diff --git a/examples/Kittens/Sample/AppDelegate.h b/examples/Kittens/Sample/AppDelegate.h
index 2aa29369b4..85855277e9 100644
--- a/examples/Kittens/Sample/AppDelegate.h
+++ b/examples/Kittens/Sample/AppDelegate.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 #import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
 
+#define UseAutomaticLayout 1
+
 @interface AppDelegate : UIResponder <UIApplicationDelegate>
 
 @property (strong, nonatomic) UIWindow *window;
diff --git a/examples/Kittens/Sample/BlurbNode.m b/examples/Kittens/Sample/BlurbNode.m
index 62f0d37ec4..c26cecacad 100644
--- a/examples/Kittens/Sample/BlurbNode.m
+++ b/examples/Kittens/Sample/BlurbNode.m
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
  */
 
 #import "BlurbNode.h"
+#import "AppDelegate.h"
 
 #import <AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode+Subclasses.h>
 #import <AsyncDisplayKit/ASHighlightOverlayLayer.h>
@@ -72,16 +73,37 @@ static NSString *kLinkAttributeName = @"PlaceKittenNodeLinkAttributeName";
   [super didLoad];
 }
 
+#if UseAutomaticLayout
 - (id<ASLayoutable>)layoutSpecThatFits:(ASSizeRange)constrainedSize
 {
-  return [ASInsetLayoutSpec
-          newWithInsets:UIEdgeInsetsMake(kTextPadding, kTextPadding, kTextPadding, kTextPadding)
-          child:
-          [ASCenterLayoutSpec
-           newWithCenteringOptions:ASCenterLayoutSpecCenteringX // Center the text horizontally
-           sizingOptions:ASCenterLayoutSpecSizingOptionMinimumY // Takes up minimum height
-           child:_textNode]];
+  return
+  [ASInsetLayoutSpec
+   newWithInsets:UIEdgeInsetsMake(kTextPadding, kTextPadding, kTextPadding, kTextPadding)
+   child:
+   [ASCenterLayoutSpec
+    newWithCenteringOptions:ASCenterLayoutSpecCenteringX // Center the text horizontally
+    sizingOptions:ASCenterLayoutSpecSizingOptionMinimumY // Takes up minimum height
+    child:_textNode]];
 }
+#else
+- (CGSize)calculateSizeThatFits:(CGSize)constrainedSize
+{
+  // called on a background thread.  custom nodes must call -measure: on their subnodes in -calculateSizeThatFits:
+  CGSize measuredSize = [_textNode measure:CGSizeMake(constrainedSize.width - 2 * kTextPadding,
+                                                      constrainedSize.height - 2 * kTextPadding)];
+  return CGSizeMake(constrainedSize.width, measuredSize.height + 2 * kTextPadding);
+}
+
+- (void)layout
+{
+  // called on the main thread.  we'll use the stashed size from above, instead of blocking on text sizing
+  CGSize textNodeSize = _textNode.calculatedSize;
+  _textNode.frame = CGRectMake(roundf((self.calculatedSize.width - textNodeSize.width) / 2.0f),
+                               kTextPadding,
+                               textNodeSize.width,
+                               textNodeSize.height);
+}
+#endif
 
 #pragma mark -
 #pragma mark ASTextNodeDelegate methods.
diff --git a/examples/Kittens/Sample/KittenNode.mm b/examples/Kittens/Sample/KittenNode.mm
index 09faf6cca6..db435d40ef 100644
--- a/examples/Kittens/Sample/KittenNode.mm
+++ b/examples/Kittens/Sample/KittenNode.mm
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
  */
 
 #import "KittenNode.h"
+#import "AppDelegate.h"
 
 #import <AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode+Subclasses.h>
 
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ static const CGFloat kInnerPadding = 10.0f;
             NSParagraphStyleAttributeName: style };
 }
 
+#if UseAutomaticLayout
 - (id<ASLayoutable>)layoutSpecThatFits:(ASSizeRange)constrainedSize
 {
   ASRatioLayoutSpec *imagePlaceholder = [ASRatioLayoutSpec newWithRatio:1.0 child:_imageNode];
@@ -146,12 +148,37 @@ static const CGFloat kInnerPadding = 10.0f;
     children:@[imagePlaceholder, _textNode]]];
 }
 
+// With box model, you don't need to override this method, unless you want to add custom logic.
 - (void)layout
 {
   [super layout];
   
+  // Manually layout the divider.
   CGFloat pixelHeight = 1.0f / [[UIScreen mainScreen] scale];
   _divider.frame = CGRectMake(0.0f, 0.0f, self.calculatedSize.width, pixelHeight);
 }
+#else
+- (CGSize)calculateSizeThatFits:(CGSize)constrainedSize
+{
+  CGSize imageSize = CGSizeMake(kImageSize, kImageSize);
+  CGSize textSize = [_textNode measure:CGSizeMake(constrainedSize.width - kImageSize - 2 * kOuterPadding - kInnerPadding,
+                                                  constrainedSize.height)];
+
+  // ensure there's room for the text
+  CGFloat requiredHeight = MAX(textSize.height, imageSize.height);
+  return CGSizeMake(constrainedSize.width, requiredHeight + 2 * kOuterPadding);
+}
+
+- (void)layout
+{
+  CGFloat pixelHeight = 1.0f / [[UIScreen mainScreen] scale];
+  _divider.frame = CGRectMake(0.0f, 0.0f, self.calculatedSize.width, pixelHeight);
+
+  _imageNode.frame = CGRectMake(kOuterPadding, kOuterPadding, kImageSize, kImageSize);
+
+  CGSize textSize = _textNode.calculatedSize;
+  _textNode.frame = CGRectMake(kOuterPadding + kImageSize + kInnerPadding, kOuterPadding, textSize.width, textSize.height);
+}
+#endif
 
 @end