Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i Woman & Home

Wishing you a Christmas filled with moments to cherish with your family and friends and just a little me-time too Hello I’m Kath, your new editor. As I’m at the helm of a title I know you’re so passionate about, I thought you might want to know a few things about me: I’m 53, married to an architect and have two teenage children, Gracie and Freddie. I have a wonderful gang of girlfriends who I don’t see enough of because our lives are so hectic, although we do go to a villa in Ibiza every year to properly catch up, drink sangria and gossip for hours on end. In other words, I probably have a lot in common with you. I’m busy, I’m a bit flawed (too much Rioja, not…

CLOTHING RESERVED The look Poland’s answer to Topshop, with Kate Moss in tow to front the campaign. What’s the damage? £3-£150. Orange coat, £79.99; check coat, £49.99, both 8-20, reserved.com BAGS CHARLES & KEITH The look Modern shapes with on-trend styles and great shoes too. What’s the damage? £19-£200. Mini bag, £49; bucket bag, £69; slingbacks, £49, charleskeith.com NICO GIANI The look Compact, geometric designs in block colours. What’s the damage? £240-£420. Red bag, £290; tan bag, £420; yellow bag, £370, Harvey Nichols and Net-a-Porter JEWELLERY LAUBAJAC PARIS The look Tassel-tastic statement earrings. What’s the damage? £13.90-£17.90. Green tassel earrings, £16.90, laubajac.com MISHANTO LONDON The look If you love coloured, semi-precious stones, this one’s for you. What’s the damage? £54-£295. Green amethyst and rose quartz earrings, £225, mishanto.me…

“Alan Bennett gave me a Christmas card,” says Nina Stibbe, “But it was disappointing – a tasteful postcard depicting a painting of the Virgin Mary in some Italian church. ‘Take it or leave it,’ he said. I took it – but what I really wanted was a proper Christmas card with a robin on it...” It was gems such as this that led to Nina’s first book, Love, Nina , becoming a hit in 2013. It’s a collection of letters to her sister during her two years working as a live-in nanny in an artsy enclave of north London. Alan Bennett lived across the road, and other members of the literati, such as Claire Tomalin and Michael Frayn, were also neighbours. “Growing up, my friends and I…

G et clever in the kitchen JANE CURRAN is w&h Food Director and Editor of Feel Good Food. Use your freezer Make fiddly dishes like red cabbage or gravy up to a month ahead. I keep a curry in there, too, plus extra essentials such as butter. Free up fridge space by using a big bucket filled with ice for your wine and Champagne. It can go in the garage or by the back door on Christmas Day. Invest in a meat thermometer so you don’t over- or under-cook. Lakeland makes one that’s easy to use. On the day Keep the menu simple: a smoked salmon starter just needs assembling. Disposable foil trays from the pound shop are brilliant as they can go straight into the recycling. Or double-line roasting…

“Everything was so magical – the house, the snow, my family” VICTORIA HISLOP, 58, is a bestselling author whose books include The Island . She is married to the Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, and they have two grown-up children together. I grew up, as most of us do, with an image of how Christmas should be: chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Santa Claus sleighing across the sky and Bing Crosby making us dream that only a white Christmas was a true one. And so every year I had hopes then disappointments. We always spent Christmas with my aunt, uncle and cousin in their house in Kent, and every Christmas Eve we waited for my father to return from work before setting…

Fabulous statement sleeves are having a moment this season COVER THOSE ARMS  You don’t have to have everything on show. Cover up with feathers, polka dots or sequins. FLAUNT IT  Got a bigger bust? Choose a V-neck dress with a pinched-in waist to create an hourglass shape. Avoid nude tights. Add a 10 denier for a sexier look HIDE THAT TUMMY  Nothing beats a dress that doesn’t cling. Feel chic and comfortable all night long. SWING FOR IT  Look for a swishy skirt that flares from your waist and keep all your secrets hidden.…

JUST TEN extra seconds! “Always make time for curling lashes,” says make-up artist Claire Ray, “Your eyes will instantly look bigger.” THE PERFECT MATT LIP The best thing about a strong lip is that it barely needs any other make-up to look its best. Don’t make it too precise. Steer clear of shiny lips at parties (unless nude), as they smudge easily. Opt for one of the latest velvet matt textures that are highly pigmented, so they stay in place longer yet aren’t drying. Make this pinky red velvet your go-to lip. It’s THE red of the moment and looks best when it’s a little worn in and not too immaculate. Paint, blot and go. FOCUS ON EYES Your eyes will look bigger, lashes longer, just by doing this. Grab…

THIS MONTH… COLDS • LACTOSE INTOLERANCE • FESTIVE MEDICAL HELP • ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING Q It seems that every year in the run-up to Christmas I get a stinking cold. Would it help if I had a flu jab? A The flu jab only provides protection against three strains of the influenza virus, and doesn’t provide any protection against the 200 or so rhinoviruses that cause colds. The best way to try and avoid catching a cold this winter is to be really scrupulous about hygiene, wiping any keyboards or phones with an antiseptic wipe before you use them, washing your hands frequently, and also keeping your hands away from your face. And you’re much less likely to catch someone else’s nasty germs if you do all your shopping online in the safety…

“Instead of Christmas lunch, I go on a forest walk with my husband and our friends” In conversation with… MARIAN KEYES Bestselling author Marian Keyes, 54, lives just outside Dublin in Dún Laoghaire with her husband, Tony. Her latest novel, The Break (Michael Joseph), is out now. What’s the best book you’ve read this year? The Power by Naomi Alderman. It looks at how gender relations would be if women were physically stronger than men and debunks many myths such as women being innately gentle and men violent. Although it’s an intellectual novel, it reads like a thriller. What book would you like to be given? Every Liane Moriarty novel that she’s planning to write for the rest of her life! My favourite is What…

Keep your tree looking as fresh as the day you bought it by watering it regularly. A large tree can drink up to 5 litres of water a day, especially if it’s near a radiator or fireplace CREATURE COMFORTS Pair simple Nordic styling with woodland creatures for a cosy Christmas look. How to get the look • KEEP IT TRADITIONAL with heaps of baubles and accessories in classic reds and greens. Decorations made from natural materials will help to add depth and a rustic Scandi vibe – think real pine cones, soft felt and rustic wood. • GIVE THE LOOK CHARACTER with woodland creature motifs – stags, reindeer and robins are favourites. • EXPOSED BRICK OR WOOD PANELLING will create the perfect backdrop for a Nordic cabin feel. If you…

Mumbai chicken curry This has a good kick from the chillies but is cooled down with the coconut sauce. The ingredients list is long but much of it is the paste, which is simply whizzed up. Easy/Prepare ahead/ Freeze • Ready in 1 hr 20 mins • Serves 6 3tbsp sunflower oil 1.25kg chicken thighs, boneless and skinless 4 tomatoes, finely chopped 400ml can coconut cream (NB not coconut milk) 1tbsp tamarind paste a large bunch of fresh coriander, chopped for the paste 5 large red chillies, roughly chopped ½tsp ground cumin 1tsp ground coriander 6 peppercorns ½tsp cinnamon 5 cardamom pods, seeds removed 5cm piece ginger, peeled 5 garlic cloves, peeled 1 large onion, roughly chopped 2tsp garam masala 1 Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and brown…

On deciding to do Paddington 2 … I might have been influenced by my kids. But any time I try to interest them in my films, they look embarrassed. I’m not sure they’ll ever like me as an actor, and I’m sympathetic to that. On letting go… I was in a terrible panic in the early part of my career. I used to pre-rehearse everything and then bring my pre-rehearsed performance to the set. Now, I’m learning to let it happen in the moment. If I knew how to trust myself, I would have been more relaxed. On fame… People who get their self-esteem from this business, it actually diminishes their sense of self-esteem. It’s like the bodybuilders who inject themselves with testosterone until they can’t produce…

As Darcey Bussell, 48, performs a pirouette at our shoot, her delicate red dress swirling as she spins, it’s fair to say we’re all stood around thinking the same thing – how does she look that good? “ Strictly does motivate me to get into shape”, she admits. “Even after six years on the judging panel, I still worry: ‘OMG, I’ve got to put all those beautiful dresses on – how am I going to make myself look decent in them?’”. Darcey’s secret? “Two glasses of water first thing in the morning, walking every day, lots of chicken, fish and greens, no cheesecake for a while (I’m a sucker for it) – and two classes of DDMIX (Diverse Dance Mix) a week.” Darcey launched her aerobic workout…

DRAMA QUEEN • It’s all every woman wants, the big satin skirt. Go all out like you’re going to the ball or look for an understated midi version and team it with a knit. • A sheer blouse? Add a cami underneath. A lace- trimmed finish makes it even more luxurious. ULTIMATE DECADENCE • Could it be the dream dress? Adjustable sleeves, a gathered waist and flattering neckline. • An easy instant update? A bejewelled hairband – you’re never too old. Work it for the party or with a simple black knit the week after. EMERALD HUE • What’s the key to keeping colour looking sophisticated? Wear the same tone from top to toe. • Statement earrings are streaks ahead when it comes to styling know-how. Look for tasselled ones…

“It wasn’t easy at first – it takes time and planning” ‘I’LL BE CELEBRATING WITH MY EX, HIS NEW PARTNER, MY NEW PARTNER – AND HIS FORMER WIFE!’ DANIELLE PILCHER, 39, is a facilities project manager and founder of facilityfarm.co.uk . She lives in Berkshire with partner Ian, 48, and her children Ethan, six, and Hannah, three, from her former relationship with Darren, 45. If a passer-by were to peer through my window on Christmas Day, they would be met with a merry festive scene: five adults, glasses of Buck’s Fizz in hand, watching the excited faces of three children as they rip open their presents. They might imagine that our group is perhaps three siblings, their partners and young cousins. In fact, the adults who will…

 Most women find winter dressing less stressful. More clothes to cover up the lumps and bumps. But I find thick clothes and festive fabrics, such as velvet and lace, only serve to add extra pounds. If you’re like me and blessed/cursed with huge boobs, lace turns one into a blowfish struggling to escape its fishing net, and velvet a Suffolk Punch pony – albeit with a gleaming coat. “My aim is to look like I’m ready for a really good time” Then there is the dilemma of how to accessorise from the knee down in dresses and skirts. Contrary to belief, black makes legs look dense and heavy, as well as killing the joy of a colourful ensemble. I’ve resorted to black shoes and tights many a time, only to…

KATHERINE JENKINS Katherine, 37, lives in London with her husband Andrew Levitas and their two-year-old daughter, Aaliyah. ✳ A reflexology session I’m not good at taking time out for myself, so I’d love an excuse to have some “me time”. ✳ A Mr Frosty ice machine It was all I wanted as a child, but Mum wouldn’t get me one because she knew how bad all the sugar was. In another life, I’d like to have one! ✳ Photography equipment This is a big hint to Andrew! He got me a professional camera for my birthday and it’s become my new passion. So more items please! ✳ A trip to the Maldives We spent our honeymoon there and it’s the one place I can completely switch off. ✳ A ban…

This is a truly fantastic new campaign that we’re sure will resonate with all woman&home readers. “Don’t tell me I can’t” is all about embracing our passions in life and not feeling that anything can hold us back from pursuing them. Maybe you’ve always harboured a desire to be a yoga teacher but have followed a different career up until now… maybe you’ve dreamed of starting your own podcasts… maybe you fancy taking a career break and travelling the world. Whatever your passion, we’re here to inspire you to follow it! Over the next few months, we’ll be showcasing stories of women who’ve embraced new life adventures – and encouraging you to do the same. It’s all about celebrating the confidence women can and do feel when they have the…

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE Winter plays havoc with our skin, so I’m loving these deep-conditioning, nighttime treats. • A MOMENT ON YOUR LIPS Clinique Pep-Start Pout Restoring Night Mask, £16, an intensive, fragrance-free balm that can be used overnight or as a five-minute mask pre-lippie to condition your lips. • DYNAMIC DUO GlamGlow DreamDuo Overnight Transforming Treatment, £42, a sensational, two-step regime that energises and hydrates. GLEAM ME UP • Dior Diorific Vernis Liner, £20.50, turns a nude nail into something special. Draw on the half moon, the tips or across the middle. • Fenty Beauty by Rhianna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife, £26, dense, golden cream-to-powder shimmer to enhance face, eyes and cleavage. • MAC Stylishly Merry Eye Shadow, £13.50, about the most beautiful colour for a festive…

Let’s talk about party hair. The dream scenario’s a blow-dry, of course, but between work dos, family lunches and cocktails with the neighbours, your schedule and expenditure are probably nudging overload, but doing it yourself needn’t mean “same old, same old”. We’ve quizzed the country’s top hair talent to find five special and deceptively simple styles that look festive and fabulous, plus the tips, tricks and kit you need to pull them off. 40% OF WOMEN ADMIT THE FIRST THING THEY NOTICE ABOUT SOMEONE IS THEIR HAIRWELLA 2017 SURVEY OF OVER 1,000 WOMEN 1 NEXT-DAY WAVES FOR VOLUME Cooler than curls, loose waves add substance to fine hair and look better a bit imperfect. Try top stylist Andrew Jose’s foolproof hack: “A great tip is to flip hair upside down…

It’s not all about everyone else! Try these techniques to help you relax, re-energise and overcome festive jitters Unchain yourself from that to-do list. This year, self-care is our new wellbeing mantra. Self-indulgent? No way, our mini rituals help replace burnt-out you with the fun, able-to-cope person you deserve to be! 1 Breathe!  Is that endless to-do list leaching your energy? Breathing right can help you reinvigorate. Celebrity nutritionist Julie Montagu agrees: “I try to do five minutes of belly breathing each day to saturate my cells with oxygen, making me feel alive and well.” Here’s how… • Inhale into the belly for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts. Exhale everything out for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts. Repeat 10 times. GOOD FOR… Reducing stress and lowering blood pressure.…

I feel proud of my family, for making Christmas so lovely for her It was Christmas Day, 2012, when my family and I realised something wasn’t quite right with my mum. Usually razor-sharp and hilariously competitive when it came to playing board games, she seemed unable to grasp the rules. At first, my husband Jimmy and our three children (twin boys, then aged 15, and a daughter of 12) found it funny. My mother, Margery, had a naughty sense of humour, and we assumed she was just winding us up, playing the “dotty granny” after a couple of glasses of fizz. However, she had also festooned Jimmy with an enormous array of presents – around 30 parcels in all – which seemed bizarre and was unprecedented. She would normally give…

12 DAYS… …on a romantic voyage under Norway’s Northern Lights Watching a magical display of Aurora Borealis is an unforgettable experience – so why not treat someone special to this unique memory? On our exclusive new voyage to the beautiful Norwegian fjords you’ll get to see this stunning natural wonder in the company of our VIP guests Dallas Campbell (pictured), the star of BBC science shows Stargazing Live, Horizon and The Treasure Hunters, plus w&h’s astrologer Penny Thornton. During this holiday, you’ll join Dallas for a private talk and Q&A, plus take a guided trip with him to visit Nordkapp, the northernmost place in Europe. You’ll also hear a fantastic talk by environmental science expert Dr Tamsin Edwards about how the entire record of life on Earth is buried deep…

We’ll help you to create a perfectly decorated tree, set stunning table centres, add glamour with stylish candle displays, add rustic touches with fir and sprigs of foliage, and chicly light up your home to spread the joy of the season. Visit Dobbies.com…

 I don’t know about you but in the past I have felt pressurised to make sure my Christmas Day resembles something out of one of those glossy, sentimental TV adverts. You know, the ones that feature the perfect family with their perfectly dressed children, perfectly decorated house, perfectly set table and, of course, the perfect three-course lunch? I was so stressed I forgot to enjoy myself I’ve tried being Nigella Lawson in the kitchen and Martha Stewart in the home. I once made my own cranberry sauce and hand-decorated my mince pies. I colour-coordinated all the decorations on my Christmas tree with the wrapping paper. The problem was that I was so focused on it being perfect that I forgot to enjoy myself. So last year I adopted the “I…

Christmas can be magical but there’s no denying that the lion’s share of work – as well as the worrying – is done by women. A national poll found that 68% of us feel some seasonal stress compared with only 40% of men. Amidst all the prep and the planning, though, it is possible to stay calm, avoid Christmas burnout – and, most importantly, enjoy it all. Here’s how… OUR EXPERTS DR HELEN NIGHTINGALE Cognitive behaviour therapist, mindfulness expert and clinical psychologist specialising in stress, anxiety and relationship issues PROFESSOR STEPHEN PALMER Psychologist and founding director of the Centre for Stress Management JULS ABERNETHY Co-founder of the Body Retreat’s Stress Re-set programme and neurolinguistic programming expert 1 THE FRANTIC RUN-UP Sit down with your partner over a glass of wine…

Luckily, I’ve got Christmas dressing down to a precise art. Always a dress and a pair of heels. Always a touch of recycled fur or even my grandmother’s old mink, which is unspeakably glamorous if a little moth-eaten. Sparkly earrings are a must – oh, and gloves. I always wear gloves. There is something inappropriately sexy about taking a piece of clothing off to receive Holy Communion. Everything is considered. Stuffing the turkey at 6am will be actioned in a clean and ironed pair of pyjamas. I wear a bra underneath in case one of our guests decides to come and “help”. There is nothing more unattractive than a middle-aged woman with her hand up a turkey’s ass and her tits down by her ankles. PJs will be swapped for…

• Exclusive: save £25 on your first month • Lose weight from £5.32 a day Jane Plan is the diet delivery service that gives you perfectly proportioned meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner – plus snacks – all ready-prepared to make losing weight super easy for you. We know that having a larger tummy is one of your biggest body bugbears, so we asked Jane Michell, the founder of Jane Plan, to devise a special Flatter Tummy Box especially for you, at a fantastic money-off price. HOW TO SIGN UP • Go to janeplan.com, click on Flatter Tummy Box on the home page and select your plan. • Choose the duration of your plan (minimum one month); remember the four-month plan equals the greatest weight loss and offers the best…

House party Christine Taylor, 58, a portage consultant, is with daughters Naomi Bye, 30, a SEND and inclusion officer, and Anna Taylor, 28, an embroidery designer. • The most stylish way to do colour? Pick one shade and pile on myriad tones. • Take on texture with sequins, faux fur and luxe leather. • Don’t hide those bell sleeves away – showcase them by turning up the cuffs on your jacket. • Have fun with your accessories – when else can you get away with super high and oversized pink bow sandals? As long as you can walk in them, we say the higher the better! Work party Best friends Christianne Gadd, 39, and Claudia Coulter, 47, are both actresses. • Let your colleagues see your fun side in metallics,…

THE BAUBLE QUEEN: GISELA GRAHAM How it all started Born and raised in Germany, Gisela came to England in her twenties, married an Englishman and, a decade on, found herself a slightly bored stay-at-home mother of two young boys. “I’d always been interested in crafts,” she says. “Growing up, everything was homemade. We knitted, we sewed tablecloths, we didn’t ever buy these things.” She’d noticed that Christmases in the UK were very different to those of her childhood. “In Germany, we had old-fashioned decorations and real candles on the tree – always with a bucket of water nearby! In England, there were just baubles from Woolworths.” So in 1982, with just £27 to invest, Gisela hit on the idea of making small, glass-fronted boxes filled with the simple wooden decorations…

Glossy coffee table books Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005–2016 by Annie Leibovitz and Alexandra Fuller (Phaidon) From Clint Eastwood to the Queen: a stunning collection of iconic photographs. Pilgrimage (Quarto) A beautifully illustrated look at historical pilgrim routes, such as the Pilgrims’ Way. Ideal for the armchair traveller. Natural Wonders of the World by Chris Packham (DK) A sumptuous guide to all corners of the Earth, with all sorts of facts on natural phenomena. Fascinating. The Secret Gardeners by Victoria Summerley & Hugo Rittson Thomas (Frances Lincoln) An inspiring tour of 25 gardens, including Prue Leith’s and Cath Kidston’s. Great books to give at Christmas – or to keep for yourself! The year’s hottest fiction Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (HarperCollins) Helping a…

Book tickets and get discounts on West End musicals, drama & the arts at boxoffice.womanandhome.com There are plenty of great Christmas shows opening on the stage this year – here’s our pick of the best… CINDERELLA Strictly star Brian Conley graces the stage as the servant of Cinderella’s father, Buttons, at Milton Keynes Theatre. 9 Dec-14 Jan 2018; atgtickets.com A CHRISTMAS CAROL This immersive performance of the Dickens’ classic takes place at Windsor Castle. 16-30 Dec; royalcollection.org.uk/christmascarol NUTCRACKER Over 100 performers bring this magical ballet to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre, followed by the London Coliseum. 29 Nov-6 Jan 2018; ballet.org.uk DICK WHITTINGTON Elaine Paige and Julian Clary star in this new production at the London Palladium. 9 Dec–14 Jan 2018; dick whittingtonpalladium.com…

W&H SPECIAL YOUR CHRISTMAS CHECKLIST Crackers, candles, cocktails, wrapping, games… we’ve got the details covered FOOD TO SHARE Impress your guests with our simple menu EFFORTLESS GLAMOUR Flattering dresses, grown-up glitter, slimming tops and wow shoes RELAX! How to live in the moment and enjoy the fun HOW THE ROYALS DO CHRISTMAS Behind the scenes at the Palace JANUARY ISSUE ON SALE 30 NOVEMBER…

In December 2012, Claire Barham was searching for a new home from which she could also run her start-up cookery school. What she had in mind was a small house with outbuildings, but instead she instantly fell in love with a five-bedroomed Victorian property in Coggeshall, Essex. “It shouted ‘Christmas!’ to me,” she says, explaining how she was won over as she walked through the front door. “I loved the character and the light. There was a beautiful staircase to make a grand entrance down, a great space for a tree and an elegant banister just waiting to be decorated.” Today the gorgeous dining room stands in an expansive former hall space. “We’ve turned this into a wonderfully handsome room in which to host Christmas dinner,” says Claire. “It’s the…

CHOCOLATE & SWEET THINGS • Chococo Claire and Andy Burnett make handmade chocolate with no additives, preservatives or added sugar, chococo.co.uk • Paul A Young He’s an alchemist with flavours, producing top-quality chocolates with distinctive flavours, paulayoung.co.uk • Giselle Richardson Macarons Giselle takes inspiration for her macarons from seasonal fruits and veg with very British flavours, gisellerichardson.com MEAT, FISH & POULTRY • Copas Turkeys are the Rolls-Royce of turkeys. Hand-reared, pampered with a light, gamey flavour and incredible gravy. A lovely family-run business, copasturkeys.co.uk • Godfreys, another family butcher business, based in north London who sell nationwide. A great variety of top meats, poultry and game, with more unusual cuts such as picanha and onglet, godfreys.co • Forman & Field, a family-owned smoked salmon business that dates back to the…

HOW MUCH TO SERVE? There’s no rule of thumb as it depends on your guests. But if you reckon that a bottle of fizz will give you 6 glasses and a bottle of wine 4-5, it’s a good starting point. Allow half a bottle per head… luckily wine takes a while to go off! Party Beer Czech Lager, £2.40/500ml, M&S This is only 0.5% alcohol but you’d never know, and it’s brewed by Czech maestros Staropramen with no additives – just hops, barley, yeast and water. Party Cocktail Mix Spiced Clementine Whisky Sour, £12, M&S This pre-mixed cocktail has Christmas touches of orange, lemon and cinnamon – just shake and pour over ice. Party Fizz Tesco Finest* 1531 Blanquette de Limoux, £9 If you find Prosecco a bit on the…

Star sign of the month SAGITTARIUS 23 NOVEMBER – 22 DECEMBER Welcome to your new world – a world free of Saturn and full of bright potential. Travel will take time but a reunion will warm the embers of your heart. For weekly updates, call 09058-170549* THE MONTHS AHEAD  Making up for lost time is the theme of the next few months. Career and love are on a steadier course but you will have to watch finances. To hear a detailed breakdown of the next few months, phone Penny on 09058-170478* CAPRICORN 23 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY After a couple of years of stops and starts, a new and more stable cycle comes in on the 20th. Your first job could be to make a proposal. Weekly update 09058-170550* Six…