tweet!) about the photo. The top 5 submissions will be eligible for the grand prize. The votes will be tallied on March 16th. So get your friends and family to start voting for your shot!

Additionally, if you happen to live within 100 miles of the following locations, you are also eligible to win a regional prize, which consists of a teeth whitening treatment from a dentist (I’ve had one of these before and the results are GREAT!). The locations are as follows:

  • Troy, MI
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Aventura, FL
  • Austin, TX
  • Beverly Hills, CA

What do you have to lose except for a less-than-sparkling smile? Enter now! And if you win and happen to need someone to come with you on the trip, I’m available! 😉

This post is sponsored by TopDentists.com. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: General · Tagged: cosmetic dental surgery, cosmetic dentistry, dental procedures, dental treatment, dental whitening, find a dentist, teeth bleaching, teeth whitening, topdentists.com, trip to nyc, win a trip, win a trip to nyc, win trip, win trip to new york

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!


Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

Popular Posts

Keep Slowing Down. You’ve Got a Race to Lose

Keep Slowing Down. You’ve Got a Race to Lose

Free Summer School for Moms (You’ll Love It!)

Free Summer School for Moms (You’ll Love It!)

The Best Cheap Mattress is Also The Best Quality Mattress: A Must-Read

The Best Cheap Mattress is Also The Best Quality Mattress: A Must-Read

25+ Moana-Inspired Easter Basket Ideas

25+ Moana-Inspired Easter Basket Ideas

The Book Every Child Should Own (And How to Get a Free Copy )

The Book Every Child Should Own (And How to Get a Free Copy )

Recent Posts

  • Choosing an Engagement Ring in a Changing Landscape
  • Personalized Clothing in Family Portraits: Showcasing Unique Style
  • The Psychology of Dual-Monitor Productivity: Why It Feels Easier to Work
  • The Secret to Style Confidence – Even During the Messiest Days
  • The Science of Healthy Hair: Foundations, Care, and Everyday Styling

Search

Sponsors

Copyright © 2026 | Innovative by The Pixelista | Built on the Genesis Framework

 

Loading Comments...