Personal style and home decor style, and keeping track of the days :D

 

Hello friends!

In the colour palette world, I am a Soft Summer. I had my colours ‘done’ in the early 1990s, and I still have swatches showing all my best colours. I love it so much!

Over the years I’ve come and gone from these shades, but I’ve stayed pretty close, and when I’ve gone too far away and see a photo of me in a tone that is too warm or sharp for me it really shows.

One thing I instinctively did for myself within the Soft Summer palette was to choose the brighter shades which give me a happy feeling.

I even write about my love of ‘soft-brights’ in some of my books when I talk about clothing. And looking back at my Soft Summer swatches, they’re all right there - watermelon, geranium, and the kind of green I’m wearing here but don’t really know the name for.

They’re kind of like a bright colour that got left out in the sun and faded a bit. ‘Sun softened’ shall we say.

I’m just so fascinated by colours and how one can make you pop and another just looks drab.

My mum is a Winter, and she looks stunning in black, and icy cool clear shades as well as deep jewel tones. Her light blue eyes are so vivid when she wears those colours. Her hair was darkest brown-black when younger, and now is a cool platinum grey.

I always think it’s really helpful to look back at your colouring in your earlier years, and gather together photos where you look really good - maybe the colours are contributing, so what are those colours?

It’s just such a fun thing to study for me, and it fits in with any budget too. The most expensive designer outfit in colours that don’t reflect well on you won’t be as lovely as a mid-range or inexpensive outfit in your best shades.

Here are my vintage ‘Color Me Beautiful’ swatches :) 

 

 

 

What I like about the colour palettes for each season is that they contain all the colours - I have reds, blues, greens, even yellow, just in the tones that are good for me. I have neutrals too. It’s all good!

I remember it being expensive at the time, but it really has been an investment that I’ve enjoyed over the years.

These days you can do it for free with YouTube videos, books, and AI even, but I like that I had a person drape me with the fabrics.

Let me know your season if you’re into colours too!

 

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I thought I’d share a favourite corner in our living/dining room. I like to have a small television tucked in there with background music playing on YouTube which I know others might not. To me it looks like just another piece of art on the gallery wall. (I use it for Pilates sometimes too).

The metal sideboard, lamp, and three smaller pieces of art came from an auction house when we first moved to this place.

My dad made the bookcase based on one I saw in a magazine that looked like a ladder.

Paul gave me the French gilt mirror for my birthday when we were first going out.

The two green vases came from Korea as a gift to my dad when he did business with a Korean company back in the 1980s. (He had an engineering business making fruit grading machinery.) I’ve always loved the vases and now I get to have a turn of them.

And the crazy bird picture is from my brother’s interiors shop when he had it.

I love a mix of traditional and whimsy in my home style.

When we were first building up the decor style after moving into this home I decided on ‘Ralph Lauren on a Budget X French Chateau’. (Luckily Paul was on board too.)

Since then I’ve also added in a dash of sexiness/glamour/relaxedness to prevent things feeling too staid.

The rug is also from the auction house, and we have plain sisal-style carpet.

What would your decor style be if you could give it a name? I love dreaming up themes and directions and thinking about elegant yet effortless decor - let me know yours!

 

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~ Flowers in our bathroom ~

 

How is everyone’s week starting out?

Mine is going well, even though half the time I don’t know what day it is...

And it’s because of this: Paul works for a local winery and his weekend is Tuesday/Wednesday. So even though today is Monday here it feels like Friday, lol.

Still, that’s the modern way isn’t it, when you don’t worry about the day of the week since so many people work shifts and non-Monday-to-Friday jobs.

I’ve always liked being a bit out of sync too, relaxing on a Tuesday afternoon and working on a Sunday morning. It suits my rebellious (’soft rebellious’) nature.

How I organise myself is yes, I do like to know what day it is, even if my schedule is not the norm, because every day has it’s own feeling, you know?

I use a calendar. It used to be a paper diary, but in recent years I use the calendar on my phone. I’ve gotten into the habit of checking it each day to see what I’ve got on.

I love that you can do automated recurring appointments as well as to-dos. I take a high dose of Vit D once a month for my bones, and I have a daily recurring ‘audiobook recording’ since I have a few more audiobooks to complete. I do a chapter or two each day and then they’re done.

[I am currently re-recording Luxurious Weight Loss because for some reason Audible declined it due to sound issues. I don’t know why because it was recorded in exactly the same way as all my other audiobooks and Audible accepted those. So that’s why this particular book is not available on Audible, but it will be in a few months!] 

 

 

 

So yes, the life of a self-employed author is not the usual, and adding on Paul’s topsy-turvy work week can you blame me for having to stop and think a minute what day it is?

Still, I’m sure it keeps my brain young, when everyday life is such a puzzle :)

Wishing you an excellent week!

xx Fiona

PS. For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, join the fall fun in my book The Autumn Reset. And if you’re Southern Hemisphere like me, there are still a few relevant chapters in it for you! (I always like to join in the ‘fall vibes’ aesthetic while enjoying our early spring weather - we get the best of both worlds under the equator!) 

 

 

 

My Amazon links for are affiliate, but the prices don’t change for you. I’m appreciative if you choose to use one of these links if you are making a purchase :)

A winery outing, and tussock for Micky

 

 Hello friends,

The past few weeks we’ve been getting used to being a household of two dogs not three.

It’s sad that I no longer expect Micky to pop his head around the doorway when he hears a noise coming from the kitchen that could possibly mean food.

And there are still times when tears spring to your eyes at a sudden memory.

We bought this baby tussock plant because Micky loved a good sniff around the tussock when we went for a walk along the waterfront at Ahuriri Beach.

We thought it would be a nice way to mark his grave.

Paul planted it a few days ago so Micky will be loving having his own tussock all to himself.

I think you’ve got to do the fun, silly things like this.

It just feels like the right thing to do 😊

 

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And we had a fun outing recently. A local winery that we’re a part of their wine club offered a tasting of their new season releases.

 

 

 

It was set in the winemaking area itself, and it was cool to see all the barrels. One of the winemakers told us they cleaned the rooms up a lot for the event, because usually there would be forklifts coming and going. But on this day it was pristine.

Honestly, it looked like the setting for a Hallmark movie it was so perfect (you know, the one where the main character is running the family vineyard and a hotshot from the city comes into town trying to buy her out and they end up falling in love).

 

 

 

The snacky food table looks so beautiful and lush looking, don't you think?

 

 

  

There was even a dj playing. All the details were on point 😊

It was a nice little outing on a Saturday afternoon 🍷

Happy weekend to you.

Spring is here in Hawke’s Bay.

It’s lovely to feel a bit of heat.

xx Fiona

 

PS. My most recent book Life Is Good is now available everywhere on audiobook. Go and take a listen if you’re interested! And please ask your library to order it in (paperback or audiobook) if you’d like to read or listen to it for free. (It helps me out too because then other people can find it at the library who otherwise might not know who this Fiona Ferris lady is.)

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Christmas begins, and my chic and slim tricks

My book 'A Chic and Simple Christmas', pictured on our dining table :)

 

Greetings chic friends!

 

Last weekend I put up my simple Christmas decorations. I went for a classic combo of red and gold, with a wool-effect tartan ribbon on the tree.

Our living room is a dark, moody space, ideal for daytime lights on the tree. I’ve decided it is the perfect Christmas grotto!

 

Fun movie on Netflix

 

And this week I listened to a cute Christmas audiobook called 'Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel' on Spotify (here on Amazon and it looks to be US$1.10 on Kindle at the moment), and have been watching Christmas movies too like the one above.

I loved it! It made me want to read more classic literature :)

Why not take the time to get into the festive spirit with your favourite things, I’ve decided 😊

Other years I’ve started early, but it feels nice to start on the first of December this year. I like to switch things up for myself.

How about you? Are you doing Christmassy things? Please tell me your favourite books and movies too 🎄

 

‘A Chic and Simple Christmas’ is available on Kindle, in paperback, and on Audible here Amazon  (the audiobook is 99c with a free trial of Audible).

Plus you can listen to it free on Spotify if you have Spotify Premium.

 

 

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Coffee and cake out with my aunty and mum on a sunny summery day 😊

 

 

A long time ago, in my bid for healthy lifestyle habits, I decided to 'always choose small' when it came to buying drinks out.

The slightly bigger size is always better value, and 'good value' is one of my values (😂) But then I made it just what I do, so I always buy size small (as with my coffee here).

I also have a chic rule for myself, and that is to eat half of whatever treat I'm having. I am not denying myself completely - and I don't eat cake every day - but whenever I do have cake or a sweet treat out with coffee, I cut it in half first.

It's actually really easy to do because I've decided to already, plus when I cut it in half before starting to eat, there is no edging over until it's all gone 🤣

I ask for a small bag or takeaway box, and one very happy husband has the other half with his after-dinner coffee that night.

In the photo above is a delicious gluten-free carrot cake at Cafe on Tennyson in Napier. It's so nice I can't try anything else when I go there. I have to have the carrot cake! The cream cheese icing is yum too.

 

 

Day 27. 'Use the 'le half' technique' in my book 'Thirty Slim Days' details both of these chic habits in more detail.

 

And, 'Thirty Slim Days' is on special for US$3.99 instead of US$9.99 on Kindle at the moment (only for one week more though!) The paperback is reduced too, as part of my big once-a-year book sale. It's US$13.99 down from US$20.99.

For an Amazon alternative the eBook is 50% off in my eStore here.
Just use the code HALFPRICEHAPPINESS

 

 Please let me know your favourite tips when it comes to leading a healthy balanced lifestyle without feeling deprived. I always love little tricks, or in French ‘trucs’ as Anne Barone in her wonderful ‘Chic and Slim’ books calls them.

 

xx Fiona

 

PS.My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you use them to shop with Amazon, but the price doesn't change for you. Thank you if you choose to use any of my Amazon links :)

Once-a-year book sale now on!

 

Good morning from my home office 😊

 

I always wear my glasses while I'm on my computer or reading, but I've not taken a photo of them on. So here I am!

They are Ray Ban frames and I love the colour of them. The arms are a slightly darker, opaque brown. I like how they aren't heavy looking on my face.

Of course, most people don't see them, but I do!

And knowing my prescription now, I have bought a couple of inexpensive pairs so I can have one pair in my lady basket, and another in my handbag. Luckily both my eyes require the same number (1.75). Although, if they were different I would probably still be fine, because I have a pair of 2.5s and they still work well.

Do you wear reading glasses? It's quite fun to try a new look and be a little outrageous with them, especially with the cheapie ones. I ordered some 'Oprah style' reading glasses off Amazon and they are fun to wear. A bit glam 😍

(They are these ones here - one pair in the three -pack had a wobbly lens but Amazon was quick to refund).

 

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And I'm excited to announce that my once-a-year book sale is now on. It will run for the next two weeks, and all my books are now US$3.99 on Amazon. Paperbacks are on sale too, but the prices vary due to printing costs being different for each one.

 

 

I hope you take this chance to stock up on any titles you don't have yet. It's always nice to have some new reading material going into the holiday season 😊

 

 

 

You can find all my books on Amazon here or click on any of the photos to go directly to the books shown.

 

 

 

And I have a 50% off coupon code for my eStore, valid on anything in the store including audiobooks and even my author course.

Use the code HALFPRICEHAPPINESS in my eStore here ❤️

 

Happy reading, and thank you for being a happy reader of my books. I've shared a few of my favourite reviews here. I'm so grateful for anyone who takes the time to write a review online ❤️ Thank you if you already have!

 

xx Fiona

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

Chic style on a budget, and a new interview

 

Hello chic friends!

Paul and I went to a special event last weekend: a gorgeous local winery called Craggy Range's 'Deep Purple' annual wine club day.

Thankfully it was a beautiful day for all the people who travelled from out of town to attend.

Strolling among the vines, glass of wine in hand was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon!

Of course, I wouldn't be found holding a glass of wine at 11am every Saturday, but once a year is okay, surely?

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I am thrilled to share with you a podcast interview I recorded, with the delightful Jessica DeBry on her inspiring ‘The Author Entrepreneur Podcast’. You can listen to it here or wherever you listen to your podcasts by searching for my name 'fiona ferris'.

 

 

I had such a great conversation with Jessica. She has a beautiful way of interviewing, and I didn’t even feel ‘that’ nervous 😊 Because it is nerve-wracking talking on a podcast, or maybe it’s just me!

I hope you enjoy our chat, and it’s especially for you if you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book. Please let me know what you think of it once you’ve had a listen!

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I am currently re-recording the audiobook of ‘100 Ways to be That Girl’ myself due to overwhelming feedback that very few listeners actually enjoyed the narrator I chose. This was when I was just starting out in audiobooks and thought a professional narrator would be the best choice.

 

 

I chose her from a small group I’d selected, and she wasn’t cheap either (fair enough too, I was happy to pay, but it turns out you’d rather hear me narrate my books). Oh well, lesson learned! But I wanted to let you know a new version is on its way 😊

 

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This week I’m up to my final reader question for the Q&A series to celebrate the release of my newest book ‘Financially Chic Vol. 2’.

“My question is about looking chic without spending a fortune. I do love the idea of a circular economy but I don’t actually enjoy looking at the thrift stores. In the area where I live there are several stores, but the clothes are not my taste. I would like some suggestions on how to dress in a stylish manner without having to resort to a whole new wardrobe.”

I am also not someone who enjoys thrifting clothes. When I was younger I did, and I also bought thrifted fabric (even curtains!) to sew my own clothes with.

I also like to dress well without spending a lot of money. My favourite way to do this is by the classic high-low mix where you combine less expensive pieces with costlier pieces. Even my ‘costly’ clothing pieces aren’t expensive though. Where I do like to spend a little more money is on a bag or pair of sunglasses, but even then, one of my favourite pairs of sunglasses cost $15.

I think it’s about how you put outfits together more than the price of them, and also how you groom yourself, your posture, and confidence too (real or acting-as-if). When I take the time to blow-dry my hair and paint my nails (both these things cost nothing, only a little time), I feel amazing, and I do think it makes what I’m wearing look better.

I would always shop my own closet first, browsing Pinterest for ideas, or even just thinking ‘What would my capsule collection look like if I made one from my closet?’ In addition, when I clear out even a few pieces that bring me down (bad colour on me, uncomfortable fabric etc), the other pieces left in there look better.

Sometimes I’ll take everything out of my wardrobe and have just my chic and simple capsule collection hanging. It looks like a boutique! And makes the clothes I’ve used look more appealing.

I hope this has been helpful, and I also hope you have enjoyed this little Q&A series! And please feel free to add your tips if you have something to say 😊

xx Fiona

You can read Financially Chic Vol. 2 at my affiliate Amazon link here.

 

It's my birthday week!

 

Hello chic friends, it's been a week of celebration here.

 

Happy birthday to us! Paul and I celebrate our birthday on the same day 😊 Just tooting our own horn 🎉

My mum took a photo of us at her place when we popped in on our way out for lunch earlier in the week. It was a beautiful day too!

We both really enjoyed our lunch and then headed home to relax outside in the sun.

Since we'd dined well earlier in the day we had a light seafood dinner - fresh oysters, and salmon and tuna sashimi. A special treat that is healthy, elegant and delicious 😊

A very happy birthday to all the October babies and Libra ladies reading! 

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Carrying on the birthday celebrations - and relaxation - with a new (library ☺️) book by one of my favourite authors, and a glass of Prosecco 🥂 (See it on Amazon here).

Life is good, and I’m excited to see what my 54th year brings me!

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 And now it's time for this week’s reader question from my newest book ‘Financially Chic Vol. 2’ 😊

 

 

"There are so many good causes that I would like to help financially, but like everyone else I have to choose where to send my limited funds. Do you have any thoughts you can share on how you make those choices? I would love to hear your ideas.”

None of us have unlimited funds in which to help the causes we’d like to, but we can help in our own small way.

There are two ways to go about this: you can either choose your main charity, and make a payment, each month or whatever suits your schedule. Or you can make smaller payments to a number of charities. Even $5 a month can be helpful.

And, re-evaluate once a year and make sure these are still the charities you wish to support. Or maybe you might change once a year regardless just because that’s the decision you made at the beginning.

Another way to help is with time. When we still lived in Auckland, I volunteered at the main SPCA once a month on a Sunday, for about four years.

And I’m sure there would be jobs you could do at home, if you were good with computers etc. There are always jobs to be done at charities, and never enough people to do them.

I also used to deliver my donations to a cat shelter instead of a thrift store, because they’d have regular yard sales to raise money. This was the shelter where my two cats Jessica and Nina came from.

Chloe :)

 

Chloe, in the photo above, who jumps in between the pillows on our bed and then flips them all over… came from the local SPCA here in Napier, along with her ‘sister’ Daphne. Adopting them is also a form of charity because you are freeing up a cage to help the next pet, and paying the adoption fee too.

And of course you can choose to donate or buy from the thrift stores which are aligned with your preferred charities. I always take my donations to an SPCA or bird sanctuary thrift store. It’s just another little way to help, and as you can see, it doesn’t always have to be about how much money you can donate.

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Little Ninacat with her twisty mouth and almost crossed eyes 😂🥰

Yes Nina is still in her collar! She ended up having to have surgery on her climbing injury and is now almost, almost fully healed.

I've taken the collar off her a few times and she starts licking the surgery area (under her arm) straight away, getting at it with her raspy tongue, so back on the collar goes.

I keep saying 'maybe by the end of September, maybe by the end of October, she can get it off'. Maybe by Christmas?

The great thing is, the collar doesn't bother her in the least, not like the sweatshirt I bought her. That was 100% a fail!

So Nina will keep on rocking her collar, and also help 'press' my mum's new navy trousers that I'm hemming for her... Yeah that's not a great combo, dark fabric and cat fur. What did we do before sticky rollers!!

 

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The other night we had the most magical moon, illuminating the sky and a few clouds. It truly was spectacular.

 

Then, when I turned in the other direction, I saw a bright star and found out it was Venus with my SkyView Lite app. Venus in Libra too. So nice to have for a Libra girl's birthday sky!

We have a four-day long weekend here in Hawke's Bay, how lucky is that? Our local show is on too.

My late dad used to tell me that the day after I was born he went to the show while mum was in hospital and said he walked around with a big smile on his face thinking about his new baby daughter :)

I hope you have a lovely weekend too whether it's long, normal, or something in between!

xx Fiona

PS. If you have Spotify Premium, you can listen to my newest book 'Financially Chic Vol. 2' for free now! Check to see if this is available in your country by going here to Spotify.

You can also purchase an MP3 copy from my eStore here.

Audible is coming soon, it always takes a little longer!

I hope you enjoy listening to this book, I especially enjoyed recording it 😊