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

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! 

 

~~

 

 

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!]

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 well at home

Hello friends!

I love how setting the table nicely makes even a simple dinner feel more special (here we are having spaghetti bolognese).

My essentials are:

✨ Candles (I am using tealights in my faux Baccarat candlesticks tonight)

✨ Jazz playing on the bluetooth speaker

✨ Sparkling water alongside the wine

✨ A side salad sprinkled with Parmesan cheese

✨ My homesewn coasters for a nice feel when you put your glass down :)

It's so nice to create a restaurant atmosphere at home, it really doesn't cost anything extra (unlike dining out), and you get the satisfaction and pleasure of using items you already own.

Don't get me wrong, I love going out for a special meal or when we are travelling, but wow prices have gone up a lot. And I know it's hard to make a dollar in the restaurant business too, I don't doubt that. It's just how things are right now :0

But when you are working on strengthening your own personal economy, creating a beautiful dining experience for yourself is a great start.

Another thing I like to do is make my own eating-out favourites at home. I make fish and chips from fresh fish seasoned and cooked in the air fryer, with the chips made from fresh potatoes chopped into wedges, sprayed with olive oil and baked in the oven. YUM!

Something like this is a necessity for me since I'm celiac and have to be gluten-free, but it's actually such a delicious upgrade and far healthier too.

Are you an eat-at-the-table fan?

Also, let me know your favourite fakeaway meal to make at home :) I also love making my own pizzas (I have made the bases before but have been buying gluten-free bases lately), bunless burger and fries.

(This makes me look like I have homemade fast food all the time but they are only on the menu every so often! Mostly we do a roast with tons of veggies, meatloaf, curry, chicken and vegetables etc.)

And, please let me know how you like to make dining at home more special! 

~~

 

 

I bought myself a new, inexpensive wreath for our front door. I love having a Christmas wreath up during the holiday season and always feel so sad taking it down.

I had a thought that seasonal wreaths must be a thing, and they are! I ordered this 'autumn wreath' online and it makes me so happy every time I see it.

I already have plans to find a winter wreath (since we have winter in the middle of the year in the southern hemisphere), and a spring wreath when I need it too.

I know it's not really a necessity, but it really lifts my spirits. And switching them out every three months or so means I won't get bored with them either. Such fun!

This one was from Temu for $15. Don't judge!

I heard the phrase 'fast fashion worn slow' a while back and it's exactly how I approach things. I might buy something inexpensive, but my purchases are always carefully considered ('will I enjoy this for a long time or will it be clutter and junk in five minutes' 😂)

I decided that my autumn wreath is the former! Of course I did 🤣

I hope you had a lovely weekend (and maybe you're still in the middle of it). It's Sunday night here, and we're tucked in cozy with the fire going. Doggies are happily sprawled, 'sunbathing' their tummies, and it’s dinner time soon.

Life is good, I hope it is for you too whatever you are doing!

See you next week :)

xx Fiona

 

~~

PS. Check out my book '100 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life on a Budget' if you like the ideas in this post! It is quick-to-read, packed with inspiring ideas, and also my most consistently popular book with almost 800 reviews on Amazon (and an average 4.6 rating out of 5 stars).

It is not the kind of book that will give you discount codes or which places to go to to get a bargain. What you will find is all my secrets how I have created a luxurious life for myself, even though I value thrift and simplicity. You can create any kind of reality for yourself too, and it can happen in an instant with a shift in mindset. Sounds airy fairy but I am fully about the practical as well.

I always say to have your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. It has served me well so far! Happy reading :) Please let me know what you think of it!

 

 

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

Make your own sunshine

Micky and me - why do dogs never look at the camera?
Or is it just my dogs???

 

 

Hello chic friends!

 

The day we took these photos was bright, sunny and warm, as you can see. But today, when I was thinking about this post, it was grey and cold, and soon after I came back from my walk, it started raining lightly. But I was so happy in my mind that it gave me the idea to write about being making your own sunshine, even if it's cloudy outside. It didn't matter to me that the skies were grey and it was chilly, because I felt good in myself and excited about my day's plans.

 

And you might find this extra impressive when you hear that my day's plans were to start my taxes and get them done early. I know! What kind a freak am I, haha. But that was one of the things that was making me feel so good - being ahead of the game.

 

Yes, I love being self-employed as an author, but it does mean all the admin falls on me, not an employer. I have to make sure I put money aside for tax, and get all my paperwork in on time too. Usually I'm pretty good at getting all the information for our accountant together, but last year I wasn't. Last year I left it until only a few months before the deadline, and that few months also included giving my accountant enough time to do her part.

 

It was stressful! So this year I decided I was going to do my taxes as soon as I received the email go-ahead from my accountant, and that came in yesterday. My lofty plan is to have it all wrapped up within a few days and emailed back to her by Easter, which is this weekend!

 

This ambitious plan makes me feel good, and I know I will feel even better once my taxes are in. So 'being ahead' is one way that I make my own sunshine. Nothing feels better than being organised - there are no horrible surprises! I forget sometimes and let things slide, but it always feels better to be on top of things.

 

 

 

Perfection across the bay

 

 

Other ways in which I make my own sunshine?

 

🌞 Thinking of all the goodness around, instead of the scary things in the world.

 

🌞 Watching cheery movies and tv series (we are enjoying Running Point with Kate Hudson on Netflix at the moment).

 

🌞 Reading feelgood books (I just finished We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes and it was so good!)

 

🌞 Getting dressed for the day, putting on a little bit of makeup, and freshly washed and blow-dried hair is the best pick-me-up ever! Plus perfume of course :)

 

🌞 Being a little bit silly, playing with the doggies, and just goofing around in general - it's a real tonic! Gets me out of my head and into my body, which feels so much better than the other way around.

 

 

Please tell me, what do you like to do to lighten up when you feel a bit heavy and stressed? And if you need to borrow some of my ideas, please go right ahead :)

 

Paul and Micky :)

~~

 

 

Beautiful autumn sunrise at our place 🧡💜💗💛

 

Who is ready for a new season (whether it's spring or autumn for you)? It's fun to think about 'new' outfit combinations (shop my closet) and creating a capsule collection.

Also for what goals I might want to focus on in the next three months. I always think a nature season is the perfect length of time to make changes or bring new things in.

~~

 

 

 

Out at the supermarket I saw the loveliest flowers, so happy and colourful!

 

 

I read in a magazine article this weekend that the lady interviewed cited 'wearing colour' as one way that she got dopamine hits for herself and I thought that was so true.

 

 

Wearing happy colours makes me feel good too. And viewing gorgeous flowers does the same.

 

 Enjoy the display! Who can't love bright yellow, hot pink and orange together 💛💖🧡

 

 

~~

 

 

Sweet Micky is going to be 14 in a few months, and he really is such a good advertisement for 'clean living' because he doesn't look a day over 10 😊

He loves going for walks, especially at the beach or in the city, and would walk for miles if you did. He is always reluctant to get back into the car after an outing because it means the walk is over!

He is my brother's dog and came to live with us 2.5 years ago when he moved overseas. Micky has fitted in so well with Daphne and Chloe and is totally now their big brother. And he has such a friendly, relaxed nature; you can see it in his eyes.

He is half Jack Russell Terrier, half Shih Tzu. My brother reckons that makes him a Jack Sh!t 🤣

He really is an ageless boy, so full of happiness and zing.

A funny thing: when he was an only dog he wasn't that food focused. At his place there would always be a bowl of dog biscuits next to his water bowl to graze from.

Now that he lives with two other dogs he has turned into a dog who wants food all the time, and we daren't leave a bowl of biscuits out. Competition! And he is always keen for his breakfast, lunchtime biscuit, and dinner! Not to mention stray pieces of carrot, apple, and broccoli stalk. He's a healthy boy 😍

Are all dogs food-mad? Let me know about yours 😊

Have a happy week!
xx Fiona

 

PS. If you would like an Amazon alternative, all my eBooks and audiobooks are available in my eStore. You can view everything here! 

 

My most recent book!

Our 17th Wedding Anniversary

 

Hello chic friends :)

Last Thursday was our 17th wedding anniversary, and I thought it would be fun to share some photos of Paul and I in 2008!

 

When we met almost 22 years ago, I asked the Universe for someone who was ‘like me, but the guy version’. I wanted a calm, steady, happy, easy-going relationship, and the Universe delivered. Right down to us having the same birthday! How’s that for ‘the same’. We met at the pub on a night out, an age-old classic way of meeting someone 😊

 

 

Our wedding was tiny, less than 40 people including us. We had it at an Italian restaurant in their private function venue below ground, and it was dreamy. Candelabras dripping with wax, a giant tiramisu instead of a wedding cake, red velvet drapes, and low lighting.

 

We used to go back to that restaurant – Toto in Auckland city, so lush – for our anniversary each year but it closed down at some stage, and now we don’t even live in Auckland anymore.

 

We both always forget the actual date of our anniversary because it’s such a funny number to remember: 6 March 2008. Is it 06 03 08 or 08 03 06? We always get there though 😊 And I even thought that we were married on a Friday but everyone (my mum and Paul) insisted it was a Thursday. I looked it up and it was a Thursday.

I’m not one to be stuck on remembering dates or days though (thank goodness), just that I’m happy and content. I get to make my own fun and if others want to join in that’s great. Over the years I’ve cultivated the ability to not make feeling good reliant on others.

After all, when you please yourself it seems that others want to please you too. Something that recovering people-pleasers like myself would do well to remember!

~~

 

The grapevines on our road 🍇

 
The past few weeks we've had harvesting machines picking the white wine grapes. It's fun to see the changing seasons of the vineyard as I go for my daily walks, and then the big bins filled with light green or dark red grapes at harvest time.

My husband Paul works for a winery now as a cellar door host, and he sees firsthand the trucks full of grapes pulling up and emptying them into the first tank where they are squeezed gently.

The whole process gives me so much appreciation for winemakers. With fruit such as apples, you 'only' have to grow the fruit.

But if you have a vineyard, growing the fruit is only half the job, then you have to make the wine, then you have to market it amongst the many thousands of wine labels on the store shelves.

Here's cheers to to all the hard working people behind the scenes when we sit down with a glass of wine on a Saturday night! 🍷

Wishing you a fab week :)

xx Fiona

Summer gardening, and decluttering

 

 

Hello chic friends,

 

I've been enjoying my simple gardening this summer, and just look at this crop of cherry tomatoes!

The thing I love best about growing vegetables such as cos lettuce and cherry tomatoes at home is that you can just pick a few leaves or tomatoes each day for your salad.

It's the ultimate in freshness, and everything is spray-free too.

My mesclun mix used to be eaten by white butterflies and their caterpillars before I could get to it but I found that cos lettuce, maybe being a sturdier leaf, seems to be left alone. Yay!

And of course our perpetual spinach plants keep our breakfast smoothies going, such a bargain for weeks if not months of spinach.

I am a total vegetable garden convert! You don't need a big area at all, and a little investment in time and money really pays off.

This is just my public service announcement for today 🤣

 

 

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I have noticed that my decluttering book is more popular at the moment, and of course, we are into a new year. I get it, because I am feeling it too!

I've been cleaning up niggly areas and hotspots, and I've also come to a 'big' (for me) revelation. And that is, it's okay to want my stuff. I don't have to declutter down to nothing, even though I love the idea of a minimalist home.

I get to do it in my way and have exactly what I want around me. It really was quite a freeing thought!

What I do get to do though, is go through all the many areas in my home and refine them. And if there is anything to donate or throw out in that process, great. If not, also great.

Using things up is one of my favourite ways to declutter. I get to enjoy what I have, and also make use of the money already spent. Reading and donating books, using my lovely body products and fragrances, lighting a candle!

It's great the have the new year’s energy to reinvigorate my desire for a clean, tidy, ‘cozy minimalist’, stylish, elegant home 😊 I keep this vision in mind and it makes even housework seem more pleasant!

xx Fiona

PS. You can find this book on Amazon here or check out my Linktree for other reading options and all my other books.

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

My favourite success tips

 

Hello chic friends!

The beginning of the year is such an inspiring time, so I thought a fun idea would be to share my favourite success tips on living a good life. To me, success isn’t just money, it’s happiness, feeling good in my mind, being fit and healthy, and having a good balance of fun and productivity.

 

💫 My favourite success tips 💫

💌 Know how to inspire yourself. I’ve been doing lots of delicious journalling each morning with my cup of tea: goals, visualisations, how ‘she’ would be’, idea, things that are ringing my bell right now, so much goodness 😊 I also read glossy picture books, magazines, novels, and listen to audiobooks, writing down quotes when they speak to me.

💌 Please yourself. Many of us are so used to considering others and what they might want that we never think to ask ourselves ‘What do I want?’ Even when by myself! So my practice now is to think of what would be most ideal in that moment, and go and do it. Sometimes it’s a comfort thing, sometimes a doing thing. And if I really don’t feel like doing something, I don’t (maybe I’ll skip a walk that day because I feel like cleaning and organising my environment instead).

💌 Love your life. Instead of being envious of other, glossier people either online or in real life, I choose to love the life that I have right in front of me. I can make it feel sparklier all with the way I am being. I appreciate my home, the way I have set up my daily life, and how I spend my time. It’s like 3D gratitude. I’m not just writing down in my journal all that I’m grateful for, I’m living it every day.

These are just three of many, but they are the three that came to mind today 😊 Please tell me your favourite success tips if you have any, and if you don’t, what might one be that you’d like to cultivate for yourself?

 

~~

 

I just started book three in the Housemaid series, yay! It goes well with a glass of Prosecco and fresh raspberries 😍

 

I don't think stylish people put fruit in their bubbly but I don't care. I love the festive look of it, and even better to eat at the end. Delicious!

Sweet Daphne dog is always near me.

My cousin's little boy (aged 5) loves dogs, and always gives our dogs lots of hugs when he visits. He calls Daphne 'Daphanee' with an extra syllable. Soooo adorable!

(Freida's Housemaid books are on Amazon here. If you love a good and creepy psychological thriller I would recommend!)

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your weekend 😊

xx Fiona

PS. Check out my book ‘100 Ways to be a Chic Success and Create Your Dream Life’, available on Kindle, in paperback, and as an audiobook on Amazon here or in my eStore (eBooks and eAudiobooks).

Creating free fun, growing your own food, and spring sunshine

 

Hello chic friends!

 

Paul and I took advantage of his new job's roster earlier this week (he works weekdays and weekends, in various mixes) to have a picnic on the beach on a sunny Tuesday.

We planned to eat lunch at home and go for a walk along the beach, but then thought 'Why not take our lunch with us?' We had a chicken and avocado salad each, and fruit and yoghurt for afters, and a can of Coke each for a fun touch. All brought from home! It was yummier, healthier, and far less expensive than buying lunch out.

And we still had a nice time. Even though most people are at work on a Tuesday, there were people around - holidaymakers, retirees walking, and teens sunning themselves on the beach, probably exam time with days off.

 

I love making the most of where we live and creating free outings like this. I sort of count our lunch as free even though we bought the groceries :) Plus, some of the salad ingredients were free since they were grown on our property - the cos lettuce, parsley, and avocado components!

I just love living a simple, low-cost lifestyle. To me it’s as enjoyable as spending lots, and you don't need to kill yourself in a job you hate to pay for it all.

This is especially pertinent to us since Paul was made redundant from his job earlier in the year. He has now found a new job and he absolutely loves it, working at the cellar door for one of our local wineries.

He is in his element, and meets the nicest people too - a lot of overseas tourists who are interesting to chat with and hear about where they are from. Even though he is the one pouring the wine, not drinking it, he still has a blast.

Do you live near an area of natural beauty that you can take a picnic too? I didn't take photos of our picnic because it wasn't one of those staged Instagram-worthy affairs, but we did dine with cloth napkins from our plastic lunch boxes! 

 

~~

 

Just look at these beautiful roses at my mum's when I visited during the week. Her friend Ann brought them from her garden. I always love pinks/blush/pale yellow/peach shades together.
 

 

 

I took the three doggies with me which I haven't done for a while since mum adopted a new rescue cat Minnie who is about a year old.

Turns out Minnie can hold her own. She stalked the dogs and at one stage was chasing one of them around the garden. So funny 😂 I had to rescue Chloe dog from the cat!

Minnie cat was VERY happy to see me drive off with my three idiots. She much prefers a quiet, dog-free home. She even followed us out to the car to make sure we all left: 'Don't let the door hit you on the way out!' 🤣

~~

On a bright, sunny day I picked spinach (for smoothies) and cos lettuce for salads. I also spent some time tidying up and watering our vegetable garden.

 

 

It’s a petite space but provides us with yummy goodness 🥬🥒🫑

In addition to spinach and lettuce, there are cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and little orange bell peppers already growing but not ready yet, and yesterday I added in dwarf beans for the first time. They are long round green beans which I love. The plant grows in a small bush instead of climbing so I’m told. I can’t imagine how a tiny plant grows long beans but I will find out soon enough with any luck!

 

I am not a huge gardener, even though it is very satisfying. My ideal garden looks good but is easy-care 😁

But I do love picking fresh vegetables for our lunchtime salads. Cos lettuce is my favourite because the bugs don’t seem to eat it the same as mesclun, which I only seemed to grow for the birds and white butterflies - there was never any left for me!

I hope you’ve had a lovely week. Today it has dawned a cool, calm Sunday here and we had rain overnight. I have a relaxing day of writing, coffee, and pottering planned. Just bliss!

 

xx Fiona

 

 

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