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Ashanti J

@ajeatslocal

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🍦Exploring life while eating too many desserts
⚡️Faith • Lifestyle • Food • Travel • 🎾
✨Doing all the things. In tech. Writer. Etc.

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Launching into a new season with new grace and new favor.
God is doing His big one. 🏹
#30for30 taken in San Francisco, California by @ajeatslocal

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2 days ago

Come with me to……chill lol. 😂🫧

A little different from my usual content, but I’ve been learning that if I’m going to build the life I’m praying for, I also have to learn how to REST in it.

This season is BUSY! Between work + school, I easily cleared 60+ hours this past week, and by the end of it, I could feel my body asking me to slow all the way down.

So instead of pushing through the weekend, I spent it in active recovery.

Stress doesn’t just live in your mind. It can affect your physical health, concentration, decision-making and ability to function. In one APA survey, **56% of Black adults under 35 reported being so stressed they couldn’t function on most days.

So I’m practicing recovery just as intentionally as I practice productivity. Here is your reminder to relaxxxx!

My current formula: target all 5 senses. 👀🤲🏾🌿🎶🍵

1. Taste + stillness 🍵🥬
My Saturday tea or coffee house tradition + a green smoothie. A hot drink, complete silence, no scrolling, no multitasking. Just a few quiet minutes to let my brain come back to itself.

2. Sight + smell 🌹🐦
Hummingbird watching in a rose garden. Being in nature for minimally 20m reduces cortisol.

3. Touch 💆🏾‍♀️
A massage!! Fell asleep multiple times bc sometimes your body needs the reminder that it doesn’t have to be “on” all the time.

4. Reset 🧖🏾‍♀️❄️
Hot + cold therapy — a little discomfort, a little relief, and a lot of slowing down. Cold therapy reduces inflammation and brings alertness. Sauna helps to detox.

I’m learning that rest isn’t the opposite of ambition. It’s part of how I sustain me.

Anyway… welcome to the occasional “Come chill with me”episode. 😂🤎

#activerecovery #wellness #relaxation #minneapolis #stress by @ajeatslocal

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a month ago

The fallacy of control.
The tension of obedience.
The pain of living a surrendered life, contrary to culture.

I’ve grown to a maturity where disobedience is way too costly for me to pay in this season. 😮‍💨

I intentionally choose to be led by God first, instead of treating Him like a backseat passenger.

BUT can I also tell you that you can absolutely be obedient and still grieve your will and your expectations? The two are not mutually exclusive.

I will admit — I was not too fond on moving to Minnesota. Not a downer on the state, I just saw myself in so many other places.

I’d be a prancing through Brooklyn NY, or on the beach somewhere over in LA. Or in a familiar place, like ATL.

In fact, I applied to multiple grad programs around the US and got accepted into every single one, on scholarship.

NYC. GA. CA. Etc.

After praying and weekly fasting, the Lord never wavered when I asked for direction. All answers pointed back to MN. Whether I was on board or not, God’s plan never changed. At all…….Trust me, I tried to change ‘em!! 🫣😂🫠….I’ll share more snippets as I settle into my new norm 🫶🏾

If you’re struggling in your faith, or trusting God to lead you to your next step, it’s okay to admit: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24

He is Alpha and Omega. He can handle your grief, your frustration, and your questions!

But Sneak peek: You will be just fine! 🤍

#christian #moving #minneapolis #faith #christianwomen by @ajeatslocal

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2 months ago

Saturdaymaxxing with a whole lot of dilly and a whole lot of dally 🕺🏾

Felt like a kid that was outside all day and an adult saying: “oh she gone sleep good tonight” AND DID 🫡

Ok so boom. I love supporting local businesses and this past Saturday was truly banger after banger ✨

By stops 🏃🏽‍♀️
🚘 Stop 1. @mnluxemotors — Ro and Casey, a sweet couple in SLP, own an auto shop. They noticed a lot of their friends and family were being scammed when going to mechanics or dealerships for work on their car, so they decided to create an all women’s “learn about your car” workshop!

They walked through basics, preventative maintenance, what to ask your mechanic if you are getting work done, snow/winter prep, etc! Probably top 10 of my favorite classes!!

Stop 2. @rondoblockparty — got to learn and explore STP through a block party, an event meant to uplift and provide visibility to support the Rondo neighborhood and black businesses!!

Stop 3. @cajunsneauxmn — having a piece of the south, up north with you >>>>>>>>. Loved it

Stop 4. MOA — a beast of a mall. I literally only went for knives/home stuff 🫣. Timed myself to be there only for 1 hr before I would get over stimulated. Made it out in 45m. 😁

Stop 5. @amasushiedina — I have been craving good sushi. Went to bed twice last week thinking about it. AMA didn’t disappoint 😋

So funny getting to explore my new city!

#twincities #rondo #minneapolis #foodie #local by @ajeatslocal

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2 months ago

So, I moved. 🫣

I’ve just sat on this post for a while. Turns out settling into a new city takes far more time and grace than I expected….and I needed to actually live it before I could post about it.

🚚 10 weeks ago today, I left everything I knew for a new city and a new chapter of my life. I’ve heard the number 10 represents completeness and perfect peace, which feels pretty fitting timing to finally come out of hiding lol.

Some days have felt like home already. Some days I’ve missed everything I left behind. Both are true at the same time, and I’m learning that’s okay. Mastering the duality of growing and grieving an old version/place can sum up how it’s been.

Still, I’m extremely grateful for this new season, and for giving myself grace to move at my own pace of discovering ☺️

#Moving #newcity #newseason #christian #new by @ajeatslocal

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3 months ago

feeling like MJ in the 90’s these days. February was that gworllllll ✨🤍

a quick recap you didn’t ask for 🫶🏾

1. Celebrations galore! I was able to have a front row seat invitation to baby showers, weddings, birthday parties, farewell hangouts, baby dedications etc! I LOVE celebrating others and I LOVE love! 💗
2. Traveling, eating, and dilly dallying is by far my favorite thing ever (probs won’t change)🌮
3. Consistency. Having standing coffee dates with people in a season of transition is keeping me afloat these days. 🥹🥹 (see point beneath)
4. Anxiety…. about a new season makes your brain kinda crazy. I’ve had the most unhinged cry/laughters lately. My friends say it’s healthy (I think they just like the entertainment lolol jk)
5. Blessed to be trusted with more! ✨
6. Being told that you can see Christ in me bc there’s “a light about me”✨>>>> (I think it’s the skincare products doing overtime but still 🥹🫶🏾)
7. Babies are the purest lil blessings ever. I actually explode internally when I see them 🐥

Lifessss great 😁🍒

#monthrecap #february #love #blackwomentravel #Jesus by @ajeatslocal

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8 months ago

Did you know that less than 1% of winemakers/sommeliers are Black? Well… now you do. 🍇✨

As Black History Month comes to a close, I want to share a few gems you NEED to add to your list!!

Whenever I travel, I always look for a jazz lounge. (Jazz, R&B, and gospel are my favorite genres, ever!)

So while I was in Cincinnati, I found a jazz lounge to support and to my surprise they are a black owned jazz AND wine lounge: @nostalgiawineandjazz. And even more ironically, that same night I went, they were hosting a R&B + Wine Night.

Talk about alignment 😂 and hear me clearly, it did NOT disappoint.

Each wine tasting came from @lovecorkscrew, founded by trailblazer @chrishonyvette — the first Black woman from the Midwest to take her wine company nationwide. 4 MILLION bottles sold to date.

Side note: I’m an unofficial wine connoisseur and I LOVED Lovecorkscrew wines. White wines usually give me the worst headaches, but I didn’t have that experience at all with these.

By pure coincidence, I was also in town the same week as @blkwinefest kicked off, so if you’re looking to discover more Black-owned brands to support, make sure you check them out too!

If you’re curating your wine fridge or just want to support black business more intentionally, check out Love Cork Screw and Nostalgia! ♥️

#wine #blackwinemakers #blackwowned #blackhistorymonth #cincinnati by @ajeatslocal

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8 months ago

always having a weekend trip to look forward to 🫦🛫>>>

#travel #foodie #weekendaway #cincy #wanderlust by @ajeatslocal

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8 months ago

48 hours in Cincy. 🥀

So boom. I slid to the city for a wedding, but of course, I had to throw some side quests into the mix too!🫡

I can’t believe I’m about to say this but hear me clearly….Cincinnati is wildly underrated!!!

Art on every corner. European influence in the architecture. History galore!! A top tier food market (@findlaymarket) AND free transportation throughout the downtown!? Cincinnati, surprised me in the best way lol.

Its just something about a good side quest and getting to experience a city 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Definitely cannot wait to go back!!!

#cincinnati #exploring #cincinnatifood #ohio #travel taken in Cincinnati, Ohio by @ajeatslocal

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8 months ago

Fun fact: my favorite holiday is New Year’s! 💍💫
Why? Because the world pauses being negative and pessimistic, for just a liiiitle bit. There’s a renewed sense of hope that permeates the air and I LOVE IT!

There’s renewed hope for: new relationships, new jobs, new friendships, new opportunities, and for the new year to be so special. Watching the sparkle return to people eyes because of hope makes me so happy to see 🥹

Be reminded that those who place their hope in The Lord shall not be put to shame. (Romans 5:5) 🙌🏾

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY New Year!!! 2026, were ready for ya! 🤍🤍🤍

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#happynewyear #2026 #newyearsday #newyear #newyearnewyou by @ajeatslocal

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10 months ago

Becoming.
Matthew 5:14-16.
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#christian #christianwomen #fall #itsfallyall #tennessee #church #livinglife by @ajeatslocal

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a year ago

Not curated for perfection. Literally just random photos and thoughts from the best month ever 🛫🍫☁️

October is that gworllllll ✨

1. I spent a lot of time in airports & in the air this month. Seeing clouds from above will never not amaze me.

2. Good things locate me. The last few flights:
—I got upgraded to first class
—I had an entire row to myself on a 1 flight
—I fell asleep before takeoff on two different flights…and both times I woke up and noticed that the FA’s left me snacks instead of skipping me 🥹🥹

3. I want to see all 50 states!!! The Dakotas were just too cool. RV trip for the 48 🥹🚐

4. Work life “balance” seems to become obsolete when you’re in alignment with your purpose. Purpose doesn’t have a 9-5.

5. Sunsets are reminders that endings can still be beautiful 🙌🏾✨

6. The airport had some dinosaur bones on display. I felt like a 5 year old boy. I was so amazed lol 🦕

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#livinglife #travel #foodie #tacos #blackwomentravel #photodump #fallseason #cozy by @ajeatslocal

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a year ago