Stylish home touches, and Daphne dog

 

Hello friends,

We usually call these richly scented oriental lilies ‘Christmas lilies’ since they bloom during our summer Christmas here in New Zealand.

But it’s August and we are in the depths of a frosty winter, so what do I call them now? Mid-winter Christmas lilies? Because they always smell like Christmas to me.

‘Mid-winter Christmas’ was a thing in the 1980s when my parents held and went to dinner parties.

It was a chance to feel a little festive when it was cold and bleak outside, and borrow from the fun of Christmas traditions from the northern hemisphere which suit wintry weather.

I remember buying a can of fake snow spray to paint on my bedroom windows at Christmastime when it was bright and summery, and then the crazy effort to scrape it off afterwards. I’m sure I left most of that to my mum.

So anyway, sorry about that mum, and thank you for one of the many times you cleaned up after me at home 🥰

I always think I don’t like fresh flowers in the home much, but I’ve discovered that it’s when they have no scent that I can’t see the point.

When they do have scent, I am happy to buy them. Oriental lilies, earlicheer and jonquils (I call them ‘spring flowers’ but they are always out in the winter), and Daphne. I love the smell of Daphne so much, I think that’s also a winter flower, but on a shrub. Also, scented roses. So delicious.

So I’m not a no-flower girl, I’m a ‘scented flower’ girl 😊

I’m glad to clear that up because I always felt like such a wowser when I didn’t enjoy buying flowers for our home.

These lilies lasted exactly two weeks and looked good the whole time.

Let me know if you are a fan of fragrant blooms like I am, and what your favourite flowers are to have in the home 😊

 

~~

 

 

 

 And hello from sweet Daphne, tucked in behind the pillow 🥰 She loves sneaking into corners, hoping she won’t be noticed so she can stay snuggled up beside me forever.

Especially at night when she’s meant to be zipped up in her cozy soft crate with blankets. She always tries to sleep on the bed and I have to disappoint her. I’m not against dogs on beds but she is a terrible bed sleeper.

Micky lies somewhere handy, like between our feet or between our pillows (I know), but Daphne always crimps your style, lying across ankles or forcing you to sleep in a funny shape to accommodate her.

Daphne’s expression here says: ‘If I don’t move, perhaps she won’t notice me.’ She has perfected it well 😂

And the sofa pillow is one of two I made my dad for Christmas one year. They came back to live with me after he died.

I love playing around upcycling denim so much. I have another set of denim cushions, placemats, and coasters... such fun ❤️

Happy weekend!

x Fiona

 

 

PS. You can find all my links here: fionaferris.com

And my latest book ‘Life Is Good’:

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission when you use my links, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate it if you choose to use my links at any time!]

New book out now - Yes, Life Is Good :)

 

Hello friends,

I am thrilled to announce the premiere of my latest book ‘Life Is Good’ 🌺

If you’ve been in my world lately, you’ll know that I’ve been through some stuff. Breast cancer specifically. And I ended up writing a book about it!

Please listen:

I promise you will really, really enjoy this book, even though it’s about cancer.

It’s not dry or a medical textbook (which is just as well since I’m not a doctor). What it is, is an honest, uplifting, and funny account of what it’s really like to go through breast cancer treatment.

There were many crazy moments and I’m sharing them all with you (even the ones that I wondered whether to or not… you’ll see 🤣)

Kindle is available right now, and the paperback in a few days (just keep an eye out for it at the same link).

For an Amazon alternative, you can order the eBook from my eStore too.

All my links are at fionaferris.com.

I’m now getting cracking on the audiobook. Just gotta limber up those vocal chords, it’s been a while since I have recorded one.

I hope you really enjoy this book, I’m actually quite proud of it 😊

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And I’ve been keeping things cosy here while many of you are sweltering. This morning was a sub-zero frost and it’s still only 4 degrees (39F) nearing 9am.

Micky dog is still in bed under his blanket. He’s definitely slowed down in the past few months now that he is 14, but I’ve never known him to sleep in so long. I did check he was still breathing! 

 

 

To make a little fun for myself I’ve been indulging in Christmas in July, along with a dash of self-care. I’ve been leaning on my self-care practices even more at the moment. In no particular order, here are my current favourites 😊

❤️ Reading books. I just finished ‘Dandelion is Dead’, by Rosie Storey: 4.5/5 for me. Loved the story, and the British sense of humour. There were a few too many back and forths before the ending so not a 5/5 but still a solid ‘would recommend’.

❤️ Sipping my morning latte. (always in a Starbucks cup!) I make a stronger brewed pot of filter coffee and then use it like cold brew – half a cup of coffee and half a cup of whole milk, heated in the microwave. It’s my version of the ‘no foam, extra hot’ latte I used to order at Starbucks ✨

❤️ Going for a walk. Always with an audiobook or podcast. I’m 3/4 through Emma Grede’s ‘Start With Yourself’ and am thoroughly enjoying it. And before that, ‘The Storm Sister’, the second Seven Sisters book was incredible. They are such involved, high-quality stories (almost 20 hours long on audiobook!) that it boggles my mind how someone can write such amazingness. We do have a treadmill but I prefer walking outside with the fresh air and soothing colours of nature.

❤️ Feeling cozy. It’s nice to rug up in the winter with fluffy socks and a warm jumper, but I like feeling cozy in the summer equally. It’s all about the softness of fabric. Washed cotton tee-shirts, soft linen, fine satin loungewear pants. And feeling clean too: just-washed hair, moisturised skin and a pretty body mist.

❤️ Being my own cheerleader. I’ve felt down during my recuperation more so than usual, so I’ve been calling upon my inner cheerleader regularly. She reminds me that life is still good, I’ve already come so far, most complications are only temporary, and oh, let’s go and do something fun.

Let me know your favourite, and please share your favourite self-care practice right now 😊

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Wishing you a wonderful weekend whatever you’re doing. And Happy 4^th of July to my American friends!

And I’d also like to say, thank you for being there with me. Even though I haven’t been online as much, I’ve felt the care and the love. It means a lot.

xx Fiona

PS. My Amazon links are affiliate, but it makes no different to the cost. I do appreciate it if you choose to use my links, as always ❤️

 

Positivity and looking ahead

 

Hello everyone! Daphne and I are outside enjoying a coffee on this late summer day. It's starting to feel a little like autumn.

And I am feeling so much better! Officially past the eight weeks post-surgery mark and the infection is gone too. I'm still taking it easy but it's so nice to feel a little bit more normal.

Soon I’m travelling to Palmerston North, which is a couple of hours drive, to attend a planning meeting for my radiotherapy. And then not long after that I will be booked in for a week’s worth of treatment.

I’m grateful that all my other treatment, surgery etc has been local, but we don’t have a radiation department here in Hawke’s Bay.

And after that I should be finished up with all the big stuff, just my five-year Letrozole medication to take. I’m sure it will fly by. The years do now 😊

I had my hair trimmed too. When I thought I was going to have to have chemo and lose my hair I thought it would be nice to try a bob before that happened.

Once I found out I didn't have to have chemo I still decided to give it a go so now I have a long bob. There is only a little bit of colour right on the tips so most of the colour is mine now.

My greys provide natural highlights in my beige blonde, yay! It's so lovely and healthy compared with the coloured hair too, and I can wear it wavy/curly if I air dry it.

I’m pleased to say I have been feeling a bit more creative too. I still get tired easily but I can feel the excitement for my writing coming back.

I always have multiple books on the go, but I’m writing about my breast cancer experience currently, and will be covering three broad areas:

1. My journey with breast cancer
2. Helpful tips if you are going through a tough time health-wise too
3. Encouragement and support for those who have a loved one with a health challenge

So hopefully it will be an uplifting read for anyone, really. It won’t be doom and gloom but it will be ‘real’.

And, I think useful for anyone facing a health crisis, because I knew nothing about anything before I was diagnosed and now I reckon I could be a health professional I’ve learned so much over the past four months! 🤣

Hugs to you!
xx Fiona

Personal style as a tool to feel better

 

Hello friends,

Here I am heading out for family dinner at my aunty’s place ❤️💙

I love red with blue denim! Although it was so rainy and chilly - NOT like summer at all - that I got to wear my new burgundy/plum/oxblood ankle boots earlier than planned.

I have been stalking these boots since I saw them at the end of last winter and got them on sale after Christmas (recuperating at home by online shopping 🤣) and now have them ready for my autumn wardrobe.

I felt like journalling about a capsule wardrobe this morning and then was inspired to create a summer capsule, 21 pieces as per chapter 5 of my book 'The Chic Closet'.

I decided on a blue and white theme incorporating denim and navy, and then added a touch of sand/gold/beach to warm things up.

I came out with a good selection of jeans, tops/blouses, trousers and dresses, and ended up at 27 pieces which I am happy with. I have a good selection to choose from and am excited to get to wear my 'new' capsule collection even though I didn't buy anything. It feels new to me!

And in other news, I am getting back to myself. Still moving very slowly, not driving for a bit, maybe for another week or two. I am the diva passenger being chauffeured around 😊 Paul mostly takes me places and my mum has too.

I thought it was funny, my 78-year-old mother driving me to the library instead of the other way around. I often see older ladies being walked around the supermarket with one of their children helping them get their groceries. Instead it’s me getting the help 😊

And I meet with the oncology doctor next Tuesday to discuss chemo. It’s all so surreal! Like I’m watching this happen to someone else. Perhaps it’s healthy to have a sense of detachment and unreality…

In any case, I just have to keep telling myself it’s all preventative, the cancer is gone now. And if I have to grow some new hair it’s a small price to pay for future safety.

Thank you again for the continuing emails and messages, I truly appreciate them.

xx Fiona

PS. ‘The Chic Closet’ on Kindle, in paperback, and audiobook too here at my Amazon affiliate link here. 
 

 

Black Friday book sale on now!

 

Hello friends,

My once a year Black Friday sale is on now with all Kindle books priced at $3.99 USD (they vary in price according to length, but many of my Kindle books are $8-$9-$10 usually).

So if you’ve recently discovered me and want to stock up, or have a few gaps in your Fiona Ferris library, I hope you find something to inspire your 2026 plans.

My way of living is to have things be easy and fun, and any improvements I’d like to make be breezy and relaxed.

My style is thrifty elegance, soft glam, luxury living in a low-key down-home way, head-in-the-stars-feet-on-the-ground, and creating my life in exactly the way that suits my sensibility.

And you get to do the same!

It’s within the reach of all of us to live our life in a way that makes us the happiest - once we work out what that is of course. But that’s the fun stuff: asking ourselves what pleases US most, and what WE would like to do, wear, eat on a daily basis.

I have found it’s not the people-pleasing that makes others like us, it’s us living in an authentic and interesting way. Have you ever met someone self-possessed who makes their mark on you simply by the way they choose to live?

I have, and they are magnetic – and inspiring.

I’ve written 25+ books and counting, so I often get ladies ask me which title they should go for first. All of my books can be read standalone, so I say go with your intuition.

Choose the book that jumps out at you, or scan the sample and table of contents and see if it is the one you want to start with (or read next).

You can’t get it wrong 😊

Browse all my books are here on Amazon.

And if you’d rather shop my eStore for an Amazon alternative, use the code HALFPRICEHAPPINESS for 50% off anything including all of my eBooks and eAudiobooks.

I hope you find something fun, and thank you for being a happy reader. And please forward this on any friends who likes the same kind of things! 

 

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Lunching in style 🥗

 

Part of living my ‘luxurious life’ is dining outside as often as I can. Here on our patio I have a salad with our own avocados, and air-fried chicken thigh fillet strips coated in seasoning. So delicious!

And for my second course: pear and Greek yoghurt with coconut and sliced almonds.

Shoutout to my ladybasket which accompanies me wherever I am at home. In it are items I like to have to hand: the current book I’m reading, Kindle, iPad, reading glasses, a velvet scrunchie for when I want to put my hair up, lip balm, two journals and a few pens.

Yesterday I noticed it was getting a bit full so I tipped everything out and only kept in there what I was using.

I think I’ll have to do the same with my everyday handbag (it’s a slouchy tan leather Michael Kors bag that has held up well; I bought it in 2019).

It has curated contents but is getting rather heavy so I’ll do the same thing by emptying everything out on my bed and only putting back what I use regularly. My left shoulder will thank me!

~~

These are just a few of the ways in which I live a simple and luxurious life.

💫 Eating meals outside when weather permits

💫 Making myself delicious and healthy meals

💫 Taking time out to eat my lunch and read a book

💫 Collecting together favourite items in my ladybasket

💫 Cleaning out my handbag regularly

💫 Having gratitude for ‘the little things’ and everyday pleasures

💫 Making mealtimes a pause in my day 

 

 

 

 

For more tips, see my book ‘100 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life on a Budget’.

It’s on Kindle, in paperback, and as an audiobook (read by me!) too.

~~

Whatever you are up to today, I hope you get a chance to take a little time out and do something nice for yourself. 

 

 

 

I don’t have my big tree up yet, but have put my mini tree out, and a few other small items, as well as the Christmas wreath on our front door.

My sister gave me this cocktail ornament the other day - it’s so cute! A Cosmopolitan perhaps? And until the big tree is ready it’s hanging out by our tiny tree looking festive.

I’m loving all the YouTube videos showing shop windows and Christmas lights. I have a ‘Christmas Vibes playlist’ on YouTube that I save good ones to. They make lovely television wallpaper for doing things at home, and also when guests are around for a bit of background glitz.

This is my Christmas Vibes playlist here.

I like to mute the sound and play Christmas music like my Jazzy Lounge Christmas playlist on YouTube Music. And I put it on Shuffle to mix the songs up 😊

It’s so nice to ease into the festive season feeling don’t you think?

Happy start of the holiday season to you!

xx Fiona 

 

 

 

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

Throwback Californian road trip, and living a simple, quiet life

 

Hi friends!

Just for fun, I thought I’d share a throwback 😊

This was me in California 1985 and it was on a fun family trip travelling around the state for three weeks in conjunction with my dad’s fruit packing machinery business. Travelling to the US was a huge deal for us coming from sleepy little New Zealand!

I got to celebrate my 15th birthday there and learned about the tradition of waitresses singing Happy Birthday to you at dinner... mortifying for a shy girl like myself.

It was a glorious time and I shopped for all the things you couldn’t get in New Zealand then like clear glittery nail polish, faux Ray Ban Wayfarers, and probably those clips holding my sleeves up.

I even snuck off and got my hair trimmed at a mall in San Fransisco triggering a panic from my dad that I’d been abducted.

We went to see Cats the musical and stayed the night at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles afterwards but most of the time it was more budget-friendly accommodation.

In this photo we were at a national park.

It was a magical trip that I still have happy memories of. Whenever I hear the song ‘We Built This City’ by Starship it takes me right back, since that song was all over the radio in October 1985 😍

 

 

 

And in the present day, lol, I’m enjoying our lovely spring weather with quiet time at home, journalling new ideas, and looking forward to our festive summertime. 

 

 

 

In case you need a giggle…

Paul always makes me one of my giant cups of tea for my writing time in the morning, and I said to him on this particular day that it didn’t have quite enough milk in it. I know, I’m a diva 🤭

Next thing I know he has delivered a five-star service milk jug on a plate on a paper napkin 😂

I thought that was so cute. We do have fun, and yes I am very lucky to get a tea delivery service before Paul leaves for the gym in the morning 🥰

I have him trained well don’t you think?

I hope you have a lovely weekend and get some downtime to relax a little. It’s especially important as the end of the year seems to ramp up towards the holiday season❤️

With all my love,
Fiona

 

 

PS. If you need some inspiring words, why not read a few pages of one of my books? Maybe you already own a few, or want to try something new. All my books are here on Amazon, and for a limited time The Autumn Reset is free to read on Kindle Unlimited. Please let your friends know too if you think they would enjoy my books!

All my other links (Amazon alternatives, audiobooks, interviews) are at fionaferris.com. 

 

 

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

Mocktail ideas, and another author milestone

 

Hello friends,

For these warm spring days I’ve been experimenting with mocktails. This one was a ‘Mojito’ which I served with frozen lime quarters and fresh mint from the garden. It was good!

I think the alcohol-free mocktails have bitters in them which adds that alcoholic ‘bite’ without alcohol.

I always enjoy sitting down to relax before dinner, but (and perhaps I’ve trained myself), a glass of plain water, no frills, just doesn’t cut it.

So I’ve been trying different special drinks to have alcohol-free evenings. There is quite the selection these days, but none of them are cheap!

Sparkling water is still a good option, and it would be lovely served like I’ve served this Mojito.

Please tell me, do you have favourite alcohol-free drinks to relax with at the end of the day? I’ve love some new ones to put on my ‘menu’.

 

~~

 

 

 Another milestone to share 😍

There are now 120,000 of my books floating around in the world - either on Kindles or as paperbacks, on home bookshelves or in public libraries - hopefully providing lots of inspiration!

And this number doesn’t include my audiobooks, which are a ‘new’ thing for me in the past couple of years. (I love reading my books for you 🥰)

I’m just so grateful that I get to share what lights me up with you, my reader. I’ve always had a rich imagination, and the need to make everyday life a little more feminine and lovely.

I feel like so much of life can be drudgery if we let it, and equally the opposite can be so.

I know I’m lucky, I totally get it. I don’t have to go to a job anymore, and haven’t since 2016 when we sold our retail business.

But honestly, it’s all come from what I write about in my books - both the ‘creating a rose-tinted mindset’ aspect, as well being financially savvy.

It is possible to live a very good life without spending a lot of money. And the less you spend (by only buying things that have value for you), the less stress there is to earn more.

I love having my no-spend days, using what I have, aiming for a minimalist way of living in my own style, and appreciating how lucky I am every single day.

I know I am just a minnow in the author world where authors sell millions and even billions of copies of their books. But I am very happy to be so 😊 I’m just doing my own little thing over here, and whoever wants to join me can join me. We have the best fun!

So if you’ve ever bought one of my books or asked your library to order them in, THANK YOU. I appreciate you!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find my book ‘100 Ways to enjoy Self-Care for Gentle Wellbeing and a Healthy Body Image here on Amazon, or go to fionaferris.com for reading/listening alternatives, and of course all my other 25+ titles.

 

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

An adorable new puppy! Plus cafe breakfast vibes, and my radio interview replay

 

 Hello friends!

We visited our neighbour to meet his new puppy the other day. Luca is a labradoodle and his fur is so soft as you can see. Sooooo soft.

Paul and I walked up to visit, but Micky dog saw us and ran to catch up. We didn’t know if Luca would appreciate another dog so soon, but it was all fine. It was probably the other way around, that Luca overwhelmed Micky!

You can see in the photo below that they had a good run around, and Luca who is only 3-4 months old is the same size as 13-year-old Micky. Soon he will tower over him.

 

 

Micky is on the left and Luca is on the right. They are so similar haha

 

Luca has already grown a lot since I’d met him only a few weeks prior and I’m sure when I see him again soon he will be even bigger.

 

~~

  

 

 

Reader Karen from Jane Austen country - Bath in the UK - sent me this pretty photo of her cafe breakfast on her 55th birthday. (She said it was okay me for me to share it). Her birthday was one day before mine, and we were born in the same year. My English almost-twin!

I can almost taste that croissant it looks so good. I love the candle touch on the table, and Karen said there was cafe piano jazz playing in the background as well. Sounds like a lovely ambience for a birthday breakfast.

I loved seeing my newest book The Autumn Reset on her table too. This really is the biggest thrill for an author to see that someone else is reading their book, in their real life! I hope you enjoyed it Karen 😊 and happy October birthday.

  

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And excitingly, my most recent interview is now out on replay. I was a guest on ‘Happy Hour with Jonna & Keryl on K104.7 FM’ in the Hudson Valley, New York.

You can listen to my interview here.

I’m mentioned at the beginning, and my interview begins at 18:30 minutes. The two presenters Jonna and Keryl, along with their producer Frankenberry are such a fun team, and I had a great time with them.

You can see all their other shows here (scroll down to ‘Happy Hour’).

I recognised authors names I enjoy so have downloaded those episodes to listen to 😊

I hope you have fun listening to my interview, and that you have a great rest of the week!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find all my links including books, audiobooks, interviews, plus all my social media at fionaferris.com 

 

 

 [My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

Happy doggies, and a delicious quiche for lunch (recipe included)

Chloe and Daphne are all buckled in and ready for their walk ❤️❤️

 

Hello chic friends! 

 

My doggies physical ‘beauty’ always makes me laugh 🤭 I mean, look at those faces... Sometimes when we’re out, people will look at them and say, ‘What are they?’ in an incredulous way.

I have a soft spot for non-fluffy plain dogs now, from having these two in my life.

They said they don’t care what anyone thinks, they’re just having fun, living the dream, and as long as food rolls up twice a day and they get to hang out with their mum, they’re happy as.

Micky dog was getting leashed up too, out of photo shot. I just thought it was so cute how Chloe and Daphne were waiting patiently at the front door for their walk.

Give your doggies a hug from me today! 

 

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Lunch in the sunshine 🌞

 

I was lunching like a queen here wasn’t I!

I enjoyed homemade quiche with mushrooms and asparagus from Chantal’s recipe under her baby shower video description here (I used gluten free pastry for moi):

 

 

 

This is her quiche recipe:

— ingredients

puff pastry

500 g mushrooms

100g bacon (optional)

sundried tomato (optional)

1 bunch basil

150g creme fraiche (or greek yogurt/ sour cream)

4 eggs

200ml milk

50g shredded parmesan

pinch of nutmeg

— steps

1. preheat oven to 390F

2. defrost the puff pastry and cover the bottom of a quiche dish with it

3. fry the mushrooms with bacon in a pan until all moisture is gone, then add the sundried tomato. salt and pepper to taste

4. add fried mushrooms on top of puff pastry in quiche diche

5. in a separate bowl, mix the creme fraiche, eggs, milk, shredded parmesan and nutmeg. add in shredded basil

6. pour on top of mushroom mix in quiche dish

7. bake at 200C (~390F) for ca. 40-45 mins (depending on your oven)

8. serve and enjoy! 

 

~~

 

Thanks Chantal for sharing!

I served mine with rocket (arugula), and a side salad too. And fruit, Greek yoghurt, and almonds and coconut for ‘pudding’.

I love my lunches and feel so good from all the freshness.

Gosh that quiche was nice, I’ll have to make another one 😊

And the book was good too, I’ve finished it now. It was ‘The Honeymoon Affair’ by Sheila O’Flanagan. I also read ‘Her Husband’s Mistake’ (below) by the same author and that was great as well. (Better than ‘The Honeymoon Affair’ which had a satisfying ending but could have been a touch better I feel, just expanded upon.)

 

 

 

In my personal star rating system I gave ‘The Honeymoon Affair’ 4.5 out of 5 and ‘Her Husband’s Mistake’ 5.5 out of 5! That only happens for really good books 🤣

You can see Sheila’s books here on Amazon.

Let me know what you’ve been reading lately, and your favourite ‘happy healthy’ lunches too 😊

Have a great week!

xx Fiona

 

~~

 

Latest book out now (here on Amazon):

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

New book out today - romanticize your autumn

 

 

Hello my lovely readers,

I am so happy to share my latest book with you, called The Autumn Reset.

Even though it’s not autumn here in New Zealand – we are waking up to spring and all her beauty, I could live in autumn year-round, it’s just such a wonderful time.

And our northern hemisphere friends are lucky enough to be entering fall and all the fun that the season brings.

In The Autumn Reset you will find:

🧡 Ways in which to make the most of your autumn season

🧡 How to still be involved with all the fun even you’re in spring like me (or maybe don’t even have autumn in the climate you live)

🧡 Ideas to curate your ideal fall wardrobe whether you’re on a budget or not

🧡 How to pamper yourself and luxuriate as you get ready every day

🧡 Cozy ways to subtly make your home whisper ‘autumn’ to you

🧡 How afternoon tea can be a beautiful tradition to include in your fall plans

🧡 A gentle framework to achieve one or more ‘soft goals’ this season

🧡 How to edit your life and ‘let go like the leaves’

🧡 How to live slower and feel more sensual

🧡 How to fall into your own secret season and romanticize the ordinary

🧡 How to plan for productivity in a light, stress-free way

🧡 A fun way to map out your autumn with intention

🧡 How to become iconic in your own way, and become ‘the autumn woman’

Overall, how to live beautifully this season, within your own sensibilities, and with the time and money you have. And, with the responsibilities you have too!

 

Pick it up here on Amazon (Kindle or paperback)

 

If you are in the swing of fall, I think you will find a lot of joy and inspiration in this book, and if you’re like me, heading into spring, perhaps you’ll make a few plans for your fall season. Or maybe even apply the chapters to spring!

As always, thank you SO much for supporting this Kiwi author by reading and reviewing my books. I appreciate it more than you could know.

And don’t forget, you can recommend this and any of my other books to your local library for purchase. Most are open to self-published authors, which hasn’t always been the case. Maybe there are too many of us to ignore now 😊 And we’re too good! Haha!

 

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My sister took these cute seasonal pics on her recent trip to NYC. I love all the fall goodness on display 🧡🧡🧡

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And finally, I have to share a moment from the other night. We were rewatching the 1983 movie Trading Places (It was soooo funny 😁), and I also had the discomfort of being stared at by Nina cat 😹

 

How cute is she peering from behind the stool-masquerading-as-a-side-table 😻 (sitting up on my footstool).

Our pizza and red wine movie dinner was delicious - we buy the bases (gluten-free for me) and make our own. I had salami, blue cheese and capsicum 🫑

I always have half and then the other half for lunch the next day. I cut it and put half in the fridge before I sit down otherwise I keep on nibbling and regret it 🤭

Pizza is such a nice treat dinner, and red wine always pairs well with it 🍷

I love pizza and movie night, and Nina says hi!

 

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I am celebrating the release of The Autumn Reset today with a little spritz on each wrist of Pumpkin Pecan Waffles (yum, from Bath and Body Works), even while I’m planning to plant my herb plants and spring vegetables later on today. I love being a global-season-citizen!

Happy reading to you and thanks again, I hope you enjoy my new book!

xx Fiona

 

PS. For links other than Amazon, check out fionaferris.com

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

 

10 years of books ~~ and, Christmas is coming!

 

I realised just the other day that it’s been ten years since I started writing and publishing my books. It was in 2015 that I took the plunge and published a little series of books based on my blog How to be Chic (which is still up, the archives going all the way back to 2010).

Then, I plucked the courage up from who knows where, and finished writing the book I’d been stop-starting on for years, and published that too. That book is called Thirty Chic Days. And it grew from there. Some years I only published one book, and others, I published 4-6 books.

But even in the times when my writing was slow, and I felt like hiding away instead of being visible, I still kept on going. And that’s the secret to any success I think. You just keep on going. And, fan the flames of excitement for yourself. If there is something you really, really want to do but have lost your enthusiasm for, get it back up again in whatever way you need to. (Often for me what helps is to revisit early inspiration).

That’s really the crux of all my books, making your life better and achieving the goals you’ve set whether they are tiny or huge, and making it fun and playful and easy. Life is too short to make anything a grueling challenge.

I was listening to something the other day which said ‘how you get there is how you will experience it’, which is so true.

With my writing, it’s interspersed with me living a lovely life. I’m not holed up in my office locked in until I’ve typed 5,000 words. That doesn’t work for me. I need to have it feel light and effortless for the words to flow.

Whatever project you want to undertake, whether it’s organising your closet or pantry, getting fit and healthy, or… writing a book, find out how to make it the most fun for you. Find the angle that sparks you off.

And yay to me for ten years of writing books! I can toot my horn for that!

 

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My sister arrived back from a trip to NYC last week, and bought this candle as a gift for our mum.

 

I was visiting when it arrived, so we had to give it a little test run 😊 Just to make sure it worked at Christmastime. Totally reasonable right?

It smells so pretty! ‘Fresh cut pine, cinnamon sugar and toasted marshmallow’ and it’s not too pine-y.

My sister was kind enough to indulge me with a few Click and Collect orders from Bath and Body Works so now I have lots of lovely new scents to enjoy.

I used to prefer the lotions and creams, but now I love the body mists, which I keep in my office on a shelf for an uplifting spritz throughout the day. They power my writing and creating!

My sister said Paul must have ‘nostrils of steel’ with all the scented candles and fragrance mists I have 😂 Luckily he likes them too 🥰

Are you a fan? I know the blow-your-socks off scents aren’t for everyone, but for me, when I discovered Bath and Body Works in 2013 on our first trip to Hawaii I was HOOKED. I thought I’d discovered nirvana 🤣

We can’t buy them here sadly and they don’t ship to New Zealand. The price to freight forward is cost-prohibitive so I make the most of any holidays overseas (rare) or family members travelling (lucky them haha).

Are you a fan? Do you too have nostrils of steel? 😂

Let me know your favourite scents if you are!

I love all the cakey gourmand flavours, the Everyday Luxuries range (Pink Obsessed is so good!) and basically having a variety to let me choose what I feel like wearing that day.

 

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If you are a cozy mystery fan like I am (among the many genres of books I enjoy) and would like a little taste of New Zealand, specifically the village of Havelock North in Hawke’s Bay where I grew up and still live near, I can heartily recommend the Bookshop Detective series.

 

 

The books are funny, light-hearted, and heartwarming too. I always like it when books (or movies or series) have ‘heart’, and this book does.

And the mysteries are good too!

I’ve just finished the second book pictured here, but I can only see the first book (with a red cover: ‘Dead Girl Gone’) on Amazon. But you will probably want to start with the first book anyway 😊

Here is the Amazon link to book 1.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries then I think you’ll really like this series. And it’s extra fun for me to sleuth out the businesses referenced and what their real names are.

I can help out with any uniquely New Zealand references that may baffle you, but it’s so well-written that there shouldn’t be too many of those.

Happy reading if you decide to try this series!

With all my best from a warm, rainy spring day in Hawke’s Bay,

xx Fiona

PS. I saw Christmas mugs and candles in the shops yesterday! I suppose it is October now and can be expected.

In case you want to do a little plotting and planning on how best to enjoy your Christmas, read (or re-read) my book A Chic and Simple Christmas and work out how you can best enjoy the holiday season this year and every year.

In this book you can read how I made my Christmas time more magical by minimising or changing the things that stressed me out, and doing more of the things that really bring out the best in Christmas for me. And you can do the same.

 

 

[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

Living the glam life - and life as a dog mum too!

Beautiful spring freesias and hellebores/winter roses. Aren’t the colours divine? I always love pink and yellow together (or pink and gold in decor/colours in general)

💗💗💗

Hello friends!

Yesterday we saw Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, and it was so beautiful.

I adore the 1920s and 1930s era, and Downtown Abbey always comes across as modern, like I’m right there.

It was a wonderful quality production as usual, it was fab to catch up with the cast and where they are at in their lives, and the fashion was **dreamy**.

So lush and lovely.

The dinner dresses and daytime outfits were gorgeous.

I left feeling like I want to live an elegant and dignified life, haha. And with better posture than I went into the theatre with too!

I was thinking which of my books would encapsulate the kind of feeling I got from Downton Abbey, and I think it would be this one:

 

Maybe with a dash of:

 

I always find it incredible how moving pictures on a screen (and spoken words) can transport you somewhere else in your mind and make you feel different. The characters in the movie just carry themselves in such a regal manner while being (somewhat, haha) down-to-earth.

I loved seeing the splendor in which they lived, how they dressed for dinner, and their London home too, my gosh! It was all such a treat for the eyes, and even though I love my simple life, I love to drop into those glittering circles too, if only for entertainment.

Let me know if you’ve seen it yet and what you thought 😊

 

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And in case you need a giggle today, may I show you how similar our little dog Chloe is to the AI-looking seal on a recent television advertisement?

Perhaps this is the key to her long-lost ancestral path?

We have always suspected she isn’t actually a dog since she is so ‘interesting’ looking 🤣

At least she has paws not flippers I suppose...

Chloe said she hopes you enjoyed making fun of her today; she is always happy to help when someone needs a smile!

Wishing you a fab week. I am still getting those final few chapters written of my next book. I can’t wait to show you! I didn’t quite make a September release, but October, for sure 😊

xx Fiona

 

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[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]

Be your own sunshine, and watch your life flourish

 

Hello friends!

Now more than ever I think it is important to focus on our real life and less what is on screens.

I really do enjoy a movie (we watched The Wrong Paris on Netflix the other night and it was so fun), and the occasional YouTube video (inspirational please), but when I get caught up in the endless drama and opinions online, it always leaves me feeling worse.

So I've decided to focus more on my real life and what I can control. After just a day or two it feels so much better. I feel like me again, and more positive and happy too.

There's always the balance of being aware of what's going on without being sucked into the drama. I don't say to be ignorant, but if I can't personally change something, it doesn't get my attention for very long.

I prefer to focus on what I can do. And if I'm in a low mood because I've been getting caught up in all the horrible things happening, I can't write my books. The words just won't come out!

No matter what we do for a living and who we might live with, we are more helpful to others when we protect our own mind.

Just today apart from editing a new chapter, I've been for a walk outside, picked some lavender to dry, and now I'm typing this post.

I want to be a voice of optimism in this world, and the only way I can do that is to focus on what's good.

I also think it's better for our health. From an energy standpoint, but also how motivated we are to look after ourselves. When I am in a good frame of mind, I find it easier to eat healthy, drink in happy moderation, and exercise.

Processed snack foods only appeal to me when I'm feeling flat. It's all so interesting when you look in the rear view mirror to see your motivations!

If you are feeling blah today, I hope this post helps. I like to think of low moods like clouds passing by. They're not permanent, even though they can feel like that sometimes. They always float away, leaving you with a sunny blue sky again.

Sending love!

 

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With all the new seasons clothing enticing us in the shops, why not try something different?

I warmly invite you to browse one of my newest books, and stretch your wardrobe dollar further (without sacrificing style).

I've always loved the idea of 'more dash than cash', and that you don't need to spend a lot of money to look polished, elegant, and stylish (or whatever your preferred style is - those are just mine 😍)

No matter your age, size, or your personal style preferences, I think you will gain inspiration from this book, and save some money too (at least the purchase price of the book if not 10x!)

Mindset is always the most helpful thing to me, not a list of '10 items every woman should own'. I can't deny it, I do love reading those lists, but they never have exactly what is in my closet.

Make it your goal this style season (autumn if you're in the northern hemisphere, or spring if you're below the equator like me) to make the most of your budget, your existing wardrobe, and your creativity too.

It's such a fun project to build a seasonal capsule for yourself, or reinvigorate how your wear things.

And let's not forget grooming - I'm a fan of freshly washed and blow-dried hair, and a fresh manicure (short and bright for me, as shown in the photo!) to feel A M A Z I N G.

If you haven't already read 'Elegantly Chic on a Budget' head on over to Amazon for your copy on Kindle or in paperback. And you can listen to the audiobook on Spotify or wherever you get your audiobooks (even from your library if you ask them to order it in for you).

Or get the eBook or eAudiobook from my eStore for a big-corporate alternative!

Happy reading, and maybe this will be a fun time of personal style discovery?

 

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Chloe always makes me giggle when she stands up to look out the window. Such a comical sight. There's no chance of her falling out though, don't worry, she isn't tall enough!

The other two doggies occasionally like to get the wind in their fur, but Chloe really likes to make sure she observes *everything* that's going on. She stands up for as long as the window is down, on those little pin legs!

Once we get going faster though, the window goes up and she can settle down for a snooze. But as soon as she senses the car slowing she is up at the window again. Of course she is!

Such a funny wee dog. And of course if she sees another dog walking on the footpath, she goes nuts. It's almost embarrassing 😂

For the smallest of our three dogs she is the most territorial. She even gets a ridge back where her fur stands up on her shoulders and above her tail.

We had a really tall dog come down from our neighbours the other day (maybe a gun dog? he was quite lanky, lovely and friendly) and she sent him packing, back home 🤣

It was quite the sight with Chloe sending him off. She doesn't know she's a small dog who weighs less than 5kg/10 pounds.

I hope you have a great week!

xx Fiona

  

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[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using these links. It’s no extra cost to you, so I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links for any Amazon purchases you might be making!]