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Please read and share. To heal the tensions betwee Please read and share. To heal the tensions between Black and Asian American communities, we must understand the history behind the division. My post condemning Anti-Asian violence went viral and was reposted on countless accounts. Sadly, there was a lot of HATE in the comments. There have been anti-Black comments from Asian folks, anti-Asian comments from Black folks, and the denial of the role of race from white folks. I hope this post provides understanding for all groups on how Asian and Black American division is historically rooted in white supremacy. More importantly, the last slide shows how we can heal the wounds of our past and stand together. We MUST seek justice for Anti-Asian hate while also maintaining solidarity between our communities 💚
I have two Valentines now 💚 I have two Valentines now 💚
Today is Lunar New Year and it's the Year of the O Today is Lunar New Year and it's the Year of the Ox! Swipe left to learn what it means and how the over commercialization of this holiday has both helped and harmed the Asian American community.
Asians MUST be included in your anti-racism activi Asians MUST be included in your anti-racism activism. SAY IT WITH ME: "I do not condone violence against Asians from my community or any others." ❗️ In a span of just one week: 1. An 84-year-old Thai man was killed after being pushed in San Francisco. 2. A Filipino man was slashed across the face in New York City. 3. An elderly Asian man was shoved and thrown to the ground in Oakland’s Chinatown. 4. A Vietnamese grandmother was robbed and assaulted. 5. A Chinese man was robbed and assaulted at gun point in front of his home in Oakland. PLEASE DON'T STAY SILENT ABOUT THIS. NEWS OUTLETS NEED TO START INCLUDING VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS IN THEIR MEDIA COVERAGE. And to anyone in my community who says: "Their fight isn't our fight." OR "They don't stand up for us so why should we stand up for them?" 1. A hate crime against one community is a hate crime against all our communities. 2. Apathy towards hate crimes upholds white supremacy. 3. It's wrong. Period. To gain more insight into the Asian American experience, follow these accounts: @hownottotravellikeabasicbitch @asianswithattitudes @aznactivists @dearasianyouth ******************************* EDIT: ✨ To those who keep asking: Q: "But how do you know if it's racially motivated? Crimes happen." A: I provided 4 accounts above who are much more knowledgeable about the Asian American experience and can better explain how their community has been historically targeted by racism and how Anti-Asian rhetoric during the pandemic has led to an increase in crimes against them. Q: Some of these crimes were committed by Black people. So why mention white supremacy? A: I'm moreso addressing those in the Black community who make generalized statements like "Asians are anti-Black, therefor I'm not going to stand up for them." That attitude in general helps to uphold white supremacy because it causes division between Asian and Black communities. When people of color are divided ("divide & conquer"), it allows white supremacy to flourish.
Oh hi postpartum belly 👋🏽 Is it weird I don' Oh hi postpartum belly 👋🏽 Is it weird I don't mind it? I promised myself I'd embrace every aspect of this journey, and my post delivery belly is no exception. So here she is for the world to see and embrace right along with me 😄 Some of you sent me messages freaking out when I posted my postpartum recovery updates in my IG Stories 😆 I understand. For some it may come as a shocker that stomachs don't usually shrink back to their old size right after giving birth. But I promise the weight does come off eventually! The human body is incredible, especially during and after pregnancy. Even without intervention, your body naturally does its thing to shrink your uterus and expel excess fluids. So it's imperative to focus on recovery, rather than weightloss after you give birth. Instead of stressing out about when I can exercise again, I instead focus on resting and nourishing my body with the healthiest plant-based foods that will heal my body naturally and provide our son with the nutritional breastmilk he needs to grow and thrive. I gave birth to an 8 lb baby and only lost a few pounds right afterwards! But after 2-3 weeks, I noticed I had already dropped half my pregnancy weight. I gained 29 lbs during my pregnancy and lost 14 lbs a couple weeks after delivery. Breastfeeding alone burns 500 calories a day! So this is a reminder to trust and not rush the process. Embrace the entire journey from pregnancy to postpartum without the pressure to be perfect. Give yourself the time and space to love your body every step of the way 💚
Share this with a mama you know! Before I gave bir Share this with a mama you know! Before I gave birth, I wondered if I’d be able to produce enough breastmilk for Baby B. It can be a source of anxiety for new parents and understandably so! On top of utilizing lactation consultants and best breastfeeding practices, I also use lactogenic plant-based foods as a tool for breastfeeding success. Here are some breastmilk boosting foods that moms across different cultures have sworn by. Many of these work by increasing the prolactin levels in a mom’s body, which is the hormone that produces milk: ALMONDS - A good non-dairy source of calcium and may promote breast milk production due to its potential estrogenic activity. I eat these as snacks. CHICKPEA - Contains phytoestrogens that provide lactogenic benefits. So many chickpea recipes you can try! FENNEL - Has phytoestrogens that may increase milk supply. I like to use this in soups and pastas. It has a sweet, licorice flavor. FENUGREEK - Consumed as lactogenic food in several cultures. A 2018 review of studies of 122 mothers who had fenugreek showed that it significantly increased milk production. Try adding to soups, stews and curries. GINGER -  In Thailand, ginger is a popular natural milk boosting food. There is mixed scientific evidence about its lactogenic effects, but many have reported favorable results. LEAFY GREENS - Dark leafy green veggies like spinach, kale, chard, etc contain minerals, vitamins, enzymes and phytoestrogens. They have a ton of iron and calcium and are natural diuretics, which help the body retain less water and boost milk output. MORINGA - Widely consumed in parts of Africa and Asia. They may increase breast milk supply by stimulating mammary glands. Plus it’s rich in calcium and iron. I use it in my daily smoothies. OATS - Rich in fiber and helps in milk production. I usually have a bowl of oatmeal mixed with sautéed apples and cinnamon for breakfast. TURMERIC - Research shows turmeric can increase breast milk volume, especially when mixed with fenugreek and ginger. Try it as a spice for soups, stews, curries and tofu scrambles. Any other vegan foods I should add to this list?
A week ago you were in my tummy. Wild 💚 A week ago you were in my tummy. Wild 💚
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 ✨
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Ashley Renne

Live an adventurously green life

My personal stories about travel, being vegan, green living, smart tech, and blogging as a mixed race Black and Indian woman.

Category: Personal Essay

Posted on 1 May 20191 May 2019
7 Truths About How I Travel So Much—and Why Maybe You Shouldn’t

Blog, Money Talk, Personal Essay, Travel Tips

7 Truths About How I Travel So Much—and Why Maybe You Shouldn’t

Traveling is a privilege. If you’re tired of people telling you how easy it is to travel the world, yet it doesn’t line up with your reality, I’m here to share an alternative perspective. 

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Posted on 31 Mar 201931 Mar 2019
Conquering Keynote Speech Anxiety

Blog, Career Growth, Personal Essay

Conquering Keynote Speech Anxiety

How I got past my keynote speech anxiety and 5 tips to help you conquer yours. 

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Posted on 29 Jan 20191 Apr 2019
Why I Changed My Blog Name

Blog, Career Growth, Personal Essay

Why I Changed My Blog Name

Well hey y’all! NEW NAME! WHO DIS? Welcome to Hey Ashley Renne, the blog formerly known as Travel Lushes. New year, new me! Haha, I know, I know, so effing cliché. But real talk, this was a big switch and you may be wondering why on earth did you go from Travel Lushes to Hey

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Posted on 9 Aug 20185 Jan 2019
Black People Climb Mountains? | Climbing a 14er with Coors Light

Black Travel, Blog, North America, Personal Essay

Black People Climb Mountains? | Climbing a 14er with Coors Light

When I first got the invitation to ‘Climb with Coors’ in Colorado, an annual trek to Wilson Peak, the 14,023-foot mountaintop you always see in the Coors Light logo, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. As a mixed-race Black and Indian woman in the travel media space, I don’t often see images displaying people of

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Posted on 20 Oct 20175 Jan 2019
Lost Passport While Traveling – Our Emirates Nightmare

Blog, Personal Essay

Lost Passport While Traveling – Our Emirates Nightmare

Picture this. You’re all set to go on the most amazing adventure of your life. About to board a plane to one of those dream destinations that tends to be a screensaver on most people’s computers (The Maldives) and getting there on what was voted the World’s Best Airline of 2017 (Emirates). On top of

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Posted on 28 Aug 20171 Apr 2019
Women in Travel Summit Inspired Me to Quit My Job

Blog, Career Growth, Personal Essay

Women in Travel Summit Inspired Me to Quit My Job

I first went to the Women in Travel Summit in 2016 and I’m not even exaggerating when I say this conference played a role in sending me down the path that led to me quitting my job to pursue my love of travel full-time.  Yep, sure did. Let me tell you the story. In 2016,

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Posted on 25 Apr 20177 Jan 2019
Why I Quit My $80K Job to Travel the World More

Blog, Personal Essay

Why I Quit My $80K Job to Travel the World More

Watch the Video: Ugh, it sounds like such a cliché right? Here goes another person shouting from the rooftops “I quit my job to travel the world!” Blah, blah, blah. Yep, I did it. And it felt good y’all. But did you notice in the title of my post, I put the word ‘more’ at

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February 2021
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