Innholdsfortegnelse for 1751 i Woman's Day

With just two weeks left until Christmas, the traditional Connolly family duties email is about to be circulated by my sister Tesie (Christmas Day MC). I guarantee I’ll be required to make my famous salmon terrine, and my sister Mars will be down for her famous couscous-stuffed pumpkin. My masterchef brother-in-law Adam will be on the turkey, Mum on Christmas pudding, and my nieces and nephews will forget to buy the ice-cream and custard and spend the afternoon trying to find an open supermarket! Every year it’s the same – and I love it! But if you’re game to mix things up a bit, our Lifestyle Director Kristie shares the latest in Christmas food to jazz up your family gathering (p42)!…

Bert and Patti are reeling over the news their son Matthew has ended his latest engagement They have endured ill health and bounced back from financial ruin, but the end of their famously troubled son Matthew’s engagement to a US socialite has “devastated” Bert and Patti Newton and left them extremely worried for him. “It’s the worst possible news for Patti coming up to Christmas,” confirms one close friend, who says the showbiz matriarch is ready to pack her bags and fly to New York to comfort Matthew, amid fears he will sink back into depression. “She was hoping for the best Christmas present of all – another grandchild. Both she and Bert were over the moon at the thought of becoming grandparents to a child of Matthew’s because they…

‘Nicole’s disdain for Justin was noticeable – it was awkward’ Her good friend Jennifer Aniston is in the middle of a relationship crisis, with many tipping her marriage to Justin Theroux is over. So Nicole Kidman was horrified when she was seated next to Justin at an event in New York – with Jen nowhere to be seen. Nic, 50, did little to hide her feelings towards the actor, all but melting down as she turned to a friend in a frenzied attempt to avoid him. “It was pretty obvious that she didn’t want to be near Justin and have to make small talk with him,” an onlooker tells Woman’s Day. “She tried to get moved to a different spot and looked agitated while talking to a friend about it.…

‘The surgery was so scary, but so worth it’ Sunshine Coast 5th grader Claire McCulloch had only one dream – to be a pro basketballer. Having towered well above her friends from age four, her parents assumed her future was set. But the family’s world came crashing down when they were delivered a devastating blow when Claire was seven. “Deep down I knew something was wrong,” says mum Toni. “Her dad and I could see she didn’t run like normal kids – she was clumsy, already had size 8 feet and wore size 10-12 clothing. When they discovered a 2cm tumour on her pituitary gland, I thought, ‘OK, we’ve got this.’ Then came the cruellest blow – our beautiful Claire was diagnosed with gigantism.” Without intervention, doctors explained the extremely…

As we all treat our pets like any other beloved family member, their sudden distant or drained behaviour can really knock us for six. “A stressed-out pet can cause havoc in the household, and it’s certainly not fun for our furry family member either,” says Sydney-based life strategist and animal communicator Simonne Lee. Here, she tells us what we can do to calm our cute companions. ASSESS YOUR OWN STRESS LEVELS If you’re more anxious than usual, try taking a few deep breaths to help move yourself into a calmer state – it will guide more restful energy towards your pet. Taking the time to breathe deeply and slowly into your navel, and exhaling eight times, can relax your entire body. Then watch the magic unfold between you and your…

ADAM SANDLER goes to the back of the class. JOHNNY DEPP will be jealous at ex AMBER HEARD’s new encounter. NICOLE KIDMAN gets very angry – and ready to blow Hollywood truths. DANNII MINOGUE will be pregnant with a girl. TAYLOR SWIFT won’t be stuck in a corner because she’s a woman. She will be involved in charity this week and in lust tomorrow, choosing her own fate. There’s a dark-haired guy around the 19th. Women are being far braver than they ever were by filling up their calendar with dates and seeing who’s out there. I see a lot will meet the man they were supposed to. For some it works. OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN’s chest and lungs take my eye view. She will fight all the way with her recent…

Happy for Harry! When I heard the exciting news of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement I felt very happy, especially for Harry. I cannot forget the heartbreaking images of Harry walking behind his mother Princess Diana’s coffin in 1997. At last he’ll have a life companion to walk alongside him as he fulfils his royal duties. I hope and pray the young couple enjoy a lifetime of happiness. Lois Morrissey , Strathdale, Vic Festive love My grandmothers Emily and Val love the puzzles in Woman’s Day. They say it keeps their brains active! Who am I to argue with that?! Here are their great-grandsons, three-year-old triplets Alex, Bailey and Cody with their new puppy Starlet. Paula Wagner , Shailer Park, Qld Scrapbook friend In A Lifetime Of Letters, Irene…

As Lisa Wilkinson’s replacement host for the 80th Vision Australia Carols By Candlelight, it’s little wonder Sonia Kruger is feeling the pressure. “I have big shoes to fill!” she tells Woman’s Day ahead of her new TV gig. Luckily, the Nine star is well-equipped to take on such an iconic position and is looking forward to hosting the concert, alongside her Today Extra co-star David Campbell. “That’s the best part about it. Because we work together every day, hosting Carols By Candlelight will be so much easier.” As for the festive season, Sonia says she can’t wait for Christmas now her two-year-old daughter Maggie is old enough to enjoy it. “Whenever she sees Santa at a shopping centre, she gets really excited. It’s going to be a fun one this…

‘Guy has been training her and walking with her each day’ Friends are quietly applauding Tziporah Malkah’s incredible transformation, which has seen her fall in love, embrace a healthy new lifestyle and win over a new generation of fans, all in the past 12 months. “I call it the love diet,” says one close friend, adding she hasn’t seen the former Vogue covergirl look this good in years. “And it’s really sweet that her boyfriend has been supporting her all the way.” Since Tziporah – previously known as Kate Fischer – reunited with her teenage sweetheart, former Australian navy sailor Guy Vasey, the 44-year-old has embarked on a whole new life, moving to Adelaide to be with him, and embracing a healthier diet and regular exercise. “Guy has been training…

He was once heralded as the king of the court but nowadays tennis star Lleyton Hewitt and his wife Bec are making names for themselves in a different way – as king and queen of the freebies! Just last week the sportsman had some fun spruiking Lego he’d accepted for son Cruz. “An early Christmas present and some quality time with this champion,” wrote Lleyton alongside a photo on Instagram, which he tagged sponsored. “Who remembers ripping open their @lego on Christmas morning and building it with your family?” Fans were quick to comment on how “lucky” son Cruz – who turns nine this week – was to have such an “amazing” dad like Lleyton. It isn’t the first freebie the star has bagged. Last month, in return for what…

‘I knew I was in for the fight of my life’ There’s an unspoken rule when it comes to driving in the Australian outback – if you spot someone in strife, pull over and lend a hand. But when Tennant Creek resident Jen Cadzow made the split-second decision to follow traditional bush etiquette, she had no idea she was about to become embroiled in one of the most brazen carjacking sprees in Northern Territory history. The 49-year-old had just completed two days of teaching in the remote Northern Territory town of Newcastle Waters in April this year when she set off on her 270km journey home. Just 30km along, outside the small town of Elliott, she noticed a car ahead of her in distress. “It was snaking on and off…

Sparkly star decoration You’ll need • Papier-mache 3D star (can be bought from craft stores like Spotlight) • Craft glue • Glitter 1 Take your papier-mache star and cover it entirely with glue. 2 Sprinkle glitter all over your star. 3 Leave to dry. 4 To create different patterns on your star, stick tape onto sections to protect a section before sprinkling glitter on. TIP The sky’s the limit when it comes to decorating these stars. Just add felt and sequins for more glitz! Matchbox advent calendar You’ll need • Three paint colours • Medium brush • Gold spray paint • Wide red ribbon • Boxes of various sizes • Glue • Scissors • Cardboard 1 Paint boxes. Always keep the brushstrokes in the same direction. Leave to dry. 2…

They reduce waste Hate a smelly garbage can? The culprit for that awful stench is a group of tiny microbes known as anaerobic, or oxygen-hating, bacteria. Keeping food waste out of the trash and in a worm farm prevents all of it. Red wigglers, the worms commonly used for worm farms, consume approximately half of their body weight in decomposing matter each day – meaning no foul smells! They’re cheap to run Vermicomposting, aka worm farming, involves one or more lidded plastic bins or buckets, food scraps, and dirt. A shovel or gardening gloves are recommended to turn the soil, but are not necessary. The bin can be of any size, depending on the amount of waste produced. The worms can be bought at many fish or gardening shops, or…

Sagittarius NOV 23 – DEC 22 Jupiter is urging you to take on something new. An exciting idea might get you thinking, but with secrets swirling and facts obscured, don’t rush into life-altering decisions just yet. Socially, your chart is flying, but with so much going on, switching off might be tricky. Long walks and relaxing music should help. Capricorn DEC 23 – JAN 20  Recent events may have left you with a decision to ponder, but helpful people are heading your way, so bounce your thoughts off a trusted friend or speak to a professional. Nothing to wear? With stylish stars shining, lay out all your clothes and try some creative new combinations. Aquarius JAN 21 – FEB 19  With the cosmos propelling you into the spotlight and boosting…

Wolf Creek FROM FRIDAY, STAN  Outback killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) returns with a vengeance in this top-notch psychological thriller. With a stash of weapons and his iconic blue F100 ute, Mick can’t believe his luck when a coach full of foreign tourists turns up. Unbeknown to them, they’re in for a terrifying outback adventure-turned-nightmare. The timing of the scenes couldn’t be more poignant, dropping just months after two backpackers revealed their own horrifying real-life ordeal with Roman Heinze, who was jailed in May for violently attacking the duo at Salt Creek. You might want to think twice before taking your next Aussie road trip! Love It Or List It WEEKNIGHTS, 7.30PM, FOXTEL LIFESTYLE HOME  If, like us, you’re having reno withdrawals after the end of The Block (and House…

Fans of Aussie heartthrob Hugh Jackman may get more than they bargained for following the release of The Greatest Showman. The actor, who plays circus founder PT Barnum in the movie musical, has revealed he’s found a new talent as a pop singer! As part of his new role, Hugh had to retrain his voice for two or three years and went to a singing teacher “who works in the pop world”. “I remember our director walking into one of our late-night sessions and listening to a tape I’d done. I’m in the booth and he comes on the microphone and says, ‘This sounds incredible,’ with genuine surprise in his voice. I can hear the engineer saying, ‘Michael, there were a lot of takes!’ And there were a lot of…

WAX ON OR WAX OFF? KEITH URBAN The country crooner may have cemented his superstar status by getting his own wax replica at Madame Tussauds Nashville – but we’re not convinced fans will know it’s him! It’s a shoe-in! JENNIFER LOPEZ It took not one, but three assistants to help the star change shoes on the set of her new movie Second Act – one for balance, one for foot insertion and one to rub her tootsies before slipping on a clean sock! Welcome to the Hemsworth zoo! CHRIS HEMSWORTH & ELSA PATAKY With Byron Bay’s surf and sunshine comes an abundance of creepy-crawlies, too. Luckily the Thor star and his Spanish model wife appear to be at ease alongside their uninvited Aussie house guests! All George wants for Xmas...…

Meghan has faced a cruel backlash in the weeks following her engagement, including from her former best friend Ninaki Priddy. She was Meghan’s childhood bestie and they did everything together, from when they were toddlers through high school and beyond. But Ninaki fell out with the former Suits star over her split from first husband Trevor Engelson in 2013. Now it’s believed she’s been cashing in on Meghan’s fame by sharing details of conversations and photos of the pair growing up. Last week Ninaki said, “I smile about the good times. We had some really great memories. But she’s become a different person. “She is unrecognisable to me – a manufactured, exaggerated version of herself.” Ouch!…

‘I only saw her last Monday and I am in shock. Travel safe Mum’ When Elton John’s mother Sheila Farebrother passed away at the age of 92 last week, she died knowing her son loved her with all his heart. But it very nearly wasn’t the case, as the two had only recently ended a bitter seven-year feud. “So sad to say that my mother passed away this morning,” Elton, 70, tweeted on December 4. “I only saw her last Monday and I am in shock. Travel safe Mum.” Elton and his mother fell out in 2008 when the hitmaker fired his personal assistant of 30 years Bob Halley and former manager and lover John Reid. Sheila was good friends with both men and refused to cut them out of…

Want to know how Victoria Beckham detoxes her body daily or why Gwyneth drinks powdered mushrooms? Our expert nutritionist, Zoe Bingley-Pullin, weighs in on some of these quirky diet trends approved by the stars! Cheryl Tweedy FISH OIL CAPSULES  The singer claims that her great skin is the result of fish oil. “If you’re eating right, it will show in your skin,” she says. Fish oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to cardiovascular health and heart function. However, Zoe says to invest in quality over quantity. “Opt for brands that promote sustainably sourced seafood.” TRY Blackmores Odourless Fish Oil Mini Caps $28.49 (200 capsules) Zoe Kravitz EDIBLE CLAY  The actress admits she ate clay as a way of losing extra kilos for a movie role. Extremely…

1 If you’re keen to be active... So you’d rather burn your Christmas calories than turn them into flab? Hop on your bike and pedal Vietnam! Starting in Hanoi, this 15-day cycling tour will take you through incredible wildlife-filled landscapes, small villages and ancient ruins of the Southeast Asian hotspot before finishing up in the electric Ho Chi Minh City. Not for the fainthearted, you’ll be peddling 70km per day before kicking back in either a hotel, homestay or overnight sleeper train. Just imagine all the local delicacies you’ll be able to indulge in after those mammoth days – who needs pudding? HOW TO BOOK From $2650 pp, twin-share, 14 nights. December 16-30. Includes a bike and most meals. intrepidtravel.com/au 2 If the teenager wants to backpack... A short but…

Q Can you please tell me if my mum visits me? I was flying back to Australia when she passed, and I saw her face in the clouds. Does she know I got there too late? Ticketyboo, via email MITCHELL SAYS Your beautiful mum tells me she visits you often and that she knows about your son. Your mum does not want you to be upset about getting there too late. She says she knows you tried to be there and that her face appearing in the clouds was her special way of saying “goodbye” and “I love you”. Your mum is at peace and she loves you with all her heart. Q My partner and I split after 20 years. Will I find happiness again? Heartbroken, via email MITCHELL…

MOVIE STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI  The follow-up plot to Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been kept top-secret, but what we do know is Rey (Daisy Ridley) will meet Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) for the first time. In what will no doubt be an emotional watch for fans, the film will also mark the late Carrie Fisher’s final film as General Leia. IN CINEMAS Thursday BOOK WHAT HAPPENS IN BALI by Richard Shears  Journalist Richard Shears takes a look at some of the stories that made the holiday destination newsworthy for different reasons – from Schapelle Corby’s drug scandal to Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall’s 1990 wedding that never was. It’s safe to say there’s more to the “Island of Gods” than just cocktails and beaches! OUT NOW (New…