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Downtime Notes #55: Shopping as fantasy, girls who grill, and a beach read

This is weekend recs, just with a new name!

Alisha Ramos

Jul 12

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Hi, happy Friday!

A quick programming note before today’s post:

I’ve been doing a bit of thinking on how to allow for more creativity and flow with Downtime, so I’m trying something new here. What was “Weekend Recs” is now just “Downtime Notes.” I might have enthusiastic and lengthy recommendations one week, while other weeks I may just have a quick bullet list of five fun things currently inspiring me or stuff that’s on my radar.

I’m hoping this will free me up to work on more posts throughout the week that touch on shopping, style, books, and inspo. Let’s see how it goes in the coming months, and I’m all ears for what you think!

Thanks for being here and for reading. I continue to be so grateful for this community, I literally could not do this without you.

x Alisha

P.S. I have an exciting announcement for my fellow House of the Dragon fans: I’m starting subscriber chat threads for each episode, which you can find right here. 🐉 See you all on Sunday. !!!

A book I’m reading…

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand. Since we’re headed to Nantucket soon, I thought it apt to pick up a Hilderbrand book from the library—I loved 28 Summers. I grabbed the only title they had. The Perfect Couple is a beachy murder mystery that centers on a lavish oceanfront wedding on the island.

Lo and behold, Netflix actually just released a trailer for their upcoming movie adaptation of this book, with an incredible cast!! It will star Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, Meghann Fahy, Mia Isaac (from Black Cake), and Eve Hewson (from Bad Sisters, which was so good!). This might be a great time to go grab this book before the movie comes out. (Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm)

What I cooked this week…

I’m continuing to push my #girlswhogrill agenda on IG and some people expressed interest in learning more. Grilling is the best. Everything becomes more delicious when tossed on a grill.

I know a grill may seem intimidating to some, but if even an idiot like myself can do it, you can, too. I believe in you. Plus as a bonus, you can sip a cold glass of pre-dinner rosé or a non-alc spritz outside while you’re hard at work. ;)

So so good and easy. Don't forget the balsamic glaze! I used a store bought one called Nonna's but you could make your own.

My grilled pizza “recipe”: I bought ready-made pizza dough from Trader Joe’s, stretched it out, then poured some olive oil on that before placing it right on the grill at 400 degrees, oiled side down. When that side has cooked, take the dough off the grill and it’s time for your toppings, which will go on your grilled side. Slather on some ready-made pizza sauce, then add torn pieces of mozz, arugula, and prosciutto on top. The pizza then goes back in the grill for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Drizzle the pizza with balsamic glaze when it comes off the grill and cut with kitchen scissors. I roughly followed this TikTok on how to grill pizza, and it worked like a charm. Please report back if you try it this week!
Some helpful grilling tools: Long grilling tongs and a spatula should really be all you need. For cleaning after use, get a grill brush. We have a classic wire brush, but I might get this one next since it’s safer (and because my new unlocked anxiety is getting a wire stuck in my throat).

Do you have any favorite *easy* grilling recs? What do you serve it with?

Leave a comment

What I’m queuing up on TV…

Besides getting completely sucked into Love Island US (no spoilers please! I don’t trust Rob!) and House of the Dragon, I have My Lady Jane (on Prime) on my radar, a buzzy new historical fantasy and romance.

voguemagazine

A post shared by @voguemagazine

I also watched a few episodes of the Netflix docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which was fascinating and frustrating. Most of it is predictable dance-momsy stuff, like the somewhat horrifying way the judges talk about the women’s bodies and appearance.

The series does a great job shedding light on the eyebrow-raising business practices of the DCC; for example, I had no idea that most of the squad were not paid well and that they held other full-time jobs on top of this already very demanding gig.

What I bought recently….and some shopping thoughts:

🍅 Dress - Doen; Sold out online, but join the waitlist.

I grabbed quite a few things from Doen’s secondhand sale I shared a few weeks ago and a few new pieces (oops). This is a brand whose pieces always make me happy; they are pricey, but I’ve found the quality, cuts, and craftsmanship to be worth the cost if you can swing it (most of the time).

I absolutely love and kept this floral dress, this tomato-girl-summer dress, this smocked dress, and this fancy-ish black cotton top that’s a good alt to a tee.

I tried to take a cute pic but got bit by a gazillion mosquitoes instead. (The dress is by Doen. The sandals are from J.Crew).

I meant to grab just secondhand pieces, but I got a little too add-to-cart click-happy and bought some pieces that were absolutely stunning but ultimately impractical…

Dress - Doen. I fell in love with this fun print, but I was hoping for a cotton-y material rather than viscose crepe, so this one is going back. It also leans a little sheer, FYI!

And yet…I can’t part with this particular gorgeous puff-sleeve secondhand dress that—as babyish it is to say—made me feel like a princess as soon as I put it on. (The dress has princess seams at the front; perhaps that’s why, d’oh).

My rational brain tells me not to keep the piece, but…I’m going to keep it. The exaggerated sleeves and fitted bodice make it too fancy for casual daytime wear, but I’m hoping that one day I’ll have the right occasion for it.

The princess dress. (A size L is available on Poshmark here.)

I know I’m just rationalizing this purchase. But is shopping fun anymore if there’s not just a tiny bit of fantasy left in it?

Maybe my fantastical shopping mistake reveals a desire for a different kind of life—or at least a different kind of cadence to my life, one in which I do wear fanciful clothing a bit more often to go out on date nights, or to a show, or to a nice dinner with friends. (You know, all the pre-baby stuff, ha!)

I don’t know where I’m going with this. We talk a lot about buying items that are practical for our real, everyday life. For who we really are, right now. But maybe the purchases we make that fall outside of that are trying to tell us something, and that’s worth tuning into.

I need Doen to make more smocked dresses! This one was extremely comfortable and checked a Goldilocks fantasy-meets-reality box. (Dress - Doen; Pearl Anklet - Sezane)

(Btw, I understand why people scoff at shopping and style content; a lot of it is caught up in this type of — let’s face it — navel-gazing and narcissism. But I find it fun and revelatory, even. :) )

P.S. I’ve been putting my recent shopping finds here throughout the week, if you’re in a shopping mood and want everything in one spot. 🛍️

A reader recommendation…

Finally, here’s a rec from Downtime reader Lindsey, following up on last week’s letter about travel:

“"The Original Magic Hat” is my favorite hat, travel-approved and magic indeed. The other canvas dupes just don't compare. You can find these sold at several other retailers, too.”

The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NYT *gift link) — I saw this all over my social media feed this week. There’s a fun interactive element where you can which you’ve read and which you’d like to read.

A Romance Bookstore Boom (NYT *gift link) — I absolutely love this!! Who wants to go in on opening one in D.C. with me?!

“There’s a boom in romance bookstores. More than 20 of them have sprung up around the United States in the past few years — up from just two in 2020 — and more are on the way.
They have quirky names like the Ripped Bodice, Tropes & Trifles, Love’s Sweet Arrow, and Kiss & Tale. They’re sprinkled across the country, from Alaska to Maine. They’re largely owned and operated by women, and have become vibrant community hubs for romance fans.”

Love this creative wallpaper-on-the-ceiling idea.
A truly iconic home renovation project. I gasped!!
Michelle Zauner on rediscovering her own version of Korea. (Korea Times) — I loved Crying in H Mart. I’m excited to hear that she’s working on another book.
Fox Fodder Farms’ emails make me feel like I’m receiving a bouquet daily in my inbox.