Luxury living on a budget + watch my latest interview!

In the club lounge at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland

 

One of my favourite budget-friendly things to do is stay the night in a fancy hotel. But hear me out!

I know it's not 'free' or even super-cheap, but it feels soooo good and so high-vibe to do this, and for me it replaces a proper vacation so it really is a saving :)

I get to dress up, mingle in lovely public areas, and generally live a fabulous city life for 24 hours.

We used to do this several times a year when we had our retail store in Auckland and didn't have time to go on holiday.

These days now that we don't live in Auckland we don't go nearly as often, but it's still nice to do every once in a while.

Are you a staycation kind of person? Are you happy to stay in a hotel in your own town?

The great thing about doing this is that you can stalk their website for special offers since you can stay any time.

Or if you don't do this, let me know your favourite way to feel 'rich' and luxurious without spending a ton.

 

 

My brother gifted me this birds art print and I was excited to rejig one of my gallery walls with it. It adds a touch of modern/sexy/wow-factor to my 'Ralph Lauren on a Budget' home style. So happy with how it turned out!

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And I am thrilled to share with you an interview I did last week with the delightful Cathy Anderson.

Cathy has started a new podcast called 'Mortgage-Free Diaries' and I was her first guest. I felt honoured!

We talk about all things money including the ways in which my husband and I paid off our mortgage quickly - in just 4.5 years.

This video is not financial advice, it's just how I look at money and how I made it fun for myself to put money onto our home loan rather than spend it.

 

 

 

I do hope you are inspired by this video, because I believe being debt-free is one of the biggest gifts we can give ourselves. As one of my financial mentors said, whom I mention in the video, 'When don't have debt you have more options.'

You can watch it above, or on YouTube here.

And to listen to the audio only (plus download the audio file if you want) on SoundCloud here.

I hope you enjoy the show, and thanks so much Cathy for having me on!

xx Fiona

PS. If you haven't seen my latest book yet it is here at my affiliate link on Amazon, available in paperback and on Kindle!

 

PS. Cathy has a great Instagram account here. I love her tips and ideas towards being financially savvy. And she has a website too.

PPS. The two books mentioned by Cathy from our interview are these (click on the images to see them on Amazon, also available on Kindle and in paperback):

 

 

 

(My Amazon links are affiliate, which means that I may receive a small commission on anything you purchase through my link. The price you pay isn't any different, so thank you if you choose to use my links :)

The state of the world, decluttering, and my favourite thrifty decor tip

 

In the past little while I have had yucky feelings about the safety of our world. Inflation, empty shelves at the supermarket, food shortages and food safety, rising crime, more people struggling, and seeing the effects of drugs and gangs in my community when I’m out doing errands. It doesn’t feel good.

If you’re a spongey/empathetic person like I am, these things can leave you feeling bad and like the world is going to hell.

But then I got a thought-message that said, ‘Stay in your bubble Fiona’. All any of us can do is stay in our lane, and do the best we can. Live our life the best way we’re able to and assist others by not falling apart ourselves. Not that I’m in danger of falling apart, but I have felt low yesterday and today.

Every time I get an update on my retirement savings account it’s gone down, even though I put money into it every month. And I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I can buy the food that’s doubled in price and I do still have a retirement account.

But these world stresses can’t last forever. Nothing ever does. The sun will come out again; hang in there.

After my ‘stay in your bubble’ message and giving myself some pep talks, I’m feeling more buoyant again. What use is my constant worrying? What good is that going to do anybody including me?

So I’m here to say to myself, and you if you need it, to stay in your bubble. Find contentment in your daily routines and don’t try to fix everything nor worry about the state of the world. It is what it is. It’s a rocky time post-pandemic.

Build for the future. Keep your frequency high and cultivate an air of light-heartedness. Focus on the good things. That’s what I’ve been forgetting lately. Instead I focused on everything that was going wrong. But there is always good and bad, so why would I not focus on the good?

There is always goodness around. Sometimes you just have to search a little harder for it.

Big hugs to you all!

 

 

 

 

It’s been a rainy ole week here as a tropical cyclone passed through New Zealand. We are lucky enough to be on the edge of it in Hawke’s Bay but upcountry fared far worse.

I hope you’re doing good where you are. I am staying busy at home, tidying up and clearing out. Is it the time of year that makes us want to declutter our home? You too?

I even found myself reading ‘100 Ways to Declutter Your Home’ last night. C’mon, who reads their own book? I do, obviously! You can find my decluttering book here on Amazon (it’s actually quite good!)

 

And I've been watching Marie Kondo on Netflix this week while walking on my treadmill. So good and so motivating. She is a delight to watch as well.

Questions for you:

Are you a weather geek like I am?

Are you decluttering your home now that it’s January, for no other reason than it’s January and you feel like it?

Are you counting on 2023 being the year that you get your home fully – 100% – sorted, even the hidden corners that no one ever sees? Yass! Me too!

It’s going to be so much fun :)

 

 

And to finish this post, my favourite thrifty home decor tip. I love decorating with books. They make the most excellent plinths.

There are so many decorative items you can showcase on books: real candles, faux candles, photo frames, flowers in a vase, and I’m sure many other options which I haven’t even dreamed of yet. (If you have any other ideas please let me know!)

The photo is of my siblings and me, about 20 years ago although it doesn’t feel that long. Surely I’m still in my early thirties, right?

Anyway, go and dig out some pretty books and make a display! Once you start you will become addicted, I promise :)

Have a great week!

xx Fiona

 

 

 

 

(My Amazon links are affiliate, and via Amazon Smile which donates money to the ASPCA. The price you pay isn't any different, so thank you if you choose to use my links!)

 

My 'Ralph Lauren' living room

 

Hello chic friends!

 

I love our living room style SO much, and call it ‘Ralph Lauren on a budget’.

When we moved in five years ago, the whole interior was painted a soft, warm white, so it was a lovely blank canvas to live with, then we started making some changes…

(You can see how the room is now in these first two photos, and ‘before’ in the last three photos.)

 
Luckily my husband Paul loves the same interior styles as me, and we hired a local interior designer to help us have the guts to bring it to life.

 

Years later, the living room is still our favourite room and we often sit in it with a coffee and marvel at how we get to live in such a place.

 

The before pictures! 

 

 

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I am so proud of this little book (below). It has consistently been a bestseller since it was released more than six months ago, and I have had lovely feedback – and excellent reviews – on it too. It’s all one could ask for as an author!

 

 

Why I think it’s struck such a chord with its readers is that it is not about clipping coupons or cutting back. Rather it encourages you to live large, and to live ‘beyond your means’ by having an abundantly luxurious mindset.

We could all use a little extra feelgood and a chance to live a more inspired life without necessarily changing anything big such as the people we live with or our job.

I always find for myself that when I feel stuck in a certain area, all I need to do is pump my mindset up a bit – it had gone flat momentarily! When I do this, I start to feel better and everything starts to gain more buoyancy again.

That happy, light-hearted feeling is our natural state. Anything else is just a temporary coating that might have just floated over us. Look out from under it and see how beautiful the world is. Even with everything going on, there is still beauty and peace and wonder.

If you have read ‘100 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life on a Budget’, please let me know your favourite tip. It’s always fun to hear if a book has made an impact.

And, please share your favourite tip to feel fabulous on a normal day, how you lift yourself up, or how you feel ‘rich’ without spending any money.

You already know all of mine, they’re in this book! I was going to add a tip of my own to start off, but each one I thought of I thought, Nah, it’s already in the book 😂😂

You can find it here on Amazon.

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It’s been so rainy and cold here so I've been cozy indoors, with brief breakouts for dog walks.

I got some writing done too. I am in love with my next book! I had left it for a month and when I went back to it it was so inspiring, lol. Phew! I can’t wait for you to see it, soon(ish). Wishing you a wonderful rest of your week, remember to keep your vibration high by doing things you enjoy and that build you up, and amazing things can happen.

xx Fiona

 

(If you use my Amazon links I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much if you choose to!)

 

 

 

New book out now!

 

 

I'm so happy to announce that my latest book has been released.

'100 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life on a Budget' is a mini-book and a quick and easy read that you should be able to finish in an hour or two. It will also hopefully motivate inspired action! Or at least a lovely feeling :)

The paperback version is a petite and trim volume that can easily tuck into the side pocket of your handbag for those times when you have to wait around.

I loved writing it and I do hope you enjoy it. In the meantime I'll get back to my next two books which are waiting in the wings 2/3 finished!!! I can't help myself sometimes. When I get the inspiration for a project I just have to drop everything and do it, lol.

Wishing you a fabulous end of the week and a wonderful weekend. We are having people around for dinner on Saturday night which will be fun.

xx Fiona

PS. Here's my affiliate link to order '100 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life on a Budget'.

'The Chic Closet' now available on Kindle - YAY!

 

Thank you so much for your patience, chic friends, while Amazon worked hard to fix their Kindle issue, and I'm so happy to share that my newest book 'The Chic Closet' is now available on Kindle (as well as in paperback).

 

It is priced at $3.99 Kindle and $9.99 paperback, and you can download it here on Amazon:

'The Chic Closet: Inspired ideas to develop your personal style, fall in love with your wardrobe, and bring back the joy of dressing yourself'

I have also uploaded the digital copy to my eStore which is hosted by a company called 'Payhip'.  If you live in a country where Amazon is not easily accessible, you can download both the Kindle-friendly '.mobi' version and a PDF version for the same $3.99 price (you receive both versions with the one order, you don't have to pay separately for each version).

'The Chic Closet' digital copy in my eStore'

I have already received lovely messages from ladies who purchased the Payhip version, which is so encouraging.  Because even though I put my very best into each book and make sure I am 110% happy with it before I release it, it's always nice to hear!

I love getting reviews on Amazon too, it totally makes my day, so please do leave one for me if you have a minute.

I hope you enjoy reading 'The Chic Closet' and in the meantime I will continue with my writing - I have already started my next book :)

xx Fiona

 

PS.  #1 New Release in Style & Clothing!!!  Thank you everyone!

 

 

New book out! 'The Chic Closet'

 

Hi chic friends!

I’m so happy to let you know my newest book is out!  Please meet ‘The Chic Closet: Inspired ideas to develop your personal style, fall in love with your wardrobe, and bring back the joy of dressing yourself’.

Normally when I release a book, the Kindle version is available straight away, and the paperback copy takes a little longer to go through the Amazon approval system.

However, at the moment Amazon is having a site-wide issue with many Kindle books being ‘stuck’ temporarily in the pre-publishing stage.

I have been waiting until they fixed it before I let you know about ‘The Chic Closet’, but I don’t know how long it will be.  Hopefully it will be sorted soon!

So in the meantime, please feel free to browse the free sample, and order the print copy if you are a paper kind of gal.

I had such fun writing this book and it really reignited my love for my own closet, without me even needing to go shopping.

Take a browse and see if ‘The Chic Closet’ is your thing :)  Keep your eyes peeled for the Kindle copy, and I’ll let you know as soon as I hear too!

You can find my new book here on Amazon.

Wishing you a wonderful day, and thank you so much for all the lovely emails I’ve received about my extended break.  I have the nicest and most caring readers and I am so grateful for that.

Everything truly is just fine, it’s just that as an introvert it’s a lot for me to be online.  I’m happiest when I am tucked away writing my books :)

I hope you are taking the time to recharge your batteries too if you feel the need.  Honour yourself.

Talk to you soon!

xx Fiona

Go here to view 'The Chic Closet' on Amazon!

Olive oil love

Natural oils, such as olive oil, are one of my favourite beauty products for both inside and outside the body.  There are lists all over the internet of the million and one uses for olive oil, but here are my four best ways:

- In my smoothies.  I discovered a product called Beauty Oil by Bestow, a few years ago, and started putting it in my smoothies each morning.  It is a luxurious product, however the price is luxurious too, so I decided to go for a more budget-friendly alternative - cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.  I use some each day - about one tablespoon at a guess - in my smoothie, and not only does the fat keep me fuller for longer, but I know it's contributing to my physical wellbeing and plumping up my skin.

- On our vegetables.   With most meals we will have steamed vegetables - any or all of broccoli, carrots, beans, leeks, and cauliflower.  I prefer them on the slightly crunchy side, perhaps al dente?  And then tossed in olive oil.  I pour a little in the cooking pot and tip it upside down with the lid on.  The coating of olive oil makes a lovely flavour, and something for salt and pepper to stick to :)

- As a cleanser.  I love to massage a small amount of oil, 2-3 pumps if I have it in a pump bottle, onto my skin.  It melts off my makeup and I get to have a soothing massage all at the same time.  I don't rub it into my eyes though - before I do this I remove my eye makeup with a cotton pad and micellar water.  I then rise off the oil using a face flannel and hot water in the basin.  I wring the flannel out as much as I can and it feels wonderful to cleanse my face with a steaming hot flannel.  I rinse three times in total then put whatever moisturiser I have, on, while  my skin is still warm, damp and glowing.  I sometimes use serum, sometimes not.  I always use an eye cream.  Nothing is any particular brand.  I like to try inexpensive and/or natural brands from the supermarket.

- As a moisture booster.  Every so often I like to amp up my body lotion by tipping some olive oil into it, and shake well so it all combines.  It makes the body lotion feel so thick and lush, and it's wonderful in the winter.  I love using it for moisturising my feet too, which I do every night before I go to bed, all year round.  I either have hotel slippers by my bed, or a washable cotton bath mat, so that I don't get my richly moisturised feet on the carpet.  I don't mind a little bit on the sheets, as they get a warm or hot wash each week.

When I think of olive oil, I always remember reading about the Italian ladies, who eat, drink and just about bathe in it.  They put it on their skin, their hair, and retain their youth as a result.

Are you a fan too?  As much as I am?  Tell me your best tip :)

xx Fiona

A Champagne Life

Image from Pinterest - I love it! :)

Reader Mary Z. left a great comment on my last blog post, and she said:

"I have lots of goals, but they stay goals unless I figure out what daily habits or things I'm going to do to actually achieve them."

I thought a fun topic for today's post would be to explore all the ways that make those action steps achievable and enjoyable.  Because for me, I need fireworks, passion and excitement to get me motivated.  Basically, good feelings.  When I think I should do something towards a goal, even if I really, really want that goal, I immediately don't want to do that thing.  Even though I want the goal!

So over the years I've figured out ways to make my goal-setting and -achieving into a fun game, where it's glamorous, luxurious and a treat. Just like the image on this post.  Because who wouldn't want to press for champagne?  Or chocolate, or flowers, or whatever you like :)

So let's think of a goal and see what would entice us to take action steps and make our dream come true:

To be an author

Say you wanted to write a book, but thought it would be such a slog, and hard too.  Hmm, not very inspiring.  How about breaking it down into small and attractive action steps:

• Dreaming up all the beautiful topics you love to read about and therefore would love to write about
• Think about your ideal place to write (or multiple places to write) - in a tiny nook set up at home, in a guest room that is transformed into a writer's sanctuary (and decorate it exactly how you'd love to), perhaps in a trendy cafe with the smell of coffee and chatty background noise around you.  I wouldn't feel right about taking up a table at a busy time, but perhaps there is a time when tables are free and I could buy two coffees, or a coffee and a cold drink over the course of an hour.  Imagine how much you could get done in an hour (quite a bit)!
• Write your future author lifestyle and note down all the little details it would include.  Then, choose a handful of those things and do them today.
• Keep your writer's space clean, clear and appealing by tidying up often.

To be slimmer

• Inspire yourself with a chic outfit hanging in your wardrobe – something you would wear and look amazing in as a slender girl.  Take this idea further and curate a 21-piece collection of slim clothes to visit and inspire yourself with often.
• Sip tea as an afternoon spa ritual.  Elegant, comforting and relaxing.
• Sip sparkling water in a champagne flute before dinner. 
• Find lots of new ways to comfort yourself (for me: a face mask and relaxing time after dinner; an engrossing novel; stretching; a long shower and full-body moisturising; hair and makeup done; listen to relaxing music.)

To become more abundant

• Use up all the beautiful consumables you already own.
• Get up to date with your financial paperwork and marvel at the sheer neatness of everything.
• Keep your hangbag and wallet tidy. (When I get home, I tip out my handbag on the bed and only put back the items that should be there.  Receipts go into a tray on my desk, whatever else needs putting away gets dealt with.)
• Count your blessings (yes again! I talked about this in my video on being a chic success). When I give gratitude for the things around me, I am more satisfied and less needy/less likely to spend money.

In all of my examples, I wrote down things that would inspire me, and from those points, action steps can be taken.  In the case of writing your first book you could set up a writing nook, list the topics you'd love to write about, and write yourself a description of the future you as a writer (even more ideas for fun action steps will come out of that).

In the slimming example you can go to your wardrobe and visualize yourself in your favourite slim clothes, and change a daily habit such as afternoon tea or pre-dinner drinks to one that the slim you would indulge in.  I would add changing your kitchen to a 'slim kitchen' by using items up and replacing them with products 'the slim you' would cook with.

And to become more abundant, the action steps could be to reorganize your cupboards to reacquaint yourself with what you have (and enjoy using those items up thus not needing to shop for more for a while), empty your bag out each night, and keep up to date with your finances.  Even if it's painful to start with.  Make small plans to save, or pay off debt.  Set up automatic payments - these are so easy to set and they'll do the work for you.

And over the top of everything, no matter the area you have a goal or a dream for, remember to sprinkle the fairy dust.  Ask the Universe to help you.  Feel good about your chosen dream, and if you can't feel good about it yet, feel good about everything around you.  Whatever feels a bit icky, just cover it up with goodness :)  Say if I've eaten too many treat foods during lockdown (ahem) and don't feel good about it, I'll forget about that and focus on eating more fruit, dressing in my nicer clothes, putting makeup on, and going for a walk in the fresh air.

And name your plans something fun, so that you have a pretty hook to hang your plans on.  I like my Champagne Life name.  It says sparkling, luxurious and elegant.  Which inspires all sorts of good thoughts and actions.  Perfect.

All the best to you for your exciting plans and dreams; please share any thoughts and ideas that you have :)

xx Fiona

Thank you for this wonderful review of my newest book 'The Chic Author', Barbara R!

"Fiona's book gives clear and valuable information about finding the time and the motivation to write, deciding on worthwhile topics, and learning some nitty-gritty hints for persevering in the writing. Her section about self-publishing is specific, useful, and invaluable. This is a book I will pick up again and again as I write, revise, edit, and finally publish my contribution to the self-help genre.  Thank you, Fiona, for filling all these roles: cheerleader, repository of information, mentor, and kind encourager. You've given this new author wings."

You can find 'The Chic Author' here on Amazon :)

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