I wanted to share with you two of my
favourite new resources for feeling chic, super motivated, living in a
high-frequency way and generally being happy and excited about creating a
fabulous life every day. I have
certainly been enjoying the buoyancy that one gets when you come across
something fresh and new.
Firstly, a funny story about how I came
across one of these inspirational sources: I was browsing Amazon, as I do
often, trying not to buy too many Kindle books to add to my already huge amount
that I have on my to-read list, and I clicked on this one: ‘French Lessons, The
Art of Living and Loving Well’. It had some good reviews and some
bad. The cover wasn’t that inspiring and I was about to download a sample
(which I likely wouldn’t have read anyway) and I accidently clicked on the ‘buy
with 1-click’ button instead of the ‘download sample’ button.
‘Oh no!’ I thought to myself, but then ‘Oh
well, I may as well read it, it is a French Chic book and I like those’. This is the first time I’ve ever accidentally bought a book in all my years
as an Amazon customer, so the fact that it's taken me that long is probably a minor miracle. But I
started reading the book straight away and loved it.
I finished French Lessons and just knew I
would re-read it again many times, and can’t help but think my ‘accidental’
purchase was divinely guided. I loved it and think you might too. It’s a brief sort of novel/slice-of-life in
which the main character, a woman who has escaped a broken heart by going to
stay in Paris, meets an older lady who shows her around while imparting French-style
wisdom on various topics such as love, forgiveness, charm etc.
The way each short chapter is written is charming in itself,
and it carries a very gentle, inclusive, warm, wise and inspiring air about it. And then, at the end, the author has
summarised each chapter with journal questions to ask of yourself. I am so excited about diving into these journal
questions!
You can see 'French Lessons' here.
Secondly, Gina DeVee has a new daily (weekday) talk show
video series out on YouTube and it’s so
good. If you don’t know of Gina, she
is a spiritual business coach I guess you could say. She’s over-the-top and fabulous, and while
she is way more rah rah than I am about things, I love her enthusiasm and she inspires
me to loosen up a little bit. I can use
that sometimes :) And she always stirs
in me the desire to add a little bit more glamour into my life.
You can see her videos here on YouTube.
I love that she talks about being queenly in how you do things,
and that the queen archetype is a 'masterful blend of the feminine and the
masculine'. I take that to mean feminine
in how I comport myself, mystique, elegant, refined, soft and kind etc, and
then masculine in actually getting things done and being a capable person.
As I mentioned in one of my queen topic blog posts here (and another one here), the
queen isn’t all helpless sitting around.
No, she rules the land and rolls up her sleeves if need be, but at the
same time she lets others support her and upholds boundaries she has set for
both herself and others.
One thing I loved in one of the videos is that Gina said to
her husband, 'After this six week trip to Italy I am not going to be the same woman when I get back. I am going to be a changed woman. We aren’t going to
be living in this apartment on our return'.
So they put everything into storage and moved into a place that felt
like the new her when they returned. And
she did change while they were away, because that was her intention. Imagine if
you decided ‘I am going to be a different woman next year’ or ‘We are going to
have a luxury weekend away’ (or a luxury staycation at home) ‘and I am going to
be different after that’. I love that!
I decided that for myself after hearing Gina. I’m not going on an amazing holiday, but why not
choose my own new beginning? On Monday I
had my eyebrows microbladed (I’ll show you soon, but here is a photo when they were just done) and I thought, ‘Well,
I’m going to be a different woman with my perfect eyebrows’. I started journaling on the new me – what it
would look like, how it would feel, what actions I would take and what emotions
I wanted to invoke, and what came out is that I am feeling called to upgrade my
entire closet.
I don’t mean upgrade the actual closet or buy new clothes,
but upgrade by removing everything that isn’t ‘the new me’ and where I see
myself heading – with my new eyebrows of course :) And you could decide this with anything too. You might think 'When I get home from work tonight, I'm going to be a different woman' and start being the new you. It's fun.
Straight away I put two tops in the wash to
donate because I wore them a lot in the last year of working in our retail
store and that is my old life. They just
didn’t have a high-vibe energy about them to me. They felt boring and a bit staid. You know those clothes that are okay but not
great? Pretty much they just cover your
body but don’t offer any feel-good factor.
If you have one or more items of clothing that spring to
mind immediately, can I offer you a chic challenge to put them into your
donation box? And let me know in the comments that you did.
So, I’m back to the book editing now, in a high-vibe, abundant,
intentional and sexy way of course!
Wishing you a fabulous day and go and be that next level you.
~Fiona~
PS. I was trying to write this post cozy by the fire but Chloe kept on needing to nuzzle in. She did not make my post writing easier :)
This reminds me a little of the movie "Shirley Valentine." A break can give you a chance to reset.
ReplyDeleteI did it long ago--a makeover. I joined the Peace Corps and went to Africa. I ditched the nickname everybody had called me--none of these new people knew it--and reinvented myself as bold and adventurous instead of the shy, studious girl on the sidelines. I wouldn't be living in the south of France today had I not taken that step decades ago.
But it can be hard to cast off the stuff that chains us down, whether because we're sentimental about certain things or budget conscious and think we can't afford to get rid of perfectly good stuff only to acquire different stuff.
I felt the same way about my Peace Corps adventure. It allowed me to become the person I felt inside, adventurous and independent. It was a great time in life!
DeleteI agree! I wouldn’t empty out a perfectly good closet. My way is more to tweak what I have, being led by my new state of mind. And if something really means a lot to me and I love it, it is still part of my new, refreshed style.
DeleteI have had these abrupt changes so often that I feel a bit like Doctor Who. The first big one was when I got out of high school (where I was quiet and had very few friends) and went to a community college. I decided that, since I didn't know anyone there, and -- more importantly -- they did not know me, I would act outgoing and sociable. And at first, it was an act. But as people responded positively to me, it no longer was an act, but a new facet of my personality. I still am an introvert (I need lots of time alone to recharge). But I am an outgoing introvert.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in high school, I had worn a padded bra, which I got rid of, deciding to be my small-breasted self, toned down my makeup, and eventually cut my hair a bit shorter. As the decades have gone by, my look has changed many, many times. I went through a preppy phase, a goth phase (a couple different times, actually), and French phases (a couple different times there, too.) Each time I enter a different phase, I change my hair style and color, my makeup, and my clothing. I don't understand women who look exactly the same as they did in high school... but older. But then, I always did love playing dress-up.
Your description of an outgoing introvert rings true with me too, Mimi. I don’t think I change so much as evolve, but I definitely don’t want to be someone who is fearful of change. It feels good to try a new routine, habit or way of being!
DeleteI love that description - outgoing introvert! I do need home time to recharge but never looked at it that way! Oh and yes, yes to playing dress-up!
DeleteI love, love, love every book you have ever mentioned in your blog! Thank you for passing them along.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very inspiring read Fiona. I'm bookmarking this post because it resonates so much with me right now. I love it! I bought the recommended book and look forward to diving in tonight. And I agree, Gina's videos are spectacular. I like the way she thinks outside of the social norms and forges her own path. Your eyebrows look great!
ReplyDeleteFiona,
ReplyDeleteYou are always such an inspiration to me! I loved this post so much! Is Gina Vee the one who was determined to win the world trip or is that someone else? Either way, I love it. And I'm off to buy the French Lessons book!
Quick question, I was going through an old journal and saw some notes I had taken from our mutual friend Marsi and it was so crazy because what I'd written down from her suggestions are what we are doing now - the smoothies, etc. even down to the vitamins I've been taking the past six months: CoQ10, etc. So bizarre to see what I'd written down some 8-10 years ago from her ideas that are now part of my life. Marsi, if you still read this blog, would love to get in touch with you! Fiona, so excited for your closet upgraded. Post pictures of the clothes that "make the cut" if you are so inspired. I'd love to see. xxx
Denise Duffield Thomas won the six month honeymoon testers competition, that's who you are probably thinking of, Kristi.
DeleteLove the whole post - your eyebrows look fabulous, book sounds great, picture of Chloe is so precious! All inspirational.
ReplyDeleteKay
Oh, Fiona...thank you for this post. First...I love to read anything about Paris. We will be there in November for a few days before starting a river cruise and I am in my "reading, watching, listening to anything PARIS mode. Secondly...I loved your idea of being your closet and wearing only those things that "the new me" would wear. After retiring from being a school librarian last year and moving/downsizing to a wonderful new apartment home, I find I still have so many "school clothes" in my closet. Nice...but not fit for my new lifestyle or the new me. You have inspired me to clean out and donate - and wear clothes that speak of my new life! PS...check out the photos on my blog - our community had a Fete en Blanc.
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would get to attend such and affair...it was wonderful ! www.ournewvista.com
You and I are in a similar situation having left jobs for a new life. Someone else would probably be thrilled to have your school clothes from a charity store for their job, and think how wonderful your closet will feel reflecting the new you :)
DeleteSo true...and last night on our local news we heard of an organization that accepts women's and men's clothes. My husband is in the same boat...beautiful suits he does not wear and more ties than he can count. Donations go to people looking to interview and enter the work force. It's a win-win! Have a great weekend !
DeleteThanks! I needed a book recommendation about French living. I feel like I’ve read them all! Can”t wait to read this one.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, you have inspired and motivated me! I am going to buy the book right after I type this. I do have to politely disagree with Gina's statement that a queen is, "masterful blend of the feminine and the masculine". I am 100 percent feminine, female, woman and I am quite capable of getting things done as a woman. It is like when they said, years ago, that men needed to bring out their feminine side. I told my husband that I am his feminine side and he can simply stay 100 percent masculine. We complement one another. My mom was very feminine, tomboyish and quite business savvy - and taught me the art of being a woman in business and not losing myself in the process. People so admired her because she stayed true. Fascinating woman, my mom was! I did end up signing up for Gina's youtube posts - she's refreshing. I love the idea of this post - to recreate myself into the new me for our new adventure we're going on. It actually requires changes - to find my confidence again that I lose so many abusive years ago. I'm very excited - and this posts helped so much!
ReplyDeleteNearly two years ago I decided to let my hair go grey.I was sick of dying it !!! It did take 3 attempts but I have done it......Yeah and I love it!
ReplyDeleteI was a "new me" and so armed with a couple of glasses of champagne I started on my clothing , makeup and scarves etc..... out they go if they do not look good with the grey hair. I now live in black , white and all blue colours with accents of red, pink and purple. I was so scared to chuck stuff out but I did and I do not regret it one bit as will all changes ... thing must go!
Your wardrobe sounds fabulous, Lady Jicky. I salute you!
DeleteLove the topics of your "conversations" lately! You encourage us to carry on being fabulous no matter what - and give us lots of resources! Thank you, Fiona. If you had listened to your nay-sayers, you wouldn't be here to help us live a happy life that is beautiful and meaningful to us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Gina de Vree recommendation - I've watched a few of her YouTube clips now. I agree she's a bit over the top, but so positive you can't help admiring her.
ReplyDeleteFiona, I love your books and am eagerly awaiting your next one. I have changed many things over the past 6 months as a result. I have spent most of my life working and not travelling very much, but am pleased to say I am going to Paris on Monday for the week.I am so excited. Thank you for inspring me to make the life I always wanted, but never believed I deserved until now.
ReplyDeleteAngela, I hope you had a wonderful trip to Paris!!! And bravo to you for making your life even more amazing than it already is :)
DeleteHi Fiona,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to tell you Thank you for these two recommendations. I have honestly had French Lessons in my cart for several years and never purchased because I had so many other books about French Chic and the reviews were not clear on how it would be. My Mom and I both read your blog and I mentioned it to her that you had loved the book and she just surprised me with it! It is a little treasure! So glad you accidentally ordered it:) I may have never known! Also, I am loving Gina DeVee and thank you so much for that recommendation as well. All the best, Stephanie S.
I agree, Stephanie, French Lessons is a little treasure!
Delete