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Recs #99: Throw-on dresses, toddler snacks, and new shows to watch

Leaning allll the way into summer

Alisha Ramos

Jul 18

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This is the Friday recs post at Downtime, a weekly roundup of culture, books, delights, and things on my radar for my paying readers. You should subscribe, if you haven’t already!

Hey, happy Friday! We’re entering week three of hot, soupy, stormy weather here, which imo makes for the best reading weather. ⛈️ I’ve got a new book, These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean queued up, which has been marketed as Succession meets Clue, with romance in the mix. What about you? —Alisha

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Announcements:

Congrats to last week’s book giveaway winners: Victoria L., Bria B., and Alanna!
ICYMI, I got to chat with Olivia Muenter this week, and wow, it’s such a good one. If you’re craving a thoughtful, soul-nourishing read, I think you’ll love it.
The newsletter will be on a break next week as I wrap up writing some longer pieces and work on a mini brand refresh (!). I’ll be back in your inbox the following week.

Reminder: The weekly recommendations newsletter is now exclusively for paying subscribers. Come and get your grab bag of culture recs + links!

COMMENT SPOTLIGHT

“I just finished my first week sans Instagram. I was so scared of FOMO but after a few days that went away and I feel so much lighter. I’ve made time to finish 3 books this week in its place (a feat for me with small kids)!”

— Julia M., in response to my post last week about deleting Instagram. 👏 My app deletion is still going strong! I log in when I want to post something, then delete the app again. Olivia mentioned a similar tactic in our interview this week.

FOR YOUR CART / a quick roundup

Chic jewelry: My seashell pendant is back in stock. It’s got a nice weight to it and looks more expensive than it is; I’ve been wearing it with t-shirts and simple tops.
Summer sale alert: Apiece Apart is having a big sale; I love this brand’s classic silhouettes, high-quality fabrics, and styling ideas, but the pricing can be a bit of a stretch, so I’m taking advantage. I’ve got this cinched top ($45) in my cart (to wear with my go-to barrel jeans), plus these trousers in petite (!). Also, this mini dress looks easy to throw on (here’s a similar look for less) with minimal sandals.
Mini dress, cinched-waist top, easy trousers.
Good sunscreen: I was excited about Beauty of Joseon launching at Sephora, but I learned the product uses a different formula because of FDA regulations…. :/ To get the Korean formulation, you have to go through a site like YesStyle. FYI!
Comfortable summer shoes: I’ve received countless compliments on these cushy rope platform sport sandals, and I’ve been tromping around in these canvas Mary Janes, which are now back in stock. (* gifted)
The easiest way to snazz up a boring outfit: personality shoes.

RECS, PLEASE!

What are your favorite (easy) no-cook summer recipes? I’m thinking of things like sandwiches, pasta salads, and snack plates… The thought of turning on the stove or oven has me sweating.

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