Category: Just for Fun

Just for Fun

Holiday Season

by AllieLeave a Comment on Holiday Season



Been a busy holiday season! Hence the infrequent posts…errr sorry!

Here are a few photos of what I’ve been doing. Mainly a nice blend of cheesy holiday tourist stuff (Bryant Park tree, Rockerfeller Center tree, Saks Window peeping, Peppermint Mocha-twist sipping, etc.) also some work functions mixed in and lots of shopping, baking (ok I’m lying about the baking, but I WANT to do some!) and lots of stress! I seem to always get really stressed this time of year no matter what is going on. It always seems like I have a million things to do and I freak out (I “freak out” alot…).

Anyway, I was snowed in tonight, just hanging out and catching up, so I figured I’d do the recap thing. Also, I just wrote a guest blog post to be appearing soon on my bosses blog HilaryTopper.com. Not sure when it will be up, but keep checking anyway…it’s a fun read!

Just for Fun

I’m over it…

by AllieLeave a Comment on I’m over it…


So I think I may have grown out of Halloween…at least until I have some kiddies to dress up in cute, fuzzy, non-slutty, non-scary costumes.

I clearly remember Halloween being my favorite holiday as a child. The costumes, the silly string, the fun with friends, oh yeah and the enormous pile of candy that lasted for weeks! My brother and I used to pour all our loot out on the kitchen floor and then engage in intense trading and deal making until we both had the perfect stash of treats. Other fond Halloween related memories include the annual Charlie Brown Pumpkin special, carving jack-o-lanterns and cooking the seeds (oh yeah, and crying when the neighborhood hoodlums would smash my favorite pumpkin right off on our porch!) and drinking apple cider and homemade cookies.

Somehow over the years, Halloween has moved down on my list to maybe a notch above, say, Secretary’s Day (no offense to celebrators of this holiday). Once I outgrew the trick or treating, I still enjoyed wearing grunge clothes out on Halloween night armed with as many bottles of shaving cream as my mom would allow and spending the night with friends. College brought about new meaning to the holiday, where elaborate parties and costumes that began with the word “naughty” or “sexy” became the only acceptable ones. I remember trying my best not to conform, borrowing a friends karate outfit one year, and going as a hippie another.

This year, as I braved the streets of NYC as a “librarian,” I found myself wishing more than once that I was curled up by a fireplace sipping spiced cider and handing out mini snickers to ballerinas and pirates. Am I getting jaded, or just old?

I had a fun night, first going to a costume party, and then a local pub in Soho (after getting turned away from the bar we had planned on going to for arriving too late). I saw some funny costumes, shared some beers and laughs with my friends and took silly photos, but between the lack of cabs, my painful shoes and the crowded streets and bar counters, I think I may sit next year out–have I become a Halloween scrooge? You decide!

Just for Fun, Worklife

Media Advisory–PR girls don’t eat dessert!

by Allie1 Comment on Media Advisory–PR girls don’t eat dessert!

So a couple of months back I attended a Publicity Club of NY luncheon and “jokingly” poked fun at the crowd of coiffed, predominantly female attendees. Well yesterday, I revisited the scene and quickly saw that I wasn’t the only one who observed the unusual habits of the “NYC PR girl.”

Generally at these types of luncheons, you get served a nice chicken dish, maybe even a steak if you’re lucky, and usually some sort of generic cake/pie/ice cream type desert. Not gonna lie, I always eat the desert! Interestingly, I believe I might be the only one in PR that does. This month’s luncheon served up possibly the most healthy meal ever placed in front of me. Appetizer–lettuce with possibly a dash of some sort of vinaigrette, Main Course–steamed veggies, boiled potatoes and what I guess was poached salmon? (PS, I loathe salmon…), “Desert” (And I use that term loosely)–3 blueberries and a strawberry. Oh yeah, and the Diet Coke was in full effect, but regular Coke had been pulled from the table all together!

Now don’t get me wrong, I fully attended this luncheon for the panelists and networking, and very much enjoyed their discussion and helpful hints, and as a former waitress, I am grateful for any nice meal that is prepared and served to me, but I just had to comment on the hilarity of the menu and beverage choice for the crowd of nearly all young women with “small appetites.” I bet the few men in the room left there hungry!

This got me wondering why there are so few men in the business. Even in my own office, the women outnumber the men by a lot (A LOT!) It doesn’t seem like a girly profession to me, anyone have any thoughts on this?

Oh yeah, and once again, even though I was furiously taking notes about potential blog topics during the luncheon, I was also gaining valuable insight into the pitching preferences of journalists. One thing was clear, phone calls are out, emails are in. All five editors and writers on the panel agreed that they rarely even answer their office phones and never listen to voicemails. I guess the days of call sheets and rehearsed pitches are over. In this digital world, a short, compelling email that positions your client as a “gotta have it” story seems like the way to go. One thing that was interest to me though, was that most of the panelists DID NOT enjoy the follow up email. My colleagues and I have always thought this was a great way to stay fresh in a writers mind and to give them a gentle reminder to get in touch. So now I’m torn, to follow up or not to follow up, that is the question…

Just for Fun

Tourist for a day…

by AllieLeave a Comment on Tourist for a day…

So even though I grew up on LI, live there now, and have been going to NYC since I was in the womb, I am still a sucker for many of the cliche tourist attractions.

Last Friday, I took part in the tourist ritual of arriving at Rockefeller Center at the wee hours of the morning in hopes to catch a good view of the live concert outside the Today Show. Kenny Chesney, one of my all-time favorite performers was there and I just had to go. We arrived pretty early (at least by my standards) at around 6:15 and already the line was like 3 blocks long. “Ugghh” I thought as we got in line behind a bunch of southerners with cowboy hats and “I love NY” t-shirts. “Will we get in?” I asked the people in front of us. “No clue, this is our first time in NY,” they replied in HEAVY southern drawl. Hmm….

It’s good to know the right people. A certain “spin doctor” really helped my out by letting me have his VIP tickets. We got to leave the tourist-filled line behind and waltz right up to the stage area, literally within spitting distance to Kenny, Matt Lauer and the rest of the show. It was great…I owe someone a few beers at Third and Long soon!

On my list of other touristy things I want to take part in….Shakespeare in the Park, attending a live taping of SNL or Conan O’Brien, and yes, I still like to go see the Tree and go Ice Skating in Central Park come Christmas time…does this make me “not a real NYer” or is it ok to enjoy the touristy activities along with the secret local hangouts every now and then?

Just for Fun, Social Media

Coffee and Margaritas (But not together…)

by Allie3 Comments on Coffee and Margaritas (But not together…)

We all have our vices. The things that give us that extra kick in the morning or help us relax after a long day. The above noted are mine…well at least the ones I can mention here 😉

When my boss and I discovered the latest trend in blogging, “beta testing,” we were psyched. When we found out we were going to get free coffee and all we had to do was drink it and write about it, we were beyond psyched. So here it is, my first review…and if any Tequila companies are reading this (especially Patron or Sauza Hornitos) I would be honored to drink lots of free samples from you and write wonderful things about you. Everyday. Thanks.

Ok so Joffrey’s Coffee…

The flavor they sent me was called Jamaican me Crazy which instantly reminded me of this tasty dish that we used to serve at my old establishment called the Jamaican Me Crazy Mon, which was actually a Jamaican Jerk porkchop. Tourists used to get such a kick out of saying the full name when they ordered it, but I digress…

My roommate is very set in her ways. Every morning we make Maxwell House coffee and she flavors hers with French Vanilla creamer only. She does not stray from this so I knew I’d be on my own sampling my new fun flavor. I made it after she had safely left for work and was instantly drawn in by the smell. It smelled like syrup, or better yet, a full homemade waffle, syrup and coffee breakfast. It was a very welcoming and soothing smell as I was rushing to pour the coffee in my travel mug and run out the door, late as usual…

As I drank the coffee on my ride to work, it definitely made me feel invigorated and pumped for my day. The smell, the sweet and strong taste and the smoothness all contributed to its charm. The actual flavor is described as caramel, vanilla and coffee liquer. I wouldn’t have been able to pinpoint the exact flavors that were melting in my mouth but they definitely made for a lovely combo. I sipped it all the way to my office and still had a little left as I got to my desk. A few minutes after I settled in, my office roomie asked “what’s that smell, it smells like maple syrup in here!” I informed him it was Joffrey’s coffee, a new flavor and he responded that it smelled awesome. It did indeed!

I still have a little Joffrey’s left and I am now rationing it and saving it for a special morning or a special someone to share it with. Want to drink some with me? Let me know!