Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2018 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

On June 2 – just a few weeks from now – Queen Elizabeth II will rise as she does any other day to a pot of English Breakfast tea and read through some of the hundreds of letters she receives every morning. It may take a little longer than normal on this day, however – for among the regular letters will likely be many congratulatory cards and messages from around the world, celebrating a monumental anniversary: 65 years since her 1953 official coronation as the Queen of England. She took over as Queen on February 6 1952 – after the death of her father King George VI – but it wasn’t until more than a year later, on June 2, 1953, that she was officially crowned in a spectacular ceremony…

Nigella Lawson pitter-patters barefoot across cool tiles in a high-ceilinged Victorian kitchen. Between set-ups for The Australian Women’s Weekly’s photo shoot, she has slipped back into her simple black slacks and T-shirt and come foraging for lunch. The larder is stocked with every delicacy imaginable but the queen of British home cookery goes straight for a crusty loaf of sourdough bread and spreads a slice thickly with sunshine-yellow cultured butter. She washes it down with a cup of English breakfast tea strong enough to stand a spoon in. “Perfect,” Nigella observes with that cryptic half-smile she sometimes employs onscreen when contemplating caramel. “I’m very particular about bread and butter,” she adds. Whether making short work of a bunch of parsley with her trusty mezzaluna or whisking a mountain of glistening…

There are two Chelsea Winstanleys. One is “Taika Waititi’s wife” – the longtime partner of the hotshot New Zealand director, who accompanies her husband to glitzy premieres alongside Chris Hemsworth, parties with Snoop Dogg and lives in a hilltop home in the celeb-heavy Los Angeles neighbourhood of Studio City. Then there’s Chelsea Winstanley the award-winning producer and director. A dedicated mother-of-three. A child of divorce, who endured the pain of sexual abuse, losing her ability to walk and solo motherhood all before she graduated. While the scars remain – physically, in the titanium rod still inserted in her leg, and emotionally, in the unwavering inner demons of abuse – the driven Kiwi has assiduously tackled every hurdle fired her way. Today, on a sunny afternoon in California, she’s like any…

As the afternoon sun slipped behind the glitzy glass towers of Dubai, Sridevi Kapoor, the long-reigning “Queen of Bollywood”, was getting ready for a surprise night out. Sridevi had just received an unexpected caller at her suite, 22 floors up in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, the city’s tallest, with spectacular views over the Persian Gulf. She disliked being alone, especially in a place like Dubai, where she knew nobody and found the hectic pace of life unsettling. But here was her husband, 62-year-old Boney Kapoor, a prolific Indian film producer and the mastermind behind her enduring stardom. Knowing his wife would be unhappy, Boney explained later, he’d secretly flown 2000 kilometres from the couple’s Mumbai home to be with her. The pair fell into each others arms “like teenagers,”…

“Things in red must be done. Things in green should be done but if you don’t do them we can live with the consequences.” The instructions for picking up our granddaughter at daycare are crystal clear. I won’t have any problems. 1. Front gate – pull knob UP and push the gate IN at the same time. 2. Use your CODE to open the main door. 3. Use your PIN to open inside gate. 4. See Miss Santos in the Red Tulip Room. Eleanor’s artwork will be wet. Or gluey. Maybe both. 5. Thanks! See you at home! PS: Remember 15 minutes parking only. No time for chatting! “Breaking into the White House sounds easier,” murmured the MOTH…

LOUD MOUTH Three notable new lip releases we’re loving… From left: 1. Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, $24. This purse-friendly gem has exceptional staying power. With no need for a liner to prevent it travelling into fine lip lines, it makes it easy to wear bold shades. 2. YSL Tatouage Couture, $69. Want intense painterly pigment that pops but feels like you’re wearing nothing? We’re already calling this long-wear colour the year’s smash hit. 3. Revlon Kiss Plumping Lip Creme, $22. If you’re after a more reflective effect, these silky, not sticky, colours smooth over lips beautifully for a well-moisturised, full-looking pout. How handy With a shorter barrel and new airflow technology, this recent arrival, the first of its kind in NZ, delivers a kinder, smoother blow-dry. The motor has…

Raspberry and pistachio yoghurt cake The heroes of this simple cake – yoghurt, raspberries and nuts – all play a significant part. Yoghurt, like buttermilk in cakes, lightens the batter and provides a delicious lactic tang. The raspberries add bursts of fruitiness in the almond batter, which is also studded with nubbly bits of green pistachio, making this a gorgeous afternoon tea cake. SERVES 8 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES (+ COOLING TIME) 185g butter, softened 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 2 eggs 1½ cups (225g) self-raising flour 1/3 cup (40g) almond meal (ground almonds) ½ cup (140g) Greek-style yoghurt ½ cup (70g) pistachios, blanched, peeled (see Test Kitchen tip) 125g fresh or frozen raspberries 2 teaspoons icing sugar 1 Preheat…

Cauliflower pizza MAKES 2 SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES 1 medium (900g) cauliflower, trimmed, broken into florets 1/4 cup (35g) chickpea flour (besan) 1 cup (80g) grated parmesan cheese 2 eggs, beaten lightly 200g large bocconcini, drained, sliced thinly PIZZA SAUCE 400g canned chopped tomatoes 2 cloves garlic, chopped finely 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/3 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn 1 PIZZA SAUCE Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until thickened slightly. 2 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line two large oven trays with baking paper. Mark 27cm circles on paper; turn paper over. 3 Pulse cauliflower, in two batches, until it resembles fine crumbs. 4 Transfer cauliflower to…

NUTTY SNACK BAR Tasti have welcomed a new flavour to their Made Simple Wholefood Bars: Peanut Caramel. Joining three other flavours, the bars are made from only natural ingredients. RRP $5 for a box of five bars. VODKA COCKTAIL You can now enjoy a ready-to-drink vodka cocktail without any nasties! Clean Collective has created a zero sugar, zero carb and zero preservatives Mandarin & Lime Mojito. Even better, it is made right here in New Zealand. Four pack from $15 at leading liquor stores. READY TO ROAST Unused vegetables don’t need to go to waste! Season them with herbs and spices, leave to rest for 1-2 hours on a baking tray, then pop in the freezer. A great way to shorten prep time for your next roast.…

I used to have a very well-travelled Swiss Army knife. It accompanied me on many visits to wine regions near and far and, courtesy of increased aircraft security, enjoyed the odd emergency dash through airports to post it back home. Nowadays though, it languishes in a drawer, next to my rather lovely bone-handled wine knife. Have I given up wine? Never, but you may have noticed most New Zealand wines have given up cork. Despite its 500-year history stoppering wine bottles, cork is now the tiny minority in NZ, with around 95 per cent of New Zealand wine sealed under screwcap, one of the highest rates globally. A sea-change occurred at the 2001 vintage, driven mainly by the Screwcap Initiative, an affiliation of producers who’d had enough of their wines…

BACK TO BLACK It’s always been the go-to colour in fashion, but black is just as iconic and stylish when it comes to home decor. Accents of black add sophistication, clever contrast and, best of all, it goes with everything! Black can be used in so many ways but if you’re daring enough, paint a wall or two with this dramatic hue. Rich and moody chocolate hues set the tone this season. We’re seeing a move away from the hugely popular Scandi trend and a shift towards darker wood tones for a bit of retro glamour. Park Avenue bar cabinet, $1699. freedomfurniture.co.nz  Ode nest tables in walnut, $599.nood.co.nz Unique style Mixing old and new will create a space with heart and personality as well as creating interesting focal points.…

• Grow microgreens such as baby rocket, cress, radishes and mustard to pimp up petite savouries and garnish tiny tartlets. Sow thickly in a shallow container of potting mix; they’ll be ready to snip within 7-10 days. • Offer a selection of green, black, herbal and fruit teas, and a small side bowl to put the spent tea bags in. • It goes without saying that your sandwiches should always be served with the crusts cut off. Make them at the last minute and use a scone or cookie cutter to create cute shapes or fancy fluted edges. • Lemonade scones are foolproof. Mix together 300ml cream, 1 can lemonade and 4 cups self-raising flour. Turn out onto a floured board to cut into squares or rounds and bake at…

• Just 90km from Cairns is the Atherton Tablelands food trail. Known as the deli of the tropics, it offers a smorgasbord of produce and fruit, from tasty bananas to the ripest of mangoes. • Food lovers have five diverse Taste Paradise Food Trails to choose from: the Mountain Tablelands Food Trail, Coral Coast Trail, Savannah Tablelands Trail, Rainforest Food Trail and the Cassowary Coast. Here you can indulge in coffee, cheese, chocolates and other produce from the best-known local producers, providores and cellar doors. • If you have a sweet tooth, try the homemade fudge and rock candy at the Kuranda Candy Kitchen. • Coffee lovers can visit the Skybury coffee plantation in Mareeba and relax on a deck overlooking Australia’s oldest coffee plantation. • Fancy tasting mango wine…

Starring Carey Mulligan, Billie Piper and John Simm. Written by Oscar-nominated scribe David Hare ( The Hours / The Reader ) and with fellow Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan in the lead role, BBC four-parter Collateral certainly comes with my kind of binge-watching credentials. There is also something rather refreshing about knowing you’re diving in for just four episodes – longer than a movie, shorter than six seasons of Games of Thrones ! This is very much a slow-to-unravel political thriller, in the vein of the brilliant  State of Play (2003) but with a more modern pace and clip to proceedings. If dark twists and turns and classy Brit TV is your thing, then so might be…

Apicare New Zealand Award-winning manuka therapy 30% honey crème continues to offer relief to eczema and psoriasis prone skins. Formulated for sensitive, damaged skin with effective amounts of healing ingredients. Free from Cortisone, added colour and fragrance. Suitable for all age groups from the very young to the much older folk. Available from pharmacies and selected stores throughout New Zealand and from www.apicare.co.nz Design Denmark Glerups are Danish-designed indoor shoes, felted from 95% New Zealand and 5% Gotland sheep wool. Designer Nanny Glerup uses pure, natural wool, and soft vegetable-tanned calfskin to ensure the highest quality felt shoes. Crafted with love and care – from farm to feet. Glerups are available at Design Denmark, Clevedon Woolshed, and Cadeaux. Design Denmark - Ponsonby, Auckland | (09) 361 3333 www.designdenmark.co.nz…

Letter of the month The Australian Women’s Weekly is a wonderful publication featuring amazing women who have achieved much in their lives, but as I read through the April edition one particular person stood out. Jess Quinn [right] is not an actress, a princess or television personality, but a young girl who was diagnosed with cancer at an early age. This young lady and her parents attacked the cancer with intensity, having her lower leg amputated to halt the disease. There were hard times for her to adjust to life with a limb missing but she overcame that with great determination.  She’s attractive inside and out, with such a positive attitude and trying to influence others to achieve like she has.   My best wishes for Jess’ future…

When I first learnt that Kylie’s new album Golden was a country fusion, I was a little reticent... but it is mesmerising. Sumptuous pop riffs and the discovery that Kylie has the perfect country voice. It’s an extraordinary blend of classic Kylie pop, yet soul-baring country-style lyrics. It’s personal. It’s deep. Her most raw thoughts set to music ever, yet somehow with their catchy, sunny melodies those thoughts are made beautiful. And that has always been Kylie’s style. To see good rather than bad. To create ease rather than stress. I’ve known Kylie for some time now and I’m glad to say we have an emotional shorthand. Kylie is and always was extraordinary and special, yet down-to-earth real. We meet in The Ritz in London. She has The Royal Suite…

In Helen Brown’s study, there is a framed piece of paper that sits pride of place, but not for a good reason. It’s a reference once given to her mother, Noelene, when she was about to leave the newspaper she worked for because she was getting married. Noelene had become a journalist during the war, when most of the men were out of New Zealand but the news still had to be reported. Noelene loved the media and continued to work in it for much of her life. But the reference was, one could euphemistically say, very of its time. “It says, ‘[Noelene] was an excellent reporter, in fact, she was almost as good as a man,’” Helen recalls. She’s paraphrasing slightly, she admits, but the gist remains. The insinuation…

Anne Salmond has done more than most in this country to foster understanding between Maori and Pakeha. The Distinguished Professor of Maori Studies and Anthropology was created a Dame in 1995 for services to historical research and honoured as New Zealander of the Year in 2013. But you get the impression she enjoys most the title “Whaea”, meaning “Aunty”, bestowed on her by her students in Auckland University’s Maori Studies Department. Her latest project is for Maori Television but it speaks to all New Zealanders. As Anne says, “It tells us as much about our present and future as our past.” Called Artefact, the six-part series is about precious taonga, or treasures. If you’re thinking that sounds a little dry, it is anything but. The episodes are packed with fascinating…

BLACK-BELT BEGINNINGS “I buy what I like; if a bracelet is fantastic and it’s only five dollars, all the better.” I started buying my own clothes when I was 12. My mother – who always dressed beautifully and was extraordinary for her time in that she went to college and then law school but dropped out when she was pregnant with me – went back to work, opening a boutique during the Great Depression. In spring 1933, Easter was coming and I had no new finery suitable for walking down Fifth Avenue in the Easter Parade. My mother was too busy working to accompany me – she felt truly sorry about that. But she did give me the magnificent sum of 25 dollars to go out and assemble an…

Q I have always been a shorter, plumper build and while I love my body shape, I have always dreamed of being a little taller. My friends have said there are ways to dress to make me look taller but I’m not sure how. What would be your advice? A Your friends are right – there are ways to dress to make you look taller. The most successful way to do this is to keep the same colour running vertically from neckline to hemline. This will draw the eye up and down rather than from side to side. Avoid tops and bottoms in different colours or prints as they tend to cut the body in half. Something else to consider is to make sure your shoes match the colour of…

1. Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells Intense Revitalizing Emulsion, $364. A silky, lightweight version of Lancôme’s classic advanced anti-ageing cream that leaves skin hydrated and plump-looking. 2. Guerlain KissKiss Matte Lipstick, $60. No one should be shy about applying this divine-looking lippy in public. 3. Chloé Nomade 50ml EDP, $149. A soft, elegant new fragrance with notes of plum, freesia and oak moss. 4. Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Eye Serum, $115. Look bright-eyed and bushy tailed by staving off the dryness that makes fine lines and puffiness more prominent. 5. Organic Nation More Than Rose Hydration Mist, $70. Calm skin and senses with hydrating goodies and a good concentration of damask rose, known to take down redness and inflammation. 6. Bees Brilliance Manuka Honey Exfoliating Cleanser, $32.…

Caramel and banana French toast SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 2½ cups (625ml) cream 75g butter ½ cup (110g) firmly packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 loaf (360g) brioche 2 large (460g) bananas 1 For caramel sauce, place ½ cup of the cream, 50g of the butter and the brown sugar in a small heavy-based saucepan over medium heat; cook, stirring continuously, for 5 minutes until sugar dissolves and sauce starts to bubble and thicken. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm. 2 Pour 1¼ cups cream into a shallow dish. Add eggs and 2 tablespoons water; whisk with a fork until combined. Cut brioche into eight 2cm thick slices. Thinly slice bananas on an angle. 3 Working in batches, heat a little of the remaining butter…

Chicken in a pot SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES 1.5kg whole chicken, trussed 30g butter, softened 4 thin slices prosciutto (60g) 2 medium leeks (700g), trimmed, cut into 1cm slices 2 large carrots (360g), chopped coarsely 2 trimmed celery stalks (200g), sliced thickly 2 medium parsnips (500g), peeled, chopped coarsely 1 fresh rosemary sprig 4 fresh thyme sprigs 1 cup (250ml) dry white wine 1 cup (250ml) chicken stock 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped coarsely 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). 2 Place chicken in a 7-litre (28-cup) casserole dish. Rub butter over chicken breast; cover with prosciutto. Arrange the vegetables and herbs around the chicken; add wine and stock to dish. Roast, covered, for 1 hour. 3…

What is stevia? The stevia plant is a relative of the chrysanthemum family (think also daisies and marigolds). Its leaves offer a sweetness 200 times sweeter than sugar – without any calories. While it may be unfamiliar to many of us, stevia has been harvested and used in recipes by indigenous people for more than 1500 years. The native peoples of Brazil and Paraguay called it ka’a he’ê, the “sweet herb”, and used it in yerba mate tea, medicines and sweet treats. A fine crop Grown in South America and Asia, there are about 200 species of the stevia plant,with Stevia rebaudiana being the most sought-after variety. Its leaves contain compounds that provide the sweet taste humans love, with the bonus that it doesn’t cause tooth decay! Since stevia requires…

While screwcaps may be good for wine quality, there are other aspects to consider. The cork is the most environmentally friendly wine stopper, as only the bark of the cork oak is used (roughly every 25 years) and the tree continues to live and grow for up to 300 years. Aluminium screwcaps are more energy intensive to produce, although in NZ, this is partially offset by our renewable energy sources. So make sure you do recycle your screwcaps (and wine bottles too). You can double the good work via the Lion Club’s recycling initiative, Kan Tabs, which collects and recycles wine screwcaps and tabs from aluminium cans to fundraise for Kidney Kids. More than 45,000kg of aluminium has been recycled so far and $100,000 raised. See: kidneykids.org.nz/how-you-can-help/kan-tabs/…

WHAT YOU NEED • Large selection of washi or coloured tapes in varying widths • Frame and matting board with cut-out circles (ours was custom cut by Factory Frames, factoryframes.co.nz) • 1 sheet of A3 art paper for artwork plus extra for card • Ruler and pencil • Scissors • Firm cardboard for card • Wooden skewers • Craft knife • Hot glue gun and glue sticks There is so much fun to be had with washi tape, from artwork to homemade cards, wall decals and gift wrapping. It’s inexpensive and readily available from many stationery or art supply shops. Pick colours and patterns you simply love and ones that will complement your chosen space. CIRCLE ART  1 For the circle artwork start by choosing a frame and the number…

No matter how tiny your garden – even if it’s just a balcony or patio – you have room for a substantial flower or vegetable garden if you grow upwards. Vertical gardens can clothe the wall of a balcony or each wall of a sunny courtyard. You can buy freestanding vertical gardens to use as privacy screens, to hold flowers, or to give you herbs and vegetables. BUILD AND MAINTAIN A good vertical garden needs only a scatter of slow-release plant food every few months and an automatic drip or seeping watering system. Sunshine is usually more reliable on a wall, so in most cases you’ll get more sun on a vertical garden than on in-ground beds, and vertical gardens will be protected from light frosts, too. A “ready to…

“I knew I had found the right one.” I caught myself in town the other day avoiding the rain. This is what you do in the city: you simply run from office to car, from car to supermarket, from car to house, and rarely do you wear a raincoat. An umbrella suffices, but it really only works if you do that weird tippy-toe run that I do when I’m avoiding rain. I found myself doing it the other day and wondered why on earth doing a tippy-toe run makes the rain fall any less heavily and keeps me any drier. Nevertheless, tippy-toe is what I do when it rains in the city. In the country, the rain is a whole other matter. In the country, you get really, really wet…

Go back in time and enjoy the past at the Tauranga Vintage Festival. Held over the weekend of May 26 and 27, the event has plenty to keep the whole family happy. For more information, go to littlebigevents.co.nz. Get ready for the biggest Steampunk Festival the Southern Hemisphere has ever seen. Held in Oamaru over five days, from May 31 to June 4, the festival will delight fans of this retro sci-fi movement. See steampunknz.co.nz. The internationally acclaimed exhibition of real human bodies is currently in Auckland. Body Worlds Vital focuses on contemporary diseases and ailments and how everyday lifestyle choices can improve health and wellness. The exhibition gives revealing insight into the human body and how it works. For more information, go to bodyworldsvital.com.…

CIRCE by Madeline Miller , Bloomsbury. Review and interview by Juliet Rieden. Even though we may not realise it, the ancient Greek myths are embedded in our culture, their tales interwoven in our language and, as US author Madeline Miller has discovered, these stories of fierce justice and dark emotion still pack a punch. Her first novel, The Song of Achilles, was a New York Times best seller and with her second tale, Circe, she has brilliantly tapped into the topical debate around female empowerment with a rollicking page-turner. Madeline plucks Circe, daughter of the sun god, Helios, from Homer’s The Odyssey, where she’s a nymph who turns into a vengeful sorceress. The novel opens with Circe’s unpromising birth. “Her hair is streaked like a lynx. And…

Zebrano | sizes 14+ Exquisitely designed clothes and a selection to die for... Choose from Australia and New Zealand’s top labels in sizes 14+. Euphoria, Mela Purdie, Chocolat, Obi, Curate by Trelise Cooper, 17 Sundays, Siren, Stella Royal, NYDJ, Banana Blue and so much more. New-season styles are arriving now. Visit us online for ideas, lookbooks and to shop, or try your favourite styles in-store. www.zebrano.co.nz Shoe Talk Ltd Where fashion and comfort meet in the middle, footwear that fits the Kiwi foot, including wide widths! Everything from flats to heels, sandals to casual styles and ankle boots. Stockists of the uber-comfortable Propét Walking Shoes and the fashionable Walking Cradles range. Browns Bay and Henderson Auckland www.shoetalk.co.nz To advertise on these pages, contact Kim Chapman on (07) 578…

Taurus APR 22-MAY 21 It’s all going on at Taurus Central this month. Exhilarating? You bet. Uncomfortable? Only in passing. Expect these feelings to peak when mid-May’s astro-whammy of Mercury, new moon and revolutionary Uranus all arrive simultaneously in Taurus – your zodiac sign of cash, assets, possessions and relationships. While you honour tried and true traditions, future-oriented Uranus wants everything old made new again, so expect an extreme revamp and upgrade in which you, creatures of habit, might just shock everyone – including yourselves. So how about starting with that special request you’ve been wanting to make for some time? GEMINI • MAY 22-JUN 22 As Uranus, the planet associated with technological progress, shifts to earthy, body-oriented Taurus, this month takes you out of your head into your senses…

When I need to get some spark back into my soul... I try to get into nature, whether it’s the bush, the sea or a lake. My favourite pet growing up… Was my cat Lisa! We had her for such a long time and when she died I was devastated. My fondest childhood memory is… Going to the beaches in Dunedin and a having a barbecue – a metal plate over a little fire. Growing up, that’s what I thought a barbecue was! The last time I cried laughing was… Watching the new season of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Every single episode makes me cry with laughter. The item I would save from a fire is… Drawings and cards my kids have given me. The fictional character that…

The update Charity, not gifts THE GOLD-TRIMMED invitations have been sent, the cake has been commissioned and somewhere a couturier is putting finishing touches on the year’s most anticipated wedding dress. In a few short weeks, Prince Harry will wed his American bride Meghan Markle after a two-year romance. The couple have asked guests to donate to one of seven charities rather than bring gifts. The details THE FLOWERS London florist Philippa Craddock (above) will decorate the chapel with white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves. THE INVITE Die-stamped in gold, then burnished, the gilded invitations were created by Barnard and Westwood. THE CAKE Violet Bakery owner Claire Ptak will create a lemon elderflower cake with buttercream and fresh floral decorations. THE RECEPTION Luncheon at St George’s Hall and a reception…

The year 2020 promises to be one for the history books, a moment in time when two opposing forces seem destined to collide. Donald Trump, if his presidency has not imploded by then, will seek re-election. American women will mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which granted them the right to vote. Unsurprisingly, female campaigners, emboldened by #MeToo, Time’s Up and the Weinstein effect, are linking these two events. What better way to mark the centenary of women’s suffrage, they reckon, than to shatter the most durable glass ceiling in global politics, and to evict from the White House a boorish misogynist who has boasted of sexually molesting women? Three Democratic women, determined to succeed where Hillary Clinton failed, harbour ambitions to be in the centre of that…

“My best friends are people who know me really well, perhaps better than I know myself.” You can’t get through this roller-coaster ride called Life without a great bunch of friends by your side. Friendships come in different levels of closeness, and I suppose a “best friend” would be the top tier of the cake. What I don’t get, though, is the concept of having just one best friend. I much prefer the polygamist best-friend lifestyle. You can’t really choose a best friend – well, I can’t anyway. They just sort of happen. I count myself very fortunate to have more than one with the top title. These best friends all serve different roles in my life, and each friendship has its own dynamic. We all have different types of…

Red romance One of the key tones this season, red is the perfect way to refresh your wardrobe. STYLIST’S TIP Pick a colour for your accessories, then mix it up with different textures and tones. Geo style Checks and angles give a striking line. Bold accessories Stack on brightly coloured bangles, pop on a pair of statement earrings and carry a colourful bag for quick and easy way to add fun to your look. STYLIST’S TIP If you’re colour-blocking your outfit, choose a patterned bag to add some zing. Eyewear Go big and round, just like Iris does. For a balanced look, match the frame to your outfit. Faux fur coat There’s nothing like a furry coat to keep you warm as the weather cools. Stay fabulous with bold colours…

Foundations have evolved dramatically over the past five years. Advanced new formulations offer a handful of benefits over and above simple complexion coverage so it’s worth reevaluating if your tried and true favourite is still your best option. CONSIDER YOUR SKIN TYPE. IS IT DRY, OILY OR COMBINATION? IF IT’S DRY: Look for one that offers extra hydration and glow-inducing properties. IF IT’S OILY: Avoid any overly dewy finishes; the new long-wear offerings are your best bet. IF IT’S COMBINATION: Go for lightweight formulas that adjust to your needs, controlling midday shine without looking flaky and dry by 3pm. FINISH IS EVERYTHING: Are you looking for a sheer, lightweight product that you can apply just where you feel you need a bit of smoothing, or do you like full coverage…

The damage could start before you know you have the disease Have you ever been in that situation where you go along for a regular check-up and your doctor looks at the scales, does the calculation for your healthy weight range, looks you in the eye and says,“You are a few kilograms over your healthy weight range.” It is one of the more awkward conversations we as general practitioners need to have with our patients. To be frank, most patients who are overweight know they are. Many women come in and tell me that before we even get started. But when your doctor tells you that your weight is in the unhealthy or medically obese range, it can come as a shock. Decades of health messages have cut through so…

QI have a toddler who’s always falling over and I’m concerned when he takes a knock to the head. Are there any signs I should be on the lookout for that would indicate he may have seriously hurt himself? H.G. Falls are an occupational hazard for a toddler just learning to walk. You need to be so vigilant, but they will still get the occasional head bump. Warnings signs of head injury are loss of consciousness (even briefly), drowsiness, unequal pupil size, vomiting, unsteadiness, irritability and clear or bloody discharge from the nose or ear. Q My boyfriend’s snoring is driving me batty. I’m a light sleeper and his snoring is so loud it wakes me up at night. Sometimes I even have to sleep in another room. He knows…

Slow-cooker lamb ragu with pappardelle SERVES 4-6 PREP AND COOK TIME 4½ HOURS 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2kg lamb shoulder, bone in 3 cloves garlic, chopped 2 onions, chopped 2 teaspoons oregano leaves ½ cup (140g) tomato paste 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes ⅔ cup (160ml) red wine 2 teaspoons sea salt flakes 375g dried pappardelle fresh parmesan, to serve GREMOLATA ½ bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped finely 2 cloves garlic, chopped finely finely grated rind of 1 lemon 1 In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, place 1 tablespoon of olive oil and brown lamb on all sides. Place in the bowl of a slow-cooker, set to high. 2 In the same pan, reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining oil. Sauté garlic and…

When entertaining, you can’t really go wrong with serving a cheese board. Rule of thumb is to keep it simple. If you are having a big party, showcase one really stunning cheese like a whole wheel of ripe triple crème brie with very simple accompaniments. For a smaller gathering, it’s nice to have about three or four interesting varieties, each with a point of difference, for your guests to try, like an aged cheddar or a triple cream brie, classic blue and washed rind. Savvy serving Serving cheese at the right temperature is important to allow the full flavours to be appreciated. Place the cheeses on the serving board and cover with a clean damp tea towel for up to two hours before serving. This allows the cheese to come…

WHO LIVES HERE? Chrissie Jeffery and her husband Richard Banks have called their apartment in Sydney home for the past six years. The historic building dates back to the early 1900s and the common areas of the apartments have retained much of the character of that time. However, the couple’s use of colour and their passion for modern art mean their particular corner of the building is nothing if not contemporary. “When we moved in, the previous tenants had been here for more than 15 years and all the rooms were painted oaky yellows, drawing-room red and those sorts of very late 1980s colours,” says Chrissie. “I felt that what we needed to do first was just paint it out, so I painted the whole apartment soft white, painted the…

When Prince William married Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011, I threw a party. A gaggle of gal-pals and I gathered to ogle at Pippa Middleton’s impossibly perky derrière, admire Kate’s lovely lace bodicework and play “guess every bloom” in her elegant, understated bouquet. (For the record, she carried sprigs of lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, hyacinths, ivy and myrtle, which, in the Victorian language of flowers, respectively stand for happiness, gallantry, constancy, fidelity and enduring love.) By the time the newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared their first kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, we’d downed too many mojito mocktails and eaten our fill of vanilla cupcakes with pale-blue buttercream icing, for the royal wedding just happened to coincide with my eldest son’s baby shower. This month, when…

• Feast on autumn harvests: pumpkins, Brussels sprouts, feijoas, persimmons, hard cooking pears, apples, pineapple-scented quinces and Jerusalem artichokes. • Fill baskets with winter bloomers. Flowers may not bloom as freely in cold weather, but they last longer. Pots or punnets bought today will give you months of colour. • Place 60cm hydrangea or hibiscus cuttings 30cm deep in moist sand for new bushes next year. • Go for a walk to find the best plants in your area for autumn colour. • Place pots of zygocactus on a sunny windowsill for flowers all winter.…

“Ramble barefoot on a pristine beach, take a dip in the blue sea.” World Heritage sites on the left, World Heritage attractions on the right. Scenic drives don’t get much better than this. The 67km stretch between Cairns and Port Douglas is nothing short of spectacular. On one side of the road there’s that famous icon, the Great Barrier Reef, in all its glory, and on the other side you will see the Wet Tropics Rainforest, where waterfalls tumble and plants and trees thrive. The dramatic, photogenic roadway twists and turns, enticing visitors to stop and explore, whether it’s a barefoot ramble along a pristine beach, a dip in the blue sea – where you may well spot dolphins – or pulling into laid-back seaside villages to discover gourmet gems.…

Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody burst onto the scene with the freshest of voices and now Tully sees her prove her creative mettle once gain. Anyone who knows me knows that the shamelessly tasteless, tactless and manipulative mission by Hollywood to tap into the “Mom” market with “Bad Moms” movies makes me crazy with a disappointed and barely containable rage. They are a loathesome pot-pourri of every cliché of modern motherhood thrown into the frat-house blender of R-rated pseudo-comedy. And then, praise be, there is Tully, the best kind of palette cleanser. So real you feel every single sleepless night, so intense you feel it like it’s your own story, and so rewarding to revel in the knowledge that finally we have film-makers who get what motherhood can really feel…

THE BOOKSHOP OF THE BROKEN HEARTED by Robert Hillman , Text Publishing This book arrived in The Australian Women’s Weekly office with the description that it has “huge heart” and “generates big feelings”. It’s an apt summation. As the title suggests, there is much sadness, but it has joy too. The huge heart is personified by Tom Hope – a quiet, humble man who, although not much of a farmer, tends a bit of land in Victoria, Australia. Not much of a conversationalist either, Tom is nevertheless the steady rock that keeps this story grounded as love drifts in and out of his life. The bookshop of the title is opened in Tom’s unsophisticated, late-1960s rural community by the vibrant, slightly mad Hannah Babel, a culturally accomplished…

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1 Every recipe in The Australian Women’s Weekly is triple-tested by our world-famous Test Kitchen, established in 1950. Each dish is created by our food team, then tested three times to ensure it works as well for you in your kitchen as it does in ours. 2 You can trust The Australian Women’s Weekly’s food team to be first with the new trends – after all, we introduced Chinese cooking into homes in the 1970s and are now giving mainstream appeal to the new world of superfoods and clean eating. 3 Ingredients we use will be readily available in your local supermarket and if we do suggest an exotic item, we always give an alternative that’s easy to find.…