Friday Recs: A fun fall questionnaire, cozy pasta, and book glow-ups

#65, a mini edition. Let's chat!

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.

Happy Friday! As I write this, it’s Wednesday and I’m wrapping up work early this week to go on a little getaway to the charming Virginia countryside to celebrate our wedding anniversary. For one night. LOL! You really gotta take what you can get in these early parenthood days, and I’m grateful we’re even getting a night away, thanks to my in-laws.

I have a fun and short surprise for you below in lieu of recommendations this week, but before we get to that, I have to passionately recommend one thing: Ina Garten’s memoir. I’m halfway through and it is simply speaking directly to my soul, filled with Ina’s wise lessons on life, career, creativity, and joy. I’m also learning so much about her! I didn’t realize that Ina wrote her first cookbook when she was 52 years old. !! It’s really never too late to do something you’re passionate about. If you’re in need of a captivating, comforting, and hopeful story, I can’t recommend this memoir enough, especially on audio as Ina narrates it herself. I can’t wait to finish reading it.

An icon, a queen, a patron saint of Downtime

I have so many more thoughts to share, maybe in a newsletter next week? Is anyone else reading it? Would love to know what you think of it. x Alisha

P.S. Congrats to Grace F. on winning the Downtime subscriber giveaway! 🎉🎉 As a reminder, I’m running monthly giveaways as a way to say thank you to all the paid subscribers directly support this space. x

A snap from the pumpkin patch last week. Aka pure joy.

Honestly, fall is the time to lean into little joys. You want to buy a quart of apple cider and take a little sip as a treat in the middle of the day? Go for it. You want to spend all your money on decorative gourds and scatter them throughout your house because they delight you? Do it. You want a pumpkin spice cream-filled donut first thing in the morning from your favorite café even though you’re a full-fledged adult? Why the hell not! You want to drive to the store and buy a little bag of your favorite Halloween Reese’s chocolates (the pumpkin shape) with no intention of sharing them with anyone and especially not any kids? Grab your purse and keys at once and get thee hence! Be free, lean into the joys of the season, and don’t let anyone f with your autumnal spirit.

In the spirit of little fall joys, I thought it would be fun to turn this into a fun group chat.

🍂 I’ve got four *fall-themed* questions for you:

1. Do you have a favorite fall drink recipe (or one you’d like to try)?

2. What was your most memorable Halloween costume? Bonus points if there’s a good story.

3. What’s THE best Halloween candy? And the worst?

4. Do you have a fall bucket list thing you’d like to try?

Please drop your answers in the comments! 👇

And here are my answers… :)

1. Hot spiced apple cider. A classic and it just makes the house smell so good mulling on the stove.