Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

A few years ago, on Mother’s Day, my husband and I took the kids off to Motat – Auckland’s go-to if you have little ones who love trains, planes and anything else with wheels or wings. Granted, it’s not the first place you’d think of for a Mother’s Day treat, but with a one-year-old and five-year-old and a string of sleepless nights, it seemed like a good spot… the kids would be entertained while my husband kept an eye on them – and I could take a breather. “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - Buddha A group of women were handing out cups of tea and biscuits to the…

Experience the future of gifting with Spoil Me, a gift box company with a difference. Their gift boxes are current, on trend and, most importantly, meaningful! They source the best products so you can give the most beautiful gift, with items either hand-selected by you or preselected for themed boxes. They guarantee their gifts will be modern, special and arrive perfectly packaged every time. Our letter of the month writer this month will receive a special-edition Spoil Me Mother’s Day Experience gift pack, worth $260. Writers of other published letters will receive an Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook.…

“I have a great need for quietness in my life.” Nigella Lawson sashays across the room in a flowing summery print dress and kisses me on both cheeks, clasping my garden-roughened hands in her own perfectly manicured ones. “Would you like tea?” she asks while beckoning me to sit. It may be the first time I’ve met the queen of British home cookery, but it feels like we’re old pals because Nigella has been a part of my – and millions of others’ – life for ever. Countless numbers of mere kitchen mortals have attempted her famed chocolate Malteser cake, or triumphantly mastered her roast chicken. More than 10 million dog-eared copies of her iconic cookbooks sit on kitchen benches around the world. And we regularly welcome her into our…

In Denmark, 15 years of marriage is not a notable celebration, but down under we celebrate with crystal. So, if Crown Prince Frederik is on his game he might search out some of Tasmania’s rare crystals as a very special anniversary gift for his wife, who grew up in Hobart. Denmark’s Heir Apparent has proved himself to be a romantic right from their wedding day, when he teared up in the church and later at the reception at Fredensborg Palace proclaimed: “Like the moon at night you shine... I love you, Mary. Come, let us go, come let us see. Throughout a thousand worlds, weightless love awaits.” While it may have sounded a little over the top, Frederik has continued to wear his heart on his sleeve, and last year…

Visit the most beautiful sought-out locations, plus all of Jo’s secret spots! • Dine like royalty every day and indulge in some of the most delicious cuisine Italy has to offer. • Make friends for life on this ultimate escape. • Dine with Nonna in the Olive Garden. • Travel down the rivers of Venice in a private gondola. • Visit hidden markets and learn a new language. • Visit Dubai / Venice / Umbria / Rome, flying Emirates. • All meals, transfers, sightseeing, wines and accommodation included, and fully escorted by the wonderful Jo Seagar! Don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime – three weeks in Italy fully hosted by Jo Seagar and brought to you by The Australian Women’s Weekly. For more information and pricing, email…

All is for All 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year nominee and lifelong wheelchair user Grace Stratton (left), has launched an online shopping site to help people with disabilities. All Is For All (AIFA) helps to fill in the missing details that most online shopping websites omit. “I need to see what a dress looks like on a model who is sitting down, not standing up. I also need to know about every zip, button and closure, so that I can determine if a garment is one I can dress myself in,” says Grace. “Accessibility is not just a physical thing – it’s about everyone having the same access to the same experience, and that includes online shopping.” Several New Zealand designers have already partnered up with…

Toothpaste More and more tubes are labelled flouride-free and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)-free, yet there’s no cause for alarm, according to Dr Peter Alldritt, a consultant to the Oral Health Committee at the Australian Dental Association. “Sodium lauryl sulfate, which creates bubbles, is safe, though some may be sensitive to it,” he says. “A massive review found flouride is also safe. We even remind people not to rinse with water after spitting out toothpaste because you want that flouride to remain on your teeth and prevent cavities.” Toothbrush The best toothbrush is the one that works best for you. “It can be manual or powered as long as it’s soft. People with arthritis, for example, might find an oscillating toothbrush helps get a more thorough clean,” says Dr Alldritt. Mouthwash…

Dusty pink Halle Berry’s creamy, pinky-brown lipstick looks perfectly natural. Rosy pink Cate Blanchett’s petal-toned lips and cheeks pop against her dark ’do. Glowy pink Heidi Klum wanted to look glowy – enter shimmery gloss and highlighter. Pale pink Jamie Lee Curtis paired the softest pink cheeks and lips with her new platinum hair.…

’ve always been rather smug about my skin, I but having recently turned another decade older, I can no longer deny that it’s beginning to let me down in the radiance and texture stakes. Pigmentation and dullness are two problems I’m starting to face, and although they’re the result of a lot of smiling – something I’d never regret – my fine lines seem to be deepening by the day. Enter Elizabeth Arden’s new PREVAGE Progressive Renewal Treatment, an at-home peel treatment which, when used over the course of a month, targets the top four concerns we tend to battle as the years go by – radiance and clarity; fine lines and large pores; deep lines; and uneven skin tone. Said to systematically build in actives and concentration as your…

On Sunday, May 12 we celebrate Mother’s Day. It’s a day to ponder the significance of the relationship with your mum, to be grateful for the positive contribution she made to your life, to forgive past wrongs, to pause to remember your mother if she is no longer alive, or to celebrate the maternal figures in your life. But this year, why not also use the day as an opportunity to ask your mother some long-overdue questions about her health? Some families just don’t talk about matters they consider “personal”, and in certain cultures it is not considered “the done thing” to discuss illness. If you are adopted, you may have no way of finding out about your genetic medical history. However, if you do have the opportunity to talk…

Q My gastroenterologist told me that I should continue taking a fibre supplement with laxative to manage my “slow transit” indefinitely. Are laxatives really safe for long-term use? J.N. Slow transit constipation can be very uncomfortable and difficult to treat. A fibre supplement and laxatives provide some short-term relief, but long-term dietary changes (wholegrains, leafy and raw vegetables and fresh fruits) can make a big difference and may minimise the need for long-term laxatives. Psyllium husk is a readily available natural fibre supplement. A comprehensive stool analysis might show a dysbiosis, which may be relieved by specific probiotics. Q My grandson is really struggling with his weight. I have read that obesity surgery is on the rise in teenagers – is it a good idea? M.H. At least one in…

Pork laksa SERVES 4 PREP TIME 15 MINUTES COOK TIME 8 HOURS 10 MINUTES FIVE INGREDIENTS 1 1kg pork slices (belly strips) 2 1 bunch spring onions 3 230g jar laksa paste 4 2 x 270ml cans coconut milk 5 250g dried rice vermicelli noodles STAPLES freshly ground black pepper 1 Remove and discard the top layer of skin and fat from each pork slice. Cut pork slices into 3cm pieces. Transfer to a 5-litre (20-cup) slow cooker. 2 Finely chop white part of spring onions. Add white part to slow cooker; refrigerate green tops for serving. Add laksa paste, 1 can of coconut milk and 1.5 litres (6 cups) water to cooker; stir to combine. 3 Heat slow cooker on LOW. Cook pork, covered, for 8 hours or until…

The food we eat plays an important role in our eye health, something that many people take for granted. Evidence now exists that shows enjoying a diet rich in vegetable nitrates – found in dark green leafy vegetables and beetroot – along with fresh fruit daily, oily fish two or three times a week and a handful of nuts once a week, can reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of major vision loss in New Zealand, affecting one in seven people over the age of 50. AMD destroys the centre part of the retina, known as the macula, which provides your sharp central vision. The risk of developing AMD increases with age and in those who have a direct family member with…

TAKE A DIP You’ve tried hummus but have you tried hommus? Made from 13 per cent tahini, the home-made flavour of Obela Hommus is one to dip into. Available in classic and five other tasty options, from $3.99. FLAVOUR BOOST Spice up your entertaining with Alexandra’s Dukkah. Available in Traditional, Aromatic and Piquant flavours, the authentic spice and nut blend is sure to be a hit at your next dinner party. From $8.20. FUN FACT Fast-food giant McDonald’s once made broccoli flavoured bubble gum! Unsurprisingly the child-testers were not fans of the obscure confectionery.…

1 2018 VAVASOUR AWATERE SAUVIGNON BLANC, $20 Fruit from the cooler, more exposed coastal Awatere Valley; bright with pea-pod, passionfruit, elderflower and an almost gin-and-tonic-like dry crispness to the palate. Precise and very moreish. 2 2018 MARTINBOROUGH VINEYARDS TE TERA SAUVIGNON BLANC, $18 From a cooler, slightly higher site to the south of Martinborough, this is a vividly fruited, very pure and expressive wine with a crunchy fruit-rich palate and long, clean finish. 3 2016 CLOS HENRI MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC, $28 Marlborough, yes – but with a French twist. Clos Henri is the NZ estate of the Bourgeois family, famed winemakers from Sancerre. Classic zesty sauvignon with an added restrained, mineral elegance. Textural and lovely, just add a goat’s cheese tart for a bit of extra ooh-la-la. 4 2016 DOMAIN…

I’ve never run out of water before. It’s not something that happens much when you live in the city. We’ve had water restrictions but actually going to the tap and having nothing come out is not something I’ve ever experienced. But now I live in the north, which is famous for droughts, and our only source of water comes off our roof. I love the water we get. It tastes amazing and, free of added chemicals, it’s wonderful to bath in. Which is what I found my husband doing at the end of our third month with very little rain. We’d had a few light showers, but nothing to get excited about, the result being that we’ve had the most beautiful summer here since we bought the place five years…

Broadway’s number one show, Wicked, is making its way south to entertain Dunedin audiences! Wicked tells the story of Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West long before Dorothy and Toto visit Oz. Musical Theatre Dunedin will put on nine shows during May. For more information, go to wickeddunedin.co.nz. The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) is enchanting audiences with its powerful contemporary dance spectacular Kiss the Sky. Audiences in several New Zealand cities will be able to enjoy the beautiful choreography as the tour continues this month. See nzdc.org.nz for dates and locations.…

Cape May  by Chip Cheek, Hachette. Review by Juliet Rieden It’s September 1957 and the end of the season in Cape May, the slightly faded seaside resort at the tip of southern New Jersey. Naive newlyweds Henry and Effie are here on their honeymoon, both virgins embarking on their life’s journey together. But the thrill of their marriage is already wearing off and settling into their future is falling far short of the fantasy as the couple mooch around the deserted holiday haven. They are about to leave early when they come across socialite Clara, an old school friend of Effie’s whom she loathed as a girl, and her glamorous set of pleasure seekers. Clara is hosting an endless party in her parents’ home with a changing cast of guests,…

Hair supplement Viviscal supplements are scientifically formulated to nourish the hair, support healthy hair growth and combat hair loss in women with thinning hair. Viviscal supplements are fortified with the key nutrients biotin and zinc, which help maintain normal healthy hair growth from within, and the proprietary marine protein complex AminoMar C™ . RRP $74.95 Pharmacy only. Calm your hormones 30 PLUS NuWoman - Hormone Ba ance HORMONES driving you crazy? Irritable, frustrated, grumpy, sad, no energy? Wanting to be a nicer mum, friend, partner (like you used to be)? New Zealand women swear by 30 PLUS® NuWoman® to assist natural hormone balance, to feel calm and “complete” again. Available from pharmacies, health stores and supermarkets or visit 30plus. co.nz. RRP from $34.99. Try Protex with Macadamia Oil The nourishing…

GIVEAWAY Fall in love with Paullina Simons all over again. Twenty years on from the publication of her epic love story, The Bronze Horseman, Paullina returns with a new tale of love, loss and the mystical forces that bind people across time and space. The Tiger Catcher tells the story of Julian, living a charmed life in Los Angeles, whose world is turned upside down by a love affair with Josephine, a mysterious young woman who takes him by storm. But she is not what she seems, carrying secrets that tear them apart – perhaps for ever. Thanks to HarperCollins, we have 15 copies of The Tiger Catcher, valued at $36.99 each, to give away. To enter the draw, email awweditor@bauermedia.co.nz, subject line “TIGER”, or enter online at nowtolove/TIGER, using…

It was a wonderful day; clear blue skies, the low winter sun lighting up the sea, even the unusually balmy weather seeming to conspire to give the occasion an extra blessing. This was my second wedding, in December, with almost 40 years between the two. At the first, barely out of our teens, the tousled-haired boy I met at university and I were pronounced husband and wife. At the second, in our early 60s, my female partner and I chose to be named each other’s one and only. This was in a follow-up ceremony to the one at the Town Hall where, legally, we had to be declared each other’s wives. I first started noticing articles about a fascinating, apparently new, phenomenon called Late Onset Lesbianism some years ago now,…

Every weekday around 9.20am Blanche d’Alpuget climbs into her car, drives seven minutes down the road from the home she shares with husband and former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, and sits alone in “an ugly little flat”. “I’m completely locked away. I have a blank wall in front of me with lots of notes on it. I won’t answer phone calls unless I can see it’s somebody important and every hour I get up and do a few minutes of stretches,” she reveals. This is Blanche’s writing studio where for a minimum of four hours, five days a week, for some years now, she’s been delving into a past life. It’s a world of lusty, fascinating, powerful men meeting their match in an independent fun-loving woman; a mighty nation…

“Please don’t wear your jandals,” her sister implored, as she handed over a pair of high heels. Selina Tusitala Marsh is New Zealand’s Poet Laureate. She was Commonwealth Poet in 2016 when she delivered a specially commissioned poem at the Commonwealth Day observance in London’s Westminster Abbey. The Abbey was packed with the great and good. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May was there, not to mention the senior royals. Selina, though, remained undaunted. She bought a pair of sturdy rubber-soled sandals from The Warehouse and rocked them out with her elegant, electric-blue sheath. “I wanted to walk to the Abbey (from her hotel in Trafalgar Square) to calm and centre myself,” she explains, and she couldn’t do that in heels. It’s a small thing, but it speaks volumes about the…

When you walk into Johanna Griggs’ home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, one feature is glaringly absent. The House Rules and Better Homes and Gardens host was the first female Australian swimmer to break the 30-second barrier for the 50m backstroke, yet you won’t find a single piece of memorabilia of the sport that shot her to stardom as a 14-year-old before springboarding a successful media career that has lasted for more than 26 years. “All the stuff in our house is about our family unit and the memories that we’ve made together,” explains Johanna of her decision to leave the trophies gathering dust in the garage. “In fact, my boys [Jesse James, 24, and Joe Buster, 23] were quite old before they realised I’d even had a background as a…

She was there for you from the beginning. All of the kisses, cuddles, pep talks and reassurances; the birthday gifts, the outings, the quality time. She was your protector, your nurturer, your defender, and your entire world. In their own special ways, through their own language of love, mums make the world go round. While there’s really no way to repay the mother in your life for all she’s done, as these three Kiwi women tell, they can be celebrated and showered with love this Mother’s Day. The comforter SHIRLEY JEWELLERY MATCH: KNOTS PENDANT “Mum’s always there for a kiss and a cuddle. As I’m getting older I’m realising how much I’m like her, and if I’m half as good a mum as her one day I’ll be happy!…

QI live in the lower South Island and the cold weather has already started to set in. Can you tell me how to look good in layers without resorting to a puffer jacket? Layering is really important when the seasons are changing. It’s certainly a way for you to control how comfortable you feel as you can add or remove a layer as the temperature changes during the day. Colour is really important when you are layering. Stick to just one or two colour palettes, and think about what type of fabrics you wear. Natural fibres and fabrics will breathe and won’t make you overheat or perspire. Mixing up the texture of your fabrics makes layering a lot more fun and interesting too. Don’t wear too many bulky items as…

There are lots of new and novel smile brighteners, including mobile teeth whitening and dinky DIY blue lights (HiSmile Teeth Whitening Kit, $85, pictured). It’s all fun, but what actually works? Dentist Dr Reuben Sim notes that “only registered dental professionals can administer more than six per cent hydrogen peroxide, so they give the best results. Plus, research suggests that in-chair whitening by dentists may increase the strength of enamel, making it more resistant to erosion from acid.” Who knew? Toothpastes, strips and kits These relatively affordable at-home options can help remove stains, maintain brightness or freshen teeth a touch – just don’t expect miracles. “Most do-it-yourself options need to be used for up to two weeks and contain low concentrations of active whitening ingredients, so the results are limited,”…

The origin Rose (essential) oil comes from the petals of the rose. During steam distillation, rosewater is also created, containing 10-50 per cent rose oil. Rosehip oil is cold-pressed from the fruit of wild roses. The hype One of Cleopatra’s beauty secrets was cleansing with rosewater. Now, rosewater, rose oil and rosehip oil are having a big beauty moment. Julia Roberts’ skin was prepped with Lancôme’s latest rose oil enriched Absolue Rich Cream at the Oscars. Keira Knightley slathers on rosehip oil before flying, and Rose Byrne applies it before bed. Rosehip is even found in skin supplements, too. The science Rose oil was found in a 2017 review to have analgesic, antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties – it reduced period pain when used in massage therapy and induced relaxation when…

At the press of a button, the transparent liquid inside the ampoule transformed into the apricot colour synonymous with all PREVAGE products. A quick shake created an even milky shade, and after replacing the lid with the supplied dropper I was ready to go. After my evening cleanse, I applied the product to my face, extending it down to my décolletage and even popping some on the tops of my hands – notorious for showing age. Over the first week, my skin seemed clearer and had a glow about it, and as the weeks went on, my complexion really evened out. A clear improvement to me, it was the comments I received from peers – many of whom asked what skincare I was using – that sold me on the…

Basic mash SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 30 MINUTES Place 1kg coarsely chopped potatoes in a medium saucepan with enough cold water to barely cover them. Boil over medium heat for 15 minutes or until potato is tender; drain. Return potato to pan; mash until smooth (or use a potato ricer or mouli). Add 40g butter and ¾ cup hot milk; fold into mash until smooth. Season to taste. Top with a little extra butter and season with pepper, if you like. Mushy peas & mint SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 10 MINUTES Boil, steam or microwave 500g frozen baby green peas until just tender; drain. Blend or process peas, ½ cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves, ½ cup crème fraîche and 1 teaspoon lemon juice until almost…

Friday May 3 is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, and where better to celebrate this than in New Zealand? This noble French grape accounts for 73 per cent of our annual harvest; it was Marlborough sauvignon blanc that catapulted New Zealand wine onto the global stage in the mid-1980s. The now iconic label, Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc, was served to the UK trade alongside local green-lipped mussels, causing a taste sensation. Marlborough’s vivid kaleidoscope of tropical fruits, gooseberry and cut-grass was summer in a glass, and for UK consumers more used to very restrained French sauvignon blanc, it was like nothing they’d ever tasted. They wanted more – lots more! These days, some 80 per cent of our sauvignon blanc is exported, with the UK now our second biggest export market;…

WHAT YOU NEED • 1kg block clear melt-and-pour soap base (see Marsha's Tips below) • 1kg block white melt-and-pour soap base • 1 or 2 microwaveable jugs • Microwave • Mica powders in various colours • Disposable plastic cups • Essential oil (fragrance of your choice) • Iceblock sticks • Silicone moulds – large block size and mini loaf size (available from Kmart & The Warehouse) • Sharp kitchen knife Melt-and-pour soap-making is actually pretty simple. For these soaps, I firstly made blocks of solid colour. These were then cut into smaller pieces and mixed together with clear or white soap base to achieve multi-coloured and marbled effects. Once set, the soaps are cut into multi-faceted gemstone shapes. It may take a little trial and error to get your desired…

On Mother’s Day last year, my seven-year-old son Lucas proudly presented me with a hand-made card. “To Lender,” he’d written inside, in large looping letters. I’m still not entirely convinced it was meant for me and not my eftpos card. My son might not know how to spell my name correctly, but at least he knows what I look like, which is more than I can say for many of my forebears. When my youngest son Lachlan came home this month and asked me to help him draw a family tree for a school project, I suggested we could go one step better and construct an actual tree decorated with photographic pendants featuring his great-grandparents’ faces. However, while flicking through the pages of our family photo albums, I started to…

What goes around, comes around. When it comes to cheese I’m a perpetual P-plater: I plonk piles of Philadelphia on my platters. Original, Light, Garden Herb & Onion, Sweet Chilly Philly… it’s amazing how many layers a cracker can carry! So when I won a stay in Philadelphia as a prize at a travel function, I punched the air in triumph. “Yes! You owe me, Philadelphia, big time!” That night, at my computer, with a plate of crackers loaded with herby Philly and chocolate-coated pickled onions at hand to sustain me, I embarked on a quest for knowledge. Where is Philadelphia, anyway? Grand city Perched on the western bank of the Delaware River, which separates Pennsylvania from New Jersey, Philadelphia is one of the United States’ grandest cities. It served…

Long Shot Starring Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan and June Diane Raphael. Directed by Jonathan Levine. It’s a rare moment when I sit in a dark cinema as the closing credits roll on a romantic-comedy thinking, “Holy guacamole, did I just enjoy myself?” So imagine doubling down on that where I’m also thinking, “Holy guacamole, am I actually struggling to find one single flaw in Long Shot?” Strange times indeed. Here we have the unlikely combo of Oscar-winner Charlize Theron (Monster/ Mad Max: Fury Road) and prolific funny guy Seth Rogan (Knocked Up/Pineapple Express). She’s accomplished politician Charlotte Field plotting a run for the presidency, he’s unemployable journalist Fred Flarsky losing all faith in the system, especially the political one. Their encounter at a party isn’t the first time they’ve met.…

WHEN IT ALL WENT TO CUSTARD  by Danielle Hawkins, HarperCollins With a difficult customer on the phone, the day hadn’t started well for Jenny. And then an unexpected visit from the neighbouring farmer sends her world crashing down. He’d found his wife and Jenny’s husband in bed together. With her marriage in tatters, two young children to look after and a part-time job as a building inspector, how is Jenny going to manage the farm she and her family live on as well as everything else? Especially when her knowledge of farming is so limited. But she loves her piece of the New Zealand countryside and will do what she can to keep it. Which doesn’t leave much time for a second chance at love… Author Danielle Hawkins lives on…

THE BAD SEED by Charlotte Grimshaw, Penguin Random House If you’ve enjoyed The Bad Seed on television, you now have a chance to read the books upon which the series is based. This omnibus edition contains two novels by New Zealand author Charlotte Grimshaw – The Night Book and Soon, which follow the lives of the Lampton and Hallwright families. Lives that encompass power, politics, lies and murder in the upmarket society of contemporary New Zealand. We have 10 copies of The Bad Seed to give away. To enter the draw, send your details to awweditor@ bauermedia.co.nz, with “Bad Seed” in the subject line, by May 22, 2019.…

Taurus APR 22-MAY 21 Happy birthday, Venus people! The celestial summit meeting of sun, Uranus, Mercury and the new moon in Taurus sprinkles stardust on your astrological new year. And while this power portal is open, establishing a clear idea of what you want sets the law of attraction into action – you have the determination and staying power necessary to manifest any wish-list into reality. When mid-month Venus joins the astral birthday party in Taurus, hello hot stuff! The full moon that follows in your partnership sector on May 19 won’t be interested in half measures; it will want strong resolutions and decisive moves. Gemini MAY 22-JUN 22 If Jupiter’s annual backspin presses pause on something promising, has Mars in Gemini had you moving too fast, making assumptions instead…

Letter of the month Lynda Hallinan’s story, Something Old Something New (March issue), became a topic of conversation for us because of the photo with the often underrated hydrangea. I love them in a vase and in the garden, where they give a lot of colour for very little effort. Given the increasing varieties of hydrangea now available, I hope the flower gets a renaissance... it is well deserving of a place in everyone’s garden. This edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly, showcasing the strengths of women, was a most satisfying and enjoyable read. Ann Kidd DINNER INSPIRATION I am the main cook in my family of four and over the past year our rotation of recipes has become very repetitive. My husband and I both work and our teenage sons have…

As a country, we’ve heard Mike McRoberts say a lot of things. He’s been presenting the 6pm news on TV3 for 15 years – and it’s been a big 15 years, we can agree. That time has included live crosses from Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti; not to mention reporting on our national tragedies in round-the-clock coverage. But here’s a sentence that you might not expect from Mike, 53: “At most functions or nights out, I’d always be on the D-floor.” That’s right. D-floor. Aka young-person talk for “dance floor”. Mike is starring on the new season of Dancing with the Stars and although we know he looks very nice in a suit, it was still surprising to see him glittered and shirtless in the first promotional video that came out…

“Carlos, how would you describe going from having one child to two?” Nadia Lim repeats the question I’ve just asked her to Carlos Bagrie, her husband of seven years, as he frantically drops off some emergency buttermilk. “Difficult,” he responds immediately, before he disappears back into the home office with a smile. The buttermilk is emergency buttermilk because Nadia is doing recipe testing the morning of our interview, in the brief window she has before she is due down the road to begin the first of her two daily Dancing with the Stars rehearsals. So she is trialling the third round of banana, courgette and chocolate pikelets for her new cookbook at the same time she talks all things Dancing for The Australian Women’s Weekly. We are tucked into the…

Shielded from the swirl and dazzle of Dubai, the Zabeel Palace, home of the city-state’s billionaire ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, presents a reassuring image of serenity. Peacocks wander over velvety lawns, tethered lions snooze beside reflecting pools, and the gilded domes and arches evoke Tales from the Arabian Nights. Yet from behind the palace walls comes a real-life story of a more disturbing kind. The sheikh’s 33-year-old daughter, Princess Latifa, has not been seen in public since last March when she was seized aboard a yacht in the Indian Ocean while attempting to “escape” from Dubai. Before fleeing, Latifa wrote to a friend: “All my life I have been mistreated and oppressed. Women are treated as sub-humans here. My father can’t continue to do what he has been…

“At 46, I’m still figuring it out.” The love of a mother is irreplaceable. It’s a unique thing and it doesn’t die even when she does. This will be my fifth Mother’s Day without my darling mum. I now know that you never get over the grief. It’s not a task to tick off your list. But accepting the fact that I’m never going to be done with it, that time doesn’t make it go away, is actually quite liberating. I somehow feel better and less indulgent when I wallow in my grief – because I do wallow in it and feel sad and sorry for myself too. I just miss her so fiercely and this is simply my way of grieving for her. I tell myself it’s okay, there’s…

Top lines Stone me!…

Are you starting the day with a cleansing mug of hot water and lemon? You may be doing your teeth a disservice. “Acidic foods and drinks, including sparkling water, slowly wear away your enamel, increasing yellowness and sensitivity,” explains specialist orthodontist Dr Nicole Kaplan. It’s one of many myths about health and happy teeth because, as the wellness movement grows, oral care is changing too. Gwyneth Paltrow confessed to oil pulling – “swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes and it’s supposed to be great for oral health” – and it is, but it’s not true that it will whiten your teeth. Meanwhile, the cleaning power of charcoal has gone mainstream, cropping up in Colgate toothpaste, and we can buy 99 per cent plant-made toothbrushes by ecostore.…

Our smiles continue to change throughout life, with a little yellowing, wearing and gum recession. Yet some of us also see crowding for the first time in our 40s or 50s. “Many women notice the ‘social six’ (the front upper and lower teeth we see when we smile) becoming crooked after seeing old photos. It happens because our teeth drift towards the midline of our face,” says Dr Nicole Kaplan. Realigning teeth can rewind your smile by years and nobody has to know you’re doing it. “Clear aligners (such as Invisalign) are incredibly powerful in the correct hands,” adds Dr Kaplan. “The results are on a par with braces and since they’re removable, they don’t interfere with your lifestyle or with oral hygiene. It’s much harder to keep teeth clean…

1 SKIN REFRESHER Clarins Extra Firming Phyto-Serum, $165. Contains blue agave and quinoa to tighten skin and soften fine lines. 2 SOPHISTICATED SCENT Calvin Klein Eau de Toilette, 30ml, $80. A little woody, a little floral – a lovely, stylish scent to gift. 3 DEER MILK FIRST Kōtia New Zealand Deer Milk Nourishing Cream Mask, $51, and Brightening Eye Cream, $63. The world-first skincare with pure New Zealand deer milk.…

SKIN SAVIOUR The unique gel-to-oil texture of Bio Oil’s new release Dry Skin Gel means it spreads further and absorbs more swiftly than a traditional body cream, making short work of flaky or scaly patches. Prep, set and glow Preserve summer’s memory with items from Natio’s new Sun-Kissed make-up collection, each offering a flattering touch of radiance without being overwhelmingly shimmery. The ease of application and complementary colours made us instant fans, particularly of the lip crayon, a good on-the-go option. Treat her: Mothers undeniably deserve the world, but in the meantime, how about a pretty gift set to help celebrate Mother’s Day?…

Life is far from what it was 50 years ago. The internet has given incredible access to new information, but it has also left many people unconsciously picking up their phones or switching on the TV. The act of disconnecting is almost as important as being connected so here are three reasons to turn off screens at least once a day. MENTAL HEALTH Often our newsfeeds are over-saturated with tales of horror and grief. Too much bad news can have a negative effect on our mental health. An American study found 50 per cent of participants said bad news caused them stress and anxiety. SLEEP Research has proven that exposure to blue light (the kind emitted from phones and tablets) before bedtime can interfere with our quality and quantity of…

“Having a can of chickpeas on standby is great for a quick pasta dinner like this one. The chickpeas offer a creamy, nutty quality and the pancetta imparts wonderful saltiness.”– JUSTINE Broccoli cannelloni SERVES 4 PREP 30 MINUTES COOK 1 HOUR 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for greasing 2 heads of broccoli (about 700g) 1 small handful of basil leaves 2 tablespoons pine nuts 300g fresh, full-fat ricotta 1 garlic clove, peeled grated zest of 1 lemon ½ teaspoon chilli flakes 700g tomato passata salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper 255g cannelloni 1 buffalo mozzarella ball, torn WHITE SAUCE 20g butter 1½ tablespoons plain flour 300ml milk pinch of freshly grated nutmeg 30g parmesan, finely grated 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a large baking dish (about…

MATT MORAN Salad of beetroot, goats’ curd, lettuce and hazelnut dressing SERVES 6 AS AN ENTRÉE COOK AND PREP TIME 30 MINUTES (+ COOLING TIME) 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ¼ cup (60ml) hazelnut oil (see Tip) ½ cup (70g) roasted hazelnuts, chopped coarsely 18 (500g) baby beetroot, washed and trimmed 30g salad leaves 50g mizuna lettuce 100g goat’s cheese log, cut into 1cm slices 1 To prepare the hazelnut dressing, whisk the white wine vinegar, honey and mustard together. Continue to whisk while slowly drizzling in the hazelnut oil until combined. Stir in the chopped hazelnuts and season with salt and pepper to taste. 2 Place the baby beetroot into a saucepan and cover with cold water. Add a splash of white…

Marlborough’s sauvignon blanc may dominate, but the grape is grown throughout the country, subtly translating regional climatic and geographic differences into varying spectrums of fruit expression and palate weight. HAWKE’S BAY Richer, broader and more tropical in style, sometimes with a touch of older oak for texture and depth. WAIRARAPA Very classic style, brightly aromatic and crisp. MARLBOROUGH Pungent and vivacious, a burst of ripe red capsicum, passionfruit, box hedge and citrus fruit. Zesty and fresh. Sub-regional bottlings explore the diversity of this large region. NORTH CANTERBURY Bright, mineral and crisp with juicy ripe fruit and medium weight. CENTRAL OTAGO Linear, tonic-like, lighter bodied with precise citrus, gooseberry and herb notes.…

• It’s child’s play to turn old family photographs into pendant necklaces, brooches, Christmas tree decorations and jar labels. Either upcycle costume jewellery from op shops, or purchase DIY pendant jewellery kits from craft and hobby stores. You can order from a huge selection of decorative bezel frames, brooch backs, glass domes and plastic cabochons at craftrunner.co.nz. • To quickly and easily reproduce old family photographs, simply photograph them with your smartphone camera and print on either matt photo paper or plain inkjet paper. Use photo editing software to crop the images to suit the shape and sizes of your pendants prior to printing, or simply cut to fit with scissors. • Use a clear-setting craft glue, such as Mod Podge sealant (from Spotlight or The Warehouse) to glue the…

STAY Sonesta Hotel for a fun contemporary vibe; the Ritz-Carlton or the Kimpton Hotel Monaco for historic luxury. EAT The Dandelion (British gastropub); The Love (new American); Parc Brasserie (French fare); and Buddakan (Asian). VISIT Elfreth’s Alley – a quaint, colourful and partially cobbled street of 32 houses dating back 300 years. WHEN TO GO Philadelphia’s annual International Flower Show (early March) is rated the nation’s best, and it stages the largest Fourth of July celebration in the US.…

YO U (NETFLIX) Starring Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail For those with a Gossip Girl fixation, have I got a binge watch for you! Prepare yourselves though, nice guy Dan from Gossip Girl is a nice guy no more. In this psychological thriller, Penn is Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who goes to “unusual” lengths to get the girl. I was hooked after the first episode and found myself sneaking up late at night while the house slumbered to binge this in a week! The New York City setting and social media share-all mentality of modern-day dating make this creepy and cautionary tale extremely addictive viewing.…

The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell, Penguin Random House In the early 1900s, in a settlement on the banks of the Zambezi River, a man makes a mistake that will bind three Zambian families across three generations as they clash and come together and deal with the consequences of one moment. Spanning the early days of colonisation to the almost-dystopian near future, there is a lot to say about Serpell’s dazzling and captivating debut. It’s a family saga, following the fortunes and misfortunes of a black, a brown and a white family against the backdrop of Zambia’s birth. It’s a fairytale, with a woman whose hair won’t stop growing and another who can’t stop crying. It’s a revolutionary manifesto and cautionary tale on the internet and the aftermath of colonisation…

DeWit Mum deserves only the best so why not give her a DeWit gardening tool this Mother’s Day. DeWit tools are high quality, forged from the best steel and formed by skilled hands. Made in Holland and available in every continent of the world, they have been crafted for centuries and are made to last. They are more than just tools - they are an heirloom, and carry a lifetime guarantee! Available from selected gardening stores nationwide. Phone 0800 666 4776 Zebrano Turn heads this winter. Step boldly into the cooler months in an eclectic mix of statement styles, designed for round-the-clock sophistication. This season spotlights seductive shades of red to keep a little fire in your winter wardrobe. Surrender yourself to contemporary styles cut from sumptuous fabrics, intricately designed…

My fondest childhood memory is...Laughing with my cousins until someone wet their pants (usually me). If I had to choose another career I would be… A singer. The only challenge I can foresee is that I can’t sing. My favourite song to sing in the shower is… Late Nights & Heartbreak by Hannah Williams. It’s well outside my vocal abilities but that’s what the shower is for – drowning out the bad bits so I can keep lying to myself and continue to pursue my dream of becoming a singer! If I could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, it would be… My boyfriend, Guy Montgomery. It sounds a bit cute but the reality is he got asked the same question on a podcast recently and said me,…