Aly's Newsletter: Hump Day Edition
Hi friends!
Happy Wednesday!
So, yesterday, I received a completely unexpected box that had 30 pounds of dry ice and a variety of frozen fruit-based desserts inside. There was no note or card in the box, so I have no idea who sent it, and can't email them to discuss. So, if this was YOU, and you happen to be reading this newsletter, I hoped to share some helpful advice.
I live in a 4th floor walkup studio apartment. My building is one of those old-style brownstones with the kind of steep winding staircase that you need to ascend to get to said apartment. Things like doormen or elevators do not exist in this building.
I'm telling you this, because, every single package I receive, I will then have to carry up said 4 flights of winding stairs by myself. Now, that's FINE if it's something I am expecting and either requested or said yes to sending (and that happens daily! I'm not anti-package!) but when it's a completely unsolicited perishable package, that's a whole other ball of beans.
It's also an issue - aside from space (i have a pretty small freezer!), and inconvenience, that it's the holidays. A lot of people are simply not home as much - and that means if you send someone a perishable package they don't know is coming, it may sit in their lobby and rot before anyone discovers it. (That actually happened to me Thanksgiving weekend! And it's happened before more times than I can tell.)
So, just, always - if you are sending anyone a heavy, big, or perishable package, drop them an email first and see if 1 - they want it and 2 - they are available to accept it. Don't just do it for them but to save your clients some of their budget! Also, consider making sure your packages are designated with no signature required if at all possible. If a package can be left at the front door if no one is home, it makes it a lot more likely they'll ultimately get it then if it's shipped off to some UPS access point a mile away if you happen to not be home the first time the door rings.
Related: Earlier this month, I shared a story on Instagram about how someone had sent me FIFTY pounds of bacon. Also unexpected. (Also I don't eat bacon! haha!) - I ended up posting a message to my local neighborhood Facebook group and many families got free bacon out of this delivery. I felt a little like Santa and they were all happy and grateful (but kind of weirded out about what sort of job I have that random boxes of bacon just randomly arrive at my door for no reason....me too, honestly.)
Just something to keep in mind!
OK, back to work...
Here's what I'm working on:
1. For Clean Plates, I'm looking for a few dietitians to share their healthiest weight loss strategies. It's a New Year's themed piece, naturally! We want to focus largely on nourishing ourselves and adding healthy foods to our plates in the New Year, rather than deprivation. Please email me if you have anyone who can weigh in.
2. For SPY.com, I'm still rounding up best Turkish towel gifts and best edible gifts. All other pending stories for them for this week have been completed.
3. For RetailMeNot, I'm still rounding up the best Galentine's day gifts still. Happy to take pitches for this and the SPY stories thru tomorrow AM.
Here's what has been published since yesterday.
AllRecipes
Ina Garten's Most Famous Desserts Are Now Available for Delivery
Clean Plates
BetterMe Review: An App That Takes Health Coaching To The Next Level
Food Network
Pillsbury Puts Lisa Frank On Its Beloved Sugar Cookie Dough
SPY
If You Think Screens Are Straining Your Eyes, Blue Light Glasses May Help
The 20 Best Christmas Gifts for Writers
Have a great day <3
aly