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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 ✨
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 💚
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Ashley Renne

Live an adventurously green life

Tag: top travel bloggers

Posted on 7 Mar 201624 Nov 2018
10 Sustainable Travel Habits You Need to Adopt (with Video)

Blog, Sustainable Tourism, Travel Tips

10 Sustainable Travel Habits You Need to Adopt (with Video)

I never noticed just how much damage we as tourists sometimes cause to the places we visit, until I saw the horrific effects of tourism during a trip to Bali. That journey changed me for the better and gave me a heightened awareness of sustainable travel. What is sustainable travel exactly? To put it simply—it’s

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