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.

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

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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

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! 👇

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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.

2. I’ll caveat my answer by saying that growing up, I was not allowed to celebrate Halloween. Let’s not get into it now, but yes, it was sad. Anyway. In my twenties, I once made, at the very last minute, an Amazon Alexa costume from some recycled black cardboard and silver markers. (Looking back, it’s a bit cringe. I’m guessing this was the first year it was released?) It lit up and everything with LED lights. What I love most about Halloween is the DIY-spirit and creativity that comes alive in adults especially, and this costume embodied that.

3. Best: A Twix bar. It’s been the same favorite all my life! Worst: Tootsie Rolls. (Sorry!!)

4. After making apple galettes last week, I’m excited to try other variations, like this gooey, buttery, crumbly Apple Crostada recipe from Ina Garten. Or maybe these Apple Cider Caramels, which would be so cute to bring over to a friend’s house in a little treat bag.

And if so…as what? (I won’t have a costume this year. Lily will be a unicorn so maybe I’ll be a last-minute princess to “match?”)

• This print from Etsy would be so charming in a living room.

• A squash, anchovy, and mascarpone pasta recipe? Please, say no more. 🤤 (by Sophie Wyburd)

• A very on-brand t-shirt from Sézane. 📚

• I keep hearing about this book called “The Pumpkin Spice Café” and how the small-town setting reminds everyone of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, if that’s up your alley. (It’s a “TikTok book” which scares me away a little…)

• A classic old book gets a glow-up by artist Riley Sheehey. Gorgeous!

• This has always been my favorite fall stoop in D.C.

• Sorry to bring up the C word but: I found these charming heirloom-quality, custom, hand-knit Christmas stockings, in case you’re in the market. Made by a mother and daughter from rural Pennsylvania! ($160+)

• I learned about this neat spot to shop antiques online from Alex Yeske’s interview with Teresa Wu.

• “Americans are spending more time at home alone than ever before.” A little depressing. More proof that we need more IRL community and accessible, connective spaces to gather (hello, public libraries). (NYT *gift link)

• Now might be a great time to support East Fork Pottery which was hit by Hurricane Helene. I’ve been a fan for years, and they’ve been wonderful past collaborators. I’m getting another of this mug in Amaro and maybe the popcorn bowl.

• This casting news makes me want to read The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, a thriller. It’s not usually my genre, but I’m intrigued!

• There were loads of great leggings recs in the comments last week, thank you! This pair caught my eye, and there’s also this Lululemon “dupe” from Amazon…

• Parents, please tell me: Is this car-seat unbuckler tool genius or silly?

• Bookmarking this delicious fall steak salad recipe from good mood food!

• I loved this subscriber chat thread about what to watch on BritBox (a streaming service that houses British shows).

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✨ COMMENT SPOTLIGHT ✨

This made me laugh…

“‘Can we bring back leggings?’ made me DEEPLY SIGH OF RELIEF.”

— Patty B., in response to last week’s question. I’m glad I’m not alone in desiring a leggings renaissance.

Thanks for reading and hope you have a relaxing weekend. x Alisha