The Better Guide // Summer 2018 Edition.

Welcome to Issue 5 of the Better Guide! The Summer Edition!

This is my monthly guide– a most-random resource list of all things food, drink, faith, fitness, and fun. I publish this guide at the end of every month (consider it a wrap-up of the last 30 or so days) and I am making a single promise to you in creating and curating the resource list: I promise to seek the better. I promise to gather resources, apps, news, and test them out first. I’ll be the guinea pig, ready to report back my findings. I promise not to report things that are fake, way too much money, or will ultimately do nothing for your life but distract you. Life is precious and I ain’t toying with your hours nor could I ever, in good conscience, recommend a $600 gym bag to you. I promise to be fair, real, transparent, and ultimately focused on the better. Better health. Better work. Better relationships. All the better. 

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Better Beach Trips.

• I love a good beach chair but this “beach mat” is innovative! If Lane and I plan a beach trip this year then I am definitely adding this to the Amazon cart!
• For too many years, I didn’t invest in a beach towel. I would grab a towel from the bathroom and head for the beach. Last summer, I made the plunge and ordered “his” and “hers” towels early. The towels I found myself admiring were out-of-this-world expensive but, like always, Amazon saved the day! This is my go-to towel now. It’s spacious, stylish, CIRCULAR (!!!), and super affordable!
• If you’re like me then you burn pretty easily… this cool invention is the perfect way to get all the sun but switch into the shade whenever you feel the redness coming on.

Better Beach Reads.

• Woah… This book. is. trippy. and. dark. I read it in the span of two days and I was absolutely hooked from start to finish.
• Currently reading… I cannot get enough of Louisa Clarke. I will follow the girl anywhere!
• If you’re a fan of the Bachelor/Bachelorette like me then I suggest this poolside read.
• Self-reflection whilst sun-bathing is always a MUST for me.

Better Invites.

• I don’t know about you but the summer, for me, means lots of showers, weddings + celebrations. My favorite! This month I am planning a bridal show for a girlfriend of mine and Paperless Post absolutely came to the rescue. I can’t recommend this digital invitation service enough! We all lead busy lives and if you are in a pinch for time to mail out invites- this is the way to go. You get to design the cards, send them via email, and then track the responses. It’s RSVPs made easy and I. Am. Hooked!

Better Suits.

• Can’t remember when is the last time I shopped here but I love this trendy little swimsuit.
• Target nails it when it comes to swimsuits. This one is too, too cute.
• I’m a sucker for suits that are unique.
• Classy + cute for the people who want a low-cost bathing suit that looks high fashion.

Better Netflix.

Need a night to just chill and unplug from the rest of the world? Fear not, Netflix has you covered with the following newbies:

• He Named Me Malala (June 1)
• Grey’s Anatomy, Season 14 (June 16)
• The Staircase (Currently watching and it’s for any of the true crime lovers out there)

Better Date Nights.

• How freaking cute is this?! First off, just discovered this site and I am absolutely addicted to it! But I am definitely making this before the summer ends. Perfect for a summer picnic in the park.
• Need some new date night ideas? Here’s 50 for ya!
• A friend gifted Lane and I with this subscription last year and it’s perfect for enjoying a night in or bringing a treat to a party!

Better Sips.

• A simple yet refreshing brunch/poolside drink.
• This is definitely on my list to try this summer.
• Starting mashing my morning coffee + protein shake together and I am never going back.
• Loving these festive mocktails with one common ingredient: LaCroix!

Better Salads

• Absolute yum.
• Dying to try this out… Doesn’t look too complex but you definitely need the food processor!
• Fresh + ready for you to double dip 🙂

Have a suggestion for the next Better Guide? Get at us. 

The Better Guide // April Edition.

Welcome to Issue 4 of the Better Guide! 

This is my monthly guide– a most-random resource list of all things food, drink, faith, fitness, and fun. I publish this guide at the end of every month (consider it a wrap-up of the last 30 or so days) and I am making a single promise to you in creating and curating the resource list: I promise to seek the better. I promise to gather resources, apps, news, and test them out first. I’ll be the guinea pig, ready to report back my findings. I promise not to report things that are fake, way too much money, or will ultimately do nothing for your life but distract you. Life is precious and I ain’t toying with your hours nor could I ever, in good conscience, recommend a $600 gym bag to you. I promise to be fair, real, transparent, and ultimately focused on the better. Better health. Better work. Better relationships. All the better. 

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Better Reads.

• I read this book in approximately 28 hours. I picked it up last week in the bookstore on the way to Mexico, wanting a beach read that would be a little outside of my usual tastes. This book did not disappoint. I still can’t believe I picked it up but I am so glad I did!
• If you need your Gone Girl fix for the month then look no further. This book satisfied my cravings. Mind you, I don’t think this book was written to keep you guessing so don’t expect to play detective. The plot unfolds pretty naturally and it’s still definitely a page-turner.
• My girl Karen Stott releases her first book TOMORROW! I’ve known and loved Karen for the last 5 years. She’s a mover & a shaker and this book is the perfect addition to your bookshelf if you’re ready to live more intentionally.
• It’s no secret how much I love Hayley Morgan. She’s got a new Weekend Eve newsletter that I really think you need to subscribe to.

Better Travel.

• On the chance that you’re looking for a spot to vacation or a dreamy honeymoon, I just got back from this resort and I have nothing but the BEST things to say. The service was stellar, the food was amazing, and I wanted to stay forever.
• Until you’ve unpacked and repacked your suitcase before a flight, you don’t realize how necessary these things are.

Better Tech.

• Last month I came hungry for a review on these and I am pumped to say: I bought them and I am LOVING THEM. I don’t invest in tech all that often but I am already so glad I took the plunge, splurged a little, and got something that is making my walks, workouts, and day-to-day life easier.
• I get lots of questions about where my graphics come from. I don’t always use a designer. In fact, a lot of the graphics I make on my own right here.

Better Home.

If I still had a wedding registry then I would put the following things on my list:

• This adorable spice rack.
• This statement piece.
• I mean, yes.
• This is pretty useless… but I about died of the cuteness.

Better Eats.

• Shhh… don’t tell Lane but I am totally going to make these brownies in the next week. I wonder if he will notice the extra ingredients hiding in the batter…
• Another recipe I’m trying out this month. Already salivating.

Have a suggestion for the May Better Guide? Get at us. 

The Better Guide // March Edition.

Welcome to Issue 3 of the Better Guide! 

This is my monthly guide– a most-random resource list of all things food, drink, faith, fitness, and fun. I publish this guide at the end of every month (consider it a wrap-up of the last 30 or so days) and I am making a single promise to you in creating and curating the resource list: I promise to seek the better. I promise to gather resources, apps, news, and test them out first. I’ll be the guinea pig, ready to report back my findings. I promise not to report things that are fake, way too much money, or will ultimately do nothing for your life but distract you. Life is precious and I ain’t toying with your hours nor could I ever, in good conscience, recommend a $600 gym bag to you. I promise to be fair, real, transparent, and ultimately focused on the better. Better health. Better work. Better relationships. All the better. 

Thank you for your patience (I know I am 4 days late to publishing this guide)! I’ve been under the weather and fighting off the pollen here in Atlanta but I’m happy to be back on my feet and feeling better.

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Better Reads.

• This book has been around for the last year and a half but I am just picking it up. And y’all- every chapter preaches to me. If you’ve ever felt left out or uninvited, rejected or looked over, then I would recommend this read. It will be a healing balm to your soul.
• I am about 100 pages into this book and currently LOVING it. It’s worth the rage (everyone seems to be talking about it)! I am looking forward to a weekend in Savannah reading this book and getting to finish it off.
• My girlfriend just sent me this link to Refinery29’s 2018 book list and there are just so many good reads listed here. I am definitely going to be referring to this list throughout the year whenever I want to read a book that is profound, impactful, and fierce!

Better Brain.

• This January and February, I wrote my first Bible study. It’s been a longtime goal of mine. I wanted to create something free for my readership and this is the result: a 15-session study on following Jesus in a follower-obsessed culture. I hope you enjoy!
• This is a really good read. I am someone who uses and advocates for medication for those who need it but I think we all can take something away from getting a little exercise into our day-to-day routines!

Better Listens.

• Okay, maybe it seems as if I am on the Caroline Leaf train but the woman knows her stuff. If you’re wanting a podcast to learn more about the brain and just what social media is doing to it… check out this one and then follow up with this one. You’ll learn so much in just 20 minutes.
• Our pastor Ben gave this message last Sunday on shame and Y’ALL… it preaches. Dig in and move forward!

Better Travel.

• I don’t read many blogs but I am heavily invested in a few of them. One belonging to this girl. She recently paired up with Target to create a luggage line for families and I’m a few pennies away from buying two of the suitcases. Finally, luggage that is stylish but not too expensive!

Better Tech.

• I’ve been scheduling out my social media lately. I still use social media to engage with others but I can attest to feeling like I’ve gotten a chunk of my life back by using this tool. I’m still able to lift & encourage others without feeling like I always have to be posting on the fly. I went ahead and invested in a year subscription and so far it has been the best office subscription of 2018!
• Has anyone tried these? I would love your opinion! I’m thinking of investing in these for my workouts and would love to know what you think.

Better Eats.

• I’m loving this easy hack article about how to make a cheese plate on a budget. This article is a game-changer for the party hosts reading!
• All the yum! We still love to cook Whole30 style meals even when we aren’t doing some crazy food diet!
• This is my go-to. I find myself craving it on a weekly basis.
• If you love cooking hardboiled eggs + have an Instant Pot then this recipe will blow your mind! Easy-to-peel eggs! Finally!

Have a suggestion for the April Better Guide? Get at us. 

The Better Guide // February Edition.

Welcome to Issue 2 of the Better Guide! 

This is my monthly guide– a most-random resource list of all things food, drink, faith, fitness, and fun. I publish this guide at the end of every month (consider it a wrap-up of the last 30 or so days) and I am making a single promise to you in creating and curating the resource list: I promise to seek the better. I promise to gather resources, apps, news, and test them out first. I’ll be the guinea pig, ready to report back my findings. I promise not to report things that are fake, way too much money, or will ultimately do nothing for your life but distract you. Life is precious and I ain’t toying with your hours nor could I ever, in good conscience, recommend a $600 gym bag to you. I promise to be fair, real, transparent, and ultimately focused on the better. Better health. Better work. Better relationships. All the better. 

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Better Reads.

• I’m wrapping this book up today and I have to tell you- I’m obsessed. He gets right to the point and he doesn’t dance around it. I needed this book in more ways than I could say. A beautiful read for anyone who wants to know God better and see what he’s all about.
• “He and I, on the other hand, were doing our arithmetic separately, in each of our messy minds. And while I will never understand how someone could hold the full weight of me in his arms and choose to let go, I understand that his final calculus was different from mine.”

Better Study.

• This January and February, I wrote my first Bible study. It’s been a longtime goal of mine. I wanted to create something free for my readership and this is the result: a 15-session study on following Jesus in a follower-obsessed culture. I hope you enjoy!

Better Looks + Listens.

• If you are a fan of true crime shows + podcasts, I would recommend you check out Up & Vanished. It swept the nation in 2017. Lane and I became hooked on this podcast and even attended the live finale in Atlanta. The creator of Up & Vanished recently came out with a new podcast. It’s a few weeks in but I am really loving the premise and how much I am learning about my city from it.
• I’m known to spend my workouts listening to Levi Lusko. This recent sermon on the power of mornings + evenings has been a game changer for me.
• Set up your Netflix for optimal viewing with this list. At first glance, I’ve seen very few of these movies so I’ve got some watching to do.

Better Home.

The Better Home options today come from one of my favorite spots to shop on the Internet- Huckberry. I basically don’t have to go anywhere to shop for Lane when the holidays hit. All of his favorite brands are in one place. It’s like a pop-up shop of creative makers on the Internet.

I’ve got some friends over at Huckberry and they kindly hooked all first-time shoppers and readers of the Better Guide up! Use the code “betterguide” during the month of March for 20% off your first buy. Holla for deals, y’all!

• To know me is to know I love good, black coffee. I’m pretty jazzed about this manual coffeemaker. It makes all my coffee dreams come true! It combines the ability to brew a full pot of pour-over, French press, or cold brew in a sleek design. We getting fancy with our brew, huh?
• I freaked a little bit when I found this on Huckberry because I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. If you know nothing about Kintsugi then let’s get educated first. This is an age-old method for repairing broken things and I honestly want to break a few dishes just so I can use this repair kit.
• Need a gift idea for the guy or girl in your life who loves to workout? Or just want to invest in yourself? We love Ursa Major and this Exercise Freak bundle will cover you after any sweat session.

Better Subscriptions.

• I’ve been a faithful subscriber to the Book of the Month Club for the last year. But it wasn’t until the other day, when my friend Dawn came over to borrow some books for her beach trip, that I realized the impact this subscription has in my reading life. I only recommended BOTM choices to her. That’s how good I find their reads. If you are a reader, this subscription is for you. A newly released hardcover delivered to your door each month? Yes, please!
• This is quickly becoming one of my favorite newsletters in my inbox. It is for all us wild ones who prefer to spend Friday night getting crazy on the couch… with a book… and a glass of wine… after a bubble bath. You’ll love their playful suggestions and it’s a really fun way to usher in the weekend!

Better Tech.

• I’m just starting to use this app but I love the premise behind it. It’s all about knowing the quality of the brands you’re shopping– how they treat their employees, what working conditions are like, how they treat animals. It feels like a good first step for someone like me who wants to be aware of the back story behind the brands I am shopping. Check it out!
• I’m not in college anymore but I know a bunch of you are. I definitely needed this app when I was in college.
• “Have you ever used the browser extension called Honey? It automatically runs coupon codes through at checkout and applies the best one. It saves me a little here and there (and especially saves me the time of having to search for coupon codes!), and it’s FREE to put on your browser. Doesn’t get much better, in my opinion.” – Abbey

Better Work.

• I love goal setting and can attest to how setting them changed my life and business. I recently came across this and I’m intrigued. I am planning to try it out for the month of March. I’ll report back!
• I get asked all the time where I get my organizational things from. Look no further, this company is my #1.

Have a suggestion for the March Better Guide? Get at us. 

The Better Guide // January Edition

I’m a researcher at heart.

A lot of people don’t know this about me but I was a sociology major in college. I love everything about qualitative and quantitative researcher. I consider myself a hunter-gatherer of the Internet. I like to read, experiment, test and discover what is out there and how it can either make life better or worse, simpler or more complex. This is a great passion of mine: to tell people about the things I find, the things that are shaking up my world in a good way. So this idea has been brewing for over a year now. I kept waiting for the right time to just do it, just press publish. No time like the present!

Introducing The Better Guide.

This is a monthly guide, a most-random resource list of all things food, drink, faith, fitness— all of it. My intern Jo and I spent hours trying to come up with a name for this monthly guide last January and ultimately landed on “The Better Guide” for one simple reason: who has time for anything less? I’m digging for the better options so you don’t have to.

I’ll be publishing this guide at the end of every month (consider it a wrap-up of the last 30 or so days) and I am making a single promise to you in creating it and curating the resource list: I promise to seek the better. I promise to gather resources, apps, news, and test them out first. I’ll be the guinea pig, ready to report back my findings. I promise not to report things that are fake, way too much money, or will ultimately do nothing for your life but distract you. Life is precious and I ain’t toying with your hours nor could I ever, in good conscience, recommend a $600 gym bag to you.

I promise to be fair, real, transparent, and ultimately focused on the better. Better health. Better work. Better relationships. All the better. 

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Better Reads.

• My girl Alli Worthington just released a powerhouse anthem into the world this past week and you’re going to want to read it. I read this book at a time in my life where I felt like most of my steps were coated in a thick layer of fear. It’s faith-filled and I know will rock the lives of many, many women.
• If you are a thriller reader like me (basically give me all the titles with the words “missing girl” in it) then the next read on your list needs to be The Wife Between Us. This thriller will confuse the heck out of you (in such a good way) and keep your suspense levels fueled. Does. Not. Disappoint.

Save Better.

Y’all know me- I am ALL ABOUT the finances. Don’t ask me why because I used to have a strong aversion to money talk but I can’t get enough of it these days.

• I never shut up about this app but that’s because I really, really believe in it. I am not even being dramatic when I tell you: it has changed my life. Qapital is an app that thrives off this idea that we spend the money in our checking account impulsively just because it’s available to us. Qapital helps you save your own money, make goals, and conquer the world. Thanks to this app, Lane and I saved all our pennies for a beautiful anniversary trip and I saved all my Christmas money in July. ***If you want bonus instructions on how to have Qapital save a dollar for you every time Donald Trump tweets then send me an email with the subject line “the man tweets… a lot” and I will help you out.
• Somehow I killed over $50,000 worth of student loan debt in 2016 and then the small adult inside of me said, “It’s time to start saving, baby!” Now I am a loyalist to my Aspiration Summit account. The wait list is worth it. I stole this website because they say it better than I ever could: Aspiration offers socially-conscious and sustainable banking and investing so you can make money while making the world a better place. And, unlike the Big Banks, we don’t use your deposits to fund oil pipelines or turn your fees into campaign contributions to the politicians that work against you. They’re basically a modern-day Robin Hood in the form of a savings account.

Better Subscriptions.

• For all my married people who want to improve their bond while sitting at their desk. Subscribe to the Marriage Minute by the Gottman Institute. I love reading the weekly marriage tip and sending it over to Lane. These are smart and thought-provoking suggestions that really do help your relationship.
• If you are a writer or someone who wants to write better, then definitely sign up for Slant Letter. It’s a monthly email so it won’t clog up your inbox and it’s all about finding your voice and killing your craft. Fun fact: Stephanie (the creator of the email) is my editor. She taught me so much in the editing process just this past year so I definitely believe in her wisdom and words. Get on it. 

Better Health.

• I feel like I am really fickle when it comes to my workouts and people ask me all the time: where do you find them? A few months ago, I came across Alexia Clark. My life hasn’t been the same since. I recently subscribed to Alexia Clark’s fitness site ($29 a month) and I do not regret the investment. She sends 5 workouts a week and a mini pep talk the night before every workout. Her workouts are hard, REALLY HARD, and will push you to new levels in your fitness journey. Plus, look at this amazing article about her in Women’s Health (she’s on the cover this month!) about why she doesn’t post bikini photos. Girl freaking power.
• Our crockpot broke this month. It was a devastating blow to my spirit and my faith to see my sweet little basin of joy crack down the center. But friends, God is in the business of upgrading. We caved. We saved our pennies. We bought an Instant Pot. And the rage is real. It’s the most amazing cooking tool I’ve ever possessed. It’s a slow cooker on steroids. This is likely how Jesus actually fed the 5,000. I’m smitten and in love and that’s all.
• I’m doing a Whole30 this month so here are a few of the recipes we currently cannot get enough of:
  • Turkey & Egg Breakfast Casserole
  • We would eat this every day if we could.
  • My ultimate go-to.

Better Work.

• My good friend Mattie came out with a little thing called Forth Guide last month and it’s pretty amazing. I would say it’s essential for a freelancer or someone who works for themselves! I wish I had this guide when I was just starting out, floundering around on Google trying to figure out where to find a graphic designer or how to start an email list. Mattie does the digging for you and the results are genius.
• Most of the apps I recommend are free-free-free but this app is worth the $2.99 you’ll pay to get it on your phone. It’s called Forest. It’s a productivity app designed to keep you focused and not grabbing for the phone every five seconds. What’s cooler than that, you plant a metaphorical tree everytime you set the timer on the app. When the timer rings then your “tree” is planted! Metaphorical trees add up to real trees planted in the real world. It’s cool (and environmentally friendly) to be not distracted these days. Mother Nature thanks you.

Have a suggestion for the February Better Guide? Get at us.