I won the Talbots essay contest!
Posted: March 11th, 2010, 11:02 pm
Recently, Talbot's had a contest for its customers to tell their stories of their Worst Valentine's Day Gifts. I entered the contest, and hoped that maybe I would win one of the gift cards they were giving as prizes.
Today, when I drove up to my mom's house to drop off Christian after school, Mom was waving a FedEx envelope at me. "This had better be good," I muttered as I stepped out of the car and walked up to her front door. I didn't recognize the sender, Promotion Mechanics. I unzipped the envelope and read the letter.
Congratulations! As the independent judging organization for the Talbots Valentine's Day Contest, I am pleased to inform you that your entry in the sweepstakes has been selected as the potential Grand Prize winner.
Subject to verification of your eligibility, you have won a trip to New York City, NY with four friends for a Girls Weekend; and one $500 Talbots gift card. The trip will include round trip coach air transportation between closest commercial airport and potential winner's residence, round trip ground transportation between airport and hotel, and 2 nights' hotel accommodations. The approximate retail value of your prize is $6,000; however, the actual value will be determined by your residence and seasonal rates.
Etc., etc.,
Woo-hoo! I am so excited. I've turned that awful gift into something wonderful! I've turned lemons into lemonade, straw into gold!
I didn't even save a copy of my essay because I just typed it in to the Talbots website. I do recall that I was limited to the number of words I could use (100). I did a search on the Talbots website tonight and found my entry. I've copied it in its entirety here:
**************************************
Three years ago, my husband of 20 years gave me the most unromantic gift ever: a label maker for Valentine's Day. That was my first clue that something was seriously amiss in my marriage. I soon learned that he was meeting women online and cheating on me.
I used that label maker a lot over the next year making file folder labels: Investigation, Alimony, Child Support, Property Settlement, Divorce Decree and Movers.
I got that label maker as part of my property settlement. I've made new labels this year: New Job and New House. And I would label myself: Happier Without Him!
**************************************
Today, when I drove up to my mom's house to drop off Christian after school, Mom was waving a FedEx envelope at me. "This had better be good," I muttered as I stepped out of the car and walked up to her front door. I didn't recognize the sender, Promotion Mechanics. I unzipped the envelope and read the letter.
Congratulations! As the independent judging organization for the Talbots Valentine's Day Contest, I am pleased to inform you that your entry in the sweepstakes has been selected as the potential Grand Prize winner.
Subject to verification of your eligibility, you have won a trip to New York City, NY with four friends for a Girls Weekend; and one $500 Talbots gift card. The trip will include round trip coach air transportation between closest commercial airport and potential winner's residence, round trip ground transportation between airport and hotel, and 2 nights' hotel accommodations. The approximate retail value of your prize is $6,000; however, the actual value will be determined by your residence and seasonal rates.
Etc., etc.,
Woo-hoo! I am so excited. I've turned that awful gift into something wonderful! I've turned lemons into lemonade, straw into gold!
I didn't even save a copy of my essay because I just typed it in to the Talbots website. I do recall that I was limited to the number of words I could use (100). I did a search on the Talbots website tonight and found my entry. I've copied it in its entirety here:
**************************************
Three years ago, my husband of 20 years gave me the most unromantic gift ever: a label maker for Valentine's Day. That was my first clue that something was seriously amiss in my marriage. I soon learned that he was meeting women online and cheating on me.
I used that label maker a lot over the next year making file folder labels: Investigation, Alimony, Child Support, Property Settlement, Divorce Decree and Movers.
I got that label maker as part of my property settlement. I've made new labels this year: New Job and New House. And I would label myself: Happier Without Him!
**************************************
would love a mani-pedi on the girls' weekend! 
