Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

In just a few weeks Queen Elizabeth – the world’s longest reigning monarch – will turn 93. No doubt preparations for the big day are already well underway. And we hope, for such a wonderful milestone, that the celebrations are plentiful. It’s likely the royal family will be out in force – surely if anyone can demand a full attendance for such a day, it’s the Queen! And while all eyes will be on the monarch, there will also be many watching to see whether there is any truth to the rumours of recent months surrounding the allegedly frayed relationship between the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex, Kate and Meghan. The sisters-in-law were seen together for the royal family Christmas service at St Mary’s Magdalene in Norfolk, after reportedly being…

“Plantae” is Latin for Plant Kingdom. The Plantae skincare range is an ode to New Zealand and its flora and fauna. By using the purest organic ingredients in its formulations, Plantae captures nature’s essence to deliver products that have natural healing and soothing properties. Our letter of the month writer this month will receive a Plantae Essentials mini set and full-size Plantae Bergamot Orange Cleansing Milk, Ivy Cleansing Gel, Bitter Orange Blossom Spritz, Rose Hip Fruit & Seed Serum and Watercress Day Lotion, worth a total of $262. Writers of other published letters will receive an Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook.…

Robert Irwin, teenage son of the original wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, stands outside the entrance to a magnificent century-old timber Queenslander house. One moment he is joking with his older sister Bindi’s boyfriend Chandler Powell – a good-natured rough-and-tumble, push-and-shove mateship – and the next he is running through leaf-scattered undergrowth, bending to pick up a tiny ball of fluff that has fallen from a nearby tree. “It was the sweetest thing,” recalls his sister Bindi, later. “Robert spotted a baby bird falling from its nest in the upper branches of the tree. It was struggling on the ground and the father bird was frantic and distressed. The baby bird couldn’t fly yet, so there was no way that the mother could get it back into the nest, and if…

Getting children of any age to smile for a photo shoot is the work of many. Sometimes there’s a favourite toy dangled behind the camera, sometimes it’s a parent urging for a smile, sometimes it’s a jangly set of keys or a funny noise. For Olympia Buckley, it is Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon. Olympia’s mother, Mimi Gilmour Buckley, is dancing with her daughter to a playlist called “Poochie” – the family’s nickname for Olympia – and the minute Frank’s voice booms out of the speaker, an irrepressible grin spreads across Olympia’s wee face. Mimi, 34, is one of the creative and hospitality geniuses behind the Mexico and Burger Burger restaurant groups. In February 2017, she and her husband Stephen Buckley welcomed Olympia, their long-awaited baby girl, into…

How are your New Year resolutions going? That long list of self-improvements seemed so feasible on December 31 but now I’m finding it all a bit of a hard slog. Eat better, drink less, exercise more, join the gym, de-clutter… I had all the usual things on my list of good intentions, but now I’ve decided it’s time to redefine my goals. I’ve decided to simplify things and just embrace the concept of being me. I’m not going for “a better me” or “the new improved me”; I’m basically just cutting myself some slack and being kinder to myself. This is not about easing up on the gym work, nor is it an excuse to have another biscuit or, as has been known in the past, to finish the whole…

Form and function Prene Bags are becoming a firm favourite with Kiwi women. Made from neoprene (wetsuit material), the bags are lightweight and machine washable. The tote pictured here is perfect for a day at the beach or use it like Toni Street as a stylish baby bag. prenebags.co.nz Be bold by investing in some statement shoes. If you are partial to an all-black outfit, this is a way to bring a little colour into your world without going over the top. TOP DRESSING We all know it’s important to wear a good hat when you’re outside in our summer sun. New Zealand brand Moochi want to keep you sun-safe and stylish with their Mr Fray hat ($80). moochi.com Accessorise Add interest to a simple summer outfit…

1. If you’re prone to cold sores, a supplement containing the essential amino acid lysine, such as Nutra-Life Lysine 1200, $20, can help maintain healthy skin and lips. 2. Founded by Dr Libby Weaver, Bio Blends Skin Nutrition, $60, helps increase luminosity and firmness in the skin and is said to target signs of stress, including dark circles, uneven tone, dryness, spots, redness and rapid ageing. 3. Swisse Ultiboost Hair Skin Nails+, $28, contains silica and vitamin C, which play an integral role in the creation of collagen, and biotin to help strengthen soft, brittle nails. 4. Re.skin Re.vive supplements, $170 for a one-month supply, combines the benefits of New Zealand marine collagen with 20 antioxidant-rich vitamins and minerals to help combat visible signs of ageing. A serum is included…

As a dietitian, I’ve been helping people lose weight and improve their health for a decade. Intermittent fasting, which involves alternating periods of eating with short periods of fasting, has been on my radar since 2012. I use a variety of intermittent fasting regimens with my patients, and it has proved to be one of the most effective and easiest tools for successful and sustained weight and health management. I’ve never encountered a more potent or user-friendly way of manipulating weight and short-term health incomes. The thing I love about intermittent fasting most is that it’s not a “diet”. I once heard it referred to as a “health strategy”, and I think that describes it perfectly. When you’re in fasting mode, it’s only for a short time and it’s over…

Are pregnant, breastfeeding, underweight (BMI under 20), under 18 years old or elderly (seek advice from your medical practitioner). Have a history of disordered eating – binge eating or restrictive eating. Have problems controlling your blood glucose. Suffer from fasting side-effects, like headaches, and are in a position (such as a truck driver or a surgeon) where you may endanger other people. Are taking or undergoing any of the following: medication for high blood glucose and insulin levels such as Metformin; insulin for diabetes; medications that need to be taken at a particular time of the day with food, medication for blood pressure or heart conditions; chemotherapy or radiotherapy.…

Q My kids are a bit overweight and I’m trying to limit processed food but I find food labels confusing. How do I decipher labels to find the healthiest choices? F.D. Focus on a wide variety of fresh, unprocessed foods, including vegetables and fruit and lean protein sources. Remove soft drinks and juices from the house and offer water only for drinking. Your GP can refer you to a dietitian for coaching on how to read food labels on packaged foods. Encourage regular physical activity. Q How useful is BMI for knowing your correct weight? I feel like it doesn’t take into account differences in body shape. Is there a better way to know what a healthy weight is? K.Y. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a useful tool for assessing…

Italian f lag roast vegetables with sausages SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 50 MINUTES 1½ teaspoons Tuscan seasoning 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 4 medium (480g) zucchinis, halved lengthways 4 medium (750g) potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly 4 medium (180g) vine ripened tomatoes, halved crossways 12 pork and fennel sausages (about 100g each) 1 bunch rocket leaves 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line a large oven tray with baking paper. 2 In a small bowl, combine the Tuscan seasoning with the olive oil. Season with sea salt flakes and black pepper. 3 Brush a little of the seasoned oil over the base of the tray. Arrange zucchini, cut side down, on the left third of the tray. Arrange potatoes, slightly overlapping, in the middle third of…

We tend to think of Valentine’s Day as a day for the expression of love for fellow humans, but of course, you can also use it as a chance to bestow a little love on your wine choices. While there’s always comfort in a familiar embrace, every time you choose a bottle of wine to drink it also comes with the opportunity to discover something thrillingly new. There’s mystery, intrigue even, in the discovery of new tastes and experiences. You may choose to dabble and then move on, but equally, you might just fall in love with a whole new variety or style of wine. Give yourself the chance to explore, as wine is one area where monogamy is definitely the least rewarding option.…

The wonder that is Cirque du Soleil is coming to Auckland this February to impress audiences of all ages. Kooza is a breathtaking, colourful homage to the traditions of circus.For tickets go to cirquedusoleil.com/kooza. NAPIER FESTIVAL & CAPITAL EVENTS Travel back to the glitz and glamour of the 1930s at the Napier Art Deco Festival. The annual festival will feature lavish festivities for the week of February 13-17. For more information, go to hawkesbaynz.com China’s famous terracotta army is one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds, and part of it is on show at Te Papa until April. Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality showcases eight warriors and two full-size horses from the tomb of China’s first emperor. See tepapa.govt.nz for details. Performance Arcade returns to Wellington’s waterfront from Feb 22-24…

The Familiars by Stacey Halls , Allen & Unwin (on sale Feb 4) Review by Juliet Rieden Historical fiction never goes out of fashion, but since The Miniaturist ignited global best-seller lists back in 2014, the audience has exploded. This partly explains why nine publishers fought over The Familiars even though it was by a debut author, but there is more to it. Stacey Halls’ magnificent tale of sorcery and demonic witchcraft conjures up a fascinating gothic world with women right at its heart. Feisty, outspoken Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 and pregnant for the fourth time. She married at 13 but keeps on losing her babies and with this pregnancy is sick up to 40 times a day. Fleetwood longs to give her handsome husband, Richard, an…

SMALL BLESSINGS by Emily Brewin, Allen & Unwin High-powered lawyer Isobel Hutchins has spent years climbing the corporate ladder, to the detriment of her marriage and her relationship with her parents. Now in her 40s, the news that her mother has terminal cancer prompts Isobel to seek IVF treatment and finally become a mum herself. In a parallel narrative, former heroin user Rosie Larson is raising her 11-year-old autistic son Petey on her own. Rosie, who had a troubled childhood and once lived rough with abusive drug addict Joel, is now trying to make a better life for herself and her son, but lives in constant fear of Joel reappearing and ruining their lives. They’re two very different women with little in common, but when Rosie and Isobel’s lives intersect…

My fondest childhood memory is… So many! Swimming in the river and wineberry picking in Gisborne when we visited Grandma (eating them later with cream); playing go home, stay home every lunchtime with my intermediate school friends; the annual fish pond clean-out at Grandma’s house. The things I am looking forward to most in 2019 are… Getting an electric bicycle. Seeing singer Lauryn Hill perform live. Camping at the beach in Northland for eight days. …

WOMEN DOMINATE AWARDS Olivia Colman won scores of fans when she accepted her Golden Globe with a very British “cor blimey” but it was Glenn Close who stole the show when she called for women to follow their dreams. Glenn said playing a woman whose talent took a back seat to her husband’s taught her that women are expected to nurture others, but they need to find fulfilment. “We have to say, ‘I can do that,’ and ‘I should be allowed to do that,’” she said. ROYAL TWINS TURN EIGHT The youngest members of the Danish royal family, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, have celebrated their eighth birthday. To mark the occasion, the family released some intimate snaps that Crown Princess Mary took herself. ACCOLADES FOR YOUNG KIWI STAR THOMASIN…

The goddess in the Japanese sauna is my friend. As she lowers herself into the steaming pool I think of the classic fertility figure of our most ancient cultures. My friend is a Venus de Milo whose delicate frame billows with luminous pink flesh. Her belly and breasts are generous mounds of fat. Her arms and legs are dimpled and round. The sheer amplitude of her shape – its fecundity, its softness – glows in the dim moist air. In this primal setting, she is feminine beauty personified, worshipped for millennia. She is also blessed with low blood pressure and a steady heart rate. I am 100 kilos lighter than her. Four years ago, my doctor told me to lose eight kilos or go on permanent high blood pressure medication.…

As parents of two darling little humans, booking a weekend at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland with my husband seemed a tad indulgent since we live nearby – but it proved a dream getaway and the perfect chance to relax and reconnect. Conrad and I booked a ‘for the romantics’ package at our favourite hotel and happily agreed to leave our parent guilt at home. Right from the get-go, we discovered the package was designed for ease, comfort and pampering. After valet parking and a warm welcome from our lovely receptionist, we changed for dinner and headed to the Lobby Lounge for a crisp cocktail and a catch-up on the week. If you’ve never eaten at Eight, I promise it’s an experience to tick off your list. It’s called Eight…

QI am going away for a summer break with the family but due to limited space in the car I can only bring a limited amount of baggage. I always get stressed at the thought of having to pre-plan outfits for a week and wondered whether you had any advice on how to pack a small yet stylish suitcase for a beachy getaway. A Packing for a summer break is easier than you may think as you don’t need very much. I would suggest that you lay all your outfits out before packing them so you can visualise what you’ll be wearing, taking your best clothes so you feel fabulous. Select clothes of a similar colour, which will make mixing and matching simple and stress-free. What is important to remember…

• On the 16:8, you don’t need to fast every day, or even every hour of the day. • When you’re not fasting, you can eat with no restrictions. • It’s flexible and can be tailored to your lifestyle. • It can help with weight loss, but the benefits go beyond weight loss. • It targets abdominal fat, which is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease. • It can help to reduce the risk of most major chronic diseases. • It can help reduce blood sugar levels, insulin, cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation. • It can help protect the brain against degenerative diseases. • You don’t have to omit any food groups. • It may help to reduce “junk” food cravings. • It encourages getting in touch with…

Antipasto platter Green olive dip 200g pitted Sicilian green olives, drained ½ teaspoon thyme leaves 1 teaspoon lemon zest 250ml light sour cream 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil grissini, prosciutto, baby carrots, cucumber, flat beans, grape tomatoes, for serving Place olives, thyme, lemon zest and sour cream into a small food processor; process until almost smooth but with some texture. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to a small bowl, drizzle with the olive oil and place on a platter with serving accompaniments. Marinated bocconcini 2 medium (300g) ripe Roma tomatoes 2 tablespoons dukkah 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley 300g cherry bocconcini, drained Grill the whole tomatoes on all sides over a flame until blackened all over. (If you don’t have a gas cooktop, you can grill the…

Prep and packing tips Do-ahead hacks Consider ways to reduce work by preparing ahead of time; here are just a few. Cut a week’s worth of vegetable sticks (to eat with dips) on Sunday; they’ll keep all week, portioned in containers. Bake double batches of muffins, cakes or scones and freeze. Use your slow cooker or pressure cooker to make big batches of lunches. Use leftovers Get creative; leftover Bolognese sauce, curry, home-made baked beans or a meat-based casserole can be baked in puff pastry to make easy pies for lunch. The freezer is your friend The extent of foods which can be frozen may surprise you. Many prepared sandwiches will freeze, including those filled with grated cheese, peanut butter, ham, salami and roast meats. Mustards, pickles, mayo and chutneys…

EASY SLICES Make back-to-school lunches a breeze with Dairyworks Natural Cheese Slices, which are cut to the perfect size for sandwich-making. Available in 32-slice packs of Edam or Tasty for $8.99 from supermarkets. WHAT A SNIP! Tullen Snips are an indispensable go-to tool for Kiwi households. Perfect for the kitchen, garden, workshop or office, they can cut through virtually anything! Available exclusively from tullen.co.nz for RRP $29.90. FOOD FACT For breakfast, Hollywood darling Marilyn Monroe would eat two raw eggs whipped with warm milk, claiming, “I doubt any doctor could recommend a more nourishing breakfast for a working girl in a hurry.”…

1 2018 MISHA’S VINEYARD ‘THE DRESS CIRCLE’ CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT GRIS, $30 Fresh pear, ripe peaches, spicy gingerbread and quince; a smart wine that walks the line between decorous and decadent with aplomb. Off-dry with a long finish. 2 2016 MISSION ESTATE ‘JEWELSTONE’ HAWKE’S BAY SYRAH, $42 Pretty name, pretty wine; very aromatic with lots of Black Doris plum, pepper, blackberry and violet/ star anise notes. A good match for a top-notch dark chocolate. 3 2018 RABBIT RANCH CENTRAL OTAGO ROSÉ, $22 With a delicious burst of juicy ripe strawberries and a dry, quite textured palate, this is a bright, breezy wine that will be equally at home in a picnic basket as at a romantic dinner à deux. 4 2016 PALLISER ESTATE ‘THE GREAT RIDDLER’ MARTINBOROUGH CHARDONNAY, $85 A…

WHAT YOU NEED • 100% cotton fabric or similar (enough for a picnic-size cloth and 6 napkins) • Scissors • Sewing machine and white thread • Drop cloth • Rubber gloves • Large pot • Ground turmeric • Twine • Large mixing spoon • Metal tongs • Old tub or bucket to place dyed items into Natural fibres such as cotton, linen or unbleached muslin take dye much better than synthetics do. You may need to modify the dyeing times to suit your chosen fabric and/or how much you are dyeing. It might be a good idea to experiment with some scrap fabric before starting. This project is definitely about the individuality of each piece. The end result will be something that is uniquely yours. 1 Cut your fabric to…

FLY: To Entebbe with Qatar Airways and from there to the Kihihi Airstrip with Aerolink Uganda. WE STAYED AT: Buhoma Lodge, just down the road from the National Park Headquarters. The lodge has been known to have gorillas visit its front garden. Buhoma has 10 timber and bamboo chalets tucked into the mountainside, rustic but beautiful, each with their own bathroom and flushing loo. EAT: At the lodge… the food is fresh and beautifully prepared. DON’T FORGET: Wet weather gear (this is a rainforest), boots, possibly gloves if you’re worried about nettles in the forest, and most importantly, your yellow fever vaccination certificate. Book early; visits can be booked out a year in advance. (The lodge can provide gaiters.)…

The Hate U Give Starring Amandla Stenburg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Anthony Mackie and K.J. Apa. Directed by George Tillman Jr. The book this outstanding film was based on was the subject of a heated bidding war between publishers for good reason – it went straight to the top of the New York Times Bestsellers List for Young Adults the week it arrived on the shelves. The film hit cinemas in the US last year and became just as beloved by critics and audiences alike, yours truly among them. What a joy to now see it finally get a release in New Zealand. The fact this story targets the young adult audience is no reason to dismiss it beyond that, as the specificity of the genre is in this case…

Call Me Evie by J. P. Pomare , Hachette The tension in this psychological thriller had me in its thrall from page one and continued a pretty relentless pace right through to its intriguing conclusion. It’s immediately apparent that 17-year-old Kate, now to be known as Evie, is being held against her will in the small New Zealand coastal settlement of Maketu. But why? And who by? Debut author J.P. Pomare (New Zealand-born, now Melbourne-based) uses Kate’s troubled memories to drip-feed his readers with tantalising details of the circumstances in her home town Melbourne that led to her current situation. She knows something bad happened, but those memories are muddled and Kate doesn’t know how much of what she recalls is actually true. Her captor, who she…

Letter of the month I read The Australian Women’s Weekly from cover to cover each month and love all the articles, but the story about Make Give Live in the January issue really resounded with me. I was taught to knit when I was four years old, by my older brother’s girlfriend, and now at 61, I am still knitting. This talent has brought me into contact with some incredible women. When I joined the Women’s Institute in Gisborne, I found out about a lady who was knitting shawls and giving them to the local police force. They kept the blankets in their vehicles, and if they came upon children in need – for example, from car accidents or family violence – they were able to…

ONLINE STARS Millions of people around the world have tuned in to the secret lives of New Zealand albatrosses as the Department of Conservation turns to YouTube in a bid to save the giant seabirds. FEMALE PRESIDENT? A record number of women have entered the 2020 run for US president. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand and Tulsi Gabbard are all hoping to unseat Trump. TALL ORDER The Welsh town of Harlech is challenging New Zealand’s claim to the steepest street in the world. Dunedin’s Baldwin St, with its 1:3 gradient, draws thousands of tourists a year.…

There were two productions that changed the life of former 60 Minutes reporter Amanda Millar in 2018, and one of them is asleep, wearing a pink tutu. Tiny Augusta Smith, at four weeks old, has run the gauntlet of emotions available to newborn babies during the course of her Australian Women’s Weekly photo shoot: rage, sleep, adorableness. Held in the arms of her mother, Tennessee Mansford – Amanda’s 28-year-old daughter – throughout the shoot, Augusta’s arrival in December was the bookend of a momentous, brave year for Amanda, who made her big-screen directorial debut for the documentary Celia, about the life, work and unexpected death of her good friend and social justice advocate Celia Lashlie. The documentary became the hit of the New Zealand Film Festival late last year, referred…

Do you remember what would happen to the “difficult” kids at school? How, after a class interruption or one too many cheeky comments, they’d be sent out of the classroom to the principal’s office, where whatever knot of anger that was inside them would just grow and grow? Well, there’s an alternative. What if, instead of being told off, the student was sent to a quiet, calm room where a staff member would discuss their feelings with them and lead them in some breathing exercises or meditation before sending them back to class? Your reaction to this is likely to depend on where you fall on the touchy-feely scale. But for The Kindness Institute founder Kristina Cavit and her loyal students, the results of regular meditation are tough to argue…

Into the blue A scarf adds a touch of tonal sass to a casual blue and brown ensemble. Sunglasses, $79.lespecs.com Smokey and the Gambit scarf, $230.deadlyponies.com Striped wrap dress, $12 (8-18). postie.co.nz Saddie bag, $469.saben.co.nz Arizona Gator Birkenstocks, $280. birkenstock.co.nz Street cred Keep your cool on a day in town with these super separates. Sia sunglasses, $80. witchery.co.nz Sterling silver Crush choker, $340.herasaabi.com Leo+Be Friends top, $169 (8-14). ketz-ke.com/leo-be Saint skirt, $280 (6-14).marle.co.nz Elle leather flats, $150.seedheritage.com/nz Judy bag (in paper white), $839.yumeibrand.com Golden light Keep under cover in a light, floaty dress so you can enjoy the sun without the burn. Earrings, $129. homageonline.co.nz Megan dress (in store March), $580 (6-14). twentysevennames.co.nz Mischa mini bag, $480. yumeibrand.com Irena heels, $140. witchery.co.nz White hot White is a perennial summer pick – pretty it up with a hint of pink. Wide-brim hat, $65.seedheritage.com/nz La…

Rethink your colour Nothing screams hair rut like having the same dye job in consecutive passport photos. Wondering why you’re not looking your best in your latest? Skin loses pigment as we age, which means that the dark hue you rocked in your 20s and 30s will most likely be doing you no favours now, instead drawing attention to lines in the skin and making you look washed out and older than you feel. Thought grey hair was the enemy? Think again. “Grey hair is Mother Nature’s way of softening us out, adding flashes of lightness and brightness into our crowning glory,” says Buoy Salon creative director Michael Beel. The award-winning stylist advises against dowsing the hair in colour to get rid of every rogue strand, explaining that you’ll just…

The season of love brings some pretty new offerings to beauty counters: 1. Make the perfect pair with romantic, complementary scents. For him – Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely, 50ml EDP, $125. For her – Emporio Armani In Love With You, 50ml EDP, $155. 2. Prep your pout for a peck with Kiehl’s hydrating new lip tints. Kiehl’s Love Oil for Lips, $39. 3. YSL gets cute with two iconic items in this limited edition release. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Heart & Arrow lipsticks, $66, and YSL Touche Éclat Heart & Arrow Collector Highlighter, $69.…

1 Be clear about why you’re fasting. Is it for your health? Your mood? Your weight? Write down your reasons and your goals and refer to them if you’re having a hard time getting through a fasting day. Track your moods and other physical changes because they are just as, if not more, important and “motivating” than the numbers on the scales. 2 Schedule your fasting around your social engagements. Fasting shouldn’t rule your life, and being able to shuffle your fasting days around, or choosing to do full-day fasts when you don’t have anything on with friends and family, makes it much easier to stay on track. 3 Have plenty of water (tap or sparkling) and herbal teas available to sip on during your fasting period. This can help…

SCRUBBING UP New Zealand organisation Beyond Skin Deep is upcycling discarded hotel soaps to help save the lives of vulnerable young children. According to the World Health Organisation, diarrhoea kills around 525,000 children under five each year. The partly used hotel soaps are cleaned and made into hygienic new bars which are then distributed by global charity Rapid Relief Team to communities in need of improved sanitation in Argentina and the Caribbean. SPOT ON A ground-breaking robot has been developed by scientists at Nottingham Trent University that will revolutionise surgery for conditions such as scoliosis. The robot arm is able to drill holes within 0.1mm of accuracy, which is better than any human record. “Scoliobot” is still in testing phases but it is hoped it will be put into use…

Lemongrass and satay chicken rainbow rolls MAKES 12 PREP AND COOK TIME 40 MINUTES (+ COOLING AND MARINATING TIME) 1½ tablespoons Exotic Food Soy Sauce ½ tablespoon Exotic Food Oyster Sauce 1 makrut (kaffir) lime leaf, finely sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 teaspoon chopped lemongrass handful chopped coriander juice of 1 lime 200g chicken, sliced into thin strips 12 Exotic Food Rice Paper Wraps ½ yellow capsicum, thinly sliced ½ red capsicum, thinly sliced 2 carrots, shredded or julienned 1 cup red cabbage, thinly shredded 16 lettuce leaves ¼ cup Exotic Food Satay Sauce 2 tablespoons each fresh mint, basil and coriander, chopped Exotic Food Satay Sauce (for dipping) Exotic Food Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Combine the soy and oyster sauces in a bowl…

Wine has a long and illustrious history. Indeed, the ancient Greeks and Romans regarded the cultivation of the vine, along with olives, as the reason civilisations emerged from barbarism. Wine also walks hand in hand with romance. The Roman poet Ovid observed, “It warms the blood, adds lustre to the eyes, and wine and love have ever been allies.” Greek playwright Euripides was more to the point: “Where there is no wine there is no love.” He may have been on to something too, as modern day scientists have discovered that alcohol stimulates the release of the hormones serotonin and dopamine alongside opioid peptides, which give us feelings such as euphoria, reward-seeking and wellbeing. Helpfully, standard bottles of wine are about the right size to be shared between two, and…

As the former editor of Victorian and Romantic Homes magazines, Erika Kotite has long been smitten with outbuildings. “If it’s small, picturesque and practical, I love it – potting sheds, lean-tos, chicken coops, you name it...” she says. “So when I was asked to explore the emerging She Shed trend as a book, I dove in body and soul.” She discovered that while the name might seem overly cute to some, She Shed is actually more than just an alliteration – the word “shed” is an extremely practical and functional term. It means shelter, even sanctuary. Put together, the words describe exactly what the space is. “While there may be spaces within the house to relax, there is never true quiet unless you step outside the house,” says Erika. “Unless…

Cruise Alaska Princess Cruises is celebrating 50 years in Alaska. Stand before monumental glaciers and wide-open wilderness, visit frontier towns and see majestic wildlife. Sail the Great Land with the #1 Cruise Line in Alaska.* See princess.com/Alaska for details. *Best Cruise Line in Alaska, Travel Weekly Hand repair NS Working Hands is an intensive, non-greasy, non-slip hand treatment that absorbs instantly to restore dry, cracked, calloused or split, hard-working hands. A unique skin protection barrier guards against further damage. NS Working Hands leaves hands moisturised without the slip factor... so hands can get back to work, fast! RRP $15.99 in pharmacy only. Taste the difference Sandhurst sets the standard in fine foods. Carefully created by the Lubrano family for over 30 years, using time-honoured preserving techniques, the Sandhurst range includes…

“It hurts!” I said to my father, holding up my burned hand to let him see the nasty wound, which was all of a centimetre wide. He held my hand and made soothing Dad sounds, then led me gently into the kitchen and got out his first aid kit. “Ouch!” I said as he placed antiseptic on it and carefully bandaged my hand. “All better,” he said. He didn’t kiss it better because I am 56 and he is 86. I have no idea why I was trying to relive my childhood by getting him to look after me. But it was nice. In the country I get a lot of cuts, scrapes and bruises. I am by nature a very clumsy person who has spent her life tripping over…

LIVING THE DREAM After a two-year hiatus brought about by Cyclone Debbie, one of the Whitsundays’ most loved resorts, Daydream Island, will reopen its doors from April 10. Highlights of its extensive refurbishment include an enlarged Living Reef – a 200m coral lagoon wrapped around the main building that will hold more than 1.5 million litres of water and 100 species of fish and marine life – and an underwater observatory. The resort will have 277 suites with garden, pool and ocean views, and new bars and restaurants. More at daydreamisland.com. THE MAGIC OF ITALY The food, the wine, the scenery – the magic. From the Roman cobblestones to the hidden havens and undiscovered secrets of the countryside, it’s time to experience Italy and la dolce vita. From its incomparable…

1 ROOM WITH A VIEW 1 Located in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise, Ruby Apartments enjoy stunning views of the Gold Coast hinterland and beaches. 2 COUPLE TIME 2 Take your pick from cocktail-making, wine and cheese tastings, live music, movie nights and more! 3 TABLE FOR TWO 3 Book a romantic dinner at Stones Bar and Grill, or enjoy the intimacy of a private dinner on your own balcony. 4 MAKE A SPLASH 4 Relax and unwind with some much-needed chill time by the pool, cocktail in hand. Active couples can get their fix at the gym, sauna or steam room. 5 STAR TREATMENT 5 Customer service is paramount at Ruby Apartments, with Ambassadors and Digital Concierge on hand to give you everything you need for a 5-star romantic…

Starring Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino, Michiel Huisman One of the weirdest ghosts from the past here was Elliot from E.T. Now all grown up, actor Henry Thomas leads an excellent cast as the father of a troubled family trying to make peace with each other, themselves and the haunted house they grew up in. Horror is not usually my thing; I’m very easily frightened and by crikey this show is jam-packed with frights! But the human story it tells is so compelling I found myself pushing through my own frailty, and it really was worth it. Netflix rates it R16 but note the horror is scare-based and not particularly gruesome, and really, if I can handle it, anyone can. It might be fair to warn the very fainthearted though, that I…

Journalist and debut author Stacey Halls, 29, grew up in a small mill town in Lancashire, in the north-west of England, a few miles from the Pendle witch trials that inspired The Familiars . “I was a real bookworm, and would go to the library every week to take out the maximum allowance of 10 books,” she says. “Astounded” when her  story was the subject of a bidding war, Stacey says, “It was two weeks of dizzying elation.” She currently lives in London with her husband and is already writing book two. “It’s set in Georgian London and will be published in 2020.”…