Preparing for a chic Christmas - listen in to my latest interview!

Dear friends,

I am thrilled to share with you a lovely podcast I was lucky enough to feature on: it’s called the Cat Coach Cafe and my episode has just dropped.

Nina cat thought it appropriate that she be the star, both of this post, and the show. After all, why not, with such an excellent name as the Cat Coach Cafe? (This is me folding towels on our bed the other day and Nina ‘helping’ in case you were wondering. Aren’t cats just soooo ‘helpful’? Haha).

 

 

I had such a fun time chatting with the delightful Cat Coach Cafe host Monie. She is in Europe and I am in New Zealand, so we both had to stretch our schedules to find a time. It was first thing in the morning for me, and after dinner for Monie.

I really hope you enjoy this interview ❤️ We chat about preparing for a chic Christmas, what it’s like to have Christmas in the summer, and all sorts of cozy, Christmassy things, as well as other topics we wandered onto!

You can search for Cat Coach Cafe wherever you listen to your podcasts, or find it here on Monie’s Substack post with all the details.

 

---

Our tree is glittering in the corner of our living room ✨✨

 

I really was considering just having our small decorations out because I couldn’t be bothered, but then decided ‘it’s only a few hours work and it looks so pretty and I only do it once a year’ so here it is, sparkling away in all its glory 😻

I’m glad I made the effort because I love Christmas decor. It’s just sometimes my relaxedness takes over and I want to make things very simple and easy for myself 😁

But this week ‘extra effort’ won out!

Sometimes it’s the little things that make you feel superhuman you know? 😅

(The red velvet stockings are for the doggies, Micky, Daphne and Chloe. Treats will go in them!

Nina cat doesn’t have one, I felt it was insulting to her to lump her in with the dogs 😂)

And yay for December Christmas vibes! I hope you have more oomph than I had with my tree 🫠 But it was all okay in the end!

 

---

 

My Kindle sale is finishing on Monday, so now is your last chance to download a few new reads for the holiday season and up-to-60%-off prices.

Maybe you’ll inspire yourself with ‘A Chic and Simple Christmas’, make exciting plans and goals for 2026 with ‘100 Ways to Be a Chic Success and Create Your Dream Life’, or be slimmer and richer with ‘Luxurious Weight Loss’ and ‘Financially Chic Vol. 2’.

Whatever the flavour of your reinvention (and even small changes can count, I love to reinvent myself from day to day with even tiny intentional thoughts), I hope you find some of my books to help. And on sale too!

Can I ask a favour? If you have a like-minded friend, please forward this post onto them so they can find a few sale books to inspire as well. Thank you in advance 😊

Happy weekend, and I hope you’re feeling festive and happy. And not too rushed! I can already feel the energy building and I have to keep reminding myself, it’s only the first week of December. Just breathe 😂

I’ll be making a Peppermint Bark Snack Cake from Mimi’s Organic Eats for a Christmas party on Monday.

I haven’t made it before but it looks delicious. I was searching for a peppermint bark cake recipe and this one looked yummy, and simple.

I can only buy the white chocolate just before making it otherwise it will disappear from the pantry 😂 And I can’t blame anyone other than myself!!

Wishing you a fab weekend and happy reading!

xx Fiona

PS. Kindle sale prices may vary in your country depending on currency and sales tax. The price of $3.99 is USD on Amazon.com

And if you would like an Amazon alternative, shop my eStore using the code HALFPRICEHAPPINESS for 50% off everything in my store. Also ends Monday.

 

 

[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.

  

~~

 

 

 

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 birthday to us, and to all my Libran readers too!

 

Paul and I share a birthday, and as our gift, my mum shouted us to lunch at our favourite winery restaurant.

It was so lovely, a real treat.

 

 

It’s not every day you get to be served a beautiful three-course meal with delectable wines and a petite birthday cake at the end.

We took the cake home because we knew we would appreciate it more later on, and we did!

 

 

I always like the idea of your birthday being your own personal new year, and that’s what it feels like for me.

 

 

 

Happy birthday to all my fellow Librans too 😊

 

~~

 

🌸🌞🌸

Pink blossom and a sunny spring sky on my morning walk

 

After immersing myself in autumn to finish up my newest book ‘The Autumn Reset’ it’s so nice to come back to our spring season here in Hawke’s Bay.

It’s such a nice time to be in just after a book release. That happy satisfaction of a project completed, and the knowledge that copies are being read all around the world. I really do not take it for granted how lucky I have to have THE nicest readers who enjoy the same things I do.

And now I get to dream up my next book! That is very exciting to me. I have other books already on the go so I shall go and visit each one for a browse; see what takes my fancy 😊

I wonder what will come next? It’s always a surprise for me too!

 

~~

 

 

And finally, in exciting news I was interviewed this morning for the radio show K104.7 FM in the Hudson Valley, New York and it was amazing.

The presenters Jonna and Keryl were lovely, and their producer Frankenberry was as well. Sounds like they have a lot of fun on their show!

You can listen to it 7am ET this Sunday morning October 26.

And the recording will be available as a podcast a few days later; you can find it here (scroll down to the ‘Happy Hour’ show):

We talked a little bit a about ‘The Autumn Reset’ and had a good general chitchat about living life well. I’m so excited to be ‘on the radio’! And thank you for a fabulous opportunity, Happy Hour team 😊

(Here’s a link to ‘The Autumn Reset’ on Amazon if you haven’t read it yet 🍂)

Happy listening, and happy reading :)

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!]

Chic style on a budget, and a new interview

 

Hello chic friends!

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

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

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

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

~~

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

 

 

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

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

~~

 

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

 

 

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

 

~~

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xx Fiona

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

 

Watch my interview - live today for 24 hours!

Hello chic friends!

 

Just a quick note to let you know that today's the day my interview it up! It will only be live for 24 hours, so if you're interested, take a look today :)

You can view it here:

Watch Fiona's interview on the Emerge Stronger Summit

 

I really hope you enjoy it! It was fun to speak with Raissa :)

xx Fiona

Join me for an inspiring interview next week

 

Dear chic friends,

I'm so excited to share that I will be participating in ‘The 21 Ways to Emerge Stronger Summit’ next week!

I will be interviewed by the lovely Raissa where we discuss how to achieve success and breakthroughs after a divorce or a heartbreak. This is a topic I am passionate about having found myself unexpectedly divorced from my first husband at age 29.

This FREE event brings together 21 incredible women (myself included!) sharing our stories and strategies for on how to move forward and thrive after major life transitions.

It’s completely online, so you can join us from anywhere in the world.

I hope you’ll join Raissa and me for what promises to be a jam-packed conversation!

The summit runs from Monday, October 7th to Thursday, October 17th. Book your free spot here.

 

~~

 

 

Shoutout to my homemade coaster!

 

My sister was lucky enough to travel to NYC recently, and brought me back a pack of Ralph's cold brew coffee! Such a nice treat, and fun to taste something from so far away.

I made an iced coffee with homemade cold foam. The cold foam was so so, I'd probably just use pouring cream next time.

I'm still a novice when it comes to making iced coffees at home, but I'm willing to practice and learn! I have a whole summer coming up in which to do so :)

Creating a nice coffee experience for myself at home (usually without tres pricey flown-in Ralph Lauren coffee!!) is one of the ways in which I live my 'rich lady lifestyle'.

What comes to mind when you think of a rich lady lifestyle?

For me it's time to do what I want, pampering myself, exercising for the sheer pleasure and enjoyment of it, dressing up in my nice clothes, doing my nails, blow-drying my hair, reading a book, going out for lunch, browsing the shops, getting together for afternoon tea.

My twist is that my rich lady is savvy with her money. She creates a fabulous and ‘rich’ lifestyle without spending a lot at all.

My latest book ‘Financially Chic Vol 2' came out on Monday, and you will see that this concept features in it :)

If you would like to create your own rich lady lifestyle, go and get a copy today, on Kindle and in paperback (with the audiobook coming soon), here on my Amazon affiliate link.

Wishing you a fab weekend! It’s a rainy, chilly Friday afternoon here and I’m snuggled up at home, typing away, dreaming up my next book! I hope you are enjoying Financially Chic Vol 2 if you are reading it 😊

xx Fiona

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!)

My newest interview, and teddy bear handcrafts

 

 Hello chic friends,

I'm thrilled to share my latest interview with you, available now on YouTube or you can watch it below :)

The delightful Daniela Acitelli interviewed me and we had such a fun hour chatting.

I had a fabulous time with her – she is a great interviewer. I hope you enjoy it too!

~~

We had a bright moon last Saturday night, with ribbon-like clouds adding to the beauty.

Plus, fairy lights in the trees of course. I love restocking at Christmas and enjoying them all year round.

Such a magical evening view it was!

I like nothing better than a Saturday night at home, just the two of us with a lovely dinner and wine to go with it.

And jazz on the stereo too. Bliss ❤️

~~

I love doing little handcrafty projects but don't often have the opportunity.

My Aunty's childhood bear Edward (who is more than seventy years old) needed teddy bear surgery after their miniature dachshund puppy savaged Edward's face...

It was such a fun project, and even though he looks different than he did, he now has a sweet face again.

You can see through the photos how he progressed from all his stuffing hanging out, to a stitched up face, to a new facelift.

I googled 'how to stitch a teddy bear nose, and other equally cute phrases. He also needed an ear and one paw mended ❤️

I like to use what I have so the fabric, and button eyes were in my small stash of bits and pieces.

I knitted his jersey back in the eighties from leftover yarn that I'd made my own bat-wing 'house jersey' from. It's such fun to use what you have.

Handcrafts bring happy memories!

 

(Edward is quite bare as my Aunty plucked him as a child 😂)

And he is so old and fragile that you have to support his neck like a newborn 😭

I hope you enjoyed Edward's story today!

Do you have an old toy? I have 'Susie Doll' from the early 1970s. And my Daisy doll from a little later, maybe the early eighties.

xx Fiona

My latest podcast interview!

 

Greetings from springtime in New Zealand! Can you see my herb planter box behind me? It's doing so well with mint, thyme, coriander, parsley, rosemary, oregano and spring onions.

And in another raised garden around the back of our house I've just planted two types of tomato, cucumber, courgette/zucchini, broccolini and perpetual spinach. Wish me luck!

I've given up on mesclun and lettuce even though they grow really easily from seed, because before too long they are covered in caterpillars eating them :( I've tried covers and netting but they still get in, and I don't want to use slug bait.

If you have any magic tricks to protect lettuce, please let me know your secrets! My sister suggested cos lettuce which I will try. Apparently the bugs hide less easily... Added bonus that it's my favourite kind of lettuce!

 

 

 

And I'm so thrilled to let you know that my second interview with the lovely Annemarie Stolting is out now on her fabulous 'Let's Slow Down' podcast.

We had such a fun chat about living a chic and simple life and how it's possible even during the holiday season. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

You can find it at any of your usual podcast places, and you can also watch it on my YouTube channel below:

 

 

Or listen to/download the audio from Soundcloud here.

 

Plus you can enter Annemarie's holiday giveaway to win a copy of my book, 'A Chic and Simple Christmas'.

Happy listening!

Beautiful peonies at my mum's house

 

 

I don't get out much (by choice!), so I thought I'd change that yesterday. It was a lovely day so I took myself on a solo date to view Christmassy stores in Napier, browse the Black Friday sales, and have a Gingerbread Latte too. It was actually really nice, not too sweet. I was only in town for an hour but it was a fun little jaunt, and I did some errands too. Yay for me!

 

 

If you are a Starbucks fan, please let me know your favourite holiday drink. I might try another one soon :)

 

 xx Fiona

PS. ALL of my books are on sale for my once-a-year November sale, you can find them at my Amazon link here.

~~ Kindle and paperbacks are both included in the sale ~~

 

All Kindle books are $3.99 and paperbacks are reduced a decent amount too (they vary in price due to page length).

Or for an Amazon alternative, all my eBooks are in my eStore here.

My 20+ books are on various topics, but all come under the umbrella of living a beautiful life without spending a ton of money. They are a blend of cultivating a fabulous mindset, and of elevating our daily life and surroundings with luxurious touches. Plus, everything has to be fun and easy, because why would we want to do it any other way?

I hope you enjoy the sale, and if you have any friends that you think might like my books, please share this post with them!

(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!)

Where I spent my birthday!

 

Hello chic friends, it was my birthday this past week (and my husband Paul's too - we have the same birthday one year apart :)

 

Guess where we spent our birthday? In prison! Only for a little while though.

We had friends staying for the long weekend and we all took a tour of the historic Napier Prison. It was so interesting.

And thankfully they let us out too!

52 and 53!

 

Hello from beautiful Hawke's Bay in the spring! This is the view from the paddock looking up to our home. If you look closely you can see our new outdoor area's roof.

It's lovely to have a paddock and walk the dogs off-leash in their own private 'park'. Just make sure to dodge the cow pats!

This week I did a second interview with the delightful Annemarie Stolting, for her podcast Let's Slow Down. Annemarie is such a great interviewer with great questions and comments.

The episode should be released next month and I can't wait for you to hear it. We had such a fun time chatting. I think I may have spoken really fast in my excitement so I really hope you can understand my Kiwi accent easily! LOL!

In the episode we discuss how to feel calm and peaceful during the holiday season, my morning routine, how I became a self-published work-from-home author, and lots of other fun bits and pieces.

You can listen to our first episode together here.

The book we discussed in next month's episode: 'A Chic and Simple Christmas' is still on special for a few more days - it will go back to its normal price on Monday, so if you don't already have it this is your chance to get it at a discounted price.

 

 

The Kindle and paperback versions are both reduced on Amazon at my affiliate link.

And for an Amazon alternative the eBook is in my eStore.

 

 

And finally, it's me again. I forgot to post this when I went to see the Barbie movie! I know it's old news now, but what did you think? I enjoyed the fun parts of it and the inside jokes. I loved Ken and Barbie, and all the other Barbies, and how Ken's job was 'beach' :)

But I also thought it was a missed opportunity because it felt a little weird. Like it was just a ton of scenes glued together (I know that's what a movie is, but, you know ;). It could have had more heart I think.

Still, I'm glad I went got to see it. Whenever I go to the movies I always think how good it is and that I'm going to do it more often and then it's another 3-4 months until I go again :)

What good is coming up? Have you been lately and what would you recommend? And what did you think of Barbie? If you can remember back that far!

 

Enjoy the rest of your week, it's the weekend here! Friday night - yahoo!

xx Fiona