Fiona Ferris

By popular request this volume contains all four series of the original '30 Chic Days' as featured on my blog 'How to be Chic', ready for you to dip into at any time for a boost of chic inspiration. I promise you will never be short of a new idea to try The whole premise around '30 Chic Days' is to intentionally bring forward simple, chic and life-affirming changes which will enhance your everyday. I have found for myself that any improvements or upgrades I wish to make must be enjoyable and easy, otherwise they will feel like just another item on my to-do list.I am a fan of living a simple and beautiful life - without going broke to do so. Most of my suggestions will cost you nothing and take almost no extra time; how refreshing is that? Join with me and learn how to elevate your daily round in a fun and stylish way.

'Thirty More Chic Days' is about living your dream life in whichever chic flavour you find most delicious. It is about following what you love regardless of the opinions of those around you. It's about all of us making the most of our years, because life is not a practice-run; we are living it right now Inside you will find thirty chapters (or 'days') with thoughtful ways of creating a wonderful haute couture way of living. A beautiful, unique, precious, timeless, custom-designed lifestyle that fits you perfectly. A life in which you feel like... yourself. Through her popular blog 'How to be Chic', author Fiona Ferris provides thousands of women from around the world with inspiring ideas on living a simple, beautiful and successful life.

Thinking back, for all my adult life I have been conscious of my weight - either trying to get it down, or revelling in a temporary weight loss and subsequently wearing my favourite small-size clothes. If I count the years, it's been more than twenty-five years that I have had this drain on my thinking.Can you relate? Do you have a similar story?I think it's fair to say that most of us already know the basics to losing weight and maintaining slimness... in theory. So what's stopping us doing that, instead of spending all our time and energy following diets, going for the next quick fix, despairing over our clothes not fitting yet eating more to feel better?Imagine if you simply went about your day in a normal and carefree manner, eating what you knew was tasty and healthy and not giving it a second thought until it came time to prepare your next meal. Imagine how much mental space and energy would be freed up to do other things.It's something I have pondered a lot over the years; I mean, how hard can it be to eat normally and be a normal weight? To peacefully co-exist with food? What was wrong with me that I could not get this one part of my life right?The answer my friends, is M I N D S E T. Once I started working on my mindset, I realized I could find my way back to my happy weight - gently, patiently and lovingly.Of course, I knew I needed to change the way I ate, but having the right mindset helped me keep on going and not give up at the first hurdle (or craving). The great news is that eating well and looking after yourself becomes easier over time. It becomes your new normal.I know from personal experience that if you can get your food thoughts under control, it releases so much mental energy and you are set free to start living your life; instead of spending much of the day thinking about food and eating; trying to eat normally and feeling out of control.Everything in this book is designed to change your mindset in lots of little ways, from many different angles. If you make small enough changes and have them bed in as 'just what you do', the 'I don't want to change, I'm comfortable the way I am' part of your brain will not be triggered.Diets address the outside world - what we are eating - but they do nothing to change the inside world - our mindset. Changing the outside world brings the novelty of something new, plus willpower works for a while; but then our mind will snap us back to what we were doing before, because the changes we made were superficial.Sometimes one trick that had worked for a while stopped working so well for me and I found myself slipping back into old habits. So I started devising a chic toolkit of sorts that I could dip into whenever I needed the motivation.I have so many techniques in my toolkit now, that if I fall off the wagon I can pick myself up so much quicker than I used to. As a result, my eating (and my weight) is much more stable and therefore healthier. I also have a wonderful peace of mind around food that I did not have before.If this resonates with you, I invite you to join me. Like my first book Thirty Chic Days, this book is set up into thirty distinct chapters, or 'days'.This book isn't a typical diet book with a list of rules, to-dos and meal plans. I hope that it won't be dry or bossy or prescriptive. My goal for this book is to be happy, inspiring, encouraging and a little bit silly at times; because when we get too serious, we stop listening.If we can put a little bit of frivolity and inspiration into the process of becoming our ideal weight, we are more likely to follow up and get there. Why would we want to do something if it isn't fun?I am so excited for you, just as I am excited for myself continuing this journey. Today is a new day, a fresh new start; perfect for you to start living a life of freedom, happiness and good health.Here's to you.

I wrote 'A Chic and Simple Christmas' because I wanted to find out the reason why I simultaneously looked forward to the holiday season so much, but at the same time dreaded it as a time of stress and anxiety. The Christmas of my dreams was a chic and simple affair full of joy, but the reality wasn't nearly as much fun. It was stressful This book deconstructs just why this was, and details how to create a holiday season that will not only make you happier, but also more enjoyable for your loved ones.No matter the time of year you are reading 'A Chic and Simple Christmas', whether it is the second week in December or the middle of April, it is never too soon to starting thinking about your ideal Christmas holiday season. Work out what you would like to experience, and start creating and planning for that.If your holiday season experiences don't quite match the idyllic vision you have in your mind, I would love you to be inspired by 'A Chic and Simple Christmas' where I share how to create a holiday season you will love.

Late summer heading into early autumn/fall is a such beautiful time of the year. You can feel everything growing still and soft; nature is slowing down and people are getting cozy. The most stunning colours can be found outdoors at this time.Despite the natural beauty, despite your looking forward to the coziness of winter, you find that a few short months later yes, again, things have gone awry. You have ploughed headlong into winter without design or plan; you are wearing the same clothes as last year because you have not put thought into your wardrobe; you have put on weight from indiscriminate eating and you are complaining in your head, or worse, out loud that 'it's cold today'. This was me Many warm-blooded creatures hibernate when it is cold out and go with their natural instincts by doing so. They do not enter the spring season stressed out; rather, animals waking up from hibernation are coming to sleepily, well rested and ready for the warmer season; so, why don't we?We would not go to sleep for months on end, but perhaps we can take a leaf out of their book and make each winter a mental spa time of rejuvenation, beauty and pleasure.I decided to write this book as a kind of insurance, to remind me of my exciting winter plans. It is easy to be enthusiastic about the winter season when the leaves are turning. Fall fashions are always fun to look forward to, even for a non-fashionista like me - the September issue of Vogue I can rekindle my love for the colours of plum, navy and camel at this time of year. But a few months later the novelty has already worn off.This book is also a toolkit of all the ideas that have worked so well in previous winters, as well as new ideas I want to capture. I started this book in autumn, and am now finishing it up in spring. I am so pleased to have tried all my ideas out in a 'test' environment Read 'How to be Chic in the Winter' to discover my strategy for not just surviving, but thriving this winter; on how to have a chic and beautiful winter season and emerge, like a butterfly ready for a gorgeous spring and summer.ContentsIntroductionChapter 1. Know that winter is a different season Start winter with a goal Be ahead of the game Look forward to winterChapter 2. Create a winter menu plan Breakfasts that are warming, filling and healthy Lunches for work and home Dinners - tweak the winter classics Snacks Fiona's favourite winter recipes Red Lentil and Tomato soup Pumpkin Soup Vegetable soup Spaghetti Bolognese Savoury mince Shepherd's pie Roast chicken 'Bangers' (sausages) and mash Parmesan chicken Crumbed chicken Pasta Bake Rice Bake Apple and Boysenberry Crumble Bliss BallsChapter 3. Break up the long winter Learn something or have a project to complete Keep active Be socialChapter 4. Work on feeling good Home as your winter sanctuary Dress in clothes that make you feel good Be cozy when you are at home Take care of your grooming Keep wellChapter 5. Keep your motivation up Do things quickly If you are a summer person Make plans for the next six to twelve monthsChapter 6. Create your ideal chic winter season Bonus journal questions To finishAbout the author

Does the topic of money and personal finance stress you out? Would you like to learn more about living an 'expensive' life on a budget?Instead of feeling constricted and broke when you are on a slim income or have debt to pay off, 'Financially Chic' invites you to look upon it as a fun and exciting adventure; where you can gain as much enjoyment as possible for the least amount of cost, as well as learning to get ahead financially. It feels creative and satisfying and will set you up for a lifetime of good habits, no matter the age you are starting from.My wish for this book is that it encourages you to think about money in a way that makes you feel in control, uplifted and inspired to steer yourself towards a joyous and prosperous future. I want to share my contagious beliefs that dealing with your money can be fun and exciting. I know many women have a fractious relationship with their finances and can often be scared of dealing with things. I have felt that way in the past too.I do hope you will join me in this journey because it feels so much better to have a good relationship with your money than not. I love the saying Look after your money, and your money will look after you. It does not have to be scary, and you do not have to worry about becoming greedy if you focus on your finances; all that will happen is that this important area of your life will feel happier, freer and more bountiful. It is a glorious feeling and it is well within your reach.I hope that by the end of this book you will be eager and enthusiastic about your own finances; in fact, I am sure you will. Fiona FerrisContents: Introduction How I became interested in personal finance About this bookChapter 1. Start from the beginning What do you believe about money? Make your finances fun and enjoyable Simplify your lifeChapter 2. Be savvy and a good steward of your money Living well on a moderate income Add up what your vice is costing you Try out cheaper options 'The free part' Cap limits in your life Decide for yourself what you splurge and save on Spend more time at home Make your own meals most of the time Do not be afraid to ask for gifts Slim down your magazine choicesChapter 3. Live like a millionaire now and feel rich every day Do not wait to be rich to feel good Use your good things Surround yourself with beauty Keep only what your future self would have in her beautiful home Visit five-star luxury and soak it in Replace broken items with quality, cherish the rest Feel luxurious in budget-friendly ways Curate your wardrobe Cultivate an expensive-looking personal style Have an elegant personal demeanour 'Expensive' d cor on a budget Chapter 4. See how you rich are already Know where your finances are at Speak positively about your finances Cultivate a happy and relaxed feeling around money Contentment as a financial tool Think beyond a purchase to its exitChapter 5. Inspire yourself to a wealthy future Keep your vibration high Share your dreams with your other half Commit to being debt-free Take inspiration from expensive stores Read inspirational money books and find fun ways to educate yourself Think as if you were creating your own personal brand Have role modelsChapter 6. Make your own money and be a success What are your unique gifts that others might pay for? How to make money from your blog Just do it Act immediately Moving forward on an idea Write your goals down every day Be a shining example to influence othersFinal tips 100 Ways to be Financially ChicAbout the author

Is it possible to live a chic and elegant life if you don't live in Paris, or even France? Instead of daydreaming about running away to the City of Light, 'Thirty Chic Days' invites you to put on your French-tinted sunglasses and view your everyday through an enchanting and motivating filter.Inside this book you will find thirty chapters (or 'days') full of joie de vivre sharing fun and exciting ways to bring your ideal chic life into being. 'Thirty Chic Days' is a warm, encouraging and fanciful guide on living a simple and beautiful French-inspired life. Enjoy dozens of delicious no-cost ideas and feel inspired to uplevel yourself and your surroundings in an effortless and enjoyable way.Contents: Day 1 Have a Paris state of mindDay 2 Eat real foodDay 3 Bathe yourself in mystiqueDay 4 Make up your eyesDay 5 Create and guard your secret gardenDay 6 Be your own French auntDay 7 Honour your body with chic movementDay 8 Be beautifully positiveDay 9 Support your signature charityDay 10 Simplify your life for abundanceDay 11 Adopt a low-drama way of beingDay 12 Curate your wardrobe like it is your own bijou boutiqueDay 13 Indulge in your femininityDay 14 Design the life of your dreamsDay 15 Cultivate serenity and calmness in your lifeDay 16 Create a sanctuary at homeDay 17 Take exquisite care of your groomingDay 18 Little and oftenDay 19 Socialise in a relaxed mannerDay 20 Be your own chefDay 21 Inspire yourselfDay 22 Build rest and repose into your daily routineDay 23 Be financially chicDay 24 Live a life of luxuryDay 25 Collect contentment in petite measuresDay 26 Make every day magicalDay 27 Embrace creativity and enjoy the benefitsDay 28 Think of your home as if it were a boutique hotelDay 29 Walk your errandsDay 30 Immerse yourself in sensuous beautyBonus Day Take inspired actionIf you enjoyed Jennifer L. Scott's 'Lessons from Madame Chic', Tish Jett's 'Forever Chic' or Shannon Ables' 'Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life', you will love 'Thirty Chic Days'

In 2010 I started my blog 'How to be Chic' as an online inspiration journal to write about creating a simple and beautiful French-inspired life.This book is a collation of mini-essays from 'How to be Chic' and contains my first three ebooks together in one volume. I offer you fun and useful ways to elevate your daily way of being, which can often be done instantly and without cost. For the most part all that is needed is a change in the way you are thinking. You may find a new idea which will instantly resonate, causing you to transform the way you do things and begin to effortlessly achieve your personal goals. That's when the magic happens Have you ever noticed how you can read something uplifting and it switches your mindset so you end up having a better day than you might have otherwise. What you focus on becomes more prevalent in your life, so why not choose to focus on something beautiful.'How to Live Well' contains practical and easy ways to bring more peace and elegance into your life.'Chic Inspiration' gives encouragement to create your own version of a truly charmed life.'How to be Slim and Healthy' is focused on the topic of blending the European way of eating into your own life wherever you may live - for pleasure, slimness and good health.Please join me for weekly inspiration on living a simple and beautiful French-inspired life at howtobechic.com and pick up my free special report '21 ways to be chic' while you are there.