Wednesday: So much thanks!!! Also: Newly published Valentine's content + upcoming stories

Good morning and happy Wednesday!

First of all, I want to say SO MUCH THANKS to the many dozens of you who sent me beautiful emails and social media messages about the new RPZL x ALY Valentine’s Day capsule collection.

Your support means the world to me and I’m SO glad you are as excited as I am. (And don’t forget, for one week only, you can 25% off any piece in the collection, exclusively for my Substack community, with code ALY25.)

It’s a busy week (even outside of launching a headband and bow collection and planning a launch party in its honor!) because I’m wrapping up the last of my Valentine’s guides and also planning for my first trip of 2024: Next week I fly to Miami to take part in the press preview sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (the current largest ship in the world!), and it’ll be extra exciting because I’ll have a few dear friends onboard. But also: I’ll get to say goodbye to snow and ice and 5-degree wind chills for a week!

In story news, happy to share that I just this morning published a new gift guide - and it’s all about romantic kitchenware! My Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Most Romantic Kitchen Gifts is now live and has so much cute stuff to stock up on for the holiday. Also new this week - Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Best Heart-Shaped Food Gifts and Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Best Bougie Culinary Gifts and some food content as we rev up for a healthier and happy new year - for Today.com, 27 healthy fast food items at popular US chains, according to dietitians and doctors and for Southern Living: Can You Freeze Brussels Sprouts? (spoiler alert: yes!).

I’m also sourcing for two new Valentine’s related cocktail roundups - and one is very pink. More on that below!

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.

This list will live on my Substack URL and be updated as necessary. That way, you can see what I’m doing at any publication, at any time, from types of stories to general structure of stories to even volume and frequency of my content at that outlet.

This can also help you to target pitching a bit better. That makes your job easier, and mine too!

• Forbes.com: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Most Romantic Kitchen Gifts

• Today.com: 27 healthy fast food items at popular US chains, according to dietitians and doctors

• Southern Living: Can You Freeze Brussels Sprouts?

• Forbes.com: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Best Heart-Shaped Food Gifts

• Forbes.com: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Best Bougie Culinary Gifts

• Clean Plates: 12 Weight Loss Strategies That Are Easy To Follow, Say Experts

• Clean Plates: 7 Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

• Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Often, and I Won’t Stay in Another Airbnb Without Packing This One Safety Device

• Forbes.com: Pantone’s 2024 Color Of The Year Is Resulting In Glorious Peach-Hued Cocktails

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.

Forbes

For Valentine’s Day, I’m also rounding up sexy and/or romantic cocktails. These MUST exist on the menu at a bar or restaurant. I do not need recipes. Please send me name of the drink, where it’s available, description, quote from bartender/mixologist/chef/owner about the drink, name of person being quoted (I can’t TELL you how often this part is forgotten!) and an image with appropriate photo credits.

In another cocktail roundup I’m working on, just in time for this week’s Mean Girls release, I’m working on a themed cocktail guide in its honor. It’ll be a roundup of hot pink cocktails. If you have anything, please email me in the exact same format as the V-day story I’m sourcing for above.

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!)

Virtual (and now in-person!) consulting sessions...

Looking for a consult as you plan your next event or trip? Or just want someone to take a look at the pitches you’ve been sending and give some feedback? I’m available for PR team virtual meetings to answer questions about pitching, events, and trips from a media perspective.  Note: I’m also available to travel for consulting sessions as long as travel expenses are covered. We can chat! This is available for entire agencies or smaller group lunch and learn type concepts.

Have a great day!

<3