Happy new year :)

 

Happy new year chic friends!

I hope you had a lovely Christmas day and New Year's too. For Christmas we were guests at my Aunty’s, with fifteen of us in total. It was a fun, relaxed day, and I think everyone slept well that night 😂

 

We celebrated our 'New Year's Eve' on the 1st not the 31st, since Paul worked on the 1st and had the 2nd and the 3rd off. He was one of the few at the gym on the morning of the 1st bright eyed and bushy tailed 🤣

On the 31st it was just another night for us, no drinks and an early bed-time. I wondered what all the yahooing and noise was, and it was the public fireworks display and people up the road enjoying the party!

Our 1st of January new year's eve was fun too, with champagne, nice steak, and the new Dua Lipa concert (at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the symphony orchestra) on YouTube. Life is good :)

I hope you had a wonderful new year’s no matter what day you celebrated, and whether it was at home or out!

 

~~

 

My theme for the year

 

From what I've read online, a lot of people are looking to get healthier this year, get their lives in balance, and stress less.

My thoughts are similar, I want to embody a relaxed vacation feeling year-round so something around this will be my focus.

While still getting things done, of course!

 

~~

 

 

I took the photo below just after 6am when I got up on a mild and summery Hawke's Bay day this week, just because the sky was so pretty. I love all the blues and greens together from the sky to the agapanthus, and the paddock and apple orchard too.

The cows in our paddock belong to our neighbours. These lady cows are so pretty, eight of them, in a speckly black and white pattern. They are very quiet, barely a peep out of them. And they were all very busy eating the grass even at this early hour. Breakfast time I guess!

 

 

It feels so fresh and new to be on the other side of Christmas, even though I enjoy all the festivities of December. I still have my Christmas tree up and will enjoy the twinkling lights for another week or so.

I’ve also been spending some time writing, which feels soooo good.

Happy new year to you, chic friend, and thank you for being here with me.

Here’s to farewelling 2024 and welcoming in 2025!

xx Fiona

Merry Christmas!

 

Hello chic friends, and happy Christmas eve to you!

 

Isn't this such a gorgeous venue for a Christmas party we went to last week? How stunning is the tree 😍 It was REALLY tall. I had Christmas tree envy! 🤣

A beautifully cooked beef Sirloin was on the menu, and everyone brought extras. We took a Greek salad (with fresh oregano from our herb garden), and I baked a lemon yoghurt cake (using fresh lemons from our tree).

Everything was delicious 😊

And afterwards we played The Christmas Present Game which was so fun (also called 'White Elephant' or 'Dirty Santa').

 

We came home with a pretty candle set, a bag of sweets, and a nice bottle of wine. (I am giving the sweets away haha, I don't need the temptation 😮)

It was such a nice evening!

I hope you’ve enjoyed some nice outings too. 

 

~~

 

 

 

 

Can you see my little Christmas elf on the sofa? Her ears camouflage her amongst the cushion points 🤣🤣

I thought for the last few days leading up to Christmas I’d share excerpts from ‘A Chic and Simple Christmas’. Just a few inspiration pieces in case you’re feeling a bit stressed and heavy.

 

Today I am here with a reminder to be extra gentle with yourself:

“With December being such a busy time of year, sometimes the best thing you can think of doing is hibernating away, enjoying cozy early nights and snuggling at home with a box set, so why not? Practicing exquisite self-care and recognizing when you are feeling a little burnt out will help you keep up your festive joie de vivre.

Personally, some years I go out more and some years less. I just go with what I feel like doing at the time and follow my desires. This practice never fails me; in fact, the times when I do go off the rails is when I ignore my inner requests for peace and quiet. Honor your own voice just as much as you would honor your loved ones."

 

 

"Moving your body will help you feel well and cope with any seasonal stress too. I’ve never been a fan of exercise but even I can admit when I’m wrong; and I don’t actually count my walks as exercise either, they are my serenity-preservers. I go at a moderate pace and walk anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes, depending on the day. I might walk from home or work and I might walk in exercise gear or my normal outfit (I do change my shoes though).

A walk loosens up my muscles and settles any creakiness and I feel so good when I arrive back, plus I get to listen to something inspiring on my iPod (that’s really the main attraction for me). Currently I have a Christmas song playlist which, when set on random, intersperses with my podcasts which is quite fun. Hello to Fifi’s Holiday Season Radio Show!”

This Christmas feels like one of my ‘less’ years. However you are handling things, I hope you too have been enjoying the leadup to Christmas 😊

 

~~

 

 

 

And just in time for the big day, I want to share my top tips for a fun and relaxing Christmas Day (from Chapter 5 of 'A Chic and Simple Christmas'):

🎄 Make a plan for the day – what you’ll wear, how you will be around relatives who trigger you, what you will eat and drink and not eat and drink.

🎄 Keep your mystique. Listen more than you talk, ask questions of others and enjoy the chic feeling of not letting it all hang out. Be positive, and resist the urge to complain or gossip. If others do, either smile noncommittally until you can escape, or change the subject if you can.

🎄 Be prepared for food pushers. If you are offered something to eat or drink that you don’t want, say, ‘thank you, that sounds lovely, I’m good now but I might try some later on’ or ‘how delicious, I’ll be sure to try that soon, thank you’.

🎄 Watch out for self-sabotage, old patterns and old habits coming up. It’s only because they are familiar to you, it doesn’t mean you have to follow them. When confronted with snacks and sweets that you don’t really want to indulge in, tell yourself, ‘in the past I ate those, but now I prefer to be chic and enjoy my Christmas dinner’. Then sip elegantly on your sparkling mineral water.

🎄 Be extra gentle with yourself – Christmas Day can be highly charged and it doesn’t have to be. I have a couple of mantras that I repeat to myself (quietly or silently) when I’m anxious. They are ‘all is well’ and ‘I am safe today and always’. They are both very soothing.

🎄 Take a group photo on Christmas day. It’s fun to see these change year by year, and as much as everyone will grumble about having to get into place and that they hate having their photo taken, they will love receiving a copy. Be the person who makes this happen – be the bossy one!

🎄 Keep it simple on Christmas Day – uphold traditions that you enjoy and skip the rest without guilt.

🎄 Don’t stress about family niggles. Let others be who they are, maintain your own boundaries politely, and simply keep away from those who trigger you.

 

 

I hope you have a lovely Christmas Day!

 

xx Fiona

 

 

 

(My Amazon links are affiliate which means I may earn a small commission when you purchase, but at no extra cost to you. I appreciate it if you choose to use my links :)

A southern hemisphere Christmas

 

Hello chic friends!

 

Tuesday this week was lovely and summery for my mum's birthday lunch - I wore black linen. I don't often wear black but I love it in the summer with gold jewellery.

Little Daphne dog didn't get to come with us but how cute is she? My sweet princess 🥰

 

~~

 

 

 

Christmas touches in my living room 😍

I love having a YouTube background music video playing on our little tv. This tv I bought so we could watch movies outside in the summer, and it happily sits anywhere giving me joy!

The video playing is part of a Lofi background music playlist I made as something a bit different to the soft jazz Christmas music I usually listen to, but it's still Christmassy ❤️

 

 

I hope your December is going well! I am imagining I am on Christmas vacation for the whole of December, so I can feel peaceful and relaxed as well as getting things done.

Some days it works well! Others... well, I'm only human 🤣

How about you? Are you avoiding stress? Enjoying your December?

 

 

 

~~

I've been getting a light tan laying out ten minutes each side every couple of days, and the doggies always join me.

Daphne and Chloe love the heat, and Micky pictured here comes too, but he prefers to relax in the shade. Such a cutie, and sun-smart as well!

He'd be the one at the beach in a big floppy hat and white linen caftan, very mysterious in oversized sunglasses 🤣

~~

Final days for my big book sale

 

And my once-a-year book sale is almost over. In 48 hours time prices will go back to normal. Until then all my books are US$3.99 on Amazon. Paperbacks are on sale too, with the prices varying 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 at my Amazon affiliate link here.

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 ❤️

Happy reading, and thank you for being a reader of my books!

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.

 

 

~~

 

 

 

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 :)

How to be calm, AND get things done

 

 

Hello chic friends!

 

I had a great question from reader Rozen in Melbourne:

“Fiona I am probably too soft and calm and taking it too easy. Do you have a suggestion for me to get going, doing a bit more and not dawdling and wasting my days.”

I can so relate to this! Yes, I adore living a ‘soft, calm life’ as in the title of my latest book, but I also like to get things done. As much as I’d love to lounge around reading a novel all day, it just wouldn’t feel good because I haven’t achieved anything.

I truly believe life is a balance of rest, play and work. And we can gently motivate ourselves if that’s what it takes. Here are my best tips on taking it easy and still getting things done!

1. Set up your environment for success by not having a lot of clutter around. Clean out what’s not important to you so that there is less to organise and clean, and you only have your favourite things surrounding you (Currently I am working on decluttering by using things up in my kitchen and bathroom, and reading books and magazines then donating).

2. Work out your priorities so you don’t waste time on ‘dumb stuff’ (For me it’s spending too much time at the computer browsing rubbish, then I tell myself I don’t have time to sit down and read a book).

3. Adopt healthy habits so you have more energy to get things done (I always feel better with less sugar and processed foods. I sleep better and have more oomph the next day).

4. Give yourself a pep talk each morning (I like to write in my journal with a steaming hot tea first thing. It might be an inspiring list, a letter from my future self, or a ‘Wouldn’t it be nice’ goals list).

5. Make a really short to-do list with three things or less on it. Not laundry or groceries, but rather a few vital tasks (Whenever I find myself drifting during the day I go back to that list and just Get The Things Done).

These tips aren't meant to be bossy, they are just what personally work for me. I hope you find something of use in this list, and please let me know which one is your favourite!

 

 

 

 ~~

 

 

:: Springtime in Hawke's Bay ::

Look at that sky! And the white blossom on my walk the other day 😊

One of the days this week was cold and grey though, so I am set myself a mini-goal to get all my tax information together to give to my accountant - within the day! It was cozy in my office, the perfect day to do such a thing.

 

I didn't get it 100% done, but I did most of it and now I'm excited to tidy up the last few things and send it all to my accountant. Often it's starting that is the hardest part, don't you find?

So, what's one big thing that's been hanging over you and can you dedicate a day to sorting it out?
 

~~

 

 

 

 

This week I’ve been recording the audiobook version of my book ‘A Chic and Simple Christmas’. So today I thought I’d share an excerpt from it. I know it’s too early to think about Christmas, but it’s not too early to consider how you might like to do things differently this Christmas. Zing it up, or simplify, your choice!

 

 

The excerpt I am sharing is from Chapter 1. ‘Choose what a chic Christmas season feels like for you’:

 

 

:: Christmas style versus your personal style ::

“Personally, I love the thought of Christmas and a beautifully decorated house, however in my own home I become claustrophobic with too much stuff around me. I love an elegant and simple decor style and I also like to make things easy for myself (spending days decorating our home only to take it all down a month later does not sound like fun to me).

I had a fun thought on how best to describe my approach to holiday decorating (and to put it in the best light, not just ‘Fiona’s lazy’).

You know how in Paris; most people live very centrally in apartments? Sure, they might have a window-box or two or even a small terrace with potted red-orange geraniums, but Paris is famous for her residents enjoying public parks almost as their own back yard as they read, lie in the sun, play and kiss; enjoying their own company in the company of others.

Well that’s how I feel about Christmas decorating. I love to read the glossy magazines with heavily decorated homes. I love to watch holiday movies with the perfect family home decked out entirely in a store’s-worth of beautiful and perfect Christmas décor. I love to visit neighbourhoods that are famous for their homes being decorated and all lit up on the outside. I love the feeling that all these things give me.

And I love going home to my own chic and simple lightly-decorated house.”

 

 

Maybe this is you as well? Let me know how you like to decorate for the holidays 😊

And happy weekend to you too!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find all my books on Amazon here, in Kindle, paperback and audiobook. Or visit my Linktree for other options.

 

 

 

 

(My Amazon links are affiliate but the price doesn’t change for you, thank you if you choose to use my links!)