Aly's Newsletter: Monday Edition

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a restful and revitalizing weekend. I spent mine catching up on email and my DVR (both important in their own way!), as well as having some deeply important furry friend time.

I just started to watch Archive 81 on Netflix, and I'm wondering if it's something of a mistake...for someone that already has problems sleeping, is this really what is best for me to do before bed? Time and nightmares will tell...

So, anyway, if you have recommendations for Netflix/Hulu/etc that won’t give me nightmares but will be entertaining, I’m all ears. (For reference, I’m into shows like The Tudors, Outlander, The Crown, etc. My genre is clear.)

I'm going to keep this morning's newsletter as brief and to the point as possible as I have a pretty heavy load of stories I'm working on right now (see below!), and also need to prepare for a big virtual media panel I'm going to be speaking on in a few hours.

(By prep, I mean this will be a rare WFH day that I wear a bra and possibly even eyeliner.)

Aside from basic grooming necessities and copious coffee refills, there's a lot going on today!

Job Leads

A bunch of people emailed me over the weekend with job leads they asked that I share. Here are some below!

lotus823 is hiring a Senior Account Executive. This opportunity is for a full-time, remote position.

Durée & Company is hiring for a full-time account manager and a full-time copywriter for its South Florida office. This is in-house and not remote. 

Diffusion PR: They are hiring entry-level Campaign Coordinators to start as soon as possible, for either NYC or LA offices, with an option to be fully remote as well. You can find more information and the application linked  here.

Here's what I'm working on this week:

As always, please start a new thread and email alywalansky@gmail.com to respond to any of these story leads.

1. For SPY.com, I'm updating my edible gifts story from Christmas to make it more Valentine specific - that means many of the more evergreen items from the holiday season may stay, but looking to add a bunch more that are appropriate for now and going forward. Check out the original version of the story at the link above to see the kind of things that work for this kind of story, and please shape your pitches accordingly.

2. For SPY.com, I'm also working on a roundup of best sparkling wines. Though I generally consider myself something of a wine aficionado (and an expert in my soul), I'm looking to chat over email with an expert who can comment on the top sparkling wine regions (clearly I have my own thoughts on this), then share some picks from each. If an expert wants to share a pick from a region, I'd love it if they take a bit of time to explain how they selected these bottles, too, as sometimes recommendations can feel a bit random.

2.  For Today.com, I'm looking for freebies/deals/discounts at restaurant chains for both National Pizza Day (Feb. 9) and Super Bowl Sunday. Please email me with what the deal is, how long it lasts, and how the deal is claimed, asap. 

2. For Clean Plates, I'm working on the following two stories: The Healthiest, Tastiest Chicken Soups in the Grocery Store, According to Nutritionists and Easy Valentine's Dessert Recipes with Exactly Zero Added Sugar.

 -- For the chicken soup story, I would love to chat over email with some nutritionists! We determine healthiness by lack of processed ingredients (so chicken noodle is less good than chicken and wild rice) - please look at this previous story in a similar format for the kind of comments I'm looking for from publicists. Keep in mind when we say healthy, we're thinking:

-Yay for whole grains

-Yay for a good protein to fat ratio

-Yay for organic

-Yay for ingredients that are real foods

-Yay for extra vegetables

-We are GMO neutral

-- For the Valentine's desserts with zero added sugar story, I'm looking to feature desserts that exist online on blogs and so forth. Please use this previous story I did in the same format as an example of what I'm looking for.  (It'll be very helpful for you in helping you send me a pitch that fits my needs!)

3. For RetailMeNot, I'm looking for statement candles that are so pretty, they may just be too pretty to burn. Statement candles are trending on TikTok and Instagram, and they're becoming a status symbol. I'm going to go into what these things are and why these things are. Why would someone want a candle they are not going to burn?! (Actually, me. That's the exact kind of candle I want. I live in a 4th floor walkup and I don't run very fast!). I'm looking to roundup a bunch, the crazier and more visually stunning the better, including Female Body Candles, Cube Candles, Bendy Candles. 

4. For RetailMeNot, I'm also rounding up Government Employee Discounts for 2022. When pitching me, please make sure each offer has a relevant link (if at all possible) that the reader can click through to to learn more, such as a link to the restaurant's/merchant's page about the deal. It's going to be a similar style and format to this story if you want an idea of what I'm looking for.

5. For Forbes.com, I’m doing a roundup of ideas/tips on planning an at-home virtual Super Bowl party. If you have any pitches for me, please send asap!

6. For Forbes.com, I’m also rounding up great comfort food care packages. So many people are not feeling their best or isolating at home right now, these are food/drink care packages you can send a loved one if you can’t see them in person but yet really want them to know they are on your mind. Think along the lines of chicken soup, tea, hot toddy kits, etc.

Here's some stories that were published over the weekend...

Experts Explain How to Sell Unused Gift Cards (and Get What You Actually Want)

Our Favorite Funny Valentine’s Day Cards Are Sure To Make Them Giggle (Or Blush!) on February 14

Have the best day!

<3

aly