Paris Lockdown - 30 Chic Days
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 13 – Curves Ahead
Fiona Ferris titles Day 13 “Indulge In Your Femininity” in her book, 30 Chic Days. In this chapter, the author lists several fun ways to enjoy both traditional and personal interpretations of femininity. Fiona makes the point that confidence and a sense of fun are integral parts of being chic. She recommends discovering one’s own personal style points of femininity and playing it up. You might not be able to tell from the photo above but this morning when I snapped it, the outside temperature was 34 F (1 C) and 25 F (-4 C) with wind chill. The wind, may I add, never stopped for the 45 minutes…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 12 – A Little Glamour for the Closet
Day 12 is “Curate Your Wardrobe Like It Is Your Own Bijou Boutique,” in 30 Chic Days by Fiona Ferris. In this chapter, Fiona returns to the idea that beauty and ease in our everyday life is both good for our schedule and nurtures a positive sense of self. She describes a lovely Parisien clothing boutique and asks “Why not have this “look and feel” in our own closet?” I skimmed this chapter last night and thought, “I already have a carefully edited capsule wardrobe (to go along with my (extremely) capsule closet) – AND I just moved into this closet only two months ago. How can I apply…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 11 – Inner Choice
In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 11 is “Adopt A Low-Drama Way of Being.” Fiona gives a lovely discussion of how letting go of being a “control freak” allows her to nurture an internal sense of beautiful calm and peace – to a large degree independent of the events and people around her. I can claim the role of poster child for Fiona’s description of a type-A, control freak – with all the near constant frustrations and irritations that accompany that role. It was (initally) quite a disheartening surprise when I truly recognized that the uiverse goes on merrily without any thought of adjusting itself to my…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 10 – Less (Stuff) Is More (Freedom)
“Simplify Your Life For Abundance” is Day 10 in Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days. Fiona writes about that wonderful feeling of lightness and freedom as she looks around at her de-cluttered surroundings. I like how she links the ideas of open space and abundance. This is a powerful conceptual linkage. When we protect open time in our schedule and open space in our surroundings, we allow ourselves to live with freedom and cofidence. Freedom to respond new opportunities and new thoughts. Confidence that we can effectively respond to each day’s gifts and challenges as they arise. Often we react to life’s uncertainty by fearfully “stocking” up on anything that…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 9 – Generosity
In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 9 is “Support your signature charity.” In this chapter, Fiona highlights the chic feature of generosity. The outer elegance and grace that we wish to experience is an expression of our inner grace and calm well-being. When we choose to think and speak in a positive and uplifting way (as discussed yesterday in Day 8), we are showing social generosity – giving warmth and lightness to ourselves and to our companions. In a similar vein, when we demonstrate other forms of generosity, we show compassion (the wish and action to alleviate another creature’s suffering.) Fiona presents a lovely way of being generous…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 8 – Lightness of Being
Day 8, in Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, is “Be Beautifully Positive.” Fiona describes that charming, wonderful habit of being encouraging and upbeat as a chic “lightness of being.” What a lovely way to describe this perspective on life! The absolute best part of cultivating this positive-focused, “lightness of being” is that, not only do we gift the people around us with this attitude, we gift ourselves! When we choose the happier thought or switch our mental channel AWAY from our inner critic (you know that awful little voice in our minds that keeps a running critical commentary on everything that we do or say?) What a relief! Building…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 7 – Be Like the Queen of England
Day 7, in Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, is “Honor your body with chic movement.” Fiona repackages the idea of exercise into the far more attractive (at least to me!) discussion of “chic movement” – doesn’t that sound much more elegant? It brings to my mind photographs of the Queen of England walking with her corgis in her quilted barn coat with a scarf tied over her hair (a la Grace Kelly.) If the Queen can be out walking in her 90’s, looking casual-chic, then certainly, I can be! In addition to her Majesty, the Queen of England, I have the real-life, everyday examples of Parisian women (of all…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 6 – Time for Auntie
In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 6 is titled “Be Your Own French Aunt.” In this chapter, Fiona advises that we have chic mentors to help inspire us to bring more beauty and elegance into our lives. In keeping with her theme that a chic life starts in our minds, she presents the idea that we can make up our own imaginary French aunt to help guide us away from our less chic habits and inspires us toward a more appealing way of living. Definitely, this imaginary French aunt must be loving and kind and truly want the best for us. (No mental drill sargeants, please.) The purpose…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 5 – A Safe Space to Dream
In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 5’s title is “Create and Guard Your Secret Garden.” The idea is that each of us needs a sanctuary – internal and/or external – where we can dream and create free from external input (even if the input is positive). We give ourselves the mental space to build creativity and happiness into our daily lives when we set aside a quiet spot (either internally or externally or both) that is only for our positive, imaginative thoughts whatever they might be. Fiona’s suggestion to keep this “garden” private is quite perceptive. I find that I have experienced similar reactions as she discusses in…
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A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 4 – Little Things Matter
In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 4’s title is “Make Up Your Eyes.” The idea is that if you put even a tad of extra effort into your appearance, you experience the day differently – in a positive way – than if you get dressed on auto-pilot and rush into your day. (Buddhism, among other philosphies & spiritual traditions, also says this, by the way. That we can find contentment by paying full attention as we live the minutes and actions that make up our day.) Fiona’s Day 4 gives us discrete ideas of how to apply this idea to one part of our day. I’m embarrassed to…