Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Singapore Women's Weekly

And, in a flash, it’s December, and we’ll be in the midst of the holidays and Christmas (with the Lunar New Year hot on its heels). Just thinking about it can be unnerving - stressful. But don’t you worry. This issue has been planned specially to help you STAY CALM & CARRY ON. We know a large part of Christmas is about family and friends gathered around a feasting table, reflecting on the past year and being grateful for those around us. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with store-bought, but if you have a bit more time for prep, you (and your guests) will love the roast turkey recipe with our special Cumberland sauce, in “The Main Event”, page 66. And we guarantee the duck fat roast potatoes will be a…

Wearing perfumes is not merely about masking body odours. The fragrance you choose creates an olfactory impression that associates you with that particular scent. It reflects your emotions, personality and attitude. It can even take you from ordinary to extraordinary. A scent can transform your outlook and energy. It can elevate your mood and set you up for success – be it in the boardroom or on a romantic date. When you like the way you smell, you would naturally feel good. And feeling good goes a long way to boosting your confidence. That way, you can tackle any situation life throws at you with that extra spring in your step. What’s In Your Fragrance Wardrobe? Whether you feel rambunctious or reserved, the right fragrance can help accurately project the…

Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum, $153 (60 capsules), is said to dispense just the right dose each time to rejuvenate skin. Clinique Fresh Pressed Clinical Daily + Overnight Boosters with Pure Vitamin C 10% and A (Retinol), $52 (a set of two vials), promises prescription-level results with products that only get activated upon first use. Apply the vitamin C in the daytime and retinol at night. Developed by a plastic surgeon, 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Retinol Oil, $300 (30 ml), has “maximum strength” one per cent of retinol and black diamond particles to boost product absorption. With its ability to speed cell renewal, retinol in the Origins Plantscription Retinol Night Moisturizer with Alpine Flower, $110 (30 ml), purportedly gets you quicker anti-ageing results from its plant…

THE GO-EVERYWHERE, DO-EVERYTHING DRESS For most working women, heading home after work to freshen up for a soiree isn’t so much an option as it is a privilege. To solve all your get-glam woes, we've found the perfect day-to-night solution. As the FW’19 season gets broody, moody florals strewn all over this fuchsia dress is the exact opposite of boring. The modest neckline, sleeves and hemline help you maintain office decorum; but come 6 pm, throw on some megawatt accessories and your dancing heels to make your grand entrance at that year-end party.…

RUFFLED Swathe in energetic ruffles that dial up the romance. LACE A little sweet, a bit sensual, these lace tops make for perfect glam wear. SEQUINNED Let your inner disco queen shine in glittery blouses. CROC CLASSICS You'll never have to repack your essentials with these AM-to-PM croc bags…

Whether you have just moved into a new home or are residing comfortably in your current abode, one thing is for certain: There’s always dirt and dust to be wiped away.To keep your home clean and cosy at all times, a cord-free vacuum cleaner can get the job done fast while taking the tedium out of the task. • Reaching every nook and cranny When you invest in a vacuum cleaner, it should be able to cover all grounds – and that means general cleaning, as well as picking up crumbs and getting to hard-to-reach corners, such as behind the fridge or under the cabinets. Bringing German quality into your home, the Bosch Unlimited Series 6 Handstick vacuum cleaner is slim enough to get into tight spaces. It comes with…

You’ll need to hop on a seaplane when you get to Male. All seaplanes take off from Velana International Airport which is adjacent to Male’s International Terminal. There isn’t a schedule for seaplane departure and arrival times like with most flights. Instead, the routes are worked out daily based on the number of the passengers and their destinations when they arrive on the day. Also, seaplane tickets are sold separately from your villa bookings, and you will need to get the resort to help you do the flight bookings. Seaplanes only operate during daylight hours, so if you arrive after 3.30 pm, you’ll only be flown to the resort the next day. Transfers booked by the resorts include a maximum baggage allowance of 20 kg per passenger (USD 5 per…

# 111SKIN: Level 1 Robinsons The Heeren Tel: 6732 1580 A ACQUA DI PARMA: Available at Escentials and Sephora ASOS: Asos.com ATELIER SWAROVSKI: #B1-17/18 ION Orchard Tel: 6509 9293 B BERSHKA: #B3-06/07 ION Orchard Tel: 6509 8708 BIMBA Y LOLA: #01-04 Mandarin Gallery Tel: 6235 1218 BOTTEGA VENETA: #01-04 ION Orchard Tel: 6238 0020 BVLGARI: Available at Escentials BY TERRY: Available at Escentials BYBI BEAUTY: Available at Sephora BYREDO: Available at Escentials C CHANEL BEAUTY: #B2-43 ION Orchard Tel: 6634 5500 CHARLOTTE TILBURY: Available at Sephora CHLOE: Available at Sephora CLINIQUE: Available at Sephora D DIOR PARFUMS: #B2-52 ION Orchard Tel: 6834 3277 DOLCE & GABBANA: #01-60 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Tel: 6688 7027 DRUNK ELEPHANT: Available at Sephora E ELIZABETH ARDEN: #B2-48 ION Orchard Tel: 6509 9832…

Sweet Santarinas ‘Tis the season to be jolly, and for these celebrities, that means dressing up as good Ol’ Saint Nick (only way prettier!) Secret Santa We wouldn’t mind getting a kiss under the mistletoe from any of these sexy Santas. Can you guess who they are? Love In Vein Can blood type determine a couple’s romantic compatibility? A new dating service claims it can, so we tried it out on Taylor Swift, who stars in this month’s Cats movie, and her exes to find out who her best love match really is! According to the service, a person with an “O” blood type (which Taylor is) is said to be best suited to a beau with an “A” blood type. Home Sweet Home Rumours are swirling that Ip Man…

2005 The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants Blake’s career began as one of the four leads in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. It earned her a Teen Choice award at just the start of her career. 2007-2012 Gossip Girl Blake was close to turning the role down for college but ultimately played Upper East Side It girl Serena van der Woodsen while schooling part-time. Fans all over the world are still watching and rewatching the series. 2010 The Town Despite having a supporting role, Blake’s star still shone as Ben Affleck’s druggie ex-girlfriend. Ben, who also directed the show, said Blake “brought a sense of complexity and nuance to the character that was really important”. 2011 Green Lantern Blake stars as Carol Ferris, the female…

KRISTEN STEWART’S ROCK STAR CHIC Even if your hair is as short as K-Stew’s pixie cut, there are still ways to change up your everyday look. This faux-hawk adds volume to hair and a chic touch to your do for the night. HOW TO: 1. Section hair at the crown of your head and secure with small hair ties. 2. Work your way down the middle, securing small sections with hair ties to form a pseudo-Mohawk. Avoid securing the hair tie too near the scalp to give hair volume. 3. Apply hairspray to the ends and tease with a comb. We recommend: NATALIE PORTMAN’S SLEEK PONYTAIL Shoulder-length hair like Natalie Portman's gives you plenty of versatility when it comes to creating different hairstyles. Opt for the classic ponytail if you’re…

Our fave Instagram stars show off their take on moody florals Level up your smarts in a razor-sharp suit that spotlights a dramatic floral print. A dressy blouse and a pair of ripped jeans? So effortlessly chic. Carin Olsson is the belle of the hour in a full-skirted dress with a romantic hair bow. Erica shows how a classic black handbag can keep your floral dress work-ready.…

CHANDELIER EARRINGS When it comes to your earrings, think sparkly all the way! Bling up your nights with this haul of gemstone earrings. STACKABLE RINGS Why slip on one when you can wear ‘em all! Take your pick from these whimsical designs and layer your rings in maximalist fashion. SNEAKY BUSINESS a upgrade with chunkier soles, and a mix of interesting textures and colours…

MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE Don’t wing your Christmas meal – plan ahead to make sure that you make detailed shopping lists of exactly what you need. This helps you breeze through the market and get everything you need on one trip, without wasting time. SPREAD THE LOVE You don’t have to go it alone. Delegate some side dishes or desserts to your guests so that the cooking responsibilities don’t fall solely on you. MAKE IT AHEAD Choose recipes for your Christmas menu that can be made ahead of time. Frozen desserts can be made up to four days ahead. CHOOSE A COLD STARTER Free up oven, stove top and barbecue space for your main and sides by serving cold starters. STRETCH IT OUT Fill up your Christmas…

Recreate cover girl Blake Lively’s gorgeous look with the newly-launched Charlotte Tilbury. We are giving away five exclusive makeup sets, each worth $293, comprising The Classic pencil eyeliner in Audrey, Full Fat Lashes mascara in Glossy Black, Cheek To Chic powder blusher, Lip Cheat lip liner, Matte Revolution lipstick in Pillow Talk (the much-loved iconic nude-pink shade), and Eyes To Mesmerise cream eye shadow in Jean. Charlotte Tilbury is available at all Sephora stores and Sephora.sg. TO TAKE PART, VISIT www.womensweekly.com.sg Alternatively, scan this QR Code to participate in this promotion. Promotion valid from November 25 to December 24, 2019. Enter code: CharlotteTilbury#1219 to increase your chances of winning. Winners will be notified via email by end of January 2020. Promotion is open to all residents of Singapore,…

THEY LOVE TEASING EACH OTHER THEY SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER THEY STILL SHOW A LITTLE JEALOUSY THEY TAKE THE MICKEY OUT OF EACH OTHER…

f or those who have a signature scent, know this: when you use the same fragrance for several months, or even, years, your brain tends to block out smells that surround you gradually every day. With the year coming to an end, it is perhaps time to reflect on your fragrance choices and edit your current perfume collection. Here’s how you can start curating a new fragrance wardrobe.…

ALL THAT GLITTERS Time to shine in disco ball-inspired mirror embellishments. Stun in a curve-loving cut-out dress, or go bling on bling by throwing over a mirror embellished shirt dress. Cut-out dress, $7,680; and button-up dress, $5,070, from Bottega Veneta. Sunglasses from Emporio Armani. Alan Crocetti ring (on right hand), $850, from Pedder On Scotts. Rings (on left hand, sold as set), $549, from Atelier Swarovski. REFLECTION PERFECTION Go for gold in a glittery bodysuit adorned with shards of acrylic mirrors and contrast with a pink feathered clutch. Bodysuit, $850, from Frederick Lee. Earrings, $1,000, from Givenchy. Bag from Jimmy Choo. Shoes, $2,500, from Dolce & Gabbana. TAKE THE PLUNGE With shoulders bare and a plunging v-neckline, balance the look with a striking choker and earrings. Necklace, $1,690; and earrings,…

BUSINESS You won’t falter in a poplin shirt and a midi skirt. Just add a cocktail after six and you’re all set. SMART CASUAL Build up the drama with a flashy jacket and top, then ground it with casual blue jeans. DAYTIME FORMAL Be it a wedding lunch or baby-shower brunch, restyle your floral dress with vintage-inspired accessories. FORMAL Ditch the dusty black gown, and opt for a pristine white suit instead. Still as comfortable, and twice as stylish.…

ROAST TURKEY WITH KUMQUAT PISTACHIO STUFFING & CUMBERLAND SAUCE Prep & Cook 3 hours 30 mins (+ cooling and 1 hour standing time) | Serves 8 to 10 6 kg free-range turkey (bring to room temperature) ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp plain flour 2 extra-large oven bags 2 tbsps verjuice 1 tbsp vino cotto (see chef's tip) KUMQUAT PISTACHIO STUFFING 90 g dried kumquat ¼ cup (60 ml) verjuice 1 cup (250 ml) extra virgin olive oil 500 g free-range chicken livers, sinew removed 3 medium (500 g) brown onions, chopped ¼ cup rosemary leaves, chopped 3 cups (200 g) coarse fresh breadcrumbs ⅓ cup fresh lemon thyme, chopped 1 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped ½ cup (70 g) pistachios, chopped Extra virgin olive oil CUMBERLAND…

Stuffing, Cherry & Cabbage Salad Prep 20 mins | Cook 25 mins | Serves 8 500 g Italian pork sausages, remove meat from casing 1 red onion, grated 2 tbsps sage, chopped ¼ red cabbage, finely shredded ¼ green cabbage, finely shredded 1 cup parsley leaves, plus extra to serve ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsps red wine vinegar 1 tbsp honey 250 g cherries, halved, pitted Salt and pepper, to taste 1. Preheat oven to hot, 200 C. 2. In a bowl, combine meat from pork sausages, grated onion and chopped sage. Season. Roll tablespoons into balls. Place on lined oven tray. Bake for 20 mins until cooked through. 3. In a large bowl, toss red and green cabbage and parsley leaves together. 4. Combine extra virgin…

CHEAT’S FRUITCAKE Prep 15 mins + soaking | Cook 1 hour | Serves 12 In a bowl, combine 1½ cups mixed dried fruit, ¾ cup glace cherries and ½ cup brandy. Soak for 1 hour. Preheat oven to slow, 150 C. Grease and double line a deep 20 cm-round cake pan with baking paper, extending paper 3 cm above edge. Combine two 600 g packets vanilla mud cake and prepare following packet instructions, reducing liquid by ½ cup. Stir in soaked fruit, ½ cup slivered almonds and 1 tbsp mixed spice. Spoon into pan, smoothing top. Bake for 2 hours, covering with foil halfway, until cooked when tested. Brush warm cake with ¼ cup brandy. Cool in pan, loosely covered with foil. TOPPING Dip fruit in a whisked egg white…

PIG (2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947) Be thick-skinned as gossip swirls around your behaviour. While the minor monetary loss may even be an issue, doubling your efforts on finance management and being even more prudent with your expenses would be enough to mitigate this. Embrace family and their support for the strength to power through. RAT (2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948) Keep doing what you do best. Stand firm and ignore the pettiness of others – don’t allow rumours and naysayers to distract you from your goals. Also, while others engage in gossip, you, on the other hand, should do your best to steer clear of contributing to the rumour mill. OX (2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949) Your fortunes in both career and wealth…

ULTIMATE SKIN RENEWAL Give your skin an overhaul: restore that rosy radiance, improve skin texture and tighten skin contours with the Neogen Plasma Lift skin renewal treatment at SW1 Clinic. It uses plasma energy to send consistent and controlled heat into deep skin layers to stimulate collagen synthesis and remodelling to lift and tighten skin. Said to be safe even around the eyes, this can also help to reduce the look of scars and pigmentation. At $1,070 on www.sw1clinic.com HEALTHY SCALP, MORE BEAUTIFUL HAIR It’s easy to forget to care for the scalp until hair loss problems surface. Give your scalp a deep-cleansing and nourishing boost with Kimage’s Fusio-scrub treatment. This decongests hair follicles by removing dirt, oil, sweat, pollutants and chemical residue using a customised, essential oil-infused scrub blend.…

it is obvious that my ex-boss favours some of her subordinates in the office. And they appear to suck up to her. The rest of us who have no intention to curry favour with her generally get along fine with her. We don't get bullied by her, or go through anything traumatic, we just get recycled gifts. When she goes on overseas trips, she would buy personal gifts for her favourite subordinates. She would pass the gifts to them in secret, or call them into her office in an attempt to prevent the rest of us from knowing. Thankfully, there are (almost) no secrets between the whole team – we are all aware of her preferential treatment towards certain individuals. Last Christmas, my ex-boss’ favourites received store-bought products wrapped with…