Fire & Fuel, Printable Packs

Coming Back to the Beginning

Recently, I got completely swamped — full-time work, full-time study — and Ash & Ember Rising suffered.
I haven’t made a new printable pack in months.
The only thing I’ve managed to keep up with is this blog.

Now that my assignments are done and dusted, I wanted to return to my dream — to reconnect with the joy this project usually brings.
I say usually because the first thing I did was print out some of my own packs… and instead of feeling excited, especially at the sight of my beloved goats, I found myself asking:

Am I still sure about this?
About any of it?

When I first dreamed up Ash & Ember Rising, I wanted to create tools.
Not just pretty pages or productivity hacks — but something meaningful.
I had a dream and an idea, and together they became the foundation of this brand.

Before I ever made my first printable, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes reflection, trial, hesitation.
But when I finally sat down to create, I had to ask myself:

Where do I begin?

There were endless possibilities.
But I knew this: I didn’t just want to share what I was doing — I wanted to bring people with me.
Because for the first time in a long time, I was breathing. I was living. I was dreaming again.
And I could imagine a future where I was happy, where I was free, where I was me.

And I wanted that for others, too.

I wanted to give people something they could start with.
Something that could hold a dream.
Something simple, but powerful — like a blank page with just enough magic to say, maybe.

Since I couldn’t give them a pen through the internet, I gave them the next best thing:
A place to start.
A page among the clouds.
And goats, of course.

The printable that started it all — soft clouds, curious goats, and a little room to dream.

That first printable pack made my dream real. And I loved it.
But I also learned from it.
And now, I’ve officially outgrown the design — but never the hope behind it.

So instead of setting it on fire… I’m imagining it anew.

The Plan Moving Forward

My goal is to revisit and refine every pack I’ve created — making sure each one still aligns with my vision and purpose.

And I’m starting right where I began.

Each week, we’ll build on the last.
If you’re ready to dream, or revisit your intentions, or simply want a gentle structure to reflect — you’re invited to join me.

You can:

  • Download the printable pages (below)
  • Use a journal or notebook
  • Or grab any piece of paper — whatever feels right

This is the beginning of a journey, if you want it to be.

If community and gentle accountability help you grow, I’d love to welcome you to the Burnt, Brave & Becoming Facebook group — a safe space for reflection, support, and messy progress with like-minded, like-goaled humans.

And if you’re ready to go even further, consider starting a fresh journal for this next chapter.
(See the video below for the first entry in our journaling series.)

This Week’s Gentle Prompt:

Take 5–10 minutes to simply begin.
Write down:

  • Dreams
  • Wishes
  • Intentions
  • Thoughts or questions about your future

This doesn’t need to be perfect.
It doesn’t even need to make sense.

Just get something out of your head — or your heart — and onto the page.

There are no wrong answers here.
You’re not committing to anything. You’re simply starting.

Come back to your page during the week.
Add whatever rises.
Next blog, we’ll build on what you’ve begun.

Fire & Fuel

The Power of Sleep (and the Blog Post I Almost Skipped)

Rest Counts Too

It’s past my bedtime.
The blog post I wanted to write tonight is sitting somewhere in the misty realm of good intentions and unfinished ideas.
But instead of pushing through exhaustion for the sake of ticking a box, I’m going to do something radical:

I’m going to rest.

Because sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is go to bed.
To pause.
To recover.
To say, “I matter more than my to-do list.”

If you’re reading this and feeling that same tired tug — this is your sign to choose rest too.

We’re not machines.
We are human.
And sometimes, that means showing up by slowing down.

Goodnight, friends.
We rise again tomorrow.

It’s okay to miss a plan. It’s okay to rest. Sometimes the bravest, most beautiful thing you can do is go to sleep and try again tomorrow.

Children of the Tide, Fire & Fuel

Aquessa and the Quiet Power of HydrationHydration

Sometimes, the hardest part of self-care is the small stuff.

Drinking water. Getting up. Showing up for yourself in ways that feel too tiny to matter — but somehow take all the strength you have left.
The small stuff that, in the hectic chaos of your day — of your life — gets forgotten or delegated to a ‘later’ that never comes.

That’s where Aquessa comes in.

She’s our hydration mascot — calm, quiet, and always nearby with a gentle reminder:
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to take the next small sip.

Aquessa isn’t just about water and remembering to hydrate.
She’s there for the calm, quiet moments.
The moments you show up for yourself when no one else is watching.
The moments you should show up for yourself — and just need a gentle reminder that it’s okay.

It’s okay to take a moment for you.
It’s okay to give yourself what you need.

Whether it’s a sip of water, a quiet breath, or a cup of tea made in a moment of overwhelm — it all matters.
Those tiny actions are not just habits. They’re kindness. Care. Respect. Love.

Because those sips of water are so much more.
They are refreshing, revitalizing, renewing, and replenishing.
They are gratitude for a body that works hard for you.
They are small moments to think.
Small moments to reset.
Small moments to regroup.

They are a way of saying:
I matter.


So… How Much Water Do We Even Need?

Even with the best of intentions, it’s easy to get stuck on the question:
How much is enough?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but a gentle starting point is this:

Roughly 30–35ml of water per kilogram of body weight.
(For example, if you weigh 70kg, that’s around 2.1 to 2.5 litres per day.)

But that number is a guide, not a rule.
It’s a whisper of direction — not a test you need to pass.


Start Gently

If that amount feels far away from where you are now, start small.

✨ Add one more glass than yesterday.
✨ Take a sip every time you pause at your desk.
✨ Leave a bottle beside your bed or near your favourite chair.
✨ Use a pretty cup that makes you smile.

You don’t have to jump straight to your goal.
You just have to begin.

Even slow hydration is still hydration.
Even tiny sips still count.


Make It Easier (and More Enjoyable)

If water feels boring or hard to drink, Aquessa has a few soft suggestions:

🌿 Add fresh mint, cucumber, or lemon
🍓 Drop in berries or frozen fruit
🫖 Brew herbal tea and chill it for something soothing
🥤 Use a splash of juice or coconut water
🧊 Adjust the temperature — cold, warm, or room temp — whatever feels best

There’s no rule that says hydration has to be plain.
Make it something you enjoy, not something you endure.


Introducing the Hydration Challenge: Small Sips, Steady Growth

Aquessa has been quietly holding onto something special —
a three-page printable to help you build gentle hydration habits over time.

This free download includes:

  • Weekly hydration trackers with soft encouragement
  • Reflection questions to help you notice your patterns
  • A reminder that every sip is a step toward care, clarity, and calm

💧 Click the button below to download the Dewy Drops: Hydration Challenge pages

Whether you’re starting slow or simply need a little structure with heart — this is for you.


A Final Sip of Encouragement

Whether you’re sipping mindfully or just trying your best to remember…
Aquessa sees you.
And she’s proud.

You matter.
You are worth caring for.
And the next sip you take — it counts.


In stillness, she sips. In small moments, she reminds us: care can be quiet.

🧜‍♀️ Mermaid’s Tip:

Feeling thirsty, sluggish, or foggy? That might be your body asking for a little more water. You’ve got this. ✨

Optional Reflection:

🌊 Prompt 1:

“How did drinking more water affect your energy or mood this week? Did you notice any shifts—big or small?”


🐚 Prompt 2:

“What’s getting in the way of staying hydrated right now? How can you make it a little easier or gentler on yourself?”


💧 Prompt 3:

“Describe a moment where you remembered to drink water and felt proud, even if it was small. Why did it feel good?”


🧜‍♀️ Prompt 4:

“If your body could send you a thank-you note for the care you’ve given it lately, what would it say?”

Fire & Fuel, Reflection

Tired, Tender, and Trying Anyway

Hello fellow adventurers.

Today’s blog is a little tender. I want to talk to you about my Health, fitness and movement journey — it’s been a complicated road.

If you’ve read my first blog or about me page you’ll know that one day I finally opened my eyes and found myself at the bottoms of a pit.

Not literally.

I didn’t recognise the life I was living.
Nothing looked like what I had ever imagined.

So…
I took the first step to reclaiming me.

I started with my health and with my body.

Because after years of neglect, I was

Tired
Exhausted
Sore
Suffering
Over weight
Overwhelmed
Dying
(Dramatic)

And I knew, I couldn’t keep going like this.

And I knew, it would hurt to try. But it already hurt not to.

So I gave up on starting tomorrow.
And I gave up on being perfect.

And I tried.

Along the way I found so many things that didn’t work for me.

But I didn’t quit. I just showed up again the next day to try again. Or to try something else. And sometimes, scarily, I tried something new.

And, after a lot of trial and error, sometimes I found something that worked.

It was hard to give up on perfect but in the messy process, I learned, I flourished, I flounder and step by messy, painful step, I figured it out.

I knew that my weight loss battle would be 80% what I eat but knowing is not understand and it definitely is not applying.

So I got help.

This time not from a book. Because I’ve read, I read and read and read but (embarrassingly) I never understood.
I found someone I could talk to.
A mentor to teach and guide me.
And a community to celebrate and commiserate whenever the need arises.

Eventually I completely changed what I eat each day but I started slow. I started with the meal I struggled with the most. Breakfast. And then I worked to change the next thing.

I did it through trial and error. I tried new foods. I learnt just how fussy I am.
I struggled with just how hard it can be to find healthy you also enjoy eating.
But I didn’t give up. Even when it wasn’t perfect.

I knew that 20% of my weight loss battle would be exercise. While my main priority was focusing on food, I also wanted to be fit. I wanted to make it up the four flights of stairs at work without dying. I started with walks. Five minutes, around the block, everyday. Then ten minutes. Then twenty.

And then when I was ready I moved on to weights and running.

I made slow and steady my mantra.
I reminded myself I am not running a race.
I’m making a life.
A life I can be proud of. A life I will be happy to live.

And now I wonder.
Can words really hope to capture the struggle?
Some days I cried.
Some I raged.
Some I hate.
Sometimes all I could do was breathe.

And the set backs were real.

I started a learn to run program that sang to my soul.
Then I developed Plantar Fasciitis and despite my stubbornness could no longer endure the pain of running.
I lost kilos.
Then had people who should be my biggest supporters make disparaging comments.
The scale went down.
Then back up.
And my clothes all got too big for me.
But I’m too scared to buy new ones in case o jinx it.
And then I looked into the mirror…

My struggles are proof that this journey is never smooth sailing. It’s a downright bumpy track.
Sometimes those bumps will knock you on your arse.

Let me help you get back up.
Let’s try again together.

In creating Ash & Ember Rising I’ve created a place to share my journey.
A place where we can journey together.
A place to share our adventures.

These are the processes I’ve been using put into printable format.
I hope they can help you too.
Because they are still helping me.

In each page you will find tools to guide you but most importantly you’ll find

Encouragement over guilt
Gentleness
Hope
Fire
Fuel
Realness over expectations

Fire & Fuel
Blogs to share wisdom and knowledge and printables that help you understand and apply your learning.

Track your food, hydration, rest, and rewards – without shame. Whether you’re rage-walking through your emotions or just proud you drank a glass of water, this is your space. Fuel yourself like the magnificent, exhausted creature you are.

If your journey hasn’t been linear, or perfect, or loud — you’re not alone. This series is for anyone who’s still trying. And that includes me.

If you’re inspired by this messy journey and looking for gentle ways to explore and affirm your path, my Dare to Dream printables offer reflective prompts, mindful colouring, and quiet validation. Find them on the Ash & Ember Etsy store.