​As the year rolls on and our personal and work diaries fill with endless tasks, it is no wonder that failing New Year Resolutions is as common as setting them! The good news here is we are NOT to blame! The mistake we are making is setting resolutions when instead, we should be setting intentions. Ashley Bellino of Stoned Crystals understands this and has created a step-by-step guide on how to set ourselves up for success for our 2018 goals and how to get back on track with our goals when they fall to the wayside.

According to Stoned Crystals, resolutions have negative connotations which doesn’t help us achieve our goals. By focusing our energy on ‘fixing’ the things that are ‘wrong’ with us we may be met with feelings of anxiety, depression and failure. A lot of us have that little inner voice that continually attacks and punishes us. Combine this with a New Year resolution that constantly reminds us of our shortcomings and the mental torment begins. For example, the resolution of losing weight implies that you are currently overweight and triggers a chain of negative thoughts and even visualisations that occur each time you think of the resolution. These constant reminders of what we are lacking only works to charge self-criticism, not positive change. 

Stoned Crystals have recently developed their ‘Intention Cards’, a new product designed to help guide our focus and goals in life. When creating and setting intentions we are programming our minds with positive mantras and affirmations towards the goals we seek. The Stoned Crystals Intention Cards includes 6 x instructional cards, 18 x intention cards and 1 x acrylic stand all encased in a luxe card intention box. For those wishing to experience the power of setting their new years intentions with the help of crystals, Stoned Crystals have released ‘Crystal Mini-Packs’ in Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz, Labradorite, Amazonite and Amethyst. Retailing for $34.50, the Stoned Crystals Mini Packs are a great present for the crystal enthusiast or a great help to those who feel they lose focus of their goals.  ​

I think this is a fantastic concept, I love crystals and I've always used oracle cards, so combining intention cards and crystals really works for me.

Available at Stoned Crystals.

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In early 2018, Perth man Steve Plain will attempt to climb the highest peak on each of the world’s seven continents in world-record time in support of Surf Life Saving WA and SpinalCure Australia’s Project Edge.


Kicking off with Vinson in Antarctica in January 2018 and finishing on Everest in May, Project 7in4 will also include climbs on Aconcagua, South America; Kilimanjaro, Africa, Carstensz Pyramid, Australasia; Elbrus, Europe and Denali, North America.


Steve is aiming to complete the climbs in under 4 months which if successful will be a new world-record for completing the ‘7 summits’, beating the current record of 126 days.


Steve was inspired to take the challenge after a simple accident at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach in December 2014 that nearly left him paralysed for life.


After being dumped by a wave and driven head first into the sand, Steve lay partially paralysed, face-down in the water. Unable to breath, his initial concern was drowning. Fortunately, Steve’s life was saved by the quick work of Cottesloe Beach volunteer surf lifesavers Lara and Gary Matier and friend Dave Field.


He was rushed to hospital under full spinal precautions and eventually told he had sustained multiple unstable fractures at the C2, C3 & C7 vertebrae as well as a contorted spinal cord, ruptured disc, dissected arterial artery, torn ligaments and more.


The prognosis was initially very poor as Steve was told by doctor’s he may not regain full movement.


While spending an intensive time in the hospital and in a Halo brace, he committed himself to refusing the doctor’s diagnosis - he was determined to not only walk out of hospital but to go on to climb the 7 summits, and so Project 7in4 was born.


“Lying in a hospital bed with an uncertain prognosis was frustrating and frightening. I had never felt so weak or hopeless. But somewhere amongst all the self-pity, I made a promise to myself that I would come through this fitter and stronger than I was before.”


Less than a year on from the date of the accident, Steve completed his first practice run on New Zealand’s Mount Aspiring.


Steve’s ambitious 7 summits dream will push him to new physical limits and he plans to stay motivated by focusing on using Project 7in4 to raise funds and awareness for two organisations that have become very close to his heart since the accident.


“Prevention is better than cure and that is why I want to raise awareness for the work that volunteer surf lifesavers do in performing rescues and minimizing injury on beaches around Australia. But accidents will always happen. For that reason I also want to support and help raise funds for SpinalCure’s Project Edge program conducting cutting-edge research into spinal cord injury cure.”


More information can be found at www.project7in4.com


Surf Life Saving Western Australia (SLSWA) is the state’s peak coastal safety and rescue organisation with more than 20,000 members across 31 clubs, from Esperance to Broome.


Millions of people visit Western Australia’s beautiful beaches every year – but while they look amazing they can be unpredictable and hide some dangers. SLSWA provides essential education and emergency services to all users of West Australian beaches.


SpinalCure Australia is a leading not-for-profit that raises funds and awareness aimed at finding a cure for spinal cord injury. SpinalCure recently launched Project Edge, a research collaboration among world-leading neuroscientist Professor Reggie Edgerton at UCLA and the University of Technology Sydney to introduce neurostimulation research for spinal cord injury to Australia. The outcomes of Project Edge are expected to have a profound impact on the lives of the many thousands of Australians living with the devastating effects of a spinal cord injury.

Honey, the nectar of the gods. It's one of the most natural and tasty health remedies you can find.  Full of so much goodness.  Sometimes I will just eat a spoonful of honey, I love the taste of it and I know how great it is for my health.    Bee Hydrated know this too, as they have created some delicious, healthy and refreshing drinks.   I have tried each flavour in the range.

​Bee Hydrated contains naturally occurring electrolytes, it is the perfect hydrating energy boost.  This is so much better for you than drinking some of those sports drinks which are full of artificial ingredients and which also taste very average.

Honey is an antioxidant - it's loaded with vitamins, it's a natural antiseptic, so helps to keep germs at bay and is a natural energy source.   

I love each flavour, if I had to choose a favourite it would probably be Relieve as I love cinnamon and have been trying to incorporate it into my drinks, so this is the perfect combination.  

The creators of Bee Hydrated come from a heritage of beekeepers and support local Australian honey, they care about the bees health and the environment. The natural extracts they use also come from Australia. So by drinking Bee Hydrated, not only are you drinking a health tonic which tastes amazing and is good for you, but you're also helping to save the bees.   

These drinks are just lovely, refreshing and revitalizing, I love drinking them in them morning before I go to work, they're also fantastic in the summer heat.   

Available at Bee Hydrated ​

Hydrodol is an Australian made all natural supplement to help relieve hangovers. I tested this out over the Christmas and New Year's break.  I do like to partake in my favourite alcoholic beverages during special occasions, of course I don’t get drunk! but I did catch up with friends and enjoy celebratory drinks.   One thing I notice with myself, is I can’t handle too much wine, it leaves me feeling very out of sorts the next day.   So trying hydrodol was a good test! 

It contains a bunch of amazing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and also an interesting herb called Kudzu, which I’ve taken before, it is a very well know herb in Japan which helps with energy and detox.   It also contains an amazing herb called milk thistle which helps to cleanse your liver of toxins.   

There is a before and after powder, so if you know you’re going to be partaking in a night of drinks, you take one powder sachet in a glass of water before you start drinking.  Then there is the after powder, take this the morning after you’ve been drinking.

Before I discovered more natural alternatives in my life I was a big fan of mainstream liquid vitamin tablets which dissolved in water, but I stopped taking them because they all contained artificial preservatives, usually aspartame.     For years I’ve searching for an alternative and this is it.

The B vitamin group are so important in keeping us mentally and physically healthy and when they are in liquid form, they absorb into your body even faster and have a stronger effect.  Hydrosol absolutely helped prevent me from feeling seedy and lethargic with that wine hangover feeling which I hate.    It allowed me to get up and keep going, go out to breakfast and go about my day without feeling terrible.    It made me feel pretty energised!

Not only does is it help with a hangover, or even after just drinking a few drinks.   I was also taking this on other days where I felt I just needed some extra energy.  It actually tastes quite pleasant, it has a mild citrus taste and is easy to drink.    This is definitely  something I want to keep handy.  

Available at Hydrodol ​ 

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