Downtime - 10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week
“Receiving Downtime is the highlight of my week!” “I’ve been a longtime reader for years and finally decided to upgrade my subscription.” “This is the only newsletter I pay for.” Join in the fun—become a paid subscriber to Downtime for exclusive content, reader chats, full access to the archives, giveaways, and more. Your subscription directly supports the growth of the newsletter. (And also, it helps me pay my editors, designers, collaborators, etc. :)) This is the Friday post at Downtime, a feel-good weekly roundup of recommendations and delightful distractions. If the email cuts off, you can view it on the web.Somehow it’s mid-November and Thanksgiving (for my U.S. readers) is rushing towards us with urgent speed, completely oblivious to all the *gestures wildly* stuff happening in the world. So! The important question must be asked: What’s on your Thanksgiving menu this year? Does anyone have a favorite stuffing recipe to share? Are you team canned cranberry or fresh? (Always the can for us!) My favorite dish that’s received rave reviews from guests in the past is this mashed potatoes with “crispety cruncheties” dish by Molly Baz and carla lalli music, from the 2019 Thanksgiving edition of Bon Appétit, which I have lovingly stashed in our cookbook pile. Now it’s your turn—tell me in the comments! What Thanksgiving dish are you excited to make? Favorite recipes welcome. —Alisha P.S. Downtime gift guides are coming! They’re just a little late, thanks to an unrelenting cocktail of daycare-borne illnesses making the rounds in our household (the latest being hand, foot, and mouth disease—trust me, don’t Google it). Thank you for your patience, dear readers. Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Hinge. Thanks for supporting the brands that help keep Downtime going. 10 Small Joys From The WeekI’m breaking from the usual format this week and rather than share recommendations, I’m offering a list of 10 things that made me happy this week. Because…it’s been a hard month. Here we go. 1. Looking at and buying good art.Local artist Carolyn Misterek’s paintings have always been a favorite of mine. If you’re a fan of flowers and oil paintings, you might love her work too. I currently own two large-format originals and a few small pieces, and I just bought this moody print from her shop. I always think buying art that speaks to you is a wonderful investment and a great way to support a creative. Honorable mentions:
2. Embracing a “monk mode” morning.As Cal Newport describes it, this practice means no phone, no internet, no social media, and no email until noon. It’s a gentler, quieter way to start the day, allowing me to avoid the overstimulation of social media in the mornings. I've found it refreshing to have space to think, write, and plan with a calm, focused mind. 3. “Healing fiction” is popular in Korea and Japan.I’m predicting it’s going to have a moment in the U.S. in 2025, too.
Chaotic indeed. Also, how great are these covers? 4. Sprucing up a neglected space (our guest bedroom) on a budget.Our good friend is staying with us soon, so I took the opportunity to pick up this pillow from Schoolhouse to brighten up the space. I couldn’t find a bedside table I loved (still endlessly scrolling Facebook Marketplace…), so I improvised by flipping a woven laundry hamper upside down and calling it a day. If you have a space in need of some extra love, consider this your permission to go ahead and buy that beautiful home item you’ve been eyeing. 5. Enjoying tea, cookies, and a comfort read in the evening.Honestly, my brain just… couldn’t this past week, with the election stress and all the illnesses going around at home. This cozy combo was exactly what I needed. The cookie bark is from Tate’s (SO good), this middle-grade fantasy book is a perfect escapist read, full of adventure, bravery, and magical creatures, and this gorgeous handpainted mug (which was kindly gifted to me) has quickly become my new favorite. (And any tea will do, but if you’re looking for the coziest recommendations, check out this previous edition of Downtime.) 6. The Martha documentary on Netflix.Have you watched this yet? I went in expecting the usual self-congratulatory tone of most celebrity documentaries, but it surprised me by addressing Martha’s jail time and her notoriously brusque demeanor with employees head-on. I had also completely forgotten just how off the radar she was until about 2016-ish. Martha’s militaristic, perfectionist tendencies are an interesting foil to Ina Garten’s warm, easygoing style showcased in her memoir. 7. Feeling excited for PIE SEASON.What’s your favorite pie to bake this time of year? I’m no star baker, so I ordered a few pies from our favorite local, woman-owned, Korean-owned bakery. I’m also loving this New York Times pie package—they hit it out of the park with this one and the visuals are stunning. Bookmarking these recipes for when the time feels right. (That coconut caramel tart—omg!) And, of course, Martha has her take, too: 8. Enjoying a major light bulb moment about personal style.Lately, I’ve been diving into the archives of my Pinterest board for style inspiration. My thought process: if something I pinned years ago still feels stylish today, maybe it’s my personal style north star. Or if there’s a particular person whose looks I keep saving, could they be my style muse? For me, Alexa Chung keeps reappearing. Her style is timeless and effortlessly classic. I found an image of hers from 2018, and I genuinely couldn’t tell if it was from then or 2024—now that’s true, enduring style. It’s a handy little life hack, too. In the mornings, I find myself asking, “What would Alexa Chung wear?” Usually, the answer is jeans, a knit, some killer boots, and a coat. Easy. It might be a fun experiment to try yourself. We tend to bookmark, save, and file things away, rarely revisiting them. But what new inspiration might strike when we do? Plus, it’s a great way to escape doomscrolling—you’re archivescrolling instead. 9. Celebrating the fact that Bad Sisters has returned with Season 2.Thank you, dear lord, for bringing us season two of this show just when we needed it. I’ve heard this season takes a darker turn. Who else will be watching? 10. This delightfully bookish candle collaboration.This collab between Books Are Magic and Joya Studio is calling every Downtime readers’ name. The “Books” candle smells heavenly—fresh citrus with a touch of woodsy warmth. This would make a fabulous gift for any literature lover. And now I’d love to hear from you… What were your highly specific small joys this week? (However teeny tiny they were!)Just a few more fun links to click…
*Sponsored mention. All opinions are my own and Downtime is not affiliated with any of the other mentioned parties. ✨ DOWNTIME SUBSCRIBER GIVEAWAY ✨ I’m starting monthly giveaways for paid subscribers, featuring some lovely items that brands occasionally send my way. This week, I’m giving away a special holiday set from the haircare brand ROZ to one lucky paid Downtime subscriber. ($148 value) I’ll select the winner on Monday using a random number generator! You must be 18 or older and live in the U.S. to be eligible to win. This giveaway is not sponsored by any brand, it’s just a brand/product that I love. If you’d like to join our paid community and be eligible for giveaways and other perks, click here. Thank you! 💬 Psst: Give a rec, get a rec in our subscriber chat. Right now, there are threads about the best bed sheets, Great British Bakeoff upsets, and recs for really great notebooks! PREVIOUSLY ON DOWNTIME Coming up next: An author interview who has a wonderful new book out and some holiday gift guides. Also, I haven’t forgotten about the city book clubs mentioned last week—just working some things out on the back end before we organize a space to make them happen. Take care! x Alisha You're currently a free subscriber to Downtime. If you’re enjoying it, could you consider upgrading your subscription? For $5/month, you’ll gain access to more recommendations, exclusive content, our subscriber chat, the full archives, and more. You’ll also support *all* the work that goes into producing this newsletter each week — the writing, editing, interviewing, graphic design, and so on. Either way, thanks for reading! This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click something and buy it, I may earn a small cut of the purchase at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work; I only recommend things I truly love and/or have vetted. If you enjoyed this post, please click the like ❤️ button at the bottom. It helps others discover my content and is a *free* way to show your appreciation. You could also forward it to a friend you think might enjoy it. You can also screenshot a favorite part and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag me, @alisharamos so I can repost it. Follow me on Instagram and look through ShopMy for my latest finds. |
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Five comforts and some post-election media recs
Friday, November 8, 2024
Gathering in community is what we need right now. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Friday Recs: Charging my joy batteries, cozy recipe charts for fall, and good matcha
Friday, November 1, 2024
Featuring a Q&A with bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen. Plus a special holiday gift guide announcement! This is Friday Recs #68. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
A Little Self-Care Trick (And Some Treats)
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
...and some treats. I'm sharing ten little ways I'm taking care right now during an incredibly anxiety-inducing, brain-melting time. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Weekend Recs #67: The best cozy teas and escaping election doom spiraling
Friday, October 25, 2024
Plus some links that brought me joy this week. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The Dessert That Feels Like A Warm Hug, From Pastry Chef Paola Velez
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
And a Q&A with the author of BODEGA BAKES. Paola shares her creamy, spiced flan recipe with us — perfect for chilly nights and too good to miss. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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