Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i Woman & Home

Whether it’s changing your hairstyle ( see p123 ), wearing a new look ( p26 ) or taking a leap into the unknown ( p54 ), I believe it’s never too late to try something new and dare to be different. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Life is full of possibilities and there are times when you just have to go for it. It’s about being less risk-adverse and desperate to please, and more confident to make your own decisions. As Karren Brady says on p23, “Live with a sense of possibility – not dread.” Three w&h readers tell us how they stepped out of their comfort zone on p54. Rebecca went back to studying and now has the job of her dreams. Lorraine bravely ended a…

GLITTER BUG Amp up your eyewear this spring. £241, Miu Miu at sunglasshut.com TASTE SENSATION Try these new combos. Fusion chocolate bars, £3.50 each, artisanduchocolat.com HOLD ON  To a bold retro bag. Jonathan Saunders bag, £189, radley.co.uk RED HOT  Let your spring sandals take centre stage. £26, next.co.uk MAKE A STATEMENT  Pineapples are so popular this season, and this shiny gold one is gorgeous. Pineapple ornament, £48, amara.com NEW SCENT  A really individual fragrance of green tomato leaf. Marthe Armitage Limited Edition Candle, £44, jomalone.com EYE-CATCHING  Stand-out earrings are guaranteed to get you noticed. £38, ruegembon.com BRIGHT SIDE Add a touch of vivid colour with these simple Perspex frames with a neon edge. £16 each, oliverbonas.com CHEEKY  Guests will be in for a surprise!…

THE V&A has a new exhibition opening this month: Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear – see p65 for more information. MAY IS THE MONTH TO… sort out your smalls! The world’s first 3D bra (above) promises a comfy alternative to underwiring as the 3D “ribs” contour to the body. Road tested by the fashion team, this bra gets a thumbs up. Bras, from £39, 32B-36DD, silentassembly.co.uk INDULGE in the newly launched Panache Black collection (left), perfect for a bigger bust. 28D-38G, from £20, panache-lingerie.com FIRST LOOK Pronounced “oo-terkway”, Uterqüe’s accessories have the trends covered – cue top handle bags and flat mules. We predict a sellout. Mules, £80; bag, £145,…

BORROW GIRLMEETSDRESS.COM  offers designer label dresses but at a pinch of the price. Available to rent from size 6 to 18, you can choose your Victoria Beckham from your Stella McCartney without breaking the bank. Prices start from £29 and the good news is they offer next-day delivery. CHLOE, CHECK! MULBERRY, CHECK! VALENTINO, CHECK! You’re spoilt for choice with the collection of designer handbags you can borrow from TheHandbagRental.com . Join with a monthly membership starting at £5 per month then rent your dream bag for £27.50 a week. TOO BUSY TO SHOP AROUND? Worry not! Chic-by-Choice.com  allows you to hire the dress, the bag and the accessories all in one hit. Starting from £50. BESPOKE GET YOUR VERY OWN BESPOKE HAT from Rosie Olivia…

‘He proposed after three days... and I said yes!’ Lorraine Blackwell, 53, lives in Tamworth, and is married to Chris, 56. They met through eHarmony in 2013 and work together in sales. She has a grown-up son. The first step for me daring to dream that I could be happy was the bravest: it involved ending my relationship of 14 years. It had been over for quite a while but neither of us would admit it – until I holidayed with a friend and had the time and space to realise how unhappy I was. Once it was over, I found myself living alone for the first time since I was 20. I still believed in true love and ultimately wanted to meet someone, even though there was part of…

“Right now, the important things to me are friends and music. If I spend all of my 70s surrounded by both, I’ll feel like the most accomplished woman in the world. I love to work, which is why I’ve been doing it since I was 15. Hopefully my 70th birthday will be with close friends that I love – if we’re around the piano, then it’ll be terrific.” SINGER AND ACTRESS LIZA MINNELLI, 12 MARCH “When I was in my 20s, I wanted to be in my 30s and now I want to be 80! Life becomes more interesting the older you get. A lot of us are ruled by fear during our lives – afraid we’ll get burgled, afraid a dog will bite us, afraid we’ll get fat, afraid…

TRUE BLUE  Update your spring separates with an eye-catching cocoon coat. Slip it over your shoulders for a more edgy, fashion-forward finish. EASY DOES IT  A button-down blue denim skirt is your goto piece for successful weekend style. SIMPLE SEPARATES  Tick two trends in one with crochet and culottes. Then raise your game with a gleaming gold wedge. BIG IMPACT What’s the one print that’s guaranteed to get you noticed? Full-on florals. Be brave and go for a bold finish… and watch your fashion confidence soar.…

We have teamed up with renowned novelist, film director and screenwriter, Julian Fellowes, famous for creating the multi-award winning TV series Downton Abbey among others, for an evening of canapés, wine and conversation at the luxurious five-star The Royal Horseguards hotel, London to celebrate the release of his exciting new project Belgravia. This one-off chance to hear from the fascinating author and screenwriter will give a real insight into his writing and vision, and provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet and ask questions to Julian himself. He set the world alight with his record-breaking creation that became one of the most viewed television series in the world. Our event, on Tuesday 21 June, will take place at The Royal Horseguards hotel on London’s Embankment. The evening will begin…

YES YOU CAN wear double sheer – work one on top of another for all the coverage you’ll need Sheer blouses & their solutions Reveal a darker bra under a sheer blouse Show a glimpse of gold lace Go totally tonal with pretty nude Show off those shoulders Take inspiration from the catwalk and make the focus your shoulders – so on trend! Go for ruffles to add dramatic detail Hide a tummy with a looser fit Lace four ways 1 Show off your arms and shoulders with a lace blouse. £75, 8-18 2 Reveal some leg without feeling too exposed – opt for pieces with shorter hems and a longer skirt 3 Get extra arm coverage and layer over with a cropped lace jacket 4 Go under with a…

“I often use Lulu’s T ime Bomb Flashbac k Night Cream, £33 , in my facials as a skin-boosting mask. It contains vitamins, hyaluronic acid and phyto-lipids to perk skin up.”Gemma Clare, facialist HINT OF SUMMER… Coral red Adds a dynamic freshness to lips, skin, fingertips and toes. PRETTIER POUT Smashbox Be Legendary Matte Lipstick in Pinch Me, £19 , easy-wear peachy lips; or the sheerest matte ever, Bourjois Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet in Red My Lips, £8.99 . VIBRANT NAILS Two coats of Essie Nail Polish in Meet Me At Sunset, £7.99 , is perfection for fingers and toes. PEACHY FRESH CHEEKS Sculpt and shape for the prettiest flush with…

Get ahead of the sun this year and be ready to bare a little more skin. You can get a believable summery glow, at a moment’s notice, which means easy dressing when the sun comes out. Nothing makes us feel more instantly summery than a glow to the skin: just decide how much time you’ve got… WASH & GO No longer just the preserve of getting clean, shower time is officially tan time. 2015 saw a craze for the 3-minute St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion, £14.50, now in a deeper tone, that had a waiting list of 10,000 at Boots before its launch. New to try is the even faster, 1-minute express Rimmel Sunshimmer In-shower Self Tan Hydrating Lotion, £9.99, that’s applied to wet skin, builds gradually but…

THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLE Feed skin from within with collagen-building protein and detoxifying chlorophyll – stir into a smoothie for top marks. Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Greens Complex, £20 THE ONE INGREDIENT Pure avocado oil – use at night or mix into foundation for a juicy glow. Melvita Avocado Oil, £16 THE POWER DROPS With green coffee extract, add to moisturiser to clear overworked, clogged-up skin. Clarins Booster Detox, £30 THE TOP-TO-TOE TREAT Nails need TLC too. Wear to bed for hard, hydrated fingernails and toenails. Nails Inc Overnight Detox Mask with Green Tea, Acai and Spirulina, £15 THE DEEP DETOX Clay mask meets bubbly green tea cleanser to draw out congestion. Origins By All Greens Foaming Deep Cleansing Mask, £32 THE FUTUREPROOF FLUID Non-sticky mineral sunscreen with vitamin E to…

10 million cans sold in Germany last year “If I have a shake in the morning, it really keeps me going” “The shake fills you with goodness” “It’s a great kick-start to weight loss” ALMASED: PURE NATURE An innovative meal replacement made from high-quality soya, yogurt and enzyme-rich honey, Almased contains important nutrients your body needs. The clinically tested formula contains no preservatives, artificial fillers or flavours, and only naturally occurring sugars. It is gluten-free, vegetarian and suitable for those with diabetes. Soya keeps you full for longer, gives you energy and provides protein for muscles. Yogurt cultures have a positive effect on your intestinal flora, strengthen the immune system and help with digestion. Honey gives a pleasantly sweet taste. The enzymes in the raw liquid, natural honey support digestion…

Meditating at bedtime is a lovely way to relax your mind. It’s more soothing than watching TV or reading, and helps you to fall asleep afterwards. Tempting as it may be to do it lying down in bed, make sure you sit upright so that you don’t fall asleep while doing it (meditation is about awareness rather than shutting down and dropping off). And use a timer such as the i-Qi meditation timer app so that you’re not distracted by wondering how many minutes have gone by. In order to relax rather than fall asleep, it’s best to sit with your back straight. Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breathing, as the breath is the link between the mind and the body. Breathe in and out through…

A third of the money taken out of pensions (with access from age55) has been spent on home improvements BORROWING FOR HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS? Creating floor space, with a loft conversion or extension, adds most value. The best way to finance it depends on the amount and the stage you’re at. Borrow interest free Some retailers offer 0% finance on kitchens or bathrooms. For example, both IKEA and John Lewis offer up to 24 months interest-free on kitchens including installation, and Victoria Plum a similar deal on bathrooms. Alternatively, take out a 0% credit card and clear the full cost during the interest-free period by direct debit. Best buys are 0% for 27 months from the Post Office. See moneyfacts.co.uk Want to buy in cash? A money transfer card puts cash…

IN SEASON Warmer days are on their way and with that comes the start of the British asparagus season. Pair them with our favourite potato, the Jersey Royal, for a match made in heaven. Or perhaps add some grilled English or Welsh lamb, now coming into its best. Make a British crab salad and add samphire with a twist of lemon. Healthy watercress is back for the perfect power soup, and finally, sardines return for the barbecue. Summer’s coming! NEW CHOC ON THE BLOCK These gorgeous Chocolate and Love Great Taste award-winners come in beautifully packaged 100g bars, which are organic and Fairtrade. We were smitten by the dark chocolate with caramel & sea salt. We’re in love! £2.99, Sainsbury’s HEALTHY SNACK These moreish rice crackers from the Snack Organisation…

How many grape varieties are there in the world? No one knows for certain, but a figure of 5,000 (including synonyms) sounds about right. Of these, around 150 are planted in decent quantities, and ten are ubiquitous. These are the names that carpet supermarket wine shelves and have turned into brands. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Pinot Gris/Grigio (for whites), or Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Malbec (for reds) are all excellent grapes, but don’t just stick to that familiar line-up. I’m not suggesting that you go in search of the weird and not so wonderful – Debina from Greece, Graisse from France or Malbo Gentile from Italy, for example – just to try new things from time to time. Every grape has a…

BLUE VELVET A 50s-style cocktail chair is dressed to impress. £229, swooneditions.com CHECK MATE Cosy cushions for texture and colour. £70, uggaustralia. co.uk SNUGGLE UP This woven check throw will keep you warm. £10, George Home SPOTLIGHT Add a timeless art deco-style lamp. Charlton lamp, £228.80, kansa-lighting.co.uk kansalighting.co.uk TABLE TALK Industrial design gives an edgy finish. Darby coffee table, £229, made.com…

CHRYSANTHEMUMS are back in fashion. The large pom-pom head ones are stunning and great for cutting. Chrysanthemum ‘Margaret’ mixed; woolmans.com COSMOS XANTHOS is the first yellow-flowered Cosmos and has large, long-lasting soft yellow blooms that will keep flowering from May to October; mr-fothergills.co.uk BATHSHEBA is a new English climbing rose in a blend of apricot, pink and yellow. Super fragrant, it will scent your garden with myrrh, honey and tea notes; davidaustinroses.co.uk MARIGOLD DURANGO LEMON ZEST is a great addition to brighten up a border or sunny patio with its profusion of buttery-yellow flowers; longacres.co.uk HYDRANGEA ‘KARDINAL VIOLET’ Ever popular, this hydrangea has larger flowers and an amazing mix of colours. It will bloom well into the autumn; crocus.co.uk PETUNIA ‘NIGHT SKY’ lives up to its name! With white speckles…

MICHAELA STRACHAN Wildlife TV presenter The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty is about a hypnotherapist falling in love with a widower who has a young son and an ex-girlfriend stalker who becomes a client of the hypnotherapist! It’s made me quite intrigued about hypnotherapy. Blood Sisters by Barbara and Stephanie Keating is part of a trilogy about three girls from very different backgrounds who meet at boarding school in 1950s Kenya, then embark on different lives. It’s full of history, friendship, tragedy, intrigue, love, betrayal, wildlife, politics and murder, and is absolutely gripping. I’ve just downloaded Ben Elton’s Time and Time Again. His social observations are so fascinating and definitely thought-provoking. Michaela will appear with her live show Michaela Strachan’s Really Wild Adventures at wildlife…

Juliet, 59, lives with her husband, anthropologist Hugh Brody, in London. She has a daughter, 21, a son, 15, and two stepsons. In Departure , she plays mum Beatrice, who must confront the end of her marriage to Philip [Finbar Lynch] and her adolescent son, Elliot [Alex Lawther], who questions his sexuality. I play a lot of women whose marriages are falling apart, but Beatrice is a real introvert and she took me back to my younger self. I used to be much shyer. But I don’t care nearly so much what people think now, a lot of which comes with age. Now, I meet people much younger than me who’ve already got to this place and I think, “It took me five decades to get here!”…

Star sign of the month TAURUS 21 APRIL – 21 MAY  The force is with you. Expect a confidence boost, if not a serious endorsement of your talents and charms. And if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to make one of the most important moves of your life, wait no more. For weekly updates, call 09058-170542* THE MONTHS AHEAD  Slip on your entrepreneurial boots. Business projects get the thumbs up and your star should be rising for personal reasons, too. For a detailed breakdown of the next few months, call 09058-170091* GEMINI 22 MAY – 22 JUNE It’s not like you to be full of doubts but if you’re uncertain about a situation, hold back. Once the full moon passes on the 21st, you’ll be in a position…

“I have a great family who keep my feet very firmly on the ground” In the new series of Grantchester you dive into the River Cam, get smacked in the face, are slashed with a razor blade and get hit over the head with a paperweight – do you enjoy the stunts? I love them. The little boy in me is excited I get to run around and stage fight. The river dive did go slightly wrong though when Robson [Green, who plays Detective Inspector Geordie Keating] threw water on me and I ended up walking backwards and falling into the river. It looked really quite serious – you could hear everyone on the bank gasp – but luckily I came back up to the surface…

While our longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her official birthday in June, her actual birthday falls on 21 April. As is tradition, the day itself will be marked by gun salutes in Hyde Park, Windsor Great Park and at the Tower of London. On both 20 and 21 April, the Queen will be at home in Windsor and is expected to take part in a small number of public engagements there. On her 80 th  birthday, she staged an impromptu walkabout and crowds will be gathering from dawn in the hope of a repeat. Celebrations fit for a queen WRITE… Your own personal birthday message for the Queen at thequeensbirthdaybook.com. You can also buy a 90th birthday commemorative medal, which raises money for the Queen’s charities, from queensmedal.co.uk…

CONFIDENT COLOUR • Rev up your everyday separates with an eye-popping coat. A warm yellow works perfectly with contrasting black and white. • Avoid fuss and frills and look for neat details – sleek pockets and oversized buttons give it a designer feel. • Work a versatile 3/4-length cut with easy A-line skirts and sexy, slim-cut pants. TAKE IT TO THE MAX • Take your summer staples to new lengths. Invest in a maxi early and you’ve got everything covered, even if the sun’s only thinking about shining. • Add another layer. If it’s too bare then slip it over a bold sleeveless knit. • Work it so you can walk in it. Chunky wooden heels will give you an instant lift. AWESOME ACCESSORIES • Give your daywear extra impact…

OUR EXPERT Susan David is professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and co-founder and co-director of instituteofcoaching. org . She lives in Boston with her husband and two children How many of us wade through modern life, wishing we were being someone better or doing something bigger, yet finding, somehow, that our day-to-day actions aren’t moving us in the right direction? Whether you have always wanted to start a business, do a charity run, improve your marriage or start dating again, it could be your own self-defeating thoughts and habits that are holding you back from achieving your goals. By digging deep, breaking old patterns and harnessing your superpowers, you can be your own hero and live the life you want. Here we show…

‘I started volunteering to give back – but I get so much more than I give’ Tracey Exton, 49, is director of a recruitment consultancy in Edinburgh. She is married to Joe and has a grown-up son and daughter. On Fridays she volunteers at the Columcille Centre for adults with learning difficulties. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I’d like to volunteer – but never did anything about it, partly because I didn’t know where to start. Then a couple of years ago, I booked a hall as a venue for my husband’s 50th birthday party, which during the day was used as a centre for adults with learning difficulties. One of the first people I met when I went in to book it was…

My first bra was from Marks & Spencer, two 32AA scraps of cotton sewn together with optimism. Even then it was too big – back in the day, I was not blessed with much to boast about. However, that tiny article of clothing transformed me from boyish girl to the femme fatale of Year 2 – in my head at least. With the bra, the tiny suspender belt and a proper pair of nylons, not in the more usual American Tan (who decreed that tanned Americans were to be the universal colour of women’s legs?), but in Rosy Gold, which, in retrospect, gave my limbs a sunburnt hue – I was all woman at 13. Tights soon replaced stockings, but I still remember the ritual of going to the drapers…

I hoped diving, a hobby we both enjoyed, would connect us again MONEY SPENT: £550 THE INVESTMENT: A HOLIDAY Writer Louisa Pritchard, 40, spent £550 on a make-or-break holiday with her partner of 11 years. My then-boyfriend, who I’ll call Ben, and I were going through a rocky patch. We’d been together for 11 years but with no sign of either of us wanting to get married, the relationship was floundering. After a fruitless round of couples counselling, we decided to take what was in my mind a make-or-break holiday to help us decide whether we still loved each other or whether we’d fallen into the “friends” trap. We found a week-long trip to Egypt, staying on a dive boat with other holidaymakers. It wasn’t a traditional romantic getaway but…

 There will be scoffing at the recent news from the travel industry that there’s a boom in adult families holidaying together. Not only do more and more young adults come boomerang-ing home after college to live in their childhood bedroom but now – horrors! We are told that the Bank of Mum and Dad has moved into the holiday business. There’s a reported increase in even twentysomethings with jobs being taken on fully funded holidays alongside their parents. Just as if they were six-years-old with buckets and spades. Joint trips are precious, so book that holiday Of course there will be some whose youthful holiday plans involve rather more drink, drugs, promiscuous hook-ups and dangerous moped behaviour than they want their parents to know about. I remember my Dad –…

THE TREND: Double-duty print TEAM YOUR PRINTS FROM TOP TO TOE FOR A MODERN TAKE • Mix up stripes in different directions, then pull them together with tonal accessories. • A white tunic is your perfect layering piece. Break things up and give your look balance. • Try the Dolce & Gabbana look with top-to-toe florals. Avoid pyjama territory with slim tapered trousers and heels. • Make bolder prints look easy to pull off – keep sleeves rolled up and a couple of buttons undone at the top. YOLISA SEGONE, 43,  works as a presenter and lives in London. Yolisa is wary of print so the matchy-matchy trend is pushing her style limits. THE TREND: The bold shoulder SPRING IS HERE! GET THOSE SHOULDERS OUT ON…

Make brilliant blue nail enamel your fashion statement Something COOL EASY “NOTHING” NAILS ARE EXACTLY THAT, but for a fashion statement nail, as seen at Jenny Packham SS16, hues of ocean blues and denim are actually some of the most complimentary colours to wear (hence jeans are so easy, eh?). APPLY A SUPER-FLAT BASECOAT that evens out ridges and imperfections, with Sally Hansen Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment, £10.95, which also brightens, toughens, seals and protects. Two, if not three, coats of a brilliant blue are required. Here we used Avon Gel Shine Nail Enamel in Sapphired Up, £7, avonshop.co.uk, or try Essie Starry Starry Night, £8.95, or OPI Rich Girls & Po Boys, £12.50, from the New Orleans Collection, which has an entire runway-ready palette of blue lacquers from…

With longer days and even the chance of some warm weather, this is the perfect time of year to update your look and try out a gorgeous style for the new season. Regis is the expert in creating must-have looks while fitting with your individual style. Whether you want lighter, sun-kissed holiday hair, an on-trend mid-length bob or a revitalising facial, you’re guaranteed to leave a Regis salon looking and feeling great. Kieron Fowles, creative director at Regis, says, “One of the biggest trends for the new season is fresh, natural-colour palettes. From soft, mousy blondes and pale browns through to warmer, more luxurious tones, the trend offers an understated, pretty finish to the hair that is great for this time of year. “Why not team your new colour with…

DAYS 1-3: INITIATION PHASE The body’s system is reset: consume three Almased drinks per day mixed with water or low-fat milk, plus an optional bowl of veg soup. DAYS 4-7: REDUCTION PHASE This phase supports steady and healthy weight loss. Simply replace two meals (preferably breakfast and dinner) with Almased and eat one balanced meal, which should be high in protein, low in carbohydrate and rich in vegetables. DAYS 8-10: STABILISATION PHASE Two regular, balanced meals plus one Almased drink ensures you continue to lose weight while your body slowly accustoms to an increased calorie intake. DAYS 11-14: LIFE PHASE Three balanced meals plus one Almased drink ensures effective weight control while continuing to provide the body with many essential nutrients for optimum health. Download your FREE Almased Figure Plans…

When you’re blue… Hit the chocolate! The mood-enhancing serotonin-flavonols in super-cacao give good vibes in a glass! CHASE-THE-BLUES SMOOTHIE Blend 1 cup cherries, 1 cup dairy-free milk, ¼ cup walnuts, 1 banana, 2tbsp super-cacao powder, 1tsp honey. TRY Aduna Super-Cacao, £14.99/275g, hollandandbarrett.com When you can’t focus… Try water plus! Love water more by flavouring with natural diuretics and detox ingredients. SLIM FROM WITHIN WATER To 2 litres water, add 1tsp grated ginger, 1 cucumber (peeled/thinly sliced), 1 lemon (thinly sliced), juice of 2 limes and ½tsp cayenne pepper. Combine in a jug, cover and chill. Drink a jug every one or two days. When you’re knackered… Drink soup! Kick-start your stamina with raw food expert Deborah Durrant’s beetroot soup. BORSCHT BOOST Juice 1 beetroot, 1 carrot and 1 apple; pour…

Professor Joanna Zakrzewska, Chair of Medical Advisory Board for the TN Association, explains: We do not know the exact cause of TN but it’s possibly caused by a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve as it enters the brain, resulting in cross circuits between pain and light touch nerves, always in the face. Trigeminal neuralgia affects 0.1% of the UK population. The pain is excruciating and can cause sufferers to feel suicidal if untreated. It is important to get specialist help to prevent unnecessary treatments like root canal work and tooth extractions when people think the pain is tooth related. The most common treatment is anticonvulsants, which reduce activity of the nerves, and thus the pain. If drugs fail to relieve the pain, surgery may help. For more advice…

Veggie boost grain salad This is filling on its own and vegan, but you may want to serve it as a side dish to go with grilled fish, chicken or lamb. Any leftovers are perfect for a lunch box.  Easy/Prepare ahead • Ready in 20 minutes • Serves 4 150g edamame (soya) beans250g cooked, mixed grains (we useda pouch of Merchant Gourmet Quinoa,lentils and wheatberries)250g tomatoes, sliced250g cooked baby beetroot, cutinto wedges25g toasted peanuts, choppedfresh mint, to serve FOR THE DRESSING 1tbsp sesame oil1tbsp olive oil1tsp rice vinegar1tsp soy sauce Blanch the edamame beans in boiling water for 2 minutes then refresh under cold running water. Put the grains in a large bowl. Mix the dressing ingredients together and stir through the grains. Add the remaining ingredients and serve. Per serving: 304…

WORK SPACE Whether you’re working from home, or just sorting personal admin, how about this designer desk? Its compact size fits most spaces and it has a glass top so you can see all your neatly lined up pencils in the drawer! Conran Ashworth desk, £499, marksandspencer.com DESIGNER GLAMOUR Fashion and home fave Julien Macdonald has brought his singular style to a range of home accessories for QVC. Mirror, £320, qvcuk.com STATEMENT LIGHT Clashing colours make this classic lamp funky. Don’t like the shade? Change it – shades and bases are mix and match. Aurora table lamp, £80; peacock silk shade, £55, pooky.com SCANDI STYLE New to the UK is fab Finnish brand be&liv being stocked at a w&h favourite retailer Cloudberry Living. Pricey but gorgeous, this cake stand is…

THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT by Kate Hamer (Faber) w&h Reading Room, our online book club, is free to join and each month we send a free book to 25 readers to review. This month’s choice is The Girl in the Red Coat. When a child goes missing, her mother sets out to find her. But eight-year- old Carmel is taken on a journey of her own with a man who believes she has a special gift. A thrilling story of loss, grief and hope. Join us at facebook.com and search for “w&hreadingroom”.…

FROM OUR COVER SHOOT: Watch a trailer of our cover star Helen Mirren’s latest film Eye in the Sky at womanandhome.com/eyeinthesky PAMELA STEPHENSON writes about life with husband Billy since his Parkinson’s diagnosis on p68. MOST DARING ADVENTURE? Sailing Sailing around the world in a two-year journey in 2004, facing many moments of jeopardy. COMFORT ZONE CHALLENGE? Being around bigoted people, and how to handle the situation. JOANNA HALL followed her passion for walking to make a successful business. See her w&h workout on p134. ANY DOWNSIDE? Early starts to get to walking locations when the family are still snuggled in bed. UPSIDE? Seeing how WalkActive makes women and men look, feel and perform better. LIBBY PURVES, broadcaster and writer, talks movingly about the pleasure of sharing holidays with adult…

Live with a sense of possibility – not dread A friend of mine asked me for a foolproof formula for making good decisions. After all, she concluded, I run a business and anyone who runs a business has to make decisions and take responsibility for them; and as I run a good business, I must make more good decisions than bad! And it’s true, the decisions a business leader makes often changes lives. The ability to make more right decisions than wrong ones is what sets apart the good leaders from the bad. She is also right that there are techniques to good decision-making – you don’t have to run a business to find them useful because we make hundreds of personal decisions that shape our lives forever. The first…

SHINE OUT WEAR WITH… Jacket, £45, 4-14, Asos. Ring, £75, Monica Vinader. Heels, £68, Office. Bag, £69, Modalu LOW-KEY LUXE WEAR WITH… Knit, £59.99, s-l, Mango. Ring, £85, Anton Heunis. Bag, £45, Becksöndergaard at the-dressingroom.com. Shoes, £69, Topshop BASIC INSTINCT WEAR WITH… Bag, £32, Topshop. Shoes, £199, Pretty Ballerinas THINK PINK WEAR WITH… Bag, £1,100, Valentino at Liberty. Earrings, £32, Stella & Dot. Sleeveless coat, £49.50, 8-20, Marks & Spencer Collection. Heels, £325, MaxMara MAKE IT MONO WEAR WITH… Coat, £249, xs-l, Jigsaw. Earrings, £36, Gemporia. Clutch, £24, Next. Heels, £275, LK Bennett…

There are times when the truth needs a little airbrushing to protect feelings LIE ONE: Never go to bed angry You’ve been sniping at each other all evening over everything from bills to bin duties, now it has escalated into a full-on shouting match and you’re both furious. Traditional wisdom says we need to make up or at least call a truce before hitting the hay. Dr Terri Orbuch, relationship therapist and author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great (River Grove Books), disagrees: “When you’re irritated and upset, it’s almost impossible to problem solve effectively. In fact, you’re likely to say something you’ll regret. Instead of thrashing it out there and then, you need to say to each other, ‘We’re not in a good…

I must have been in denial for years and years. Psychologists use the term “denial” to describe a person’s state of being unable to consciously accept something, usually of an unpleasant nature and, to me, it was certainly unthinkable that my husband was experiencing the onset of Parkinson’s. Despite certain psychological vulnerabilities, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Billy appeared – even to me – as a larger-that-life person who had always been immensely strong and physically well. For many years, I was aware that his hand shook sometimes, but my conscious mind rationalised that he’d just been practising his banjo too much. But then again, perhaps my missing of his symptoms was down to ignorance; being a psychologist made me see some of Billy’s symptoms through the wrong lens.…

A year of celebrations: Janet Street-Porter, 27 December; and clockwise from top left, Susan Sarandon, 4 October; Hayley Mills, 18 April; Diana Quick, 23 November; Penelope Wilton, 3 June; Felicity Kendal, 25 September; Diane von Furstenberg, 31 December; Diane Keaton, 5 January; Jane Asher, 5 April JANET STREET-PORTER belongs to a generation who are breaking all the rules. I’ll be 70 this year, along the rest of my baby boomer generation, born directly after the last war. During every decade of my life, I’ve thrown away the rule book, refusing to submit to the ageing process the way my parents did. When I was a teenager, my mother was in her forties, but in my eyes she seemed ancient, from the constant stream of sensible advice she dished out every…

“Take away a foundation sample to test at home” If you love make-up, you’ll know how important finding the right foundation is – that’s why buying a new one can sometimes feel more like a task than a treat. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Track down that perfect base with ease at Debenhams, where you’ll find a vast selection of premium beauty brands and friendly, expert advice. Drop in to the beauty hall to enjoy complimentary shade matching and take away a sample** to test at home on many best-selling and new foundations. What’s more, now is the perfect time to buy foundation at Debenhams, as Beauty Club members will enjoy £5 worth of points* on any foundation purchase. Not a member? Then pick up a card…

87% of woman&home readers would recommend this product to a friend* Come in-store for your FREE deluxe samples of Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil and Sleeping Cream, worth £8.25. To redeem, simply show this page in-store by 31 May. Selected stores only, while stocks last. One duo per reader. For stores, see thebodyshop.com/giveaway Help your skin work through the night with the Oils of Life four-step regime and see the difference come sunrise: STEP 1 Prepare with Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion STEP 2 Nourish with Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil STEP 3 Revitalise with Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream STEP 4 Renew with Oils of Life Twin-Ball Revitalising Facial Massager We all love our sleep. While you rest body…

“With the rise of the 40-somethings, the media’s fascination with ‘long = young’ is running dr y” Paul Edmonds Want to go shorter, but not sure how far to go? “The key is to not let short hair defeminise you,” says Adam Reed of Percy & Reed and GHD style ambassador. “Sure you want volume, texture and movement, but you want to keep a bit of softness: you want to keep enough hair to play with, even if you’re going to be tucking that fringe behind your ear. The length takes the style softer and more feminine.” “Hair right now is all about manageability and looking sexy without having to look like you have tried hard,” says Knightsbridge-based celebrity hairdresser Paul Edmonds. “The runway has played a big part with…

EXCLUSIVE BEAUTY VIDEO #DareToBe brave in the salon chair. Could this haircut take ten years off your look too? RECIPES #DareToBe inspired by new ingredients. Will you embrace this season’s new food trends? FASHION #DareToBe bold with colour. Stylish, figure- flattering occasion outfits that will turn heads GET OUR DAILY EMAIL Sign up to receive our brilliant new content in your inbox every lunchtime – subscribe at womanandhome.com DIET & HEALTH #DareToBe comfortable in your own skin. Find your ideal body weight without dieting HOMES #DareToBe an interiors trendsetter. These simple changes will make a big impact Join w&h’s Reading Room Search for our reading room on Facebook to discuss and review this month’s book Share your thoughts with us We’re encouraging you to #DareToBe bolder, braver and even more…

If you have tried to get fit by walking in the past but never had much success you are probably sceptical about how effective it can be. Well, think again because you were almost certainly walking in the wrong way! WalkActive – The Effective Walking System – is about moving your body in complete postural alignment with every single step you take and it’s scientifically proven to help you look better, feel better and perform better. THE WALKACTIVE SYSTEM has been scientifically verified* to: Improve your posture – shown to anti-age your posture. Reduce joint stress – safeguard your joints, specifically your knees and ankles. Improve body shape – specifically around the waistline. Increase walking speed – by up to 24%. *Independent research from London South Bank University Academy of…

It enhances relationships with friends, family or colleagues Convince me why I should try it In a nutshell: because it is very easy, it makes you feel great and it has so many scientifically documented benefits. So even if the idea of meditation seems to mean that you will be taking time out of an already overly busy life to do what seems like “nothing”, you can rest assured it will pay dividends. Isn’t it all chanting? The ancient, spiritual form of meditation practised for centuries by Buddhist monks involved a lot of chanting, but most other types don’t. There’s Transcendental Meditation, which became better known in the 70s when The Beatles took up with its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; the more hardcore (and silent) Vipassana; then the more approachable,…

Moore Fund in memory of her late husband who sadly died of bowel cancer aged just 51. Stephanie says: “This year marks 50 years since Bobby led England to World Cup glory, which is why we want to see the whole nation get behind Football Shirt Friday on 22 April and wear their team’s shirt with pride. By raising funds for research, we can all help bring forward the day when bowel cancer is cured.” To date, the Bobby Moore Fund in partnership with Cancer Research UK has raised over £22m. For more information visit footballshirtfriday.org…

QI often wake with pins and needles in my right arm, and my neck feels stiff. I’ve switched from two pillows to one, but it hasn’t helped. What else can I do? A The most common reason for this is “wear and tear” in the bones of the spine in your neck – “cervical spondylosis”, as the medics call it. Unfortunately, it’s very common, especially in women over 40, and can lead to pressure on the nerves that go from the spine to the arms and hands. There’s usually a lot of associated muscle spasm, and tackling this with physiotherapy and neck exercises is usually very helpful at easing symptoms. Poor posture, especially when using a computer, can make matters worse though, so check the position of your keyboard and…

FREEKEH A roasted green wheat from the Middle East. Chewy, nutty and a good source of protein and fibre. Buy pre-cooked or takes 20 minutes to cook. Use like rice or quinoa. COCONUT MILK POWDER Made in Sri Lanka from native coconuts, you can rehydrate it either as a thick cream or milk to use in cooking. Perfect in sorbet and ice cream. FROZEN SWEETCORN A high-fibre freezer essential, and much tastier than canned. They are frozen quickly after picking, so are sweet and tender. Add to salads, stir- fries, curries and soups. PUY LENTILS One of the best lentils – tiny, sweet, full of protein. Eat hot or cold; they are wonderful in a salad with big, punchy flavours, or try in any recipe where you’d use minced beef.…

To live in such a beautiful place with my parents next door is a real privilege The kitchen-diner is a sociable, multi-use family space blending practicality and looks Cool greens, taupes and blues link the rooms, emphasising the light and height, and hi-spec fittings give a sense of luxury Just days before work on her new family home was due to start, Kate Tregoning’s builder let her down. But she refused to panic. “I had all the plans, as well as years of management experience,” she explains. “I just thought, ‘How hard can it be?’” With their twin daughters aged nearly nine at the time, Kate and her husband, Andrew, had decided to leave London and move closer to Kate’s parents in Devon, who still lived in the 1930s farmhouse…

Looking for inspiration for your home? Then you will love the new Coastal collection from Sainsbury’s. Taking inspiration from the British coastline, the combination of blue and white is a sure-fire winner. White walls are essential for a bright, fresh feel in the bedroom. Add striped bed linen and layer up with a nautical cushion for the perfect touch. Continue the theme with accessories in the form of deep blue bottle vases, textured throws, driftwood and fun nautical pieces. Light woods and grey colour palettes add depth and prevent it from looking too cold. Whether you go for the whole coastal theme or just pick out key pieces, you will love this timeless look. FIND OUT MORE The new Coastal homeware range is available at selected Sainsbury’s stores. To see…

 Kate Morton, 39, lives in London with her husband, Davin, and three sons. She was born and brought up in Australia but moved to London to study, then began to write. Her first novel, The House at Riverton, was a bestseller, and she has written four more. Her latest is The Lake House (Macmillan). The first two manuscripts I wrote were rejected so I decided I was never going to be published and would just write for myself. Writing by hand helps me to focus I then wrote The House at Riverton for pure pleasure. Unbeknownst to me, an editor in Australia had started her own list and a mutual acquaintance told her about my work: she read the partial manuscript, asked to see the rest (which I then wrote…