Aly's Newsletter: Monday Edition!
Good morning, friends!
I hope all that celebrated Christmas this weekend had a lovely and safe time with friends and family.
I was really honored a few days ago to be on the 2021 list of Muckrack's 10 most viewed journalists of the year. This is the second year in a row, and while I'm not sure I'm doing anything worthy of all that viewing, I appreciate the support!
Some housekeeping
After New Years, I'm going to open this newsletter up to an additional paid subscription option.
ALL free subscribers will continue to get the newsletter for free with all my daily story leads, what I'm working on, and what has recently been published. That’s not going to change. There'll never be a charge for any of that.
But, I'll be doing supplemental weekly additional newsletters for a small (very small) monthly fee starting in January with additional features - perhaps the kind of information I discuss on consulting calls, job leads, family recipes, and more. I might also do dedicated Zoom Q&As about all that media type biz stuff just for paid subscribers.
If that's something you may be interested in, you can add on a paid subscription now. If not, you'll still get the same free newsletter you always have with everything I'm working on - that'll never change! The only difference is that paid subscribers will get some fun additional features.
Here's what I'm working on:
I know this week is sort of an in-between week for many work-wise, and I don't expect to get a ton of responses to this newsletter today...but here's what I'm working on this week.
1. Would love experts to weigh in on planning a virtual NYE celebration but also let me know if there's any cool virtual parties or classes and such going on. (For example, last year I took the most fun virtual pizza-making class on NYE). This is for a story I'm working on for Forbes.com
2. Due to the cream cheese shortage, I know some people are being industrious and attempting to make their own cream cheese at home. For Forbes.com, I'm hoping to write a quick and easy explainer for why someone should try to make their own cream cheese and how to do it. Please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if you have someone who can weigh in over email TODAY.
3. For SPY.com, working on the following stories, all tied into Valentine's Day:
Best products for single people
Best valentine’s day delivery gifts
Best valentine’s gifts to get on sale now
Best Valentine’s Day gifts — double story
Best Valentine’s Day gifts for new relationships (update)
For all of these, please mention if the item is sold at a major online retailer, and it must be currently in stock. I can't include something that isn't available yet or was and now is not. Please also include pricing info and why you think it's a good fit for that particular guide you are pitching (a long list of URLs is not a pitch, sorry.)
Here's what has recently been published...
Martha Stewart’s Stroopwafels Are the Sweet Treat You Need for Holiday Entertaining
Celebrate National Bacon Day with these freebies and discounts
Taco Bell is adding chicken wings to its menu in January
The Best Calendar Apps for Getting and Staying Organized
Hope you are having a good week!
For anyone following my Instagram cooking content, last night on my Instagram stories I made a cornish hen in the air fryer (so easy and fast) and tonight I'm going to be making one of my favorite winter comfort foods - bolognese. And there'll be enough left to freeze for future meals!
<3
aly