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- Vietnam
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Our travels / Vietnam

Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City

December 8, 2017

Written by ashleyrespecki

Further Reading...

Istanbul (Turkey Part I)

April 17, 2014

Exploring the Country (Turkey Part III)

April 17, 2014

Our Costa Rican Honeymoon

December 1, 2012

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Vietnam: Hanoi

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A before and after view 11 months in the making! 🛁 🚿🚽 ⁣
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Nick made fun of me yesterday because I was all humble pie when our photog asked if we did all the work in our house ourselves...I said, “mostly.” 🤦🏼‍♀️ What I meant to say was, “everything but this new glass shower enclosure.” I mean, look at this finished bathroom!!! I’m so proud of this thing, you have no idea. It’s the longest a project has taken us because we paused and finished the rest of the lower level first...and uh, had a baby. But also, the custom fabrication and expert install of the glass shower was worth the patience *and* every expensive penny!⁣
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I have so many more before and afters to share, and a blog post up my sleeve about our final stages of this project. I might even try another reel! (Oof, how do content creators keep up with this stuff??)

I put something other than yoga pants on today! An

I put something other than yoga pants on today! And this little babe changed out of her sleeper for once!
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It was a special occasion—our first family photos with Quinn. This was the first time I’ve truly “gotten ready” since our maternity photos in September! I even slipped on a pair of @madewell shoes I bought in March and have never even worn out of the house. It made me so itchy for “normalcy.” I want to be able to introduce our baby to all of our family and friends, or even just mask-less strangers, so she can see how beautiful and diverse the world is. I want to buy and wear clothes just so my coworkers and I can ooo and ahh over each other’s unique tastes and styles (men think we dress for them, pshhh—it’s all about showing off for the ladies 🙌🏻). I want to go to the movies, a mall, a concert, any sporting event. One day, right??
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So curious what you’re most looking forward to experiencing from pre-COVID times? I’m already saving for my first post-COVID concert because I’m sure it will cost an arm and a leg...

Celebrating 8 years 👰 ❤️🤵 ⁣ //⁣ Find

Celebrating 8 years 👰 ❤️🤵 ⁣
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Finding unique ways to celebrate at home in this wild year, with a new baby in tow! Thank goodness our favorite Indian restaurant is down the street. And doing some reminiscing about times when you could throw a huge party with your favorite people to celebrate love. Sighhh.⁣
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So glad we took that big group shot with all our favorite people—a suggestion from the ever talented @amandavanvels. Also, can’t believe how many love stories were captured on camera during this party. Love is my favorite thing. (Fun fact: the two sweethearts in the last photo are having TRIPLETS in 2021. Helloooo babies!)

We got these photos taken TWO whole years ago and

We got these photos taken TWO whole years ago and I cannot even believe it. We had my friend @jessicarm @harmonyinhappenstance take these to commemorate our anniversary and document how much work we had accomplished in the house so far (which was just 8mos of work at the time!).⁣⁣
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Next week is our 8th wedding anniversary and we’re finally having photos taken as a family of 3 (er, 4! can’t forget @sightingsofsawyer!) And today, the final piece for our bathroom reno is being installed—and we’re not the ones doing it, for once. 😂 So I’m feeling nostalgic and, after scrolling through my camera roll, so proud of the work we’ve done together to make this house our home. You’re my favorite life and reno partner, @nicholasrespecki! 😘⁣⁣
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Swipe for more amazing photos from our friend @jessicarm, some before photos, plus progress shots to prove we really did it (with the help of some of our favorite ppl of course—thanks fam!). What do you think? Did we successfully bring back the mid-century simplicity of this house?? (And holy hell, did we ever brighten it up!)

Happy Halloween from our little football and rufer

Happy Halloween from our little football and ruferee! ⁣🏈〽️🎃
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We’re spending the day cheering on @umichfootball so we got into some appropriate gear to celebrate. Even Auntie @heyabbywilson joined in since she’s visiting! But like, it wouldn’t be Halloween if someone wasn’t playing dress up...so I put on my high school cheerleading uniform for sh*ts and giggles.🤣
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Swipe for this 5 weeks postpartum mom busting the seams of this ridiculous uniform that’s not even zipped up! Totally wearing a nursing bra and maternity shorts underneath. Our neighbor definitely gave me a wth look during this photo op—@nicholasrespecki has never been so embarrassed by me and my pale legs.😆

This girl is one month old today! I only cried onc

This girl is one month old today! I only cried once, and managed to successfully fulfill my mom duty of documenting the milestone. 🥳⁣
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Quinn totally isn’t into the swaddling situation, or bows (swipe to the last frame for video proof of her dislike...which is some silly HDR video bc I don’t know how to use my new iPhone 🤦🏼‍♀️). She grunts more than we thought any human possibly could, tolerates her big brother’s kisses, and loves bath time. She prefers Disney lullabies before bed and lets mom and dad sometimes sleep for 5hr stretches.⁣ We love her so, so much. ❤️
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All the clichés parents spout about time and baby snuggles and their hearts exploding...that’s all true. I tried to spare you a cliché here, but my new favorite is, “babies don’t keep.” Mannn is that true. 😭

Four weeks ago, this little bean made her entrance

Four weeks ago, this little bean made her entrance into this big, wild world. And since then, she’s turned my social media content into your latest baby spam. (You’re welcome.⁣😜)
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I went to Trader Joe’s bright and early all by myself because I have to get their annual “fantasy pumpkins” (uh, they’re just not orange, I don’t know why they call them this 🤷🏼‍♀️). Meanwhile, Nick snuggled with these two at home. Of course I ended up being super jealous and I think my heart nearly broke when he texted me this photo. Motherhood is strange.⁣
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Do you guys think @sightingsofsawyer likes Quinn better than me already??

Real life Friday over here 🙋🏼‍♀️⁣ //

Real life Friday over here 🙋🏼‍♀️⁣
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🥪 Yes, I made a peanut butter & syrup sandwich for lunch. ⁣
👠 Yes, I ate the heel of the bread. ⁣
💅 Yes, I need to paint my toenails, because I’m too worried about the COVID risks associated with going to get a pedicure even though I desperately want one. ⁣
🧹 Yes, I managed to vacuum our floors and rugs today and it was my biggest accomplishment of the day (s/o @dyson). ⁣
👶🏼 Yes, Quinn is bouncing in a $60 bouncer because I couldn’t stomach spending $200 on the Instagram-worthy @babybjorn version (s/o @evenflobaby). ⁣
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But, I totally shared my sandwich with my sweet pup while gazing at that happy bouncing babe in my semi-clean dining room, and it was everything. ❤️ Hope your Friday is as simple and beautiful as mine is. ⁣

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