The Start of Something Better (No Perfection Required)
Welcome 🤍
Welcome to the very first edition of Being Better. I’ve always loved sharing favorites like food, places, gear, and routines, but more than that, I love connecting. This space is for weekly check-ins: what I’m loving, what I’m learning, and how I’m trying (imperfectly) to be a little better, sans quick-fixes. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m excited to do this weekly.
🗣️ For Starters
Things have felt heavy lately. Being from Fargo, having deep connections to Minneapolis, being a U.S. citizen watching everything unfold…it’s a lot to carry. Fuck ICE! Free Palestine! and so much more. I want to scream, yell, fight. But also, I want to rest, cry, find quiet. I’ve been learning (and relearning) that I have to step away from my phone sometimes so I can come back stronger. We have to advocate, we have to care, but we also have to fill our cups so we can keep going.
Left unchecked, I would give until my cup was well past empty. So this week has been about remembering that it has to ebb and flow. Take care of yourself, but don’t rest on your laurels. 😉
On a brighter note, I spent last week celebrating my 30th birthday in Utah, and it was exactly what I needed. My fiance and I both had never been, so it was the biggest treat. We stayed at Solitude and skied there on my actual birthday (1/27!). I landed my 180s, worked toward a 360, and hit my very first flat rail. Solitude’s park is incredible for learning, and the daily hot tub sessions didn’t hurt either.
We also skied a day at Brighton, home to some of my favorite pros, and I had the chance to break my rib on a tube in the M (more like XL! ) park. Utah showed up for me in a big way and I can’t wait to make it back to knock more resorts off my list.
Moving on! Below I’m sharing the food, the gear, the places, and the little ways I’m being better through all of it.
🥤 Food in Utah
Let me tell you about what we ate, from chain to local.
Swig: I don’t drink alcohol, so finding fun, affordable, genuinely good drinks is always a win, and Swig absolutely delivered. I loved having so many options that still felt like a treat. Denver, I’m begging you: we need this.
Café Zupas: Yes, I went because Taylor Frankie Paul was advertised. Yes, it was worth it. I had a ham and provolone sandwich with tomato basil soup and cauliflower soup mixed. Ryder got a Mediterranean protein bowl. Shockingly solid chain food. Again, Denver, please.
Kyoto: This was my birthday dinner spot, chosen based on recommendations and reviews, and it exceeded expectations. Traditional seating, staff in traditional clothing, phenomenal sushi, incredible miso soup, cucumber salad, and ginger rice pudding. They also had some great non-alcoholic drinks. A total standout and I’d go back in a heartbeat.
🍔 Food in Denver
Grandpa’s Burger Haven: Exactly what I was craving after a week away from home. Get a small double with ketchup, add a shake of your choice, and that’s all you need. So, so good.
📺 What I Watched This Week
I binged Ponies on Peacock, and wow. Emilia Clarke is incredible, and Haley Lu Richardson is equally fantastic. Truly such a good watch.
I’m also a big “watch my podcasts” person, my usual rotation for sure includes:
Ride with Mary Beth Barone & Benito Skinner
Giggly Squad with Paige DeSorbo & Hannah Berner
🎧 What I Listened To This Week
Three songs on repeat:
ASSIGNMENT by Power Snatch
All I Wanna Do by INJI
Tinted Windows by Pool Kids
📍 Where I Went/What I Did in Utah
Solitude Mountain Resort: We stayed at Soli for the whole trip and skied a day here! Fabulous mountain. Incredible for all skier levels, anyone looking for progression park up to large park, great groomers, and some wild stuff. It was quiet since we were there during the week, but much enjoyed. I got to get my 180 down on the flat box, and I hit a flat rail for the first time! Would ski here again, especially with more snow.
Brighton Ski Resort: We skied a day here! Was on the lookout for some of my fave pros. Definitely a mountain more for intermediate and up, but once again that might be different with more snow. Lots of different terrain, usually you can ski between Brighton and Solitude but we had to drive because that run is closed due to (you guessed it) no snow. We hit the parks, and saw some really amazing skiers and snowboarders. They were doing a demo day so it was nice and busy for a Wednesday.
Natural History Museum of Utah: At the University of Utah. There were so many dinosaurs. Truly delighted. It was also great to learn about the Native history of Utah, the whitewashing, the genocides and residential schools and abuse. Really puts everything into perspective.
International Peace Gardens: 28 gardens that were peaceful, thoughtful, and really special. Even though it was January, it was nice! The sun was our for us. SLC area so you can fit it in with your city activities.
Park City: Drove through downtown, checked out the area, and passed by Woodward Park City. So cool to see it all in person.
🎿 Gear I’m Loving
Trashbags Snowpants!! Always!! I swear by these for skiing. They’re comfy, warm, perfectly baggy, and the pockets make my life so much easier. They’re also Colorado-local, which I love. I have two pairs, Ryder has a pair, and we’re fully obsessed.
I get compliments every time I wear them! People think I’m 15 instead of 30, which is honestly very fun.
🌱 Favorite Stupid Wellness Tip Right Now That I Actually Do
Non-static stretching every morning.
I’m hypermobile (hence non-static stretching), and this is essential for keeping my hips, joints, and body feeling usable. It’s the one thing I need to do daily to feel like my body won’t snap in half. Simple, unglamorous, effective.
⏰ Daily Routines
Right now my mornings include supplements with breakfast:
Tea Lady Powder in my coffee (obsessed, always, especially the cycle syncing set)
Calcium
Creatine
Multivitamin
I can’t do fancy, I can do consistent.
✨ This Week’s Extra Fave
Having leftover Dairy Queen ice cream cake in the freezer. Highly recommend. Thank you Abbie and Alex and Winnie!
🤍 Anna
That’s what being better looked like this week. You’re trying. You’re doing. And you’re doing great. Keep going.
Follow along IRL on Instagram. <3
