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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

My thoughts, opinions, and personal essays on travel, being vegan, green living, smart tech, and blogging as a mixed race Black and Indian woman.

Category: Opinion

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 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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Posted on 10 Sep 20175 Jan 2019
Tiger Escape in Atlanta – The REAL Issue Nobody is Talking About

Blog, Opinion, Sustainable Tourism, Vegan Lifestyle

Tiger Escape in Atlanta – The REAL Issue Nobody is Talking About

For the past few days or so, my Facebook timeline has been flooded with news about the tiger that had been roaming the streets of Atlanta. Many seemed bewildered for the most part. C’mon, is it really that shocking? Let me explain. FIRST, WHAT HAPPENED? The Bengal tiger wandering around Atlanta was named Suzy and

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Posted on 13 Jul 201724 Nov 2018
Is 1st Class Worth the Money On a Short Flight?

Blog, Opinion

Is 1st Class Worth the Money On a Short Flight?

Let’s talk about irony. I’m the quintessential travel addict who eats, sleeps, and breathes globetrotting. Yet my husband Karl, who is more content in his man cave, is the one who always gets us upgraded to 1st class for free when I do happen to convince him to travel with me somewhere. HOW SWAY? It’s

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Posted on 30 Apr 20177 Jan 2019
The Middle East is a Scary Place? | Layover in Doha, Qatar

Asia, Blog, Destinations, Hotels, Middle East, Opinion

The Middle East is a Scary Place? | Layover in Doha, Qatar

When I was looking up flights to India, without hesitation, I chose whatever was the most convenient to my schedule. In this instance, Qatar Airlines was the best choice since it meant I’d only have to deal with one stop in Doha, Qatar. I booked my flight without batting an eyelash. I realized later though

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