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Say hi to Beyond! Born Jan. 15th, same day as Dr. Say hi to Beyond! Born Jan. 15th, same day as Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday! Seems pretty fitting our son would share a birthday with an iconic disruptor and leader in social justice 😉 This past weekend has been a whirlwind! I've been documenting my natural, unmedicated birth and aftermath experience a little bit on IG stories, but wow. I really could talk about it for days. I'll share more details in other posts, but for now I just want to say how grateful I am for my husband and this little dude we created together. I never thought I'd be a mom, but I'm glad I changed my mind. My 9-month pregnancy was a pleasantly uneventful breeze but the labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery were a total beast (finally back home and still recovering). Every birth and postpartum story is different - so no amount of classes and YouTube binging could 100% prepare me for what my unique experience would be. Despite that shockwave, I found beauty in the pain when I saw Beyond's face, on top of experiencing the endearing love, support, and bonding from my husband throughout the entire process. When I tell you a supportive partner is EVERYTHING, I mean it. Going through this together elevated our love and respect for each other tenfold. We make a great team, and that's a truly unmatched feeling. This next chapter with our sweet boy is about to be a whole new adventure, and this mama and papa are ready for it. Leggo.
9 months y’all. I’ll be 40 weeks this weekend—if I make it to my due date. 🙃 Bae and I make friendly bets on everything. It's one of many ways we entertain each other. We bet on baby’s birth date, time, weight, and even how much weight I’d gain. His guess was that I’d gain 30 lbs. My guess was 28. We were both equally close. 29 is the magic number it seems! 🤰🏽 Some folks fear the weight gain, but I was excited to embrace it. It has been truly fascinating watching my body change over these last 9 months. 🦋 The result is a beautiful metamorphosis and it doesn’t matter if you gain 30 or 50—it’s all apart of your remarkable journey. Women’s bodies are extraordinary. Period. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
There have been 1,311 Senators in US history. Out There have been 1,311 Senators in US history. Out of that, only 10 have been Black. We should have been celebrating the significance of the US getting its 11th Black Senator this week. We must celebrate GA getting its first Black Senator ever. We must celebrate GA getting its first Jewish Senator ever. And the irony nobody seems to be addressing? The same pastor who was arrested by Capitol police in 2017 for peacefully praying in protest, became a US Senator 4 years later on the same day a violent mob stormed the very same chambers he was arrested at and will soon be walking freely in. The hypocrisy of how he was treated by police for PRAYING on Capitol grounds vs. what we all witnessed earlier this week is blatant. How fitting is it that years later after his arrest, he will now have the power to implement legislation to help fight injustices like these? This past week was dark. But we can't let that rob us of celebrating the light ✨
My mom and sis (@Jasminepennamma) in the 80s. When My mom and sis (@Jasminepennamma) in the 80s. When chaos happens in our country, it can be tempting to get sucked into the emotional rollercoaster ride that follows. Yesterday was my sister's birthday and I was happy to hear she spent the day completely unplugged from social media and the news. Instead she allowed herself and her family the freedom to simply celebrate her special day in peace, off the grid with limited access to cell service. So as a reminder to everyone, take a page out of my sister's book and allow yourself to acknowledge the ugliness and blatant hypocrisy of what transpired this week in the US while also unapologetically giving yourself the mental breaks you need. And please wish my big sis a Happy Birthday 💚
The irony of it all. Thank you GA. Thank you @sta The irony of it all. Thank you GA. Thank you @staceyabrams. Thank you Black women. And congratulations to @raphaelwarnock, GA's first Black US Senator. Today, I'm proud to be a Georgia voter. We made history 💙
My family voted. Today's historic election will de My family voted. Today's historic election will determine how successful Biden's presidency will be. I watched a @voxdotcom video yesterday that did an exceptional job explaining the importance of today's Senate race. It also shed light on the racist history of runoff elections in the South. Here are the points that were made. 1. WHY THIS RUNOFF MATTERS: This runoff election is important because if Democrat candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock win these last two Senate seats, then the Senate will be ruled by Democrats, which means Biden's progressive legislation has a greater chance of being passed. If either of them lose, then the Senate will be ruled by Republicans, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell who has publicly vowed to block all of Biden's legislation. This means if you voted for Biden, you'd have to lower your expectations for the kind of change you want to see. 2. HOW THIS RUNOFF IS HISTORICALLY ROOTED IN RACISM: Georgia's "runoff voting" was birthed in response to the civil rights movement and an increase in Black voting. With traditional "plurality voting" where there are multiple candidates and majority wins, white politicians feared that votes would be split amongst the white candidates and the "one Black candidate" on the ballot would automatically win because he/she would get all the Black votes. So they implemented a runoff system. Instead of the majority wins rule, the top two candidates with the most votes from the initial election go to a runoff election, where politicians believed the Black candidate would lose, because now the white votes wouldn't be split between multiple white candidates - they can all be redirected to this one white candidate. VOTING MATTERS. Those who complain when presidents don't deliver on their promises, but didn't vote in local elections - are part of the problem. Presidential elections are only a fraction of the equation. Their success hinges on the outcome of local elections. Georgia - today is the last day to vote. Make your voice heard.
Yep. Veganuary is a thing. If you've been thinking Yep. Veganuary is a thing. If you've been thinking of dipping your toes into the vegan life, try it and bring your family and friends in on this January challenge. Over 1,000,000 people in 192 countries have participated in @weareveganuary since 2014. Trying this out can help you get more comfortable with plant-based meals, drive corporate change, and inspire the people in your own life to make more compassionate food & lifestyle choices that improve human health, the environment, and animal lives. I know this is new for some of you, so if y'all have questions please don't hesitate to drop 'em below 💚
Happy 1-Year "Veganversary" to my bae! He thought Happy 1-Year "Veganversary" to my bae! He thought he was only going to do it for a few months, but here we are a whole year later. The day after Christmas last year, we watched the Netflix documentary @gamechangersmovie. Afterwards, he realized that meat/dairy were unnecessary for his protein needs and that plants could even give him an edge in strength. He said he ate meat his whole life because he grew up being told it was needed for his diet - but when he learned it wasn't, he was driven by his curiosity to test if it was true or not. After a year, he's concluded that meat isn't a dietary requirement and more of a learned habit. He works out every day and feels better and more energized eating plants than he did when he ate meat. Injuries he's had for months finally healed and his body feels stronger overall. People go down the plant-based path for different reasons and every person's journey is different. I went vegan to take a stance against animal exploitation and eventually realized the health benefits. He went plant-based for his health and over the past year became more compassionate for animals. Whatever your reason for doing it, always remember your why 💚 PS. #Veganuary is next month! If you've been curious about the benefits of a plant-based diet, this will be a great month to start. What's your biggest challenge with it? Lemme know!
People search long and hard for magical formulas t People search long and hard for magical formulas to living longer. It's pretty straightforward though. #EatMorePlants
This year, I’ve been experimenting with sustaina This year, I’ve been experimenting with sustainable haircare! It’s a journey finding eco products that work with naturally curly hair. My latest test was with @ec30_enlightened_clean shampoo and conditioner. #ad Here’s what I love: 1. Plastic-free: The products are just tiny swatches, so no plastic bottles. 2. Waterless: EC30 makes their products without water, which means less C02 emissions. 3. Ease of Use: Just add water to your swatch in the shower, rub your hands together, and watch it lather! 4. Good Amount: They send 30 swatches per box, so that will last you for 30 hair washes (unless your hair requires 2 swatches, then it’ll last you 15 washes). Things to consider: 1. I have chest-length “3B Curly Hair” (for those not familiar with the #CurlyHairChart, look at the hashtag to find a chart to see your hair type). If your hair is longer or thicker than mine, you’ll probably need to use two swatches. 2. These dissolve in water! So when you bring them into the shower with you, make sure the swatches stay dry until you’re ready to use them. I did a demo in my IG stories, but in case you missed it, SWIPE LEFT to watch my recap. Also I posted a video with zero waste swaps for beginners (link in bio)! There’s a demo in there too. And if you decide to try it out, use code AshleyRenne10 to get $10 off! How is your sustainable haircare journey going?
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Ashley Renne

Live an adventurously green life

Posted on 12 Nov 202012 Nov 2020
REVIEW: EC30 Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning and Body Care Products

Blog, Green Living, Sustainable Products

REVIEW: EC30 Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning and Body Care Products

This post is sponsored by EC30. All opinions are my own. The cleaning industry generates a lot of long-lasting waste. These days household products come wrapped in plastic, toxins, and extra ingredients we don’t even need. Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy cleaning and body care products wrapped in eco-friendly packaging that won’t

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Posted on 3 Jun 20204 Jun 2020
5 Black-Owned Vegan Food Brands to Put in Your Kitchen

Blog, Vegan Food

5 Black-Owned Vegan Food Brands to Put in Your Kitchen

Here are a few Black vegan food brands to add to your kitchen!  

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Posted on 15 Mar 202015 Mar 2020
9 Anti Viral Foods That Boost Immunity

Blog, Vegan Food, Vegan Lifestyle

9 Anti Viral Foods That Boost Immunity

Here is a list of 9 immune-boosting, anti-viral foods that I incorporate regularly into my plant-based meals. 

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Posted on 27 Jan 202027 Jan 2020
Best Barbados Eco Travel Guide: Sustainable and Vegan Friendly Things to Do and Eat

Blog, Caribbean, Destinations, Hotels, Sustainable Tourism, Travel Guides, Travel Tips, Vegan Food, Vegan Lifestyle

Best Barbados Eco Travel Guide: Sustainable and Vegan Friendly Things to Do and Eat

What is there to experience in Barbados for sustainable, vegan, and/or nature loving travelers? Here’s the best eco-friendly travel guide to the island. 

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Posted on 21 Jan 202014 Feb 2020
5 Vegan-Friendly Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites While Traveling

Blog, Travel Tips, Vegan Lifestyle

5 Vegan-Friendly Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites While Traveling

Vegan-friendly ways to prevent mosquito bites. 

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Posted on 19 Nov 201919 Nov 2019
Sustainable Fashion Diary – Cleveland Ohio

Beauty & Style, Blog, Green Living, Vegan Fashion

Sustainable Fashion Diary – Cleveland Ohio

Renting clothing is one of my favorite sustainable approaches to fashion. Here’s what I rented during my Cleveland vacation. 

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Posted on 14 Nov 201914 Nov 2019
10 Ways to Create a Sustainable Organic Garden

Blog, Green Living

10 Ways to Create a Sustainable Organic Garden

How do you grow a garden filled with flowers, fruits, and vegetables that’s organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly? Here are 10 ways to create an eco garden. 

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Posted on 22 Oct 20194 Nov 2019
Is Camel Riding Ethical? | Sustainable Travel in Egypt

Animal Activism, Blog, Destinations, Middle East, Opinion, Sustainable Tourism

Is Camel Riding Ethical? | Sustainable Travel in Egypt

Is camel riding ethical? In Egypt I witnessed cruel working conditions for camels, horses and donkeys. Here are my thoughts. 

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Posted on 1 Oct 20191 Oct 2019
58 Fall Fruits and Vegetables to Try This Autumn

Vegan Food

58 Fall Fruits and Vegetables to Try This Autumn

What fruits and vegetables are grown during the fall season? Here’s the full list! 

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Posted on 16 Sep 201917 Sep 2019
Self-Driving Electric Cars Don’t Exist | It Can Wait Pledge

Blog, Opinion, Smart Tech

Self-Driving Electric Cars Don’t Exist | It Can Wait Pledge

Distracted driving is outdated. Whatever it is, it can wait. Here are 5 ways to prevent distractions from happening!  

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