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Beyond over here flexin for the gram. Technically Beyond over here flexin for the gram. Technically he's 1.5 months now 😅 I'm late posting this.

That first month flew by, but also felt long somehow. By week 2, we found our rhythm and felt a lot more confident in our parenting abilities. I soon learned it wasn't as difficult as I grew up imagining it would be.

I'm no superwoman though and have no problem admitting that.

My mom's here. My husband's super involved. I had lactation consultants in the hospital to show me how to breastfeed properly. I have mom friends and a sister to get advice from. I'm a smart home geek with Google devices in almost every room so I can ask questions and get quick answers.

In other words, I didn't give birth and just instinctively know what to do. I have help! I'm okay with not taking all the credit for raising this little human.

I have a whole village - me, my family, my friends and Google. We're all figuring out this parenthood thing together.
Allyship is meaningless if it's performative. Our Allyship is meaningless if it's performative.

Our history doesn't end on February 28 just because Black History 'Month' does. Black folks don't just stop being Black when the clock strikes midnight 🌙.

To be an ally means:
Don't stop learning.
Don't stop listening.
Don't stop discussing.
Don't stop amplifying.
Don't stop supporting.
Don't stop advocating.

Even when March starts 🙃.

Tell me something new you learned during Black History Month this year! Personally I learned quite a bit from @marty_sandiego.
Beyond is 6 weeks already 😳 I don't even bother Beyond is 6 weeks already 😳 I don't even bother whipping out my professional camera anymore. I just use portrait mode on my iPhone because it's more important to me to capture these quick little moments as they happen rather than wasting time trying to set up the "perfect" shot. 

Time flies so fast with a baby. Motherhood is teaching me to be present and I like it 💚
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 💚
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Ashley Renne

Live an adventurously green life

Tag: Ubud

Posted on 30 Nov 201624 Nov 2018
Arriving in Ubud, Bali: My Favorite Balinese Town

Blog, Destinations, Hotels

Arriving in Ubud, Bali: My Favorite Balinese Town

For our honeymoon, weather ultimately determined exactly which places we chose to visit. Because autumn is monsoon season in parts of Asia, we chose Bali and Hong Kong as our honeymoon locations, because they were amongst the few places in Asia where it wouldn’t be raining. In my last post, I told you exactly how

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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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Posted on 12 Jan 201624 Nov 2018
Favorite Zen Moments in Bali

Blog, Destinations, Travel Guides

Favorite Zen Moments in Bali

My trip to Bali, Indonesia was eye-opening to say the least. I experienced a little bit of everything while visiting—joy, sadness, excitement, disappointment at times, but most of all, tons of beautiful zen-like moments, alongside two wonderful travel companions. I have a LOT to say about Bali, and this is just one of several posts that

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