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Today, I’m so excited to introduce our new contributing writer, Ashley Ford. She’s made a couple cameos on Cup of Jo this year, when she wrote a beautiful essay about weighing more than her boyfriend and shared her fantastic week of outfits. We adore her funny, thoughtful way of looking at the world and were lucky enough to entice her to join our team this fall. I can’t wait to share more of her pieces with you. Here are some fun facts about her…
Her backstory:
Ashley grew up in Indiana, as the oldest of four children. (“I’m a born-and-bred Hoosier,” she says.) Since moving to New York three and a half years ago, she has worked for all kinds of places — big media companies, small media companies, foundations, arts non-profits, etc. She has contributed to publications including The Guardian, ELLE, BuzzFeed, Teen Vogue, New York Magazine and Refinery29, and she taught creative non-fiction writing at The New School. Now, she’s writing a book, hosting a TV show and two podcasts, and planning a wedding. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’m enjoying myself,” says Ashley. She currently lives in Flatbush, Brooklyn, with her fiancé Kelly, all their books, and the one plant she has yet to kill. “Of course,” she says, “It’s a succulent.”
Lightning Round Q. & A.
Favorite book: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, An Untamed State by Roxane Gay, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. But I love SO MANY books. I could go on and on and on.
TV obsession: I’m currently enjoying Stranger Things, but The Golden Girls is my forever jam. I will always love and watch it.
Favorite podcast: This is so hard! I listen to so many! Can I do a top three? Another Round, ReplyAll and The NoSleep Podcast.
A random pet peeve: Putting ketchup on fries instead of on the side. I have a thing about food-to-condiment ratios, and this ruins it from jump.
Next on her travel wish list: So many places. I actually didn’t have the resources, opportunities or confidence to travel much in my twenties, but I’m trying to make up for that now. A few days after we got engaged, Kelly and I left for a two-week trip in Italy. It was the most magnificent trip I had ever been on in my entire life. The food, the people, the hotels, THE WINE! I’ve always liked being on the go, but it’s hard when you don’t grow up in a family that travels. My parents have never been on an airplane. That’s something I’m really wanting to change over the rest of my life. I want everybody in my family to get on a plane, at least once.
What she makes for dinner when she’s home alone: A cheese plate. Before Kel and I lived together, I probably had cheese for dinner once a week. But he eats like a Midwesterner: meat, bread and beer.
Three New York recommendations: 1. Eat 2. People watch in Prospect Park. 3. Walk the bridges in the spring and fall.
Personal fun fact: I have an endless abiding love for Kenny Loggins.
A few more pics of Ashley…
Ashley with her fiancé Kelly.
About to battle a tiger at the Colosseum in Rome.
Trying out gold lipstick.
At her desk at home.
Thank you so much, Ashley! We’re so excited to have you.
(Top portrait by Christine Han for Cup of Jo. Ashley and Kelly portrait by Gail Werner. Rome and lipstick photos from Ashley’s Instagram. Desk photo by Edith Young for Man Repeller.)
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