A Lovely Weekend

 

Hello friends,

Greetings from my favourite place in the world - home! It’s been beautiful here and doesn’t feel like Autumn at all, well just maybe a little bit 🍂🍁

I hope you have a chance to step outside for some vitamin D too.

On Friday night Paul and I had a celebratory dinner at home - we met at a bar 22 years ago to the day 🥰 My sister and I were single and decided to go out for a drink together, and Paul was with his friends watching a rugby game. And the rest is history :)

Champagne was on ice at our place and it was delicious! Usually it’s Prosecco, lol!

 

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I spent a delightful hour or so finishing up this book on a cozy Sunday afternoon. It was so good, and I had tears in my eyes at the end. Always the mark of a good romcom book!

It was 5/5 stars for sure. It had a quirky premise and even got very tense (would they survive?? It was superbly written from that point of view). Two people have a drunken one-night stand on a houseboat and wake up in the morning floating away in the sea with no land in sight because they didn’t tie the boat up properly.

I mean, you’ve got to admit it, that is a unique story outline. I thought they’d have to survive otherwise it would be a terrible romance, but there are bits I didn't guess, and twists at the end which keep you interested. All in all a very satisfying ending!

 

 

I've read all the authors other books too and they are fab as well. Have you read this author before? It's here on Amazon (affiliate link), or get it from the library!

And please, tell me what you're reading at the moment if you'd recommend it.

To accompany my relaxing reading time I had a background music video playing softly on the television, imagining myself sitting on that terrace in Paris.

Plus coffee, dark chocolate, and a bliss ball.

Sunday perfection 😍

(Paul was at work so it was just me and the pets).

I hope you had a lovely weekend too!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find all my links at fionaferris.com: where to read or listen to my books, podcast interviews, even my Dior relaxing music playlist on Spotify. It’s all there!

 

 

Living well at home

Hello friends!

I love how setting the table nicely makes even a simple dinner feel more special (here we are having spaghetti bolognese).

My essentials are:

✨ Candles (I am using tealights in my faux Baccarat candlesticks tonight)

✨ Jazz playing on the bluetooth speaker

✨ Sparkling water alongside the wine

✨ A side salad sprinkled with Parmesan cheese

✨ My homesewn coasters for a nice feel when you put your glass down :)

It's so nice to create a restaurant atmosphere at home, it really doesn't cost anything extra (unlike dining out), and you get the satisfaction and pleasure of using items you already own.

Don't get me wrong, I love going out for a special meal or when we are travelling, but wow prices have gone up a lot. And I know it's hard to make a dollar in the restaurant business too, I don't doubt that. It's just how things are right now :0

But when you are working on strengthening your own personal economy, creating a beautiful dining experience for yourself is a great start.

Another thing I like to do is make my own eating-out favourites at home. I make fish and chips from fresh fish seasoned and cooked in the air fryer, with the chips made from fresh potatoes chopped into wedges, sprayed with olive oil and baked in the oven. YUM!

Something like this is a necessity for me since I'm celiac and have to be gluten-free, but it's actually such a delicious upgrade and far healthier too.

Are you an eat-at-the-table fan?

Also, let me know your favourite fakeaway meal to make at home :) I also love making my own pizzas (I have made the bases before but have been buying gluten-free bases lately), bunless burger and fries.

(This makes me look like I have homemade fast food all the time but they are only on the menu every so often! Mostly we do a roast with tons of veggies, meatloaf, curry, chicken and vegetables etc.)

And, please let me know how you like to make dining at home more special! 

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I bought myself a new, inexpensive wreath for our front door. I love having a Christmas wreath up during the holiday season and always feel so sad taking it down.

I had a thought that seasonal wreaths must be a thing, and they are! I ordered this 'autumn wreath' online and it makes me so happy every time I see it.

I already have plans to find a winter wreath (since we have winter in the middle of the year in the southern hemisphere), and a spring wreath when I need it too.

I know it's not really a necessity, but it really lifts my spirits. And switching them out every three months or so means I won't get bored with them either. Such fun!

This one was from Temu for $15. Don't judge!

I heard the phrase 'fast fashion worn slow' a while back and it's exactly how I approach things. I might buy something inexpensive, but my purchases are always carefully considered ('will I enjoy this for a long time or will it be clutter and junk in five minutes' 😂)

I decided that my autumn wreath is the former! Of course I did 🤣

I hope you had a lovely weekend (and maybe you're still in the middle of it). It's Sunday night here, and we're tucked in cozy with the fire going. Doggies are happily sprawled, 'sunbathing' their tummies, and it’s dinner time soon.

Life is good, I hope it is for you too whatever you are doing!

See you next week :)

xx Fiona

 

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PS. Check out my book '100 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life on a Budget' if you like the ideas in this post! It is quick-to-read, packed with inspiring ideas, and also my most consistently popular book with almost 800 reviews on Amazon (and an average 4.6 rating out of 5 stars).

It is not the kind of book that will give you discount codes or which places to go to to get a bargain. What you will find is all my secrets how I have created a luxurious life for myself, even though I value thrift and simplicity. You can create any kind of reality for yourself too, and it can happen in an instant with a shift in mindset. Sounds airy fairy but I am fully about the practical as well.

I always say to have your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. It has served me well so far! Happy reading :) Please let me know what you think of it!

 

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission but at no extra cost to you. I appreciate it if you choose to use my links!]

A fresh new month

 Hello friends!

It’s been a lovely cozy week for me here at home in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Autumn weather has rolled in, with sunshine one day, rain the next. Whether it’s spring or autumn, the transitional seasons always seem to have unsettled weather!

I know a lot of people don’t like to ‘talk about the weather’, but I love it as a topic. Perhaps not so much as small talk, but I just find weather endlessly fascinating.

(It was sunny when I went for a walk on the day above. The vineyards on our street are always lovely to stroll past - at the moment the grapes have long been harvested and the leaves are turning yellow).

I'm also really enjoying putting different outfits and colourways together to embrace our incoming autumn. I haven't done a proper wardrobe refresh switching things around yet but I'm looking forward to doing it soon.

Whether you are coming into spring or autumn, have you organised your new season looks yet? Am I the only one not done...?

 

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And, are you ready to step into your rich-lady lifestyle? Haha, I say 'rich lady' tongue-in-cheek, but I really do love the visual this phrase inspires.

When Financially Chic Vol. 2 was released seven months ago, inflation was high. But it seems that instead of things easing, there may be more clouds gathering on the horizon.

When I find myself getting all wound up and worried, I stop and focus on what I can control: my own little world and my own personal economy.

In this book I outline changes I made to improve our financial situation in spite of what was happening around us, and in recent times I've done more - no more Spotify Premium for a while, shopping my closet, and using our local public library more (you can ask your library to order my books in too, in paperback or audiobook).

I always like to keep my mindset happy too, it helps me cope with unsettling times better.

 

 

For today, I wanted to share a mindset shift from this book; it’s in Chapter 3. Elevate Your Mindset.

“You want to learn how to make it fun to be frugal – I promise this is not an oxymoron. And if the word frugal has negative connotations for you, choose another: careful, savvy, economical, prudent, unwasteful, canny, sparing, or meticulous. I like the thought of being exquisite with money, or elegant with money. Doesn’t financial elegance have a nice ring to it? Imagine choosing to be financially elegant as your new mindset?

Know that you can ‘live beyond your means’ and it all starts with your mindset. I remember how good it felt when I flicked the switch and viewed money as fun and easy instead of stressful and scary. I felt more in control of my destiny and it was such a soothing feeling. It was also exciting, because I felt empowered and emboldened. I was the one driving the bus now!”

If you don’t like how you feel about money and finances, find a way you’d rather be and step into that. It sounds airy fairy, but in my experience doing this truly changes how you show up, and in turn changes decisions you make. It’s fun too, who wouldn’t want to practice being someone new!

(Here’s the link for Financially Chic Vol. 2 if you don't have it yet. It’s ‘affiliate’ which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase; I appreciate it if you choose to use my link!)

 

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If there is one thing the doggies LOVE, it's going in the car. (Above, Daphne in front, and below, Chloe). And even better if the window is down so they can get a better look around and feel the wind in their fur.Lucky they are both short enough that it's not a safety hazard.

 

 

 

Even standing up on their hind legs with front paws on the arm rest they couldn't topple out.It's cute how they get so excited for a drive!If you have dog(s) are they car fanatics too?

 

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Wishing you a lovely weekend, and that you get a chance to rest and maybe even do something creative. I’ll see you next week!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find all my books, audiobooks, and other social media channels here on my Linktree :)

 

PPS. I've also just started publishing my weekly newsletter on Substack, so you can read it there too, and subscribe (it's free) to have my newsletter sent to your Inbox.

 

See this post on Substack :)

Autumn showers and autumn style

 

Greetings from a rainy week! I had to stand under the carport so Paul could take a photo of me :) I love my autumn toned outfit with navy and green paired with leopard.

 

I hope you had a lovely Easter if you celebrate it. Paul worked a few of the days and I've been writing, and on Monday we had 'Easter lunch for three' with my mum at home.

 

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I've been so enjoying going for my pre-breakfast walk each day with an audiobook playing (between showers).

At the moment I'm listening to Molly the Maid's 3rd book - The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose. I really love the narrator!

Have you found that you can get hooked on narrator's voices and enjoy a book series more because of them? And seek out other books they've narrated? I do 😊

I really hope you are hooked on my audiobooks too! haha, please don't tell me if you find my voice horrible 😂 But I welcome constructive feedback... 😮 if you're kind about it of course!

 

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I am migrating my email newsletter list over to Substack, so the next email you receive from me may look a little different. Just to let you know!

 

Wishing you a fab week and that you are keeping safe and well :)

 

With warm regards,

Fiona x

Make your own sunshine

Micky and me - why do dogs never look at the camera?
Or is it just my dogs???

 

 

Hello chic friends!

 

The day we took these photos was bright, sunny and warm, as you can see. But today, when I was thinking about this post, it was grey and cold, and soon after I came back from my walk, it started raining lightly. But I was so happy in my mind that it gave me the idea to write about being making your own sunshine, even if it's cloudy outside. It didn't matter to me that the skies were grey and it was chilly, because I felt good in myself and excited about my day's plans.

 

And you might find this extra impressive when you hear that my day's plans were to start my taxes and get them done early. I know! What kind a freak am I, haha. But that was one of the things that was making me feel so good - being ahead of the game.

 

Yes, I love being self-employed as an author, but it does mean all the admin falls on me, not an employer. I have to make sure I put money aside for tax, and get all my paperwork in on time too. Usually I'm pretty good at getting all the information for our accountant together, but last year I wasn't. Last year I left it until only a few months before the deadline, and that few months also included giving my accountant enough time to do her part.

 

It was stressful! So this year I decided I was going to do my taxes as soon as I received the email go-ahead from my accountant, and that came in yesterday. My lofty plan is to have it all wrapped up within a few days and emailed back to her by Easter, which is this weekend!

 

This ambitious plan makes me feel good, and I know I will feel even better once my taxes are in. So 'being ahead' is one way that I make my own sunshine. Nothing feels better than being organised - there are no horrible surprises! I forget sometimes and let things slide, but it always feels better to be on top of things.

 

 

 

Perfection across the bay

 

 

Other ways in which I make my own sunshine?

 

🌞 Thinking of all the goodness around, instead of the scary things in the world.

 

🌞 Watching cheery movies and tv series (we are enjoying Running Point with Kate Hudson on Netflix at the moment).

 

🌞 Reading feelgood books (I just finished We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes and it was so good!)

 

🌞 Getting dressed for the day, putting on a little bit of makeup, and freshly washed and blow-dried hair is the best pick-me-up ever! Plus perfume of course :)

 

🌞 Being a little bit silly, playing with the doggies, and just goofing around in general - it's a real tonic! Gets me out of my head and into my body, which feels so much better than the other way around.

 

 

Please tell me, what do you like to do to lighten up when you feel a bit heavy and stressed? And if you need to borrow some of my ideas, please go right ahead :)

 

Paul and Micky :)

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Beautiful autumn sunrise at our place 🧡💜💗💛

 

Who is ready for a new season (whether it's spring or autumn for you)? It's fun to think about 'new' outfit combinations (shop my closet) and creating a capsule collection.

Also for what goals I might want to focus on in the next three months. I always think a nature season is the perfect length of time to make changes or bring new things in.

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Out at the supermarket I saw the loveliest flowers, so happy and colourful!

 

 

I read in a magazine article this weekend that the lady interviewed cited 'wearing colour' as one way that she got dopamine hits for herself and I thought that was so true.

 

 

Wearing happy colours makes me feel good too. And viewing gorgeous flowers does the same.

 

 Enjoy the display! Who can't love bright yellow, hot pink and orange together 💛💖🧡

 

 

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Sweet Micky is going to be 14 in a few months, and he really is such a good advertisement for 'clean living' because he doesn't look a day over 10 😊

He loves going for walks, especially at the beach or in the city, and would walk for miles if you did. He is always reluctant to get back into the car after an outing because it means the walk is over!

He is my brother's dog and came to live with us 2.5 years ago when he moved overseas. Micky has fitted in so well with Daphne and Chloe and is totally now their big brother. And he has such a friendly, relaxed nature; you can see it in his eyes.

He is half Jack Russell Terrier, half Shih Tzu. My brother reckons that makes him a Jack Sh!t 🤣

He really is an ageless boy, so full of happiness and zing.

A funny thing: when he was an only dog he wasn't that food focused. At his place there would always be a bowl of dog biscuits next to his water bowl to graze from.

Now that he lives with two other dogs he has turned into a dog who wants food all the time, and we daren't leave a bowl of biscuits out. Competition! And he is always keen for his breakfast, lunchtime biscuit, and dinner! Not to mention stray pieces of carrot, apple, and broccoli stalk. He's a healthy boy 😍

Are all dogs food-mad? Let me know about yours 😊

Have a happy week!
xx Fiona

 

PS. If you would like an Amazon alternative, all my eBooks and audiobooks are available in my eStore. You can view everything here! 

 

My most recent book!

Handling down times

☕ ☕ ☕ Coffee out and about
(actually I had peppermint tea but it doesn't have the same ring to it 😊)

 
Hello chic friends!

 

I haven't had a lot of mental bandwidth for much lately. It's just how I get at times and I try not to feel bad about it.

I think by now I've gotten to know myself, and it's not that there is anything wrong, I just feel like pulling back. It's like this internal handbrake being on and everything takes 100x times more effort to do.

At times like this I want to read books, be at home, write a little, and be offline. I know I'm so lucky to be able to do so. When I worked full-time in an office I’d just keep life really simple too.

If you can relate, please say. I admire people who are 'linear' and can just do whatever they need to get done. I think it might be part of the creative mind that works differently for those of us who aren't like that.

I've seen a funny picture and it shows A to B and a straight line from... A to B. That is one type of person. And then there is A to B with a giant squiggly unravelly ball of wool leading from A to B. That is so me sometimes!

When I get to be the straight-line A to B person everything is sooooo easy. That’s when I write book after book and post regularly on social media. But at the moment I'm the squiggly ball of wool and have a dozen books started that I’m keen on none of 🤣

Amazingly enough my work looks way better to me when I’m in a more helpful state of mind. When I’m the unravelly ball of wool all my writing looks terrible 🤣

But I am writing each day and working on a book that feels good, so hooray for that.

And I’m up to recording my 21st audiobook, almost there! I think there are about 25 or 26 in total. At least those I can narrate without overthinking things. I just turn up and do some recording. (Find them at my Linktree)

I hope you’re doing good, and if you’re not, I’m right there with you 😊 Let’s all be kind to our squiggly balls of wool that we call our heads, if we’re not feeling it right now.

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🍂🍂🍂
Autumn colours and bright blue skies

This has to be my favourite season and I'm really enjoying my outdoor walks each morning before breakfast. I know there are many other fans of autumn too.

For us in the southern hemisphere, it's perfectly normal to have March/April be the start of autumn.

It's completely foreign for us to have it be the start of the festive Christmas season!

Although I actually do enjoy getting into 'fall vibes' later in the year too, joining in on all the northern hemisphere fun 😊

Whether you are in spring or autumn, I hope it's treating you well 🧡💛

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 I bought these cute popcorn cups from the dollar store for a movie afternoon with friends at home. How cute are they? Afterwards I handwash them and put them away until next time 😊

 

 

I love little details like this that make life fun!

 

 

 

Wishing you a fab week :)

 

Love Fiona

A harvest day, and what I'm reading

 

 

Last weekend Paul and I attended a harvest day at one of our local wineries called Alpha Domus. We spent the morning picking grapes, and then enjoyed a beautiful lunch with wine. The weather was lovely and it was a very pleasant way to spend a day overall.

 

 

Doesn't this just look like a painting? That sky :)

 

 

I don't think I was as fast as a professional picker, but I did my best and managed not to nick myself this time. This is the third or fourth time we've attended this harvest day, and I admit, I did manage to cut myself the first time. The snips are very sharp! The secret is to have your hand under the bunch of grapes and let the bunch fall into your hand, rather than grip the bunch. The gripping leads to the snipping, lol.

 

 

 

We picked Chardonnay grapes for their top-tier Chardonnay. When you taste the grapes they are so sweet. I always thought that wine grapes weren't as sweet as table grapes but I was wrong. They are lovely!

 

 

 

 

And after our busy morning picking 2.5 tonnes of grapes (I know! It's a lot!) we got to see our grapes being squeezed and tasted the first of the juice (it tastes just like apple juice), and also tasted the wine from the same grapes we picked this time last year.

 

 

 

 

Lunch tables and umbrellas were set out, and it was so nice to sit down. I really felt like we'd done a full day's work (actually a half day's work but that doesn't roll off the tongue so well, haha).

 

 

 

 

Lunch was so delicious. I had lamb paella and the freshest salad with Parmesan and homemade dressing over top. It filled the spot perfectly, paired with a glass of red wine of course!

 

With thanks to our gracious hosts at Alpha Domus, it was a wonderful day :)

 

 

 

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And in reading news, I just finished this book. omg, so so stressful 😂 but so good! It is suspense genre and I've been into these types of books lately. Would recommend if you want to increase your heart rate 🤣

 

 

Two women who want to disappear from their lives cross paths at the airport and end up swapping tickets, passports, phones, luggages... lives.

It's not gory like The Housemaid book but it is definitely 'thrilling' and a good read. It makes you wonder what is behind closed doors in other peoples lives. Not that most people are 'that' different. Most of us are just very normal, living normal lives. Thank goodness!

 

The Flight book is here on my Amazon affiliate link, or I'm sure you can find it at the library like I did!

 

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Our hallway just inside the front door,
in my ‘Inspired by Ralph Lauren’ style

 

A little peek into our home...

 

I love a mix of traditional and modern, just like Ralph does. He goes chrome in his modern furniture though, whereas I prefer gold.

Note the table tennis balls for Nina cat corralled under the glass-topped hall table 💛😉🐈‍⬛

She loves to play with them and sometimes gets one out, and other times likes to bat them around within the confines of the table base.

It’s funny to hear her playing with them ☺️

Who is your main style influence if you have one? And what kinds of opposites do you like to mix together?

Wishing you a great week, whatever you are doing. I have writing planned, of course I do! I am working on multiple new books. It's just the way things work out. Eventually one pulls ahead and that's the one I finish next. And of course, keeping up with my audiobook recording. I am up to my twentieth audiobook, phew! It's actually really nice recording them, revisiting the books I've already written :)

My audiobooks are available anywhere you get your audiobooks from, including the library (you can ask for them to order them in), and they are also available in my eStore as an MP3 download.

 

xx Fiona