Aly's Newsletter: Thursday Edition

Happy Thursday!

It's another murky, cold day in NYC, and I'm three coffees in and dreaming of the leftovers waiting in my fridge for lunch.

Last week, my paid newsletter addressed issues related to planning and hosting a successful cooking-related Zoom event. Last night, I attended an event that hit all the right buttons and I was so excited to see it. It was hosted by a celebrity chef, who made great effort to be interactive, the ingredients were sent ahead via Instacart with excellent communication the whole way as to what was arriving, and how, and when, and the cooking class itself was approachable, involved minimal tools, and very accessible to all sorts of dietary needs. Plus, most importantly, it was fun and a brilliant way to showcase a product. Let's hope it's a sign of more of the same to come.

I'm feeling a little sad today because I had to turn down what was a dream press trip for me - to my favorite part of the world to learn about one of my favorite wines. Let's hope that this whole surge quiets down soon and we can all get back to doing the things we love with the people we love -- live and in person. Until then, thank god for Zoom, right?

 Here's what I'm working on today:

1. 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 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.

3. 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.

Here is what has published since yesterday:

As always, I super appreciate any and all shares tagging me and the outlet.

Kitchn

Starbucks’ Good Vibe Messenger Is the Exact Mood We’re Going for This Year

Forbes.com

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For A Romantic Dinner At Home

SPY.com

The Best Virtual Gifts Because Everything Is More Convenient Online

I hope to get the next paid newsletter out either later today or tomorrow morning. So, speak soon!

<3

aly