“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. :)) Cozy Little Luxuries and the Simple Gifting Formula I’m Using This YearA low-cost way to delight *almost* everyone on your list.
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.Let’s be honest: this weekend is chaos—Thanksgiving prep and holiday sales mania, all on top of the general happy life chaos. Personally, I’m feeling woefully behind on all things holiday, catching up after nearly two whole months down for the count with all sorts of daycare-borne illnesses. Though I’m usually firing on all cylinders by the end of November on the gift-shopping front, I’m tempted to keep things simple this year. Here’s the formula I’m embracing for many giftees on my list: a book, selected just for them, paired with something cozy. Books make some of the most thoughtful gifts. The best presents aren’t flashy; they’re the ones that make someone feel seen and cared for. A thoughtfully chosen book says, I see you, I know your taste, and I think this story will bring you joy. One of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever received was in fourth grade. My teacher, Mrs. Davis, had a tradition of giving each student a carefully selected book, wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine, with a handwritten note on the inside cover. For me, she chose The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood, a middle-grade novel about an orphan in sixteenth-century London tasked with stealing Hamlet. It was dense, ambitious, and unlike anything I’d ever read. I was ten! That gift didn’t just show she saw me as a bookworm—it showed she believed in me. I’ll never forget how special that felt. I tell this story because, while books as gifts might sound simple—even boring—they don’t have to be. It’s all about the personal touch. Wrap it beautifully, include a note about why you picked it, and add a small extra to complete the experience. A novel set in England? Pair it with a tin of tea. A romance? Add a bar of good chocolate. A self-help book? How about a journal and a pen?
Three examples, above: Claire Keegan’s soon-to-be-adapted book paired with chocolate mice, as a book-side treat (because mice…are…small?? let’s roll with it). A collectors’ edition of Bridgerton with a special edition tin of tea. And lastly, the book that lit up everyone’s group chats this year, paired with a coquettish box of Swedish candy that evokes the froufrou femininity of the now-infamous motel room the main character redecorates. Of course, I realize this advice won’t work for everyone (some people—gasp—do not read books!). For them, may I suggest an audiobook instead? I want to know: What’s the most thoughtful, low-cost gift someone has ever gotten you? —Alisha P.S. There is so much fun chatter happening in our new Geneva chat, and lots of readers looking for others to join them in IRL book clubs and meetups. Paid subscribers, please see this post from last week for details on how to join. In today’s newsletter…
And here’s a sneak peek of what to expect next…quite a lot!
Gift Guide: Cozy Little LuxuriesI’m breaking from the usual format this week again. Rather than share recommendations, I’m offering a list of gift ideas to get the holiday season started. 🎁
Most of these picks are under $50, with just a few splurge-worthy options above that.
** = a local small business * = a woman-owned small business
A few fun links to click…
 Early sales to shop from brands I actually like and use…
✨ DOWNTIME SUBSCRIBER GIVEAWAY ✨ I’ve been giving away nice things every week as a way to say thank you to the paid supporters of Downtime. Congratulations to Rebecca D. who won last week’s ROZ haircare giveaway! If you’d like to join our paid community and be eligible for giveaways and other perks, click here. Thank you for reading! 💬 Psst: Give a rec, get a rec in our subscriber chat. Right now, there are threads about podcasts hosted by single women, recs for things to do in D.C., recs for a puzzle mat, and more. Paid subscribers, remember to join our Geneva chat! There are readers in sooo many cities looking for people to book club with. PREVIOUSLY ON DOWNTIME
Take care and hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving next week. x Alisha
1 I am of two minds: The upcoming sales weekend is the worst time of the year for my inbox, but…it’s also nice to take advantage of discounts on stuff you’d buy anyway or have been thinking about. And I like pointing you to the good things! So here we are. Please consume and gift responsibly this season. 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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petak, 22. studenoga 2024.
Cozy Little Luxuries and the Simple Gifting Formula I’m Using This Year
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