Thoughts on wanting community vs. actually creating it — plus 10 gift ideas for Valentine's Day.

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	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Occasionally, Downtime newsletters are paywalled for paid subscribers only. Today is one of those days! Subscriptions are $6/month or just $5/month if paid annually. Paid subscribers receive exclusive content, gain access to the full archives, can start chat threads, and more. Plus, your support directly helps sustain the newsletter. Either way, thanks for reading! Upgrade to paid Recs #78: Less overthinking, sweet gifts, and what’s on my radar Thoughts on wanting community vs. actually creating it — plus 10 gift ideas for Valentine's Day. Alisha Ramos Feb 7 ∙ Preview   READ IN APP   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. Hello! Thanks for your patience and sorry for the no-show last Friday — as some of you saw, I was quite sick. I’m back, feeling human again, and praying I’ve done my time on the non-stop carousel of daycare viruses (at least for this season—please, dear god). ~ hanging on by a thread ~ Anyway. How was your week? LOL. What an insane question, right? Things don’t feel normal right now and I want to acknowledge that. This newsletter is a space for joy, warmth, and community—but pretending things are fine feels off. They are, objectively, not fine. Two dangerous, power-hungry narcissists are attempting a coup within our government. It’s overwhelming but I refuse to be overwhelmed into paralysis. Emily in Your Phone has been a guiding light on ways you can take action. I also like how easy 5 Calls is to use. If you’d like to organize any IRL call-a-thons, the Downtime reader chat is open. Giving everyone a big hug and permission to let out a collective scream. *** On not overthinking hangouts Okay, a hard pivot. :) I’ve been thinking a lot this week about this piece by Amanda Litman on the loneliness of adulthood and the very real challenge of making plans with friends that actually happen. To combat said challenge, Amanda’s husband set an ambitious resolution: hosting a Saturday night dinner every week in a low-key way. No big fuss, no pressure—just a standing invitation, food, and an easy way to actually see friends rather than just texting about getting together soon. And, according to her piece, it’s working! Friends come over with their kids, they eat tacos and BLT’s, and a chaotic, messy, fun time is had. The truth is, we all want to feel more connected—we just need a structure that makes it easier. Maybe the key is lowering the bar a little. Less planning, more just show up. I love this energy for 2025: create the community you want to see. I’m curious—are you making an effort to prioritize casual hangs this year? If so, how? Tell me everything. Leave a comment —Alisha P.S. If you’re looking for a little Valentine’s gift inspo, I’ve got a cozy, thoughtful edit for you below. Treat yourself, a friend, or your significant other to something sweet. 💌 A book for Lunar New Year. The vibrant cover of Wish Soup by Junghwa Park immediately caught my eye: it features a girl in colorful hanbok (traditional Korean dress) holding a steaming bowl of tteokguk (rice cake soup). The story follows a little girl who eagerly anticipates eating her soup to “age up” for the new year—a tradition in Korean culture. But along the way, she learns that growing older isn’t just about eating the soup; it’s about gaining wisdom and experience. It’s a heartwarming read if you’re looking for an addition to your little one’s library. Super Bowl snacks, anyone? I’m in full prep mode for the big game this Sunday. But let’s be honest, it’s mostly for the food, the Taylor appearance, and Kendrick. I am who I am. Thinking of making this easy jalapeño bacon pimento cheese dip and maybe some ham and cheese sliders or a giant bowl of spicy queso… What are you making? Leave a comment To watch: Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix). Netflix loves a scammer drama, and Apple Cider Vinegar (out Feb 6) promises to deliver. The series stars Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson, the real-life influencer who falsely claimed she had brain cancer and healed herself with a wellness diet. If you loved Inventing Anna or Ingrid Goes West, this might be up your alley. A still from Apple Cider Vinegar. 📖 2 new book releases on my radar: This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer – A novel about love, marriage, family, and loss, told through the lens of one couple’s relationship—and their deep, intertwined connection with Central Park. I love when a place becomes a character in its own right, and this one sounds like it’ll be a proper heart-wrencher. Pack tissues. Gliff by Ali Smith – I admit that this review from Publisher’s Weekly piqued my interest: “The lush narrative doubles as an anthem of resistance, in this case against tyranny and the destruction of the environment. Inspired references to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf add to Smith’s literary tapestry.” (Also this cover is incredible?) In my cart: This vibrant blue cashmere cropped sweater for spring is calling my name. And for my fellow petites: Madewell has a new straight leg jean I’m trying on this weekend—will report back. Press mentions: I recommended some hoop earrings for The Strategist and a Valentine’s gift idea for Domino mag this week. ❤️ “I have the perfect app that no one knows about!! It’s called Queue, and you can add movies/tv shows that you want to watch, even if they’re not released yet!! You also connect what streaming services you subscribe to, and then you can filter by genre, service, etc. if you’re looking for something to watch. It also sends you out a reminder when things are released that are in your queue!” — Downtime reader Rachel from this chat thread about Letterboxd alternatives I’m fully leaning into Valentine’s Day this year. Give me all the red hearts, love notes, baked treats, and over-the-top sentimentality. More love! More cheesiness! More reasons to celebrate! Obviously, you don’t need to spend a penny to mark the occasion—I’ll be baking and writing cards and eating chocolate—but if you are in the market for a good gift, I’ve got you. Below are 12 sweet gift ideas for your favorite people (including yourself)… 💌 A tinted lip treatment for the softest, kissable lips. My favorite cozy robe is finally back in stock in all sizes. A heart-shaped baking pan. (I was kindly gifted this and it simply made my week! Boxed chocolate cake mix and sprinkles, here we come.) These PJ’s would be so sweet for a toddler. Links are continued after the paywall — including this week’s best reads, and my favorite joy-bringing niche content series on the internet right now. ❤️... Keep reading with a 7-day free trial Subscribe to Downtime to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. Start trial A subscription gets you: Subscriber-only posts Access to the full archives Join the comments section, chat threads, and giveaways   Like Comment Restack   © 2025 Alisha Ramos 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe