TGIF: I'm working on Father's Day gift guides! ...and more.
Also: I'm teaming up with RPZL for a glam giveaway you won't want to miss.
Hi, friends!
Hope everyone is having a lovely Friday - if you haven’t already ended your week and are headed off to do fun weekend things!
I had the BEST time this week during Jill Schildhouse’s all-too-short but super-fun visit to NYC this week. She was only in town for roughly 36 hours, but we fit a TON in. (She chatted a bit about in her Substack yesterday!) But she gave me the reins and allowed me to take total control of all her fun and food for her entire visit and I planned the most epic of mini food tours for her (with the help of some of you!) and it was perfection.
Looking forward, I have REALLY exciting omakase plans tonight with one of my dearest friends, but before I go into weekend mode, I had two very important reasons for sending out this newsletter — I’m working on two Father’s Day gift guides and I want to give you Friday warriors a sneak peek at them before Monday and I also wanted to give a final reminder about the really fun giveaway I’m doing this week with RPZL!
Fun giveaway alert!
This week, I’m teaming up with my bestie Lisa at RPZL for a major giveaway.
We’re giving away a staggering $500 worth a blowouts at RPZL as well as some of my very favorite products — the Polisher brush (which I love so much I have both one at home and one I that I use for travel), the Kate bow (which comes in a million fun shades and JUST won Cosmopolitan’s Holy Grail beauty award!), as well as the Scarlet headband (which you see me wearing constantly), and a few more surprises.
How do you win?
If you are a paid subscriber, you are already entered!
If you are not a paid subscriber, you can still enter now (or get a second entry if you are a paid subscriber!) by liking and sharing this post with a friend, and following both @alywalansky and @rpzlrpzl on Instagram. If your friend(s) you share it with subscribe, you both get an additional entry, too. I’ll notify a winner by end of weekend.
Limited-time deal on ad placement!
I’m also offering a seasonal special on advertising in this newsletter. I’d love to place your sponsored posts and advertising in this substack, which goes out to nearly 10,000 media professionals every single day; Note: I do limit advertising to only what would be of interest to my readers, but am open to both short paragraph blurbs and dedicated posts - if you are interested in chatting details and scheduling something, please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com today!
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Thank you for helping get the word out!
We loved how many of attended you took the time to attend our webinar event last month, covering the upcoming ShareASale to Awin migration. We covered an overview of the migration process and timeline, pricing of networks, and choosing a network for your specific client needs. If you missed it, we do have a recording available for paid subscribers. Email if interested and I’ll share how to grab that recording as well!
Looking to up your affiliate marketing game?
Affiliate marketing is complicated, and it seems that the landscape keeps changing. If you are looking to be prepared for gift guide season and all other shopping-related content, you may want to try the 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!)
Newly published or freshly updated
Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.
Forbes.com: 17 Lemon-Centric Cocktails To Enjoy All Spring
Forbes.com: Chefs Nationwide Are Honoring Ramp Season In Some Delicious Ways
Forbes.com: Royal Caribbean To Launch Nostalgic Chicago Supper Club Concept This Summer.
HerMoney: How To Get Cheap Hotels When You Travel.
Southern Living: How To Tell If Your Steak Has Gone Bad
Forbes.com: Illustrator Tea Brings Whimsy To One Of New York City’s Most Refined Traditions
Forbes.com: Virgin Voyages Launches Rojo, Adding More Razzle Dazzle To High Seas.
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Travel Writer, and I Swear by These Packable Ballet Flats for Comfort, Support, and Long Days on My Feet
Travel & Leisure: This Flight Attendant-approved Jumpsuit Is My Go-to Comfy Airplane Outfit — and It’s Only $25 Right Now$150 and Under
Forbes.com: Brother’s Bond Bourbon Looks To Stir Up Sustainability During Earth Month
Forbes.com: Daniel Boulud Is Again Bringing The Michelin Experience To Air Travel.
Forbes.com: Locally Sourced Ingredients Are Foundation Of Salad-Centric Culinary Program
Forbes.com: 15 Lavender-Based Treats And Cocktails To Enjoy This Spring
Saatva: The Best Ways to Remove Tough Stains From Your Mattress
Apartment Therapy: I Tried the “Weight Rule” for Decluttering, and It Keeps My Small Apartment Clutter-Free
Travel & Leisure: This Flight Attendant-approved Jumpsuit Is My Go-to Comfy Airplane Outfit — and It’s Only $25 Right Now.
Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Often, and I Won’t Stay in Another Airbnb Without Packing This 1 Safety Device
Yahoo Life!: Best pedometers of 2025, tested and reviewed
Yahoo Life: The best black tea to brew in 2025, according to testers and experts
Travel & Leisure: I Found the Perfect Walking Shoes to Prevent Sore Feet During Travel — Score Styles on Sale Up to 62% Off
Travel & Leisure: In-flight Theft Is Unfortunately a Thing, but These 12 Items Give Me Peace of Mind When I'm Traveling by Plane
Southern Living: The Unexpected Reason I Always Travel With Duct Tape—And You Should Too
If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.
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.
Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.
Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.
Saatva
I’m working on a story on How to Go to Sleep Fast: Tips to Help You Fall Asleep Quickly - and I’m looking for a sleep expert or two to weigh in, as far as: some reasons why you can’t fall asleep, special considerations, tips for falling asleep faster, long-term sleep strategies, and more. Please don’t send commentary without emailing me first, as I have specific questions (and I’ll need experts unaffiliated with other mattress brands for this one, please).
Forbes
I’m working on two Father’s Day-gift guide type projects - As in, they are for Father’s Day, and will involve gift ideas and products, but aren’t going to be a product-specific guide in the most classic of senses.
How to plan the perfect Father's Day for the carnivore in your life -- For this story, I’m looking to round up some products (meats, marinades, spices, perhaps), but also get some chef input as far as ideas for making the day special and unique.
Dad has wanderlust? Here's some foodie ideas for honoring his love of travel - Maybe if he's craving a trip to NYC, send him pastrami from a Jewish deli, or if he's craving lobster, send him a lobster pot pie from New England, but also some ideas for having a travel-themed food experience right at home this Father's Day. Would totally be open to chef input for this one as well!
May is National Salad Month, and there’s some great salads found in unexpected places around New York City. I’m doing a roundup of great salads at NYC restaurants — do you go to a steakhouse just to eat their amazing chopped kale starter salad? I’ve been there. Tell me where this salad is, what’s in it, why it’s great, and get me an image and a chef’s quote about it if you wish to be considered. I’m also up for some great salad in a bag/box type options you can enjoy right at home for when you can’t venture out for the fancy stuff.
<3
aly
Have a great weekend! I had to google what "omakase" means, but now I know a new word/style of dining. This is why I love hanging out on Substack :) :)
Ooo yay for glam giveaways! Have a great weekend Aly!