Introducing myself

 Hello everyone!  In the past little while I have noticed many new lovely ladies and received so many sweet messages and emails.  I appreciate every one!  I thought it would be a great idea to re-introduce myself.

Firstly, my name is Fiona and I live in a beautiful part of New Zealand called Hawke’s Bay.  This is where I grew up, and while I moved away for a couple of decades, I moved back four years ago and am loving living here again.  We have a sunny microclimate perfect for growing grapes and apples.

I live with my husband Paul, and our four rescue pets – doggies Daphne and Chloe, and pussy cats Jessica and Nina.  And I write books!

The world might be crazy right now but I believe we can be happy regardless.  We can bring the party with us.  Life is to be celebrated by turning our face to the sun, not the shade.  Focus on what’s good – life is good!

That’s what is in my books – goodness, happiness, feeling alive, creating a beautiful daily life and making the most of what we’ve got.  I believe in the transformative power of positivity and being a bright ray of sunshine in our own life for the good of ourselves and those around us.

We only get this one life and many of us – definitely me at 51 – are more than half-way through probably, so let’s get on with it.  We have no time to lose!  Live life, be good, eat well, and get rid of things that no longer serve you (I love curating my home and decluttering). Let others be who they are and love your people fiercely.

All the best to you this holiday season, and how exciting that we all get to design the perfect 2022 for each of us! Yay!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find all my books here on my Amazon affiliate link. Enjoy!

 

You bring the party

 

I am working my way through the Lucky Santangelo series by Jackie Collins in between reading other novels (I know, but they are really good!)  In one of the books, someone asked Lucky if she’d enjoyed her evening at an event.  ‘Yes of course’, she said, ‘I always do because I bring the party’.

To explain what I think she meant, was that she always chose to enjoy herself.  She chose to be a good participant in the event.  She didn’t rely on anyone else to make her have fun.  She was self-propelled!

That little phrase of Lucky’s really spoke to me.  It was a good reminder to not just turn up somewhere and expect to be entertained.  That it was etiquette to be a good addition to the dinner party, get-together or event.

Even if it’s being at home with your family, going to the hairdresser, or meeting a friend for lunch, you can still bring the party.  For me, just thinking that thought perks me up.  It reminds me that I can bring a happy vibe to wherever I am.  I can be a ray of sunshine.

I can do it for myself too.  Working from home, I need to be self-motivated.  I do my writing, behind-the-scenes admin, and I also have a household to run and four pets who, even though small, do make quite a mess often.  Shedding fur, toys strewn around…

So by me bringing the party, I get to enjoy myself while doing all my chores.  I lift up my mindset with good self-talk, positivity, and create my own motivation with time goals.

The unexpected side benefit from this is that your energy is elevated.  You feel zingier, more alive, happier.  You get things done!  So next time you’re feeling a little… flat, remember, you bring the party.  It’s within you!

xx Fiona

PS.  For more ‘party’ :) go and visit my books on my Amazon affiliate link or my eStore.  They’re all waiting for you and there are streamers draped everywhere with party whistles going off!  I have extended my Black Friday sale for a few more days – everything is US$3.99, usually up to US$9.99.  And for aspiring authors, my eCourse is still on a super-special for a few more days too.

 

Black Friday eBook sale - all titles $3.99 or less!

Hi everybody,

It’s my famous Black Friday Kindle book sale where all of my books are $3.99 or less!  (Usually up to $9.99!)  It’s only until the end of November, so why not download yourself some festive bargains.  Isn’t this a fun time of year?

If you have never tried a Kindle book before, I encourage you to participate in something new with the sale prices.  I love actual books, but I love my digital books too.  I have my favourite books in both formats because I like to flick through them from my bookshelf at home, but it’s great to have them on me when I’m out too.

You can get the free Kindle app for your phone, tablet or desktop and use whatever device you already have.  Ebooks on your phone is a great save when you have to wait for a few minutes, or even when you are in a long supermarket queue.  Grab your phone, flick open the Kindle app and read a few pages.  eBooks are downloadable too, so you don’t need to be connected to data or Wi-Fi to read them.

In the spirit of trying something new, if you love a cheap eBook sale but already have most of my books, why not look at the books you don’t have, and thought didn’t apply to you?

I’m thinking of ‘How to be Chic in the Winter’ when you live in the tropics (apart from my wintry recipes, most of the book deals with making the best of a situation), and ‘The Chic Author’ when you don’t desire to write books (there are a lot of chapters on motivation and success which can apply to any goal you’d love to achieve).

Check out the samples of these books and see if there is anything to spark a bit of fun and excitement, and new thought :)

You can see the book sale here at my Amazon affiliate link.  Prices are also reduced in my Payhip store as an alternative to Amazon – including the audiobook of ‘Thirty Chic Days’ for $3.99 which has never been priced this low before!

 

I appreciate your continued support, this is my way of saying thank you :)

All the best and happy reading!
xx Fiona

PS.  If you have always wondered about my author eCourse, this is also on a super-special right now.

 

BYO Sunshine

 

 

Is it sunny where you are right now?  It doesn’t matter, because when you carry the sunshine in your own mind, you get to feel a warm glow on your face no matter what.  You get to create your own sparkle and shine from within.

I love the power of positivity and of making your own happiness, because truly nothing feels better.  Life feels easier, you move with more momentum, and even difficult times are easier to bear.

Regrettably we cannot avoid sad situations in life even with a sunny disposition, but I have seen first-hand that those with a positive outlook go further and seem more content overall.

I have intentionally changed myself from someone who was cynical, sarcastic (I thought it was humour), and ‘realistic’ (pessimistic).  I now identify as positive, happy, lively, vibrant, light as air, sparkly and all those pretty things.  Why not?

That’s exactly what I asked myself, Why not, Fiona?

Why not live a happy life?
Why not create your own dream world to live in?
Why not make everyday life fun and creative?
Why not take jobs that aren’t that much fun and make them enjoyable?

You don’t have to be born under a lucky star to feel this way either.  When you focus on the bright side of life, everything becomes better.  You will be happier.  The people around you will be positively affected.  I promise you, give it a chance.  Don’t just say, ‘Who wants to be a Pollyanna, that’s just fake’.

It’s only fake until you absorb it in!  Imagine if someone lived entirely on junk food and thought it was fake that they would start to eat more fruits and vegetables alongside the fast food.  Eventually, they could entirely take over their diet with healthy and nutritious foods.

That’s exactly what a positive change does for your mindset.  Negative thoughts are like weeds so you need to plant flowers (positive thoughts) to crowd out the weeds.  I’m sure if we could see inside our mind it would be a real thing.  Mine would be a sea of cheery yellow daisies :)

All the best to you and your sunny, happy self.

xx Fiona

PS. Take a look at my books here at my Amazon affiliate link for more sunshine and sparkles!

 

 

The end of year countdown

  

 

Have you achieved the goals you set yourself at the beginning of the year?  Feeling discouraged because we are well into the fourth quarter?  Please don’t be!  Last month I was pondering this, and decided I could still achieve the goals I’d set myself in January.

All I had to do was re-enthuse myself and put my foot on the accelerator.  Why not?  What did I have to lose?  I had written down:

1.    Goals to be fitter and healthier
2.    Books I wanted to write
3.    To set up a fitness space in our home
4.    Tidy up my office and make it more feminine and pretty
5.    Dress more intentionally in my own self-flavoured French Chic way

I started journaling every day, giving myself pep talks and revisiting my goals morning and night.  It is amazing how much this helped.  It started to become addictive!

And even if I don’t get exactly to the place I wanted to with each of these five goals, I’d still go far further than if I hadn’t tried at all.

With the twice-daily drawing of my attention back to my goals, it reminded me of what I wanted.  In the past I would write down goals but then wander off and forget about them.  By asking myself what I really, really want to achieve with the remainder of this year and then re-focusing on those fun goals, I truly found out the power of focusing all your efforts on a few things that could really make a difference to my life.

It raised everything around me too.  My admin got up to date effortlessly.  The laundry baskets are empty more than they are full.  And I haven’t wanted to eat for fun as much, or do mindless online shopping.

So, even though there are only a couple of months until the end of the year, what is something that you would be thrilled to achieve by New Year’s Eve?  Name it and become excited about it.  Write it down every night, and in the morning too.  State it as if it has already happened.  List all the fantastic things about achieving that goal and how you will feel.

You can do it!

xx Fiona

PS.  All of my books are focused on living a great life, in your own chic style.  Take a look on Amazon with my affiliate link here and see what you think!

Filter your life

I bought myself a fun pair of sunglasses recently, and even though they were extremely inexpensive, the lenses are great quality.  I was walking with the dogs in our paddock and the colour of the grass, trees, sky etc was beautiful.  Taking the sunglasses off, I saw that everything seemed less vibrant by comparison.

That’s when I had the thought to apply that same filter to my life.  Well, I already do to a certain extent, such as looking for the positive as much as possible (I’m only human and definitely have my grumpy days too), choosing beauty to surround myself with, and trying to be a bright ray of sunshine every day.

But why not amp it up even more?  Why not apply a golden-rose filter over everything?  There are many ways that this could be done, both with mindset and also with the things you have around you.

Setting up your environment for success is such a fun thing to do.  On a day when I feel like elevating myself, I’ll dress in my nicest clothes, wear perfume, spend extra time making my hair look good, and paint my nails.  I’ll tidy up around me, light a candle, turn on soft background music and switch on table lamps.  Even if it’s just me at home.

A flavour of mindset is fab fun too.  I’ll channel a feeling ('sparkle', 'peacefulness' or 'elegance'), a person (Aerin Lauder, a character in a favourite movie, or Martha Stewart), or a place (Paris, California or a tropical resort), and let it guide me.  It’s much better than having a to-do list, and less effort too.  I seem to get all the things done that I need to without thinking about it too much.

When you have a filter, whether it’s for a day, a project, or your whole year (like the word-of-the-year idea), it suddenly becomes clear just what your priorities and necessary actions are, without you having to dream them up.

I am playing around with a new word to take me through to the end of the year, and the right one hasn’t quite appeared yet.  But I know it will bubble up when I least expect it, and in the meantime I am enjoying gathering inspiring words in my journal.

Please let me know your word if you have one!  Or even if you don’t, what might you choose as an effervescent filter to illuminate yourself with right now?
xx Fiona

PS.  For more inspiration, go and visit my books here on Amazon.  They’d be thrilled to see you, and please let them know I say hi!
 

 

 

 

Why not be you?

Dear chic friends,

Why not be you?  I often say this to myself when I am tying myself up into knots, yet again, about why I can’t ‘just be normal’.  Why I can’t live how normal people live.  But you see, to me, normal doesn’t seem that much fun.  It seems mediocre.  It feels like settling.

I might look like I live a normal life on the outside – but on the inside, oh boy, it’s fabulous!  My imagination fuels me and it’s so much fun, and that’s how I write my books.

It still stumps me, even after fourteen books published, and in five languages too – when people ask what I write about.  You’d think I’d have words to describe the flowery flossiness that fills page after page but no!  Nothing!  That’s okay, who wants to be perfect anyway :)

So when you’re feeling less than, overwhelmed, imperfect, messy and like you’re floundering… Why not be you?  Why not lean back, take your foot off the gas, breathe in deeply and glory in the wonder that is you.

You are amazing
You have vision
You have so much to give the world

Life is an experience, not a gruelling marathon, and I can forget that, often.  Maybe you too?  Amongst all that we must get done, we get to have fun too.  We get to enjoy ourselves and yes, not be normal.  We get to dream in a fanciful way and ignite our delight that way.  We get to be different to everyone else, with pleasure.

This is something that has always had an enticing ring to it for me – being different.  I love going against the grain and running my own race.  Sometimes you can second-guess yourself but mostly it is the best fun in the world.

Think about where you are different and how you sometimes hold yourself back.  Listen to your higher self when she whispers an idea to you.  Try it out – straight away – and see how good things can get.

I’ll be cheering you on.

~~ Fiona ~~

PS.  You can see all my books here on Amazon.  They are chock-full of fluffy pink clouds to lift you up – daily! :)

September Update

My sister made me a beautiful - silk! - mask to wear when I need to.

 

Dear chic friends,

I have received some messages of concern – “where are you!” and I am sorry to have caused worry for any of you.  I am perfectly well, and don’t have the covid or anything like that.  I am just naturally quite a shy person, and sometimes don’t find it natural to be online all the time.

In a perfect world I would wrap myself up in my book writing and only pop out to say, ‘There’s a new one here!’ then scurry back into my tucked-in little nest.  But life is not like that, is it?  We all have to get out of our comfort zone and be present.

I have been writing yes, and have a new book that is currently in the editing process.  I’ve also been having a lot of thinking time, and wondering what new projects I want to do next.  I have also been considering just how my future plans fit into how I like to work best.  Also, I’ve been doing a lot of journaling and private self-development work which feels indulgent, but heck, why not.  Just writing in a notebook and seeing what comes out.  It’s free and fun and yields fascinating results.

We are coming out of winter here in New Zealand, and it’s nice to feel that spring is just around the corner.  Today is a deliciously drizzly day – so cozy!  Our country is currently in lockdown, not so bad where I live, but our biggest city – Auckland – is fully locked down and has been for many weeks.  We ‘only’ had 2-3 weeks of full lockdown here by comparison.

I sincerely hope you are well and happy, and wish you the best of the new season whether you are going into spring or autumn.  And I will continue on with my next book and hopefully have it ready for you soon!

~~ Fiona ~~

PS.  You can find all of my books here on Amazon.  I’m not surprised that ‘The Peaceful Life’ has been my most popular book since it came out.  We could all use some soothing at the moment as our worldwide phenomena rolls on.  But for many places there is light, so we cling to that.  xx

 

 

 

Creating your own happiness

Now more than ever I truly realise that we are each responsible for our own happiness. There can be very sad times and hardship, and simply being a cheery person cannot avoid these circumstances, but how resilient we are very much depends on our state of mind.

When we look for the negative things in life, nitpick, find fault in, and judge others, it is harder to be happy. I know this from experience. But when we drop the judgement, look for the good in life, are grateful for everything we have and look forward to each day as a chance for a new start, miracles seem to occur. We feel happy for no reason. Life is brighter. People are friendlier. The trees are greener! And it all starts with us.

We had recent family sadness: my father-in-law Peter passed away in April. He was one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met. His smile was 1,000 watts and he was always positive. His funeral was so packed there were people standing at the back.

Peter moved here from the UK as a young man and forged a life for himself in a new country, was successful in his chosen career as an engineer (just like my dad, who was an engineer too) and built a beautiful life for himself and his family. If he hadn’t wanted to see the world as a merchant navy man my husband Paul wouldn’t exist, and I am so grateful that he does!

I knew Peter for eighteen years, and cannot remember a time when he was grumpy. He truly was a lesson in how to live life well, and with gusto. This wasn’t supposed to be a eulogy, but more a little reminder to live life, be happy, and appreciate every moment you are given. I know I do, every single day.

Yes, sometimes I’m not my best self and can be thoughtless or a Little Miss, but the more I practice looking on the bright side of life, the more I can appreciate. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

Sending you a big smile and wishing you a lovely weekend!

xx Fiona

PS. my books are now available as paperbacks in Australia through Amazon Australia - actually printed in Australia! This means a huge saving on shipping - yay! 

 

 

New book out: Thirty Chic Days Vol. 3!

  

 

Dear chic friends,

My newest book is finally out! I'm thrilled to let you know that the print and Kindle copies are now available on Amazon here, and the eBook is in my online store here for those of you who cannot access Amazon easily.

Thirty Chic Days Vol. 3 is all about nurturing a happy relationship, staying youthful, being your best self, and having a ton of fun at the same time.  I had such a great time writing it, so I hope you enjoy reading it!  Please let me know what your favourite parts are!

I always get fired up about my next book when I publish a new book, so I'm busy exploring topic ideas to see which one inspires me the most.

With all my best to you; I hope you are doing fabulously well :)

Lots of love, Fiona x

Half-price sale!

 

Just for fun, everything in my eStore is HALF PRICE until the end of the month.  So go and have a browse when get a moment, at:

https://payhip.com/fionaferris

And if there is anything that catches your eye, simply use the code:

HALFPRICEHAPPINESS

You will receive 50% off the marked prices and can purchase as many items as you like.

I hope you find something!  Have fun!

xx Fiona

A calm and peaceful feeling

There is no day that cannot be improved with a serene feeling.  With all the things we all have to deal with in our daily life, it is so important to give ourselves the gift of a peaceful mind.

I don’t know about you, but I have a very active mind which analyses things to an unhelpful point, and sometimes thoughts run around in circles on a loop, repeating themselves.  Especially when I wake up during the night and am trying to get back to sleep!

Cultivating a peaceful mind minimises those midnight thoughts, and helps me have a happy and content demeanour overall – even with niggles, stresses and maybe even bigger concerns in the background.

Firstly, I stop listening to all those thoughts.  Most of them are not helpful or even true.  I liken it to being somewhere with a lot of advertisements or billboards.  Do you buy every single thing they show you?  Do you go to every website listed and place an order?

Or window shopping.  I don’t buy something from every single store window I pass, and it’s the same with thoughts when your mind is busy.  You don’t have to buy each one, or any of them.  You can simply let them float by.

If there are things that come into my mind that are a real issue I have to deal with, I’ll write them down so I don’t forget.  Then I can either take action quite soon, or if I don’t have to deal with them right away, I’ll put a note on my calendar.  That way I can forget that thing quite happily and carry on being grateful for my day, my life and the glory of nature that is around me.  There is always something to notice and appreciate.

It seems so simple and basic, but I have found the best solutions often are.  I am a master at over-complicating things, and you might be too :)  Keep your thoughts simple and pure, and approach problems with a child-like mind.  Ask yourself, What are the most basic ideas for a solution?

Keep well, and be sure to prioritise your serenity today.

xx Fiona

 

Living a simple life offline

 

Hello chic friends :)

I am nearing completion of my next book - it's a big one so is taking a little longer.  Thirty Chic Days. Vol 3 is almost here!  I had the whole of January off from writing, and started back again this month.  It has been nice to step away from the online world and I would thoroughly recommend it if you find you feel overwhelmed by 'everything' out there.

There is something about being present in your own 'real life' that grounds and settles your heart.  It's been something I've been thinking about a lot.  I'd be interested in hearing your perspective - do you feel happier and more content when you spend more time in your own life rather than being sidetracked into the online world?  Even if there are lots of lovely people online too - not just influencers :)

The kinds of things I've been doing are all related to slow living:

Preparing our meals at home with time and intention

Decluttering our home - I have been enjoying Dawn at The Minimal Mom's videos

Going for walks outside with the doggies - not even listening to anything, just enjoying nature

Writing, of course!

Hanging laundry outside and folding it when it's dry

Picking the deadheads off my favourite red-orange geraniums

Keeping in touch with family and friends (including travel within New Zealand)

Playing around in my wardrobe and creating new outfits

Basically pottering around and looking at all the ways I can simplify.  I forget that it's not just a one-time thing.  We will always have new items and requests on our time coming in, and we have to also let some things out.  I feel better when my life is more simple.  It settles the mind and helps with my habit of overthinking.  It feels peaceful and gentle.  And grounded.

Sometimes things are just in our life because they are there, and we forget that we can take a look at everything critically.  We have a choice.  At the end of our life are we going to look back and think, 'I made everyone else happy and left myself a frazzled husk'?  I know I am being overdramatic here but it's true.  We can only give to others when we give to ourselves.

I hope you are safe, well and happy where you are.  All my best to you, and I will see you soon with my next book!

xx Fiona