Finding sparkle in an ordinary day, and a bounty of book recommendations!

It's nice to feel spring in the air with lighter mornings and warmer temperatures. I still rugged up for my walk though, and it rained a little on our way back to the car.

Even though I love my walks at home, there is something about getting out and being amongst others, even if there were very few people at the park on a Wednesday afternoon! Just a few retirees and us 😊

 

Paul's 'weekend' is Tuesday/Wednesday so it's lovely to do things when everyone else is at work and school.

 

We have built our financial life around enjoying free things like this. To me it's not being stingy, it's about making the most of every dollar.

And then that money that might have gone on an activity or meal/drink out can instead go towards paying off your mortgage early like we did, clearing your credit card, or starting an investment account.

The index fund we started eleven years ago only needed $50 a month to invest, and over time we’ve upped it to $150 a month.

It doesn't sound like it could add up to much and of course going out to dinner might be more fun, but these investment funds now hold tens of thousands of dollars.

So anyway, it was a lovely day for a walk yesterday, everydoggie enjoyed it, and if you want to build slow wealth, learn to cultivate a cheap – yet rich – life. It can be done! And in these harsh economic times it’s even more important.

To help when I feel like buying something, I think of everything I have at home already. Clothes, books, perfumes, lovely things. I then go home and play around with them, tidy them up, make new outfits, choose a book to read, and spritz on a fragrance.

And I remember my goals too. I delight in being thrifty because I love being debt-free, building a strong financial future, and relishing in the peace that comes when you’re on top of your money.

It is so worth it.

I hope this saves you some money today, even if I’m sharing the link below for my second money book! Haha!

(If my words resonate, I think you’ll like it 😊) It’s called:

“Financially Chic Vol. 2: How to be savvy with money in tough times, cultivate your rich lady lifestyle, and live fabulously for less”

 

 

~~

 

 

💫💫💫 Finding sparkle in an ordinary day 💫💫💫

Usually I feel inspired to write a little post on my social media, but today I don’t. And I think it’s a new way I am exploring to feel: right in the middle (just like ‘the elegant middle’ is for food and drink in chapter 3 of my book ‘Luxurious Weight Loss’).

I’ve been thinking how The Elegant Middle could apply to how I live my daily life, and it’s to be just that. I’m not super-excited and moving fast, burning out. And I’m not lazing around doing nothing.

In the elegant middle way of living, I have my daily checklist with a small handful of tasks on it, that I enjoy deleting as I go (I keep them on my phone’s calendar).

I don’t worry that it might be a bit cloudy today, I just create the sunshine in my mind by saying to myself that today is a great day.

When the dogs run outside barking at birds, I don’t shriek at them, I just open the door and call them back in.

When I do the opposite of these things, life feels blah (and stressful).

But when I carry on my steady forward track, I feel accomplished and satisfied, and the day passes in a pleasant way.

Why not enjoy peaceful and happy life in The Elegant Middle? Also, aren’t the winter apple trees in the photo above gorgeous in their simplicity?

~~

Something I am not so good at is finishing up with a margin between my ‘work day’ and dinner. I know I’ve said it before but I’ll put it out here yet again, that I desire 30-45 minutes to rest and read before Paul gets home from work.

And so it is! Although it didn’t happen yesterday, haha, because I had the Saturday afternoon coffee ladies (my mum, aunties, cousin) around for a movie afternoon.

We watched The Thursday Murder Club and it was fabulous. My mum brought popcorn, ice cream and cake! I even brought out my red and yellow popcorn cups - they really add to the fun. (I have six, which is lucky because there were six of us).

 ~~ 

 

 

I remember loving ‘Save Karyn’ when I read it decades ago (in 2003, I mean how is 2003 decades ago, but it is!!) Happily, I came across this thrifted copy recently and it is still just as funny.

What's also interesting is that the internet was not what it is today, it was still quite new. I remember the thrill of finding all these different places to search, and finding a forum dedicated to the French Chic way of life (it's now long gone).

And the internet is how I found out about Anne Barone's ‘Chic & Slim’ books.

 

 

It really was such a fun time of discovery in those days!

What probably drew me to the ‘Save Karyn’ book was my interest in personal finance, but she is such a hilarious writer. She really has a way with words.

It's about a girl who moves to Manhattan and gets a job producing television. She earns good money and enjoys the NYC shopping. But her spending catches up with her. She moves to Brooklyn to save on rent and pay her credit cards off but then... loses her job and can't get another.

Karyn is $20,000 in debt and has the thought 'If 20,000 people gave me $1 I could pay this debt off. There are millions in Manhattan alone so surely I could get 20,000 of them to give me a buck?' She 'should' come across as unlikeable but she doesn’t amazingly!

She wrote another book after this and it was made into the movie 'What's Your Number' starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans.

If you can find an old copy of ‘Save Karyn’ it's worth a read, or grab the Kindle copy (maybe read the sample first to see if she is as good as I say, or maybe I just have a little 2000s nostalgia!)

Happy weekend to you 😊 I hope you get a chance to relax and read something.

I'll be enjoying 'The Surrogate Mother' by Freida McFadden.

 

 

I know it's not going to end well for someone, it never does! But I still read her books. She has good twists and I don’t even mind being a nervous wreck reading them, haha.

x Fiona

~~

PS. You can view all my books here on Amazon.

 

 

My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission when you purchase through them. Thank you if you choose to use my links!

Living a simple life

 

Hello chic friends!

Sometimes I feel like I don’t have much to tell you, because I live *such* a simple and quiet life.

But then I remember how much I enjoyed following blogs way back when they started which were exactly that: home-based, feminine, simple living, and quiet. So maybe I can be that person for someone else who wants to read about ‘nothing’ 😊

I really do love being at home, and living a peaceful and creative life. It’s not always easy to get out of my head though, and that’s what I think trips me up sometimes. I can overthink things, be too hard on myself, and procrastinate terribly.

I think the reason why I want to live in a simple and quiet way is because my mind can feel too busy.

Maybe you feel the same? That everything in life moves so fast and you just want to pause a minute and take a breath?

And it’s not even that my life is fast-paced, it’s just how my mind can get sometimes. To help with this, I have intentionally simplified and stripped away busy-ness over the years. We moved from the city to the country.

And I dream of open spaces, an open schedule, and having just the right amount of possessions to make me feel comfortable and cozy but not overwhelmed with clutter. I love reading about minimalism and trying out tips for myself.

One size doesn’t fit all, phew! We all get to choose the most ideal scenario for ourselves and work towards that.

~~

Micky dog and I have been taking early morning walks, just the two of us, about 6.30am or 7am.

It's so nice out with our mild summer weather, and I've read it's good for you to get some early morning light into your brain through your eyes so we're definitely doing that.

To the end of our road and back is about 40 minutes which I think is the perfect amount of time.

I've gone in and out of various exercise routines over the years, but the one thing I always come back to and that rarely feels like a chore is outdoor walking.

It just feels so good! And you don't need any special equipment other than a comfortable pair of shoes. I wear leggings and a tee-shirt but if I've walked later in the day I'll just wear what I’m wearing – usually jeans and a top.

The thing that makes it more fun for me is to have an audiobook on. I love listening to a good story, or an inspiring non-fiction book.

And Micky loves a good long walk (‘long’ for his little legs). Our other two dogs Daphne and Chloe are NOT fans of the long walk. They said short walks a few times a day are their preference.

[How do I know this? Could it be the constant turning back and looking longingly in the direction of our house every 20-25 steps from Daphne? (I counted). Or Chloe putting the brakes on regularly all the way down the road? She holds down well for a dog who weighs less than 5kg/ 11 lbs. Of course, once we turn back at the end of the road, they are both as speedy as racehorses heading home!]

Wouldn’t you think all dogs love a walk? It seems that 'some' (not looking at anydoggy in particular) would rather go for a walk in the car (they all love the car so much 😊).

If you have doggies, are they keen walkers? Tell me a funny story about yours, please! 😍

 

~~

 

 

✨ Starting the day with beauty and inspiration 🌸

 

☕️ There’s nothing like fresh flowers, a cozy cup of coffee, and the joy of seeing my book, Loving Your Epic Small Life, reminding me to embrace elegance in every moment. 💕

If you’re looking for ways to create a life you adore—full of elegance, simplicity, and meaning—this book is here to inspire you. It’s available on Kindle, paperback, and audiobook here on Amazon.

I’ve also written 20+ other books designed to inspire, encourage, and bring hope - check them all out here on Amazon, or in my eStore for an Amazon alternative.🌷

 

Wishing you a fab start to your bright and shiny new week 😊

xx Fiona

[As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate it if you choose to use my links!]

A new podcast interview :)

 

Dear chic friends,

 

I was lucky enough to be the first guest on this lovely new podcast called 'Pockets of Joy' with Niamh O'Connell.

You can watch it on YouTube (click below), or find wherever you listen to your podcasts.

It was such a fun chat, I really enjoyed it. Thank you Niamh for having me on your new show!

 

 

~~

Last Monday was such a mild, breezy day it's hard to believe we're into winter now. I went for a lovely long walk without the doggies. It was all about me-me-me (and they'd already been for two walks that day 😊).

I got to stride it out (in a relaxed manner of course), listening to a podcast with my new excellent bluetooth headband from Aliexpress. Best $5 I've spent I think!

It's better than my airpods for walking too, because I can hear everything even if it's windy.

I love walking outside so much. It's good for the soul with the fresh air, nature, and vitamin D. Life is good!

Do you love walking outdoors too? It's such an antidote to being inside 😊

(This is the headband I bought here if you are interested! It charged up quickly and has lasted two 40-minute walks so far on one charge. And it only took about a week to be delivered. Amazing!)

~~

I finished this jigsaw puzzle and I honestly didn't think I could! It's the prettiest picture and colours, set in Provence. That's why I chose it, but I didn't look at the wash of colour in the foreground. It was a difficult one for sure, but I picked away at it and put bits in now and then, and now it's finished!

(This puzzle was a thrifted one in quite an old looking box, and I was worried it would have a piece missing but all 500 pieces were there. Hoorah! The first thrifted puzzle I did was missing a piece right in the middle. Boo! It's a roll of the dice for sure 🤣)

I think puzzles are a great way to approach life too. There are goals we want to achieve that we think we'll never arrive at, but if we just keep doing a little bit each day and re-remember what we want, we'll get there. Sometimes it's the remembering what I want that's hardest. I have goal amnesia all the time!

I feel a bit the same about my audiobooks as I do about jigsaw puzzles haha. I'm recording them one at a time, and because there is no ordering data readily available I have no idea if anyone is even listening to them! But I just keep on going, finish one book and go onto the next. I know people definitely can't listen to them if they don't exist, so I make them exist.

The most recent of my audiobooks to be released is here on Amazon or in my eStore.

'Thirty More Chic Days' is about creating an inspired mindset for a magical life. There really is something wonderful that can be brought to life when you combine practical actions with a positive and optimistic state of mind.

I love to pump myself up mentally and emotionally if I'm feeling flat, and taking action in my surroundings or with myself at the same time. It is indeed almost magical when you can feel more activated and happy within a relatively short time.

You can listen to this audiobook wherever you usually get your audiobooks, and you can even ask your library to order it in and listen for free!

And in select countries where it is available, you can listen for free on Spotify Premium too.

I hope you have a great weekend!

xx Fiona

(My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I’m grateful if you choose to use my link!)

Mothers Day, and a Chic Success tip

 

Hello chic friends!

 

Last Sunday we had ladies afternoon tea at my Mum’s for Mother’s Day :)

It was a lovely afternoon with Prosecco, coffee, and afternoon tea treats.

 
I made the Edmonds chocolate cake again but instead of the icing being too stiff I made it too runny 🤭 Maybe the third one will be just right!

~~

With love from Miss Nina enjoying the crisp Autumn sunshine here in Hawke’s Bay

 

This is my darling 'kitten' Nina (now 14 years old, according to the estimated date of birth on her adoption records).

She healed well from her climbing injury a few months back (a little gash under her arm) and is her old self again - racing around, catching mice outside (and bringing them in 😮), plus scaring the dogs. She is the Queen Bee and the boss!

She is so tiny, and quite self-contained and independent too. Although she always sneaks up onto our bed at night after the dogs have gone to sleep in their beds.

Her current favourite food is Fancy Feast Petite Delights. Any other brand is left uneaten... She also doesn't mind a few slivers of fresh fish when we have it for dinner each week.

We adopted her in Auckland when we lived there, from a cat shelter along with her mother Jessica. (Jessica crossed Rainbow Bridge about 18 months ago, rest in peace my sweet princess.)

Nina was so stressed when we moved here since she'd only lived in the one house with us, but she's good now that we've been here seven years and loves her life in the country.

 

She really is a sweet girl, very gentle and friendly, and prefers affection on her own terms. She is a self-patter, meaning she likes to be in charge of the patting and not feel too smothered. You hold your hand out and she will deign to rub herself against you!

I regularly find her on my writing desk sitting under the lamp which has a halogen bulb so it’s warm, and if I get up she always steals my seat.

She's a funny wee thing and we love her 🥰 If you have a cat, Nina sends love and wishes your way, and even if you don't she'll share a purr. She’s generous like that!

~~

 

Inspiration for today 😊

I thought I'd share a little excerpt from my latest book "100 Ways to be a Chic Success and Create Your Dream Life".

This one is tip no. 43.

"Become the CEO of your life.

Imagine if your life was an organisation – mine would be The Fiona Company. And within, you would have many different departments: the health department, the finance department, the home department, the love department, the career or job department. How fun does that sound! And you’re in charge of everything!

As the CEO, you would want to oversee all these various components of your company and ensure they are running smoothly. Because if any of the departments are not going well it’s not good for business.

Just simple things like looking at the finance department and making sure it’s not spending more money than is coming in. Or the health department that enough fresh fruit and vegetables are being delivered to that floor, and are being used up!

It’s a little bit silly, but I often find that looking at things from a different angle can give us insights or Ahas that can help us a lot."

I love thinking about things using this tip, it really does give me a different angle to be inspired by if I'm feeling blah.

Think about your company - it's so fun to name it - and what departments you want to focus on at the moment.

Today I am going to tidy my writing desk and clear away all the financial admin (receipts and paperwork laying around etc), so I guess that would be the Finance Department.

I also want to do some writing on my next book (which is 2/3 finished!), so that would be the Career Department.

Even just dreaming up all the different departments of your company would be an inspiring journal prompt! Make them fun names too. Perhaps your Finance Department could be the Wealth Department, and your Health Department could be the Beauty and Vibrancy Department.

Please let me know the name of your company, and which departments you will be working in today!

~~

And if you are wondering what other ladies think of this book... (thank you to my readers who leave reviews for me on Amazon, it really makes my day, my week!)

~~

Another day, another dog walk! We like to go for multiple short walks a day instead of one long one.

I sometimes put leashes on to walk away from home, then let them off to run back. Otherwise it is a slow walk 😂 I tend to keep fluffy white Micky dog on his leash because he has zero road sense, and even though we don't get much traffic, we do get some. It could be a dogsaster for all concerned 😬

But Daphne and Chloe are very good at staying on the side of the road and I can trust them off-leash. Sometimes we walk in the paddock, but it's mostly just up and down the road. There is a slope so it's good for the heart rate!

I heard a great quote once that said to 'walk your dog every day, even if you don't have one', and it's true, walking a dog is a great excuse to get outside and absorb some Vitamin D, no matter the weather. And if you don't have a dog, still do it anyway 😂

Walking outside is such a happy pleasure of mine. When we lived in the city I used to walk around our neighbourhood listening to inspiring audios on my headphones, and I loved to go window-shopping downtown too. It was an exercise walk and a lovely look around all at the same time 😊

Are you a happy walker like I am? Where are your favourite places to walk?

~~

Nature's beauty from our front lawn ✨

I hope you're having a lovely week as it draws to a close - the working week that is anyway. I've been so productive! Working on my next book, finishing up my next audiobook (Thirty More Chic Days), and still not managing to tidy my desk 🙈 Maybe tomorrow!

What are you proud of yourself for doing this week? I'm most proud that I've been writing my new book. I was letting my writing be further down the priority queue than it deserved to be. Once I'd done other things, often there wasn't time for writing, so it missed out for another day.

I started doing it first thing, before anything else, and it worked! Those productivity experts know what they are talking about 🤣

I'm off to take Micky dog for a long walk now, and then it's back to my beloved writing. Daphne and Chloe don't like long walks, it's a battle to get them going! So Micky and I, and a podcast, are taking a long walk today (by long, I mean 40-45 minutes, so maybe not long by others standards!) It's a beautiful morning, so peaceful, and mild too.

Happy weekend to you and I look forward to seeing you next week!

 

xx Fiona

 

PS. Please share this with a friend who might like the same things you do, I'd appreciate it! They can join my mailing list here if they would like to receive a cheery email once a week :)

Hello February! And My Simple Exercise Routine

Lunch out this week with my mum Jo, brother Arden and sister Catherine.
And the doggies came too!

 

How has your January gone? Mine dashed by in a blur. It's been such a full-on month with visitors and people from out of town. Fun, but very easy to get out of routine and not even know what day it is...

I'm happy with my January though. I had a great time, got to see people, did a little bit of writing on my next book, stuck with my simple exercise plan and have been eating healthy too. I have also completed an update for my writer's course which I have just shared with my students.

I know skies are so boring to post but I had to show you mine! How pretty.
 I do love anything pink so thank you Mother Nature for our pinky purple sky.
Pink sky at night, sailor's delight:)

And I'm excited for February! I am being interviewed next week for an author's podcast, sending a book to a 'new to me' audiobook producer to start my series of audiobooks, and continue working on my next book too.

Such fun :)

 

 

I want to keep fit and limber as I get older and have found an exercise routine I enjoy. Very strenuous exercises wear me out, make me feel shaky, and also hungrier. Gentler approaches work best for me.

I went to a chiropractor last year for a cricked neck. When I asked, he suggested Pilates as an excellent exercise and said the core work really helps keep your back strong throughout your life.

So I looked around on YouTube and found ‘Move With Nicole’ among others. I liked her workouts best so I've stuck with her for about six months now. I like to alternate a walk one day with Pilates the next, and I try for 2-3 times a week for each, mostly 2x each per week for 30 minutes. Walk, Pilates, walk, Pilates 😊

It doesn't seem 'enough' but I still do it. And when I've had longer, harder routines in the past, I've not wanted to do them.

As you can see, I like to make a yoga studio type environment for myself, with candles and lamps, and the overhead lights off. It's so relaxing but I'm also getting a workout in. I feel rejuvenated and peaceful after a session with Nicole.

So that's my simple exercise routine. Please let me know what you enjoy.

I hope you had a fab January and are really looking forward to February as well. Let me know what your plans are!

xx Fiona

PS. What better accompaniment to this post than my book ‘100 Ways to Enjoy Self-Care for Gentle Wellbeing and a Healthy Body Image’. Finding exercise that feels elegant and enjoyable even if you only plan for it once a week on a Sunday (such as a long walk through town) will go a long way towards helping you feel better about yourself. On Kindle and in print here on Amazon.

 

 

And if you need a boost of inspiration, check out my latest book '100 Ways to Be a Chic Success and Create Your Dream Life' here on Amazon Kindle and in paperback.

 

Read how you can become a 'chic success' the soft way. The feminine way. The easy and fun way. I love to make things happen, but I want it to be light and playful too. Life is too short to do anything unpleasant or difficult!

And for an Amazon alternative you can download both of these eBooks (plus all my others) from my eStore here.


(My Amazon link is affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you if you choose to use my links!)

This month's book sale! And my spring style :)

 

Greetings from a sunny - and breezy! - Hawke's Bay.

To me, it's normal to live in a tiny country at the bottom of the world. But to many of you, it's quite the novelty.

I have travelled a little bit, and even considered living overseas at certain stages - only for a second though.

For my style - a self-confessed homebody who loves to go on holiday but LOVES to come home afterwards, I'd probably be so homesick anywhere else!

New Zealand is very pretty, and green. I feel fortunate to have grown up here. And, that we speak English. This a big one in this global world we live in now. Especially writing and publishing my books.

So anyway, just saying hi in my outfit of the day. I love my 'uniform' of a pretty boho style blouse, slim jeans and colourful shoes. There are endless combos in my wardrobe :)

 

~~

 

 

It's so nice and warm with our spring weather to sit down on the hill in our paddock when I walk the dogs, just for a few minutes.

A few times I've made my own 'slant board' and lain down, head downhill and feet up. It's good for your spine, and for your head to be below your heart too, according to my old yoga teacher.

I do worry if someone is working in the orchard or driving along the driveway at the bottom of our paddock though, and they saw someone lying in the paddock upside down they might worry I've had a terrible accident...

One day when I had a lie in the sun I opened my eyes and had no dogs, whereas I normally have three. They obviously lost me in the long grass and headed back to the paddock gate where they all were waiting. So cute! But also not very caring :) I think they were more worried about how they were going to get their dinner.

Can you see white Micky dog in the upper left of the picture? He's near the two piles of firewood from a tree that came down in the February cyclone. Unfortunately it fell on a fence and did a lot of damage. Why couldn't it have fallen in the other direction? That would have been far more convenient!

 

~~

 

 

 

 

I’ve been enjoying holding my little mini-sales and sharing the love each month lately. So for this month I thought it would be fun to include both of my seasonal books, since some of us are heading into summer and some into winter!

For the next week or so, these two titles are $2.99 on Kindle, and the paperbacks are reduced as well. If you haven’t read them, I warmly invite you to do so now. They are packed with tips and inspiration on how to navigate each season and focus on what you can do to make them even more wonderful, as well as ways in which you can deal with the less comfortable aspects of the season.

And, if you have read them, I’d love it if you’d share my sale with a like-minded friend. Or maybe you have neither and want to buy them while they’re on special. I get it, I’m a thrifty savvy girl too and I love a good sale!

I hope you have fun dreaming and planning of the upcoming season. I am so happy for spring and summer. The weather is warming up nicely and I’m getting to wear my colourful spring tops again, plus I bought a few new ones in the sales at the end of last summer. Yay!

Have a fab day, and I will too! I've just finished a book, so the editing and proofreading starts now. I can't wait for you to read it. And I have two others half completed as well. Finishing a book always gives me a boost so I will use this turbo-charge to finish my other two also. Yay!
 

And thanks so much if you get yourself a sale book!

 

 xx Fiona

PS.You can find both of my sale books at my Amazon affiliate link here.

And the eBooks are on special too in my eStore, for an Amazon alternative.

Happy reading!

'Serene Spa July' series part 3

 

✨ Serene Spa July ✨

Hello chic friends!

 

Welcome to the third weekly wrap-up of Serene Spa July, where we are aiming to bring a little peace and relaxation into our lives, one day at a time. And, create a spa ambience for ourselves. Let's get straight into it!

 

~~

Day 11:Take a city walk

 

I do my exercise most days by going for a walk (often on my treadmill), but something that makes me so happy is to go for a glam walk. It combines exercise with window shopping :)

There is something that is so refreshing about being outside, even if you’re in a built up area. I live in the countryside now, but when we lived in the city I used to love going for a city walk. I’d wear nice clothes with sneakers, and exercise while I window-shopped. Big sunglasses were mandatory for the look!

This photo is a throwback to a trip earlier in the year. I love being a tourist, dressing up and going for a walk around the city.

Even with a lot of people around, I find it really peaceful and relaxing to just stroll. And it's a great way to get your steps in without even noticing it too.

As mentioned, the key is to wear nice sneakers with your outfit so that you're comfortable.

And if you live in a small town like I do now, it still feels good to walk more – very European. Rather than move my car all over town, I can park in one area and walk everywhere I need to go.
 

~~

 

 

 

 

Day 12: Create ‘contemplation corner’

 

When we lived in Auckland we used to stay at the Langham Hotel as our staycation every so often. In their spa area by the pool was a long room with comfortable seating and glossy magazines, and it was called the Contemplation Corner.

I borrowed their peaceful atmosphere and now enjoy creating contemplation corners in my own home. And you can too! It might involve turning a chair slightly so your view is out the window, and adding a temporarily-moved side table. Add a vintage or current magazine, or book, and a cold or hot drink and you are set for a little while of solitude.

Or set up a blanket under a tree outside. Or wrap yourself up in a cozy rug on your sofa or bed for a while. You can even be in your car if you are out, listening to an audiobook with a hot coffee.

My favourite is to be at home with a cup of tea and an old Victoria magazine. I choose one from my small collection and flip away.

Imagine the peacefulness of sitting in that Langham contemplation corner and see how you could bring the same into your home, even just for a little while.

 

~~

 

 

 

Day 13: Uplift yourself with happy journalling

 

It’s all very well to be inspired by others and take in what they are saying. I do this a lot. I love reading books, listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, and studying the various courses I’ve purchased over the years.

And, I always feel good when I balance this intake with my own creations. In my journal I’ll explore such concepts as:

• ‘Happy lists’ of what makes me feel happy at that particular time.
• ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if’ lists of my biggest dreams, hopes, and goals.
• ‘Ideal self’ visualisations in any area of my life that I desire to upgrade next, such as my wardrobe, health goals, or lifestyle wishes.
• Brainstorming loads of inspiring actions towards a specific outcome, such as ‘How can up uplevel my personal style without spending any money?’

Even if you don’t know what you’ll write about, find yourself a pretty journal and plan to fill a page today. That’s how I approach it, I just fill a page. There is no timer to set and no word count. Just a page to fill out. Sometimes it’s those last few lines that are the most challenging, but it feels good to complete that page. And sometimes I’ll even write two or three pages.

Date your pages too, that’s always interesting!
 

~~

 

Day 14: Add pampering spa touches everywhere in the home

 

Here are some of my favourite ways to do this:

• Thick, soft tissues in just about every room.

• Hand cream in multiple places too: the car, by the sofa, by my bed, on my office desk, in the bathroom, in your lady basket and a tiny tube in your handbag. When it’s there, you will put it on. Massage it into your wrists, and push your cuticles back with it too.

• Saved up hotel slippers for putting on after you’ve moisturised your feet with a luscious body cream before bed. Or fluffy socks if you don’t have spa slippers.

• A small, neat stack of glossy magazines for a quick browse.

• Using white towels. I went through a coloured towel phase but have recently started using white towels again. I love both, but the simplicity of only having white towels to wash is wonderful.

• A cozy throw rug for the cooler season for wrapping up.

• A bud vase with a few tiny fresh flowers in it.

None of these items cost very much, but reading through that list, don’t you feel pampered and cosseted already? It just makes for such a nice atmosphere.

~~

 

 

Day 15: Cultivate a soft, hushed atmosphere in the home

 

I know for myself I can easily crash around putting things away (emptying the dishwasher!) and yell at the dogs to ‘be quiet!’ when they go nuts barking at birds outside.

And, I can just as easily make life serene and pleasant for myself by doing everything as quietly as possible.

• Putting clean cups and plates away without clanking them
• Shooshing the dogs in a calm voice
• Going to the room my husband is in to talk to him rather than calling down the hall
• Speaking in my ‘inside voice’
• Thinking when to speak at all, is it necessary? Or am I just filling air?
• Moving around the house in an intentionally calm and contented manner, quietly doing what I want to do.

And at work too, you can be quietly productive, not bothering others with noise, loud sighs and intrusive chatter. Is there anything worse than an annoyingly loud coworker? I think not!

But mostly it’s just me here, so I do it for myself. I love to feel peaceful and calm, and being intentionally quite quiet is one way that I do this for myself.

And when the house is peaceful, the dogs seem calmer and quieter too. It makes sense. They pick up on my energy.

~~

 

Day 16: Add extra nutrition into your daily meals

 

Just like you would receive at a spa retreat, but at home :)

When I want to upgrade my healthy eating, it does not work well for me to change everything up all at once. Far more helpful is to make small changes and tweak what I eat by increasing the nutrient content.

For example, you could:

• Eat an apple after lunch, even if lunch was fast food.

• Add a pre-made side salad to your dinner, regardless of what you are having.

• Slice some fresh fruit to have with your breakfast.

The key with all of these kinds of ideas is to have the ‘extra’ washed, sliced if needed, and ready to go when you serve yourself your meal. Have the apple washed in your bag when you go through the drive through (I rarely eat fast food because I am celiac and nothing is ever gluten free, but I am also realistic :).

Wash, slice and store fruit in a small GladWare container to have with your breakfast. Make your salad in portions too. That way, all you need to do it ‘grab and go’. Lessen the barrier between you and the healthy additions. This is the gamechanger for me.

I promise you will feel great with the added fresh nutrition. When I started having NutriBullet smoothies for breakfast, my cells would practically zing with happiness after I’d had one. I could feel it quite literally! Mother Nature provides so much goodness for us, let’s be grateful and nourish ourselves with her fresh produce!

(In this throwback restaurant photo my bunless burger came with a side of asparagus as an option. It was amazing!)

 

~~

I hope you enjoyed this week's round-up, and please, let me know if you are enjoying this series and what your favourite day is so far!

Have a wonderful week and I'll see you soon.

xx Fiona

Summer sun and a full moon

 

 

Monday was a public holiday here in New Zealand and it turned out to be a warm sunny day, perfect to enjoy an off-leash dog park walk.

‘Fun for the whole family’ as they say, and F R E E! I love having no-spend days!

The doggies loved it too and all had big drinks when we got home. Daphne and Chloe were too nervous to use the drinking station at the park (I know, so scary) and Micky was too busy swimming in the muddy stream (probably had a nice big drink there...) So it was bath time for him when we got home!

 

 

In other exciting news this week, we had a beautiful full moon. In person it was a huge shining golden disc.

I am interested in learning more about the moon phases and the weather. It all seems to be right there in front of us to ‘read’.

I used to use my dad’s binoculars as a child to see the craters on the moon and it fascinated me.

If you are an astrology believer the moon is the second most important sign in your chart after your sun sign (I am 99% sure this is correct, if you are an astrologer please chime in :)

A short after-dinner doggie stroll is one of my favourite things about summer. It is just so refreshing to be outside after dinner.

And then to be greeted with such lunar beauty - magical!

I trust you are having a magical week too.

See you next week!

xx Fiona

 

'The Peaceful Life'

5.0 out of 5 stars: Beautiful
 

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2023

Verified Purchase
 

"This book is exactly what I needed. It's beautifully written, thoughtful and inspiring. As an American woman of color, I worried I wouldn't get much from this book, but thankfully, I was so very wrong. This book is for every woman looking to create a peaceful life and embrace their femininity. I can see myself reading this frequently. Certainly, one of my new favorite books! Many thanks to the author for sharing her insights and tips."

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