Aly's Newsletter: Manic Monday Edition

Happy Monday!

This is shaping up to be a busy day, so going to try to be as succinct as possible in this email…

It was actually a pretty busy weekend, filled with Passover prep (for those who are not familiar, it actually is a process that takes several weeks of shopping and prepping) and even some fun recipe testing I'll share as the holiday gets closer.

But it wasn't all chores. I also found time to do a serious Beat Bobby Flay binge Friday night (Fun fact: I DVR that show regularly and it is how I unwind after a stressful day   - and in fact, it's my not-so-secret dream to be one of the panel of guest judges at the end of the episode!). 

In another TV discussion, who is caught up on this season of Outlander? Last night's episode, to me, was the best so far this season and felt the most reminiscent of the classic early seasons. It's also left me with SO MANY questions...! 

Also, speaking of things on TV this weekend, MEGA congrats to my good friends at MGM’s PR team (some of who subscribe to this email newsletter and are reading this right now, if they are not still recovering from last night’s event!) for doing an incredible job with the Grammys last night — can’t wait to be reunited with you guys in just a few weeks. It’s been too long!

Want to make sure your pitch gets opened every time?

This weekend's paid newsletter covered how to send a pitch (if you want journalists to be interested, that is). You can still check it out (and all previous newsletters) here.

What's cooking?

Last night, I tested out a new recipe I've been working on -- caprese-inspired meatballs. You can still catch the recipe on my Instagram stories! 

Newly published:

Food Network: Topo Chico Releases Lighter Spin on Margarita Just In Time For Summer

Taste of Home: The Best Craft Kits for Kids That Love to Create

Forbes: 8 Festive Desserts For A Sweet Easter Celebration

Forbes: Great Finds To Stock Up On This Passover

Forbes: 11 Beautiful Cocktails To Enjoy This Easter

RetailMeNot: Where to Get Free Food Today (and Every Day of the Week)

If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social shares tagging me (I'm @alywalansky basically everywhere) and the outlet.

A note on Passover...

You may have noticed I was working on a Passover wine and food products story for a few weeks. I have to say, MANY of the pitches I received (the bulk, really) missed the mark because people had problems understanding that Kosher and Kosher for Passover are two completely separate certifications. Please, please, take some time to do your homework before pitching people who are still working on their own Passover content. It can avoid a lot of embarrassment - and wasted time - on both sides.

Here's what I'm working on:

Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.

RetailMeNot

For RetailMeNot, I'm updating this story about stores closed on Easter Sunday (+ Easter Store Hours for 2022) -- I realize this reads like the flip side of the Today.com story I was just working on, but there's a few subtle differences. So if you represent any of the stores in it, I would love it if you can contact me to let me know if your hours have changed or not for Easter, or when you will know. While the TODAY story is just restaurants, this is all sorts of stores, from grocery stores to department stores. Please assume that something needs to be a chain to be included, so your one-off location of a sushi shop doesn't really apply.

HerMoney

For HerMoney.com, I'm working on the following:

1 - Mother's Day gifts under $100 that will make her have a better day every day - 

2 - Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas to celebrate Earth Day Right

3 - A roundup of some expert tips  on how to find great wine for special occasions and dates, but affordably. Like how to research wine and find a "good one" but have it not be pricey. Like can a $10 bottle BE a great bottle? And how to find those gems. I'd love expert input (obviously I have my own input!)

Today.com

I'm looking for restaurant chains nationwide doing special deals/discounts for tax day. If you have any, please email me with what the restaurant is (chains only please), what the freebie/discount/deal is, and how to claim it.

To pitch me for ANY of these stories, please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com (and start a new thread, please!).

Are you confused about affiliate marketing?

If you are having trouble learning how to navigate issues of affiliate marketing (trust me, we've all been there!), you may want to try out my friend Sarah Karger, a publicist, and former editor Dana Baardsen (and all-around fab girl!)'s Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It's a brilliant course and it'll answer all your questions (including some you didn't know you had!)

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<3

aly